Transcript Highlights:

• These codes were not adopted through careful study and analysis.
• Most often they were These codes were not adopted through careful study and analysis.
• But also most new homes Are in buildings that would have been illegal under the prior code, but also
• Salem’s zoning code is not representative of actual land uses in many residential areas.
• I want to thank our code officer, and we’re going to join the committee.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on zoning, Chapter 40B, and related housing bills. Much of the testimony focused on the “Yes in My Backyard” bill (H. 1572/S. 962), which would expand by-right development of missing middle housing, reduce barriers such as minimum lot sizes and parking mandates, and support duplexes, triplexes, and other small-scale housing. Supporters included housing advocates, developers, local officials, and municipal leaders from places like Cambridge, Salem, and Braintree, who argued that state action is needed because local zoning often blocks needed housing and that the bill would help create more affordable, neighborhood-compatible homes. Several witnesses also backed a companion “Yes in God’s Backyard” bill (H. 2347), which would allow faith-based institutions to build housing on their property by right, with testimony emphasizing the potential for new units, added municipal tax revenue, and partnerships between religious organizations and housing developers. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 1021 to modernize Chapter 40R incentives. Senator Pavel Payano and others said the program’s payments have not kept pace with inflation since 2004 and should be increased to better encourage smart-growth zoning near transit and town centers. Another major topic was H. 2298 on site plan review, which would codify and standardize the process in state law. Rep. Kristin Kassner and witnesses from MAPC and NAIOP said current site plan review practices vary widely across the state, creating confusion, delays, and litigation, while a uniform framework would give municipalities clearer tools to review by-right projects without undermining local oversight. The hearing also included testimony on Chapter 40B reform, including S. 1005 and H. 1537. One witness supported further review of 40B and stronger regional planning, while another backed a proposal to allow certain pre-2010 40B condominium owners to sell at market value under a framework that would recapture some of the subsidy benefits. Committee members asked several questions about local zoning changes, housing goals by county, and how the proposed bills would affect communities. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs indicated that written testimony would be welcomed for technical details and additional comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• in Texas that is supported<01:05:52.480> by<01:05:52.640> House<01:05:52.880> Bill<
• overstated um other states Texas overstated um other states Texas Connecticut<01:07:50.559> Maryland
• The tax code is actually the most inefficient way to measure results.
• The tax code is actually the most inefficient way to measure results.
• The tax code is a system of levers that you push and pull.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• calculated under United States code calculated under United States code title<00:08:55.240> 10
• That's the code that is pertaining to the U.S.
• title 32 that's the United States code title 32 that's the code<00:29:40.919> that<00:29:41.080
• Code Titles 10 and 32.
• Code Title 32. I am not included in this, however.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My family just went to a graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas. My son...
• Graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas. My son hit one of the toll roads.
• They get the payment at time of service, whatever the billing codes are.

Bills: HB198, HB325, HB488, HB719, HB749, HB755, HB797, HB823, HB1028, HB1194, HB1222

Keywords: Medicaid, reimbursement, ambulatory surgical centers, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, healthcare funding, Louisiana Department of Health, surgical procedures, TOPS-Tech, scholarship, education, eligibility, college credit, dual enrollment, state funding, HB 488, Belle Chasse Bridge, Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund, Plaquemines Parish

Transcript Highlights:

• My family just went to a graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas. My son...
• My family just went to a graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas.
• They get the payment at time of service, whatever the billing codes are.

Summary: The Finance Committee met on May 27, 2026, with six members present and took up a series of House bills, most of them dealing with education funding, criminal justice staffing, transportation, health care access, and economic development. HB 325 was reported favorably after testimony that it would expand TOPS eligibility by allowing dual-enrollment credits to satisfy eligibility criteria and by making part-time students eligible for TOPS Tech, with supporters saying the program has been underused and the change would help working students. HB 719 was amended and reported favorably to increase assistant district attorney positions in various judicial districts; the Louisiana District Attorneys Association said the changes were based on workload data and local input, and members discussed the need to coordinate any expansion with public defender funding. The committee also reported HB 749 favorably, which would move Louisiana’s 529 savings accounts to a more secure online platform after a cyber incident, and HB 1028 favorably, which concerns transportation reimbursement for providers and was described as already subject to appropriation. Several bills focused on food access and local economic development. HB 1222, the Grocery Initiative Act, was reported favorably to let LED use existing grant resources to map food deserts and develop a program, with members noting it could return for funding later if needed. HB 1194 was amended and reported favorably to define food deserts and direct the LSU AgCenter and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to identify and map them, with authors emphasizing it was a study and not a government-run grocery program. HB 755, which would create IDIQ contracting for architects and engineers on smaller state projects, was reported favorably with no fiscal impact. HB 823, a local diversion pilot for Orleans Parish, was also reported favorably after the fiscal note was revised to remove state impact and reflect only local costs. The committee spent substantial time on HB 488, a proposal from Plaquemines Parish to use severance-tax revenue to help buy out a private toll concession on the parish’s bridge. The author and local officials described severe toll burdens, economic harm to local businesses, and what they called an unfair contract, but members noted the bill was not funded and ultimately deferred it without a motion. HB 797, the Bayou Gold/Louisiana Sound Money Act, was amended to make implementation subject to appropriation and then reported favorably. The committee also took up HB 198, which would raise Medicaid reimbursement for ambulatory surgery centers for certain outpatient procedures; after extensive discussion about fiscal notes, access to care, and potential long-term savings, the bill was amended to narrow its scope and make implementation subject to appropriation, then reported favorably as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it would be the committee’s last meeting and asking members to spread the word.

