Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions from the committee? Seeing none, anybody else wants to testify on House Bill 1025?
• c> in legislative ethics committee meets in legislative ethics committee meets in early<00:40:20.960
• Now, I had the pleasure of serving on the House Investigative Committee on COVID response advocacy.
• And so for those reasons, we respectfully urge the committee to oppose House Bill 392.
• Bill urge the committee to oppose House Bill urge the committee to oppose House Bill 392.<01:52:33.679

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, I know there's current legislation that's... know there's current legislation that's moving
• I have a quick question on the workforce side.
• Department of Workforce.
• We know that some of... ...recovery housing.
• , housing, etc.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon and welcome to the House and Senate Education Committee.
• Good afternoon and welcome to the House and Senate Education Committee.
• That we end the discussion on the interim study proposal and leave it for scheduling with the House Committee
• You said it was there for the purpose of adopting, and the bill itself is the House Committee on Education
• by the House and one committee on the Education.

Summary: The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then heard an interim study proposal on Arkansas adult education and the Excel Center model, presented by Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities. Witnesses argued that about 300,000 Arkansas adults lack a high school diploma or GED and described the Excel Center as a diploma-granting public charter option for adults 19 and older, with wraparound supports such as child care, transportation, tutoring, life coaching, and career services. They said the Arkansas campuses are not state-funded, highlighted growth in enrollment and graduation outcomes, and cited research showing improved employment, earnings, and reduced criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members discussed the role of Goodwill’s nonprofit mission, the need for multiple adult education pathways, and the relationship between adult education challenges and broader state efforts such as LEARNS and ACCESS. The committee then debated the interim study proposal procedure, including whether questions should have been taken before the vote. The motion to adopt the ISP passed, and members noted that the study would broadly examine adult education, GED testing, high school diplomas, charter schools, in-person adult education, and funding allocation. Several members asked for follow-up information on current adult education funding, the availability of Excel Centers, and the criminal justice study results. After that, staff from the Bureau of Legislative Research gave a detailed adequacy funding overview for Arkansas K-12 education. They reviewed national funding principles and then explained Arkansas’s revenue streams and distribution system, including general revenue, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, local property-tax revenues, and facilities partnership funding. They also walked through the state’s foundation formula, categorical aid, supplemental aid, and additional funding, including the per-student matrix amount of $7,771 for 2025 and how funds are allocated to districts and charters. Members asked about student support staff, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the Excel Center’s treatment in funding totals; staff said some of those questions would be addressed in a later spending presentation. The meeting ended after the committee was told the department was present mainly to answer questions and no further business remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no one rising, we’ll turn it back to the committee. Do the committee members...
• I'm a committee members.
• Both committees have added language to the pending legislation to tighten that cap.
• committee serve concurrently.
• So the flexibility that is there for a legislator or the Legislature to have Legislative Counsel draft

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Legislative Analyst's Office. Good morning. Good morning.
• My name is Pichella from the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Hello, members of the committee. My name is That's Alex Martin.
• Good afternoon, Chair and committee members.
• Good afternoon, Chair Alvarez and members of the committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from the grinders up in their houses from the grinders up in their houses because<00:27:40.640><
• not to see you in front of my committee. not to see you in front of my committee.
• technical expertise and workforce. technical expertise and workforce.
• Technical expertise and workforce.
• Technical expertise and workforce.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the minutes, and brief remarks, including birthday recognition for Representative Maseroni and a moment of reflection for a soldier who died during training at Fort Knox. The committee then heard a presentation from Tony Hatton, commissioner of the Department for Environmental Protection and acting director of the Kentucky Division of Water, with Amanda Lefer, deputy commissioner, on the state’s water and wastewater programs and planning. Hatton described Kentucky’s water resources and the Division of Water’s responsibilities, including watershed and nonpoint source work, KPDES discharge permitting, PFAS response, engineering review of water infrastructure, inspections, public outreach, and sampling. He said Kentucky has 428 public water systems, 263 water treatment plants, about 1.9 million service connections, and nearly 97% of the population has access to municipally treated water. He also noted that the state has 43 systems receiving awards for EPA areawide optimization and emphasized operator training, regionalization, and use of GIS mapping and Kentucky Infrastructure Authority data to support planning and funding decisions. Members raised concerns about aging infrastructure, water loss, staffing shortages, and wastewater problems in local systems. Representative Blandon described severe failures in a city system, including major water loss and sewer backups, and asked whether the state could intervene; Hatton said the division inspects treatment facilities and provides compliance assistance but is not authorized to manage delivery systems, though third-party help and emergency funding can be used in some cases. Senator Smith and others shared similar experiences with line loss and system failures, while Hatton pointed to regionalization and funding support as the main tools available. The discussion also highlighted PFAS as an emerging issue, with Hatton saying the department is working with systems to meet anticipated federal requirements by 2029.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Scott said, "I will move House File 2456 to be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary
• He said House File 2456 is legislation repealing the COLA-based adjustment for child support orders.
• The chair renewed the motion to re-refer House File 2456, as amended, to the Committee on Judiciary.
• for us to send it there, so we will be moving House File 1367 to the Committee on Human Services.
• file 1367 to the 1367 reerrr house file 1367 to the committee<01:38:32.040> on<01:38:32.360><

