Video & Transcript Research : 'learner permit'
Page 270 of 403
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee (12-16-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- final was originally $32.45 per square foot, but per KRS 56.803(15)(b), further negotiations were permitted
- final was originally $32.45 per square foot, but per KRS 56.803(15)(b), further negotiations were permitted
- final was originally $32.45 per square foot, but per KRS 56.803(15)(b), further negotiations were permitted
- final was originally $32.45 per square foot, but per KRS 56.803(15)(b), further negotiations were permitted
- County, I Originally $32.45 per square foot, but per KRS 56.803(15)(b), further negotiations were permitted
Summary:
The committee first received several information items, including University of Kentucky reports on medical and research equipment purchases, five school districts’ planned bond issues, and a School Facilities Construction Commission list of prior debt issues. Members then heard and approved an appropriation increase for a federally funded University of Kentucky project at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond. The project will construct a terminal building and is tied to EKU’s airport operations and planned flight school; members asked about the public funding, the role of EKU, and possible aviation expansion, and the item was approved by roll call.
The committee next approved a University of Kentucky lease purchase for an 85,000-square-foot facility at 415 West Sun Street in Morehead for $6.4 million. UK said the property, formerly the Rowan County Board of Education site, is directly across from UK St. Clair and will be used for multiple purposes; members questioned the quarterly payment structure and why the county preferred not to receive the full amount upfront, but the item was approved. The committee then heard three appropriation increases in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: a Fish and Wildlife pump project at Ballard Wildlife Management Area and two Lake Barkley State Resort Park repair projects. Finance staff explained the Lake Barkley increases were mainly to cover construction contingencies after bids came in close to available funding, and the committee approved the action items.
Janice Thomas then presented four pool projects requiring no action: HVAC upgrades at the Future Farmers of America Leadership Training Center in Hardinsburg, geothermal and HVAC work at the Kentucky School for the Blind, a Brady Hall HVAC project at the Kentucky School for the Blind, and a renovation of Shanti Hall at Kentucky State University for the School of Engineering Technology. Members asked no substantive questions on those items. Finally, Natalie Broner presented a new CHFS lease in Wayne County and a Transportation Cabinet lease modification in Christian County. The Wayne County lease drew the most discussion, with members questioning the rent, the lack of other bids, and whether another county location might be preferable; CHFS said it maintains county-seat offices statewide and that the Wayne County site would replace an existing office. The Christian County item was described as a replacement site for driver licensing services with renovation costs largely absorbed by the lessor. Both lease items were presented for action after the discussion.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair, if you will permit it, I have with me the mayor of Chaska, Taylor Hubard, to describe the project
- Chair, if you will permit it, I have with me the mayor of Chaska, Taylor Hubard, to describe the project
- ,<00:40:41.760>
if <00:40:41.920>you <00:40:42.000>will <00:40:42.160>permit - Chair, if you will permit and Mr. Mr.
- Chair, if you will permit it,<00:40:42.640>
I <00:40:42.800>have <00:40:42.960>with<
Bills:
HF333, HF2712, HF1064, HF1069, HF1113, HF2207, HF204, HF2867, HF2924, HF746, HF1530, HF2587, HF1078
Keywords:
HF333, Duluth, Lot D, redevelopment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds, public infrastructure, seawall repair, utility connections, demolition, debris removal, transportation improvements, site preparation, soil correction, economic development, DEED, capital appropriation, general obligation bonds
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 4/2/25
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- We're in parts of nine counties, and some of the permitting is all different.
- We're in parts of nine counties, and some of the permitting is all different.
