Video & Transcript : 'Subcommittee Work Session for HB1486' :

Page 30 of 500
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • working</c><00:23:05.039><c> for</c> DPA that are now working for DPA that are now working for prosecutors
  • :41:53.119><c> work</c><00:41:53.359><c> for</c><00:41:53.599><c> five</c> worked for a year you work
  • for five worked for a year you work for five years<00:41:54.240><c> you</c><00:41:54.560><c> have</c
  • Thank you for the work you do.
  • </c> very grateful for your work. very grateful for your work.
Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget. Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%. Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult. Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education (2-24-26)

Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I'll take the chair's privilege and introduce my intern for the session, Ms. Clara Haberling.
  • </c> introduce my intern for the session, Ms. introduce my intern for the session, Ms.
  • c><00:09:18.200><c> universities</c> And for the for the universities And for the for the universities
  • </c> the finish line on this and get to work. the finish line on this and get to work.
  • </c> please identify yourself for the record? please identify yourself for the record?
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • For FY 25, that $14.5 million for the dual credit scholarship plus that $11.9 million for work ready,
  • a program is automatically eligible for Work Ready.
  • </c> a program is automatically eligible for a program is automatically eligible for work<00:36:38.160
  • We have lots of supports for working adults.
  • </c> have to work out and have funding for have to work out and have funding for for<01:17:44.800><c>
Summary: The committee met to review KHEAA’s student aid programs ahead of the upcoming biennial budget. KHEAA officials outlined the agency’s role administering state grants and scholarships, emphasizing that net lottery proceeds are statutorily dedicated to student financial aid after a literacy appropriation. They focused on the College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG), and KEES, and explained that the FAFSA simplification changes significantly expanded eligibility for Pell and CAP recipients. KHEAA said the General Assembly’s additional funding this biennium allowed CAP to be fully funded, and that FY25 spending for CAP reached about $232 million for roughly 72,000 students, up from about 55,000 recipients the prior year. Officials said they are watching current-year application trends closely and expect a clearer funding picture by late fall as awards are actually disbursed and enrollment data comes in. Members asked about how CAP eligibility works, the difference between applicants and recipients, and whether KTG is tied to Pell eligibility. KHEAA explained that CAP is essentially aligned with Pell eligibility, while KTG uses a different need formula and is limited to private colleges in Kentucky. They also noted that schools verify final eligibility after KHEAA’s initial review of application data. Questions about the FAFSA simplification act and federal changes led KHEAA to say they do not expect major effects on state grant and scholarship programs, though federal student loan changes may affect students, especially at the graduate level. The committee also discussed KEES, which KHEAA said has been fully funded since its creation, and dual credit/work-ready scholarships. KHEAA reported that dual credit participation continues to grow and that FY25 spending for dual credit and Work Ready Kentucky totaled about $26.4 million, compared with a $13.1 million appropriation, with transfers from Work Ready used to keep dual credit fully funded. Officials said they will seek growth funding for dual credit in the next budget because the program has expanded and now includes the work-ready component under one statute. Members asked about transferability of dual credit courses and whether students actually use the credits toward degrees; KHEAA said it does not have hard data on every credit’s transfer, but it is seeing positive trends in bachelor’s completion and more high school graduates earning associate degrees. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the July 15, 2025 meeting minutes.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26

Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, so thank you so much, Chair Fischer, for carrying this and thanks for the work that we do.
  • Um, so thank you so much, Chair Fischer, for carrying this and thanks for the work that we do.
  • that would work is if penalties for that would work is if there<00:34:36.639><c> was</c><00:34:36.800
  • I I've been working on it for 20 years.
  • group for expediting from the work group for expediting rental<00:53:02.160><c> assistance</c><00:53
Bills: HF4210 , HF4212 , HF4549 , HF4464 , HF4546 , HF4447
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • All right, we want to thank you all for being here for this is our first meeting for House Budget Review
  • and for for the three government and for for the three branches<00:09:39.600><c> of</c><00:09:39.839>
  • We're open for questions.
  • Chairman, and, uh, thank you all for the presentation and thank you for what you do for the state of
  • Thank you all for having us. We know. Thank you all for having us.
Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance held its first meeting and heard a presentation from personnel cabinet officials on a major request to replace the Kentucky Human Resources Information System, known as CHRIS, which currently handles HR, payroll, tax compliance, and health plan administration for state government and several local offices. Officials said the system supports payroll for about 48,000 employees, covers all three branches of government and 24 sheriff and county clerk offices, and stores records for nearly 475,000 current and former users. They explained that SAP has said the system will reach end of life and lose support by 2030, creating risks around security, maintenance, and tax compliance if it is not replaced. Commissioners and staff emphasized that the replacement is needed not just as an upgrade but as a full system replacement, especially because the current platform no longer receives meaningful HR enhancements and will eventually lose security updates and tax tables. They also described the Kentucky Employees Health Plan as a major driver of the project, noting it serves nearly 300,000 covered lives, many school boards, pre-65 retirees, and more than 700 entities, with significant complexity in billing, premium collection, and regulatory compliance. Officials said the new system would help address current manual workarounds, support changing insurance rules, and better protect personally identifiable and health information. Members asked detailed questions about the $151 million request, including why the estimate had risen by more than $50 million, what would happen if the project missed the 2030 deadline, how progress would be tracked, how vendor costs were estimated, and what the largest cost components would cover. Officials said the increase was mainly due to inflation and changing requirements, and that there was no real backup plan if the replacement was not completed before support ends. They said the project would be managed through an RFP process expected in July 2026, with kickoff in January 2027 and go-live by July 2030, and that oversight would include an enterprise steering committee, monthly updates, and existing quarterly COT reporting to LRC. They also explained that the largest share of the request is for implementation and integrator services, with additional amounts for software licensing and hosting, independent verification and validation, dependent verification, FSA administration, and limited contract support, and that payments would be tied to deliverables and acceptance testing.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Feb 4th, 2025

Alabama Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • for me.
  • The opportunity to work together with you gentlemen has been a great privilege for me.
  • their dedication to this body, for working with me, and for offering their friendship.
  • As a Senate, we've worked hard to make life better for the people of Alabama.
  • I look forward to working with you this session.
Bills: SB 2 , SJR 36 , SB 2 , SR 19 , SR 27 , SR 30 , SR 32 , SCR 11
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Feb 4th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day, and thank you for the gift of life.
  • all your hard work and what you do for Texas.
  • I want to thank President Amy for all of his hard work, and the administrators that came with him, and
  • Benson as well for his incredible leadership over the years. entire team that do a wonderful job in working
  • Thank you for joining us and thank you for the work that you do. Thank you, Mr.
Bills: SB2 , SJR36 , SB2 , SR19 , SR27 , SR30 , SR32 , SCR11
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Health and Human Services Oversight Feb 25th, 2026

