Transcript Highlights:

• They shut down a convent, and a bunch of the nuns moved to Shakopee.
• Harvey was almost one years old when he was suffocated at a childcare center.
• This mandate only applies in child care centers, and only in the centers that receive public funding.
• This mandate only applies in child care centers, and only in the centers that receive public funding.
• It's a student center.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the center serves as a rest area, The center serves as a rest area.
• and the Kentucky International Convention Center, infrastructure replacement, glass and pedway system
• improvements at the Kentucky International Convention Center, lighting replacement at both facilities
• , the University of Louisville, Churchill Downs, the Kentucky International Convention Center, Yum Center
• </c> artisan center. artisan center.

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the May 21 minutes, and welcomed a new executive branch member, Secretary Keith Jackson of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The board also received two informational items: agency responses to prior questions and amendments made to capital plans after the last meeting. It then heard the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s report on executive branch IT capital project scoring, which reviewed 16 IT requests totaling about $330.5 million. COOT said projects were ranked through an independent panel using standardized criteria focused on feasibility, statewide alignment, readiness, impact, and risk; the CIO recommended moving an enterprise application and artificial intelligence inventory system from rank 11 to rank 4 because of its enterprise-wide impact and connection to Senate Bill 4. The Department of Military Affairs presented its capital plan, describing 43 million in projects for the current period and 13 projects totaling $65 million for 2026–2028, with most funding coming from federal sources and restricted agency funds and no general fund request in the latter period. Its projects included maintenance pool adjustments, a statewide Army master plan, the Somerset readiness center, Shelbyville and Ashland armories, a future home for the Kentucky Army National Guard band, and other facility upgrades. Members asked about the Somerset project’s cost growth and federal delay; the department said the project remains in conceptual design, is awaiting federal MILCON action, and would require a state match of about $9.8 million against $29.6 million federal funding if it is approved. Members also asked about staffing levels, and the department said state employee and Title 32 numbers have been relatively steady, while technician positions have declined. The Department of Veterans Affairs outlined seven projects for 2026–2028, led by a Radcliff Veterans Center HVAC replacement that needs an estimated additional $16 million to finish phase two after phase one was already funded. Other requests included a maintenance pool increase, renovations and exterior upgrades at Eastern and Western Kentucky veterans facilities, a cooling tower replacement at Thompson Hood, and parking lot and lighting improvements. The department said some projects were already in the six-year plan and that the Radcliff phase two could be bid in June 2026 if funded. Members confirmed that a columbarium wall project at Grayson is federally funded. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented its six-year capital plan, citing more than $3 billion in loan commitments since 1988 and over $5 billion in supported infrastructure projects. KIA requested $298.439 million in the first biennium, including $27.742 million in state match for federal clean water and drinking water revolving funds, $25 million for its state Infrastructure Revolving Fund, $185.697 million in federal capitalization grants, and $30 million in leverage bond authorization for each year of the two federally assisted loan programs. Members asked about drinking-water quality, and KIA said that function is handled by the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, not KIA. KIA also said its loan rates currently range from 0.5% to 2.25%, averaging just under 1%, and that its revolving loan programs have had no defaults. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began its presentation at the end of the transcript, with staff identifying themselves, but no project details or board action from that presentation were included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• But that particular day, two weeks prior to Election Day, there were people circling the voting centers
• just say for like the Republican primary, they voted for Rick Santorum, and then they went to the convention
• and then they voted for Mitt Romney... ...And then they went to the convention, and then they voted
• In the presidential primary, we voted for Donald Trump, and then go to the convention, and it was kind
• voters go during the presidential primary and they vote and they cast their vote, but then the convention

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, I've worked in the study called CHAMACOS, the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers
• I'm a health center, a place of health, a hospital, for what reason?
• I myself am a community organizer for Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment.
• You're incentivizing more conventional herbicide use instead of...
• You're incentivizing more conventional herbicide use instead of less.