Transcript Highlights:

• TODAY OUR INSURANCE CODE REQUIRES A CHILD MIGHT BE DIAGNOSED BY AGE 8 AND SERVICES ARE MANDATED TO BE
• CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS BEING SOME OF THOSE PLACES. WE ARE COMPARING THOSE THINGS.
• WE PAY DOUBLE MALPRACTICE THAT THEY PAY HANNAH PARTS IN TEXAS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• power, as when I worked with Senator Cruz's staff in 2018 to keep the CCP out of the University of Texas
• Texas-Austin, it took someone who is on the inside, it took outside expertise, and then it took someone
• theft, at least the way our legal statutes are designed—particularly 1831 and 1832 of the criminal code—have

Transcript Highlights:

• We have that from a response, we currently have Texas Emergency Management here in our EOC helping to
• The The insurance code requires residual market rates to be actuarially set with actually sound rates
• guidance in their 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code that only applies to new construction
• Building codes don't touch fencing.
• But we've still got people stuck in Texas that can't come back.

Transcript Highlights:

• project, for say, for example, a purchase, you have to bring those dollars up front as part of the code
• I do have some questions because I have gotten some concerns about some coding issues that I have.
• that particular Development is being referenced as a subdivision, and within that, there are some code
• There may be a need within the tax code that specifically addresses how valuations or taxation on the
• Is that within the tax code and the way that it works now, you know, there's a presumption of validity

Transcript Highlights:

• , the school still student 100% occupancy, the school still has<01:42:00.560> to<01:42:00.719>
• KY Stats has a plethora of reports on occupational outcomes, the needs through 2032, depending on where
• outcomes, the needs through occupational outcomes, the needs through 2032<01:53:02.719> depending
• So you can see you can compare up to three of the different career options, the occupations.
• , you can see if they're in occupations, you can see if they're in high<01:57:42.159> or<01:57

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a full quorum and approved the prior minutes. Members offered introductions of guests and family members, then heard a presentation from University of Louisville President Thomas Jared Bradley, who was sworn in before testifying. He described his background and outlined U of L’s strategic priorities: student success, access and affordability, workforce development, community engagement, and research. Bradley highlighted enrollment growth, increases in first-generation and Pell-eligible students, strong transfer pathways with KCTCS, and support programs such as the Cardinal Commitment Grant, 15-to-Finish, Comeback Cards, tutoring, mentoring, and mental health services. Bradley also emphasized U of L’s statewide and regional impact through UofL Health, rural outreach, the Bullitt County rural cancer education and research center, nursing expansion, and the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. He noted major institutional distinctions, including R1 status, a new Carnegie Opportunity College and University designation, and community-engaged classification. He said the university is one of only 10 public universities nationwide with all three designations and reported record enrollment, improved retention, and strong research expenditures. He also thanked lawmakers for significant capital and operating support, including funding for the simulation center, health science center, asset preservation, and the MEP program. During questions, members praised the university’s public service role and asked about first-generation enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and post-graduation outcomes. Bradley said the university is working to improve completion by expanding academic support, early alerts, incentives for tutoring, and faculty/advisor mentoring, especially for first-generation and high-need students. He acknowledged that post-graduation employment data is difficult to collect but said the new Carnegie classification reflects positive outcomes. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and no formal actions were taken on legislation in this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• licenses from expanding their occupancy licenses from expanding their occupancy absent<01:49:25.360
• Best practice for Level 1 trauma centers is to run around an 80% to 85% occupancy rate.
• And at Regions, our daily occupancy of the beds we are asking for runs around 94%.
• And at regions, our occupancy rate.
• And at regions, our daily<01:52:11.599> occupancy<01:52:12.239> of<01:52:12.400> the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Jeff Witte will be joining me shortly, but he is stuck in Texas right now, so hopefully
• Reduced state investment, rising inflation, and tougher codes hamper our ability to keep up with deferred
• Replaces plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, resolves building code and

Bills: HF3220

Keywords: school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security

Transcript Highlights:

• In section 1, you will see a code of ethics for the legislative branch, and that's in Article 2.
• In Article 2, the first section deals with the code of ethics for the legislature.
• It's why New York, California, Florida, and Texas have hundreds of people, while South Dakota only has