- 02.120>
the nine counties and by the way some of the nine counties and by the way some of the permitting - 03.159>
different <00:25:03.960>I <00:25:04.120>wish <00:25:04.279>it permitting - is all different I wish it permitting is all different I wish it was<00:25:04.559>
all was all
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (03/10/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- recording to their pastor or to their therapist or to a domestic violence counselor, that would not be permitted
- recording to their pastor or to their therapist or to a domestic violence counselor, that would not be permitted
- If the language permits the board to continue to do those things, that mitigates it, but those are our
- If the language permits the board to continue to do those things, that mitigates it, but those are our
- If the language permits the board to continue to do those things, that mitigates it, but those are our
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 313, and Representative Perez moved to retain the bill, saying it needed work and was not ready as written. Representative Smith supported that approach, and the motion to retain passed 18-0. The committee then considered House Bill 391, an anti-SLAPP measure. Representative Smith and others argued the bill was too broad, could create litigation and discovery disputes, and might even be read to affect criminal cases. The committee voted 18-0 to retain HB 391 as well, and the chair agreed to place it on consent with a report to be prepared.
The committee next heard House Bill 462, establishing a cause of action for unwarranted video imaging of residential properties. Representative McFarland moved to retain, saying the bill raised First Amendment and property-rights concerns. The motion passed 18-0. The committee then took up House Bill 509, a fiscal note bill requiring reporting related to forfeitures. Members on both sides discussed the bill’s cost, the burden of collecting and collating the data, possible duplication across fiscal years, and whether the information was already being collected. The OTP motion passed 11-7, and Chairman Lynn asked Representative McFarland to prepare the report; a minority report was anticipated.
Finally, the committee considered House Bill 520, which would authorize Department of Education hearing officers to issue subpoenas. Representative Kuttab supported the bill, saying similar authority exists in other agencies and states. Opponents argued the DOE already can obtain information through the attorney general, that the bill would create an unbalanced internal enforcement process, and that the subpoena authority was not tied to the curriculum-related concerns raised in testimony. Representative Ter offered Amendment 0842H to shift subpoena authority from DOE hearing officers to the attorney general; the amendment failed 7-11. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and the OTP motion passed 10-8, with a minority report also requested.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Taxes Committee debates bill to modify tax breaks for MN data centers, HF1277 2/27/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Members in these agencies already face significant staffing challenges in processing permitting requests
- can be stopped, but they do think they should pay their fair share in taxes and follow appropriate permits
- can be stopped, but they do think they should pay their fair share in taxes and follow appropriate permits
- can be stopped, but they do think they should pay their fair share in taxes and follow appropriate permits
- can be stopped, but they do think they should pay their fair share in taxes and follow appropriate permits
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Members in these agencies already face significant staffing challenges in processing permitting requests
- Members in these agencies already face significant staffing challenges in processing permitting requests
- Members in these agencies already face significant staffing challenges in processing permitting requests
- would require a certification from the DNR that the water that's going to be used is done so under a permit
- would require a certification from the DNR that the water that's going to be used is done so under a permit
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-PSM, CPN-EDT, CPN Public Hearing 02-05-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- This measure permits condominium associations to borrow from or reallocate their reserve funds, provided
- This measure permits condominium associations to borrow from or reallocate their reserve funds, provided
- c> associations operating budget this associations operating budget this measure<01:34:15.239>
permits - <01:34:15.679>
condominium <01:34:16.360>associations measure permits condominium associations - measure permits condominium associations to<01:34:17.280>
borrow <01:34:17.760>from <01
Summary:
The committee opened by outlining testimony procedures and then heard SB 376 on tax credits, which would create a home fire safety improvement tax credit. Testimony from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi urged that the concept would be better handled as a subsidy program and raised drafting concerns about unclear definitions and eligibility. Later, the committees agreed to pass SB 376 with amendments, including making the credit nonrefundable, clarifying third-party certification, deleting recapture-related language, and making technical changes.
Members then heard SB 417, which would make unlicensed contractor work during or within five years after an emergency or disaster a class B felony. The Contractors License Board was listed for comments, and the Subcontractors Association supported the measure. The committees ultimately recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and an adjusted effective date, and the measure was adopted.
