Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 50, a bill to be entitled Secretary: an Act relating to nature-based methods
• Secretary: Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 50, a bill to be entitled an Act relating to nature-based methods
• We are requiring DVA to evaluate the health literacy of veterans and provide recommendations to us on

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to focus on two things in my opening remarks: TDI's method of finance and a brief summary of
• Right now, our primary methods of communication with injured employees are the fax machine and snail
• The most significant changes, items A and B, regarding method of finance swaps will be discussed on page
• Item three—excuse me—method of finance swap prior to the 24-25 biennium of the agency's sole source..
• The recommendations for the 26-27 biennium include a method of finance option to reallocate the general

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So every county in Kentucky does have some, uh, method of being within a building trades program. >>
• with Junior Achievement of Kentucky to reach fifth graders, giving them early exposure to business literacy
• with Junior Achievement of Kentucky to reach fifth graders, giving them early exposure to business literacy
• with Junior Achievement of Kentucky to reach fifth graders, giving them early exposure to business literacy
• <01:26:56.560> More to business literacy each year. More to business literacy each year.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:04 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:29 Approval of Minutes: 00:01:50 Kentucky Buy American Act: 00:02:08 Earn As You Learn: KY Building Trades Apprenticeship: 00:30:42 Worker Misclassification in the Construction Industry: 01:02:00 Investing in KY’s Future Workforce Through the Good Business Initiative: 01:20:44 Adjournment: 01:28:28, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on October 23, 2025, approved the September minutes, and heard testimony on a proposed “Kentucky by America” procurement preference bill. Representative Patrick Flannery described the concept as giving preference in public construction and public works contracts to iron, steel, aluminum, and other manufactured goods made in the United States, while emphasizing he wanted to avoid excessive taxpayer costs and was open to changes. Chad Connley of the United Steelworkers and Dustin Reinsteller of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO supported the idea, arguing it would strengthen domestic manufacturing, keep tax dollars in the local economy, and support jobs; Connley said the bill would include waivers for items not made domestically and noted Kentucky has opted out of the GPA trade agreement. Mike Buckington of Metals Innovation Initiative, testifying virtually, also supported the concept and said Kentucky’s metals sector has seen significant investment and can supply most construction needs, while stressing supply-chain reliability and national security concerns. Members generally expressed support but raised questions about implementation. Representative Branscum asked who would grant waivers and how contractors would know the rules during bidding; Flannery said he was open to revising the language and process. Representative Gentry supported the concept but said the bill would likely need editing to avoid harming businesses or markets. Senator Nun suggested aligning the bill’s definition of a U.S. good with industry country-of-origin standards to make compliance easier. Representative KC Carney asked for data on the impact of similar laws in other states, and Connley said he could provide numbers later but did not have them on hand. Senator Boswell supported the concept and asked about the cost threshold for waivers; Connley said the federal standard is a 25% cost increase, while the prior Kentucky version used 10%, and that the threshold is a key detail. The committee then shifted to an informational presentation on building trade apprenticeships. Eric Elie of the Kentucky State Pipe Trades Association, Nick Brown of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 502, and retired IBEW training director Steve Willinghurst explained how union apprenticeship programs work. Brown described earn-while-you-learn training, with apprentices placed on jobs by signatory contractors and attending classes two nights a week for five years. He outlined the work of plumbers, pipefitters, welders, and HVACR technicians, emphasizing that these trades support construction, industrial facilities, distilleries, and other critical infrastructure. No votes or formal actions were taken on the policy topics beyond approval of the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires social media platforms to implement commercially reasonable age estimation and verification methods
• committee to reconsider the age verification mandates and instead focus on comprehensive digital literacy
• committee to reconsider the age verification mandates and instead focus on comprehensive digital literacy
• instead focus on<01:04:01.560> comprehensive<01:04:02.320> digital<01:04:02.720> literacy
• on comprehensive digital literacy on comprehensive digital literacy programs<01:04:03.880> and

Bills: HF4502, HF3388, HF4106, HF400, HF4138, HF4118, HF4203

Keywords: trusted contact, financial exploitation, elder abuse, elder financial abuse, fraud prevention, financial institution, banking, credit union, broker-dealer, account security, dormant account, consumer protection, scam, suspicious activity, protective services, law enforcement reporting, Minnesota Statutes chapter 45A, HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance

Transcript Highlights:

• is it just dumps them all in. together and it says it's what's called the vote the vote counting method
• It included a third-grade literacy policy that It included a lot of things and then also a lot of school
• This lack of early identification and proper has created a crisis. worst literacy rate, our Texas public
• Millions of our children are hindered in a Achieving literacy by lack of adequate instruction.
• went into a storefront, outgrew the storefront, peeling the onion layers back, we have a crisis in literacy

