Transcript Highlights:

• c> Ic><00:02:30.440><c> Ic><00:02:30.600><c> figuredc><00:02:30.959><c> youc><00:02:31.040><c
• ><c> forc><00:02:34.080><c> bothc><00:02:34.400><c> ofc><00:02:34.560><c> us,c><00:02:34.760>
• ><c> offc><00:31:55.120><c> ofc><00:31:55.280><c> myc><00:31:55.480><c> schedule.
• c> two off of my schedule. two off of my schedule.
• /c><00:31:58.400><c> samec><00:31:58.680><c> schedulec><00:31:59.120><c> theyc> I no longer work

Bills: HB339

Keywords: Civil Air Patrol, CAP, emergency leave, job protection, employment discrimination, leave of absence, volunteer service, emergency response, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, state employee leave, military leave, public employees, local government employers, reinstatement rights, seniority protection, unpaid leave, Meeting Start 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:14 Discussion of Local Law Enforcement Issues 00:03:08 Discussion of Civil Air Patrol Employment Protections 00:50:46 Adjournment 01:06:07, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:47.280><c> programc><00:01:47.920><c> andc><00:01:48.159><c> inc><00:01:48.399><c> soc
• <c> Bc><00:03:20.879><c> inc><00:03:21.040><c> frontc><00:03:21.200><c> ofc><00:03:21.280><c>
• c><00:09:13.519><c> Andc><00:09:13.920><c> soc><00:09:14.320><c> Ic><00:09:14.640><c> knowc
• 15:48.480><c> schedule,c><00:15:49.360><c> youc><00:15:49.600><c> seec><00:15:49.759><c> thec
• ><00:15:50.000><c> reductionsc> payment schedule, you see the reductions payment schedule, you see

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:13:56.800><c> projectc><00:13:57.199><c> schedulec> COT is working with the project schedule
• COT is working with the project schedule for<00:13:57.760><c> thec><00:13:57.920><c> remainingc>
• ><c> ofc><00:14:02.480><c> thec><00:14:02.880><c> schedulec><00:14:03.279><c> byc> completion
• of the schedule by completion of the schedule by contracting<00:14:04.160><c> thec><00:14:04.399><
• c> scheduled to start this year. scheduled to start this year.

Keywords: 00:02 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:44 Approval of Minutes 01:56 Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet 54:59 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy received an update from Kentucky State Parks and the Finance Cabinet on the status of major capital projects funded through recent legislative appropriations. Commissioner Mark Keelin, Deputy Commissioner Chris Perry, and Finance Cabinet/DECA representatives described progress on campground upgrades, utility and broadband improvements, building systems repairs, life-safety work, accommodations and hospitality renovations, pool and beach projects, playgrounds, golf course improvements, marina work, and wastewater upgrades across the state park system. They emphasized that Kentucky has 44 state parks and that the funding has supported completed work and projects still under construction or in design. The presentation highlighted funding tied to House Joint Resolution 76, House Joint Resolution 56, and House Bill 6. Parks reported roughly $72 million invested to date, with 66 projects completed and 17 under construction, including campground renovations at sites such as My Old Kentucky Home, Kin Lake, Carter Caves, Cumberland Falls, and others; broadband projects at several campgrounds; electrical grid resilience work at parks including Kentucky Dam Village and Kin Lake; and completed life-safety upgrades such as lock systems. Officials also noted pool and beach work, ADA improvements, lodge and guest room renovations, marina replacements, and wastewater plant upgrades. DECA said it currently manages 1,335 active capital projects statewide, including 149 for Parks, and credited additional project management capacity and regular coordination meetings for accelerating delivery. Committee members asked for a copy of the presentation and pressed the department for more detailed accounting of House Joint Resolution 56, including how much money remains, which projects are complete, and whether current appropriations are sufficient to finish the listed work. The department also requested a larger maintenance pool appropriation of $40 million for the next budget, arguing that routine and emergency maintenance needs across 44 parks exceed current resources and that preventative maintenance would reduce long-term costs. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> scheduledc><00:29:20.960><c> ifc> these um hearings are scheduled if these um hearings are scheduled
• c><00:58:25.960><c> morec> schedules every more schedules every more in<00:58:28.799><c> linesc
• c><01:52:21.400><c> schedulec> 35 million the proposed benefit schedule 35 million the proposed benefit
• ><c> schedulec><02:05:39.199><c> fromc> would do with the proposed schedule from would do with the
• c><02:30:39.560><c> forc><02:30:39.800><c> thosec><02:30:40.040><c> chronicc> highest uh schedule

