Transcript Highlights:

• This bill puts the framework around the economic development money that we dropped in the 2024 budget
• dropped<00:02:27.200><c> in</c><00:02:27.319><c> the</c><00:02:27.519><c> 2024</c><00:02:28.680><c> budget
• /c><00:02:29.680><c> uh</c><00:02:30.200><c> it</c><00:02:30.360><c> just</c> dropped in the 2024 budget
• uh it just dropped in the 2024 budget uh it just sets<00:02:30.760><c> the</c><00:02:30.920><c> parameters
• First of all, I want to say thank you so much for last year, uh, putting in the budget the $5 million

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by guest Bob James of Barren County. The chair recognized visiting groups, including the Kentucky Leadership Program and the Kentucky Cattleman’s Leadership Program, before turning to the day’s only agenda item, Senate Bill 28. The committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 28 by motion and second, with no opposition recorded. The chair explained that the bill creates the framework and parameters for distributing $5 million in economic development funding included in the 2024 budget through the Department of Agriculture. Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell testified in support of the bill and described it as enabling legislation to help Kentucky attract more end users, processors, and further-processing operations. He highlighted the importance of existing agricultural processing in the state, especially poultry, citing growth in agricultural cash receipts from $3.1 billion in 1996 to $8.3 billion more recently, with poultry rising from 5% to 25% of the total. He also pointed to major processing facilities, job creation, and the broader impact on farmers and corn markets, including examples from Hopkinsville and other regions.

Transcript Highlights:

• To the budget staff, Alicia, Mama Cheryl, and my former budget staff directors, Scarlett, Dawn, and Denise
• As Representative Franklin said, last year it was $750 million in our budget, added to our budget.
• This year to next year, we're expecting to go to $900 million, Our budget.
• Jay Trumbull, opening the doors of the budget suite as his vice chair.
• The program will live on in the budget. Questions of the amendment sponsor?

Keywords: 998, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of a quorum, then adopted the special order calendar for the day. The first major item was CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Rayner Act, which revises laws on resisting officers and adds manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses eligible for a life sentence reclassification. The sponsor said the bill was intended to honor Officer Jason Rayner and clarify that questions of fault belong in court; opponents argued it removed judicial discretion, could sweep in unintended cases, and was a broad response to a case-specific prosecutorial failure. After debate, the bill passed 108-8. The House then passed CS/SB 688 on naturopathic medicine, which creates a regulatory structure and licensure framework for naturopathic physicians, defines scope and limits of practice, and establishes a board under the Department of Health with medical doctor oversight. Supporters described it as a consumer protection and medical freedom measure; opponents called it an expansion of scope and criticized the low penalty for impersonating a naturopathic physician. The bill passed 85-22. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate education, creating a Florida Speech and Debate Hall of Fame, a Florida Speech and Debate Week, and a statewide debate initiative, by a vote of 112-0. Additional measures approved included CS/CS/SB 1220 on transportation, which covers a wide range of issues including FDOT authority, airports and seaports, drone delivery, autonomous vehicles, toll revenues, and related regulatory changes; it passed 87-23. SB 962 on affordable housing, which clarifies that Live Local Act zoning preemption does not unintentionally capture working farms and farm operations, passed 109-2. CS/CS/SB 1580 on illegal gaming was introduced and explained as a crackdown on illegal slot machines and unregulated gaming arcades, with questions focused on VFWs, sweepstakes, fantasy sports, and the Seminole gaming compact, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill. The session also included several recognitions and lengthy farewell remarks from departing members, including Leader Driscoll and Majority Leader Sirois.

