Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, Madam Chair, I agree.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, committee.
• support</c><00:43:28.160><c> these</c> you there we want you to support these you there we want you to
• thank thank you thank you thank you<00:45:24.200><c> Senator</c> you Senator you Senator Douglas<00:
• Thank you.

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00 Roll Call 16:20 HB 90 Discussion 17:00 HB 90 Vote 25:40 HB 398 Discussion 30:55 HB 398 Vote 38:52 HB 580 Discussion 40:10 HB 580 Vote 42:10 HB 87 Discussion 44:12 HB 87 Vote 44:54 HB 422 Discussion 46:00 HB 422 Vote 46:43 Adjournment 47:20, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 12, 2025, after waiting for the Senate to adjourn so the committee could officially convene. The committee first took up House Bill 90, which concerned freestanding birthing centers and related medical language. Testimony from Representative Jason Nemes, Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky, and a representative from Kentucky Right to Life focused on clarifying what medical procedures are not abortions under Kentucky law, including miscarriage management, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, and stillbirth. Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to reduce confusion and barriers to care for physicians and patients, while Senator Armstrong and Senator Berg raised concerns about the late-arriving substitute, terminology, and whether the bill was being accurately described as supported by ACOG. The committee substitute and title amendment were adopted, and House Bill 90 passed with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 398, relating to occupational safety and health. Representative Walker Thomas said the bill would prevent Kentucky from adopting or enforcing regulations stricter than federal OSHA standards, arguing it would create uniformity for businesses operating in multiple states while preserving worker safety. Senator Armstrong questioned what would happen if federal OSHA were eliminated and argued the bill could reduce Kentucky’s ability to address state-specific workplace hazards; Representative Thomas responded that Kentucky is a state-plan state and would retain the ability to act if needed, and that the measure was about administrative regulation rather than legislation. After a committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed 8-1, with Senator Armstrong voting no. House Bill 580, concerning alcohol and drug counselors and peer support specialists, was presented next. Representative Kim Moore and Elena Sweezy explained that the bill would add structure, training, and supervision requirements for peer support specialists, limit group settings to eight patients, shorten temporary peer support status to nine months, and require additional supervision hours so trainees can complete required training. The bill passed with favorable expression, with Senator Nemes voting no. House Bill 87, relating to employment and occupational licensing, followed; Representative Emily Callaway said it would reduce barriers for people with felony records and help “second chance” citizens enter the workforce. Several senators supported the goal but Senator McDaniel noted caution about substance-use billing and oversight, and the bill passed with favorable expression. Finally, House Bill 422, relating to administrative regulations, was described by Representative Derrick Lewis as a streamlining measure that would reduce paperwork and simplify the regulatory process. It also passed with favorable expression, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair: Uh, before we call the roll, I'd like to introduce a couple special guests.
• Glad you all made it up here. And Madam Clark, please call the roll.
• So thank you, Mr. Chairman. Any other questions? Clerk, please call the roll. Oh, do we have one?
• You good? Okay, clerk, please call the roll. Representative Banta, yes.
• Any questions or comments before we vote? Clerk, please call the roll. Clerk, please call the roll.

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order 01:55 Attendance Roll Call 02:10 HB 422 Discussion 03:35 HB 422 Vote 04:55 HB 6 Discussion 11:30 HB 6 Vote 16:45 HB 87 Discussion 20:22 HB 87 Vote 21:43 HB 255 Discussion 24:33 HB 255 Vote 26:19 HB 437 Discussion 29:09 HB 437 Vote 30:25 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 6, sponsored by Rep. Wade Williams, which would require administrative regulations with a major economic impact of $500,000 or more over two years to go through the legislature. Williams argued the bill would rein in regulatory overreach, improve transparency, and still allow emergency regulations. Several members raised concerns about executive-branch authority and the role of subject-matter experts, while others supported the bill as a way to improve communication and legislative oversight. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to the House floor. The committee then considered House Bill 87, sponsored by Rep. Emily Callaway, with a committee substitute adopted first. The bill is aimed at reducing barriers for people with felony records who are seeking occupational licenses, while preserving existing public hiring practices for cities and counties. Callaway said the changes were mostly technical and intended to make the process more transparent, with no fiscal impact. The committee approved the bill, and it passed with the committee substitute. House Bill 255, sponsored by Rep. Amy Neighbors, also passed with a committee substitute. The measure updates and modernizes the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy statutes, which sponsors said have not been substantially revised since 1958. Supporters said the bill clarifies outdated language, defines terms more clearly, and better reflects current practice, including physical therapist assistants. The chairman noted the long effort to update the practice act and praised the work of the stakeholders involved. Finally, House Bill 437, sponsored by Rep. Tony Hampton, was presented as a cleanup bill for alcohol beverage control law. It would limit state and local ABC administrators and investigators from making arrests unless they are POP certified, while leaving their other authority intact. Hampton and supporting witnesses said the change would align the statute with other law enforcement certification requirements and help keep civilian administrators from being put in harm’s way. The transcript ends during discussion of this bill, with no final vote shown.