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to try uh speaker's preference is for us to try not<01:51:57.079><c> toc><01:51:57.320><c> schedule
• <c> 11thc> not to schedule committees on March 11th not to schedule committees on March 11th which<
• I'm planning on which is Tuesday so uh I'm planning on I'll<01:52:03.480><c> schedulec><01:52:03.920
• schedule something for Monday the I'll schedule something for Monday the 10th<01:52:06.239><c> uhc
• c><01:54:12.400><c> itc><01:54:12.480><c> wouldc> scheduled it's just um you know it would scheduled

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on HB 660, which would require historic horse racing facilities to provide 10% of HHR winnings to host municipalities as mitigation. Representative Om said the bill was intended to offset local costs associated with large gaming facilities, noting that prior gaming measures included opt-in provisions and that this proposal would leave charities and the state whole while taking the 10% from the operator’s share. Members questioned why 10% was chosen and whether municipalities were currently experiencing added costs; Om said the amount was meant to address projected future impacts, not broader municipal budget issues, and cited a study on casino-related community costs. Opponents from the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Operators Association argued the bill unfairly singled out one industry and said gaming facilities do not impose more municipal burden than other entertainment venues. The hearing closed without a vote, and a member clarified the bill would apply to existing and future casinos/facilities. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 658-FN, which raises the cap on reimbursements from the Oil Discharge and Disposal Cleanup Fund and makes related changes to the Oil Pollution Control Fund. Representative Malloy introduced the bill, and Representative Aly described the funds as an insurance backstop for oil spill cleanup and low-income tank replacement, saying the program helps prevent environmental hazards and satisfies financial responsibility requirements. Bob Scully of the Energy Marketers Association supported the bill but noted that fee changes are ultimately passed on to consumers. Department of Environmental Services officials Robert Bishop and Jennifer Marts explained that the bill would change reporting deadlines, raise the reimbursement cap for low-income homeowners, extend the fee collection period for 10 years, and adjust petroleum import fees based on an actuarial review. They said the funds cover spill response, prevention, and tank replacement, and that the fee structure was designed to keep the funds solvent while balancing costs across fuel categories. Committee members asked about the actuarial basis for the fee changes, why some fees would rise while others would fall, and how the funds are used. DES said the review used 10 years of claims and exposure data and that the fuel oil fee would otherwise need to rise sharply, so the board proposed a smaller increase and rebalanced other fees. Members also asked about the scope of covered oil imports, and DES explained that the fee applies to oil destined for use in New Hampshire, not merely passing through the state. The discussion also covered home heating oil spills, which DES said are often discovered by homeowners or fire departments and are usually caused by tank corrosion, piping, or overfills. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair noted that the policy committee had already approved the bill before the finance-focused review.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> youc><00:02:59.840><c> um,c><00:03:01.200><c> asc><00:03:01.440><c> wec><00:03:01.680><c
• wec><00:39:45.040><c> havec><00:39:45.760><c> classesc><00:39:46.320><c> scheduledc> program
• and we have classes scheduled program and we have classes scheduled for<00:39:47.520><c> theirc><00
• ><00:43:03.760><c> wec> 50, 30 and uh and many a time we 50, 30 and uh and many a time we schedule<
• c><00:43:05.760><c> ofc> schedule those trainings and some of schedule those trainings and some of

