Transcript Highlights:

• If a rescue is providing shelter to pets, they must meet the same standards of care.
• I'm the Director of Government Affairs for Pet Advocacy Network, and I'm here today to support Senate

Bills: SB313, SB296

Keywords: Delaware Health Fund, healthcare access, preventive care, tobacco settlement, public health initiatives, grant program

Summary: The House Health and Human Development Committee met and considered a series of health, human services, and related bills. The committee heard and advanced House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13, which standardizes hospital charity care and financial assistance statewide, and Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, which restructures the Delaware Health Fund grant process with a more formal, transparent competitive rubric. Both measures received supportive testimony from DHSS, the Delaware Healthcare Association, and the Delaware Nurses Association, and both were released by committee on roll-call votes. The committee also released Senate Bill 313 with Senate Amendment 1, which places a temporary moratorium on acquisitions of nonprofit acute care hospitals by for-profit entities and expands notice/review requirements for sales of hospital real estate; Senate Bill 340 with Senate Amendment 1, which requires long-term care facilities to carry specified liability insurance, with questions raised about the exemption for state-owned facilities; Senate Joint Resolution 20, which directs DHSS to study independent assessment tools for Medicaid home- and community-based services; and Senate Bill 341, which updates Delaware Health Information Network law and formally recognizes DIN as the state’s health data utility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some discussion on constitutional concerns, insurance coverage, and the rationale for the state exemption in SB 340. Later, the committee advanced Senate Bill 257, which requires new animal shelters to be licensed and inspected before operating and removes a prior exception for certain rescue organizations; and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 278 with House Amendment 1, which allows earlier pre-authorization for summer child care enrollment and lowers copays for half-day care. Public testimony on these measures came from animal welfare advocates, YMCA representatives, and other stakeholders, all largely in support. Each bill was released by committee, with several votes walked for absent members, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is Senate language that creates a prohibition on pet stores with a grandfather of the existing
• Members, this is Senate language that creates a prohibition on pet stores with a grandfather of the existing

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up a series of conference amendments to House File 4188. The A24 amendment, described by nonpartisan staff as a technical change to data-sharing language, was modified on the floor to delete everything after the reference to section 295.52, then adopted. The A17 amendment, which adjusted effective dates in a previously enacted liquor bill so several provisions would take effect July 1 instead of August 1, was also adopted after staff noted it affected the happy hour provision and two other liquor-related sections involving coolers/nonalcoholic beverages and resorts. The A20 amendment, which changed notification language and directed penalties into a victim’s crime account, and the A22 amendment, a set of technical corrections requested by the Department of Commerce on reinsurance administration, were both adopted. The A23 amendment, adding residential mortgage originators and servicers into chapter 58, was likewise adopted. The committee then considered several Senate provisions. A motion to adopt Senate Article 4, sections 8 through 12, which would prohibit the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores with a grandfather for existing businesses, was debated and failed on a roll call because it did not receive enough House-side votes. A separate motion to adopt Senate Article 4, section 35, dealing with paddle wheel prizes and the maximum value of merchandise prizes for paddle tickets, also failed for lack of sufficient House-side support. Another Senate motion to adopt Article 4, sections 13 through 14, which would restrict minors’ access to chat bots and create Attorney General enforcement and a transition period, was discussed at length. Supporters framed it as a consumer protection measure, while Chair O'Driscoll raised concerns about enforceability and broader AI-related policy needs; the motion failed on a roll call. After the failed motions, the committee recessed to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• This establishes a regulatory framework specifically for pet insurance based on the National Association
• of Insurance Commissioners' pet insurance model act, which I had never heard of before.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on a decision-making agenda and took up a series of bills, mostly accepting committee recommendations with either technical or substantive amendments. HB 472 would allow digitized identification cards to be accepted as valid ID under certain circumstances; the committee amended it to clarify that a physical ID may still be required where state or federal law demands it, and the measure passed. HB 510 on water shortages and emergencies, HB 871 on the effective date of Act 130 relating to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, HB 1120 on the Department of Health’s nuisance-abatement authority, and HB 1162 on motorcycle instruction permits all passed with amendments or technical changes. HB 544 establishing a pet insurance framework, HB 995 extending reporting time for firearm carry license reports, HB 10002 extending the White Correctional Oversight Commission coordinator term, HB 1093 clarifying the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s powers, HB 1291 expanding labeling rules for winged brown coffee to roasted coffee, and HB 1348 on public-land recreation leases and county-resident lotteries also passed, with HB 1348 amended to require a lottery within a year of vacancy and to limit renewal conditions. The committee also discussed HB 76, requiring skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1259, which would change how speed limits can be reduced without an engineering study. One member raised concerns about HB 1259, arguing the language could allow unsafe reductions on state highways; the committee noted a no vote from that member, but the measure still passed. HB 76 initially passed as amended, then the committee briefly revisited it after a member said they had intended to vote no; on revote, the bill was adopted unamended. Throughout the meeting, members generally voiced no objections to the remaining measures, and each bill was reported out with the stated recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• vendor foster homes, defining pet vendor foster facility and relative to cruelty to livestock; Senate
• Senate Bill 475 relative to pet<03:20:44.880> vendor<03:20:45.200> foster<03:20:45.600>
• homes<03:20:46.000> defining<03:20:46.560> pet pet vendor foster homes defining
• pet pet vendor foster homes defining pet vendor<03:20:47.520> foster<03:20:48.000> facility
• projects in senator's own even pet projects in senator's own districts. districts. districts.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Katrina Fleer, medical director for Kentucky Pet IQ Clinics.
• :07:40.920> director<00:07:41.680> for<00:07:41.880> Kentucky<00:07:42.360> Pet
• Fleer, medical director for Kentucky Pet Fleer, medical director for Kentucky Pet IQ<00:07:43.040

