Transcript Highlights:

• THAT IS BAR CODE 37114. SENATOR GRALL. >> Sen.
• THIS IS A STATEWIDE PROCESS THAT DEALS WITH A UNIFORM METHOD.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In light of this, the Federal VA no longer authorizes new federal construction for anything other than
• <00:35:55.520> Descertifying construction can begin.
• Descertifying construction can begin.
• Currently, Kentucky veteran centers do not have a formal or uniform way for applicants or families to
• Currently, Kentucky veteran centers do not have a formal or uniform way for applicants or families to

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:00 Approve Minutes from November 13, 2025- 00:00:55 RiverLink Tolling Operations for Louisville Bridges-Quarterhill Testimony- 00:01:48 Staff Report on Veterans’ Centers- 00:26:45 Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Response to Staff Report- 0:58:53 Adjournment- 1:18:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the November 13, 2025 meeting and then heard testimony from Quarter Hill, the tolling subcontractor for RiverLink on the Indiana-Kentucky bridge system. Quarter Hill described its role in back-office support and call center operations for the Lincoln, Kennedy, and Lewis and Clark bridges, and said the contract began in 2021 with go-live in September 2023. The company reported that revenue has increased since it took over, customer service response times have improved, and it has been operating at a loss because the contract was based on outdated transaction estimates and did not account for higher-than-expected volume and added support costs. Members questioned Quarter Hill about the role of consultants, the low reported collection rate, and why the company was leaving the contract. Quarter Hill said a single large consulting engineering firm had been hired to help shape the RFP and contract, but argued that consultants and overly detailed requirements can create disputes and hinder efficient service. On collection rates, the company said the reported 85% rate reflects the absence of registration holds and other enforcement tools, and that the remaining unpaid tolls are the hardest to collect. The company also said it had lost significant money on the contract and had reached a change order and termination agreement, while emphasizing that the system itself was functioning well. The committee then received a staff report on Kentucky veterans centers. Staff said quality of care is generally high and staffing has improved, but reported occupancy figures are misleading because they are based on certified beds rather than functional capacity after conversions to single-occupancy rooms and capital projects. The report said actual occupancy is closer to 85% than the commonly reported 56%, and that increasing occupancy would not necessarily increase revenue because the state’s cost of care exceeds reimbursement and private-pay revenue. Recommendations included adopting functional occupancy reporting, continuing the move to single-occupancy rooms, reviewing modernization needs at Thompson Hood, including Eastern Kentucky in planning, and referring the Radcliffe HVAC procurement and installation to the Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney General for review.

Transcript Highlights:

• was left over, okay, and taking care of it, so it has there's no direct connection to this being a uniform
• care<05:04:42.480> of<05:04:42.600> it<05:04:43.080> so This being a uniform
• <05:11:53.958> people codings people codings people to<05:11:57.160> take<05:11:57.360>
• American codings American codings Association<05:16:38.718> um<05:16:39.240> his<05
• any cost that the state constructed any cost that the state incurs<05:39:41.080> to<05:39:41.320

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The discussion focused on a cannabis legalization/regulation bill and whether it should be retained for further study or moved forward. Members debated the fiscal impact, with one side emphasizing that the bill would cost about $7.1 million in the first two years before generating revenue, while supporters argued the House should make a statement in favor of legalization despite likely opposition from the Senate and governor. There was also disagreement over strategy: some said retaining the bill until closer to the next election would give the issue more visibility, while others said delaying would only avoid sending a bill the Senate was unlikely to take up anyway. A major point of contention was whether cannabis should be regulated by a new cannabis commission or placed under the Liquor Commission. Supporters of the Liquor Commission argued it already has enforcement infrastructure, especially for age restrictions, and could handle cannabis more efficiently without creating a new bureaucracy. Opponents said cannabis is a different industry that would require specialized expertise, and they objected to expanding the Liquor Commission, which they described as unpopular and costly. The committee also discussed past versions of the bill, including concerns about limited licenses and the perception that the earlier approach favored large businesses. Members reviewed specific provisions such as licensing fees, THC limits, and cultivation categories. One member noted a $10,000 fee for retail cannabis stores and cannabis product manufacturers authorized to perform extractions, while a smaller tier-one cultivator fee was described as a lower-cost option for small growers. There was also discussion of whether the bill would allow sales through general retail outlets or only dedicated cannabis stores, and whether plants and seeds were covered. No final vote or action was clearly recorded in the excerpt, but the main procedural question was whether to retain the bill for more work or advance it as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota made the historic decision to extend the same unemployment benefits long available to construction
• As currently constructed... literacy incentives send more money to districts with fewer struggling readers
• This benefit is there for all seasonal workers, like construction workers. and it should not be taken
• introducing himself to different staff members, and he comes across someone who's wearing a janitor uniform
• point of this on a... whether it is any of these industries—whether we're talking about our ESPs, construction