Bills: HF2783, HF2603, HF2846, HF2354, HF1836, HF2713, HF1198, HF1389

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• MY FAMILY RELOCATED FROM TEXAS TO SOUTH FLORIDA FOR MY HUSBAND'S POSITION AT ADVENT HEALTH AND WE GREW
• LET'S TAKE A AMENDMENT BAR CODE 70800 BY SENATOR CALATAYUD, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> Sen.
• LET'S TAKE A AMENDMENT BAR CODE 388744 BY SENATOR CALATAYUD AND YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax code, which I'll be able to pull for you, does say these are the criteria to maintain your agricultural
• Supreme Court in which Texas and New Mexico are trying to figure out what our settlement looks like.
• So if we're saying the TRD responsibility is to administer tax code with uniformity across the state,

Transcript Highlights:

• He joined Concentra in 2020 and offers over 25 years of experience in preventative and occupational medicine
• 2729 appropriation, 2734 employment required, 2734 employees, 2734 employee list welfare, 2730 occupation

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• question would be, are you speaking of other states being states that has already passed this, like Texas
• Were we influenced by the mid-decade redistricting advocates in states like Texas, California, Virginia
• I don't know. ...part of the governor's motivation in directing us to prepare a map, a response to Texas
• this because you're just an absolute gentleman and have an incredible, impeccable moral and ethical code
• So, And have an incredible, impeccable moral and ethical code.

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and heard a Governor’s Office presentation on a proposed congressional reapportionment map. The governor’s counsel argued that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is legally permissible, that race should not be considered at all in drawing districts, and that the Florida Fair Districts provisions are inconsistent with federal equal protection law and should be treated as non-severable. The presentation also discussed the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Louisiana v. Callais and the Florida Supreme Court’s Black Voters Matter decision as part of the legal rationale for the map. Jason Parada, who said he drew the map alone, described the map as based on 2020 census block data, with county-level population estimates used only as a guide to identify faster-growing areas. He said the plan keeps 48 counties and 382 municipalities whole, has compactness scores similar to the current benchmark map, and uses traditional geographic and political boundaries such as roads, railways, county lines, and municipal lines. He walked through regional changes, emphasizing a race-neutral redesign that significantly altered South Florida, including changes to districts in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and the Everglades, while leaving several northern districts largely unchanged. Members questioned the witnesses extensively about the legal theory, the use of partisan data, the role of race, population growth, and the timing and review of the map. The witnesses said partisan data was considered along with other traditional redistricting criteria, but race was not used. They also said they could not speak to who else reviewed the map beyond EOG staff and counsel. Several senators raised concerns about the map’s compactness, county and city splits, the apparent partisan effects, and the fact that the map was released shortly before the special session. No vote or final action on the map was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• question would be, are you speaking of other states being states that have already passed this, like Texas
• Were we influenced by the mid-decade redistricting advocates in states like Texas, California, or Virginia
• know if that was part of the governor's motivation in directing us to prepare a map, a response to Texas
• this because you're just an absolute gentleman and have an incredible, impeccable moral and ethical code
• So, ...and have an incredible, impeccable moral and ethical code.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to fill some very difficult<00:25:32.679> to<00:25:32.919> fill<00:25:33.520> occupational
• difficult to fill occupational difficult to fill occupational Specialties<00:25:35.679> uh
• some of these very difficult<00:25:42.960> to<00:25:43.159> fill<00:25:43.799> occupational
• difficult to fill occupational difficult to fill occupational Specialties<00:25:45.039> many<
• resources these are three occupational resources these are three other<01:24:42.360> our<01:24

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Strategies, on behalf of the California Community Colleges Association for Occupational Education and
• AB 972 reports to add sex as a protected characteristic to Education Code Section 66270.
• To Education Code Section 66270. Sounds great.
• Education Code 66270—not saying I agree with it.
• elsewhere, is already in that code.

Summary: The committee hearing covered several higher education bills, with extensive testimony on student aid, affordability, and institutional debt. AB 587 would add veteran representation to the California Student Aid Commission; the author said the change would bring lived experience from the veteran community to student aid policy, and members raised a concern about keeping the commission’s membership odd-numbered, which the author said would be addressed by amendment. AB 791 would standardize cost-of-attendance housing calculations using objective data and improve notice of the adjustment process; supporters said current budgets often underestimate students’ real living costs, while UC, CSU, and independent colleges opposed or had concerns about the bill’s prescribed methodology, fiscal impact, and a 14-day turnaround for adjustments. AB 850 would create a one-term grace period for students with institutional debt to re-enroll while arranging repayment, bar reporting that debt to credit agencies, and require more transparency; proponents described students being blocked from continuing school over debts, while CSU, UC, and private-college representatives said they already use holds and payment plans and worried about added liabilities and budget pressures. AB 537 would extend the California College Promise Program to part-time community college students; supporters said most community college students attend part-time and should not be excluded from fee waivers, while the committee noted fiscal concerns but ultimately advanced the bill. AB 7 would allow universities to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of American chattel slavery in admissions as a reparative measure; supporters framed it as lineage-based reparative justice, while opponents argued it would function as a racial proxy and conflict with Proposition 209 and equal-protection principles. The committee took roll-call votes on the measures, advancing AB 587, AB 791, AB 850, and AB 537 to Appropriations, with AB 850 and AB 537 receiving fewer votes and the roll left open for additional members.