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• maybe about 5 years recruiting method maybe about 5 years ago<00:32:30.320> to<00:32:30.559><
• When you say AI literacy, who is this for?
• and how AI fits within at AI literacy and how AI fits within the<01:39:06.880> curriculum.
• resources um to increase AI literacy resources um to increase AI literacy um<01:41:11.920> and
• For just the literacy, who is this for?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 14, sponsored by Education, literacy position for K through three reading program, an act
• relating to the authorization of a full-time literacy position for the Department of Education.
• Speaker, your Committee Number Four, Education, to whom is referred Senate File 14 engrossed, literacy
• act relating to the authorization of a full-time literacy position for the Department of Education.
• *Epinephrine Delivery Methods*, an act relating to public health and safety.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that were identified with the forensic examinations and include governance and ethics, financial literacy
• reviewing and making recommendations on several key areas, including evaluating the current contracting methods
• including identifying and disclosure of conflicts of interest in general management practices; financial literacy

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee held its first meeting of the term and heard introductory remarks from the chair, vice chair, ranking member, and members, who broadly described their interest in child welfare, mental health, aging services, homelessness, and agency accountability. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including child welfare, mental health and substance abuse safety net services, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, elder services, and child support, and introduced the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as the first agency panel for the term. DCF presented an implementation update on HB 7089, a 2024 law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency for community-based care (CBC) lead agencies that deliver most child welfare services under contract. The department said the bill was prompted by forensic examinations that found problems such as noncompetitive procurement, related-party transactions, excessive executive compensation, and weak financial oversight. DCF described new contract requirements and monitoring tools covering board governance and annual training, conflict-of-interest disclosures, financial penalties for noncompliance, fidelity bond requirements, limits on direct service provision by lead agencies, related-party procurement rules, procurement thresholds, real-property approvals, compensation caps, expanded public reporting, and a new Future of Child Protection and Funding Work Group. DCF reported that some lead agencies had completed required board training, others were still on schedule, and two agencies exceeding the direct-service threshold had been referred to the Auditor General. Members asked DCF about the reasons for the bill, the impact on children, the work group’s regional representation, aging-out youth, the Embrace Families transition, board training requirements, and whether enforcement actions had been taken. DCF said the bill was intended to protect funds for children and families and improve oversight, and clarified that the Central Florida lead agency contract was awarded through competitive procurement rather than an absorption. DCF also said the board training was designed to be meaningful but not overly burdensome, with timing left partly to lead agencies as they implement the new requirements. The committee then heard from two CBC leaders, who generally supported the accountability goals of HB 7089 and said their agencies had already addressed most of the new governance and disclosure requirements. They reported that board training had been completed or was being scheduled, but both agencies said the fidelity bond requirement has been difficult or impossible to obtain in the market as written, though they were able to secure the separate performance bond. The CBC witnesses also warned that recruiting providers is increasingly difficult, especially for higher-acuity children and group-home placements, due to limited provider supply, regulatory burden, insurance costs, and rising risk. They said these pressures are contributing to budget deficits in some areas and urged lawmakers to consider the funding model, insurance and indemnification issues, and the risk of overregulation reducing provider participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Buckner provides a wide array of long-term economic strengthening services such as financial literacy
• We know our school districts go and they apply, they do their appraisal method, they conduct it, uh,
• The task force will look into alternative methods in determining the appraisal accuracy to ensure equitable
• Lastly, I'll look into the correlation of the four studies the PBS, the ratio study, the Methods and
• certainly alerted to the fact that there may be jurisdictions out there doing different appraisal methods

Bills: HB249

Keywords: real property, ad valorem tax, tax appraisal, property value limitation, real estate taxation, property ownership

Transcript Highlights:

• families and business owners and strengthen the workforce to improve kindergarten readiness, early literacy
• So will there be any methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the technologies and the public safety.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• RFP, when it goes out, it would be written such that we could have different types of construction methods
• 48:41.320> types<00:48:41.600> of<00:48:41.680> construction<00:48:43.000> methods
• different types of construction methods different types of construction methods in<00:48:43.880>

Bills: SR185, HB2452, HB2329, HB2272, HB2273, HB2335, HB1656, HB2207, HB2289, HB1854, HB2581, HB20, HB2296, HB1707, HB2297, HB1890, HB2241, HB2474, HB1688, HB2546, HB1574, HB1546, HB2218, HB1163, HB1514, HB1749, HB2385, HB1576, HB1974, HB2022, HB1973, HB2005, HB1894, HB1515, HB1718, HB1591, HB2475, HB1721, HB1864, HB1946, HB1920

