Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:53.360> Rights inclusive possible Equal Rights inclusive possible Equal Rights Amendment
• c> the<00:04:55.840> law Amendment equal protection under the law Amendment equal protection
• Amendment is to establish equality Amendment is to establish equality rights<00:15:38.120> uh
• We want equal opportunity.
• We want the right to be seen in a court of law as being equal and to have equal opportunity.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :42.920> of<00:02:43.040> the chairman of the board of the chairman of the board of the
• different boards. different boards. Oh,<00:25:01.520> yeah.<00:25:02.160> Okay.
• get approved by the Board of Regents. get approved by the Board of Regents.
• <01:09:32.200> And board is to decide then. And board is to decide then.
• And that's a board or commission.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several gubernatorial nominations for confirmation, beginning with GM 788 for Karen Knudsen to the Hawaii Sister State and International Partnerships Commission. DBEDT strongly supported her nomination, describing her decades of Asia-Pacific and East-West Center experience. Senators asked about the new commission structure, confirming that the old committee was abolished and replaced by a five-voting-member commission with two governor appointees before the Senate, other ex officio and legislative appointees, and one OHA vacancy still pending. Knudsen said the commission would help review new sister-state and international partnership proposals, while existing relationships would remain in place. Members also discussed the commission’s lack of a separate budget and its use of DBEDT international relations funding. The committee then moved to GM 789 for Wesley Fong to the same commission; DBEDT supported him based on his military, legal, and international trade background. A concern was raised that he also served on the State Ethics Commission, and Fong stated he had resigned from that post effective the 20th of the month to avoid a conflict. Senators questioned his reasons for leaving ethics, and he explained that his term was ending and he wanted to continue public service in a role aligned with his background in international agreements, education, and Indo-Pacific relations. No votes were taken in the portion provided. The committee next considered GM 769 for Patrick Branco to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The foundation and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both testified in strong support. Branco appeared by Zoom and said he was currently on temporary military orders on the East Coast, but had prior experience in public diplomacy as cultural attaché in Caracas and had worked on Fulbright and cultural exchange efforts. The committee then took up GM 770 for Makanani Salā to the same board. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported her nomination, and Noe Wong-Wilson testified in person, citing Salā’s work at Windward Community College and her role in organizing the Best Fest festival, saying she would bring Hawaiian cultural perspective to the foundation. Salā said her county experience included arts, culture, and sister-city work, and that she would emphasize public-private partnerships and helping other agencies use the foundation’s expertise. Members briefly discussed FESTPAC and its rotating international location. Finally, the committee heard GM 767 for Miles Miyatso to the Land Use Commission. The Land Use Commission and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both supported the nomination, and Avalon Development Company was listed but did not appear on Zoom. The discussion in the provided transcript ended during this item, with no vote or final action shown for the nominations covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:53:03.280> but providers across the board, but providers across the board, but intuitively
• I'm just saying we should be equal to our neighbors.
• But the reality of it is, we're not here like we are equal to her. We're not here to do her work.
• <02:00:22.639> to like we're not here like we are equal to like we're not here like we are
• supposed to be an equal branch of the<02:00:26.000> government<02:00:26.320> and<02:00

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began by discussing 15 retained bills and the chair’s preference to keep them alive through interim study rather than kill them, using them as vehicles for further discussion and possible later amendments. The chair said the bills would be executed out by November and then move to the House floor in January, and members generally agreed that interim study was the prevailing motion for the retained bills. Several health-related bills were then discussed. On Senate Bill 247, concerning pharmacy network exclusion when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost, members said the issue had been presented differently in prior discussions and noted unfamiliar intermediaries such as PSAOs; the bill was viewed as too complex to resolve immediately, so interim study was favored. A bill on treatment alternatives to opiates was said to need an amendment from the Insurance Department, and a bill on self-funded employer access to claims data was described as having changed substantially through amendment; the sponsor explained it was intended to incentivize self-funded plans to opt into the state’s all-payer claims database (CHIS) so their data could be used for cost analysis, and members indicated a separate bill would be brought later. The committee spent the most time on a glucose monitoring bill, with testimony from a sponsor and a parent of a type 1 diabetic describing the medical benefits of continuous glucose monitors, especially for preventing dangerous lows and managing fluctuations. Opponents and committee members raised concerns about the cost of a mandate, the effect on premiums in the individual and small-group markets, and whether the bill should require coverage without a prescription; one member cited medical literature suggesting limited evidence for non-insulin users. The chair concluded the bill was headed to interim study and said the committee would do further homework on the economic impact, especially for type 1 coverage. The meeting then moved on to a bill about insurer audits and clawbacks, where the Insurance Department commissioner explained that the issue involved several separate provider-payment problems that had recently come to the department’s attention and that the department would provide a report and work with the sponsor on next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, help me understand a placard: are they all created equal? Are they the same?
• footing with the New Hampshire dot equal footing with the New Hampshire dot without<01:30:30.480>
• So that just led me to think, as a former planning board member, maybe the planning...
• So that just led me to think, as a former planning board member, maybe the planning...
• So that just led me to think, as a former planning board member, maybe the planning... shopping malls

