Transcript Highlights:

• these other groups are going to be paying the statutory contribution, but there's also an unfunded liability
• 00:05:32.520> also<00:05:32.759> an<00:05:32.919> unfunded<00:05:33.479> liability
• there's also an unfunded liability there's also an unfunded liability that's<00:05:34.639> that
• , as determined by the actuary, just so we know how much each employer's share of the unfunded liability
• ...as determined by the actuary, just so we know how much each employer's share of the unfunded liability

Keywords: Consideration of HB 73 02:23 Consideration of HB 441 07:24 Consideration of HB 462 18:44, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and considered three bills. House Bill 73, as amended by committee substitute, added We Lead CS to the list of agencies participating in the Teachers’ Retirement System administrative provisions. The sponsor explained the bill corrects an oversight involving a computer science education service provider established in 2022. A question about fiscal impact was answered with no expected fiscal note or actuarial impact. The committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 73 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 441 addressed teacher shortages by expanding the number of retired teachers and critical-shortage-area teachers school districts may hire. The sponsor said districts could hire retired teachers up to 10% of staff and critical shortage area teachers up to 10%, replacing lower current limits and a temporary COVID-era provision that had expired. Members asked about work limits, salary rules, and how often shortage areas are identified; the sponsor said retired teachers remain subject to existing earnings limits, critical shortage teachers are paid at least a rank-two, 10-year salary, and shortage areas are identified annually by the Commissioner of Education. Supportive comments noted the bill was a stopgap and that long-term solutions should include recruitment, retention, and pay. The committee passed HB 441 19-0 with favorable expression. House Bill 462 would allow county clerks to correct marriage applications or licenses by affidavit, without requiring a lawsuit in circuit court, when there are obvious errors or omissions. The Kenton County clerk and another clerk testified that the change would help people who need corrected records for Social Security, Real ID, inheritance, and other legal purposes, while still preserving data needed by Vital Statistics. Members described the bill as a practical efficiency measure. The committee passed HB 462 19-0 with favorable expression, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• General Municipal Law, and Public Officers Law, relating to certain traffic infractions, notices of liability
• , and adjudications and owner liability for a violation of traffic control signal indications in the
• General Municipal Law, and Public Officers Law, relating to certain traffic infractions, notices of liability
• , and adjudications and owner liability for a violation of traffic control signal indications in the

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held its final meeting of the 2026 session, with Chair Jeremy Cooney noting quorum and thanking staff and members. The committee considered a large agenda of transportation-related bills, including measures on school construction notice from NYC DOT, inspection station disclosures, electronic signatures for vehicle registration forms, sex trafficking awareness and prevention, passenger notification after sexual assault incidents involving transportation network companies, hazardous materials rail notifications, ATV seasonal use, highway dedications, disabled-person license plates, a DMV study of inspection stations and fees, lighting requirements for e-bikes and e-scooters, school speed zone cameras in New Rochelle, work zone safety instruction for new drivers, removal of registration stickers in favor of electronic certificates, complete streets considerations, hands-free device rules for bus/taxi/livery drivers, bans on virtual reality headsets while driving, early registration renewal for deployed service members, and road salt distribution requirements. Most bills were reported from committee by voice vote, often with bipartisan support. Several members offered brief comments supporting bills aimed at public safety, worker protection, distracted driving prevention, and trafficking awareness. Senator Gallivan opposed the bill eliminating registration stickers, citing concerns that the stickers help law enforcement quickly identify registered vehicles; that bill was referred to Finance. The committee also referred the road salt bill and the supplemental rail-worker protection bill to Finance, while some other measures were referred onward to Codes or Consumer Protection. The meeting closed after the supplemental rail-worker protection bill was added at the end of the agenda and reported with bipartisan support. Overall, the session emphasized transportation safety, worker protections, and administrative updates to vehicle and highway law.

Transcript Highlights:

• concerning removing the exception that authorizes a minor who is 16 years or older to marry with judicial
• 16 years older or older to marry with 16 years older or older to marry with judicial<00:39:18.000>
• approval<00:39:18.560> and<00:39:18.680> in<00:39:18.760> connection judicial
• approval and in connection judicial approval and in connection therewith<00:39:19.440> reducing
• concerning removing the exception that authorizes a minor who is 16 years old or older to marry with judicial