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its June 3 meeting and received an opening update on transportation revenues. Leadership noted that the gas tax formula dropped 4.1 cents on July 1, reducing road fund revenue by about $125 million, and warned that city, county, rural, and secondary road funding will be affected. The chair said the committee would likely have to be selective about transportation project requests given the reduced revenue outlook. The main presentation was an update on the I-69 bridge project. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials said the project is the missing link in the Henderson-Evansville corridor and is being delivered in three sections, with Kentucky leading section two. They said section two is a $933 million project, with Kentucky’s share described as $58 million and the balance Indiana’s, and that toll revenue will be used to finance the project through a TIFIA loan and Garvey bonds. Officials said Kentucky and Indiana have executed an agreement under House Bill 546 to use tolls, are working on a broader bi-state development agreement, and will ask the General Assembly next session to carry forward $150 million in general funds without conditions and to ratify the agreement. Members asked about the timeline, toll sharing, whether tolls would sunset, and whether US 41 bridges would remain open for local traffic; officials said construction is planned for 2027, tolling would begin in 2031, toll revenue would be shared 50/50, and at least one US 41 bridge would remain open for local use. The committee then heard a combined update from the Department of Vehicle Regulation and the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing on implementation of several recent changes. Officials reported that the new registration category for special-purpose vehicles is fully operational statewide, with all counties enrolled and 292 vehicles processed so far; they also said counties received at least five plates each and that the program is permissive, not mandatory. They described implementation of Senate Bill 43’s medical review board reforms and third-party driver’s license issuance framework, saying the medical review process has been updated and that third-party partners may eventually handle easier transactions such as renewals, name changes, and address changes, while initial issuances would remain at KYTC regional offices. They also reported that the sheriff’s inspection process has been integrated into CAVIS, reducing paperwork and fraud and improving tracking. Members asked about communication to counties and cities with differing local rules, the number of counties participating, and how to coordinate multiple policy changes; officials said all counties are enrolled, though not all have submitted applications, and that they are still finalizing the scope of third-party services.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> statec><00:11:40.079><c> toc><00:11:40.240><c> toc><00:11:40.399><c> toc><00:11:41.120><c>
• c> fundc><00:11:43.279><c> usc><00:11:43.519><c> atc><00:11:43.760><c> thec><00:11:43.920><c>
• a conservation or farm plan.<00:32:30.640><c> Uhc><00:32:30.960><c> evenc><00:32:31.279><c> schedule
• Some of uh like the the schedule<00:33:10.000><c> Fc><00:33:10.559><c> forc><00:33:10.720><c> a
• c><00:33:11.679><c> notc> schedule F for a new farmer they may not schedule F for a new farmer they

Bills: HB1602, HB2246, HB1707, HB2216, HB2594, HB2595, HB2155, HB2113, HB2207, HB1832, HB2015, HB2152, HB2548

Keywords: agriculture, grant specialist, financial support, farmers, Hawaii, federal grants, grant administration, revolving fund, department of agriculture and biosecurity, grant compliance, transportation, reimbursement, food security, local production, sustainability, agricultural loans, financing, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii agriculture, loan portfolio

Transcript Highlights:

• :10:41.600><c> toc><01:10:41.760><c> thec><01:10:41.920><c> schedulingc><01:10:42.320><c> ofc
• c><01:11:21.040><c> It'sc><01:11:21.199><c> ac><01:11:21.440><c> scheduling.
• c><01:12:07.040><c> itc><01:12:07.280><c> scheduledc><01:12:08.239><c> inc><01:12:08.640><c>
• ><c> havec><01:12:15.679><c> thec> can't schedule it until you have the can't schedule it until you
• ,c><01:12:35.760><c> youc> even schedule it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:56:18.520><c> orc><00:56:18.880><c> supportsc><00:56:19.880><c> thesec> student schedule
• or supports these student schedule or supports these measures<00:56:20.680><c> ensuredc><00:56:21.359
• um and make a new<01:33:05.520><c> schedulec><01:33:05.880><c> forc><01:33:06.080><c> somebody
• c><01:33:06.520><c> that'sc><01:33:06.639><c> goingc> new schedule for somebody that's going new
• schedule for somebody that's going to<01:33:06.880><c> bec><01:33:06.960><c> ac><01:33:07.119><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Policy Committee met under a co-chair arrangement and heard opening remarks emphasizing civility, direct testimony from school leaders, and a focus on whether state policy is meeting student needs in the least intrusive and most cost-effective way. Chair Coleman asked testifiers to keep remarks brief and policy-focused, and the committee began with a series of superintendents describing local budget pressures and the cumulative impact of state mandates. Anoka-Hennepin Superintendent Corey McIntyre said the district, the state’s largest, is serving about 37,000 students and faces a roughly $26 million deficit even after major reductions, including cutting about $44 million and roughly 250 central office jobs. He cited rising costs tied to compensation, special education and multilingual cross-subsidies, unemployment, paid leave, READ Act implementation, student/staff safety and K-3 discipline requirements, and transportation, saying the district still faces about $50 million in mandate-related shortfalls and may need to reduce class size and student supports. Senator Kunesh responded that summer unemployment claims are paid from a separate state budget line, not the district general fund, and asked about paid leave costs; McIntyre and the chair clarified the district’s concern was the possibility of future costs if state funding ends. Prior Lake-Savage Superintendent Michael Thomas said district revenues are rising only about 2.5% to 3% while expenses are growing 5% or more, driven by inflation and vendor costs. He argued that the state’s inflationary funding tie should be maintained, and asked for an increase in local optional aid of $250 per pupil and more flexibility for districts that struggle to pass local levies. Minnetonka Superintendent David Law argued that schools are being asked to absorb broader community burdens, including food and mental health needs, while still being judged on academics and graduation; he said REACT funding fell short, forcing the district to shift reading funds to staff development, and urged the committee not to roll mandates forward without funding. Fergus Falls Superintendent Jeff Drake said expanded unemployment, earned sick and safe time, and paid family leave are creating staffing and budget challenges for rural districts, estimating unemployment costs could reach $240,000 annually and sick and safe time about $25,000, with added difficulty recruiting support staff and substitutes. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• thankc><00:05:10.720><c> youc><00:05:11.280><c> umc><00:05:11.960><c> andc><00:05:12.600><c>
• uhc><00:05:13.600><c> goodc><00:05:13.759><c> toc><00:05:13.880><c> bec><00:05:14.120><c> back
• c> thinkc><00:05:15.360><c> itc><00:05:15.520><c> isc><00:05:16.440><c> umc> I think it is um
• 05:19.919><c> umc><00:05:20.319><c> bringingc><00:05:20.639><c> mec><00:05:20.840><c> inc><00
• c><00:05:23.120><c> myc><00:05:23.240><c> namec><00:05:23.400><c> isc><00:05:23.680><c> Regina

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:23.280><c> Um,c><00:01:23.759><c> wec><00:01:24.000><c> doc><00:01:24.320><c> have
• c><00:01:27.119><c> youc><00:01:27.280><c> andc><00:01:27.520><c> letc><00:01:27.600><c> you<
• <c> andc><00:02:59.440><c> I'mc><00:02:59.680><c> notc><00:03:00.000><c> Ic><00:03:00.239><c>
• gap and with our excuses for trying<00:07:39.599><c> toc><00:07:39.759><c> schedulec><00:07:40.160
• ><c> routes,c><00:07:40.560><c> havec> trying to schedule routes, have trying to schedule routes,

Bills: HB245, HB138, HB151, HB152, HB245, HB138, HB151, HB152

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, pregnancy, pregnant defendant, incarceration, jail intake, pregnancy test, bail, pre-incarceration probation, supervised probation, electronic monitoring, electronic supervision, perinatal care, prenatal care, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• schedulec><00:06:05.440><c> onc><00:06:05.600><c> that.
• c><00:06:06.800><c> Andc> so we're ahead of schedule on that.
• went to Murray and they're trying to um schedule<00:10:02.720><c> thosec><00:10:02.959><c> throughout
• c><00:10:03.279><c> thec><00:10:03.440><c> statec><00:10:03.600><c> andc> schedule those throughout
• the state and schedule those throughout the state and travel<00:10:04.160><c> throughoutc><00:10:04.399

