Transcript Highlights:

• it was a little cumbersome for some agencies where they had to make the request to OMB, and the pool sat
• , the money sat in OMB, and they felt like that…” “...they didn’t, you know, that added to the complexity

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations section reconvened and first took up an amendment for the Industrial Commission related to a proposed west-to-east natural gas pipeline. Members discussed increasing the state’s capacity commitment from $60 million to $120 million so the project could move forward and support a future FERC permit, with supporters citing growing demand from data centers, agricultural users, and oilfield gas capture needs. The committee also discussed a separate motion to exempt the mill and elevator from the vacant FTE pool; that motion failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reviewed other Industrial Commission items, including housing authority funding, the abandoned well fund, Bank of North Dakota-related changes, and a decision not to add more to litigation funding. The discussion then shifted to the Department of Transportation budget and a major transportation funding framework. Speaker Weiss explained a proposal to consolidate and rework transportation funding into fewer buckets, including moving Prairie Dog-style funding into the flexible transportation fund, adding $370 million to that fund, and providing $171.3 million for federal match needs. The plan also included $50 million for statewide discretionary projects, $50 million for bridges, and grant flexibility for cities, counties, and townships, with some debate over eligibility thresholds and how much discretion DOT should have in awarding grants. Members also discussed whether small communities could realistically apply for grants and how the new structure would coordinate statewide transportation investments. Additional DOT topics included a proposed gas tax increase, changes to distribution percentages among DOT, cities/counties, townships, and transit, and the treatment of electric vehicle registration fees. The committee noted that transit funding would rise under the formula and that EV registration fees would continue to flow into the highway distribution fund. No final action was taken on the broader DOT package during this portion of the meeting, but members agreed to continue work on the amendment and revisit the issue the next day, with a suggestion to brief the caucus before floor action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I can promise you I've sat in these meetings before. Some people are not happy.
• And every day he sat down, he said charter schools are public schools.

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and advanced several bills dealing with roadway safety, utility relocation, emergency vehicles, motor vehicle services, charter school siting, and specialty license plates. SB 1782 by Senator Pizzo, as amended, would expand reckless driving per se to include certain extreme speeding behaviors and retain mandatory court appearance while removing impound language; it was supported by AARP and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and reported favorably. SB 818 by Senator McLean would streamline utility relocation for road and rail projects and shift certain relocation costs to the authority in some cases; county groups opposed it as an unfunded mandate, while Charter Communications supported it, and the bill was reported favorably after amendment. SB 1644 by Senator Rodriguez, as amended, would expand warning-signal privileges for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and related vehicles responding to emergencies; it was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1348 by Senator Trumbull, which revises Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and tax collector processes for title/document delivery, driver licensing, disabled parking permits, and related services; a strike-all removed penalties and some CDL retesting provisions, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 636 by Senator Martin would restrict use of the far-left lane on high-speed roads except for passing, exiting, move-over compliance, or traffic/environmental conditions, with a civil fine and DOT signage requirements; it was reported favorably. SB 1152 by Senator Arrington would raise the cost of the Florida Wildflower specialty license plate from $15 to $25 to generate more funding for wildflower research, education, and habitat programs; it was reported favorably. SB 1188 by Senator McLean, which would limit local government authority over charter school siting and concurrency-related restrictions, drew the most debate. Supporters argued local ordinances were being used to block or delay charter schools, while opponents said the bill would tie the hands of local governments and could create traffic and public-safety concerns. After extensive discussion, the bill was reported favorably, with recorded no votes from Senators Arrington and Davis. The committee also unanimously recommended confirmation of multiple appointments to transportation-related boards and authorities, including the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida Expressway Authority, Jacksonville Port Authority, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, and Florida Transportation Commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have sat in courtrooms where a child’s future hinged on the children... ...and their families.
• I have sat in courtrooms where a child’s future hinged on whether the right intervention was made in

