Transcript Highlights:

• That's a pretty big statement to say.
• I like the statement that uh, my fraud.
• That's a pretty big statement to loans.
• Uh, but if you could make an opening statement, please, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Mr.
• </c> statement from you. statement from you.

Bills: HF4502 , HF3388 , HF4106 , HF400 , HF4138 , HF4118 , HF4203

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: trusted contact, financial exploitation, elder abuse, elder financial abuse, fraud prevention, financial institution, banking, credit union, broker-dealer, account security, dormant account, consumer protection, scam, suspicious activity, protective services, law enforcement reporting, Minnesota Statutes chapter 45A, HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance

Transcript Highlights:

• The next one is Scott Files, and if you have written a statement, summarize it.
• , and if you have written a statement, summarize<00:05:48.560><c> it.
• We have a written statement; could you summarize it? I have two minutes.
• You already touched on this, but I just want to read from your written statement a little bit.
• u written statement a little bit.<00:27:52.480><c> So,</c><00:27:52.799><c> you</c><00:27:53.039><c>

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that if the vice chair's statement is that this only comes into play in those situations, is
• that this only Hansen's uh statement that this only comes<00:38:02.960><c> into</c><00:38:03.240><c>
• off my Soap Box statement off my Soap Box again<01:03:46.200><c> representative</c><01:03:46.920><c>
• to make that we would take statement to make that we would take away<01:07:38.559><c> power</c><01:07
• </c><01:27:43.920><c> you</c><01:27:44.199><c> had</c> um I in your opening statement you had um I in

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It made a statement about our ability to work with the council, to work with you folks, to get things
• It made a statement about our ability to work with the council, to work with you folks, to get things
• I mean it's um right in um we statement I mean it's um right in um we just<01:13:14.679><c> I</c><01
• You know, they are, and this is a general statement. Again, too, it's right.
• </c> police and the question the statement police and the question the statement was<01:29:45.440><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that was an extreme example, and he agreed with the statements made earlier by the Center for
• </c> we're making the statement we're making the statement today<00:29:53.600><c> so</c><00:29:53.840
• We all witnessed the recent despicable behavior and gaslighting and misleading statements from Kulani
• What I found was that there was evidence-based research contrary to your statement.
• What I found was that there was evidence-based research contrary to your statement.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so that last statement that you made, I'm a little confused by.
• , I'm a little statement that you made, I'm a little confused<00:39:25.599><c> by.
• Oh, thank you for the question-statement. Um, Senator, yeah, no, I appreciate it."
• And lastly, it goes against the New Hampshire Constitution statement about public education.
• </c><01:32:03.760><c> about</c> Hampshire Constitution statement about Hampshire Constitution statement

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That 1940 statement is standard, so it's during the sixth year that this process unfolds.
• That 1940 statement is standard, so it's during the sixth year that this process unfolds.
• uh that would seek to statements uh that would seek to encourage<00:58:58.680><c> students</c><00:58
• Is that a fair statement, Mr. Chairman?
• Is that a fair statement, Mr. Chairman?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and first considered two concurrent resolutions. SCR 76, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Bledsoe, would create a Kentucky School for the Deaf Governance Task Force to examine the school’s future governance and its relationship with the Kentucky Department of Education. Bledsoe described the school’s long history and said the task force would give the small deaf-school community more voice. The committee adopted the resolution unanimously with favorable expression. The committee then took up SCR 131, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, to continue the Efficient and Effective Districts Task Force from 2024. Wise said the prior task force met about 10 times and focused on student achievement and district policy, and the new version would continue that work as a legislature-only task force. The resolution passed unanimously with favorable expression. Members next considered HB 240 on primary school promotion. Rep. Truitt explained that the bill would require students who are not ready in kindergarten to repeat kindergarten, while a committee substitute softened the approach by allowing a school to hold a child back in kindergarten but requiring action in first grade. He said the bill aligns with existing reading-screening efforts and is intended to strengthen early literacy foundations. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill unanimously with favorable expression; Sen. Williams briefly explained his support as favoring performance-based advancement. The committee also approved HB 298, which would change the identification of schools for comprehensive support and improvement from every three years to annually, require KDE recommendations during management audits, add professional development in reading and math, and require effective instructional resources. The committee substitute also allowed districts with multiple CSI schools to contract for a turnaround vendor. The bill additionally carried employee-misconduct provisions from prior sessions, including disclosure requirements for applicants; the only change discussed was removing the word “investigation” from one disclosure section. HB 298 passed unanimously with favorable expression, and the committee also adopted a title amendment. Finally, the committee heard HB 424 on employment at public postsecondary institutions. Rep. Tipton said the bill would require performance and productivity reviews for faculty at least every four years, clarify appointment and removal authority for presidents at certain institutions, and expand “cause” for dismissal to include failure to meet performance and productivity requirements. Dr. Ray Horton, speaking for faculty groups, proposed a small substitute that would tie any performance measures to existing employment contracts to preserve academic integrity and avoid unintended changes to tenure processes. Members discussed how tenure works at Kentucky universities, and the committee was still in the middle of considering the proposed substitute when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this project is very worthwhile, and it allows me to also make a little short statement in terms
• It also allowed me to make a statement that our city should be considered.
• Now I say my statement, but any last comment from you, Senator Kpac?
• I also want to, you know, I concur with Senator Green's statement as well, but we'll consider this as
• </c><01:29:15.159><c> and</c> that I mention the policy statements and that I mention the policy statements