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the August 21, 2025 minutes. The main presentation came from Brandon Reid of the Kentucky Office of Agriculture Policy, who reported that implementation of the Kentucky Agriculture Economic Development Board created by Senate Bill 28 and House Joint Resolution 31 is ahead of schedule. He said the board has been appointed and has met several times, has adopted guidelines and an application process, and has launched its application on the KDA website. He also noted new staffing, including a project manager, and said the office is already working on projects, though some are confidential because of coordination with the Economic Development Cabinet and nondisclosure agreements. Members praised the effort and emphasized the importance of having agriculture represented in economic development work. Reid also described ongoing outreach by Commissioner Jonathan Shell, including farmer appreciation and classroom visits across the state. The committee then heard from Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and Bluegrass Ag Tech Development Corp. executive director Jacob Ball about the Bluegrass Ag Tech Development Corp., a public-private partnership involving Lexington-Fayette, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky, and Altech. They said the organization aims to make Kentucky a national and international hub for ag tech, and that it has already awarded challenge grants to startups. Ball explained that the program focuses on animal protein, nutrition, sustainability, mid-size farm solutions, and Kentucky traditions such as distilling and equine. He reported that two rounds of grants have totaled $925,000, with the first round’s seven companies leveraging that into nearly $7 million in follow-on investment, supporting 56.5 Kentucky jobs and creating more than a dozen new jobs. The presentation also highlighted statewide outreach, including applications and engagement from counties across Kentucky, and the goal of expanding participation in eastern Kentucky. Members expressed support for both initiatives and discussed the value of agriculture-specific expertise in economic development. Reid said the Department of Agriculture and the Economic Development Cabinet maintain regular communication and that the new board gives agriculture a seat at the table for future site and industry recruitment efforts. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:12:28.560><c> toc><01:12:28.800><c> schedulec><01:12:29.600><c> burialc><01:12:30.400><
• c> thec> or we're trying to schedule burial the or we're trying to schedule burial the cemeteries<01
• ><01:12:48.960><c> schedulingc><01:12:49.440><c> withc><01:12:49.760><c> themc><01:12:50.159><c
• <c> schedule.
• c><01:12:58.400><c> That'sc><01:12:58.640><c> thec> or the cremation schedule.

Bills: SB2211, SB2025, SB2038, SB2050, SB2051, SB2090

Keywords: emergency funding, food assistance, healthcare, federal shutdown, Hawaii, DHS, jury duty, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, exemption, patient care, financial hardship, medication abortion, anonymous prescription, pregnancy rights, healthcare privacy, pharmacy regulations, chiropractic education, clinical training, student supervision

Summary: The House Committee on Health held its first hearing of the session and opened with housekeeping notes, introductions of members, and an explanation that the agenda would be taken out of order to accommodate a sign language interpreter. The committee first heard HB 469, relating to parking for disabled persons. Testimony from the Disability and Communications Access Board and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the bill, explaining that a travel placard would help people with disabilities who must travel interisland or to the mainland for medical care. Members asked about emergency travel, misuse prevention, and how to distinguish the travel placard from existing disabled parking placards; witnesses said the bill would need to be tied to administrative rules, and agreed the placard should clearly show an expiration date and likely be a different color. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 218, relating to hospital surgical smoke. The Department of Health supported the measure, and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported it with amendments, saying hospitals already follow existing standards but that any new policy should account for different procedures and provider safety. A committee member questioned the proposed amendment language and whether it was too flexible; the witness explained the intent was to allow case-by-case application because some procedures generate only brief exposure. Members also asked what surgical smoke is, and the witness explained it is produced when electrical or cauterizing tools are used on tissue and creates vapor or fumes. The bill remained under discussion with no final action reported. The committee next took up HB 814, which would fund a public information campaign and related services on cannabis use among youth. The Department of the Attorney General said the bill should be amended to clarify whether the funding would be used for contracts or grants and to include proper grant standards if grants are intended. The Department of Health supported the bill and said the funds would expand prevention, treatment, recovery, and public education efforts, including social media outreach, PSAs, and school-based youth services. Multiple organizations and individuals testified in support, emphasizing the harms of youth cannabis use and the need for prevention and treatment resources. Members asked what the department currently does, whether it is fulfilling existing law on science-based cannabis information, and what kinds of treatment would be provided; the department said services would mainly be intensive outpatient, outpatient, counseling, and related youth-focused supports. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:12.560><c> Soc><00:01:13.040><c> thec><00:01:13.360><c> secondc><00:01:13.600><c> item
• c><00:01:18.479><c> Isc><00:01:18.560><c> therec><00:01:18.720><c> ac><00:01:18.880><c> motion
• ><c> lawc><00:01:30.159><c> andc><00:01:30.400><c> thatc><00:01:30.560><c> willc> third item
• :01:31.119><c> firstc><00:01:31.360><c> matterc><00:01:31.680><c> thatc><00:01:31.920><c> wec
• c><00:02:39.440><c> Uh,c><00:02:39.680><c> Ic><00:02:39.840><c> wantc><00:02:39.920><c> toc