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7cZDaKEaEo, 2026-06-21T07:17:08+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:10 Approval of Minutes – 00:01:07 Demographic Changes in KY and Jefferson County – 00:01:35 Overview of Education Governance – 00:44:56 Announcements and Adjournment – 01:33:57, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n35DlZ5iXWU, 2026-06-21T07:17:02+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:01 SB 48 Discussion: 00:01:05 SB 48 Roll Call Vote: 00:25:32 Discussion on the TANF Block Grant: 00:26:25 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations: 00:59:36, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• Um do you do you have any &gt;&gt; Thank you.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Thank you Thank you, Mr. Chairman. &gt;&gt; Thank you Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• We will tell you you have to pay that back.
• We will tell you you have to pay that back.
• &gt;&gt; Thank<00:42:29.160><c> you.</c> &gt;&gt; Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank you.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:54 Pension System Update 00:03:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee held its first official interim meeting after merging the General Government and Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement committees, establishing a quorum and opening with the pledge and prayer. Members then received a briefing from KPPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Aaron Sarock on the state retirement systems, including KERS, CERS, and SPRS, and on the importance of fully funding the actuarially determined employer contribution, supplemental appropriations, and investment earnings in reducing unfunded liabilities. They said the systems have made progress toward a statutory closed amortization target of 2049 and emphasized that supplemental funding lowers current employer contribution rates but does not change that end date. A major topic was federal and state reemployment-after-retirement rules for retirees who return to work with participating employers. KPPA explained that retirees must have a bona fide separation from service, no prearranged agreement to return, and generally a one-calendar-month break in service for retirees on or after January 1, 2024. If a member fails to comply, retirement benefits can be voided, payments stopped, health coverage ended, and benefits repaid. The presenters also noted that rehired retirees do not earn a second retirement account, and employers rehiring them must pay employer contributions and, in non-exempt cases, reimburse health insurance costs. Members asked about the scale of rehired retirees and the difference between employer contribution and health insurance reimbursement amounts. KPPA said that in fiscal year 2025 there were over 3,500 rehired retirees in CERS and over 5,000 in SPRS, with substantial employer contributions and health reimbursement payments collected. They also explained that some positions are exempt from these chargebacks, including school resource officers and certain law enforcement positions that meet statutory criteria. The committee discussed House Bill 213, which allows cities, sheriffs’ departments, and post-secondary institutions to offer health insurance to rehired officers if authorized by the governing body, effective August 1, 2026, and clarifies the fiscal-year basis for certain exemption limits. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you want to, everyone please silence their phones, and we'll ask, call the roll, please. >> Senator
• You know, you always say what do you need?
• You can count on us no matter what, but I'd like to make it official and people know exactly who to call
• And, you know, that's one of the first calls when something happens. Thank you, Mr.
• We want them to call us if they don't already have, you know, our information.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20 Kentucky Humane Society 00:01:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Alyssa Gray, president and CEO of the Kentucky Humane Society, on the organization’s statewide animal welfare work and its request for a $5 million matching contribution from the General Assembly for a new Kentucky Animal and Community Campus in Louisville. Gray said KHS, an independent nonprofit founded in 1884, serves cats, dogs, and horses, reaches 96 counties, provides shelter relief, spay-neuter services, low-cost veterinary care, and disaster response, and has supported communities during recent tornadoes and floods. She described the new campus as a hub for disaster housing, shelter transfers, veterinary training, and expanded services to reduce overpopulation and relieve pressure on county shelters and local governments. Members asked about the campus’s location, staffing, veterinary student involvement, and the scope of KHS’s services. Gray said the new site would be next to KHS’s current spay-neuter clinic on Preston Highway, that the facility would include shelter medicine, high-volume spay-neuter, and a low-cost clinic, and that it could host veterinary students and interns for hands-on training. She also explained that KHS works with county officials and shelters to move animals during crises or cruelty cases, can connect counties with partner organizations when KHS is full, and provides mobile clinic services and occasional grant support for rural shelters. Committee members praised the presentation and discussed how KHS could fit into disaster recovery planning. One member suggested the organization could be folded into long-term recovery efforts because of its role in post-disaster animal care. The presenter said KHS wants to be a formal disaster response resource and already works with the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and other partners. No vote on the funding request was taken during the meeting. At the end of the meeting, the committee noted it still lacked a quorum, so approval of the minutes was postponed to the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for October 15. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, thank you.
• All right, thank you, sir.
• that is exactly what I would call this budget that you all passed last year.
• This year there was $850,000 for next fiscal year, 2026, a million dollars. call this budget that you
• all passed call this budget that you all passed last<00:01:40.720><c> year</c><00:01:40.920><c> and<

