Transcript Highlights:

• Not when it's operational? Correct.
• And then during the actual operation of the data center, those jobs may be high-paying, but they're not
• And during the actual operation of the data center, those jobs may be high-paying, but they're not necessarily
• here, kind of what we do once the data centers are here, ...what we do once the data centers are here
• and information on data centers.

Summary: The Missouri House Committee on Utilities held an informational hearing on data centers, with the chair saying the goal was to hear different perspectives and better understand the issue before future legislation. No public testimony was taken, but three invited speakers presented: a labor representative, an Ameren Missouri executive, and a consumer advocate. The discussion focused on the economic benefits of data centers, including construction jobs, local hiring, apprenticeship opportunities, tax revenue for schools and local governments, and related spending by Missouri businesses. The labor witness described current Montgomery County projects, said hundreds of Missourians were already working there, and argued that closed-loop cooling and generator noise were manageable. Committee members also raised questions about water use, noise, cybersecurity, local hiring, and how much tax revenue a project could generate annually. Ameren’s Rob Dixon said Senate Bill 4 and the PSC’s large-load tariff provide key protections for ratepayers by requiring large customers to pay their own interconnection costs, sign long-term contracts, post collateral, and pay for most of their requested load even if they use less. He said those rules help prevent costs from shifting to other customers and that large loads can put downward pressure on rates by contributing to fixed system costs. Dixon also said Ameren is planning for significant new generation, including gas, nuclear, hydro, coal, and renewables, and that data centers are subject to the same load-shedding and emergency restoration rules as other customers. He noted that the protections apply to investor-owned utilities, not co-ops or municipal utilities. John Kaufman of the Consumers Council of Missouri argued the PSC protections are still too weak and warned that data centers could raise rates through construction work in progress, stranded generation costs, and other risks if projects are delayed, shrink, or fail. He urged stronger consumer protections, more upfront financial commitments from data centers, and greater transparency for ratepayers, while also suggesting community benefit agreements and cautioning against over-reliance on utility projections. Several members pushed back on his characterization of Senate Bill 4 and QIP/CWIP provisions, and the hearing ended with the chair thanking the witnesses and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• This pays salaries and operational expenses for the division, including the operations at the state hospital
• Okay, and Director Mann, can you tell me on the senior centers on a division of adult, Senior centers
• You're operating all over the state, aren't you? Yes, ma'am. We are operating all over the state.
• That goes to the senior centers.
• On the third line of the appropriation summaries, the operation is the operation.”

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations and took executive recommendations on several Department of Human Services divisions, including Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services; Children and Family Services; County Operations; Developmental Disability Services; and Medical Services, with most divisions showing little or no significant change in total appropriations. Staff and agency witnesses repeatedly explained that many large appropriations are maintained for flexibility, federal matching requirements, or contingency needs, even when actual spending is much lower than the authorized amount. Members also raised concerns about staffing vacancies, long-vacant budgeted positions, and the use of excess appropriation authority across DHS. In Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health, members questioned federal funding levels for mental health and substance abuse grants, the status of senior centers and Meals on Wheels, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, community alcohol safety grants, and the veterans mental health grant. Agency officials said federal block grants are largely committed, that senior center funding had been delayed by shutdown timing but was now back on track, that the tobacco settlement program had been moved internally within DHS, and that the veterans mental health appropriation remains unfunded. Senators also criticized the adequacy of support for seniors and asked for more detail on how transportation, meal services, and local contributions are funded. In Children and Family Services, members asked about rising appropriation levels, foster care and adoption subsidies, professional fees, the number of children in foster care, and the Children’s Trust Fund. DHS said increases reflect added flexibility for residential treatment, adoption subsidies, and prevention services, while the foster care population has remained fairly steady at about 3,400 children. The Children’s Trust Fund was described as supporting primary prevention programs such as Baby and Me and community schools, and members asked whether it could be administratively combined with other efforts. Questions also covered TANF subgrants, with DHS explaining that it had reduced outside subgrants after discovering over-obligation and was rebuilding reserves. In County Operations, members focused on the summer EBT program, SNAP employment and training, the farmer’s market program, and the state’s TANF reserve position. DHS said summer EBT is still being funded through temporary appropriations because it is a newer program, SNAP employment and training is largely federally funded and may expand under a pending policy change, and TANF reserves were drawn down after prior over-obligation but are now being stabilized. In Developmental Disability Services, members asked about vacancies, human development center staffing, facility construction funds, and the Booneville work program, and DHS said the program has reopened and staffing recruitment continues. In Medical Services, members asked about FMAP, the Our Kids B CHIP program, school-based Medicaid reimbursements, nursing home distress funds, and several large appropriation lines that far exceed actual spending; DHS said these are maintained for claims payment, nursing home receivership contingencies, and other flexibility needs. Each division reviewed was adopted by executive recommendation after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:50.080><c> for</c> one dark fiber lease to the center for one dark fiber lease to the center
• </c><00:58:17.920><c> project</c> Louisville Detention Center project Louisville Detention Center project
• Thank you. repairs in the information center uh in repairs in the information center uh in Frankfurt,
• critical</c> information center houses critical information center houses critical statewide<01:08:14.079
• </c><01:14:20.320><c> The</c> regional water resource agency. The regional water resource agency.