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes of its June 10, 2025 meeting and then heard testimony on House Bill 198, “Angela’s Law,” sponsored by Representative Samara Hein. The bill would add a new aggravating circumstance in death-penalty cases when an offender abuses the corpse of a kidnapping or murder victim by engaging in deviate sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse, or sexual contact. Representative Hein and the victim’s parents described the case that prompted the proposal, saying the current law did not allow the conduct to be treated as an aggravating factor because the sexual act occurred after death. They emphasized that the bill would not require a death sentence or life without parole, but would give judges and juries another sentencing factor to consider. Doug and Angela Kerr gave emotional testimony about their daughter’s murder and said the current sentencing options were inadequate given the facts of the case. Several members expressed sympathy and supported the bill’s purpose. Senator Wheeler said the measure would signal that the Commonwealth will not tolerate such conduct, and Representative Petrie said he supported the concept but urged careful drafting so the language would not be too narrow or unintentionally reach co-conspirators or others whose conduct differed from the principal offender. The committee then received an informational presentation on KRS Chapter 202C from Judge Lisa Payne Jones and Shauna Mitchell of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. They explained that 202C was enacted in 2021 to address a gap in Kentucky’s civil commitment laws for defendants found incompetent to stand trial after serious offenses. The presentation outlined the process: a Commonwealth’s attorney must file a petition for qualifying offenses, an evidentiary hearing must be held quickly, and if the respondent is found by a preponderance of the evidence to have committed the offense, a commitment hearing follows with a higher burden of proof. They also described the 2024 amendment changing the commitment criteria from requiring all four factors to only one, and noted the statute’s review-hearing schedule and the availability of later review if circumstances change or new evidence emerges.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:37.920><c> inc><00:01:38.240><c> fiscalc><00:01:38.560><c> yearc><00:01:38.880><c> 27
• :34.159><c> scheduling,c><00:24:35.360><c> um,c> assigned to help with scheduling, um, assigned to
• help with scheduling, um, arranging<00:24:36.240><c> forc><00:24:36.640><c> courtc><00:24:36.960
• court reporters, hearing officers,<00:24:39.440><c> schedulingc><00:24:39.919><c> hearings,c><00
• :24:40.480><c> whateverc> officers, scheduling hearings, whatever officers, scheduling hearings, whatever

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:42 Department of Corrections 04:14 Department of Juvenile Justice 16:22 Kentucky Law Enforcement Council 28:01 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard budget-related testimony from the Department of Corrections on a request for additional funding to take over operations of the Lee Adjustment Center, including $2.2 million in fiscal year 2027 and $5.2 million in fiscal year 2028. The witness said the governor’s budget did not recommend the request. Members asked about the cost savings of private operation versus state operation, the facility’s role in the department’s long-term goals, and whether the state intends to move toward operating all adult correctional facilities directly. The Department of Juvenile Justice then presented on staffing, recruitment, retention, and facility planning. Officials described recent pay increases and other investments, including a 10% security pay raise in 2021, an 8% state employee raise in 2022, higher youth worker starting salaries, and $4.8 million in 2023 funding to sustain salary increases. They said DJJ has also expanded mental health and medical staffing, improved recruitment efforts, and seen an upward trend in hiring. In response to questions, the commissioner said barriers to recruitment and retention include the Tier 3 retirement system, the structured and restrictive nature of detention work, and competition from other employers. He also said the department wants to move toward a regional model for female facilities under SB 162 and believes those facilities can be staffed. DJJ provided staffing figures showing 1,339 funded positions, with 157 filled and 182 vacant at a January benchmark, and 524 detention positions with 450 filled and 74 vacant. Officials said 30 correctional officers were in basic training and expected to join posts soon. Members also asked about the feasibility of staffing additional facilities and the department’s vacancy trends. Finally, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council testified on a funding request for one attorney, one paralegal, one additional monitor, higher costs for existing monitor positions, and Lexington office rent. Officials said the request is needed to handle a growing decertification caseload and expanded oversight responsibilities as the number of academies has increased to about eight, with more than 2,100 instructors requiring biennial review. They said KLEC currently has one attorney and about 15 total staff, with roughly 180 cases pending, more than 50 complaints left to file, and another 30 cases expected soon. Members asked about current staffing, attorney salary, the number of academies, and the move to a separate Lexington office. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned without a quorum for approving minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> thec><00:04:44.639><c> passagec><00:04:45.199><c> ofc><00:04:45.320><c> thec><00:04:45.440
• 00:04:45.919><c> andc><00:04:46.080><c> safec><00:04:46.320><c> timec><00:04:46.840><c> Lawc>
• 04:51.600><c> anc><00:04:51.759><c> employeec><00:04:52.199><c> forc><00:04:52.479><c> beingc
• workc><00:04:54.840><c> toc><00:04:55.039><c> carec><00:04:55.240><c> forc><00:04:55.440><c>
• ><c> thec><00:05:01.880><c> samec><00:05:02.160><c> illnessesc><00:05:03.120><c> arec><00:05:

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 1325 and adopted the author’s A2 amendment before hearing testimony. Representative Schultz presented the bill as a set of bipartisan changes to make Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law more workable for small businesses, public employers, and taxpayers, arguing the current law is an unfunded mandate that increases costs and property taxes. The bill’s supporters said it would add flexibility, including changes affecting coverage for certain workers, employer size thresholds, front-loading, weather-related exceptions, and a delay on penalties. Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach of the Department of Labor and Industry opposed the bill, saying it would exclude about 800,000 workers, or roughly 30% of the workforce, from earned sick and safe time protections and create confusion and enforcement problems. She also objected to the proposed penalty delay, saying the department already uses compliance assistance and needs penalty authority for serious violations. The Minnesota Chamber supported modifications to the mandate, saying businesses—especially small ones—have struggled with compliance and that the law has had unintended effects on PTO policies and leave use. The League of Minnesota Cities supported parts of the bill, especially changes affecting more generous city leave policies and weather-event exemptions, saying current language creates confusion and can interfere with emergency staffing. Opponents from Education Minnesota, SEIU Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, and a nurse from Unity Hospital argued the bill would strip protections from part-time workers, minors, and workers with family caregiving needs, and would weaken a law they said has helped workers avoid discipline or lost wages when sick. Supporters from counties and an HR consultant emphasized administrative burdens, emergency staffing needs during weather events, and the difficulty of applying ESS rules to existing leave policies. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the bill was laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

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• chairs if you can schedule a future<01:07:27.599><c> meetingc><01:07:27.920><c> ac><01:07:28.160
• c><01:08:21.520><c> toc><01:08:21.759><c> re-releasec><01:08:22.400><c> thatc> scheduled meeting
• > shouldc><01:08:52.319><c> schedulec> year.
• ><c> justc><01:15:33.360><c> schedulec><01:15:33.760><c> them.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The working group convened with all members present, approved the minutes from its October 16, 2025 meeting and its October 28, 2025 Halawa Correctional Facility site visit by unanimous consent, and received no public testimony on the agenda or minutes. The chair then reviewed the statutory timeline under Act 292/SB 104, noting the group continues until January 8, 2027, and discussed required reporting dates and the need to develop a work plan for the remaining meetings. The chair also said the October 16 DCR presentation would be treated as satisfying the group’s interim-report purpose, though the legal reporting obligations to the Legislature and oversight commission still needed to be sorted out. The main discussion focused on DCR’s proposed amendments to Act 292 and the department’s interim report. Director Johnson said the department’s October 16 presentation included recommended statutory amendments because the law, as written, could not be fully complied with; the proposals were described as section-by-section changes intended to address implementation problems. Members discussed several specific issues, including transfer language for higher levels of care, the 2010 MOA with the Department of Health, and replacing “physician” with “clinician” to reflect staffing realities. DCR explained that the change would allow licensed clinicians, including APRNs and doctors of osteopathy, to make decisions when physicians are not on duty, and that the MOA is being updated so transfers can occur from any DCR facility to the state hospital. An OHA staff member gave a detailed critique of the proposed amendments, saying they would weaken Act 292’s intent by reducing procedural protections, expanding exceptions, and relying on aspirational language such as “strive” and “if practicable.” OHA also raised concerns about the lack of baseline data on restrictive housing use and said the department’s report showed serious operational problems, including overcrowded and outdated facilities, limited space for private medical or mental health exams, and the use of suicide/safety cells for people who may not need mental health treatment. DCR responded that it had requested 35 new medical positions in the budget, supported by the governor, and said those positions are needed to meet basic care obligations for people in custody. The group did not take a vote on the proposed amendments. Instead, members agreed to continue the discussion, with the chair saying the reports, settlement tracker, 2010 MOA, and comparison guidelines would be distributed and used as the basis for future work. In the final discussion on work-plan priorities, members identified staffing shortages, physical plant limitations, and the need to examine humane alternatives and implementation challenges as key topics for upcoming meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

