Transcript Highlights:

• There's the new IRIS as well um and that might be another option too, but but yeah, that too, but but
• There's the new IRIS as well um and that might be another option too, but but yeah, that too, but but
• There's the new IRIS as well um and that might be another option too, but but yeah, that too, but but
• There's the new IRIS as know, whatever.
• There's the new IRIS as well<00:26:52.240> um<00:26:52.360> and<00:26:52.440> that

Keywords: • 0:00 - Roll Call • 0:19 - Approval of June 2026 meeting minutes • 0:36 - Fish & Wildlife (301 KAR 1:201 and 301 KAR 2:178) • 1:35 - Board of Veterinary Examiners (201 KAR 16:767) • 4:10 - State Board of Elections (31 KAR 4:240 Emergency) • 4:50 - Office of the Attorney General, Regulatory Relief (40 KAR 12:300, 12:610, 12:400, 12:420 and 12:600) • 7:03 - Department of Revenue (103 KAR 43:341 Emergency) • 8:05 - Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (105 KAR 1:001 and 1:440) • 9:19 - Finance and Administration Cabinet, Office of the Controller (200 KAR 38:080) • 10:10 - Board of Physical Therapy (201 KAR 22:010 and 22:070) • 11:06 - Kentucky Department of Education (702 KAR 3:220 and 6:110) • 12:43 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health (902 KAR 1:400) • 13:47 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services (907 KAR 2:720 and 2:725) • 28:11 - Next meeting and adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum present, approved the minutes without objection, and then reviewed a series of administrative regulations from multiple agencies. Most of the regulations received staff-suggested amendments and were approved without objection, including fish and wildlife rules on fishing limits and deer hunting on local government property, veterinary board changes to responsible party and veterinary manager requirements, election procedures for safe-at-home voters, attorney general regulatory relief rules, emergency gasoline tax pricing, public pensions updates, controller fraud-prevention policies, physical therapy licensure and English proficiency standards, school nutrition and fee-waiver rules, public health conference procedures, and Medicaid waiver regulations. Several agencies briefly identified themselves and answered procedural questions, but most items drew no substantive opposition. The Board of Veterinary Examiners regulation included an agency amendment that removed a proposed limit on the number of facilities a veterinary manager could oversee. The Department of Education regulations updated fee waiver and meal program procedures, while the Department of Public Health regulation clarified notification and conference-request procedures. The Department of Revenue and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority items were largely technical or conforming changes, including a special-needs trust definition added for consistency with Senate Bill 85. The most extensive discussion involved the Department for Medicaid Services’ 1915C child waiver regulations. Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified in opposition to the waiver’s lack of participant-directed services, arguing that consumer-driven services such as respite and community living support are required and especially important in rural areas and for higher-acuity children. Cabinet representatives responded that the waiver is intended to provide wraparound services to keep children in homes and communities, that it has CMS approval, and that the program is limited to 100 slots with about 21 participants already enrolled. Members did not move a deficiency motion, and the chair indicated the regulations would continue through the process. The meeting adjourned after setting the next meeting for Tuesday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of technology out there with iris scans.
• The iris scans of the eyes are valid for up to 30 days.
• It's the same technology used with a cell phone for your facial recognition or your eye scans that I
• If you've been in TDCJ and you have the iris scan or if you have the ten prints on file, you can run
• we can do with biometrics and new technology, using the DLS database to be able to search, our risk scans

Keywords: flooding, emergency response, communication systems, first responders, disaster management, Texas Water Development Board, regional planning, public safety

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on discussions around the recent floods in Texas, specifically addressing emergency preparedness, response coordination, and recovery efforts. Officials from various agencies provided testimonies on the challenges faced during the emergency, including issues with communication systems among first responders. Notably, the need for improved inter-agency communication and technology integration was emphasized, with recommendations for establishing regional communications units for better coordination during disasters. The audience included local government representatives and emergency management partners, who shared insights and experiences from the recent flooding events.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you familiar with IRI and NDI?
• Moldova, not yet a member of either the EU or NATO. that are facing upcoming elections, the IRI and NDI
• Soviet states, do you have any sense, whether it's a good idea or a bad idea, to completely shut down IRI
• there's a long review going on, there's waivers being given, but Senator Sullivan is the board chair of IRI
• , a Republican Marine veteran, a big believer in IRI.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Iris. Thank you for letting me share my testimony. I am writing in support of HB 1668.
• Iris Al. chair vice chair. My name Iris. Thank chair vice chair. My name Iris.
• Iris Al, time.
• <01:18:05.760> Iris.
• Thank you for >> thank you very much, Iris.