Bills: HF1388

Keywords: BARR Center, Building Assets, Reducing Risks, education finance, school funding, grant appropriation, evidence-based program, student achievement, social and emotional learning, school climate, teacher effectiveness, high school graduation, students in poverty, students of color, BIPOC, equity in education, Minnesota Department of Education, urban schools, suburban schools, rural schools, school coaching

Transcript Highlights:

• And to the point that was made, this is amending a code section that currently applies to private entities
• dependent, but I just think that if there's a question of actually making the exception broadly speaking uniform
• Oh, even in the Penal Code? Oh, fascinating. I didn't know that.
• When I saw a Penal Code bill, I understood.
• When I saw a Penal Code bill, I understood, and it changed.

Summary: The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard three bills. AB 250 by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry would extend a limited window for survivors of sexual assault to seek civil recourse against perpetrators and entities that allegedly covered up abuse. The author and supporters, including survivor Maya Alexander and Equal Rights Advocates, said many survivors need years before they can come forward and that the bill would improve accountability and public safety. One member raised concerns about the bill’s application to private employers and the exclusion of public employees, but the bill was advanced on a motion to Appropriations and later placed on call until additional votes were added. AB 373 by Assemblymember Rubio would require appointed counsel for non-minor dependents in extended foster care to represent the young adult’s expressed wishes rather than substitute the attorney’s judgment. Supporters from California Youth Connection and the Children’s Law Center said 18- to 21-year-olds in foster care are legal adults and should have their voices fully respected in court. Members discussed how the bill would work in practice and whether it applied only to appointed counsel; the bill was moved to Human Services and later cleared after additional votes were added. AB 387 by Assemblymember Alanis, as amended, would exempt probation officers from criminal jury service. The author and supporters argued probation officers are deeply involved in the criminal justice process, often get dismissed anyway, and should be focused on supervision and court-related duties rather than jury duty. The Judicial Council opposed the bill, warning that categorical exemptions shrink the jury pool and set a bad precedent. After debate over fairness, precedent, and the role of probation officers, the committee voted the bill out on a do pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The sense of duty has never ended for any veteran honorably discharged that takes off their uniform.
• As someone who wore the uniform, I can clearly tell you, veterans have never stopped serving.
• Even And the attendance system codes her absent because it's not correct.
• Even though it's in her IEP, it'll code her absent.
• It amends Title 17, the Education Code, relative to special school districts, to provide relative to

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Where are we getting the information about the false coding? Chair Alvarez: Thank you.
• Representative Skidmore: What is the consequence for false coding?
• If this is about coding, that is insurance fraud. This is against the law.
• Felony charges for coding. If it applies here, it is going to apply across the board.
• And the insurance companies are paying it because the codes are being manipulated.

Transcript Highlights:

• While current law under Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code and the Texas Constitution provides
• Heinrich case to claim they are immune from lawsuits brought under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments
• million rehabilitation of a building with no economic value and subjected us to dozens of spurious code

