Transcript Highlights:

• Western Kentucky University is requesting 8.9% of the proposed asset preservation funding for Kentucky's
• Asset preservation funding is essential to addressing deferred maintenance.
• requesting 8.9% of the proposed asset requesting 8.9% of the proposed asset preservation<00:09:44.720
• > essential Asset preservation funding is essential Asset preservation funding is essential to
• housing assets were transferred to it. housing assets were transferred to it.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met without a quorum, so no minutes were approved. The committee then heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University President Timothy Kabone, who highlighted WKU’s recent gains in graduation rate, retention, degree production, graduate enrollment, research activity, and financial stability. He said WKU’s FY 2026 budget is structurally balanced without one-time reserves, and he tied the university’s growth to its strategic plan and to Senate Bill 77, which created a pathway for WKU’s first PhD program. WKU’s initial PhD offering is planned in data sciences for fall 2027, and Kabone said the university continues to pursue R2 research status. Kabone also outlined WKU’s budget requests, including a 4.5% base appropriation increase for each year of the biennium, a $30 million increase in the performance funding pool, a $30 million trust fund for tuition waiver reimbursement, and $2 million per year for the Gatton Academy. He also requested continued funding for the Kentucky Mesonet, 8.9% of proposed asset preservation funding, and support for a $280 million new Potter College facility. He emphasized inflationary pressures, rising fixed costs, and the burden of mandated tuition waivers, and said the university supports performance funding but wants the model adjusted to better reward student success rather than enrollment growth. Members asked about WKU’s student housing situation and the transition away from the former student life foundation model. Kabone said the foundation structure had run its course, that the university had lacked adequate oversight under the old arrangement, and that WKU is moving to a public-private partnership with Gilbane and the College Housing Foundation. He said the new model would not increase the university’s debt load and would replace older residence halls with a roughly 1,000-bed complex, eliminate community-style bathrooms over time, and expand living-learning communities. Representatives McCool and Tipton praised WKU’s graduation and retention results and asked questions about the housing project and its timeline. The committee then heard from CareerVXR and KCTCS about a proposed career exploration pilot. Company representatives said the platform uses web-based and virtual reality experiences to show students real jobs and workplaces, with the goal of addressing an “awareness gap” in workforce participation. They proposed a $1.8 million, two-year pilot to reach 50,000 to 60,000 students in three regions, including Hazard Community and Technical College, Southeast Community and Technical College, and western Kentucky. Members asked about cost, funding source, and locations, and were told the request would come through the KCTCS budget. The meeting ended with notice that the next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, February 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• The real danger comes from how the estate tax applies to non-liquid assets.
• In the course between 2018 and 2022, the tax treatment for these formerly depreciable capital assets
• So you have this tax that's imposed on assets beyond a certain level.
• And think about valuing those assets. Think about the estate planning that has to go. to that.
• You've already paid taxes on all the money that you've earned, all the assets that you've got.

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, unlimited duration for the assets.
• For the asset.
• No stranded assets.
• If we've got extra generation, we will, it'll be an underutilized asset.
• I mean, you're going to have an asset, I mean, you're going to have an asset that's not going to get

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I look at that as an asset, no matter what, and we'll talk about that momentarily.
• That's a real asset for the community.
• you can build an asset that becomes an<00:37:13.640> asset<00:37:14.040> for<00:37:14.160
• for the community, even if it's an asset for the community, even if it's an<00:37:15.280> asset
• ><00:37:18.440> that still an asset for the community that still an asset for the community that