Bills: HB2488, HB2456

Keywords: disability, communication access, deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, healthcare, sign language interpreters, auxiliary aids, weight loss, GLP-1 drugs, obesity, Medicaid, healthcare costs, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So Iris Espada, Charles Stokes. So Iris Espada, Charles Stokes, and Will Neilor.
• So is Iris? Oh, perfect. Okay. Thank you. Perfect. The floor is yours.
• Followed by Annabella Reeves and then Iris Esvada. Thank you to the committee.
• Iris Espada.
• Iris Espada? ... Well, I know you've done yeoman's work on this issue.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a long public hearing focused mainly on two sets of issues: proposals to amend or repeal the MBTA Communities Act, and bills to allow local rent stabilization. Committee chairs opened by explaining the hearing would be tightly managed because of the very large number of speakers, with testimony limited to two minutes per person and written testimony still accepted by email. Members and witnesses were called in a mix of in-person and virtual order throughout the hearing. On the MBTA Communities Act, several legislators and local officials argued the law is too rigid and should be revised to account for local conditions. Speakers from small, rural, or infrastructure-limited communities such as Hanson, Halifax, Marshfield, Winthrop, Dracut, Carver, Rehoboth, and others said the law’s one-size-fits-all approach does not fit towns with limited water, sewer, transit access, or buildable land. Some filed bills would repeal the law, exempt certain communities, or create appeals processes based on infrastructure, environmental, or historical constraints. Supporters of the law’s changes emphasized local control and the need to avoid forcing development where communities believe it is impractical or inconsistent with town character. A large portion of the hearing was devoted to rent stabilization legislation, especially S. 1447 and related House bills. Supporters included legislators, city councilors, tenant advocates, labor leaders, housing nonprofits, public health organizations, and residents who described sharp rent increases, displacement, homelessness risk, and the strain on working families, seniors, students, and people with disabilities. They argued local-option rent stabilization would let municipalities cap excessive increases and prevent no-fault evictions while preserving flexibility for local conditions. Opponents, including small landlords and property owners, said rent control would discourage investment, worsen housing quality, burden responsible owners, and drive small landlords out of the market. Some witnesses also supported a Cape Cod/Island transfer fee bill and a suburban infrastructure fund, arguing those would provide local revenue for housing or roads. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• established a statewide tracking system where every exam kit produced in New Mexico is barcoded and scanned
• established a statewide tracking system where every exam kit produced in New Mexico is barcoded and scanned
• It makes a small opening in the peripheral iris so that fluid can flow back and forth from the front

Bills: HB99, HJR5, HM39, HB206, HB213, SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are at a desk in the chamber with an iris bouquet, that is a desk in which Melissa sat during
• you are at a desk in the chamber<00:09:07.360> with<00:09:07.519> an<00:09:07.680> iris
• bouquet,<00:09:08.959> that<00:09:09.200> is<00:09:09.360> a chamber with an iris
• bouquet, that is a chamber with an iris bouquet, that is a desk<00:09:09.760> in<00:09:10.000

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• [questionable], and Iris Morama? [questionable], and Special Assistant Lisa Lum.
• 00:52:25.319> Brandon<00:52:25.720> Kamura<00:52:26.119> and<00:52:26.200> Iris
• <00:52:26.599> morama Heather Brandon Kamura and Iris morama Heather Brandon Kamura and Iris