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2215, which would clarify that property owners may challenge municipal zoning ordinances that are adopted without following Chapter 211 procedures, and would expressly waive municipal sovereign immunity for declaratory, injunctive, and mandamus actions in those cases. The bill sponsor and witnesses argued it would simply enforce existing notice, hearing, and due process requirements and give landowners a practical remedy when cities fail to comply. Testimony in support came from attorneys and a landowner describing alleged zoning actions in Selma that they said occurred without proper notice or hearings and caused significant financial harm. After questions, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2639, which would add disclosure and compensation requirements for local historic designations, including compensation based on the greater of repair/restoration costs or the difference in appraised value with and without the designation. The bill author said it was intended to address situations where historic designation delays or blocks redevelopment and to ensure property owners are fairly compensated. A property owner testified in support, describing an Austin case in which a demolition permit led to historic designation and what he said was a costly forced rehabilitation. Opponents, including a preservation advocate and an East Austin resident, argued the current process is already rigorous, rare, and balanced, and that the bill would undermine cities’ ability to preserve historic places and community heritage. During closing on SB 2639, the chair raised a concern that Section 3B appeared to apply retroactively to pending cases, which he said could be unconstitutional under the Texas Constitution’s prohibition on retroactive laws. The committee did not resolve that issue during the hearing, and the bill was left pending. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would create a uniform process.
• Every student, regardless of zip code, background, or income, deserves access to the full promise of
• Every student, regardless of zip code, background, or income, deserves access to the full promise of
• I think even in this code section, we've added, you know, one every other year.
• I think even in this code section, we've added, we've added, you know, one every other year.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House added two sections of existing code for purposes of technical changes, aligned language in
• The House amendment removed the bond provisions to avoid a code conflict with another bill.
• the House announced the House amended and passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 670, adopting uniform
• protected series. ...passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 670, adopting uniform protected series

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you hate uniformity, but this is what the best standard is for this kind of program.
• One thing, another thing we talked about is with these plans, there's going to have to be some uniformity
• but— For example, in the area of pretrial detention and holds on a new violation, we are creating codes
• For example, there are personnel codes, and so an administrative department—say it's 601—an administratively

Transcript Highlights:

• That is not the construct under state law for the Environment Department.
• Because if I had, if I was looking for the national average of a zip code of income, and Bill Gates actually
• lived in that zip code.
• Well construction requirements are also in place to prevent Carbon dioxide or other formation fluids
• There's also been some concern about the adoption of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, which Colorado and

Transcript Highlights:

• during an ongoing housing construction during an ongoing housing shortage.<02:45:43.840> And<
• <05:23:05.920> and<05:23:06.160> sometimes don't always wear uniforms and sometimes
• don't always wear uniforms and sometimes they<05:23:06.798> look<05:23:07.040> like<05
• Just the cost of construction<05:35:04.080> alone<05:35:04.480> between<05:35:04.798>
• > a<05:35:04.958> nuclear construction alone between a nuclear construction alone between

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of those services is real estate, design, and construction.
• Design and construction.
• One of those services is real estate, design, and construction.
• To achieve the greatest cost savings, begin construction now.
• It's time to begin construction immediately at Gypsum Canyon.

Summary: The hearing focused on the long-delayed Southern California Veterans Cemetery project at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim, with opening remarks from Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, Senator Tom Umberg, and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia emphasizing the project’s importance to Orange County veterans and families. Anaheim city leaders, including the mayor pro tem and council members, voiced strong support and described the city’s role in planning, utilities, and final approvals. Quirk-Silva reviewed the project history, including prior legislation, county and state funding commitments, and the recent federal determination that the site meets VA criteria for a state veterans cemetery. The first panel, representing the veterans community, included the American Legion, American Gold Star Mothers, and Valor. They argued that Orange County—home to a large veteran population—still lacks a local veterans cemetery, forcing families to travel long distances to Riverside or elsewhere. Testimony stressed the emotional and practical burden on aging veterans and grieving families, and called for immediate action and possession of the property. Some speakers were sharply critical of CalVet and the pace of the process, saying veterans have waited too long and that the project should move forward without further delay. The second panel, from Orange County, described the county’s and cemetery district’s support and the unique opportunity to develop a shared site for a public cemetery and a separate state veterans cemetery. County officials said the county has dedicated land and funding, and that shared infrastructure—roads, utilities, grading, and access—could reduce costs substantially if the two projects are coordinated. They also said the county is ready to transfer the property to CalVet when appropriate and that the project has already cleared major local approvals and litigation. The final panel from DGS and CalVet explained the state’s feasibility study and current planning work. DGS said the 2023 study estimated the state’s portion of phase one at about $126 million, largely driven by site work and grading, though that estimate may change as assumptions are updated. CalVet said it is working with DGS and the county on a revised concept plan to lower costs and refine the timeline, and that legislative budget action will be needed to authorize spending from the Southern California Veterans Cemetery fund. No formal vote was taken; the hearing was informational, and the main action was continued coordination among the state, county, city, and veterans groups, with public comment at the end overwhelmingly urging faster construction.