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• separating that out from the Delta Conveyance Project, so that a third element is to streamline judicial
• proposal that this body approved, I believe it was two years ago, and also modeled off of streamlined judicial
• Quality Control Plan Trailer Bill is designed to avoid adequate review, analysis, and public and judicial
• I would love to speak at length about the implications of this package on judicial review and water rights
• Circumventing legal review, interfering with the administrative process, changing judicial review.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the remarking of the assets on the balance sheet and obviously the remarking of the liabilities.
• our investment firm bought the control, and the balance sheet reflects a significant amount of liabilities
• We certainly can discern between liabilities and assets and what should be cleared out, and we can ask
• doing an asset transfer, and what will happen is the assets get moved into a new company and the liabilities

Bills: HB2007, HB2462, HB2621, HB2921, HB3187, HB3331, HB3332, HJR144, HB3514, HB3528, HB3539, HB3563, HB3720, HB3726, HB3751, HB3859, HB3947, HB4148, HB4164, HB4337, HB4346, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB5603

Keywords: commercial signs, county approval, transportation code, regulations, road signage, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, confidentiality, personal information, local government, airport data, public records, regional transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• to specify a level of patient consent for services, timeframes for renewal, document processes, liability
• insurance needs, and continuing education... ...document processes, liability insurance needs, and continuing
• I don’t know that I want to even take on the liability potentially of treating any of I don’t know that
• I want to even take on the liability potentially of treating any of these patients.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services took up two bills. Senator Burgess presented SB 116, the Senate Veterans Package, which would reduce the number of Veterans Hall of Fame nominations, expand FDVA health survey and coordination efforts, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot program, fix statutory references, improve coordination between Veterans Florida and FDVA, and require FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities for veterans and their families. An amendment was adopted to appropriate $300,000 for the suicide prevention training pilot and $50,000 for the health survey. The bill was supported in debate, especially for the adult day care provision, and CS/SB 116 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 294 by Senator Harrell, which would exclude specified cardiac conditions—such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, and cardiac arrhythmias—from the list of chronic health conditions that may be managed under collaborative pharmacy practice agreements. Senator Harrell argued that these complex conditions require direct physician involvement and that pharmacists should not be making medication changes for severe cardiac patients based on protocols alone. Senator Rouson asked why heart conditions had been included previously, and Vice Chair Davis asked about fiscal impact; Harrell said there would be no state cost, though patients might face additional out-of-pocket expenses, which she said could be offset by avoiding more serious complications. Public testimony on SB 294 was divided. The Florida Pharmacy Association opposed the bill, arguing that collaborative practice agreements are voluntary, physician-controlled, and already include safeguards, and that pharmacists are highly trained to help manage chronic conditions and improve access and outcomes. A cardiologist with the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology supported the bill, warning that cardiac patients are complex and that pharmacists may make dangerous decisions without the full clinical picture. Senator Burton also supported the bill, saying the original collaborative practice framework was not intended to let pharmacists diagnose or treat serious cardiac disease. SB 294 was then reported favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, Senators Rodriguez and Garcia asked to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 116, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fiscal note says the Judicial Branch asserts that this bill would eliminate statutory references
• The Judicial Branch recommends that if the legislature intends to eliminate the magistrate position,
• The fiscal note says the Judicial Branch asserts that this bill would eliminate statutory references
• The Judicial Branch recommends that if the legislature intends to eliminate the magistrate position,
• The Judicial Branch recommends that if the legislature intends to eliminate the magistrate position,

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This doesn't increase liabilities for MSRS General.
• <00:34:18.399> um<00:34:18.720> this liabilities for MSRS general. um this liabilities
• , the increase to accrued liability.
• the increase to acred liability the increase to acred liability.<01:06:17.039> So<01:06:17.119
• So that concludes my liability.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• safety and readiness, especially for Minnesota conditions, establishes clear accountability and liability
• Requires that $10 million liability coverage be maintained.
• Section 16 speaks to driver definition, liability, and reporting.
• The goal, of course, is real-time transparency and reporting, clear accountability and liability, and
• Finally, this bill clarifies liability Finally, this bill clarifies liability by<00:25:29.800>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this legislation may act as a liability shield, and um, I would fully support any liability shield
• President, it could have a serious chilling effect on valid product liability claims.
• President, it could have a serious chilling effect on valid product liability claims.
• President, it could have a serious chilling effect on valid product liability claims.
• President, it could have a serious chilling effect on valid product liability claims.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened, opened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. The House clerk then announced that the House had passed several bills and requested concurrence. The chamber also received second-reading reports for a number of bills and resolutions, which were referred to the Rules Committee, and committee reports from the Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee and the Judiciary Committee recommending passage of several measures. New resolutions were also introduced, including one honoring Michael Mingi, Amanda Maize, and Senator Maize Bledsoe, and another designating March 31, 2026, as Kentucky Transitional Science Day. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 145, relating to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The chamber concurred in House Committee Substitute 1 and House Floor Amendment 1, then passed the bill as amended by a roll call vote of 35 yeas and 2 nays. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 59, relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources. After adopting Senate Committee Substitute 1, members debated whether the bill’s enforcement provisions were needed to prevent public funds from being used to influence ballot questions; supporters cited prior school-related advocacy, while one opponent raised concerns about possible uneven treatment of schools receiving federal funds. The bill passed 28-9. Finally, the Senate took up Senate Bill 137, relating to a provisional license to practice medicine. Supporters described Kentucky’s physician shortage, especially in rural areas, and argued the bill would help recruit foreign medical graduates by allowing a path to licensure based on prior residency and work experience. A floor amendment was offered to preserve standards by emphasizing U.S. residency pathways and cautioning against lowering the standard of care, but the amendment was withdrawn after discussion. The bill remained under consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilities and eliminates liability from the utilities.
• What liability potentially?
• You're talking about legislation that would keep any liability off the public utility, but what liability
• That wildfire mitigation plan couldn't limit their liability.
• Liabilities, to people not being able to get insurance anymore.