Keywords: State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mia Sotis Sintron Mercado, Iris Espada, and Charles Clark, you are all on deck. Go ahead, Bruce.
• We have Miosotis Sintron Mercado and Iris Espada and Charles Clark. You're on deck.
• All right, continuing, Iris. Iris Espada, hi, can you hear me? We can go ahead.
• My name is Iris de Fada. I have lived in Holyoke for the last 20 years.
• My name is Iris de Fada. I have lived in Holyoke for the last 20 years.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of landlord-tenant and home rule bills, with most testimony focused on rent stabilization, tenant opportunity to purchase (TOPA), tenant fees, access to counsel, algorithmic rent fixing, and tenant protections in subsidized housing. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty outlined the hearing procedures and noted that written testimony could also be submitted. Several members and invited speakers emphasized that the committee was hearing from both local officials and residents affected by housing instability, especially in Somerville and other communities facing high rents and displacement. Supporters of rent stabilization and local-option rent control argued that Massachusetts needs tools to prevent displacement while new housing is built. Senator Eldridge, Senator Jalen, Somerville officials, tenant organizers, and residents described steep rent increases, no-fault evictions, and the loss of naturally occurring affordable housing. Somerville’s home rule petition was described as allowing annual increases tied to CPI plus 2%, capped at 5%, with exemptions for owner-occupied two- and three-family homes and a 15-year exemption for new construction. TOPA supporters said it would let tenants or their designees buy buildings before speculative buyers, preserving affordable housing stock; opponents, including small landlords and property managers, argued rent control would reduce supply, discourage investment, and that TOPA could delay sales and harm properties. The committee also heard testimony on bills to curb junk fees and regulate tenant charges, including limits on late fees, lease renewal fees, payment portal fees, attorney’s fees, and other add-on charges. Advocates said these fees can add hundreds of dollars a month and disproportionately harm low-income renters and renters of color. Another major topic was algorithmic rent fixing: Senator Moore and Representative Sabadoza said landlords should not use software such as RealPage to coordinate pricing, citing federal antitrust actions and arguing that competition is essential to lowering rents. Additional testimony supported a statewide right to counsel in eviction cases, with legal services providers saying representation dramatically improves outcomes and can save the state money, and a bill to create an office of tenant protections to better enforce sanitary code violations. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our next up is Iris Barber from Hawaii Film Alliance on Zoom.
• Iris Barber, president of the Hawaii Film Alliance.
• Thank you, Iris. Next up is Tom Yamachika for Tax Foundation of Hawaii on Zoom.
• Uh, next up, Iris Barbara, Hawaii Film Alliance, also on Zoom.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to Hawaii’s film tax credits, timeshare registration, and a Hawaii Technology Development Corporation matching program. For HB 1939, witnesses from the Governor’s office, DBEDT, the Department of Taxation, the Attorney General’s office, film industry groups, neighborhood boards, and others discussed changes to film tax incentives, including local hire requirements, indigenous content, and possible bonus credits. Supporters said the bill would diversify the economy and strengthen local jobs, while DBEDT and others raised operational, fiscal, and legal concerns about administering the multiple bonus options, defining indigenous content, and tracking compliance. The committee noted strong support in testimony and moved the bill forward with a Senate draft, including an amended effective date and a change to apply the bill to costs incurred rather than taxable years. HB 1941, also relating to taxation and film incentives, drew mixed testimony focused on the interaction between physical production and post-production credits. DBEDT, the Honolulu Film Office, and the Hawaii Film Alliance said the bill’s structure could discourage productions, especially because many productions complete post-production elsewhere and because the measure would be difficult to administer and verify. They urged keeping physical production and post-production separate or addressing post-production through workforce development instead. After hearing the testimony, the chair deferred HB 1941 for further work rather than advancing it. The committee also heard HB 1946 on timeshare registration, which had support from industry representatives and DCCA. The bill was advanced with a Senate draft incorporating DCCA’s requested language providing that renewal applications are deemed approved after 30 days unless a deficiency letter is issued. Finally, HB 2545 on HTDC’s matching program for federal SBIR/STTR awards was advanced with a technical amendment clarifying that the federal awards are separate and should be referenced in the alternative. All three of those measures were adopted unanimously by the members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• But something that we did, Iris, that you spearheaded previously on another topic, was a separate training
• I try to make it fun, I got to serve as the subcommittee chair on an interim basis last fall, and Iris
• So I appreciate everything you did, Iris. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, just a comment, uh, uh, Iris, in looking at the recertification, and I talked to Nick about this
• Charney, so, um, Iris, I know, uh, the certification is coming up.