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we looking at an equal, true measure of... I don't like NTI days either.
• Are we looking at an equal, true measure of...
• You cancel that 30 days out, six weeks out, that school board meeting will be flooded the next school
• board meeting with parents angry about doing that.
• <01:09:30.560> meeting<01:09:30.839> will weeks out that school board meeting will

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:01:04 Attendance Roll Call: 00:01:12 Senate Bill 3 (Sen. Wise): 00:05:28 Senate Bill 6 (Sen. Givens): 00:32:17 House Bill 241 (Rep. Truett): 00:52:18 Senate Bill 268 (Sen. Reed): 01:11:57 Adjournment: 01:24:48, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met and first handled introductions of guests and visitors from several school districts and education groups. The committee then took up Senate Bill 3, which relates to student athletes and includes an emergency clause. The bill sponsor and invited witnesses, including athletics directors from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, said the measure is intended to update Kentucky’s NIL laws in light of the House v. NCAA settlement and other national changes in college athletics. Supporters said SB 3 would let Kentucky universities directly compensate student athletes, help them secure third-party NIL deals, require reporting of deals over $600, and create guardrails and fair-market-value review to reduce pay-for-play concerns. They emphasized that the bill is meant to keep Kentucky institutions competitive, align with expected national standards, and prepare for changes expected around July 1, 2025. Witnesses also discussed the need for more uniform rules nationally, the role of the Power Four conferences in developing governance and clearinghouse systems, and the desire to preserve both athlete mobility and continuity in college sports. Several members raised concerns about the transfer portal, NIL incentives, and the broader effect on college athletics, with one senator saying NIL and the portal have damaged the sport but acknowledging Kentucky must compete. Witnesses responded that tighter portal windows and clearer national rules would help, while still preserving student-athlete transfer rights when needed. After discussion, the committee moved to a vote on SB 3; the roll call was taken, and the bill advanced out of committee, with at least one senator explaining a reluctant yes vote because of competitive pressures on the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• As Pablo said, we're trying to get something to the ERCOT board by June.
• I mean, the numbers added up where it was 50,000 times the wattage equals.
• Raymond: What is that equal in money?
• Mark Whitman: Among those things, we're looking at solutions across the board.
• The board of directors then approves that, but it's not a true approval because all The board of directors

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss data centers and their impact on Texas's energy infrastructure. The meeting featured testimony from key representatives of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, who outlined the evolving landscape of energy generation and the challenges posed by the rapid growth of data centers. Notably, ERCOT reported over 450,000 MW of generation resources planned for connection, with a significant portion attributed to data centers, which now represent around 87% of new large load interconnection requests. The committee explored proposed changes to the interconnection process, including a new 'batch study' approach aimed at streamlining the approval of multiple projects simultaneously. This change is intended to address the challenges of managing numerous simultaneous requests and to provide more certainty for developers regarding their energy needs. Testimonies emphasized the importance of ensuring that the costs of infrastructure upgrades are borne by the data centers rather than residential ratepayers, with discussions around the financial commitments required from developers. Several data center developers also provided testimony, highlighting the economic benefits of their projects, including job creation and increased local revenues. They expressed concerns about the potential for a moratorium on future growth due to the new interconnection rules and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address water usage and environmental impacts. The committee plans to continue discussions on these topics in future hearings, with a focus on balancing economic growth with energy reliability and resource management.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that there is a Board of Specialty Courts in the state that runs the gamut.
• She was placed in an Arlington boarding home, operated by a woman named Eureka Hamilton.
• Is fairly equal across the state.
• I'm a board-certified criminal lawyer. I practice in McKinney.
• Nicole, the board, Hoagland, OK.