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and maybe this is probably just a statement for the committee.
• for the committee um I am I statement for the committee um I am I think<00:39:50.640><c> we</c><00:39
• </c> um for me anyway your your statements um for me anyway your your statements are<00:56:00.240><c>
• We're short on time, so I just make one statement and you can respond if you want to.
• thank you Senator grunhagen statements thank you Senator grunhagen um<01:35:35.199><c> Mr</c><01:35:

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Funds based upon budgeted or audited financial statements from districts.
• We do because it shows up in their audited financial statements.
• You made that statement. Yes, that is correct, yeah.
• That is simply not an accurate statement.
• That's just a statement that the pension fund is actuarially sound.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It being 9:30, I'm going to open a public hearing on House Bill 1577, relative to the disclosure of utility
• Uh, as I mentioned in my original statement, I mean, Boston, as we know, is a tech hub that has not just
• So, it's really more a statement of sentiment of the committee with really the same specific actionable
• So, it's really more<06:37:00.080><c> a</c><06:37:00.320><c> statement</c><06:37:00.718><c> of</c><06
• of the more a statement of sentiment of the committee<06:37:02.958><c> with</c><06:37:03.440><c> really

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And my amendment would just insert after that statement a valid employment pay stub must be required
• Representative Royer, I just have more of a long statement here for you.
• I think inherent in his statement relating to abortion is the value in there that somehow people having
• Representative Royer, I just have more of a long statement here for you.
• </c> Representative Lee continued: I think inherent in his statement relating to abortion is the value

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Senator Gustafson, do you have a closing statement? Um, sorry, Chair.
• </c> you have a closing statement? you have a closing statement?
• Uh, so, Senate File 3956, or if you have your closing statement, if you would.
• Seeing none, Senator Kupec, do you have any closing statements?
• Seeing none, Senator Seeberger, do you have a closing statement? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans met on March 4, 2026, and began with a moment of silence honoring Sergeant First Class Nicole Amore of White Bear Lake, who was killed while serving in Kuwait. The committee then took up Senate File 3956, an MDVA policy bill giving the commissioner clearer authority to direct staff time and other non-monetary resources toward partnerships with organizations serving veterans, especially on food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, and related efforts. MDVA and Disabled American Veterans testified that the bill would help them work more quickly and clearly with outside partners, including food pantry and outreach efforts, while remaining focused on non-monetary support. Senator Howe offered an A1 amendment narrowing the bill to the three named priorities and removing the broader “other critical issues” language; the amendment was adopted after discussion about whether the reporting language also needed adjustment. SF 3956, as amended, was laid over for further consideration. The committee then heard Senate File 3955, which would create a new procedure for temporary closure of a Minnesota veterans home if an involuntary termination notice requires it, bringing state law into closer alignment with federal expectations. MDVA emphasized that it had no intention of permanently closing any veterans homes and that the bill was intended only to establish a temporary closure plan to satisfy survey requirements. Senator Howe offered an A1 amendment clarifying that any closure would be temporary unless the legislature approved a permanent closure; MDVA and the Department of Health indicated the change was acceptable. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted to recommend SF 3955, as amended, to pass and refer it to the full committee. Finally, the committee began Senate File 4072, an MDVA cleanup and conformity bill. After adopting a technical A3 amendment, MDVA explained that the bill would reclassify the Chief of Staff/Deputy Chief of Staff role as Deputy Commissioner for Administration to better reflect the scope of the position, and would also repeal outdated statutes related to environmental hazards assistance and a data-collection requirement that the department said it could not implement. The bill was still being presented when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SF 4072 was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair, would you like to make an opening statement? Thank you for your comments.
• before we have the state auditor join us for the presentation. ...opening statement before we have the
• You, in your opening statement, I heard a lot about the data modernization project, as if it's going
• So the employer, I heard employer, employer, employer a lot in that statement, didn't hear a worker a
• I wanted you to clarify your statement about what CalHR is doing to assist in this process.

Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In that statement, no, there is not. No.
• Columbus some information on intersex variation if they need that because I did hear some incorrect statements
• I'm just going to read a statement before we close, and then that'll be the end of our session today.
• be prepared on the following bills. ...and public safety impact statement be prepared on the following
• on the motion to request racial and ethnic community criminal justice and public safety impact statements

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you can introduce yourself for the committee and if you'd like to make a statement, feel free. >>
• So, if you would like to, for all the nominees, if you'd like to make a statement, just come up and introduce
• </c> like to make a statement, feel free. like to make a statement, feel free.
• :04:37.320><c> a</c> the nominees, if you'd like to make a the nominees, if you'd like to make a statement
• , just come up and introduce statement, just come up and introduce yourself.<00:04:39.320><c> If</c><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard a series of gubernatorial nominations to boards and commissions under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The chair explained the 90-minute agenda, the 2-minute testimony limit, and that written testimony had been reviewed in advance. Testimony was generally supportive for each nominee, with agency boards, professional associations, and individuals submitting written or oral support. For the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Michael Basta Jr. described his 40 years in the industry, ownership of two salons, and experience training educators. For the Board of Dentistry, Christopher Woo said he had served as an interim board member since July 1 of the prior year, and Jerry Young said she was a retired pediatrician and former Hawaii Medical Board member; in response to questions, she identified a potential conflict through her role with Pu'ulu Lapa'au and said she would recuse herself when appropriate. For the Board of Psychology, Sean Scanlon and Sherry Takuishi Sara both emphasized long careers in the field and service to the community. Several members questioned psychology and medical nominees about interstate licensing compacts and access to care. Scanlon said he supported expanding the profession but would need to recuse himself on compact issues because of his role at Chaminade University, and he noted growth in local training programs. Sara said her main concern with compacts was cultural sensitivity and Hawaii’s unique cultural milieu, though she acknowledged the need for more psychologists. Pediatrician Robert Watring, nominated to the Hawaii Medical Board, said he supported local providers and was cautious about compacts, emphasizing the need to ensure qualified care in Hawaii; he said he had not seen much change from temporary licensing measures on Kauai. For the Contractors License Board, Jerry Nishik said backlog problems were driven by staff shortages and board vacancies, noting the board lacked quorum for upcoming meetings and needed more members and staff. Other nominees included Albert Dennis and Nolan Miyahara for the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board, both of whom said they wanted to continue public service and help ensure legitimate, certified repair shops; Miyahara described his career path from apprentice to automotive technology professor. The committee also heard support for Robert Woltering’s nomination to the Hawaii Medical Board, with Woltering saying he wanted to help ensure quality health care providers, especially for children on Kauai. The transcript does not show any final votes or confirmations during the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am concerned that you said that it may impact, so I'm looking at the revenue impact statement.
• impact so I am concerned that you said that it may impact, so I'm looking at the revenue impact statement
• So let's be clear that the fiscal impact statement, some of you have read, is about a different bill,
• But also, guidance documents are, there's going to be included in this statement that they are not to
• So I think, would it be in our statements would be in agreement that there are some times where we can