A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 782, which would require free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated people and prohibit state agencies from profiting from those services, while also directing the PUC to set standards and providing funding for the SAVIN victim notification program. Supporters, including the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Worth Rises, and others, argued the bill would reduce costs for families, improve reentry, and align adult corrections with the juvenile system. Opponents, including the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority, and SAVIN-related witnesses, warned that changing the funding structure could weaken victim notification and safety services. The committees deferred SB 782.
The committee also heard SB 999 on fireworks, which would repeal permissible consumer fireworks uses, impose civil penalties and forfeiture remedies, and create a forfeiture special fund for safety education. The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, while fireworks industry representatives and others opposed it, arguing prohibition would be ineffective and urging stronger enforcement and education instead. The committees deferred SB 999 for further consideration, and SB 1136 on insurance was also deferred after insurers and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs opposed it. In the later joint session with the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, SB 744 on condominium loans was heard with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and banking groups, while one testifier raised concerns that the program could function like C-PACE financing and add risky debt to condominium associations; testimony and discussion continued on that measure.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-AEN, CPN-EDT, CPN-HOU, CPN-EIG Public Hearings 01-29-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- The amendment makes it clear that pests imported either have to have a permit or that the Department
- pests imported uh either have to<00:04:29.400>
have <00:04:29.759>a <00:04:30.320>permit - 31.479>
or <00:04:32.479>um <00:04:32.880>that <00:04:33.039>the to have a permit - or um that the to have a permit or um that the Department<00:04:33.560>
of <00:04:33.720>Agriculture - states plus Washington, D.C., have allowed direct shipments of wine, but only nine states plus D.C. permit
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 252 on invasive species, which would broaden the Department of Agriculture’s authority to inspect items moved into or within Hawaii, prohibit the sale of pest-infested merchandise, and allow quarantine, treatment, or destruction of affected materials with clarified penalties. Testifiers from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, the Farmers Union, and many others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing gaps in current inspection authority and the need to address high-risk non-agricultural commodities such as outdoor furniture and other cargo that can carry pests like red imported fire ants. Members raised concerns about staffing, inspection capacity, commerce impacts, and whether better manifest descriptions or scanners could help target higher-risk shipments. The chairs recommended passage with Department of Agriculture and technical amendments, and the committees adopted the recommendation.
The joint CPN/EDT hearing then took up SB 148 on combat sports, which would create a Hawaii Combat Sports Commission and regulate combat sports while prohibiting no-rules contests. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments on effective dates and later said other jurisdictions generally use a single commission for boxing and MMA. Supporters, including a professional fighter and a longtime advocate, argued the bill would help revive the sport in Hawaii, improve local opportunities, and reduce costs associated with separate commissions; one testifier initially appeared opposed but clarified he was actually in support. Committee members asked about safety, medical coverage, staffing, vacancies, and whether separate commissions could share staff. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including an Attorney General effective-date amendment, amendments from the Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses to increase health-care coverage at fights, and DCCA’s recommendation to unify boxing and MMA under one commission; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted.
A later joint CPN/Housing agenda began with SB 69 on deposits of public funds, which would require the Director of Finance to consider the benefits of using in-state depositories, including favorable lending terms for affordable housing. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Hawaii Bankers Association offered comments, and no other testimony or questions were noted before the discussion moved on. The next measure introduced was SB 24 on limited profit housing associations, which would create a regulatory framework and a limited profit housing council; the transcript cuts off as testimony on that bill was beginning.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy (06/11/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- So, um, we should probably coordinate about that, and, you know, time permitting, we'll do some of that
- So, um, we should probably coordinate about that, and, you know, time permitting, we'll do some of that
- Time permitting, I might just introduce them and then we can discuss them more at a subsequent meeting
- <02:50:26.560>
I <02:50:26.720>might <02:50:26.960>just um time permitting I - might just um time permitting I might just introduce<02:50:27.920>
them <02:50:28.960>and<
Summary:
The committee met as a special House committee on COVID response efficacy, noted absences, and restated its mission to review New Hampshire’s pandemic response, including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID treatment, patient bill of rights implementation, and vaccination policies. The main business was discussion of a proposed letter or report language concerning current COVID vaccine recommendations for young children, especially those under age two, and how to support any conclusions with cited scientific and state sources.