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee heard and passed HB 921, which adds cursive writing to required instruction for grades 2 through 5 and requires students to demonstrate proficiency by the end of fifth grade. The bill sponsor argued cursive is important for historical literacy, everyday signatures, and possible early identification of learning differences. Opponents and several members supported teaching cursive but objected to the testing/proficiency requirement, saying students and teachers are already overburdened and that reading cursive is not currently part of the standards. Some members also raised concerns about fairness to charter schools and the bill’s application only to public schools. Despite those concerns, the bill passed 21-0 and was reported favorable. The committee then took up PCS for HB 1405, a major rewrite of Florida’s juvenile prevention and truancy statutes in Chapter 984, covering children in need of services/families in need of services. The bill updates definitions and procedures, strengthens truancy intervention, requires earlier and more detailed school reporting, adds parent involvement through child study teams, allows virtual participation, and sets review timelines for shelter placement. Sponsors said the goal is prevention and family support rather than punishment, with court involvement only after school-based intervention. Members asked about school compliance, court capacity, parent accountability, and whether all counties have child study teams; the sponsors said the bill expects CSTs in every school and can escalate cases to court and, if needed, to prosecutors for noncompliant parents. Public testimony on the juvenile justice bill was supportive, including from the Department of Juvenile Justice, youth services groups, and juvenile justice advocates. In debate, members praised the modernization effort and the emphasis on early intervention and family participation, while also noting the bill’s size and suggesting further attention to attendance thresholds. The PCS for HB 1405 was then approved unanimously and reported favorable. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've sat on many boards, elected positions in the area. area, actually not far from where you are, but
• I've sat on many school board meetings where there was no one in the audience, although we were required

Bills: HB279, HB310, HB365, HB391, HB420, HB422, HB638, HB279, HB310

Keywords: HB 279, uranium mining, uranium permit, production area authorization, production zone, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contested case hearing, administrative hearing, groundwater restoration, groundwater baseline, water quality, mining permit, restoration values, natural resources, environmental regulation, in-situ uranium mining, permit amendment, public hearing

Transcript Highlights:

• But the AG lawyers sat me down in a conference room where they said: 1.
• Now, when that OLA report came out, I sat down with Jim Nobles, and I said, "Jim, he's a good man, but
• down with Jim Nobles, I I sat down with Jim Nobles, and<00:46:21.920> I<00:46:22.000> said
• Yes, it was the Attorney General's Office that sat me down in a room full of 20 different people
• What I also find pretty outrageous is that this committee just sat through and is looking at, instead

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:44:31.119> I the good vice chair of education and I the good vice chair of education and I sat
• 31.760> with<00:44:32.000> the<00:44:32.640> Department<00:44:33.040> of sat
• down with the Department of sat down with the Department of Education, Education, sorry, the department
• them<01:25:45.199> and<01:25:45.360> then<01:25:45.600> we<01:25:45.840> sat
• conversations with them and then we sat conversations with them and then we sat down<01:25:46.320

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I sat on Second Harvest Food Bank, and there was a term limit of 9 years.
• I sat on Second Harvest Food Bank, and there was a term limit of 9 years.
• I<01:03:36.040> sat<01:03:36.320> on<01:03:36.880> um<01:03:37.360> um<01
• > Second<01:03:38.600> Harvest<01:03:38.960> Food<01:03:39.200> Bank, I sat
• I sat on Second Harvest Food Bank, and there was a term limit of 9 years.