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The speaker outlined Kentucky’s economic development strategy and how the cabinet evaluates and awards incentives. He emphasized using national benchmarks such as Site Selection and Area Development magazines, focusing on real data, competitiveness, and performance-based incentives. He said the state is performing well nationally in investment rankings, and credited the legislature with providing tools that help attract and retain jobs, especially through speed to market, site readiness, transportation, and workforce coordination. A major portion of the remarks described the “anatomy” of an incentive package: first improving sites and infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads, and rail spurs; then using sales tax benefits for construction materials and equipment; then training support through the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation; and finally the Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI) program, which reimburses qualifying expenses from incremental tax revenue. He said incentives are negotiated, data-driven, and targeted toward companies with strong wage levels, training plans, growth potential, and, in some cases, agricultural benefits or industry leadership. He also noted special treatment for heritage communities and said the state has expanded KBI beyond heavy manufacturing to include R&D, headquarters, and service businesses. The speaker also described compliance and oversight. Incentive agreements are written with job, wage, investment, and community-benefit terms, and companies must file regular reports and invoices. Cash incentives can be clawed back if commitments are not met, while tax credits are tied to actual investment and job creation. He said the Revenue Cabinet and Environment and Energy Cabinet play important monitoring roles, and that projects go through application review and preliminary approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority before final approval and payment. He closed by thanking legislators for their support and for allowing more flexible, capped, and data-driven incentive tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:39:27.480> base<00:39:27.760> as the asset base as the asset base as well<00:39
• That's a pretty high asset limit.
• That's a pretty high asset limit.
• The median asset limit is $63,000. The average asset limit is $91,600.
• is 35,000 to 500,000 the median asset is 35,000 to 500,000 the median asset limit<04:55:19.840><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you borrow against an asset, you get a deduction for that on your taxes.
• purchase assets. purchase assets.
• , against your assets, against your assets, the<01:18:38.360> increased<01:18:39.040> val
• its the increased val- the asset with its the increased val- the asset with its increased<01:18:40.720
• , things, and builds up some assets, things, and builds up some assets, that's<01:36:09.640> not

Bills: HF3425

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and the lifestyle assets that Kentucky has is going to be really important.
• They have unique assets and challenges.
• <00:47:53.040> that uh assets and the lifestyle assets that uh assets and the lifestyle assets
• So we unique assets and challenges.
• Um, people those livability assets.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with leaders of the First Frontier Appalachian Trail System for an update on trail development, economic impact, and funding needs. Speakers said the system has expanded from 18 to 21 counties over the past year, with interest from additional counties, about 450 miles of trails currently open, and a goal of surpassing 1,000 miles within two years. They described the project as primarily an economic development effort that is already drawing public and private investment, supporting lodging and campground businesses, and creating new enterprises such as guide services, repairs, and recovery services for ATVs. The presentation highlighted permit sales, which began on a soft-launch basis earlier in the year and are now available both physically and online. Permits cost $25 per year for in-state residents and allow riding on First Frontier trails. Officials also discussed landowner agreements, saying the standard license agreement is modeled on Hatfield-McCoy, is favorable to landowners, and can be ended with 60 days’ notice. They said the agreements, along with patrols and cleanup efforts, help address trespassing and illegal dumping while encouraging property owners to participate. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Captain Jason Sloan reported 638 hours of patrols under the memorandum of agreement since January 1 and said the partnership has focused on safety, enforcement of existing laws, emergency planning, and cleanup support. The group also cited partnerships with the National Forest, Onyx Off-Road, ARC, and Yamaha, and said a Jeep Jamboree in Lee County drew 237 registered participants, mostly from out of state. They said a GNCC race in Knox County is being pursued for spring. The authority requested $3.5 million for the next two-year budget cycle and said it needs additional staffing, including two full-time trail development coordinators and part-time office help, to keep up with growth. Members praised the project’s progress and its potential to boost tourism and regional economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• , our current laws don't address the unique conflicts of interest that can arise with new digital assets
• This legislation does not prevent lawmakers from owning cryptocurrency or other digital assets.
• Members can still invest in crypto, just as they invest in currency or other digital assets.
• Members can still invest in crypto, just as they invest in stocks or other assets.
• Asset from which they or their immediate family stand to profit.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approvals, quorum call, and a series of guest recognitions, including students, interns, local officials, and advocates visiting the chamber. Members also announced caucus and committee meetings, and the House recessed before returning later in the day for floor action. After reconvening, the House adopted several committee reports and then considered a series of resolutions and bills. It adopted House Resolution 462, designating May 17, 2026, as World Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day, and House Resolution 553, designating May 19, 2026, as Pontian Greek Genocide Remembrance Day, both by 200-2 votes. The chamber also agreed to House Bill 733 on marriage ceremony law, House Bill 2529 on scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule 3 controlled substance, and Senate Bill 1294 on civil penalties for unlicensed commercial driving schools. The House then debated House Bill 2359 on data center nondisclosure agreements and related amendments. One amendment requiring hyperscale data centers to pay their own energy and infrastructure costs failed on a 101-101 tie, while another amendment to make the bill effective immediately passed 201-1 and a third amendment to protect trade secrets failed 87-115. The bill itself was agreed to after amendment. The House also approved House Bill 2455 on collective bargaining rights for Pittsburgh school administrators, House Bill 2499 on State Workers Insurance Fund investment authority, Senate Bill 604 joining the Counseling Compact, and House Bill 1006 on penalties against abusive towing practices, with one agreed-to amendment added. Several measures then passed finally by recorded vote: House Bill 2014 on opportunities for minors in emergency service organizations, House Bill 2037 on cryptocurrency-related ethics restrictions for public officials, House Bill 2512 prohibiting ride-share pricing based on certain device conditions, House Bill 2644 authorizing capital bridge projects, and House Bill 2559 on Millersville University and other conveyances. House Bill 2559 drew floor criticism from Representative Conklin over the state land conveyance process, though it still passed 154-48. Before adjournment, the House recommitted several bills to Appropriations, removed additional Senate bills from the table calendar, and adjourned until June 30, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• :05:27.520> for<00:05:28.000> maintaining<00:05:28.639> that<00:05:29.199> asset
• uh planning for maintaining that asset uh planning for maintaining that asset going<00:05:29.919
• It is to make sure that that community has a plan for preservation and maintaining that asset into the
• It is to make sure that that community has a plan for preservation and maintaining that asset into the
• So if we have a city that is perpetually and continuously not maintaining the assets that they have,