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:19 Department of Agriculture 00:01:29, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met with Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell to discuss the Department of Agriculture’s current budget priorities and the impact of recent legislative investments. Shell praised funding for the Farms to Food Bank program, saying it helps food banks serve Kentuckians, especially seniors, while also supporting farmers. He also highlighted County Fair Grant funding, noting a $250,000 increase helped finance a record nine county fair projects, and he described the Raising Hope rural mental health, suicide prevention, and farm safety program as life-saving, citing one event in Owensboro where 14 people were sent to the hospital after health screenings. Shell also addressed emergency preparedness and bird flu response, saying the department’s Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response is working effectively and that Kentucky has not had affected commercial or backyard flocks, only some wild geese cases. He discussed federal efforts to address egg prices and avian influenza, including biosecurity, farmer relief, and research funding, and said he expects those actions to affect prices in the coming months. He also urged the committee to codify Senate Bill 28 and referenced House Joint Resolution 371, which he said would allow the department to retain $5 million for rural economic development efforts aimed at attracting processors and other large-scale operations. In response to questions from Representative Hart, Shell said the department’s disaster role is mainly to coordinate response plans and identify agricultural needs for state and federal relief, rather than provide direct relief funding itself. He said recent flooding in Eastern Kentucky has mainly affected hay supplies for livestock producers, and that the department is working with the Cattlemen’s Association and UK Extension to locate affected farmers and secure hay donations. Shell closed by asking for continued support for agriculture economic development and for improved staff recruitment and retention, saying the department struggles to compete with other state agencies for employees. The meeting ended with thanks and adjournment, with the next meeting announced for the following Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you.
• all know Mr. for Wayne Hunt, who we you all know Mr. for Wayne Hunt, who we call<00:05:22.160><c> the
• I know some of you have maybe also taken that trip before.
• </c><00:44:39.280><c> It</c> to you. So I have a map for you. It to you. So I have a map for you.
• So thank you. you. you. &gt;&gt; Good<00:53:23.040><c> stuff.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:18 KOAP Report 00:58 Approval of Minutes 53:58, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met on June 11 but did not have a quorum, so it could not approve the prior minutes. The committee then received a compliance and program update from Brandon Reed and Bill McClowski of the agricultural development board, who said the office is fully staffed, has digitized most records, and has added a Facebook page to share board actions, projects, and compliance work. They also reported that the board and finance corporation continue to operate with strong county-council participation and that the office had completed numerous site visits, program reviews, and project closeouts over the reporting period. The presenters reviewed monthly funding actions from December through May, including board approvals ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars, with a December finance meeting delayed by a snowstorm. They highlighted that the Kentucky Agriculture Finance Corporation now has 57 loans generating more than $2 million per month in payments, and that the revolving loan program has grown to support more than $24 million annually in repayments available for relending. They also noted that 75% of the portfolio is in beginning farmer loans and that the office had recently surpassed 1,000 active loans. Several projects were discussed in detail. These included a grain facility in Callaway County supporting organic corn production for expanding egg-layer operations, a Union County cattle business expansion, a West Liberty Veterinary Clinic project to build a working cattle facility, a Grayson County farmers market project, a Casey County veterinary services project, and a packing warehouse for the Kanye family to support specialty crops. The presenters emphasized that county and state tobacco settlement funds are often combined, sometimes with participation loans, to leverage local investment. They also stressed the importance of supporting greenhouses, farmers markets, specialty crops, and large-animal veterinary services as key agricultural priorities. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the lack of quorum and the informational presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cot, are you going to do your presentation like you did up here? Have you got your video set up?
• Thank you. >> Thank you.
• Thank you. &gt;&gt; Those are excellent answers. Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:08:36.479><c> you.
• Thank you so much. >> Yeah, it is an edible mushroom. I've eaten it before.
• , uh, because you just can't eat any mushroom out there. >> And so, so we call them mountain oysters

Committee: House Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 01:17 SB 19 Discussion: 02:23 SB 19 Vote: 16:41, 958, all

Committee: House Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 01:00 HB 506 Discussion: 02:26 HB 506 Vote: 18:04, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if you would please call the roll. >> Representative Fister. >> Here. >> Representative Gber. >>
• Madam Chair, thank you, and members, thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to be here to talk
• For those of you who were here at that time, if you remember, I made the comment in 2024 that this is
• Thank you. I vote yes.
• happening until you informed me about happening until you informed me about it.<00:06:05.199><c> So</

Committee: House Small Business & Information Technology

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:28 HB 692 Discussion: 01:11 HB 692 Voting: 05:01, 958, all

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:28 SB 197 discussion: 02:26 SB 197 voting: 32:15, 958, all

Committee: House Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:13 HB 506 discussion: 01:52 HB 506 voting: 35:03, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madame Clerk, if you could please call the roll. >> Senator Boswell, Senator Clemons, Senator Girdler
• proceed. >> Thank you, Mr.
• could please call the roll.
• Stand up and ... please call the role. please call the role.
• Thank you, Senator Nees. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and committee members.