Bills: HB867, HB1347, HB1801, HB1820, HB2197, HB2617, HB3110, HB3166, HB3330, HB4237, HB4342, HB4629, HB4933, HJR148

Keywords: criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• As Pablo said, we're trying to get something to the ERCOT board by June.
• I mean, the numbers added up where it was 50,000 times the wattage equals.
• Raymond: What is that equal in money?
• Mark Whitman: Among those things, we're looking at solutions across the board.
• If it gets to that point, then it goes to the ERCOT Independent Board of Directors.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it fair that we have both sides and be equal in this?
• in this you you should probably equal in this you you should probably sit<02:34:55.240> up<02
• I understand that you think it should be a fair and equal thing.
• I'm always in favor of fair and equal. We're not... that's different, right?
• > we're always in favor of fair and equal we're always in favor of fair and equal we're not<02

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first reviewed its schedule, noting that 13 bills were being executed the next day and that additional subcommittee work would be scheduled around Town Meeting Day and the following session days. The chair explained that the committee would not meet on Town Meeting Day, would handle the remaining bills on the next available subcommittee day, and would continue any unfinished items later in the month. The committee then took up House Bill 774, which concerned Medicare-related coverage issues. Members discussed the bill’s purpose and the differences between Medicare standard and Medicare Advantage, with one member saying the proposal was informative but did not offer a workable solution. The committee also moved to inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 185, and the motion passed on a 6-0 vote. House Bill 241, relating to alternatives to opioids, was retained for further work. Members said the bill raised concerns about insurers effectively practicing medicine and about the lack of evidence on the efficacy of some alternative treatments, while also noting that chiropractic coverage mandates already exist in statute. The committee voted to retain the bill, with the motion passing 6-0. The most extended discussion was on House Bill 648, which would expand insurance coverage for glucose monitoring. Testimony and committee comments focused on whether coverage should be tied to insulin use or instead to a physician’s medical judgment, the role of continuous glucose monitoring for people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin, and the potential cost impact. An insurance department fiscal analyst said the original $22-per-member estimate was based on the unamended bill and that the amended version would require updated analysis; members agreed to retain the bill to narrow the eligible population and revisit the language later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• Louis pay equal to the circuit judge. Okay.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• The clerk will close the board and tally the vote.
• The clerk will ring the bell and open the board.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the prior day by a 125-0 roll call vote. The chamber spent a large portion of the session on personal privileges and memorials, honoring former Representative Ken Waller and Rawls County teenager Keaton O’Neill, with a moment of silence observed for O’Neill. Members also introduced several guests, including a deployed Marine, legislative visitors, family members, and an intern who was made a page for the day. The House then considered several committee reports and Senate amendments. On House Bills 2637 and 3155, members discussed a broad criminal justice package that included technical fixes to prior sentencing legislation, sex offender registry changes, drone restrictions tied to major events, health care-related provisions, and prosecutor salary adjustments; the House voted to refuse the Senate substitute and request a conference. House Bill 2593, a bipartisan military and veterans measure, was adopted and finally passed 137-1 and 138-1 after debate highlighting cybersecurity protections, Service Members Civil Relief Act language, TRICARE protections, expanded military leave, National Guard benefits, and other support for service members and families. The House also adopted and finally passed House Bill 2974, a licensure reciprocity and telehealth bill that expands interstate practice options for certain health professionals and is intended to improve rural health access; the votes were 109-29 on adoption and 108-30 on final passage. House Bill 2108, a Jefferson City land conveyance and infrastructure bill related to the viaduct and safety improvements, was adopted and finally passed 138-1 and 138-2 after discussion of the state’s transfer of property to the city and an added land provision involving Northwest Missouri State University and Nodaway County. The chamber then received Senate messages on HB 2596 and HB 2637/3155, appointed conference committees, announced upcoming committee meetings, and adjourned until April 28, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• all employees' positions and allows a candidate to appeal a hiring decision to the state personnel board
• This bill is on the third. ...candidate to appeal a hiring decision to the State Personnel Board.
• SB 1422, Madam Chair and members, SB 1422 continues the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board until July
• SB 1068 prohibits the governing board of any university, college, or community college from enacting
• SB 1068 prohibits the governing board of any university college or community college from enacting or