Bills: HF2436, HF470, HF2643, HF2456, HF102, HF1367

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, early education, scholarships, funding, children, families, Minnesota education, child care licensing, family child care, child care center, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, correction order, conditional license, fix-it ticket, documented technical assistance, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Chair and committee members. I'm Barbara Schmitz.
• Good afternoon, committee members.
• Libby Abbott, Deputy Director for Health Workforce Development.
• Mark Newton with the Legislative Analyst Office.
• Workforce through the HKI Workforce Initiative.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I challenge the Legislative Finance Committee to ask the necessary questions: what's needed?
• Chairman and members of the committee.
• Chairman, committee members.
• It got referred to the education committee in the House side and never was given a hearing.
• Major can do, what a sociology major can do in the workforce, so we're actually bringing the workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee reports. Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• and wildfire mitigation workforce, and which is now making impacts across Colorado's...
• and wildfire mitigation workforce, and which is now making impacts across Colorado's...
• Uh, Senate Local Government and Housing will be meeting this afternoon.
• Uh, Senate Local Government and Housing will be meeting this afternoon.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Natalie Gonzalez with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Jennifer Pichella, Legislative Analyst's Office.
• And thank you so much through our committee and to L.M., especially from the Education Committee for
• On housing, emergency housing is offered at all campuses, and 18 campuses utilize the state-funded Rapid
• 3,000 utilized housing support resources, and nearly 1,000 students were placed in emergency housing

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize. On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.

Transcript Highlights:

• have two new members of the committee. have two new members of the committee.
• since the uh last committee meeting. since the uh last committee meeting.
• bill was doubly referred in the House. bill was doubly referred in the House.
• about co legislation about co legislation because because because as<00:04:26.320> is<00:
• . committee. committee.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 3:15 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and briefly treated the session as an organizational meeting after an earlier hearing that had been difficult to manage. The chair thanked witnesses for their efforts, noting that some had traveled long distances, including nursing students from Mississippi University for Women, a witness from Los Angeles, and another who had come after working overnight in the emergency room at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The chair also announced committee changes: Senator England and Senator Boyd were new members, Senator Boyd was absent, and Senator Parks was the new vice chair. The main policy discussion focused on anticipated committee work for the year. The chair said a previously passed certificate-of-need bill, vetoed by the governor over one provision, would likely be reintroduced without the objectionable section and sent to the governor early in the session. He also said he was cautious about co-legislation because of unintended consequences, but identified several areas that seemed likely to receive attention, including rural and small hospitals, dialysis, mental health care, and daycare availability as a workforce issue. On hospitals, the chair said small and rural hospitals were struggling because shorter stays and outpatient procedures had shifted revenue away from hospitals, and he suggested looking for ways to capture some of that revenue to support hospital operations. He expressed doubt that outpatient dialysis at small hospitals would be practical, but said the committee would likely consider it. He also said the committee was likely to look at mental health care and public welfare issues, especially daycare affordability and availability. No substantive votes were taken beyond a motion to rise and report, which passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2 The House Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles 1, 4, and 5 will come to order.
• Thank you. committee members.
• . workforce.
• our oversight committee.
• request in House Bill 1.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of committee, Kelly Clinton, Legislative Finance Committee.
• Committee, Kelly Clinton, Legislative Finance Committee.
• Bill 2 is language in House Bill 2.
• On outside of the financial piece in House Bill 2 is a language in House Bill 2.
• Since our creation in 2020, New Mexico's child care workforce has grown by 64%, while the national workforce