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2418 from Representative Tabke, a policy bill focused on requiring local governments seeking state bonding support to show whether they have a capital maintenance or preservation plan for the project. The bill was described as a continuation of work with Chair Lee and others to ensure that when the state invests in local capital projects, the local jurisdiction has a plan to maintain the asset over time rather than returning later for additional state funding. Representative Tabke emphasized that the proposal is not intended to block projects, but to provide information to the capital investment process and encourage responsible long-term planning. Members asked several questions about how the requirement would work in practice, including whether a “no” answer on the maintenance-plan checkbox would disqualify projects, how the rule would apply to small communities, and whether major infrastructure such as wastewater or sewer projects would be exempt. Tabke clarified that the intent is informational and that projects without a maintenance plan should raise concerns, but that the proposal would not apply to major utility projects with separate funding mechanisms. He also explained that the earlier draft had been simplified after input from MMB, and that the adopted DE4 amendment adds the requirement through section 16A.86 for political subdivisions submitting bonding requests. Chair Lee and other members supported the concept as a way to ensure state-funded assets are maintained locally and not repeatedly returned to the state for repairs decades later. One member requested clarifying language to make sure the bill does not apply to water treatment or sewer projects, and Tabke agreed that such language could be added. Tabke said the language had been developed with stakeholders including the League of Minnesota Cities, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and small cities, and that they had agreed on the approach. The committee adopted the DE4 amendment and then laid House File 2418 over for possible future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• first developed the downtown tax in 1986 to fund varied development, construction, and maintenance of assets
• In addition to funding and preserving the city's downtown assets, the downtown tax also helps pay down
• In addition to funding and preserving the city's downtown assets, the downtown tax also helps pay down
• approximately $62 million until about 2046, uh, to and they can use that to address the downtown assets
• <00:02:46.080> it that to address the downtown assets it that to address the downtown assets