Transcript Highlights:

• Liability is mitigated by capability.
• Um, if, um, with liability issues, if there is an increased liability on both the doctor and the nurse
• Liability is mitigated by capability.
• Um, if, um, with liability issues, if there is an increased liability on both the doctor and the nurse
• Liability is mitigated by capability.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled several referred administrative regulations, including a package from the Board of Respiratory Care described as a substantive housekeeping update to its regulations and incorporated materials. There were no questions from members, and the committee also heard from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, which was present in case questions arose but did not require action. Members then took up an amendment to the state health plan for facilities and services, specifically 900 KAR 5:02. Wesley Duke explained that a previously proposed criteria related to mega-voltage requirements, originally suggested by the Kentucky Hospital Association, was now being removed because the association no longer considered it necessary. The committee moved to accept the agency amendment, with a motion and second, and approved it without opposition. The committee next considered Senate Joint Resolution 23, a “food is medicine” resolution sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer. Supporters from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Hospital Association described the initiative as a voluntary, statewide effort already adopted by 52 hospitals, aimed at improving patient health while supporting Kentucky farmers and local food systems. Members discussed access to healthy food, grocery-store availability, school nutrition, and the need to reduce barriers to local procurement; the resolution was adopted unanimously after a roll call vote, with one senator briefly explaining a late vote due to weather. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 12, which would allow mid-level practitioners to serve as the leader of a Level IV trauma center under physician direction. The sponsor and witnesses from Appalachian Regional Healthcare argued the change would help address rural trauma-care shortages, align with national standards, and improve access without changing scope of practice or other trauma-center requirements. Several members raised questions and comments about rural access, liability, costs, and the broader health impacts, but no vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, do you have a decent estimate of what the unfunded liabilities are of Seven Counties in the bankruptcy
• "Um, it's still low and sitting there and we have building unfunded liabilities all the time.
• <00:14:15.839> all have building unfunded liabilities all have building unfunded liabilities
• <00:15:19.279> of<00:15:19.360> the<00:15:19.440> unfunded<00:15:20.000> liability
• recover some of the unfunded liability recover some of the unfunded liability that's<00:15:20.880

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Government Contracts Committee first approved the minutes from its July 8 meeting and then moved through a large agenda of contracts and deferred items. The committee deferred a Kentucky Education Television contract because the vendor was still not registered with the Secretary of State, and also deferred a University of Louisville contract to the September meeting at the university’s request. Both motions passed by roll call. The committee then took up a contract with the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities for Seven Counties Services. Committee members questioned why the state continues funding the provider despite its ongoing bankruptcy tied to unpaid retirement contributions, how the funding split is determined, whether the state had explored other providers or direct state delivery, and whether all services in the contract are truly required by statute. Agency officials said Seven Counties is the statutorily designated community mental health center for the region, serves about 24,500 people, and provides core safety-net services that would be difficult to replace; they also said the bankruptcy dispute is still ongoing and the contested amount is about $20 million. The committee ultimately deferred the contract to the next meeting and requested additional information on the scope of services and potential offsets or recovery of unfunded liabilities. The final deferred item was a Department for Community Based Services contract with Youth Villages for the Intercept program. DCBS explained that the program is used because it is an approved evidence-based service under the Family First Prevention Services Act, that Youth Villages has Kentucky staff and offices even though it is headquartered in Tennessee, and that the contract is intended to support intensive in-home services, foster care stabilization, and family reunification. Members asked why the services could not be provided in-house, whether Medicaid should cover more of the cost, and whether the state requires the provider to bill Medicaid as a payer of last resort. DCBS said it would verify billing and funding details and provide them back to the committee. The committee then voted to defer the contract to the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Issues wide ranging from resources and land use planning to legal liabilities to the effect on investor-owned
• And like other systems where you slowly accrue liabilities that you didn't recognize, I think maybe to
• When we reduce wildfire risk, we reduce losses, we reduce liability, and most importantly, we reduce
• the We reduce wildfire risk, we reduce losses, we reduce liability, and most importantly, we reduce the
• The cost and liabilities would be astronomical, and as we have seen in a severe fire, it can occur at