Keywords: Department of Education, capital improvement program, performance audit, infrastructure, transparency, state bonds, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, bond authorization, state debt limit, constitutional debt limit, Article VII Section 13, Hawaii bonds, state borrowing, public finance, capital improvement projects, supplemental appropriations, judiciary appropriations, refunding bonds, reimbursable bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• from 18 cases in 2022 to 38 in 2023, and just wanted to know what, I guess, preventative factors or methods
• went from 18 cases in 2022 to 38 in 2023, and I just wanted to know what preventative factors or methods
• critical thinking, time management, career planning, ethics in the workplace, networking, financial literacy

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs received three presentations and took no bill votes. The Department of Children and Families gave an extensive update on human trafficking prevention and services, describing Florida’s statutory framework, hotline and investigation data, placement options such as safe houses and safe foster homes, new adult safe house certification rules, expanded screening tools for vulnerable adults, and prevention efforts including youth-led outreach and training. Members asked about whether current funding is sufficient, how DCF addresses grooming and re-victimization in residential settings, and how long youth typically remain in safe-house placements; DCF said funding is only one part of the support system, that families and youth receive prevention resources even when allegations are not substantiated, and that placement length varies by child. OPPAGA then presented its 2024 annual report on commercial sexual exploitation of children. The report found that verified CSE victims slightly declined in 2023, with Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Escambia among the highest-prevalence counties. Most verified victims were community youth rather than children already in care, though dependent youth had higher rates of prior maltreatment. OPPAGA also reported continued concerns about limited placement capacity, especially for less restrictive Tier 1 safe houses, and service gaps such as the need for survivor mentors. Its recommendations focused on expanding placement options, improving data collection, and strengthening collaboration to support survivor mentors. Finally, DCF presented the Step into Success pilot program for current and former foster youth ages 16 to 26. The program combines workforce education, professional development, and paid internships with mentor support; the first cohort launched in 2024 with 15 participants, all of whom secured placements, and the department reported strong satisfaction and early outcomes. Committee members asked about scalability, costs, and whether the model could be moved beyond DCF-run operations into community-based providers. DCF said the program was designed to be scalable, currently costs about $500,000 annually for the pilot, and could be expanded statewide with additional funding and partner support. The committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• fortunate in deaf education in the last, I would say, 10 to 15 years that we have evidence-based literacy
• So in those conversations, getting, and I believe there's eight now of those literacy interventions that
• We invite them to those trainings on those evidence-based literacy practices so that they're getting
• with us today will report to us in a definitive way as soon as they reasonably can about all of the methods

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and received an overview of the Pre-K-12 education appropriations jurisdiction and base budget. Staff explained that education funding is driven largely by enrollment and per-student formulas, with most money coming from state and local sources. The presentation highlighted the major budget areas: early learning, the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), non-FEFP K-12 programs, federal programs, and the State Board of Education. Members asked about instructional materials funding and how scholarship students who return to public schools are counted and funded; staff explained that instructional materials remain in the base and that funding depends on survey timing, with districts ultimately funded through the enrollment count process. The committee then reviewed federal IDEA funding for students with disabilities. Department of Education officials explained how IDEA Part B funds are split between state set-asides and local educational agencies, and noted that Florida ranked fourth nationally in total IDEA Part B funding and received a 95% state determination for meeting IDEA requirements. They also described the bureau’s responsibilities, including monitoring, dispute resolution, instructional support, and the Hope Florida unit for ages 3 to 5. Members asked for more information on student performance outcomes and how the state measures success beyond compliance, and the department agreed to provide follow-up data. The final major topic was the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS), including associate centers, multidisciplinary centers, and specialized centers for deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students. Presenters described services such as child find, family support, assessments, professional learning, accessible instructional materials, and technical assistance. Committee members focused on whether families and schools have equal access to services across the state, how IEP disputes and reevaluations are handled, and whether more support is needed for parents, teachers, and rural districts. FDLRS representatives said they do not write IEPs but help connect families to districts, provide training and assessments, and support compliance and data collection; they also emphasized staffing and resource needs, especially for low-incidence disabilities and multilingual family outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:58.000> program<00:20:58.320> for early childhood literacy program for early
• childhood literacy program for children<00:20:58.960> participating<00:20:59.440> in<00
• Um, I believe a better<01:00:44.160> method<01:00:44.880> um<01:00:45.040> is<01
• :00:45.359> providing<01:00:45.839> better better method um is providing better better
• method um is providing better support<01:00:46.480> and<01:00:46.799> supervision<01:00

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Which taxation method do you want to use, A or B? Right?
• Which taxation method do you want to use, A or B? Right?
• We have seen incredible increases in our literacy.
• invest more heavily into literacy invest more heavily into literacy improvements<01:17:29.440>
• We are over above the in our literacy.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