Keywords: 0:00:07 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:47 Approval of Minutes 0:01:05 Correspondence and Information Items 0:54:15 Lease Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions 0:56:19 Project Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:08:46 Lease Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:13:00 Rpt from Office of Financial Mgmt - KIA 1:20:00 Office of Financial Management 1:35:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including welcoming new committee member Senator Reginald Thomas, approving the minutes, and receiving a correspondence report on several information items. Those items included University of Kentucky research equipment funding, UK capital project funding using federal/private funds, debt issues from McGoffin County and Owen County school districts, lease modifications by the Division of Real Properties, asset preservation project revisions at Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, and Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) information on Kentucky Wired critical infrastructure. The main discussion focused on a dispute over the Kentucky Wired communication shelters, or “huts,” and related payments under KCNA’s agreement with Asellicom/Excel. Brad Kilby of Asellicom testified that KCNA had not paid for the huts, that Asellicom had not received the alleged $8 million or any later payment, and that Asellicom remained the legal owner. Committee members pressed him on whether payment had been received, whether anyone else might have received it, and whether the lawsuit or dispute resolution process clarified the issue. Kilby said no payment had been received and that the matter was part of ongoing litigation. KCNA Executive Director Doug Hendricks and General Counsel Adam Atkins then testified. They said a certified check for $8.5 million was mailed in July, based on the Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary’s determination that $8.5 million was due under the model procurement code, even though KCNA had initially requested about $12 million to cover a worst-case estimate. They said the contract allowed payment in full or in tranches, that the huts were completed and operational, and that KCNA had not received documentation supporting Asellicom’s higher $10.1 million claim. Members expressed frustration over the missing check and the broader implications for Kentucky Wired, and one member requested that the committee obtain all agency requests related to KCNA/Kentucky Wired since inception; the co-chairs said they would look into making that information available. No formal vote was taken on the dispute during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2487 relates to taxes imposed on insurers operating within the state.
• Our tourist activities, by some measures, are lower than the regions around us.
• That is economic impact to our region.
• Many districts have gone to regionalization.
• Many districts have gone to regionalization.