Transcript Highlights:

• We typically fund construction projects.
• We typically fund construction funds. We typically fund construction projects. projects. projects.
• to not only fund capital construction to not only fund capital construction projects,<00:47:36.760
• So, you know, that was a construction project, right? The homes there didn't have sewers.
• So, you know, that was a construction project, right? These homes there didn't have sewers.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee received a budget and program update from Kentucky Emergency Management on the state’s urban search and rescue buildout. Eric Gibson and Doug Hargrave said the legislature’s funding was used to create FEMA-type urban search and rescue capacity, including Kentucky Task Force 1 and 2, the incident support team, and the helicopter aquatic rescue/hoist team. They emphasized that the effort is not just equipment purchases but also training, credentialing, warehouse and training-facility development, canine program expansion, and coordination with local search and rescue agencies across the Commonwealth. Gibson reported that the agency executed 99.4% of the $16.175 million appropriation by the end of the fiscal year and said the team met its readiness target ahead of schedule, with equipment already being deployed in recent flood response operations. He also said $500,000 per year was set aside for local search and rescue grants, with about $482,000 awarded to 29 teams in one year and $490,000 to 36 teams in the next, averaging about $20,000 per grant. Several members urged the committee to consider increasing support for local responders in future budgets, noting rising equipment costs and the importance of local teams as first on scene. Members asked about staffing, coverage, and benefits. Gibson explained that the task force is a mixed workforce of full-time fire personnel loaned from local departments, professional service staff such as doctors and engineers, and temporary deployment staff, with workers’ compensation coverage provided through KYEM and/or home agencies depending on the arrangement. He also said local search and rescue members are not currently included in line-of-duty death benefits. In response to questions about coverage and deployment, he described the two task force locations as designed to keep resources within roughly 100 miles of every Kentuckian. The discussion also turned to recent flood response and disaster recovery. Gibson said the state had mobilized up to 24 teams over the weekend, documented roughly 60 to 80 water rescues or assisted evacuations, and was seeing significant damage in counties such as Cumberland, Clinton, and Metcalfe, including agricultural losses. He said several counties were meeting FEMA public assistance thresholds and that the state was preparing a broader relief request that could include FEMA, SBA, and USDA assistance. He also updated members on efforts to claw back and reallocate unused “strained fiscal liquidity” funds by the statutory deadline, saying notices were sent and funds were redirected where possible to unmet local needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Up at Dartmouth, they gave me a sheet of paper that just said fetal anomaly with a code, and that was
• and that was my counseling I got a code and that was my counseling I got it<01:28:41.080> in<
• practice across the state but uniform practice across the state but it's<03:50:43.439> certainly<
• practice in the Fall Mountain uniform practice in the Fall Mountain School<03:50:47.199> District
• <04:41:56.958> within but you can create certain codes within but you can create certain codes