Transcript Highlights:

• of many of these local operating budgets of many of these local airports.<00:08:21.120><c> We</c><00
• Um, I wanted to ask about the total budget request.
• Those three would be the total budget request for aviation.
• Uh, Western and Mazeville are coming online as well due to funding in the current budget.
• Uh, Western and Mazeville are coming online as well due to funding in the current budget.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force meeting began with approval of the July 14 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association. Association leaders described general aviation airports as important to rural access, commerce, emergency response, tourism, agriculture, and workforce development, and cited statewide economic impacts they said exceed $1.6 billion and support more than 9,400 jobs. They thanked the legislature for prior airport funding and said it had helped airports with basic operations and repairs. The association asked lawmakers for four things: continued appropriations for general aviation airports; relief or a more workable process for required financial audits, which they said can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more and sometimes exceed a small airport’s annual budget; a regularized statewide appropriations process for airport infrastructure needs, which they said total about $100 million and are currently addressed unevenly; and funding for the Aerospace Education Reinvestment Opportunity Act to support scholarships and aviation workforce training. Members of the task force asked follow-up questions about the audit burden, the difference between financial and safety audits, and the difficulty of finding audit firms. The presenters said they would bring specific ideas back on audit reform. Eastern Kentucky University then presented on its aviation program. EKU leaders thanked the committee for prior support, including a $25 million appropriation for a new flight school building at Central Kentucky Regional Airport, and said the project is expected to break ground in 2026. They reported strong enrollment growth, with 502 aviation majors, most of them Kentuckians, and said the program has expanded flight hours and job placement. EKU also outlined plans to add an air traffic control program in response to Senate Bill 87 and the national shortage of controllers, saying it could train students to FAA standards if the university receives the needed investment in simulators, equipment, space, and faculty. They also discussed the need to replace an aging fleet of training aircraft, saying the current planes are decades old and costly to maintain, and that newer aircraft would improve training quality and reduce student costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:14:54.040><c> exercise</c><01:14:54.679><c> essent</c> zerob based budgeting exercise essent
• zerob based budgeting exercise essent entially<01:14:55.600><c> and</c><01:14:55.800><c> so</c><01:14
• Well, I think there's going to be more competition in the state general budget than dedicated funding
• </c><01:18:46.600><c> than</c><01:18:47.159><c> dedicated</c> the state general budget than dedicated
• </c><01:19:04.560><c> and</c> uh advisable in their budgeting and uh advisable in their budgeting and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The FY26 Annual Budget. FY26 is an annual budget for the pixels.
• But then there's a bigger question of, like, are they budgeted?
• Just candidly, are these budget constraints that you're under?
• But, are you budget constrained?
• Are you paying for that out of your budget, or is that coming out of an NSA's budget?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• considering all options to I appreciate the bill sponsor considering all options to help us balance our budget
• troubled by the dismal jobs report that we saw and really building our economy so that as we work on our budget
• I just hope that we continue to really talk about how we balance our budget and a way really talk about
• how we balance our budget in a way that doesn't lose jobs.

