Transcript Highlights:

• here to talk about how many mine inspector positions we have, where they're located, what their job duties
• And you ask about duties, so the first thing, inspections according to statute.
• And you ask about duties, so the first thing, inspections according to statute.
• And you ask about duties, so the first thing, inspections according to statute.
• c> is</c> Another duty that our mine inspectors do is training.

Summary: The Tourism and Energy committee received a presentation from Gordon Sloan, Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, and Deputy Commissioner David Fields on the Division of Mine Safety. They outlined the division’s structure, saying it has four branch offices in Madisonville, Harlan, Hazard, and Pikeville, with 36 inspectors total, plus administrative staff and several headquarters specialists. They also explained that four additional inspectors are on sick leave or workers’ compensation and will not be backfilled, and confirmed that inspectors work from offices rather than from home. The presentation focused on mine safety duties and staffing needs. Sloan said underground licensed mines must receive six inspections annually, including mine safety analyses, an electrical inspection, roof inspections, and regular inspections of airways, returns, belts, and miner safety equipment. He also described the division’s mine rescue responsibilities, including providing rescue coverage where operators do not have their own teams, maintaining teams within an hour’s drive of mines, and supporting training and certification. The division also conducts 17 training courses and about 8,000 to 9,000 trainings per year. Members were given updated mine and employment figures. Sloan reported 126 licensed mines in 2024 across the branch areas, with 61 active all year and others idle or later abandoned. He said Kentucky had 4,683 miners in 2024, with average employment of 4,509, and noted that the state had gone 34 months without a mining fatality since March 2022. He also said the division provides rescue services for 16 underground rock quarries, three highway tunnels, and three underground military training sites. In response to questions, Sloan said the division does not plan to refill the four vacant inspector positions because staffing is adequate statewide, and he said he would provide additional historical mine data later. The committee took no formal action and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third priority would be active-duty Title 10 military service members. This is a great bill.
• Unfortunately, many public schools provide instruction on some... ...of God.
• Idaho Family Policy Center knows this because we filed public records requests with every Idaho public
• There are 116, and 107 responded to our public records request.
• Thank you. ...and 107 responded to our public records request. Thank you.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• We put it out there for public comment.
• I think we've lost the art of civic duty in today's age.
• Sarah Miller is a product of Jenks Public Schools.
• Sarah Miller is a product of Jinks Public Schools.
• I'm a proud of public, like a public school teacher and product of that, and look forward to serving

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Extended Education Committee met to consider a long slate of gubernatorial nominations and reappointments to education-related boards and commissions. The committee heard brief introductions from sponsoring senators and remarks from nominees for the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, State Board of Career and Technology Education, Regional University System of Oklahoma, State Board of Education, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, the Secretary of Education, several university and college boards, the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority, the State Textbook Committee, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the Langston University board, among others. Many nominees emphasized their backgrounds in public education, higher education, business, agriculture, health care, or community service, and several acknowledged family members or institutional leaders present in the room. A few nominations drew questions or discussion. John Wesley Nofire was asked about working with the State Board of Education and about the social studies standards process, and he explained the board followed statutory public-comment procedures and made changes before final adoption. Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin received supportive comments from multiple senators, who praised his data-driven approach and urged that he be retained by future administrations. Michael McElroy, Brian Beller, Christopher Franklin, Dr. Michael Peck, and others also answered questions about the role of their boards and their experience with the institutions they would oversee. The committee voted on each nomination, with most receiving unanimous approval and a few passing with one or two dissenting votes. Notable vote totals included David McKenzie and Michael McElroy passing 9-2 and 10-1 respectively, while the rest of the nominees generally passed 8-0, 9-0, 10-0, or 11-0. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked members for their work on the large number of executive nominations and announced that the committee was adjourned for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Remind us that while we may differ in our views, we should be united in our duty to serve the people
• our country for 36 years as a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, including tours of duty
• He continued his public service with the U.S.
• Bernie dedicated his life to public... Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Bernie dedicated his life to public service to Richmond and our Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony, we'll take public testimony, but we'll also open for at the end and I am testifying
• Budget Board and I'll be presenting on the Summary of Recommendations. for the Texas Department of Public
• They get a $5,000 signing bonus to help them relocate to their new duty stations that that has been very
• This is for high performers and this is for hard-to-fill duty stations positions.
• And we wouldn't ask, it's hard to ask, with all the public safety threats, it's hard to ask for bricks

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• And, um, you know, I kind of thought back to how we demonstrate our duty as public servants.
• And we don't, you know, we demonstrate our duty as public servants not only by the words we say, but
• And, um, you know, I kind of thought back to how we demonstrate our duty as public servants.
• And we don't, you know, we demonstrate our duty as public servants not only by the words we say, but
• And, um, you know, I kind of thought back to how we demonstrate our duty as public servants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 2323 by Assembly Member McKinnor and others, an act relating to public notice.
• Senate Bill 939 by Senator Laird, an act relating to public employees' retirement.
• SB 939 is sponsored by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, has no opposition, and has
• Heavy-duty service vehicles, including those providing essential solid waste and recycling services,
• To gut and amend, why can Alameda County perform their duties, but Fresno County can't?