Bills: HB2713, HB2730, HB2297, HB2487, HB2382, HB2089, HB2431, HB2451, HB2590, HB2325, HB2278, HB2224, HB2322

Keywords: private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, state revenue, aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, grocery stores, underserved communities, food access, incentives, economic development, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> procedure to evaluating local, regional, procedure to evaluating local, regional, and<00:33:48.760
• </c> Further, it utilizes the same operative Further, it utilizes the same operative language<00:36:08.120
• , and maintained in accordance operated, and maintained in accordance with<00:36:17.160><c> the</c><00
• </c> facilities that have been operation facilities that have been operation without<00:38:17.280><c>
• in operation without limiting without in operation without limiting the<00:38:18.600><c> ability</c>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we were all over the place together in our region.
• You're absolutely correct that now our Medicaid SNAP system operates on the basis of self-attestation
• This bill allows chief judges to assign capital cases to regional counsel offices that are outside of
• counsel from another region.
• A bill to be entitled in act relating to offices of criminal conflict and civil regional council.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But it has to be within the scope of the regionally awarded contract.
• They may have been procured by a co-operative that represents 10, 15 51 states.
• So between those 2 sides between information from our partners over at Northwest Regional Data Center
• So there is oversight in terms of our specific requirements for network capabilities, security.
• I've had the privilege to serve. >> And Nick Center account for 20 years now.

Transcript Highlights:

• Task Force Operations.
• And just like last time, all education-related questions to my co introduce or center 5 Mr.
• It's important to our members, job security. It's important to their job safety.
• This bill discourages that making communities less secure.
• We do 7 G agreements to operate efficiently and effectively.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Uh, Deputy Director of operations at the PSFA, uh, Quality Assurance and Outreach, uh, Ms.
• our June bond sale, which we'll go over later this meeting, uh, we worked with the field and the regional
• Projects forward that require um some sort of operational or programmatic approval through the state
• Uh, so that is one of the, the, the safety and security aspects, um, the other component, uh, as Mr.
• And so it is, it is a difficult decision, but yes, we, we do our best to operate within that minimum

Transcript Highlights:

• Every other private business in Louisiana operates that way.
• I fully expect that we'll still operate. There'll still be ways to do it.
• I think there's a lot of confusion over how that process operates.
• That's not how we operate.
• We have one wishing to speak, Ray Gregson with River Region Chamber.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a state-run operation.
• operations with the goal of identifying areas that impacted our day-to-day work at the Center for Distance
• at the center.
• Chairman, Senator Hogan, so it’s like the senior centers? Senior centers, yeah.” “For, Mr.
• Chairman, Senator Hogan, so it’s like the senior centers. Senior centers, yeah.

Summary: The task force met with a quorum and first reviewed a memorandum summarizing a survey of state agencies on possible statute revisions. Levi reported that 20 agencies submitted 70 proposals, with about 33 potentially becoming agency pre-file bills. Common themes included procurement, concessions, architect/engineering services, liability limits, and IT-related efficiencies. Members asked about sharing the survey results more broadly and about cross-agency coordination, especially with higher education and ITD-related issues. OMB then presented three topics from its survey responses: concessions, pre-qualification of architects/engineers/construction managers/land surveyors, and publication of legal notices. OMB said the current concessions law is too rigid because it requires award to the highest responsible bidder and does not fit newer concession models, and it suggested a best-value approach, a higher threshold, and standardized templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB said the law is fragmented across several statutes and should be consolidated and expanded for broader use. On legal notices, OMB described the current rate-setting and publication process, noted rising costs and shrinking newspaper availability, and proposed a collaborative effort to modernize notice delivery, improve accessibility, and explore online options. The task force discussed how to move these ideas forward, and a motion passed directing OMB to implement its suggestions and report back at the next meeting. The University of North Dakota then presented several proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND recommended raising the threshold for treating routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements as construction, arguing that the current $250,000 threshold forces unnecessary architect/engineer involvement and adds cost. It also proposed changes to bid advertisement language to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement criteria, a higher direct-hire threshold for design services, and an increase in the legislative approval threshold for privately funded projects. Members discussed the need for data, risk and complexity considerations, and collaboration with counsel and industry groups. A motion passed directing Levi and counsel to work with UND on bill drafts based on its proposals for a future meeting. DPI followed with a shorter presentation on credentialing and statutory cleanup. It suggested reviewing the department’s 23 credential categories for relevance, and said DPI and the Education Standards and Practices Board have discussed transferring some credentialing authority to ESPB. DPI also recommended removing outdated school safety patrol language, cleaning up waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so districts are not burdened by obsolete reporting mandates. Members agreed the screening itself should remain in place, while the reporting requirement could be reconsidered. The committee then recessed until the afternoon session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of Kids Harbor Child Advocacy Center and Kids Harbor 2 Child Advocacy Center
• I'm proud to represent all 15 regional child advocacy centers.
• All 15 child advocacy centers receive VOCA funding.
• Advocacy Center.
• You can be a licensed center-based provider.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is just a different operational.
• I ask able to maintain their operations.
• Higher Education Center.
• One is a perpetual fund and one is the operations fund.
• </c> perpetual fund and one is the operations perpetual fund and one is the operations fund<04:20:13.199