Summary: House Finance met on Saturday, March 7, and reviewed several tax-related Senate bills before taking executive action. SB 6129 concerned cigarette, tobacco, and vapor product taxes; staff described a striker that would lower the new cigarette tax rate, keep separate tax structures for other tobacco and vapor products, direct portions of OTP revenue to the Andy Hill account and foundational public health services, and provide penalty relief and collection stays for certain retailers. SB 6228 would repeal a preferential B&O rate for warehousing/reselling prescription drugs and create a preferential rate for critical access pharmacies; Amendment 174, lowering that rate from 0.25% to 0.138%, was adopted after testimony that the original rate was not enough to support pharmacies serving isolated communities. SB 6231 would remove a tax exemption for replacement equipment at data centers and had no amendments, with members discussing the bill’s impact on budget balancing and economic development, especially for data centers and related construction jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's do report number 10 out of Budget and Taxation. Clerk will read the bill.
• </c> Let's do report number 11 out of Budget Let's do report number 11 out of Budget and<00:18:23.520
• </c> this back to committee and go to budget this back to committee and go to budget and<00:42:28.160
• We've had myself representing budget and tax and finance, budget and tax and other committees, and we
• </c><00:50:16.800><c> All</c> budget tax, please. Thank you. All budget tax, please. Thank you.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and then proceeded through committee reports, largely adopting favorable reports and amendments without objection. Early measures included SB 530, which funds grants for multigenerational social connection programs for older adults; SB 731, clarifying the legal status of the Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council; SB 809, directing a feasibility study on a caregiver infrastructure program; SB 860, creating an Aging Resilience Fund with reporting and budget protections; SB 910, requiring insurance reimbursement for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns under supervision; and SB 972, making several Baltimore City alcoholic beverages licensing changes. Each of these bills was advanced to third reading after committee amendments were adopted. The Finance Committee also advanced SB 555, establishing a Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and a provider resource toolkit for dementia care; SB 757, creating a Maryland Local Sourcing Portal to connect businesses with local sources for tariff-impacted goods; SB 772, creating an employment training and opportunity database to help people qualify for or maintain Medicaid and SNAP; SB 792, requiring hospitals to adopt and train staff on immigration-enforcement policies consistent with Attorney General guidance; SB 869, establishing a workforce training pilot program through Commerce and community colleges; SB 905, creating an advanced manufacturing grant program through TEDCO; and SB 974, changing who may serve as inspector for the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or narrowing amendments and then ordered printed for third reading. Budget and Taxation advanced SB 28, which would create binding arbitration for state employee collective bargaining impasses and include a proposed constitutional amendment requiring funding in the Governor’s budget; SB 466, expanding a physician preceptor tax credit and adjusting training-hour requirements; and later SB 704, concerning estate tax treatment for qualified agricultural property transferred to an LLC. SB 557, a gaming-related bill, was laid over until the end of the evening at the majority leader’s request. In the Education, Energy, and the Environment report, the committee advanced SB 35 on a state natural science museum designation, SB 166 on shellfish aquaculture permit sanctions, SB 189 on municipal drainage inlet safety requirements prompted by a child’s death, SB 242 on civil relief for service members and spouses, SB 266 on local regulation of invasive trees and tree-of-heaven, and SB 267 on a corporate rental-property registry and local housing application review process. SB 267 drew a brief question from the minority leader, who asked whether prior opposition remained and how the amended bill differed; the sponsor said the opposition had gone away and described the bill as now focused on a responsible-owner registry and an administrative review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's a quick budget overview.
• Uh, as Here's a quick budget overview.
• </c> separate budget of $825,000. separate budget of $825,000.
• . budget. budget.
• </c> excellent news on Friday with the budget excellent news on Friday with the budget forecast<01:40

Bills: HF3004, HF3663

Keywords: workforce development, youth employment, internships, mentoring, job opportunities, digital platform, online portal, career pathways, youth workforce, employment and economic development, DEED, general fund appropriation, nonprofit grant, social media outreach, digital outreach, workforce opportunities, teen jobs, young adults, career exploration, Minnesota youth

Transcript Highlights:

• The House education budget chair and a member of my local delegation.
• </c> uh that would probably be our budget uh that would probably be our budget chair chair chair and<
• The House education<01:20:49.280><c> budget</c><01:20:49.679><c> chair</c> education budget chair education
• </c> was budgeted by the city necessarily. was budgeted by the city necessarily.
• </c> where you may be exceeding a budgeted where you may be exceeding a budgeted amount,<02:27:02.880