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I don't know if I would you know it in our charter if there's a dissolution those assets go back to
• the the there is a certain in the law there's language about how if there's dissolution any assets that
• <00:07:30.319> back<00:07:30.479> to<00:07:30.639> the dissolution those assets
• go back to the dissolution those assets go back to the the<00:07:31.280> there<00:07:31.520><
• that we own and dissolution any assets that we own and how<00:07:36.400> we<00:07:36.560>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We market Florida's public assets. We protect Florida's investment in tourism.
• We are research arm, like I said, is an asset for people to utilize.
• We create and maintain digital assets of the state of Florida.
• How many unique assets we were able to capture.
• videos from, but we collect these digital assets from all over the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• like to see election equipment and ballots added to Section 812.141 under critical infrastructure assets
• I guess my question is, what else or what currently falls into those critical infrastructure assets?
• to that, is there a specific level of security that goes along with those critical infrastructure assets
• What I'm saying is, from a military standpoint, critical assets or critical infrastructure assets, they
• falls under the Patriot Act as those election workers being protected as critical infrastructure assets

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The path to yes was challenging because the business's assets available as collateral were well short
• For them to lend me the 300K I needed to start my business, I would need to have assets that amounted
• Depending on how much assets they have, how much capital they need.
• I had no other assets, but he knew his lender. I mean, he knew his customer.
• They're buying assets, in some cases, with their loan.

Keywords: SBA, 7A loan program, underwriting standards, loan defaults, Community Advantage Program, small business funding, testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on discussions regarding the SBA's 7A loan program and its implementation challenges. Members raised significant concerns about recent changes to the underwriting standards, which have been criticized for leading to an increase in loan defaults. Ranking members expressed a desire for a return to stronger guidelines to protect taxpayers and ensure the program remains a viable source for small businesses struggling to secure funding. Testimonies from community lenders highlighted their efforts to support underserved communities and stressed the importance of the Community Advantage Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Asset devaluation, I think, is one of our biggest threats.
• <00:25:58.720> start a situation where assets start a situation where assets start devaluing
• And while the assets capital in play?
• That doesn't necessarily mean uh asset.
• of times there's a lot less land assets of times there's a lot less land assets in<01:40:39.920>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:18 University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics Presentation 00:02:18 Farm Credit Mid-America Presentation 01:12:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• H, acquire, own, and operate generation and transmission assets. Yes, Martin.
• And we want the state to acquire, own, and operate generation and transmission assets?
• Is that what she is… Own and operate generation and transmission assets?
• But they do own the transmission assets.
• So, on the transmission assets, it's in there because you just don't know.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will collect information, particularly about roadway assets, but in the future, all assets, including
• do what we're doing on the project delivery side: get an updated report of the condition of these assets
• We were doing, obviously, historically have done all of this asset management manually.
• Yes, asset management. So I don't know if we've got—so we are starting a pilot.
• If we're driving out to do construction inspection on I-20, it would observe all the assets along that

Summary: The committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or other action items. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black gave an update on the department’s transformation efforts, focusing on faster project delivery, improved construction administration, and new technology. They said monthly contractor payment approvals have been reduced from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, change orders from about 40-45 days to around five days, and that DOTD delivered 86% of its advertised projects in the last fiscal year. They also described new tools such as Headlight for field inspections, Smart PM for schedule tracking, Hall Hub for e-ticketing and work-zone mapping, and a pilot using advanced sensors on district vehicles to identify potholes, guardrail damage, and other asset issues. The department also outlined a district reorganization that replaces the area engineer model with dedicated district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, with no increase in total staff. Members raised concerns about local maintenance issues, especially mowing, drainage, culverts, potholes, and communication with district offices. Several members asked for clearer coordination on jurisdictional questions, more frequent meetings with district administrators, and better public updates on long-running projects. LaD said DOTD would schedule follow-up meetings, use the coming customer service portal to track complaints, and improve public communication through project information officers, social media, and other outreach. Questions also covered contractor accountability, utility relocations, road transfer maps on the DOTD website, and whether maintenance work adjacent to capital projects should be handled by district crews or through new IDIQ contracts. The secretary also reviewed the Highway Priority Program process, saying DOTD will work between June and September to review projects not included in the prior program, explain why, and refine a five-year fiscally constrained plan before the fall road show. He said the department is using IDIQ authority to award bridge maintenance and other task-order work, and that this should help address a two-year bridge repair backlog. Members discussed whether current funding levels are enough to reduce the statewide backlog, and DOTD said the current program likely maintains rather than eliminates it absent new revenue. The hearing ended with a project-specific update that a barge struck the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge that morning, causing significant damage; DOTD said divers and staff would inspect it and determine emergency repairs. After DOTD’s presentation, Archie Chesson of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction gave a brief update on that office’s first year, describing its use of consultant pools, master service agreements, a public GIS map, and a data tool to prioritize rural road and bridge projects, with several early projects already completed or under construction.

