Transcript Highlights:

• This scenario is some of those things that have an impact on people.
• The CFPB is only going to impact banks x billion and up... ...going to impact banks x billion and up—
• It impacts every single bank and has increased not only the cost of banks doing business, checking all
• My goal is actually to open a practice in one of the rural communities here in Alabama.
• Secondly, this will have an adverse impact on employee health; we agree with the other side on this.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't know what the total score is and we don't know the total impacts.
• We don't know what the total score is and we don't know the total impacts.
• will reinvest that money in businesses in rural or agricultural areas.
• And many of us had loved ones, students, family members who were impacted.
• Those schools impact 11% of the student body in the state of Florida.

Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a priority in building the rural renaissance.
• We are focusing on getting to some of these rural communities.
• As you know, it impacts our area.
• . severely impacted.
• I think there are about nine of them that are rural and severely impacted, and then a 10% student enrollment

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• From talking to our PERSI director, I know there is no negative impact on PERSI because of this bill.
• How this targeted relief is administered is in this bill: 60% is reserved for non-rural districts and
• 40% for rural districts.
• If the rural districts don't use up the entirety of those funds, then non-rural districts are able to
• That's... ...money that is not going to impact our general fund.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So things like third shift care, drop-in care, rural child care, and support public-private partnerships
• And you kind of hit on what I envisioned when I read this by mentioning the rural part, and when I saw
• area and most live in a I guess a rural area and most of<00:09:59.200><c> our</c><00:09:59.360><c> rural
• areas have and I'm going to of our rural areas have and I'm going to give<00:10:01.600><c> a</c><00:
• I know we could all probably cite back to those who had a big impact on our early years.

Committee: House Families & Children

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 01:26 - Discussion of 26RS HB 6 17:45 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 6 20:20 - Discussion of 26RS HJR 50 22:30 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HJR 50 23:19 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a rurally based nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring resilient towns and landscapes
• We're seeing incredible extreme weather and impacts and forest fires and all kinds of things, so that
• We're seeing incredible extreme weather and impacts and forest fires and all kinds of things, so that
• We're seeing incredible extreme weather and impacts and forest fires and all kinds of things, so that
• We're seeing incredible extreme weather and impacts and forest fires and all kinds of things, so that

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> impacting the commonwealth of Kentucky. impacting the commonwealth of Kentucky.
• </c> rural health, Department of A. rural health, Department of A.
• Um tons of testimonies forever impacted.
• What you said impacted my "Hey, listen.
• Can of the 30 lives forever impacted.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:07 Chair Comments 00:00:36 Approval of Minutes 00:04:01 Volunteers of America 00:04:21 Soil and Water Conservation/Energy and Environment Cabinet 00:14:52 Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy/Justice & Public Safety Cabinet 00:21:05 Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:26:01 Early Childhood Advisory Council 00:45:18, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met to review how tobacco settlement dollars are being used and to press recipients for detailed information on total funding, administrative versus program spending, and measurable outcomes. The chair emphasized that the committee was not there for general program overviews, but to assess return on investment and whether each program should continue to receive tobacco settlement support. The committee approved the minutes from its December 22, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from several agencies and organizations. Volunteers of America Mid-States described its southeastern Kentucky restorative justice program, which uses an evidence-based New Zealand model for juvenile cases in nine counties. The group reported tobacco settlement funding of $516,000 in FY24 and $233,500 in FY25, representing about 17% and then about 5% of the program budget, respectively. It said the funding helped expand the program from 13 cases in 2021 to 180 youth served, and cited an independent evaluation showing recidivism of 24.5% compared with 40.4% in AOC data, along with a cost of a little under $20 per day versus detention and other placements. Some members questioned whether the program fit the tobacco settlement funding categories and suggested it might be better supported through other justice-related funding sources. The Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Conservation explained that tobacco funds support $1 million in direct aid to conservation districts and $2 million in cost-share projects for farmers, with 5% of the cost-share appropriation allowed for administration, or about $100,000 in FY26. Officials said the direct-aid line was moved into tobacco funding in 2019, reducing money available for farmer cost-share, and described a multi-year project approval and reallocation process. Senator Webb asked for a more specific breakdown of the $850,000 direct-aid amount, and the cabinet said it would provide that information. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reported that in FY24 it expended just under $30 million across tobacco funds, general funds, restricted funds, and a one-time federal grant, with less than 2% used for administration. Officials said most tobacco settlement money goes to Kentucky ASAP local boards in all 120 counties, supporting prevention, treatment, and some law enforcement work. The Department of Agriculture then began its presentation, describing strategic investments, loan programs, county funding, administrative costs, and a reported return of about $2.30 for every dollar spent, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• that CEQA cannot treat as significant environmental impacts.
• SB 1323 has a minimal fiscal impact.
• In jurisdictions where impact fees are more than $10,000, impact fees are more than $750 square feet.
• You would still be paying half the impact fees of a normal project.
• Of the impacts to the community by increasing density there.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• buses, you know, think also paratransit, and a lot of our local governments, and particularly our rural
• And a lot of our local governments, and particularly our rural communities, which this bill will benefit
• So there's nothing that we can do here in the state that's going to impact the rails.
• Rural communities can't afford public transit.
• How do we address those things for our rural communities that otherwise can't be addressed?