Representative Polozov argued that the committee should ask the governor or agencies to reconsider current recommendations, saying the committee should focus on whether vaccination is needed for that age group, whether it is effective, and whether the risks outweigh the benefits. He said he had distributed articles and wanted the committee to pair its conclusions with scientific and statistical data. Other members asked him to identify the specific New Hampshire DHHS and American Academy of Pediatrics sources for the recommendation, clarify the age range being discussed, and separate any evidence about adverse effects in other age groups from the infant/toddler demographic so the letter would be transparent and not misleading.
Members generally agreed the letter should be carefully sourced and refined, with citations for each claim. The chair said the committee would treat the request as urgent and try to finalize a version by the next meeting, noting that some members would be traveling. The committee also discussed scheduling additional testimony in September and October, possibly with extra meetings, to continue gathering evidence and to hear from witnesses. The chair then began reviewing supporting articles, including studies he said were new since the 2024 report, and introduced a 2025 South Korea cohort study and another 2025 Italian cohort study as examples of the evidence he wanted to incorporate into an updated 2026 report.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/10/26
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- Signs are not permitted in the hearing room.
- Verbal outburst, shouting, or disruptive behavior are not permitted.
- Many times, our cases span multiple counties, and this permits charging in any county where the specific
- This will permit capturing more fraudulently obtained funds in restitution than the law permits right
- sufficient evidence to support probable cause and ensure the warrant scope is narrowly focused to permit
Keywords:
medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud, payment withholding, withheld payments, program integrity, public funds, state agency, program participant, credible allegation of fraud, administrative reconsideration, contested case, chapter 14, data practices, confidential data, protected nonpublic data, anti-fraud
Summary:
The committee approved the minutes from March 5 by voice vote and welcomed new member Representative Van Binsbergen. It then took up House File 2354, which Chair Liebling moved to re-refer to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. Representative Norris presented the bill as an updated version of the Medical Assistance Protection Act, aimed at strengthening the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, closing loopholes, equalizing fraud penalties, and increasing penalties for large-scale Medicaid fraud. Attorney General Ellison said the bill would add 18 specialized staff to the unit, moving it from 32 to 50 positions, and argued the federal-state matching structure makes the Attorney General’s office the proper home for the funding because the unit is dedicated to Medicaid fraud work.
Nick Wonka, director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, explained the bill’s provisions affecting committee jurisdiction: expanded subpoena authority to obtain financial account contents in provider-fraud investigations, conforming legal representation language to preserve the unit’s authority, venue changes to allow charging in counties where parts of the offense occurred, and a restitution change to let courts order restitution for related conduct in the same scheme. He said the subpoena change would speed investigations and align the Attorney General’s authority with other agencies, and that the restitution change would help recover more fraudulently obtained Medicaid funds.