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed several Fish and Wildlife regulations. Staff explained amendments to 301 KAR 2:176, 4:112, and 6:030, including updating wildlife control tag language, creating an impoundment agent program for seized wildlife, and clarifying boating safety rules. A member raised a concern about boat wakes near docks, and staff said the commission had recently voted on related changes that were not yet included because the regulation had been filed earlier; those changes would have to come back later. The committee approved the staff amendments without objection. The Board of Veterinary Examiners then presented 201 KAR 16:767, which would require veterinary managers to be physically present during business hours and limit them to five registered facilities. Board representatives said they had tried to meet with affected parties before the hearing but had not reached agreement. A representative for Kentucky Pet IQ argued the rule was written for full-service hospitals and would be impractical for short, limited-service clinics that only provide vaccinations, preventive care, and parasite testing. Members expressed concern about the rule’s impact on veterinary access in underserved areas, and the committee voted to defer the regulation until the next month so the parties could continue negotiating. The committee next considered Transportation Cabinet 601 KAR 9:120, the online insurance verification system, in both ordinary and emergency form. The chair said staff had identified conflicts with a bill passed the prior year and moved to find the regulations deficient. The motion passed on a roll call vote, with six ayes and two pass votes. The committee then found ordinary ABC regulations 804 KAR 12:020 and 12:030 deficient as well, again by six ayes and two pass votes, after noting that the emergency versions had already been found deficient the previous month. Finally, the committee reviewed Cabinet for Health and Family Services 902 KAR 55:110, which would require veterinarians to report dispensed controlled substances to KASPER while exempting administered medications. OIG staff said the rule was meant to align regulation with statute, which includes veterinarians as prescribers, and emphasized that the reporting duty applies to prescriptions, not administration to animals. Some members supported the change as a needed anti-diversion measure, while others worried about implementation burdens and timing. After discussion, the committee found the regulation deficient by a 6-2 vote. The meeting then moved into full review of 922 KAR 1:565, a Department for Community Based Services rule implementing kinship care provisions from Senate Bill 151; staff said it was needed for implementation once funding is available, but a member criticized the two-year delay and the inclusion of language conditioning implementation on funding. A public witness from the Kinship Families Coalition argued the rule should not shift the 120-day application window in a way that could affect federal funding eligibility and urged the committee to reject the regulation as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• their hard-earned dollars instead of us grabbing them as fast as we can and distributing wealth to our pet
• distributing<00:22:00.200> wealth<00:22:01.200> to<00:22:01.440> our<00:22:01.679> pet
• <00:22:02.000> projects Distributing wealth to our pet projects, distributing wealth to our
• pet projects that we see fit.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Gruenhagen said the RDA fund is kind of used as a slush fund for pet projects, and that this
• He said he is getting tired of seeing these pet projects come forward and wanting ratepayer money out
• as a<00:24:15.040> slush<00:24:15.560> fund<00:24:16.040> for<00:24:16.400> pet
• /c><00:25:16.280> of<00:25:16.400> seeing<00:25:16.720> these<00:25:17.200> pet
• just getting tired of seeing these pet just getting tired of seeing these pet projects<00:25:18.040