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then handled a series of procedural motions, guest introductions, and floor actions. Members approved motions to suspend rules for various purposes, removed some bills from consent, and added coauthors to resolutions. The chamber also adopted a Rules Committee request to place ACR 233 on second-day consent. The body then took up multiple concurrence and resolution items. Among the measures approved were AB 2056 on teacher exchanges with Mexico, AB 2323 on public notice, AB 1778 on controlled substances and testosterone-related scheduling, AB 2692 on common interest developments, H.R. 110 on “food as medicine,” H.R. 117 urging Congress to reform Section 230 to address online harms, SCR 152 designating Dolores Huerta Day, SB 575 reestablishing the Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund, SB 939 simplifying retirement service-credit purchases, SJR 6 urging the federal government to honor infrastructure funding commitments, SB 1165 improving tax compliance for contractors, SB 930 requiring encryption for school exam proctoring services, SB 922 clarifying local road-repair cost recovery tied to public service operations, and H.R. 124 supporting DACA recipients. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; H.R. 110, H.R. 117, and SCR 152 were adopted by voice vote after adding coauthors. The most contentious item was AB 1923, which would ensure the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act appears on the November 2026 ballot. Supporters argued it protects voters’ right to decide on a qualified local initiative and prevents delay from a county-ordered study; opponents said it overrides local authority and changes the rules to facilitate a tax measure. After debate, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments and passed the bill 54-16, sending it to the Governor. The session also included several adjournments in memory honoring Jonathan Gregg Burgess, Jeffrey Mosedo, Brian Haney, Anne Cronin Dunn, and Pastor Darryl Monroe Moore, before the Assembly adjourned until Monday, August 10.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are four items up for adoption and three up for publication in the Texas Register for public comment
• To remind the public and our new commissioners, we must consider.
• As a result, I fell short in my duties as the treasurer of the Funky Scouts and Prats.
• Post-election, my duties shifted to collect.
• I was immediately relieved of my duties. Access to my email played a huge part in this oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, and subcommittee members, and the public.
• That is 86.5001 FTE for a public relations officer.
• So, **Representative Pettigrew:** Can you tell me, is this a brand new idea to have a public relations
• Who were doing dual duties. So, that's just not accurate. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• We've put it out more to the public.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• As we've invested, we've seen more toddlers leave child care providers and go into preschool, public
• California kids getting health care out of state, getting public education out of state.
• And I think that, you know, we have the duty, as you say, to protect all youth in California.
• Good afternoon, Vela Kern, on behalf of the Michelson Center for Public Policy in support.
• public thought that they were scripted, but really they are similar because this is a pattern.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Summary: The committee adopted the consent calendar and then heard several bills on child care, aging, child welfare, food access, and youth services. SB 1200 by Sen. Menjivar would redefine infant and toddler age categories in child care licensing to allow providers to serve children beginning at 18 months in the toddler category, with supporters saying it would increase capacity and help family child care businesses stay open; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 971 by Sen. Choi would authorize counties to offer optional adult education and technology training programs for adults 55 and older through local partnerships; supporters said it would reduce isolation and improve digital literacy, and it passed 4-0 to the floor. SB 1234 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil would require fentanyl to be included in court-ordered drug testing in dependency cases, with testimony from an angel family and law enforcement about child deaths and exposure risks; it passed 4-0 to the floor. The committee also heard SB 1109 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil, which would require additional state review for short-term residential therapeutic programs in very small rural counties or facilities with repeated serious citations. The author and county officials from Alpine County argued that rural counties lack the hospitals, schools, and 24-hour emergency response needed to safely support these placements, while providers opposed the bill as overly broad and potentially destabilizing to STRTP capacity. After the author accepted committee amendments, members voted 4-0 to send the bill to Appropriations as amended. SB 961 by Sen. Ashby would require students applying for financial aid to be notified that they may also be eligible for CalFresh; student and advocacy witnesses described widespread food insecurity on campuses, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1099 by Sen. Gomez Reyes, which clarifies local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA-related exemptions; supporters said it would reduce legal uncertainty for local safety-net services, and the bill was voted 2-0 with the remaining members absent, leaving it on call. SB 1190 by Sen. Grove would create a licensing and regulatory framework for youth transport companies that move minors to out-of-state residential facilities; survivors testified about traumatic transports, supporters called for basic guardrails, and the bill passed 4-0 to Public Safety. Finally, SB 1325 by Sen. Jones would create a narrow pathway for Feeding San Diego to participate in CalFood, with supporters saying it would expand hunger relief in San Diego County and opponents warning it could divert limited food bank resources; the discussion focused on broader funding concerns, and no final vote was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so also, though, I do ask for those who are giving public testimony.
• The public testimony before we go to committee.
• Won't do public works.
• And give your public testimony.
• The EMT that was on duty decided that he needed to be flown out.