No public testimony was offered. Members questioned why the funding should go to the Attorney General’s office rather than the BCA, whether the new records authority was federally required, how the venue language would work across state lines, and whether the added FTEs indicated the fraud problem was larger than expected. Ellison and Wonka responded that the federal grant requires the work to stay within the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, that the unit’s investigators are specialized and work with, but separate from, law enforcement, and that the venue provision applies only within Minnesota while out-of-state matters would be referred to the appropriate authorities. The amendment that had been posted was withdrawn and not offered.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 10/14/25
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- challenged unverifiable and they must clear the challenge to affirm their eligibility before being permitted
- 13.640>
eligibility <00:26:14.480>before <00:26:14.840>being <00:26:15.080>permitted - their eligibility before being permitted their eligibility before being permitted to<00:26:15.600
- acceptable identification document, that would clear the challenge from the roster and they would be permitted
- someone who is not a citizen but presents a driver's license at that point in the process could be permitted
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Kentucky Housing Task Force 2025 (9-22-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- have this stat in here, it says that 25% of the cost of a home is related to regulations as far as permit
- regulations<00:03:53.599>
as <00:03:53.920>far <00:03:54.000>as <00:03:54.239>permit - related to regulations as far as permit related to regulations as far as permit fees,<00:03:55.599
- Uh, out in my district where I think my district has something like 47% of the housing permits that are
- 10.719>
housing has something like 47% of the housing has something like 47% of the housing permits
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:03
Roll Call 00:00:08
Discussion of Indiana Residential Infrastructure Fund 00:01:27
Discussion of Affordable Housing Trust Fund 00:33:30
Discussion of Urban Infill 01:12:37
Approval of Minutes from July Meeting 01:39:00
Adjournment 01:39:42, 958, all
Summary:
The Housing Task Force heard a presentation from Anita Sanford of the Homebuilders Association of Kentucky and Sheri Cybert of Indiana’s Residential Infrastructure Fund about Indiana’s low-interest loan program for local housing infrastructure. They described the program as a voluntary, locally driven model that helps communities finance roads, sewers, sidewalks, traffic lights, turning lanes, and other infrastructure needed for new housing development. Sanford emphasized that infrastructure and regulation are major drivers of housing costs, citing estimates that infrastructure can account for up to 30% of a home’s cost and regulations another 25%, and said the association is studying Kentucky-specific regulatory costs. She also noted that every $1,000 added to new home construction can price out about 2,000 Kentucky households.
Cybert explained that Indiana’s program, administered through the Indiana Finance Authority, began in 2023 with $75 million appropriated over two years and has since closed 17 loans totaling $60.7 million, with more than 2,700 projected housing units. The program reserves 70% of funds for rural communities and 30% for urban communities, requires applications from local governments rather than developers, and asks communities to show need through a market study, describe the infrastructure and housing to be built, and provide preliminary engineering plans and a repayment source. She said the loans currently carry an interest rate around 3.5%, reset quarterly, and that the program has generated about $25 million in savings to communities compared with private borrowing. She also described recent Indiana legislative changes that encourage higher density and other zoning reforms, and said a majority of those local ordinance changes must be adopted for an application to be fundable.
Members asked about the ordinance requirements, the funding split between rural and urban areas, repayment mechanisms, and whether there were caps on project size. Cybert said repayment is worked out case by case, often through existing or project-specific TIFs, temporary tax agreements, or letters of credit, and that the program has no cap on request size or income/affordability restrictions. She said the largest request funded was $19 million for a 700-unit project. Co-chair Mills and others discussed whether Kentucky could adopt a similar model and what it would cost, while Sanford and Cybert said they were still refining budget estimates. Later, Scott Welch, president of the Homebuilders Association of Kentucky, testified that upfront infrastructure costs are a major barrier in his projects, citing a $1 million pump station and road-widening and utility relocation costs as examples, and said an infrastructure fund would help get projects off the ground.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds (05/21/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Those are our Title V air permits. Those are for, you think of, smokestack industries.
- That funding that we get for those permits needs to be used for activities consistent with administering
- That is for permits.
- >
you <01:13:17.040>can't <01:13:17.280>avoid <01:13:17.600>or permits. - We uh if you can't avoid or permits.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others.
The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year.
The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees.