Transcript Highlights:

• administrative director, Rod Miley, as well as his deputies Dalen Rose, Heather Brandon Kamimura, and Iris
• :41:21.280> Brandon<00:41:21.680> kamimura<00:41:22.079> and<00:41:22.200> Iris
• <00:41:22.480> morama Heather Brandon kamimura and Iris morama Heather Brandon kamimura and
• Iris morama and<00:41:23.720> Special<00:41:24.119> Assistant<00:41:24.560> Lisa

Keywords: House Agenda:, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Both the IRI, the International Republican Institute, and the NDI, the National Democratic Institute,
• can share that frontline rights defenders and pro-democracy groups are closing their doors; NDI and IRI
• When the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) shut their

Transcript Highlights:

• Scan the internet like a cyber criminal, a nation-state threat actor would, and we then compile that
• I'm Eduardo Bravo, co-founder of Iris Technologies, a cyber defense contractor for the Department of

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833, HB146, HB150

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• leadership in Republican and dfl party leadership in their<00:18:58.440> Entre<00:18:58.760> iry
• on<00:18:59.360> our<00:18:59.559> Senate<00:18:59.880> media their Entre iry
• on our Senate media their Entre iry on our Senate media YouTube<00:19:00.600> channel<00:19:01.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The program opened with interviews on the start of Minnesota’s 94th Senate session, where the chamber is evenly split 33-33 after the death of DFL Senator Kari Dziedzic and a special election to fill the vacancy. DFL Majority Leader Aaron Murphy and Republican Leader Mark Johnson both said the tied Senate and narrow margins in both chambers will require more cooperation and compromise. Murphy emphasized affordability issues such as health care, child care, housing, college costs, and medical debt, while Johnson said Republicans want to refocus on Minnesota’s needs, limit tax increases and mandates, and use the split chamber to gain more influence in negotiations. Both leaders said they expect bipartisan work on issues like mental health, EMS, public school funding, permitting reform, and mandate reform. Former Senator Ann Johnson Stewart was also sworn in after winning the special election for District 45 and said she hopes to work on infrastructure, transportation, bonding, and jobs. The Senate Finance Committee then held a hearing on the social impact of legalizing online sports betting. Testimony from researchers and gambling addiction experts warned that online sports betting can contribute to addiction, family harm, and financial distress, with one witness describing it as a public health disaster and citing higher bankruptcy filings in states that legalize it. Committee discussion also reflected the competing view that many Minnesotans want the option to bet legally, while lawmakers have a responsibility to protect residents from harm. The final segment focused on Minnesota’s budget and economic forecast. Officials said the state is expected to end the 2026-2027 biennium with a surplus, but spending growth is projected to outpace revenues in the following years, creating a structural deficit of nearly $6 billion in fiscal years 2028-2029. Legislators said the forecast underscores the need to address spending, inflation, and long-term obligations such as special education and disability services, and some Republicans called for attention to waste, fraud, and abuse. The report noted that an updated forecast will be released in February, which could further shape budget negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alabama that has been created<01:31:45.920> based<01:31:46.239> on<01:31:47.280> Iris
• , created based on Iris, created based on Iris, which<01:31:49.040> is<01:31:49.199> a<
• , which, if you follow Congress, there are proposals right now to remove Iris in its entirety.
• other than anything related to Iris other than anything related to Iris which<01:41:06.960> if
• <01:41:16.000> in proposals right now to remove Iris in proposals right now to remove Iris

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cost to it, and whether there might be a cost to an entertainment or hospitality venue to be able to scan
• cost to it, and whether there might be a cost to an entertainment or hospitality venue to be able to scan
• cost to it, and whether there might be a cost to an entertainment or hospitality venue to be able to scan
• She had her driver’s license scanned when she went in to make sure that she was 18 and able to be there
• when she went in to make sure scanned when she went in to make sure that<01:28:50.040> she<01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And the first panel, we have Mary McCann, Iris Coloma Gaines, and Maggie Sullivan. Good morning.
• My name is Iris Colima Gaines.
• My name is Iris Colima Gaines.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, I just turn it over to Iris and the superintendent to go over both projects.
• Salih, Iris, thank you for those comments.
• Thank you, Iris.