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 662, which would require public schools to include discussion of abortion procedures and show specified videos in health education classes. The prime sponsor argued the bill would ensure students receive medically accurate, age-appropriate, and nonpolitical information about abortion, saying the topic is important for informed decision-making and should be taught consistently statewide. He said the videos were intended for grades 9-12, that parents could opt out, and that the requirement was meant to supplement, not sway, students’ views. He also acknowledged the bill could be seen as limiting local control over curriculum and said the intent was to prevent the topic from being missed due to scheduling disruptions. Committee members questioned the sponsor about local control, the need for a video mandate, the source of his statistics, whether the bill could be biased or inflammatory, and whether the requirement should apply every year in high school. The sponsor said the videos were only a starting point, could be replaced by others, and were meant to be informational. He also said the bill was not intended to influence students’ decisions about abortion. Several supporters testified in favor, including representatives of New Hampshire Right to Life and others who said students should be told the “truth” about abortion and its consequences. They emphasized graphic or emotionally difficult aspects of abortion and argued that young people need this information to make informed choices. Opponents and skeptical witnesses raised concerns about prescribing curriculum, eroding local control, and the appropriateness of the material for younger high school students. The New Hampshire School Administrators Association said the bill was overly prescriptive, that health education standards are already set by the State Board of Education, and that the topics in the bill are not part of the current standards. That witness recommended the committee consider retaining the bill for further work or making it less prescriptive. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We lived through the Black Codes. We lived through the Jim Crow era.
• We lived through the Black Codes. We lived through the Jim Crow era.
• We lived through the Black Codes. We lived through the Jim Crow era.
• We lived through the Black Codes. We lived through the Jim Crow era.
• His achievements remind young people in our community that their zip codes do not limit their future,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. >> Thanks for taking time out of your day. support this bill to establish uniform support
• this bill to establish uniform storage<00:14:30.959> requirements<00:14:31.360> for<00:
• Under Article 13 of the Minnesota State Constitution, we have the duty to create a general and uniform
• <00:29:02.640> And<00:29:02.880> I uniform system of public schools.
• And I uniform system of public schools.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• police officers having to notify the military if they are aware that someone who is subject to the uniform
• code of military justice violated such an order.
• /c><01:07:49.359> um who is subject to the um to the um who is subject to the um to the um uniform
• <01:07:50.319> code<01:07:50.480> of<01:07:50.640> military<01:07:51.039> justice
• uniform code of military justice uniform code of military justice violated<01:07:51.839> such

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our members have long supported clear, uniform definitions of agritourism and policies that make it easier
• Our members have long supported clear, uniform definitions of agritourism and policies that make it easier
• PFAS-contaminated water until 2024, when a temporary million-dollar PFAS drinking water treatment facility was constructed
• Last year we lost our Broadway farm due to city construction projects.
• community garden a community farm and a farm stand last year we lost our Broadway farm due to city construction

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries held a public hearing on 19 legislative proposals, with testimony limited to three minutes per speaker and seven minutes per panel. The hearing opened with testimony on bills promoting urban agriculture and vacant-lot conversion, including H.121/S.61, which Green Roots staff and community members supported as a way to turn vacant lots in environmental justice communities into urban farms and gardens that improve food access, health, community cohesion, and climate resilience. Rep. James Arena-DeRosa also spoke in support of H.109/S.56, the PFAS bill, describing it as a measure to protect soil and farms from contamination and to create relief for affected farmers. A major portion of the hearing focused on H.109/S.56, which would ban land application of sewage sludge/biosolids, provide liability protection and relief funds for farmers, and address PFAS contamination in soil, water, crops, and animals. Testimony came from environmental groups, farm organizations, and individual farmers, including the Mass Food System Collaborative, Conservation Law Foundation, Clean Water Action, CEMAP, NOFA, Sierra Club, and several farmers who described contamination in Maine and Massachusetts and urged the committee to act. Witnesses emphasized that PFAS poses serious health risks, that farmers should not bear responsibility for legacy contamination, and that the bill should be paired with funding for testing, remediation, and assistance. Committee members asked questions about farm liability, the scope of the bill, contamination in different ownership situations, and the costs and timelines of remediation, with Senator Comerford and others clarifying that the bill is intended to protect farms and farmers rather than non-agricultural landholders. The committee also heard strong support for H.416, a farm-to-institution pilot program, from Rep. Lee Davis, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and Berkshire Bounty. They said the pilot would connect Massachusetts farms to schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, and other institutions, creating new markets, strengthening local supply chains, and supporting food-is-medicine efforts. Members discussed whether the model could be statewide and referenced existing programs such as Island Grown Initiative and local hospital and insurance partnerships. Another agricultural bill, H.1058, was supported by Rep. Mark Sylvia and the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association as a way to allow unused cranberry water rights to be transferred within the same watershed for municipal mitigation while helping growers retire or consolidate bogs. The hearing also included testimony on the broader farm omnibus bill H.112/S.55 and related measures, with the Massachusetts Farm Bureau and others praising the committee’s work on agricultural resilience, food security, agritourism, workforce development, and farmland access, while suggesting additional transportation-related fixes for farmers. No votes were taken during the hearing.