Transcript Highlights:

• But later on, I got to spend some time with her in Charlotte when we were at the Democratic Convention
• But later on, I got to spend some time with her in Charlotte when we were at the Democratic Convention
• And my husband, Tom and I, we, convention.
• They are here from the Missouri Centers for Independent Living, and specifically they're from Delta Center
• They are here from the Missouri Centers for Independent Living, and specifically they're from Delta Center

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we will be sure to update the website with the new naming conventions should the bill pass.
• </c> naming conventions should the bill pass. naming conventions should the bill pass.
• </c> questions that um actually u center questions that um actually u center around<00:35:27.680><c>
• Private institutions, churches, daycare centers, schools — if that is great.
• So that you know teacher in a center.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the Center for Louisiana Studies, for example, we are protecting and promoting the heritage of
• I remember meeting you at the town hall when we went to the research center, and I could tell you were
• I remember meeting you at the town hall when we went and we went to the research center.
• Stephen Barnes, executive director of the Kathleen Blanco Public Policy Center at UL Lafayette.
• Along with that,... ...audit is presented at the annual convention.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard several higher education and K-12 bills centered on TOPS, school accountability, and curriculum alignment. It first welcomed University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s new president, Ramesh Kuluru, who spoke about student success, workforce alignment, and the university’s financial recovery. The committee then adopted amendments and reported HR 17 favorably, directing a study of TOPS return on investment with the Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, LED, and the Blanco Public Policy Center. Testimony from business and policy groups supported the study as a way to assess whether state financial aid is producing workforce and retention outcomes. Members then considered HB 385 by Rep. Bamberg, which would require repayment of TOPS awards under certain circumstances when students lose eligibility, with exemptions for hardship and a pathway into LCTCS or career-technical programs. The bill drew strong debate over whether merit scholarships should ever be repaid; opponents argued TOPS is earned for the semester and should only be lost going forward, while supporters emphasized taxpayer accountability. After amendments, the committee narrowly approved the bill by roll call vote, with Chair Schlegel casting the deciding yes to report it favorably as amended. The committee also unanimously reported HB 1058 favorably, which requires the Board of Regents to maintain a uniform data system for state financial assistance; independent colleges and business groups supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and analysis. The committee next heard HB 406 by Speaker Pro Tem Johnson, which asks the Department of Education to study the feasibility of moving oversight of interscholastic athletics to a more accountable model after a legislative study found widespread complaints about the private LHSAA’s transparency and consistency. Supporters said the bill is a cautious step toward reform and a possible 2028–2029 transition, while an LHSAA representative defended current audits and governance and opposed the premise of the bill. Despite objections, the committee reported HB 406 favorably. It then heard HB 787 by Rep. McMakin, as substituted, which would exempt non-public high school students from the TOPS computer science requirement; BESE and the Department of Education opposed the bill, saying it would separate diploma and TOPS requirements and create scheduling confusion, while Catholic school representatives said the requirement conflicts with their theology curriculum. McMakin asked to defer the bill for two weeks. Finally, the committee unanimously reported HB 1059 favorably, which aligns TOPS math requirements with BESE’s integrated math pathways, and began hearing HB 1021 by Rep. Egan on repayment of certain TOPS awards, though the transcript cuts off before that bill was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Tourism Meeting and Convention Marketing Fund, as we call it the 1%, is administered by our cabinet
• Commonwealth, including expenditures to market and promote events and venues related to meetings, conventions
• The Tourism Meeting and Convention Marketing Fund, as we call it the 1%, is administered by our cabinet
• Commonwealth, including expenditures to market and promote events and venues related to meetings, conventions
• uh they are few of the visitor centers uh they are down<00:18:53.840><c> year-over-year.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Tourism on the 1% Tourism Meeting and Convention Marketing Fund. Officials said Kentucky tourism is a $14.3 billion industry that welcomed more than 80 million travelers last year, supports nearly 97,000 jobs, and uses the fund solely for tourism marketing and promotion, not capital projects. They noted the fund received additional appropriations in the enacted budget and also supports several designated tourism-related initiatives. Commissioner Mike Manet described how the fund is used for paid media, public relations, international marketing, cultural heritage promotion, website content, regional matching grants, research, trade shows, and travel expenses. He said the department spent $10.8 million on paid media in 23 markets in 2024, focused on seven tourism pillars, and used research and advertising ROI studies to guide spending. He reported 180 PR placements, 3.2 billion earned impressions, 3% growth in international visitation, and 12% growth in international spending to $257 million. He also highlighted the African-American Heritage Trail and said the regional matching funds program distributed $2 million to 87 local tourism commissions. Members asked about the rise of AI in search results, how domestic and international visitor data are collected, how ad agencies are selected, and how regional matching funds are allocated. The commissioner said the department uses GPS-based and federal data, including National Travel and Tourism Office figures, and that ad agencies are chosen through an RFP process. Representative McDaniel raised concerns about bourbon tourism and Canadian visitation; the commissioner said Canadian travel is down significantly, bourbon-related visitation has softened, and the department is shifting more spending toward in-state and closer drive markets while emphasizing bourbon’s heritage story. Representative Fugate asked about eastern Kentucky tourism and ATV trails, and the commissioner said those trails are included in advertising, social media, and earned media efforts. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This summer, our district's print center closed permanently.
• I am a proud member of SEIU 95, and I work with the Family Success Center, where I support families and
• I'm the Director of Budget and Tax Policy at the Washington Policy Center.
• I'm the Vice President for Research at the Washington Policy Center, and I've worked in environmental
• Washington's meetings and conventions industry is a major economic driver.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This is really about the outskirts of the counties because you have city centers and they have to be
• As other states compete for advanced manufacturing, data centers, and tech, reliable and affordable power
• an oversight gap with limited assurances that these facilities will be sited away from population centers
• like city zoning, typically evaluate compatibility with nearby land uses, proximity to population centers
• Just by talking about data centers specifically, we're leaving out all kinds of other large loads.