Bills: HF3879

Keywords: outdoor heritage, conservation, habitat restoration, natural resources, wildlife management, 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the April 8, 2026 minutes and then took up House File 3879, the Legacy Finance Outdoor Heritage bill. The committee adopted the DE1 author’s amendment, which incorporated the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council’s revised recommendations and made technical corrections, and staff explained that the bill appropriates about $191.081 million in Outdoor Heritage funding, plus carryforwards and an extension for a carp deterrent project at Lock and Dam. Staff also noted the bill makes no changes to the Clean Water Fund or Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the bill was moved to the Committee on Ways and Means. A large portion of the meeting focused on the Roseau Lake rehabilitation/Roseau River restoration project and related concerns about landowner impacts, eminent domain, drainage, and whether Outdoor Heritage dollars are being used on private property. Landowners and their attorney testified that the project threatens private farmland, that they do not consent to easements or takings, and that funding should be paused until litigation and legal questions are resolved. They described flooding, drainage problems, financial burdens, and long-term harm to family farms, and asked the committee to suspend funding for the project. Supporters of the project, including Roseau Mayor Dan Fabian and farmer/watershed district manager Jason Bratton, said the project is part of a broader flood-mitigation effort following the 2002 Roseau flood and would help control water, reduce flood damage, and improve conditions for downstream farmers. After testimony, the committee considered the A5 amendment, offered by Representative Heintzeman, which would delete the Roseau Lake Rehabilitation Project Phase 3 from the bill. Members debated the amendment, with some emphasizing landowner concerns and pending litigation and others defending the project and the council’s vetting process. The transcript cuts off during continued discussion, and no final vote on the A5 is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, having sat on the select committee this last interim, I recognize that I helped Representative Johnson
• I'd like to add my two cents worth to this because I'm on the select committee too, and I think I sat
• committee committee too and I<00:14:17.200> think<00:14:17.320> I I think I I think I sat
• sat one of those things I did. sat one of those things I did.
• Um, so, I actually sat down with the Department of Revenue and a couple of the counties around this.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Joint Revenue committee met with a quorum and heard a series of interim topic proposals focused on tax policy. Representative Brown raised two ideas: reinstating an exemption reporting requirement for corporations and entities receiving tax exemptions, with loss of the exemption for the current and prior year if they fail to report, and revising property tax treatment for wind turbines and related infrastructure by shifting the taxed footprint from agricultural to industrial classification. Senator Case and others then discussed energy taxation more broadly, including a possible generation tax for electricity, how to handle large data-center electricity loads, and whether sales tax revenue from very large electrical loads should be shared statewide rather than concentrated locally. The committee referenced prior bills and studies, including House Bill 300 and Senate File 76, and discussed using a mechanism that would keep local electricity bills net neutral while redirecting revenue distribution. The committee also took up problematic gaming and program funding. Senator Case described personal experiences with gambling addiction and the lack of available resources, while the presenter said the topic had been requested in multiple committees and that the biggest concern from House Bill 171 was protecting county and municipal funding. Members discussed whether the issue belonged in Revenue, Health, Labor, or Transportation, and several suggested it should stay with the standing committee handling gaming. Ideas raised included using gaming-related revenue for prevention and treatment, fully funding the 988 lifeline, and creating a broader trust fund for addiction-related services and law enforcement. The committee appeared to agree to continue the topic for educational purposes and to examine taxation of HHR and other gambling activity. Senator Case then proposed a severance tax on wind energy, arguing that wind development creates permanent landscape impacts and that the state should be compensated similarly to coal, oil, and gas extraction. Curt Meier, the state treasurer, supported reviewing lease agreements and said Wyoming should get more from wind resources, noting the state’s unique wind potential and the loss of viewshed. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to reform property tax relief by extending it to motor vehicle registration. Former Revenue director Dan Noble argued that vehicle taxes should be treated like other property taxes, using fair market value, depreciation, the residential assessment ratio, and local mill levies, which he said could provide broad relief but would be expensive, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $120 million. Representative Chestek followed with a related reform proposal based on Pennsylvania’s base-year assessment model, arguing that Wyoming’s current statewide relief measures treat symptoms rather than the underlying problem of rapidly rising local valuations.

Transcript Highlights:

• , almost a decade, that they commented on was after CAPS, where they actually went to the table and sat
• So just so that we can check the math—it's been a while since I've sat on this committee, so I think
• But when I sat and agreed to be a co-sponsor, that was my rationale.
• I think that's our, you know, we've sat here all day.
• I think that's our, you know, we've sat here all day.

Bills: HB1623

Keywords: HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action. The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.

Transcript Highlights:

• I sat in a hearing, in addition, for 12-plus hours. I am glad...
• You could have sat with me. You left for 17 to 18 days, leaving this state.
• The first woman of color elected in the South, a woman who sat in the impeachment of Nixon, a woman who
• We sat on redistricting and talked a lot there about the communities that these maps divide.
• But let me be clear: I sat through over 46 hours. of public testimony.

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One thing I think in the two months that I've sat in on this group is oftentimes somebody may feel there's
• O'Brien in the back too—she's sat in these seats—and so 'help us help you' is I'm kind of getting more
• Well, that's different than some time ago, and I don't know if they ever dissolved it, but I sat on an
• They sat down and they said, 'We looked at this offender and we went through his LSIR, his risk needs
• I have sat down across the table from thousands and thousands and thousands of people.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Taylor County would leapt at the chance to do that, and we sat with them for a while mapping out
• In Taylor County, we leapt at the chance to do that, and we sat with them for a while mapping out how
• to kind of point out just from, I'm not a lawyer, and one of my best friends is a lawyer, and I've sat
• And I literally sat in jail until I got to the grand jury.
• with these kiosks, we've had a number of individuals come to us that have lost their life savings who sat