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:25 SB 129 Discussion: 01:14 SB 129 Voting: 03:35, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. Thank you very much.
• Thank you. Thank you very much.
• Thank you. Thank you very much.
• Thank you. Thank you very much.
• Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Seeing none, Madame Clerk, please call the role.

Committee: House Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:04 HB 168 Discussion: 01:20 HB 168 Voting: 05:12, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Thank all of you for being here.
• Thank you to the sponsor and the AG and everyone else for bringing this bill before us.
• Um this is uh you you can't see this.
• Thank you for your testimonies today. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.

Committee: House Small Business & Information Technology

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll call: 00:05 HB 227 discussion: 01:10 HB 227 voting: 49:38, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and years on end before you finally get to an answer.
• you</c><00:09:19.760><c> finally</c><00:09:20.080><c> get</c><00:09:20.240><c> to</c> years on end before
• you finally get to years on end before you finally get to an<00:09:20.720><c> answer.
• </c> sure you know. sure you know.
• Do you think if if you think 90 mind?

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll call: 00:24 SB 52 discussion: 01:28 SB 52 voting: 25:08, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When I saw the price tag before I did the ABR for it, I wanted to dig into it some more.
• Thank you. >> And I will just say the driving factors of those growths, I've mentioned it before, is
• Thank you. >> And I will just say the driving factors of those growths, I've mentioned it before, is
• Thank you. >> And I will just say the driving factors of those growths, I've mentioned it before, is
• um is has been um long-term care before um is has been um long-term care um<00:54:21.760><c> you</c>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:36 Department for Medicaid Services 00:01:44, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met for an overview of the Department for Medicaid Services budget. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal described Kentucky Medicaid enrollment at about 1.4 million members, including more than 600,000 children, and said the agency’s 2025 total budget was $20.6 billion. They reviewed enrollment trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, noting that redeterminations begun in 2023 reduced enrollment from its peak but that total membership remains above pre-COVID levels. They also explained the difference between the fee-for-service population, which includes long-term care and waiver members, and managed care members, and gave examples of the kinds of services and diagnoses seen in each group. A major focus was the governor’s recommended Medicaid budget and the department’s forecast process. Lee said the budget is split into benefits and administration, with benefits covering fee-for-service services, managed care capitation, transportation, and Medicare premiums, while administration covers contracts, personnel, operating costs, and IT-related advanced planning documents. She said the department uses a consensus forecasting group and actuary input, and that its forecasts have been within 1% of actual spending in recent years. The department also said the governor’s budget includes new waiver slots to address waiting lists, a 2% staff COLA, and a 10% phase-down on state-directed payments beginning in January 2028. Much of the discussion centered on House Resolution 1 and the funding needed to implement its Medicaid-related provisions, including community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, and future cost sharing. Lee said the department requested about $35 million in total funds for fiscal 2027, including about $8.2 million in general funds for system changes to the integrated eligibility system, claims processing, notices, and monitoring; and about $11 million in fiscal 2028 for ongoing maintenance, with about $1.6 million in general funds. She said the department expects to seek federal APD matching funds for the IT work. In response to questions, she explained that community engagement would apply to Medicaid expansion members, with qualifying activities including work, school, volunteering, or equivalent income, and that certain groups such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives, and some people with chronic disease or substance use disorder would be excluded. She said the department identified roughly 70,000 expansion members who could be subject to the requirement. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I really do appreciate the opportunity to bring this bill before you.
• Um, once again, I do appreciate the opportunity to speak before you.
• Um, once again, I do appreciate the opportunity to speak before you.
• Um, once again, I do appreciate the opportunity to speak before you.
• Thank you. please call the vote. Thank you.

Committee: House Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:04 HB 168 discussion: 01:39 HB 168 vote: 21:04, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so Sammy, if you would, before we get started, please call the roll. Senator Boswell.
• Great to see you here today. If you could also identify yourself for the record before you speak.
• Um, this is a prime example in my call you a child but how do we get our call you a child but how do
• > record</c><00:04:05.760><c> before</c><00:04:06.000><c> you</c> yourself for the record before you
• call madame clerk, if you could please call the<00:26:35.120><c> role.

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:37 SB 39 discussion: 04:10 SB 39 vote: 26:35, 958, all