Bills: HB2014 , HB2113 , HB2145 , HB2331 , HB2340 , HB2389 , HB2400 , HB2401 , HB2428 , HB2494 , HB2696 , HB2756 , HB2795 , HB2955 , HCM2008

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, energy reliability, electric service providers, reliable resources, public power entity

Transcript Highlights:

• And what does exist is very expensive, about two to five times the cost of conventional jet fuel.
• And what does exist is very expensive, about two to five times the cost of conventional jet fuel.
• And what does exist is very expensive, about two to five times the cost of conventional jet fuel.
• Compared to conventional jet fuel, a minimum of a 50% reduction.
• And what does exist is very expensive, about two to five times the cost of conventional jet fuel.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and Minnesota’s efforts to build a SAF industry. Andrea Veble of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the Walz administration strongly supports SAF because it could benefit agriculture, forestry, clean energy, and rural economies. She highlighted the 2023 state SAF tax credit and sales tax exemption for facility construction, describing the credit as a nation-leading incentive designed to stack with federal IRA credits and attract producers and blenders to Minnesota. Jeff Davidman of Delta Airlines said aviation is difficult to decarbonize and that SAF is the airline industry’s best available tool to reach net-zero goals by 2050. He explained that SAF is a certified drop-in fuel that can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft and infrastructure, and he cited growing global demand and limited supply. He said Minnesota has many potential feedstocks, including used cooking oil, corn, soybeans, and camelina, and praised the state’s SAF tax credit and the Minnesota SAF Hub as important steps toward making Minnesota a leader in the sector. Peter Fros of Greater MSP described the Minnesota SAF Hub as a public-private partnership aimed at building an industrial-scale SAF value chain in Minnesota. He said the state has key advantages, including airport demand, corporate partners, research institutions, and agricultural inputs, and estimated that three SAF biorefineries could create tens of thousands of jobs and significant emissions reductions. He also said the Hub is working on blending infrastructure, private demand commitments, a winter camelina expansion study, and efforts to secure additional refineries before 2030. Members raised questions about how sustainability is measured, and Fros said the Hub relies on the federal GREET model but wants a clearer, transparent, and standardized national method that also accounts for issues like water quality and biodiversity. Amanda Bellik of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association said corn-based ethanol is a strong fit for SAF production through the alcohol-to-jet pathway because it is abundant, affordable, and supported by existing infrastructure. She said SAF development could create a new value-added market for corn without requiring new acres, but emphasized the need for significant capital investment, stable tax policy, and efficient permitting. She also said the group has worked with a consultant on third-party sustainability assessments of corn production practices to help fill data gaps and support the carbon-intensity requirements tied to SAF incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the joint convention of the California Legislature.
• We measure workloads using a case-weight methodology developed by the National Center for State Courts
• Ladies and gentlemen of the Assembly, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, the Joint Convention of the