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Duty to stop Representative Smith.
• </c> K12 K through2 public school finance. K12 K through2 public school finance.
• And so remember, we're not performing the duties of the other agency.
• We're just duties of the other agency.
• This body, to take away duties from us.

Transcript Highlights:

• Epstein stated earlier, as more public benefits are paired back, Ms.
• A small board will struggle to meet quorum and fulfill its duties.
• To safeguard public dollars. Okay.
• And they are better equipped to access public and private insurance billing.
• Public comment, one minute each.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, Lord, we lift up to our public servants in the legislature.
• </c> Today, Lord, we lift up to our public Today, Lord, we lift up to our public servants<00:06:14.400
• I'd for good Samaritan and public use.
• And I board and have public testimony.
• All this is a to carry out their duties.

Transcript Highlights:

• for public comment, and you have up Two minutes each to address us.
• For allowing this public comment time.
• And I've been amazed at the diversity within the non-public schools of our state.
• Anyone else for public comment? Anyone else? Public comment. Sorry, my mic was off.
• The law now mandates free, high-quality meals for all public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• school, a public charter school, a non-public school, or the education freedom account. faith. faith
• school, a public charter school, a non-public school, or the education freedom account.
• </c> some type and the public school system? some type and the public school system?
• </c><01:36:55.679><c> and</c><01:36:56.000><c> public</c> public schools who have and public public schools
• </c> if you're not in the public schools? if you're not in the public schools?

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we'll have some right before we go into public hearings.
• So thank you for letting me take care of my administrative duties as well.
• We conducted a robust public process over the summer and fall to update our rules.
• Before I gavel us into our first public hearing, I just want to remind testifiers...
• That'd be sure. of our public institutions and the impact of our environment.

Bills: HB2330 , HB2338

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: energy systems, capital funding, state campus, school infrastructure, sustainability, weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, environment

Transcript Highlights:

• A turbulent public funding environment is challenging.
• And then we'll have some right before we go into public hearings.
• So thank you for letting me take care of my administrative duties as well.
• Before I gavel us into our first public hearing, I just want to remind testifiers... ...first public
• That'd be sure. ...of our public institutions and the impact of our environment.