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason this is in there is liability.
• <00:34:05.799> in<00:34:06.000> there<00:34:06.240> is<00:34:06.679> liability
• <00:34:07.679> um reason this is in there is liability um reason this is in there is liability
• :34:23.040> purged<00:34:23.480> because<00:34:23.599> the<00:34:23.720> liability
• then it's purged because the liability then it's purged because the liability goes<00:34:24.359>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, uh, something to limit liability.
• And finally, uh, something to limit liability.
• And finally, uh something to limit<00:32:57.200> liability.
• If this information is limit liability.
• <00:33:06.559> of<00:33:06.720> the<00:33:06.880> provider limit the liability

Bills: HB1751, HB1752, HB1531, HB1577

Keywords: Hawaii National Guard, tuition assistance, graduate degrees, education, military personnel, funding, school districts, state budget, performance metrics, emergency announcements, American Sign Language, accessibility, public safety, broadcast media, Smart911, 911, 911 Board, emergency response, public safety answering point, PSAP

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety held its first hearing and began with House Bill 1531, which would require the governor or county mayor to provide an ASL interpreter during official emergency announcements broadcast on television or the internet, ensure the interpreter is visible, and require news outlets to show the interpreter in a picture-in-picture window. Testimony was strongly supportive from disability advocates, who said live captions can be inaccurate and that ASL access is critical during emergencies, but broadcasters raised practical concerns that the bill as drafted could require extra camera crews and reduce coverage. Members discussed possible alternatives such as government-provided pool feeds and interpreter placement, and the chair recommended deferring decision-making on the bill to the following Wednesday to allow time for amendment language. The committee then heard House Bill 1751, which would expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel. The Hawaii Army National Guard, the Department of Defense, and University of Hawaii representatives supported the measure as a recruiting, retention, and professionalization tool. A member asked about funding, and the response was that the program is funded through a state appropriation currently set at $250,000 and was described as sufficient at present. The bill drew no opposition in the hearing. Next, House Bill 1752 was taken up. This measure would remove the Adjutant General as a nonvoting ex officio member of the HAIMA advisory committee and add the HAIMA administrator as a nonvoting ex officio member of the MSAC. The Department of Defense and Department of Health supported the bill, with the Department of Health asking that it be aligned with other EMS modernization provisions in the governor’s package so the related measures remain consistent. No objections were raised. The committee also heard House Bill 1577 on 911 services, which would require the 911 Board to establish a statewide emergency safety profile system for residents to voluntarily store emergency-relevant personal information. The Department of Health, disability advocates, the 911 Board, and others supported the concept, saying it could improve emergency response for people with disabilities, kūpuna, families, and others with functional needs. Testimony also raised concerns about funding, system integration, confidentiality, advanced directives, and liability protections if information does not reach responders in time. Members discussed statewide coordination and existing county systems, and the hearing continued with those issues unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other kind of off topic stuff talk about the Biden document I could talk about in terms of liability
• This is a huge constraint and liability for districts.
• The potential liability on the adoption in that way by locals.
• So I don't think this increases liability.
• As it relates to any potential liability. on who a local agency reports to and make sure that they're

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as important, HB 80 reduces the risk of unfunded environmental liabilities becoming future budget
• They are historic liabilities that require a responsible long-term solution. remediate wells.
• They are historic liabilities that require responsible long-term solution.
• it should satisfy the somewhere between $600 million estimate and $1.2 billion estimate that the liability
• And one of our big liabilities, particularly in the next few years, is going to be around some of the

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• Assuming a higher general salary growth assumption will impact the calculation of the liabilities of
• And so if we compare the current assets of $6.6 billion versus the future value of liabilities, which
• In other words, we passed a major bill dealing with delaying the funding to the unfunded liability, and
• But the suspension of the funding of the unfunded liability, I thought that was kind of a major, major
• I think the assumption on some of the bills was to close the unfunded liability, and I'm just curious