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• ><c> forc><00:09:03.200><c> eitherc> room should be scheduled for either room should be scheduled
• Um given the calendar<00:09:12.800><c> schedule,c><00:09:13.200><c> I'mc><00:09:13.440><c> guessing
• > ac><00:52:01.280><c> ac><00:52:01.520><c> feec><00:52:01.839><c> schedule.
• c><00:52:03.839><c> ac><00:52:04.079><c> ac> of a a fee schedule.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee to study long-term managed care met to approve the prior meeting minutes, with a clarification that “OB3” referred to the “one big beautiful bill.” The minutes were then approved. Chair Jim Kofalt outlined the day’s agenda, which included testimony from the Granite State Home Health and Hospice Association, the New Hampshire Association of Counties, and later DHHS. He also noted that future meetings were expected soon and that the meetings were being livestreamed on YouTube. Granite State Home Health and Hospice Association, represented by Kellyanne Totten and Amy Moore, urged inclusive planning and a cautious, phased approach if managed care is considered. They emphasized that home care providers are not uniform, with different licensing and service models, and said any pilot should include varied provider types, rural and southern regions, and agencies of different sizes. They warned that workforce shortages, inflation, and a possible 9% CMS cut to Medicare home health payments could force agencies to reduce service areas or service types. They also said the 2023 Medicaid CFI rate increase has begun to lose its effect. In response to questions, they said the rural health transformation fund may help with planning and telehealth but likely cannot be used directly for rates or recruitment/retention. They also described the New England Home Care Nurse Residency Program, a Department of Labor grant, as a way to bring new registered nurses into home care with added training and school partnerships. The New Hampshire Association of Counties, through county nursing home administrators Craig Labore and David Ross, revisited the earlier Step Two managed care discussions from 2016-2018. They said prior consultants found the long-term services and supports system was underfunded and needed investment to stabilize providers and expand community-based care. They argued the same concerns remain today and said a managed model would jeopardize the Medicaid quality incentive payment program and, for county nursing homes, the proportionate share payment program. Their testimony was generally opposed to moving forward with managed long-term services and supports without significant additional funding and safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> M1c><00:35:17.040><c> MAc> the couple uses the schedule M1 MA the couple uses the schedule M1
• ><c> schedulec><00:36:31.119><c> M1c><00:36:31.599><c> MA,c><00:36:32.000><c> theirc> one of
• ><c> claimc><00:42:59.040><c> non-refundablec> schedule M1C to claim non-refundable schedule M1C
• :45:20.720><c> formc><00:45:22.079><c> sorryc><00:45:22.400><c> ofc><00:45:22.640><c> schedule<
• /c><00:45:22.960><c> M1c> two of M of form sorry of schedule M1 two of M of form sorry of schedule

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:32:18.559><c> schedulec><00:32:18.960><c> that'sc><00:32:19.200><c> inc> the same devaluation
• c><00:32:27.200><c> Sectionc><00:32:27.679><c> 16c><00:32:28.080><c> relatesc> devaluation schedule
• 00:40:08.480><c> ac><00:40:08.640><c> scheduledc><00:40:08.960><c> roadc><00:40:09.200><c> test
• <00:40:13.040><c> andc><00:40:13.280><c> raisesc> scheduled appointment time and raises scheduled
• c><00:40:24.000><c> ofc><00:40:24.240><c> certainc><00:40:24.480><c> typesc> scheduling for purposes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all