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pages R15 and R16 are Senate sections 13 and 14 amending the cottage food exemptions for home-processed pet
• cottage food exemptions for amending the cottage food exemptions for homeprocessed<00:43:29.760> pet
• homeprocessed pet homeprocessed pet treats.<00:43:32.240> Section<00:43:32.800> 15
• had been bought out and they were going to stop servicing large animals and concentrate solely on pets
• You have to have a vet to certify your pets going to the county fair.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes the Spay-Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation and the reproduction of free-roaming
• It establishes the Spay-Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation and the reproduction of free-roaming
• First to testify on this measure is BNF. spay neuter special fund to reduce pet spay neuter special fund
• Pet overpopulation is an intense issue in our state.
• would suggest that the committee support this measure in all of its contributions to reducing both the pet

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's those right now that are wanting to force us to go to animal shelters to adopt our pets.
• to<00:05:29.120> to<00:05:29.520> adopt<00:05:29.840> our<00:05:30.320> pets

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:20 SB 37 Discussion: 01:37 SB 37 Roll Call Vote: 06:21 SB 214 Discussion: 07:48 SB 214 Roll Call Vote: 09:48, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Senator Robin Webb, which would designate the Treeing Walker Hound as Kentucky’s state dog. Webb described the breed as Kentucky-originated, a working and hunting dog, and a fitting symbol of the commonwealth. Several members voiced support, including comments about preserving full-bred dogs and recognizing the breed’s working-dog status, and the committee voted unanimously to pass the bill. The next item was Senate Bill 214, presented by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Dana Feldman and Mark Manley explained that the bill would allow the department to accept and distribute non-federal grant funding directly, without going through the usual loan procedure with finance. They said the measure was needed in part because an emergency clause would let Kentucky pursue time-sensitive grant funding tied to a food-is-medicine initiative before July 1. Members expressed support for the funding opportunity and the bill passed unanimously. The meeting ended after both bills were approved without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, you know, I think that's one of my pet peeves. Thank you again for that question.
• One of my pet peeves, honestly, is I don't like the argument that if we're not good enough to teach them

Bills: HB4491, HB3240, HB4146, HB4158, HB4159, HB3718

Keywords: extracurricular activities, charter schools, student eligibility, virtual education, Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, prayer, religious freedom, public schools, consent, First Amendment, school policy, paid maternity leave, school employees, public health, childcare, work-life balance, education, family leave, tuition, grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Prosperity is the nation's only nonprofit pet grooming school, headquartered in Kansas City, with the
• Yes, I'm talking about pet grooming, but this concept is more than just giving a dog a bath.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You cannot buy pet food with SNAP benefits.
• to be tightened a little bit, and we'll have to look, but there is a requirement that you cannot buy pet

Transcript Highlights:

• My son was also attacked by the household pet. He was bitten in the face and pet.

Bills: SB140, HB235, HB276, HB317, HB340

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety

Transcript Highlights:

• industry where farms are invited to bring animals to public gatherings, so that children and adults can pet
• to public gatherings, industry that brewing were farms are invited to bring to public gatherings, pets
• , animals so that children and adults can pet them.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing focused on children’s health, disease prevention, screening, treatment, and pharmacy-related bills. The chair explained that the session was for public testimony only, with no votes or decisions taken that day, and outlined the three-minute limit for individual testimony. The committee then heard testimony on a range of bills, including H. 2413 on adding electromagnetic sensitivity to the state’s MAVEN registry, S. 1508 and H. 2433 on creating an amputation prevention task force, H. 2535 and S. 1551 on establishing a naloxone purchase trust fund, S. 1635 on authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, H. 2385 on creating a special commission on avian influenza, and S. 1497 on patient safety and non-FDA-approved compounded drugs. Testimony on H. 2413 came largely from advocates and individuals who described electromagnetic sensitivity as a real health condition and argued that adding it to the registry would improve data collection, provider education, and public awareness. Testimony on the amputation prevention task force bills came from the American Diabetes Association and podiatry groups, who said diabetes-related amputations are often preventable, disproportionately affect people of color, and could be reduced through earlier screening, better care coordination, and improved insurance coverage for preventive foot care. On the naloxone trust fund bills, a representative, emergency physician, and nurse testified that hospitals often cannot reliably send overdose patients home with naloxone because of billing and reimbursement barriers, and that a bulk-purchase fund would expand access at no added cost to payers or providers. The committee also heard strong support for S. 1635 from pharmacists and public health researchers, who said community pharmacists could safely initiate and maintain buprenorphine treatment and help close gaps in opioid use disorder care. On H. 2385, a local board of health chair supported a special commission on avian influenza, citing gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for clearer coordination across agencies. On S. 1497, a pharmacy representative opposed restrictions on compounded drugs from outsourcing facilities, warning that changes could reduce access to life-saving medications and harm patient safety. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, people have taken their pets to be groomed, anticipating the return of a clean and happy
• pet.
• Then, through negligent behavior, groomers have left pets in dryers...