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sat down with them last year, really talked about the facilities piece with charter schools, and I think
• Sat down with them last year, really talked about the facilities piece with charter schools, and I think
• <00:53:20.640> Sat<00:53:20.840> down<00:53:21.040> with director and his staff
• Sat down with director and his staff.
• Sat down with them<00:53:21.400> last<00:53:21.760> year,<00:53:22.040> really<00

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Select Committee on School Facilities met to satisfy its quarterly statutory requirement and to discuss interim priorities. Staff from LSO reviewed the committee’s duties: monitoring K-12 school facilities statewide, prioritizing needs for the interim, and preparing a budget request due by November 1. They also noted the ongoing litigation related to the Chapter 3, Section 8 exception process and said the committee would move forward with securing a consultant to study that issue, as previously authorized by Management Council. A major topic was school funding formulas, especially how average daily membership (ADM) affects routine and major maintenance funding and how excess square footage is treated. Members revisited an earlier proposal to fund 135% of allowable square footage, which did not advance this session, and discussed whether some schools should instead be funded at a minimum percentage of their actual square footage. Staff explained that some districts have buildings larger than their formula allowance, and that the issue is complicated by older buildings, pools, and other unique facilities. They also noted that recent changes to the major maintenance multiplier increased funding and that some districts are still not fully covered by the formulas. Safety and security funding was another focus. The State Construction Department reported that $10 million was appropriated this year for safety and security upgrades, with some funds expected to go toward vestibules, bollards, and design work, and the rest through a district application process. Officials said the last comprehensive safety assessment was done more than 10 years ago and suggested a new consultant-led study to update priorities, since technology and building conditions have changed. Members also discussed the role of school resource officers and whether the committee should continue leading this work rather than handing it off to the recalibration committee. The committee also examined declining enrollment and excess capacity across the state, citing examples such as Newcastle, Shoshoni, Casper, Campbell County, and Fremont County. Officials said some districts are right-sizing by taking schools offline, while others cannot easily reduce capacity because the buildings are essential to the community. Charter school leasing was raised as a related concern, including the Mills charter school and the fact that the state pays lease costs based on ADM and allowable square footage. No formal votes were taken, but the committee agreed to continue studying these issues, likely including site visits and further data requests during the interim.

Transcript Highlights:

• possible because some of us, like my colleague from the Trona County, have the luxury of age, and I've sat
• /c> have the luxury of of of age and and have the luxury of of of age and and I've<00:33:39.919> sat
• :33:40.720> we<00:33:40.880> had<00:33:41.200> $16<00:33:42.000> a I've sat
• through here when we had $16 a I've sat through here when we had $16 a barrel<00:33:42.559> Wyoming
• I've sat through those discussions. So, you know, it's a policy decision.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before I close, I must honor the Groveland Four family members who have sat in on committee meetings,
• But I'll be wrong if I just sat here and did not bring up the fact. But I get it.
• But I'll be wrong if I just sat here and did not bring up the fact that we all also know that this is
• But I'll be wrong if I just sat here and did not bring up the fact. But I get it.
• But I'll be wrong if I just sat here and did not bring up the fact that we all also know that this is

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of gallery introductions recognizing visitors, local officials, students, and public safety personnel. The chamber first took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee on 42 executive appointments; after Senator Gaetz explained that the committee had reviewed the appointees’ qualifications and suitability, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a 36-0 vote. The Senate then moved through a long special-order calendar focused largely on open-government sunset reviews and other policy bills. It passed measures to continue or consolidate public records and meeting exemptions for aquaculture records, agency-held trade secrets, and cybersecurity information, with one technical amendment adopted on the cybersecurity bill. The chamber also approved bills extending the statute of limitations for failure to report child abuse, strengthening regulation of commercial driving schools, requiring human trafficking education for nursing graduates, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and making the related public-records exemption. Additional bills passed included a nature-based coastal resiliency measure with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, a chiropractic trust-funds bill, specialty license plates, a one-time waiver of late financial disclosure fines, public school personnel compensation changes, the annual Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services “Farm Bill,” homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders, disability-presumption clarifications for first responders, reinsurance intermediary manager changes, patriotic displays in public schools, ADS-B fee restrictions, autism-related law enforcement training and a Blue Envelope program, campus safety policy transparency at public colleges and universities, and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. The Senate also debated and passed a bill allowing licensed insurance agents to market health care sharing ministries, despite concerns raised by Senator Polsky about consumer confusion, commissions, and the sale of non-insurance products; supporters argued it restored free speech, religious liberty, and consumer choice. The chamber approved the bill 32-5 after debate. Most other measures passed with strong bipartisan support, often by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several companion House bills were substituted in place of Senate bills before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• on four, um, [clears throat], on the appropriation, but as someone who's just like the rest of you sat
• It's a good resource, and then under tab B are our three water development account balances as they sat
• 09.920> they development account balances uh as they development account balances uh as they sat
• c> we<00:50:10.960> started<00:50:11.280> considering<00:50:11.520> during sat
• before we started considering during sat before we started considering during all<00:50:11.920> the