Bills: SB1627 , SB227 , SB366 , SB1193 , SB1433 , SB1450 , SB1481 , SB1749 , SB1810 , SB1812 , SB1921 , SB1948 , SB2044 , SB2178 , SB169 , SB1877 , HB1409 , SB1266 , SB1432

Keywords: criminal code cleanup, duplicate statutes, statutory consolidation, repealer bill, emergency clause, Title 21 crimes, Title 47 DUI, child abuse reporting, child neglect, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, sex offenses, rape, stalking, domestic abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, sex trafficking, gang-related offense, eluding police

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized several guests, doctors, nurses, pages, student shadows, and visitors in the gallery. Members also adopted a motion to request the House’s consent for the Senate to adjourn for more than three days, with Senator Hicks opposing the motion because of the number of bills still available for consideration. The motion passed. The chamber then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1627, a cleanup measure to eliminate duplicate criminal code sections and clarify the law for legal research, passed 45-0 and was advanced as an emergency. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation on oil and gas means of production, drew extensive questioning and debate over possible revenue impacts, county assessors, schools, and economically at-risk wells; it passed 37-9. Senate Bill 366, which gives charter schools a first right of refusal to buy or lease public school buildings sold or leased by districts, also generated debate over local control and lack of resale guardrails, and passed 40-6 as an emergency. Later, Senate Bill 1193 to remove general fund carryover caps for school districts passed 46-0 as an emergency after supporters argued it would reduce “use it or lose it” spending and allow more local flexibility, while opponents questioned fiscal effects and accountability. Senate Bill 1433, the Guidance Transparency Act requiring agencies to publicly disclose guidance documents in a searchable database, passed 37-7 after concerns about attorney-client privilege, administrative burden, and whether guidance could function like law. Senate Bill 1450, expanding relief from fines, fees, and court costs for certain people in the criminal justice system, was advanced and passed unanimously; Senate Bill 1481, increasing minimum recess time for K-5 students from 20 to 40 minutes, was advanced as an emergency measure; Senate Bill 1810, allowing expert testimony in human trafficking cases, passed 45-0; Senate Bill 1812, requiring school districts to make benchmark testing information available to parents, passed 46-0 as an emergency; Senate Bill 1921, increasing OSBI background-check fees, passed 39-7; and Senate Bill 1948, updating fireworks laws and limiting county restrictions on private outdoor consumer fireworks displays, was taken up with significant safety and local-control questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Bob Babbage, and I'm reading a short statement from my client, Dr.
• 07:37.520><c> short</c> Bob Babbage, and I'm reading a short Bob Babbage, and I'm reading a short statement
• </c><00:07:39.240><c> Katrina</c> statement from my client, Dr.
• Katrina statement from my client, Dr.
• on all of these things, rather statement on all of these things, rather than than than have<00:31:49.280