Health and Human Services Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill basically updates language, clarifies some language, and then broadens the scope of work for
  • And my heart is that we work to improve the quality of lives for children.
  • for someone's last cry for help.
  • All right, members, I apologize... ...for an untimely PCS, but we were trying to work out some language
  • Chairman, for working with me on this with some leniency.
Summary: The committee took up a series of health and human services bills, beginning with House Bill 4248, which was reported due pass on a 9-0 vote after an unclear procedural vote call. The next major item was House Bill 3194, a bill to prevent pregnancy resource centers from being singled out for discrimination. The author said the measure was intended to protect private nonprofit pregnancy centers from lawsuits and government interference, including in staffing and mission-related decisions. Members questioned the bill’s impact on counseling, contraception referrals, ectopic pregnancy treatment, employment practices, and whether it was necessary given existing law. The bill was reported due pass on a 10-2 vote. The committee then advanced House Bill 3849, a request bill from the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth to update language and broaden mentoring program credentialing, and House Bill 4095, which reaffirms the state role in the 211 collaborative and clarifies that it applies to hotline services for needs such as food, housing, clothing, transportation, and medical assistance. House Bill 4302 would allow the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to disclose a complainant’s identity to law enforcement if the complainant threatens harm. All three were reported due pass unanimously. Members also approved House Bill 3342, described as a Medicaid audit reform bill intended to curb punitive audits of providers; the author said the bill arose from cases where providers were penalized over reporting issues rather than fraud. House Bill 3344, aimed at improving foster care standards and home placements, passed 10-2 after questions about income thresholds, letters of recommendation, and whether the bill would apply to guardianship placements; the author said the goal was to raise standards and improve outcomes for children. House Bill 3287, requiring hospitals to post information and develop protocols for domestic violence and human trafficking victims, passed 12-0. House Bill 3645 created an alternate pathway for hospice referrals when a patient lacks next of kin or power of attorney, and House Bill 3647 established an all-payer claims database while emphasizing that the data could not be sold; both passed 12-0 after members raised concerns about federal consistency and privacy. Later, House Bill 3930, which defines “service animal” and requires sellers of emotional support animals to disclose that they are not service animals, passed 10-2. House Bill 3931 corrected a prior death-certificate change deadline and was reported due pass unanimously. House Bill 1818, a social work licensing cleanup bill, was amended to extend a sunset date to 2028 and then reported due pass 12-0. House Bill 4336 clarified pain-management definitions, including acute pain, and was reported due pass 12-0 after questions about labor and epidural care. House Bill 4454, an untimely PCS on medical marijuana edibles, would require clearer THC labeling and prohibit child-attractive shapes; the author cited pediatric ingestion incidents, and the bill passed 11-1. The committee then revisited House Bill 1818 to change the effective date to November 1, 2026, by unanimous consent.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • But I'm also helping the market work. through this bill for you. through this bill for you.
  • Thank you to the committee for the great work that you all do.
  • </c><00:53:17.440><c> for</c> policy in a form that worked for policy in a form that worked for everyone
  • in a form that worked for everyone.
  • </c><01:25:29.760><c> I</c> to make the numbers work for them. I to make the numbers work for them.
Bills: HF4236 , HF4122 , HF4377
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Financial Services Committee Mar 4th, 2026

Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:05:11.440><c> And</c> do their work. And do their work.
  • I just want to thank you for working with us and the SEC helping us and all of our conversations.
  • I just want to thank<00:07:52.720><c> you</c><00:07:53.039><c> for</c><00:07:53.440><c> working</c><00
  • working with us and and thank you for working with us and and the<00:07:54.960><c> SEC</c><00:07:55.520
  • </c> &gt;&gt; For a favorable report. &gt;&gt; For a favorable report.
Bills: HB259 , SB247 , HB259 , SB247
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • We will go ahead and call the meeting for what I think is our final meeting of the A&B Subcommittee on
  • for our state. ...work with both sides on this issue to come up with something that makes sense for
  • I'll continue to work on it. ...get a compromise that works for everybody, I'm not going to bring this
  • Yeah, so here's something for you to work on. Thank you for bringing the bill forward, by the way.
  • So thank you for all of your work, for all of the extra meetings.
Bills: HB4491 , HB3240 , HB4146 , HB4158 , HB4159 , HB3718
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Feb 12th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, sometimes ...and they arrive before 5 a.m. to get in line to get a ticket for work.
  • Thank you for this good bill and for the debate. ...that all they want to do is work.
  • And many of them end up working for my family business for 20-plus years.
  • Then it all shifts to the local government for all of that, for all of those details to be worked out
  • all of that, for all of those details to be worked out, to be agreed to, if you will, or worked out.
Bills: S0002 , S0026 , S0354 , S1112 , S1192 , S1220 , S1352 , S1670
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard several bills and reported most of them favorably. The first major measure, CS/SB 1220, was described as a broad transportation package expanding FDOT authority over trails, seaports, aviation, advanced air mobility, delivery devices, and related technology, while also addressing toll revenue use, autonomous vehicle penalties, digital driver licenses, and an FDOT study on alternative-fuel vehicles. An amendment narrowed some provisions, including local regulation of personal delivery devices and FDOT airport language. Senator Smith and others raised concerns about language involving FDOT assistance to local governments on federal grant applications, but the bill passed unanimously after support from industry and local-government appearance cards. The committee also approved SB 1112, the Labor Pool Act, which would prohibit labor pools from charging placement fees when workers are hired permanently by a third-party employer and require annual registration with the Department of Commerce. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would reduce barriers to full-time employment, improve oversight, and help returning citizens and low-wage workers; multiple witnesses testified in support, including labor advocates and individuals describing high placement fees. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s worker and reentry benefits, and it passed unanimously. The committee then favorably reported SB 2, a claims bill for the estate of Danielle Maudsley arising from a fatal FHP arrest incident and settlement, and SB 26, another claims bill providing relief for the estate of Mark Legata after alleged FDOT negligence. Senate Bill 1352 on motor vehicles also passed without opposition. It would create a secure online portal for license plate seizure processing, allow disabled veterans to retain their DV plate designation upon reissuance or transfer, ban license plate covers and similar devices that obscure plates, and route certain online driver license and ID transactions through county tax collectors. SB 1192, a customer service pilot requiring callback queues for certain calls to the Department of Commerce and Department of Children and Families, was likewise reported favorably to improve response times and reduce hold times. The most extensive debate centered on CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a new process for very large developments on 10,000-acre or larger parcels if the owner sets aside 60% of the land for conservation or reserve uses. Supporters said it was intended to promote long-range planning, preserve land, and provide certainty for infrastructure and services, while opponents from counties, planning groups, and environmental organizations argued it would preempt local land-use authority, weaken public participation, and allow conservation requirements to be too vague. An amendment added more detail, but concerns remained about administrative approval, timelines, and the definition of reserve areas. Despite opposition from some members, the committee reported the bill favorably on a divided vote. SB 1670 was temporarily postponed, and the committee adjourned after recording one member’s vote on SB 1220.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Feb 12th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • These changes promote safer jobs, workplaces, and a fairer work market for Florida, and that is the bill
  • Um, sometimes ...and they arrive before 5 a.m. to get in line to get a ticket for work.
  • And many of them end up working for my family business for 20-plus years.
  • And certainly one of the things why I kind of like to work on it, I guess, or maybe I'm a glutton for
  • all of that, for all of those details to be worked out, to be agreed to, if you will, or worked out.
Bills: S0002 , S0026 , S0354 , S1112 , S1192 , S1220 , S1352 , S1670
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Budget Feb 9th, 2026 at 08:30 am

Capital Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • session.
  • session.
  • We'd like to move to the executive session for HB 2281.
  • for a no.
  • I felt like maybe we could have worked on this perhaps in a long session.
Bills: HB2236 , HB2281 , HB2514 , HB2551 , HB2668
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation Jan 13th, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • So what happened in the 2025 session? It was a big session for transportation.
  • So what happened in the 2025 session? It was a big session for transportation.
  • First, I want to thank you for your continued work last session to help the Kofa community, given our
  • Once again, thank you for the work you've already done and for considering this important request.
  • Once again, thank you for the work you've already done and for considering this important request.
Bills: SB6005
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education May 1st, 2025

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank you for being here.
  • I'm working as a draftsman right now up in Waco, and while it didn't lead to the military for me or anything
  • that year, for that student, for that class.
  • As you know, this session is really focused. towards CTE and credentialing for workforce.
  • I will say, Representative LaHood, for several sessions we've talked about the importance of looking
Bills: HB 1079 , HB3651 , HB4980