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many businesses in our state operate across county and city boundaries.
• So any existing facility or any facility that's already in operation and has been in continuous operation
• We want them to be able to operate to the full extent of their capacity.
• So the intent. operate, you know, to the full extent of their capacity.
• These waters are secured by the U.S.

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources met with a quorum present and considered a series of environmental, water, waste, boating, and land-use bills. SB 834 on recreational fishing vessel licenses was briefly explained as aligning licensure rules for freshwater and saltwater captains and was reported favorably. SB 1208 on service lateral assessment and rehabilitation would require periodic CCTV inspections, a seven-year assessment cycle, and a long-term public database for sewer laterals; county representatives opposed it over private-property and cost concerns, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 978 on advanced wastewater treatments, as amended, would require DEP reports and a long-term prioritization plan for upgrading large wastewater facilities to advanced treatment; the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 1822 on auxiliary containers, which would preempt local regulation of certain packaging and define the term in statute. The sponsor argued it would reduce a patchwork of local rules and help businesses, while opponents from environmental groups, local advocates, and some local governments warned it would weaken plastic and foam restrictions, including in parks and coastal communities. Despite substantial opposition and several senators expressing concern, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 384 on notice for annexation of state-owned lands, after a technical amendment requiring written or email notice to legislative delegations, and reported it favorably. SB 1008 on waste incineration would bar new ash-producing incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities within a half-mile of residential, commercial, or school property. The sponsor said the bill was aimed at preventing another fire-related incident like the Doral plant and clarified it was intended to apply only to new facilities, not existing ones; waste-to-energy and county representatives opposed it as too restrictive, while several senators sought clarifying changes. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a substitute amendment to CS for SB 594 on port channel and turning basin buffer zones, reducing the proposed anchoring setback from 5,000 feet to 2,500 feet and allowing ports to create buffer zones after public hearings and rulemaking; the bill was then reported favorably. Finally, SB 830 on lost or abandoned property, aimed at streamlining removal of migrant vessels that pose navigational and environmental hazards, was reported favorably after brief support testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to the operation of a motor vehicle. to the operation of a motor vehicle.
• Gentleman from Hopkins. operating in Kentucky new authority to operating in Kentucky new authority to
• </c> operate their equipment. operate their equipment.
• </c> the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security and<00:59:47.760
• </c> European regions. Representative Sharp. European regions. Representative Sharp.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> European regions. European regions.
• And two, it provides operations.
• It requires consumers to operators.
• </c> operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• </c> relating to certified court security relating to certified court security officers.<00:59:18.280

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• operations operations pesticides<00:49:08.680><c> Animal</c><00:49:09.079><c> Welfare</c><00:49:09.640
• Like I mentioned, we communicate regularly with our Emergency Operations Center and the Emergency Operations
• Like I mentioned, we communicate regularly with our Emergency Operations Center and the Emergency Operations
• Like I mentioned, we communicate regularly with our Emergency Operations Center and the Emergency Operations
• Like I mentioned, we communicate regularly with our Emergency Operations Center and the Emergency Operations