Summary: The committee first received a Commerce overview of capital budget grant programs, including behavioral health facilities, Building for the Arts, Building Communities Fund, early learning facilities, library capital improvements, and youth recreational facilities. Commerce described program eligibility, match requirements, funding cycles, and project examples such as an early learning center in Spokane, a rural library in Stevens County, and a youth clubhouse in Prosser. Members asked about behavioral health capital projects, including how many facilities have been opened and how capital planning aligns with operating funding; Commerce said it could provide more data later and noted it focuses on capital while HCA, DSHS, and DOH handle operating requests. Members also raised concerns about nonprofit financial stability, project licensure, siting, and the burden of non-state match, while Commerce emphasized shovel-ready projects, community match, and efforts to reduce application burden. The committee then heard an update on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard from Commerce. Staff reviewed Washington’s building emissions laws, compliance tiers, exemptions, incentives, and district energy system decarbonization planning under House Bills 1543, 1976, and 1390. Commerce reported nearly 5,000 inquiries in 2025, a fellowship program that has helped more than 250 buildings in 16 counties, and review of nearly 30 district energy plans. The presentation highlighted that over half of Tier 1 buildings are already meeting targets, that Tier 2 incentive applications suggest the 30-cent-per-square-foot incentive often covers compliance costs, and that district decarbonization plans face common challenges such as aging infrastructure, grid readiness, workforce, and inconsistent cost reporting. Members asked what additional legislative action might help, and Commerce said it was still learning from the new rulemaking and implementation changes. Western Washington University and Corex then presented on WWU’s campus heating conversion project and a possible off-campus thermal energy partnership with the Port of Bellingham. WWU described its aging steam system, high emissions, maintenance costs, and the $51 million in Climate Commitment Account funding it has received to transition toward an electric hot-water system using technologies such as geo-exchange, heat recovery chillers, and air-source heat pumps. Corex explained its existing district energy system at the Port of Bellingham, which uses industrial waste heat and is operating at very high efficiency, and said it is exploring a heat transmission line to WWU and possibly sewer-heat recovery. Testimony from WSU and UW supported the broader decarbonization effort but raised concerns about the scale of costs, deferred maintenance, and the need for predictable state funding. A contractor witness urged the state to think bigger about public-private partnerships and other financing tools rather than forcing campuses to compete for limited funds. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2330, which would create a prioritization process for capital funding for state campus district energy system decarbonization projects. Staff said the bill would establish a Commerce committee to score and rank projects, issue a preliminary framework report by December 30 of this year, and provide biennial recommended project lists beginning in 2028, while also studying barriers to energy-as-a-service contracts and public-private partnerships. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to create a thoughtful, predictable process for deciding which projects to fund, emphasizing energy savings, emissions reductions, operating cost reductions, shovel-readiness, and the value of public-private partnerships. Testimony was mixed but generally supportive: WSU and UW backed the bill as a way to advance compliance and predictability, though WSU warned that compliance costs could be very large and that the university would likely seek state help if fines were imposed. A contractor witness supported the concept but argued the bill should help build a larger funding “pie” through partnerships and financing tools rather than simply dividing scarce resources. The committee then opened and heard testimony on House Bill 2338, which would authorize community-scaled weatherization projects. Commerce staff said the bill would allow weatherization funds and matching funds to be used for neighborhood-scale projects affecting multiple dwelling units, while still prioritizing low-income households; the fiscal note estimated about $273,000 in FY 2027 and about $237,000 per biennium ongoing for administration. Supporters from community action agencies and Spark Northwest said the bill would improve health, safety, affordability, and contractor participation by allowing weatherization to be done at a community scale, especially in mobile home parks and low-income neighborhoods. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't poorly on public schools.
• Yet, we hear critics of public education freedom shout to keep public dollars in public schools.
• </c><02:17:56.639><c> Well,</c> public dollars in public schools.
• Well, public dollars in public schools.
• It worked just fine. public school choice system, our public public school choice system, our public

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The founders intended public service to be a temporary duty, an honorable calling to some...
• The public service to be a temporary duty, an honorable calling to serve the country for a term or two
• And as far as educating the general public, what is the plan to educate the general public?
• And now is the time when we need you to do your duty.
• All in favor to end the public hearing, aye. Right, the ayes have it. The public hearing has ended.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs was opened by Chair Joe McGonagle and Vice Chair Senator Mike Rush, who noted that Chair John Velis was deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard. The chairs explained the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, live streaming, and filing deadlines, and said the committee would hear 11 House bills and eight Senate bills dealing with federal and overseas issues. Much of the hearing centered on competing resolutions about Article 5 constitutional conventions, along with related resolutions on D.C. statehood, child labor, Citizens United, and Cambodia. Supporters of H. 4692 and S. 284, a joint resolution to rescind all prior Massachusetts Article 5 convention applications, argued that old resolutions from the 1930s and 1970s could be used to count Massachusetts toward the 34-state threshold for calling a federal constitutional convention. Testifiers from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, Reproductive Equity Now, labor groups, and others warned that a convention would have no clear rules, could not be reliably limited to specific topics, and could put civil rights, reproductive rights, labor protections, and other constitutional protections at risk. Several speakers also cited a recent federal lawsuit and said the safest course was to remove outdated applications from the books. A large opposing panel testified in support of H. 3888, a resolution calling for a Convention of States to propose amendments limiting federal power, imposing fiscal restraints, and establishing term limits. Supporters argued that Article 5 provides a lawful way to address federal overreach, debt, and congressional stagnation, and said the process would be limited by state applications and ratification by 38 states. Some committee members and witnesses raised concerns about a runaway convention, broad language in the resolution, and whether Congress could or should set rules for such a convention. Representative Gentile also testified in support of several related resolutions on overturning Citizens United, D.C. statehood, and the child labor amendment, while Representative Howard and Representative Tongue supported a Cambodia resolution condemning political oppression and urging free and fair elections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.