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and advanced several bills. CS/SB 1274 (transportation) was amended to remove multiple unrelated provisions and instead address local residential speed limits, license plate frame rules, rural airport funding, yellow-light timing at red-light camera intersections, private use of license plate readers, and FDOT payment rules; it passed unanimously. CS/SB 1310 (railroad safety) was amended into a study bill directing FDOT to examine advanced detection and monitoring systems at public railroad crossings and report policy options; it also passed unanimously after testimony from rail interests supporting a study but cautioning about interoperability and safety concerns. CS/SB 828 (sovereign immunity for public transit contractors) would extend sovereign immunity protections to private contractors providing public transit services for state and local governments. Supporters argued it would reduce costs, improve predictability, and help rural paratransit access, while opponents warned it would be a broad expansion of sovereign immunity and could conflict with railroad employee protections under FELA. Despite opposition from some members and outside groups, the bill was reported favorably. SB 1378 (traffic enforcement) passed and would strengthen abandoned-vehicle removal, penalties for unlawful plates or stickers, and vehicle seizure authority for fleeing/eluding cases. The committee also confirmed a slate of appointees in one vote, then heard SB 1562 (motor vehicle dealers), which would limit manufacturers from concentrating sales with a single dealer group once a brand has a meaningful Florida presence and require broader dealer representation to promote competition. It received supportive testimony and was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on earlier bills, and the committee adjourned, with the chair noting it was likely the final meeting of the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent 11 very rural counties that don't have a media market.
• I was just wondering what the focus, what the strategy is with rural communities.
• So in rural communities, we partner well with the local school board.
• Those are also part of the rural outreach. Okay.
• We think that's going to really have a huge impact.

Summary: The committee’s first major discussion focused on higher education facilities across UC, CSU, and the community colleges, with Chair Alvarez framing the issue as a final budget hearing before the May Revise. The LAO presented findings that campuses have grown substantially in buildings and square footage, while classroom and lab utilization remains below legislative standards and deferred maintenance backlogs continue to rise. The LAO also emphasized that the state and segments lack comprehensive data on capital renewal spending and recommended better reporting, clearer funding targets, and long-term planning for renewal and maintenance. UC, CSU, and community college representatives each described large five-year capital plans, aging facilities, seismic and deferred maintenance needs, and the role of student housing, while noting that construction costs are rising faster than inflation. Members questioned the segments about debt service, utilization rates, and how projects are prioritized. UC said its debt service tied to state support is about $665 million annually and described a $30 billion five-year capital financial plan, including housing, medical centers, and building renewal. CSU said it has about $31 billion in five-year needs and more than $8 billion in deferred maintenance, with funding coming from a mix of state-related and one-time sources since the state shifted capital responsibility to CSU. Community colleges said their unmet facilities needs total about $33.5 billion and explained their use of a scoring matrix and FUSION system to rank projects. The chair and members pressed all three systems to better distinguish between projects that are truly shovel-ready and those that are long-term needs, and discussed whether facilities condition data, total cost of ownership, and more standardized metrics should guide future bond proposals. The committee then turned to Proposition 2 and the Governor’s proposed community college capital outlay projects. The Department of Finance said Prop. 2 provides $1.5 billion for community colleges and that the Governor’s budget proposes 29 projects, with two continuing Prop. 51 projects also included. The LAO supported the overall use of the funds but raised concerns about the current 65/35 split between modernization and growth, the unusually large share of gymnasium projects, and some scoring metrics that favor larger campuses and certain regions. Community college officials said the scoring system was developed through participatory governance and would take one to two years to revise, but they supported the funding and agreed to follow up on questions about project categories and the rationale for the weighting. Members also suggested giving more weight to modernization, regional access, and intersegmental or collaborative projects. A final item addressed the CalKids program. The Department of Finance proposed $56,000 ongoing General Fund for three positions, while the LAO recommended approving two positions but rejecting a manager position until the current $7.5 million marketing campaign is evaluated. ScholarShare’s executive director said CalKids has enrolled more than 5 million children, with nearly 600,000 claims and over $45 million distributed, and argued that additional staff and outreach are needed to reach a goal of 1 million claimed scholarships by the end of 2025 and to implement AB 2808. Members asked about marketing effectiveness, data sharing, and eligibility rules, and the program said it is expanding partnerships with Cradle to Career and CSAC. No final vote was taken in the hearing, and the chair indicated the facilities item would be held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ninety-five percent say paid family medical leave would negatively impact their business.
• Ninety-five percent said it would negatively impact their businesses.
• Times will they be impacted by domestic violence before they actually report it?
• My second thought is just the impact on Medicaid services and providers.
• But this bill is not the only thing that impacts Medicaid providers.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Moreover, conservation officers are state-certified peace officers and frequently assist other rural
• Moreover, conservation officers are state certified peace officers and frequently assist other rural
• I'm wondering how the changes in this bill would impact... Being here, Mr. Williams.
• I'm wondering how the changes in this bill would impact the Fish and Game's work on illegal poaching.
• They're trying to do regular law enforcement in rural areas, and so on balance I have to oppose this