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard a long series of Senate bills, mostly on third-read consent, covering education, public safety, health, courts, labor, and water. Several bills were briefly explained and then pulled from consent for further discussion, including measures on public records review standards (SB 1078), sexually explicit materials in schools/libraries (SB 1435 and SB 1567), burial costs in death cases (SB 1135), military flags in HOAs/COAs (SB 1184), court-ordered treatment guardianship (SB 1243), standardized state hiring (SB 1665), released-time religious instruction (SB 1741), firearm safety instruction in schools (SB 1424), student participation in extracurriculars after certain convictions (SB 1475), Celebrate Freedom Week (SB 1572), federal scholarship-granting organizations/vouchers (SB 1142), immigration-related arrest notifications (SB 1055), defamation standards (SB 1099), peace officer certification for military police veterans (SB 1107), mandatory reporting of child abuse/neglect directly to DCS (SB 1127), attorney licensing and discipline issues (SB 1148 and SB 1039), concealed weapons on college campuses (SB 1068), and firearm muffling devices/silencers (SB 1069). Members also raised constitutional, policy, and school-safety concerns on several of these bills, while supporters emphasized alternative pathways for students, veterans, and workers, and tighter reporting or licensing rules. Other bills were described without extended debate, including claims against the state for unpaid contracted services (SB 1097), workers’ compensation death benefits for surviving spouses who remarry (SB 1136), burial expense increases (SB 1135), state agency web pages for internal guidance (SB 1586), court-ordered treatment procedures and service of process in mental health cases (SB 1113), medical examiner authorization (SB 1123), tribal MOUs with DCS (SB 1125), controlled-substance scheduling conformity with federal classifications (SB 1188), EMT personal information protections (SB 1193), mammography notice updates (SB 1318), assisted-living referral disclosures (SB 1477), accommodation school GED instruction for 11th graders and students over 16 (SB 1166), credit enhancement board continuation (SB 1422), school district and charter school obligations related to religious release time (SB 1741), school firearm safety instruction (SB 1424), and school civics/freedom-week instruction (SB 1572). The committee also heard bills on CPA certification pathways (SB 1181), insurance adjuster licensing (SB 1415), county voter-registration rules online (SB 1040), campaign address privacy (SB 1259), federal land acquisition notification (SB 1281), water supply/demand assessments (SB 1202), environmental compatibility for power plants and small modular reactors (SB 1418), and groundwater recovery rules (SB 1785). The meeting ended with announcements and a brief recognition of Rep. Stephanie Hamilton with an “Affordability Award.” No final votes are shown in the transcript excerpt; instead, many bills were either left on consent, pulled for later discussion, or flagged for closed caucus. The chair then asked guests to leave so members could hold a closed caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• Development Board also known as Celico. Today I am here on behalf of Executive Director Ms.
• I'm honored to be joined today by two of our policy board members.
• We appreciate this opportunity to bring the board to the table.
• While capital infusion is often a crucial step for small businesses, it is equally important.
• I definitely, I'm on board.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These harms are not experienced equally.
• Jeff Neal, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, Contra Costa County, also in support.
• Also, a number of elements associated with the Air Resources Board.
• And I also serve on the board of directors of the Biodegradable Products Institute.
• of the San Diego Air Pollution Control District Board of Directors.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Given that the board will also be considering a new plan next month, would you agree that any of that
• Yes, and I would make that public immediately, as I have already in my letter to the board and in my
• So yes, the High-Speed Rail Authority's board itself, the bill talks about those who can act.
• And when the bill was enacted, Caltrans, the Workforce Development Board, quickly worked to develop a
• So I'm joined by a member of the California Workforce Development Board, and we're available for any

Summary: The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled. The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision. Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the Board of Regents decides to adjust it, it's subject to student approval.
• School Board meetings, all these things over a protracted period of time.
• I started it in November of 2024 and went all the way to the board on April 16.
• Then I let my board know two weeks after, and they did not do anything.
• Our board determined that that was what they felt was the best route for...

Bills: HB4, HB20

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending. A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:52.160> services<00:07:53.120> and This proposal would raise costs across the board
• ><00:09:24.959> costs<00:09:25.920> across<00:09:26.240> the<00:09:26.399> board
• , would raise costs across the board, would raise costs across the board, affecting<00:09:27.120>
• We are a labor union representing over 18,000 state workers across all agencies, boards, and commissions
• playing field because that's equal playing field because that's another<00:41:40.160> thing<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Question: Are all providers treated equally in this scenario for the rate increases, whether they're
• say active crime scenes it's far more than three minutes, so maybe you need to sit down with your board
• employment in group home services and home services, day programs, respite services, so across the board
• I'm the Vice Chair of the APAD Board, and I'm also a provider.
• I'm the Vice Chair of the APAD Board, and I'm also a provider.