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held an introductory orientation for members, many of whom were new or newly assigned to the committee. Leadership emphasized that the committee is intended to operate in a nonpartisan, collaborative way, and members introduced themselves and described their backgrounds in farming, gardening, food service, environmental work, water and waste issues, veterinary work, and related fields. Several members noted personal ties to homesteading, livestock, orcharding, food security, landfill concerns, and animal welfare, while others said they were eager to learn the committee’s work. The chair then reviewed committee procedures and expectations. Members were told the committee would generally meet on Tuesdays, with hearings starting around 10 a.m. and often running until about 4:30 p.m., and that absences, substitutes for executive sessions, and email communications would be handled through House rules and the committee’s email system. The chair also covered decorum rules for live-streamed meetings, including professional dress, limiting food and drink at the table, and giving full attention to witnesses. Members were reminded that legislative emails are subject to public records laws and that the committee may soon transition to a new email domain. The chair also explained logistics such as bill folders, committee room storage, and emergency procedures for evacuation or shelter-in-place. No bills were debated or voted on in this meeting, but the chair noted that the committee already had roughly two dozen bills pending, including animal welfare, landfill, policy, and cat-and-dog related measures. Members were told to expect a broad mix of topics beyond agriculture, including solid waste and animal-related legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> an assistant professor of security an assistant professor of security studies<00:58:17.680><c> at
• </c> risk management services, and operate risk management services, and operate under<03:46:19.279><
• </c> people obviously are suing the center. people obviously are suing the center.
• </c> of daycare centers. of daycare centers.
• </c> they're going to operate on a handshake. they're going to operate on a handshake.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• practical resources to teach my students about the past so that they can create a better future centered
• Cliff Berg on behalf of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee, representing over 40 statewide and regional
• Rebecca Gonzalez with the Western Center on Law and Poverty in support and also on behalf of Chirla.
• Griselda Chavez with the Mesa Verde group on behalf of the Central American Resource Center in support
• To address regional disparities in the short term the bill will inject resources.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Alison Hilliard, in support of SB 24 with the Climate Center. Thank you so much.
• That's just... we have to pursue expert witnesses and expert testimony in basic utility operations.
• Thank you. ...secure lawyers that are necessary for them to provide the necessary legal work that they
• This bill, the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025, ensures the safe development and operation of battery
• And yet the technologies move fast, but the policy and the operations have not moved fast.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, then later established quorum and heard several measures. The main policy bills discussed were SB 24, which would restrict investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds for political advertising, lobbying, and efforts against municipal utilities, and SB 283, the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025, which would strengthen safety standards for battery energy storage facilities after the Moss Landing fire. The consent calendar also included SB 80, SB 491, SB 593, SB 804, and SCR 25, which were taken up without debate. SB 24 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates, who argued that ratepayer money should not be used for political or promotional activity and that current rules lack meaningful consequences. Opponents from the utilities and business community said the bill was too broad, could interfere with shareholder-funded advocacy and legal work, and might unintentionally affect public service communications and expert consulting. Several committee members shared support for the bill’s goal but raised concerns about its breadth, especially around legal fees and communications; the author said he was willing to work on amendments, including on consultant fees, and accepted committee amendments. SB 283 received broad support from firefighters, local governments, utilities, labor, and business groups. Supporters said the bill would improve fire safety, require fire authority consultation and inspections, and prevent battery storage from being sited in unsafe indoor combustible facilities. The author described the Moss Landing fire and said the bill would add standards based on NFPA guidance while preserving local governments’ ability to adopt stricter rules. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee voted SB 283 out 16-0, and SB 24 was also approved after a roll was held open and later closed, ultimately passing 11-1. The consent calendar passed 16-0, and the meeting adjourned after the final roll calls were completed.