The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It allows greater diversity in individual properties by permitting the higher income units to offset
- It allows greater diversity in individual properties by permitting the higher income units to offset
- It allows greater diversity in individual properties by permitting the higher income units to offset
- 00:37:31.200>
properties <00:37:32.079>um <00:37:32.240>by <00:37:32.400>permitting - individual properties um by permitting individual properties um by permitting the<00:37:32.920><
Keywords:
Oakdale, tax increment financing, local government, funding, urban development, tax increment, St. Paul, redevelopment, housing authority, housing trust fund, low-income housing, property taxation, Minnesota statutes, vacant property, housing, commercial to residential conversion, Minneapolis, urban redevelopment, public parks, tax capacity
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (03/17/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- environmental be UPF front with you this environmental be UPF front with you this environmental permitting
- is not something you can just permitting is not something you can just cut<00:35:23.680>
out < - working a lot on this environmental working a lot on this environmental review<01:25:13.280>
permitting fees <01:25:14.840>and <01:25:15.000>a <01:25:15.159>bigger review permitting- fees and a bigger review permitting fees and a bigger discussion<01:25:16.080>
with <01:25:16.239
Summary:
The Finance Division II work session focused on Fish and Game’s budget-revenue proposals and several statutory changes the department said it needs to support its operations. The department recommended raising the fisheries habitat fee and wildlife habitat fee to $5 each, estimating additional annual revenue of about $640,000 and $144,000 respectively. Members clarified that these are habitat fees added on top of licenses, not reduced by senior or youth license categories, and discussed the need for RSA changes to allow the revenue to be transferred into the Fish and Game Fund. The department also said it would work internally on any broader license fee increases through the commission process.
The committee then reviewed proposals to cap several dedicated accounts and transfer excess balances to the unrestricted Fish and Game Fund. Those accounts included the fisheries and wildlife habitat funds and the game management account, with the department proposing a $750,000 cap on each and transfer of amounts above that threshold. The department said the cap was based on several years of expenditures and the fact that dedicated funds are often used as match for federal funds. Members asked for reports on fund activity and questioned whether the cap and mandatory transfer language should be “shall” or “may,” with the department indicating it would prefer “may” for flexibility. The committee also discussed a Pheasant Management Program account, where the department said current law limits use of the money to buying and propagating pheasants and it wants authority to use it for broader program management.
A substantial portion of the meeting addressed Fish and Game’s environmental review unit and the transfer of ARPA-funded positions to DEES under the governor’s initiative. The department said four positions are currently ARPA-funded, that DEES supports keeping them in place through the end of the year, and that the transition will require time because environmental review work is intertwined across the agency. The department explained that before the ARPA positions, biologists handled the work and that current staffing has helped eliminate a backlog and meet deadlines. Members also discussed a proposal to expand environmental review fees beyond private developers to state, federal, municipal, and local governments, with the department saying it would need rulemaking and stakeholder input. Additional requests included authority to conduct raffles to raise funds, creation of a revolving account for donations and raffle proceeds, and repeal of the obsolete fish food sales statute because the vending machines are no longer functional and the account generates no revenue.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-06-01 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
AR
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 1027 by Joint Budget: An act for the Department of Health, Health Services Permit Agency appropriation
Summary:
The Arkansas Senate convened, handled leave requests, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several brief announcements, including recognition of visitors, a birthday acknowledgment, and a correction to the record about Senator Sullivan’s age. The chamber then moved to its business agenda, beginning with House Bill 1003, an appropriation for Arkansas House staff, which passed 33-0 with its emergency clause adopted.
The Senate next took up multiple budget measures in batches. It approved House Bills 1079, 1012, 1015, 1019, 1021, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1028, and 1029 together, then separately approved House Bill 1049, a $25,000 appropriation for National Rescue Shelters, after brief questions about the funding source and distribution. A larger second batch of appropriation bills also passed 33-0, including measures for the Attorney General, Pulaski Technical College, Child Support Enforcement, Legislative Audit, the Governor’s Mansion Commission, the Court of Appeals, Commissioner of State Lands, Arkansas Waterways Commission, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, North Arkansas College, UAMS-related programs, public school facilities, and the Division of Labor, all with emergency clauses adopted.
On the final page of the budget calendar, the Senate passed another group of appropriations, including bills for the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System, Arkansas State University’s Bioscience Institute, Ozarka College, Southern Arkansas University, Henderson State University, Phillips Community College, the Oil and Gas Commission, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Biosciences Institute, and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. House Bill 1073 was held over for clarification and not considered. The session ended with additional announcements and adjournment until Tuesday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m.
NE
WV