Bills: SB203, SB317, SB731, SB801, SB823, SB867, SB1232, SB1380, SB1798, SB2082, SB2603, SB2607, SB2717, SB2797, SB2841, SB2919, SB3074, HB2, HB6, HB18, HB43, HB47, HB120, HB143, HB149, HB171, HB180, HB285, HB305, HB449, HB647, HB742, HB748, HB908, HB1024, HB1240, HB1306, HB1397, HB1443, HB1445, HB1533, HB1866, HB1902, HB2001, HB2011, HB2026, HB2282, HB2355, HB2402, HB2434, HB2440, HB2492, HB2516, HB2518, HB2560, HB2674, HB2688, HB2697, HB2712, HB2713, HB2715, HB3153, HB3161, HB3421, HB3424, HB3464, HB3486, HB3510, HB3627, HB3966, HB3986, HB4042, HB4044, HB4076, HB4263, HB4384, HB4396, HB4413, HB4426, HB4429, HB4945, HB4996, HB5033, HB5246, HB5436, HB5515, HB5667, SJR5, SB3, SB4, SB9, SB20, SB21, SB23, SB27, SB33, SB34, SB40, SB75, SB213, SB269, SB379, SB458, SB528, SB647, SB648, SB650, SB681, SB740, SB840, SB843, SB924, SB1061, SB1120, SB1121, SB1150, SB1188, SB1198, SB1202, SB1253, SB1318, SB1333, SB1405, SB1423, SB1535, SB1566, SB1574, SB1621, SB1709, SB1789, SB2037, SB2078, SB2268, SB2544, SB2570, SB2601, SB2778, SB1, SB17, SB260, SB509, SB1506, SB1637, SB1833, SB2155, SB2308, HB2525, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB1749, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3038, SB3045, SB1538, SB3071, SB3065, SB823, SB3062, SB3074, SB1380, HJR133, HB2715, HB2, HB26, HB388, HB2712, HB1633, HB685, HB1606, HB1458, HB1240, HB2791, HB1397, HB2061, HB647, HB4738, HB2563, HB128, HB766, HB2259, HB2358, HB4384, HB748, HB5180, HB3806, HB3804, HB3803, HB1522, HB3597, HB1612, HB4224, HB1314, HB1237, HB3126, HB2856, HB3114, HB3505, HB5652, HB2025, HB3395, HB18, HB2516, HB2713, HB24, HB519, HB609, HB1592, HB120, HB1533, HB2421, HB2273, HB2464, HB2011, HB5084, HB3424, HB4396, HB43, HB5686, HB2518, HB4310, HB180, HB149, HB4945, HB2434, HB3161, HB3745, HB4044, HB5155, HB5667, HB4996, HB2697, HB2492, HB2355, HB2282, HB2001, HB1902, HB1866, HB1445, HB1443, HB1306, HB1024, HB908, HB305, HB285, HB449, HB171, HB47, HB3464, HB2637, HB4263, HB5436, HB4429, HB3986, HB3966, HB3510, HB2560, HB2026, HB2688, HB4076, HB5246, HB3487, HB3486, HB4226, HB216, HB742, HB2402, HB143, HB5033, HB4413, HB4042, HB2440, HB4426, HB49, HB4112, HB3233, HB2310, HB5515, HB3627, HB2674, HB322, HB1481, HB126, HB3062, HB3421, HB3180, HB2530, HB2524, HB1916, HB3153, HB5650, HB4894, HB3120, HB1629, HB103, HB3234, HB3680, HB5698, HB3171, HB5693, HB2694, HB5664, HB3732, HB2508, HB2293, HB1991, HB2014, HB5331, HB5247, HB4751, HB4690, HB4668, HB4464, HB4395, HB4063, HB3833, HB3623, HB3214, HB3512, HB3250, HB3016, HB2520, HB2221, HB2213, HB3824, HB2067, HB1732, HB1562, HB700, HB1545, HB252, HB146, HB5596, HB1851, HB3619, HB3071, HB3556, HB851, HB4230, HB5320, HB5651, HB5670, HB5665, HB5437, HB5679, HB5699, HB5661, HB5662, HB5654, HB5672, HB5656, HB5149, HB4903, HB4743, HB4666, HB4377, HB4535, HB4129, HB3812, HB3801, HB3595, HB3057, HB2035, HB721, HB35, HB346, HB2974, HB2512, HB5695, HB5694, HB5671, HB5674, HB5688, HB1586, HB5154, HB2038, HB163, HB413, HB3463, HB3185, HB2761, HB2593, HB2348, HB2073, HB1828, HB1422, HB75, HB1871, HB108, HB2306, HB2017, HB1135, HB144, HB3689, HB5308, HB101, HB2193, HB5666, HB5677, HB5682, HB5680, HB5658, HB5696, HB4144, HB3159, HB3254, HB3866, HB3010, HB4520, HB3642, HB3928, HB3815, HB2686, HB2012, HB1960, HB227, HB654, HB1690, HB2128, HB4158, HB4530, HB4630, HB5659, HB1523, HB2078, HB2427, HB145, HB1973, HB3333, HB3697, HB3546, HB3225, HB3181, HB3133, HB3053, HB2885, HB2820, HB2294, HB2253, HB1661, HB1506, HB1234, HB640, HB621, HB551, HB521, HB493, HB272, HB229, HB223, HB201, HB186, HB119, HB2080, HB2818, HB5394, HB4795, HB4466, HB4454, HB3940, HB3749, HB3151, HB3284, HB1403, HB1106, HB2844, HB2851, HB1500, HCR141, HCR118, HCR127, HCR40, HCR59, HCR10, HCR135, HCR142, HCR9, HCR76, HCR108, SB823, SB1380, SB3074, HB47, HB143, HB149, HB171, HB285, HB305, HB449, HB742, HB908, HB1024, HB1240, HB1397, HB1443, HB1533, HB1866, HB1902, HB2001, HB2011, HB2355, HB2402, HB2434, HB2440, HB2492, HB2560, HB2688, HB2697, HB2712, HB3153, HB3161, HB3421, HB3424, HB3464, HB3486, HB3510, HB3986, HB4042, HB4076, HB4263, HB4413, HB4426, HB4429, HB4945, HB4996, HB5246, HB5515, HB2, HB2282, HB3627, HB5033, SR560, SR561, HB1904, HB2240, HB3686, HB3793, HB4202, HB1904, HB2240, HB3686, HB3793, HB4202

Keywords: student privacy, numerical class rank, education policy, academic programs, high school, monuments, memorials, public property, historical significance, civil penalties, local governance, SB 731, Texas, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, low-income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, senior housing, 55 and older

Transcript Highlights:

• protect the health safety or well-being<00:46:08.119> of<00:46:08.240> a<00:46:08.440> pet
• , and firefighters to enter an unattended vehicle to protect the health, safety, or well-being of a pet
• It also allows private citizens to rescue a pet animal that has been left unattended under certain circumstances

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• involved down we had children in a child involved down we had children in a child involved pets
• quite<00:19:24.400> a<00:19:25.000> difficult<00:19:25.280> situation pets
• it was quite a difficult situation pets it was quite a difficult situation but<00:19:25.960> we