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then adopted the previous day’s journal and excused absent senators. The chamber recognized visiting members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and adopted a Senate resolution designating February 10, 2026, as Alpha Phi Alpha Day at the Alabama State Capitol. Senators offered remarks praising the fraternity’s service, civic outreach, and historical significance, and the House later sent over a matching resolution, which the Senate adopted. The Senate also heard a Black History Month presentation highlighting Benjamin Banneker, Dr. Charles Drew, Ralph Bunche, and Carter G. Woodson. The Senate then processed a large number of House messages and confirmations. House bills and resolutions were referred to committees, including measures on juvenile offenders, administrative rules, state income tax, local legislation, ad valorem tax, multi-member boards, license plates, criminal procedure, and food banks. The Senate confirmed several appointments, including multiple Alabama Army National Guard promotions, Mike Suo to the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees, and Christy Andrews to the Alabama Securities Commission, each by roll call with no opposition. In motions and resolutions, the Senate adopted numerous commemorative and honorary resolutions, including observances for National Blood Donor Month, Diabetes Month, Booker T. Washington Day, the Alabama Community College Football Study Commission, and recognitions for individuals and organizations such as the Baldwin County Fair, Sheriff Derek Cunningham, William Riley Hawkins Jr., and Clifford Ray Miller. Senator Barfoot’s resolution urging federal funding for the state logging efficiency grant fund was adopted after adding all senators as co-sponsors, and a resolution honoring Sheriff Derek Cunningham was read at length and adopted. The Senate also adopted the Rules Committee’s special order calendar for the next legislative day, which prioritized several bills on libraries, taxation, retired state employees, municipalities, transportation, coal-impacted communities, income tax, the Alabama Space Authority, cosmetology and barbering, security, entertainment incentives, and health. In local legislation, the Senate passed several local bills, including measures for Mobile County, class 2 municipalities, public transportation, Jefferson County, and the town of Morris.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:45:57.520><c> world,</c> may seem mild, but in the budget world, may seem mild, but in the budget
• the budget hole was so we could make appropriate actions to the budget.
• You know, the to the enacted budget?
• So that's the budget math.
• </c> So that's that's the budget math. So that's that's the budget math. All<02:35:27.600><c> right.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting focused on reaching consensus on official Kentucky revenue estimates for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, using updated S&P Global economic forecasts compared with the September presentation. Staff explained that the updated forecast relied partly on alternative data because of the federal government shutdown, and they walked through changes in national and Kentucky economic assumptions across control, optimistic, and pessimistic scenarios. The control forecast was described as slightly more optimistic in the near term but more cautious in fiscal 2027 and 2028, with GDP growth revised up for the current year and down somewhat in the outer years. The pessimistic scenario now assumed a two-quarter recession beginning in the current quarter, while the optimistic scenario was given a higher probability weight than before. The presenters highlighted several Kentucky-relevant variables that changed since September, including weaker manufacturing employment, weaker housing starts, weaker consumer sentiment, and lower expected non-farm employment in fiscal 2026. At the same time, wage and salary disbursements were revised upward in fiscal 2027, reflecting higher disposable income from tax changes, and real consumer spending was expected to be stronger in the near term. They also discussed assumptions about tariffs, business profits, the Federal Reserve, unemployment, oil prices, retail sales, vehicle sales, exports, and consumer sentiment, noting that some indicators were little changed while others shifted materially. Consumer sentiment was attributed to affordability concerns, tariff impacts, and a general sense of malaise, but was expected to improve in later years from a low base. Members asked follow-up questions about why the forecast worsened in later years and about the consumer sentiment assumptions. Staff responded that the forecast assumed larger take-home pay and refunds from tax withholding changes, along with some easing of tariff effects, which they believed would help offset a negative wealth effect from stock market declines. They also noted that S&P Global’s December forecast, which had already been published, was essentially consistent with the presentation and that the firm believed its earlier assumptions had tracked recent data well. No vote or final action was recorded in the portion provided, but the discussion was aimed at settling the revenue estimates that will underpin the upcoming branch budget bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at the budget, 10% of the law enforcement budget over five years, you're talking about millions
• I'm grateful that we've included funding in our budget to move a step forward.
• I'm grateful that we've included funding in our budget to move a step forward with this bill.
• Is that as a result of the $31.5 million that the state put in the budget for?
• hearings, the annual budget hearings that occur, to discuss these things.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, uh, just to recap, this is the Judiciary Budget Bill.
• had testimony from the judiciary on it and just as a reminder of what it contains, it is um their budget
• safety and security, including money for home safety for judges and administrative staff. ...their budget
• And so this is a budget-neutral action that we're taking and it's just allowing them to move some of
• And across the country, we've even seen horrible cases of violence against judges. judicial budget as