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1326, which would restrict government employees and agents from entering private property without permission or a warrant, with exceptions for exigent circumstances, welfare checks, service of papers, and certain other activities. The bill sponsors argued it was needed to protect Fourth Amendment and property rights and to create a civil penalty for unauthorized entry. Opponents, including Idaho Fish and Game, Trout Unlimited, and some lawmakers, said it would hinder routine compliance checks, poaching investigations, and interagency cooperation, and could require new permission-tracking systems. Supporters, including landowners, the Idaho Farm Bureau, and agricultural groups, described repeated trespass concerns and said the bill would improve accountability. The committee approved the bill 12-2 and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1301, a brewery licensing measure that would allow breweries to operate up to two remote retail locations instead of one. The sponsor and supporters from the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, a brewery owner, and a nonprofit representative said the bill would help small businesses expand, support jobs, and increase community and charitable contributions. No opposition was offered, and the committee passed the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Joint Memorial 19, which supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and returning education authority to the states. The sponsor and supporters argued that education should be controlled locally and that federal bureaucracy and regulations are burdensome. Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said Idaho already handles much of the work, that federal functions are being shifted among agencies without immediate funding disruptions, and that state-level administration could reduce bureaucracy, though she noted no promise of additional funding. After testimony from policy groups supporting the memorial, the committee passed HJM 19 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not just the witness, but it's rural economic stimulus act as well.
• Oh, it definitely includes rural community. I think there's a whole, like, rural fund there.
• It definitely includes a rural component.
• Economic Stimulus Act, I'm assuming, and rural was added when we added the rural component.
• Can you talk about how that impacts the fiscal note at $138,000?

Summary: The Legislative Rules Committee held a public hearing and then executive session on Senate Bill 1694, along with related Senate Bill 1688, which together would modernize and expand the Missouri Downtown and Rural Economic Stimulus Act (MODESA). Senator Steve Roberts said the bills would increase flexibility for redevelopment projects, broaden financing tools, extend timelines, and expand residential incentives, with no general fund risk. Supporters, including lobbyists for the Cordish Companies, the City of Kansas City, the City of St. Louis, Greater St. Louis Inc., Historic Revitalization for Missouri, and BioSTL/Next Missouri, argued the program has already helped transform downtown Kansas City and St. Louis and could spur major redevelopment such as Ballpark Village, Power & Light, the Millennium Hotel area, the AT&T Tower, and the Railway Exchange Building. They emphasized private investment, local control, and the potential to bring vacant buildings back onto the tax rolls. One witness, the state public advocate, opposed SB 1694, arguing it would create more bureaucracy and political subdivisions, rely on tax abatements and TIF-like tools, and shift costs to taxpayers. Committee members asked questions about the bill’s residential language, the history of MODESA projects, the fiscal note, and whether the incentives could apply to other downtown sites. Supporters clarified that the committee substitute removed a proposed income-tax incentive, reduced some escalators, and retained a voluntary, opt-in structure for cities. The chair also noted that stadiums themselves are excluded, though surrounding areas may qualify. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and voted 10-0 to do pass the House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bills 1694 and 1688. The committee then voted 8-2 to do pass Senate Substitute Number 2 for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1586, sponsored by Senator Brown, and 8-0 with two present votes to do pass House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 889, which the chair described as a large cleanup bill removing obsolete statutes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• A preliminary fiscal note from the Department of Revenue estimates no impact to the state general fund
• Cultural access has also had a major impact on students.
• According to the Department of Revenue, it would impact approximately 450 taxpayers and increase state
• revenues by approximately $25.9 million in the first five years of impacted collections in fiscal year
• According to the Department of Revenue, it would impact approximately 450 taxpayers and increase state