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We run pets that we may have at home.
• We're serving our horse owners, but we're also looking after the pets that are so important to people
• also looking horse owners, but we're also looking after<00:11:54.000> the<00:11:54.240> pets
• > are<00:11:55.200> so<00:11:55.440> important<00:11:55.760> to after the pets
• that are so important to after the pets that are so important to people<00:11:56.320> and<00:

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Mississippi State University officials testified in support of the university’s separately funded agricultural, forestry, and veterinary units, emphasizing their economic impact, research output, and need for continued state support. Keith Cobalt, vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, said the division generates a $1.7 billion impact on Mississippi, but warned that state and local funding has not kept pace with federal dollars or inflation. He argued that global competition, especially from China and Brazil, is hurting row crop and forestry producers, and highlighted a Vision 2030 study finding about $10 billion in agricultural and forestry value leaves the state through value-added processing. He also raised concerns about rural depopulation and proposed rural innovation hubs to help retain population and jobs. Nick Frank, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said state appropriations make up about 25% of the college’s operating budget and are needed to support salaries, staffing, and service capacity. He described the college’s education, diagnostic, and clinical missions, including disease surveillance and responses to threats such as avian influenza, screwworm, and equine herpes virus. Frank said the college is expanding facilities with $18 million in 2024 state funding for a new farm animal hospital and cattle handling facility, but still needs additional support for equine and small animal renovations. He also requested support for rural veterinary scholarships and said inflation and salary competition from other schools and private practice are making retention difficult. In response to committee questions, Frank said the college enrolls about 118 to 119 students per class, with roughly 54 to 55 in-state students and tuition of about $29,900 for in-state and $53,000 for out-of-state students. He clarified that the “vet assistants” program is a four-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary medical technology, not a certificate. He also explained that staffing growth has largely been in the hospitals to address clinical shortages and improve care. Dr. Westberger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said Mississippi’s forests support a $19 billion economic impact, 84,000 jobs, and a $4.5 billion payroll, while also providing environmental benefits. He said the college and research center are nationally recognized, including an NSF ranking placing Mississippi State 10th in natural resource conservation research expenditures for a small university. Westberger highlighted research on forest management, pest detection, mass timber, wildlife disease surveillance, and value-added bioproducts, including efforts to attract mills and manufacturing. He said Mississippi has added 10 mills or mill expansions in five years with more than $1.5 billion in investment and over 1,000 high-paying jobs, and noted the college is planning a new mass-timber annex to address capacity and showcase the material. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• She actually has a pet monkey that she goes into town with.
• A friend of mine also had concerns about their pet monkey that rides a pet zebra at the same time.
• She actually<00:41:58.680> has<00:41:58.920> a<00:41:59.360> pet<00:41:59.680>
• <00:42:28.160> zebra their pet monkey that rides a pet zebra their pet monkey that rides a
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Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 19, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 122 members present, opened with prayer, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then took up two congratulatory resolutions: one honoring Layla Wishard of Hagerstown for winning gold with Team USA at the Junior Roller Derby Association World Cup in Australia, and another recognizing Delores Millhouse as the 2026 Maryland Mother of the Year. Both resolutions were read and adopted with applause. The House then considered a series of committee reports, primarily from the Committee on Economic Matters, and advanced multiple bills to third reading after adopting committee amendments and favorable reports. Measures included consumer contract protections in House Bill 103, workers’ compensation presumptions for hypertension in House Bill 347, broadband access and affordability in House Bill 382, housing and land-use changes in House Bills 548 and 894, data privacy in House Bill 711, franchise law changes in House Bill 730, a blockchain-based real property title pilot program in House Bill 810, bankruptcy exemptions in House Bill 1098, and telecommunications infrastructure protections in House Bill 1100. Several bills drew questions and were special ordered for further review. House Bill 711, the Data Privacy Act, prompted extended discussion about whether its geolocation provisions could affect stadium and venue security tracking; the sponsor said the bill was intended to close loopholes around cell phone and vehicle location data and would not change existing permission-based rules, but the bill was still special ordered until the next day. House Bill 894, the transit-oriented development bill, also drew questions about local government concerns and was special ordered, with the floor leader saying county and municipal groups were generally satisfied with the amendments. House Bill 1100 was also taken up after the amendments were adopted, and the title amendment process began as the transcript ended.