Transcript Highlights:

• Project, and I appreciate the opportunity to explain how private equity acquisitions of healthcare assets
• The incentive is not for long-term community investment, but for a quick stripping of the acquired asset
• It is an institution premised on finding underutilized assets and quickly making a profit from them.
• with debt and uses the purchased entity's own assets as collateral for the debt.
• After private equity has bled all the profit it can from the system, it often exits or sells the asset

Transcript Highlights:

• asset.
• asset.
• We should not be listening to anybody who says you should invest more in this asset.
• Today, there are roughly 140 domiciled insurers with $380 billion in assets.
• So in order to keep it running smoothly, we want to see those assets there.

Bills: HB2091, HB2140, HB2320, HB2384, HB2398, HB2502, HB2780, HB2918, HB2939, HB2950, HB2999, HB4020, HB4026, HB4029

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved the minutes from March 16, 2026, then heard testimony on a series of bills, with the chair noting that testimony and votes would be handled in batches because members were coming and going. HB 2939 would raise the rural qualified facilities tax credit from $20,000 to $25,000 per job for certain projects with initial investment under $2 billion. Lucid Motors supported the change as a tool to attract manufacturing jobs to rural Arizona, while opponents questioned whether the higher credit would actually create new jobs and pointed to a fiscal note that could reach $48 million. The committee later passed the bill 5-2. HB 2950 would authorize municipalities and counties to form tourism improvement areas funded by lodging business assessments for marketing and tourism promotion. The Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Visit Phoenix supported the measure, describing TIAs as voluntary, locally controlled tools already used in other states and useful for rural destinations; senators pressed on whether the assessments were truly voluntary and how the districts would be formed and administered. The bill passed 5-2. HB 2780, a technical cleanup bill related to property tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds sales, was described as conforming changes to a prior law creating a mechanism for delinquent taxpayers to recover equity; it passed 6-1. HB 2502 would allow certain ASRS members who are elected officials to retire at normal retirement age without resigning their elected office, with the employer paying the alternate contribution rate. ASRS said it was neutral, and the sponsor and a lobbyist argued the bill would create parity with non-elected members who can retire and return to work; the committee passed it 5-2. HB 2140, as amended by a striker, would let the state treasurer invest up to 10% of trust and treasury monies in physical gold or silver bullion held in secure U.S. depositories. The sponsor and Sound Money Defense League supported it as a diversification and inflation hedge, while opponents argued gold is volatile, costly to store, and not a better use of taxpayer funds; the committee adopted the striker and passed the bill 4-2. HB 2398 would require commercial liability insurance for watercraft rented or hired in Arizona, including peer-to-peer boat-sharing programs, while not affecting ordinary personal boat ownership. The sponsor, insurers, and rental operators said the bill responds to uninsured boats being rented through apps and to safety and liability problems; some members said training should also be addressed. The committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill 6-1. Finally, HB 2999 would create state affordable infrastructure districts to finance public infrastructure for housing through bonds, taxes, and assessments, with unanimous landowner consent and disclosure requirements. Home builders and contractors said the districts could lower upfront housing costs and improve financing, but contractors sought stronger payment protections and some senators worried the bill could add red tape and costs without guaranteeing savings to homebuyers. After adopting a large amendment, the committee passed HB 2999, though at least one member voted no and another passed on the vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• As always, asset preservation is our first priority.
• I can get you an exact amount for how much we've spent, but those are assets that we continue to own
• I can get you an exact amount for how much we've spent, but those are assets that we continue to own
• I can get you an exact amount for how much we've spent, but those are assets that we continue to own
• we've spent, but um those are assets we've spent, but um those are assets that<00:46:16.160>

Bills: HF4266

Keywords: higher education, state grants, financial aid, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium, summer 2026, 1183, house