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed several Fish and Wildlife regulations. Staff explained amendments to 301 KAR 2:176, 4:112, and 6:030, including updating wildlife control tag language, creating an impoundment agent program for seized wildlife, and clarifying boating safety rules. A member raised a concern about boat wakes near docks, and staff said the commission had recently voted on related changes that were not yet included because the regulation had been filed earlier; those changes would have to come back later. The committee approved the staff amendments without objection. The Board of Veterinary Examiners then presented 201 KAR 16:767, which would require veterinary managers to be physically present during business hours and limit them to five registered facilities. Board representatives said they had tried to meet with affected parties before the hearing but had not reached agreement. A representative for Kentucky Pet IQ argued the rule was written for full-service hospitals and would be impractical for short, limited-service clinics that only provide vaccinations, preventive care, and parasite testing. Members expressed concern about the rule’s impact on veterinary access in underserved areas, and the committee voted to defer the regulation until the next month so the parties could continue negotiating. The committee next considered Transportation Cabinet 601 KAR 9:120, the online insurance verification system, in both ordinary and emergency form. The chair said staff had identified conflicts with a bill passed the prior year and moved to find the regulations deficient. The motion passed on a roll call vote, with six ayes and two pass votes. The committee then found ordinary ABC regulations 804 KAR 12:020 and 12:030 deficient as well, again by six ayes and two pass votes, after noting that the emergency versions had already been found deficient the previous month. Finally, the committee reviewed Cabinet for Health and Family Services 902 KAR 55:110, which would require veterinarians to report dispensed controlled substances to KASPER while exempting administered medications. OIG staff said the rule was meant to align regulation with statute, which includes veterinarians as prescribers, and emphasized that the reporting duty applies to prescriptions, not administration to animals. Some members supported the change as a needed anti-diversion measure, while others worried about implementation burdens and timing. After discussion, the committee found the regulation deficient by a 6-2 vote. The meeting then moved into full review of 922 KAR 1:565, a Department for Community Based Services rule implementing kinship care provisions from Senate Bill 151; staff said it was needed for implementation once funding is available, but a member criticized the two-year delay and the inclusion of language conditioning implementation on funding. A public witness from the Kinship Families Coalition argued the rule should not shift the 120-day application window in a way that could affect federal funding eligibility and urged the committee to reject the regulation as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• 09:42.480><c> first</c> like that again from the very first like that again from the very first statements
• 43.920><c> the</c><00:09:44.040><c> bill</c><00:09:44.320><c> this</c><00:09:44.440><c> sets</c> statements
• regarding the bill this sets statements regarding the bill this sets a<00:09:45.079><c> default</c><
• And I guess I will close my statements and your obviously open comments, but I do want to point out I
• I'm not sure that I would make that statement, just as I can't say that it has occurred, I can't say

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:17 Attendance Roll Call: 00:41 Approval of Minutes: 02:40 HB 694: 03:16 SB 183: 18:32 Discussion on PPOB Membership: 36:10 Adjournment: 42:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its January 27 meeting and then took up House Bill 694, which would create a default rule for the Teachers’ Retirement System health insurance trust fund once it reaches 100% funding, currently anticipated around 2027. The bill would redirect two funding streams now going to the health trust—state payments on behalf of local districts and other employer contributions—into TRS pension benefits if the health fund reaches and maintains full funding. The sponsor said this would add about $154 million annually to TRS pensions and would only serve as a default if no other plan is adopted later. Members asked whether the bill would shift the unfunded liability to teachers or affect employee contributions. The sponsor and staff said it would not shift liability to teachers and would not change the employee contribution; only the employer-side payments would be redirected. Several members asked about the meaning of actuarial 100% funding, whether the fund could fall back below 100%, and whether employee contributions might be reduced in the future. The sponsor said the bill is based on actuarial projections, would revert the money back to the health trust if funding fell below 100%, and does not prevent future legislative or board action. Senator Higdon and others spoke in support of discussing the issue, noting the 2010 shared-responsibility changes and the need for a default approach as full funding is reached. The committee then heard Senate Bill 183, which would amend Kentucky law governing proxy advisers used by retirement systems. The sponsor said the bill would require proxy advisers, when handling shareholder-sponsored proposals, to act solely in the interest of retirement system members and beneficiaries and to provide an economic analysis when voting against a company board’s recommendation. He argued the measure is aimed at proxy advisers such as ISS and Glass Lewis, which he said often advance ESG-related proposals not tied to shareholder value. A guest from APCIA said the bill is meant to distinguish proxy advisers from investment managers and to strengthen the 2023 law by requiring a clearer economic justification for votes that depart from board recommendations. Members asked how proxy advisers differ from other financial advisers, whether Kentucky uses them, and whether the bill would prevent pension funds from investing in companies with ESG factors if those investments are profitable. The sponsor and guest said the bill would not bar such investments; it is intended to regulate proxy voting recommendations, not investment decisions. They described the bill as a proactive measure to reinforce fiduciary responsibility and limit outside proxy influence on pension voting. No final vote on either bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but I just want to make a statement that if nothing is done here today as far as deferral or deficiency
• Um so I just want to make that statement that if we do nothing, that doesn't mean we haven't carefully
• Um, but I just want to make a statement that if nothing is done here today as far as deferral or deficiency
• Um so I just want to make that statement that if we do nothing, that doesn't mean we haven't carefully
• Um, so I just want to make that statement that if we do nothing, that doesn't mean we haven't carefully

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.