Bills: SB1072, SB1111, SB1114, SB1116, SB1122, SB1179, SB1250, SB1308, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1487, SB1547, SB1549, SB1551, SB1552

Keywords: reimbursement rates, intellectual disabilities, community services, economic security, funding appropriations, automated license plate readers, law enforcement, privacy, data access, public records, behavioral health, patient brokering, appropriation, state funds, Maricopa County, claims review, medical necessity, American Indian health program, healthcare regulations, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:37.359> uh<00:35:37.480> that board and on both of the boards uh that board
• <00:35:39.839> I I serve on both of those two boards I I serve on both of those two boards
• <00:56:23.839> of Bill and I'm currently on the board of Bill and I'm currently on the board
• is not our equal is not our equal right<03:25:18.880> so<03:25:19.080> chair<03:25
• we still have um kind of equal we still have um kind of equal representation<03:59:48.600> on

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've, I, uh, came on board in August.
• These are the summary of recommendations for the Texas Board, Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.
• Chair calls Kathleen Ship, board president, and Kristen Benton, executive director with the Texas Board
• BHEC is the umbrella agency set up to oversee operations for the psychology board, social work board,
• The veterinary board is so appreciative of the across the board raises we received last session.

Transcript Highlights:

• approves it to uh the loan and our board approves it to uh the loan closing.<00:13:45.360> It's
• So, I'll just say that I sit on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity for Hardin County, and
• So, I'll just say that I sit on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity for Hardin County, and
• So, they got to build 10 smaller homes to equal the profit in one larger home.
• <01:21:39.920> the to build 10 smaller homes to equal the to build 10 smaller homes to equal

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:08 Discussion of Indiana Residential Infrastructure Fund 00:01:27 Discussion of Affordable Housing Trust Fund 00:33:30 Discussion of Urban Infill 01:12:37 Approval of Minutes from July Meeting 01:39:00 Adjournment 01:39:42, 958, all

Summary: The Housing Task Force heard a presentation from Anita Sanford of the Homebuilders Association of Kentucky and Sheri Cybert of Indiana’s Residential Infrastructure Fund about Indiana’s low-interest loan program for local housing infrastructure. They described the program as a voluntary, locally driven model that helps communities finance roads, sewers, sidewalks, traffic lights, turning lanes, and other infrastructure needed for new housing development. Sanford emphasized that infrastructure and regulation are major drivers of housing costs, citing estimates that infrastructure can account for up to 30% of a home’s cost and regulations another 25%, and said the association is studying Kentucky-specific regulatory costs. She also noted that every $1,000 added to new home construction can price out about 2,000 Kentucky households. Cybert explained that Indiana’s program, administered through the Indiana Finance Authority, began in 2023 with $75 million appropriated over two years and has since closed 17 loans totaling $60.7 million, with more than 2,700 projected housing units. The program reserves 70% of funds for rural communities and 30% for urban communities, requires applications from local governments rather than developers, and asks communities to show need through a market study, describe the infrastructure and housing to be built, and provide preliminary engineering plans and a repayment source. She said the loans currently carry an interest rate around 3.5%, reset quarterly, and that the program has generated about $25 million in savings to communities compared with private borrowing. She also described recent Indiana legislative changes that encourage higher density and other zoning reforms, and said a majority of those local ordinance changes must be adopted for an application to be fundable. Members asked about the ordinance requirements, the funding split between rural and urban areas, repayment mechanisms, and whether there were caps on project size. Cybert said repayment is worked out case by case, often through existing or project-specific TIFs, temporary tax agreements, or letters of credit, and that the program has no cap on request size or income/affordability restrictions. She said the largest request funded was $19 million for a 700-unit project. Co-chair Mills and others discussed whether Kentucky could adopt a similar model and what it would cost, while Sanford and Cybert said they were still refining budget estimates. Later, Scott Welch, president of the Homebuilders Association of Kentucky, testified that upfront infrastructure costs are a major barrier in his projects, citing a $1 million pump station and road-widening and utility relocation costs as examples, and said an infrastructure fund would help get projects off the ground.