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This will conclude House Bill 1644. This will conclude House Bill 1644.
• And I'm hoping this is the committee that's going to get this passed and done this legislative year.
• legislative body, to be able to maintain your control, to be the legislators to create law.
• This exact bill has been fully vetted by numerous House and Senate committees in the past two years.
• As a legislative body, it is going to be on the side of the compact, not you as a legislator or me as

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A number of members on this committee were firm supporters.
• I know the chair and the ranking members and others on this committee have similar legislation.
• So we know that a lot of veterans make up the workforce.
• As I've been on this committee, and I was on the VA committee in the house, it seems like every time
• It's been very meaningful and important to the committee.

Keywords: veterans, mental health, suicide prevention, Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Grant Program, HOPE Act, BRAVE Act, Every State Counts for Vets Mental Health Act, advocacy, legislation, mental health resources

Summary: The committee meeting focused primarily on the critical issues surrounding veterans' mental health and suicide prevention. Discussions centered on the reauthorization of essential programs aimed at providing non-clinical support services to veterans, particularly the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Senators emphasized the urgent need for adequate mental health resources as the suicide rate among veterans remains alarmingly high. Key testimonies were provided by various advocates and officials, illustrating both successful implementations of these programs and areas needing improvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• committees. So, thank you. committees. So, thank you.
• Right now in this past year, we launched a joint committee with the governor's workforce development
• And we brought these two committees together to make recommendations to strengthen the educator workforce
• That joint committee has also partnered with the governor's interagency workforce alignment task force
• <01:22:01.520> over give you better legislative over give you better legislative over legislative

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Busatta and committee members for the invitation to be here today.
• In-house, our work is tightly tied to workforce needs at the local state and national levels.
• He's strong, believe on workforce development in a He's strong, believe on workforce development in a
• , business workforce and education leaders.
• Also because of legislation passed by the Florida Legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are grateful to Assembly Member Johnson for working with us on this legislation and to the committee
• And I'm very pleased that we're having this conversation in the first house in a policy committee so
• And this I have heard about over and over, being in committee on housing, is whether it's wage theft,
• This important piece of legislation empowers a small-scale housing...
• The motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Housing and Community Development.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee.<00:05:09.199> House<00:05:09.440> Bill<00:05:09.680
• House Bill 776 is a committee.
• Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to present House Bill 776.
• House Bill 273 amended by committee sub passes. Look forward to hearing it on the House floor.
• House Bill 273 amended by committee<00:21:10.080> sub<00:21:10.320> passes.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Licensing and Occupations Committee met with a quorum and heard several licensing and regulatory bills. House Bill 565, presented by Rep. Myron Dossett with support from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Paducah Fire Department, would clarify and broaden the authority of “fire protection officials” so local fire officials, along with the state fire marshal, can enforce final orders and seek court enforcement locally. The sponsor described it as cleanup language to streamline fire code enforcement and improve efficiency. The bill passed unanimously. The committee then considered House Bill 776, a modernization of Kentucky’s Dental Practice Act, presented by Rep. Derek Lewis and Jeff Allen of the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, with Rep. Chad Hall also speaking in support. The bill updates definitions and board authority, revises licensure and renewal provisions, clarifies supervision and training rules for hygienists and assistants, updates telehealth standards, and preserves dentists’ authority over diagnosis and treatment planning. Members also discussed a provision allowing the board to use excess licensing funds for a scholarship to attract dentists to Kentucky. After questions about Medicaid access and a promised amendment removing certain ownership-related provisions, the bill passed unanimously. House Bill 657, presented by Rep. Stephanie Deetsz and Michelle Sanborn of the Children’s Alliance, would give five licensing boards the statutory authority needed to obtain FBI fingerprinting/ORI numbers for interstate compact compliance. The boards named were counseling, speech-language pathology and audiology, occupational therapy, social work, and psychology. Supporters said the bill simply updates Kentucky law to match current FBI fingerprint language. It passed unanimously. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 273, presented by Rep. Mike Klein and the Kentucky Board of Barbering. A committee substitute was adopted first. The bill reduces barber training hours from 1,500 to 1,200, allows 10-hour school days, shortens out-of-state licensure experience requirements from three years to one year, and makes other cleanup changes, including moving board compensation to regulation. Supporters said it would reduce barriers to entry and help address workforce shortages. The amended bill passed unanimously, and the committee adjourned.