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• 2014 that specifically stipulates instruction needs to be grounded in science and evidence-based literacy
• Um, that specific statute requires schools to provide measurable and evidence-based literacy instruction
• And so if there's not a certain amount of hours for mathematics or science or literacy, um, then you
• > then<01:33:13.040> you<01:33:13.280> need<01:33:13.360> to science or literacy
• um then you need to science or literacy um then you need to find<01:33:13.760> it<01:33:14.000

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• injectors are needed in the school, but most are never used, and H590 provides enough injectors and a method
• The collaborative leads the campaign for food literacy to ensure that all K through 12 students learn
• would increase access to experiential education, such as school gardens, which can promote food literacy
• local food economy, bring fresh, healthy food into schools, and improve student nutrition and food literacy
• This method is simple, effective, and easy to teach, and no mouth-to-mouth is required.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on a large slate of bills, with the chairs emphasizing time limits, written testimony, and grouping similar measures together. Early testimony focused on opioid use disorder education in schools (S.382), with Senator Keenan arguing that students should be taught about the risks of substance use disorder and naloxone use as part of health curricula. Representative DeCost also briefly introduced H.551, a narrow bill concerning parent rights for children in third grade and younger. Several bills were then closed without testimony, including measures on type 1 diabetes informational materials and other diabetes-related proposals. A major portion of the hearing centered on school health and emergency response bills. Supporters of H.652/S.342 on diabetes management in schools described inconsistent district practices and urged clearer standards so students can receive care in classrooms rather than being sent out of instruction. Bills on epinephrine access and seizure disorders drew extensive testimony: advocates for stock epinephrine in schools argued that unassigned epinephrine can save lives and should be funded in a cost-neutral way, while a pediatrician opposed one version as an unfunded mandate. For seizure-safe schools (S.422/H.635), students, parents, educators, and advocates described missed or delayed responses to seizures, stigma, and the need for staff training, seizure action plans, and emergency medication protocols. A separate bill, H.645, allowing anti-seizure medication on school buses, was supported by a parent and student who said current law forces costly and restrictive transportation arrangements. The committee also heard testimony on youth skin health bills (S.334/H.600/H.619), which would let students carry and apply sunscreen at school and camp without a physician’s note. Supporters from melanoma prevention, dermatology, and industry groups said the bills would remove unnecessary barriers and promote sun-safe habits, while one witness cautioned about drafting details and unintended consequences. The hearing then moved to CPR/AED education for graduation (S.456), where Senator Tarr, a student advocate, and the Red Cross all supported requiring hands-on CPR certification for high school students. Finally, the committee took testimony on healthy school lunches (H.539/S.401): supporters from the Healthy School Lunch Coalition and school food directors backed stronger nutrition standards and a standing advisory council, while Consumer Brands Association witnesses opposed the bill as too vague and potentially disruptive. A nutrition scientist also warned about unintended restrictions on medically necessary or innovative foods. The chairs closed the hearing on the healthy lunch bills and then opened testimony on universal school meals for virtual schools (H.700), with Superintendent Patrick Latuka supporting access for students in Commonwealth virtual schools who currently receive no meal support.

Transcript Highlights:

• UC estimates that the cost of attendance method in AB 791 would increase unmet need by over $350 million
• To your point, AB 791 would establish a standardized method for calculating off-campus rental housing
• That legacy is still felt in the afterlives of slavery that produce our literacy gaps and our school-to-prison
• All of this time, the literacy gaps and the education gaps have grown.
• All of this time, the literacy gaps and the education gaps have grown.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• A couple of weeks ago go by that that could occur, but if you have a tracking method in place, you at
• In this session, we've talked quite a bit about literacy and money, and we've talked about the teacher's

Bills: HB4028, HB4075, HB4077, HB4074, HB4076, SB1221, SB1921, SB2118, SB1932, SB2134, HCR1025, SB1432, HCR1024, HCR1022, SB1122, HB4029, HB4063, HB4073, HB4078, SB1936, SB44, SB237, SB248, SB1360, SB985, SB1204, SB1239, SB1307, SB2143, SB1428, SB1390, SB1400, SB1405, SB1732, SB1832, SB1859, SB1989, SB2018, SB1427

Keywords: tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, water resources, appropriations, funding, state treasury, infrastructure projects, emergency act, emergency management, disaster relief, pandemic response, state appropriations, HB4074, Health Care Workforce Training Commission, Health Care Workforce Revolving Fund, health workforce, health care workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• We did see a little bit of a drop in the eighth grade literacy, slightly less than about 8% from last
• eth 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e literacy eth 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 eighth<00:20:
• at 43% third grade literacy proficiency. at 43% third grade literacy proficiency.
• <00:21:12.559> rates department third grade literacy rates department third grade literacy
• a drop in the eighth grade literacy a drop in the eighth grade literacy slightly<00:21:29.679>

Keywords: 910, house, all