Bills: HB1960 , HB2194 , HB2089

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: HB1960, renewable energy, clean energy, solar, wind, battery storage, energy storage, excise tax, property tax exemption, local investment, county revenue sharing, local taxing districts, school districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, model ordinance, siting, permitting, tribal consultation, tribal capacity grants

Transcript Highlights:

• It just is there like a number between rural and super rural?
• I'm just trying to—we're pretty rural. The whole state is, but I just wonder what's super rural.
• So these are super rural and rural designations that Medicare already uses for Medicare payments.
• So super rural is just an extra rural.
• </c> Um and a rural is uh outside of urban. Um and a rural is uh outside of urban.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for two years will practice in Minnesota for two years in<00:02:17.840><c> a</c><00:02:17.959><c> rural
• or underserved area under the in a rural or underserved area under the supervision<00:02:20.200><c>
• </c><01:05:54.640><c> community</c> grew up in a rural community grew up in a rural community approximately
• And I think, you know, we've heard from folks who live in rural areas that that's not the case.
• And I think, you know, we've heard from folks who live in rural areas that that's not the case.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• John Kennedy, Rural County Representatives of California.
• These closures turn rural areas into birth deserts.
• This bill's impact extends beyond the Salvadoran community.
• And I also want us to make sure that we understand the impacts and who this impacts.
• But the financial impact does not stop at training.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange County and Humboldt County supervisors, described growing misuse of large nitrous canisters, impaired driving, youth access, and waste and safety problems. There was no formal opposition testimony, and multiple organizations and local governments voiced support. Committee members generally supported the bill but raised questions about enforcement and the role of existing licensing agencies; the author said amendments addressed concerns about balloons and bags. The bill was moved on a due-pass recommendation to Senate Appropriations and left on call. The committee also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries, SB 1340 on small business procurement reporting, and SB 903 on AI in mental health care. SB 1312 would build on last year’s cemetery workgroup to address abandoned private cemeteries; the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association said the bill is intended to use forthcoming recommendations to improve maintenance and oversight. It was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report contract and payment data involving small businesses to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure, and it was moved due pass to Senate Appropriations and left on call. SB 903 drew the most extensive debate. The bill would restrict the public offering of psychotherapy services through AI unless a licensed professional is involved, require disclosure and informed consent, and preserve confidentiality rules. Supporters argued that chatbots and AI therapy tools can mislead consumers and create safety, bias, and privacy risks, while opponents from the California Medical Association and TechNet warned the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial clinical tools, triage, research, and FDA-approved applications. Committee members pressed the author on clarity, administrative uses like note-taking, and whether the bill would allow clinician-supervised AI; the author said the intent is to keep a human clinician in the loop and continue refining the language. The bill was moved to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technology, and Consumer Protection Committee and left on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 1271 would collect data on licensed midwives’ capacity to serve as preceptors to strengthen the training pipeline; supporters described workforce shortages, rural access problems, and closures of labor and delivery units. It was moved due pass to the Senate Health Committee and left on call. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would standardize enforcement and better match the agency already regulating EV infrastructure, while county sealers and others opposed the move as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening local consumer protection. The bill was moved due pass to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee and left on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, to recognize their own skills and their ability to positively impact change.
• This is impacting thousands of New Mexico patients.
• This is impacting thousands of New Mexico patients.
• Research confirms the impacts... Recognized among the best in the profession.
• Research confirms the impacts of this work.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> stability, and the voices of rural stability, and the voices of rural America<04:43:06.958><c> will
• But with the impacted tribes as well.
• </c> high-paying jobs that sustain rural high-paying jobs that sustain rural communities.<04:50:14.718
• </c> impact on the decisions made in Alaska. impact on the decisions made in Alaska.
• </c> That's the definition of rural America. That's the definition of rural America.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in front of us, and much of that is driven by H.R. 1 and what we're seeing in Washington and the impacts
• So can you just talk a little bit about that process, what that looks like, and how, especially in rural
• ...that looks like, and how, especially in rural communities, our universities will get assistance when
• rural communities that are struggling and making sure that the system that we establish doesn't lead
• Second, on behalf of the Urban Counties of California, the rural county representatives of California

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all