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• They sat. Everybody was frozen. Your choices in life became, you know, frozen.
• They sat. Everybody was frozen. Your choices in life became, you know, frozen.
• <00:57:38.079> They<00:57:38.319> sat had just gone on the market.
• They sat had just gone on the market.
• They sat everybody<00:57:39.440> was<00:57:39.680> frozen.

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:

• I sat in a hospital in Burnsville for 6 hours and was basically treated in the lobby.
• > ...and they try to help me through the scary situation because even they were scared because they sat
• because even they were scared<00:53:47.200> because<00:53:47.359> they<00:53:47.520> sat
• /c><00:53:47.680> there<00:53:47.839> and<00:53:48.000> go scared because they sat
• there and go scared because they sat there and go well<00:53:48.640> this<00:53:48.800> patient

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the judges, to the state police, and to our chair of Judiciary in the House, Daniel Elliott, who sat
• to the judges, to the state police, and to our chair of Judiciary in the House, Daniel Elliott, who sat
• to the judges, to the state police, and to our chair of Judiciary in the House, Daniel Elliott, who sat
• to the judges, to the state police, and to our chair of Judiciary in the House, Daniel Elliott, who sat
• to the judges, to the state police, and to our chair of Judiciary in the House, Daniel Elliott, who sat

Keywords: 00:00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:20 Discussion of 25RS HB 479 00:03:22 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 479 00:04:51 Discussion of 25RS HB 574 00:21:49 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 475 00:23:41 Discussion of 25RS HB 291 01:04:38 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 291 01:05:42 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Families and Children met and first took up House Bill 479, which would require one hour of dementia training for DCBS workers. Representative Derrick Lewis and the Alzheimer’s Association said the bill was a straightforward, bipartisan effort to address dementia awareness and improve worker training, with no fiscal impact. Members spoke in support, including remarks about personal family experiences with dementia and the importance of recognizing symptoms early. The committee voted 11-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression. The committee then heard House Bill 574, the “Baby Maya” child protection bill, sponsored by Representatives Dossett and Lewis. The bill would require reporting when a child is born to a parent who previously had children removed for neglect or abuse, create a rebuttable presumption allowing the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to make an initial safety determination, authorize emergency custody procedures, and name the measure the Baby Maya Law. Sponsors said it was intended to add guardrails after the Baby Maya case and stressed that it would not automatically remove children or add new mandatory-reporter penalties. Members asked about hospital involvement, HIPAA, and information-sharing; the Cabinet commissioner said the agency would be open to better data-sharing with hospitals, but currently has no such system. The bill passed 12-1 with favorable expression. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 291, the Family Preservation and Accountability Act, with a committee substitute. The bill would expand sentencing alternatives for primary caregivers convicted of nonviolent offenses, allowing judges to consider family status and use options such as counseling, parenting classes, and related services. Supporters argued it would keep families together, reduce harm from parental incarceration, and save money; one witness cited a report estimating $4 million in direct incarceration savings and broader economic benefits. Another witness, Amanda Hall, gave emotional testimony about the long-term harm of parental incarceration and said access to help would have been better for her family than prison. The committee adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 12-1 with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I went to the Finance Committee, on which I also sat, and I was ready to vote on it again, and
• Committee on<00:43:32.480> which<00:43:32.680> I<00:43:32.800> also<00:43:33.160> sat
• > I<00:43:34.400> was<00:43:34.600> ready<00:43:34.840> to on which I also sat
• and I was ready to on which I also sat and I was ready to vote<00:43:35.160> on<00:43:35.280>

Keywords: 927, senate, all