Summary: The California Legislature met in joint convention for the annual State of the Judiciary address, with judges and justices from across the state in attendance along with Governor Newsom and other statewide officials. The opening included prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the formal introduction of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and the California Supreme Court justices. Speakers emphasized the importance of judicial independence, the courts’ role in protecting rights and democracy, and the value of collaboration between the legislative and judicial branches. Chief Justice Guerrero focused on the state of the judicial branch, beginning with budget pressures from prior cuts and noting partial restoration in the governor’s proposed budget, while urging continued stable funding for courts, court-appointed counsel, and judgeships in high-need counties. She highlighted the expansion and benefits of remote proceedings, ongoing judicial vacancies, workload growth, and efforts to improve data collection and case-weighting. She also discussed implementation of the CARE Act, the court interpreter workforce pilot, CASA and kin-first child welfare efforts, courthouse security and facilities projects, and the judiciary’s work on generative AI guardrails. A major portion of the address addressed the recent problems with the California bar exam and broader State Bar oversight. Guerrero said the court would pursue remedies for examinees harmed by the failures and would strengthen admissions oversight, including the role of the Committee of Bar Examiners. She also reiterated support for pro bono legal services and discussed immigration-related courthouse access, citing state laws limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in courthouses. The convention concluded after remarks thanking the judiciary and Legislature, and the joint session adjourned without any recorded votes or formal legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:20:46.200><c> the</c><00:20:46.360><c> Lea</c><00:20:46.799><c> Civic</c><00:20:47.080><c> Center
• </c> at Marite housing the Lea Civic Center at Marite housing the Lea Civic Center and<00:20:48.720><
• SAF can get 50 to 80% lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions when you compare it to conventional jet
• Now, the tax incentives in this bill are intended to bridge the cost gap to conventional fuels and also
• SAF can get 50 to 80% lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions when you compare it to conventional jet

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on several energy and environmental bills. On HB 470, relating to noise and leaf blowers, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent to reduce noise pollution but raised concerns about using decibel limits alone and suggested using dBA measurements; testimony also noted the bill would regulate future sales rather than current use, and there were three additional testimonies, two in support and one in opposition. No questions were raised before the committee moved on. The committee then heard HB 742 on transit-oriented development, which would require HCDA to prepare a programmatic EIS for Ewa, Kapalama, and West Oahu improvements. UH supported the bill, HHFDC said it was already preparing a master plan and programmatic EIS for the Ewa area, and HCDA explained that the projects are already underway or completed, including infrastructure work funded by prior appropriations. Supporters said the bill would streamline environmental review and potentially reduce costs for future housing, while HCDA emphasized the work is already in progress. On HB 340, concerning a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process and related cost recovery, DCCA provided comments, the Attorney General suggested changing a deadline to a specific date, and the PUC said it wanted to study the matter further while still meeting the 180-day reporting requirement. Solar and clean energy groups strongly supported the bill as a way to speed interconnection and advance grid-interactive technologies, while Hawaiian Electric supported the goal of more DERs but opposed the process, saying its interconnection performance has improved and that collaboration would be preferable to legislation. Members asked about newer technologies, UL 1741, and ratepayer impacts, and the Consumer Advocate said removing the cost-recovery section would alleviate its concerns. The committee also heard HB 243, requiring PV- and EV-ready new residential construction, which the Hawaii State Energy Office described as a cost-saving no-brainer because installing these features during construction is much cheaper than retrofitting later. The hearing then shifted to HB 350, expanding the water-heater systems that can satisfy building-permit requirements to include heat pump water heaters alongside solar hot water systems. The Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray supported the concept but asked for amendments to align efficiency standards and noted the bill’s removal of a 15-year lifespan limit for solar thermal systems, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association raised questions about how heat pump performance should be measured and whether PV-plus-heat-pump combinations should qualify. Committee members asked about impacts on smaller homes and ADUs, and the discussion remained focused on technical standards and possible amendments; no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that many, if not all, stadiums and convention centers around the country lease naming rights.
• Naming our stadium and convention center using names from our cultural history is part of preserving
• center undermines the unique convention center undermines the unique identity<04:34:04.799><c> and</
• c><04:34:32.000><c> us</c><04:34:32.160><c> to</c> Convention Center, but I want us to Convention Center
• Naming our stadium and convention<04:35:02.719><c> center</c><04:35:03.039><c> using</c><04:35:03.359

Transcript Highlights:

• Within the city of Boston, we have state-owned labs, colleges, jails, hospitals, convention centers,
• And now we have John Kalura from the UMass Transportation Center, who will also add to this.
• As she mentioned, I represent the UMass Transportation Center as a former director.
• I started... ...represent the UMass Transportation Center as a former director.
• S-A-D-I-E from MetroWest Center for Independent Living?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The Public Safety and Homeland Security Joint Committee heard testimony on several bills focused on accessibility, fire safety, and transportation safety. House 2569, expanding adaptable housing for people with disabilities and seniors, drew broad support from Rep. Christine Barber, disability advocates, and members of the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. Witnesses said the bill would close gaps in the Architectural Access Board’s authority, require more adaptable housing in rehabs and older conversions, and extend accessibility requirements to employee-only work areas. They emphasized the shortage and cost of accessible housing, the benefits for aging in place, and the risk of institutionalization when accessible units are unavailable. The committee also heard strong support for House 2577, which would allow local fire departments to inspect and enforce fire code compliance in state-owned buildings. Rep. Robert Cataldo and Boston Fire Chief Pat Ellis described this as closing a long-standing loophole that leaves state properties outside local fire-code enforcement, despite the hazards posed by aging state buildings and life-safety systems. Fire service representatives also supported bills to create a statewide technical rescue system under the Department of Fire Services, standardizing training, equipment, funding, and coordination across regional rescue teams, and they backed related fire-safety measures including sprinkler-related legislation and professionalism measures. Rep. James O’Day testified for House 2676, which would require window screens to prevent child falls, arguing it is a common-sense safety measure and noting recent fatal incidents. Ann Shuey and John Kalura testified for House 2601, which would require motor coach passengers to wear seat belts, citing a family tragedy, low seat-belt use, and research showing signage can improve compliance. Steven Poglisi of NAGE supported House 2568, requiring carbon monoxide alarms in public buildings, describing a past CO exposure incident involving a union member. The committee took no votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The General Federation Women's Club, the convention...
• The convention center in Boise was very, very well attended. Next one. More of those pictures.
• outreach festival, and I wanted to call out the Smithsonian Festival of Festivals and their Folklife Center
• And then finally, ...the Folklife Center as part of a partnership there.

Summary: The America 250 and Idaho Advisory Council met with a quorum and approved the April 20, 2026 minutes. Staff gave a financial update showing $68,267.67 unobligated in the commemorative fund, $440,710 spent to date, and $205,852.93 in celebration grants dispersed, with about $35,000 left to distribute. The committee also approved a motion to reallocate $10,000 from a project coordinator travel line to cover higher final production costs for the hanging Declaration of Independence display. Treasurer Ellsworth gave an extensive update on America 250 outreach, highlighting ambassador activity across cities, counties, businesses, schools, and veterans groups; numerous community events; the Revolutionary Spud “take-home” packs and coloring book; the Liberty Bell quarter-drive fundraising effort; the Liberty Bell carriage project; the service challenge nearing $250,000; and the final storybooks and Spuddy Buddies materials moving toward print. Members praised the strong engagement with schoolchildren and local communities, and Ellsworth said the signature collection for the declaration display was complete. Secretary McGrane reported that planning for the July 4 celebration is intensifying, with logistics, volunteers, the Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance, the parade, the Foundations and Freedom Tour, and Capitol displays all being coordinated. Director Gallamore summarized state agency efforts, including a new America 250 license plate, oral history interviews, the Move 250 campaign, educational tiles, the Great American State Fair, and other events tied to the commemoration. Hannah Laurie Hine outlined federal and national America 250 initiatives, including the congressional caucus, oral history efforts, the Great American State Fair, and the extended student art contest deadline. The Idaho Lottery previewed an America 250 scratch ticket going on sale statewide, and the Senate described plans for a Capitol for the Day event with schools and agencies. The committee set its next meeting for Tuesday, May 26, in the afternoon, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4965, relating to patient-centered treatment flexibility
• Substitute for House Bill 5063, to permit the county commission to appoint a county commissioner to a convention
• substitute for House Bill 5063 to permit the county commission to appoint a county commissioner to a convention
• Bill 5685, relating to authorizing bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Science and Culture Center
• Bill 5685, relating to authorizing bonds for improvements to the West Virginia Science and Culture Center

Transcript Highlights:

• In regard to Weatherford, Weatherford offers attractions such as the Cultural Center and the Museum of
• Williams concerns the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenues from hotel and convention
• center projects.
• by Schaffner relates to public health benefit coverage for care provided in a hospital, birthing center
• of filing an application for a place on the general primary election ballot or for nomination by convention

Transcript Highlights:

• Our third exceptional item is a request to increase funding to the Texas Center for Working Nurses.
• centers, necessitating agile and regular inspections to meet our expanded responsibilities.
• centers.
• The third item is about the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, or FCIC.
• They have partnered with us and built an exam center in Waco.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The House of Representatives is ready to meet with the honorable Senate and Joint Convention for the
• Resolved, that the Senate meet in Joint Convention with the House of Representatives for the purpose
• /c><00:15:54.680><c> with</c><00:15:54.839><c> the</c><00:15:55.319><c> House</c> meet and join convention
• with the House meet and join convention with the House of<00:15:56.480><c> Representatives</c><00:15
• with the house please line uh convention with the house please line up<00:16:19.040><c> at</c><00:16