Summary: The committee approved the July minutes and then received an informational presentation from the Office of the State Actuary on the financial condition of the state retirement systems. The actuary reported that employer contribution rates are generally declining, helped by strong investment returns and reduced funding for PERS 1 and TERS 1, while funded ratios have continued to improve; on a combined basis the plans were reported at 100% funded in 2024, with open plans above 95% and legacy plans varying by system. The presentation also reviewed projected rates and funded ratios under current assumptions, noted that pension costs are taking a smaller share of the state general fund, and discussed risks from investment volatility, policy changes, and demographic experience. Committee members asked about savings from lower rates, deferred asset smoothing, and how Washington compares with other states. The committee then considered the state actuary’s recommendation on long-term economic assumptions and adopted all four recommendations by roll call votes: inflation at 3.0%, general salary growth at 3.5%, membership growth for Plan 1 funding at 1.0%, and investment rate of return at 7.25%. The actuaries explained that the inflation and salary growth increases were driven largely by higher long-term inflation expectations, while the investment return recommendation matched the current statutory assumption. Members discussed the timing of the Pension Funding Council’s decision, the effect of tariffs and inflation uncertainty, and how assumption changes would affect future contribution rates and budgets, particularly for open plans. Staff then gave an update on the LEOFF 1 study, explaining the difference between being “ahead of schedule” and truly overfunded, and summarizing responses received from DRS, the State Treasurer, and the State Investment Board on the merger and restatement proposals. DRS said both bills could be administered, though the merger bill’s COLA banking provision would be challenging until its new system is ready; the Treasurer urged caution, especially about the restatement bill and the use of one-time funds; and the Investment Board said removing assets from the trust would have some transaction costs but likely small impacts. The committee discussed whether to invite additional agencies and local government groups to testify, and staff said more responses, including from Ice Miller and the State Actuary, were expected for the October meeting. Finally, the committee heard a briefing on PERS 1/TERS 1 COLA policy and related bills from the last session. Staff reviewed the committee’s prior ongoing COLA recommendation, the SCPP-endorsed bills that would have created a one-time 3% COLA followed by an ongoing COLA, the Senate merger bill, and a separate ad hoc COLA bill. Public testimony largely supported Plan 1 COLAs and stable contribution rates, while several speakers urged caution about transferring LEOFF 1 surplus assets or merging legacy plans, and others raised concerns about climate risk and the pension fund’s investments. No further committee action was taken on the COLA item during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• > or<00:20:50.640> damages<00:20:52.080> unless<00:20:53.039> the civil liability
• or damages unless the civil liability or damages unless the conduct<00:20:53.840> constitutes
• same duties, proceed in the discharge of duties in the same manner, and be subject to the same liabilities
• same manner, and be subject to the the same manner, and be subject to the same<00:29:12.399> liabilities
• as listers pursuant to same liabilities as listers pursuant to the<00:29:14.240> Vermont<00:29

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Rep. Chris Keyser centered on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” using the poem as a reflection on legislative choices, compromise, and service to the common good. After the devotional, the chamber took up a large slate of introductions, with 21 House bills read by number only after a successful motion to suspend the rules. The House also read HR12, a resolution supporting the principles behind Gov. Phil Scott’s statement regarding federal ICE and CBP activity in Minnesota, and placed it on the calendar for action the next legislative day. The House then concurred in JRS38, a joint Senate resolution setting weekend adjournment for January 30, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 3, 2026. During announcements, members recognized guests from Third Act Vermont, wished the member from Burlington a happy birthday, invited members to a Universal Health Care Caucus meeting, and promoted an evening Farmers Night performance. The House also voted to rescind journalization and expunge remarks previously entered by the member from Swanton from Friday’s House Journal. In orders of the day, the House rejected concurrence with the Senate’s further proposal of amendment to S.23, an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections, and instead requested a committee of conference; the chair appointed Reps. Byron, Hango, and Waters Evans as conferees. The chamber then passed H532, relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. It also adopted the committee’s strike-all amendment to H270, relating to confidentiality for peer support counseling among emergency service providers, after favorable 11-0 committee action; the bill was then ordered to third reading. Finally, the House amended and ordered to third reading H516, approving amendments to the charter of the town of Essex, after discussion of charter changes including select board vacancies, moderator procedures, town appointments, accounting requirements, and related technical updates. The House then adjourned until January 29, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.