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3874, the Judiciary budget bill, and first moved it to the Ways and Means Committee. The bill was described as funding the judicial branch’s budget request, including courthouse and judge security measures, home safety for judges and staff, a $1 million courthouse safety grant program, and funding related to paid family and medical leave costs that the courts must absorb. A court administrator explained that some base adjustments were budget-neutral internal shifts within the court system, moving money from district courts to other courts to better meet overall needs. Members then debated several amendments. The A7 amendment, which reduced some of the requested security funding for administrators and aligned it more closely with legislative security levels while retaining flexible Supreme Court security personnel, was adopted. The A1 amendment, which would have deleted the additional operating adjustment for paid family and medical leave, failed on a 7-7 tie after debate over whether the courts should bear the employer share of that cost and whether the program itself was an unfunded mandate. The A2 amendment, also related to paid family and medical leave funding, likewise failed on a 7-7 tie after similar discussion about the judiciary’s ongoing employment costs and the branch’s inability to raise its own revenue. The committee then adopted the A4 amendment, which increased the courthouse safety grant program from $1 million to $4 million. Supporters said there was unmet demand for courthouse security grants and that the money would help with hardware such as screening equipment, while the court administrator said the branch would not spend more than it could use and that the grants would be reviewed by a committee including law enforcement and county representatives. The administrator noted the funding would be one-time money and would not cover staffing costs. The committee also discussed the judiciary’s ongoing need for funding, with members arguing both that the courts should be treated like other employers and that the judicial branch, as an independent branch of government, must be funded by the legislature. The final A5 amendment was then introduced, with staff noting it would delete a section already covered by the adopted A7 amendment and reduce an appropriation on page four, line 14.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we have in our current budget<00:21:48.960><c> uh</c><00:21:49.280><c> request,</c><00:21:50.320>
• , we've asked you to budget uh request, we've asked you to continue<00:21:52.159><c> forward</c><00:21
• We have talked with the Legislative Budget Office about having a three-tiered approach for us.
• Yes, I think I would, and I will be talking to our budget committee in this house in about 10 days, I
• </c> their agency budget. Is that right? their agency budget. Is that right?

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 21 January, 2026; 3:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That fund has been populated with money in last year's budget, and I'm thankful for the budget director
• The money was put in the budget in last budget year, and it’s already created—the one fund that’s created
• But remember, budgets are for one year. It’s not statutory, right?
• But we were a few minutes separate from getting the bill done and the budget.
• It's just that gets held up, right, in appropriations, budget stuff.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start with Senator Port's housing omnibus budget bill.
• Senator Port's housing omnibus budget bill. Welcome to the Finance Committee. Thank you, Mr.
• One of the aims of moving these bills early, and we are already moving our budget bills ahead of the
• </c> work together within the current budget work together within the current budget context<00:36:57.839
• </c> I'm grateful for the $3 million budget I'm grateful for the $3 million budget target.<00:37:07.680

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One topic that is always a concern of mine is our state's budget, and I've even brought this up in our
• I am concerned about the impact that this will have on our state's budget that addresses critical water
• This will have on our state's budget that addresses critical water projects that we need.
• Ensuring we have as many dollars in our budget and being fiscally responsible is a priority for me, and
• This will have on our state's budget that addresses critical water projects that we need.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, the Pledge of Allegiance, and adoption of the special order report for the day. The chamber then moved into a special-order agenda focused almost entirely on immigration-related measures, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. The memorial was adopted 85-27 after brief debate, with supporters arguing Florida should help maximize federal immigration enforcement and opponents saying Congress, not the state, should fix immigration policy. The House next took up Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses for illegal entry and reentry by adult unauthorized aliens and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members debated constitutional concerns, due process, racial profiling, fiscal impacts, and whether the bill intruded on federal immigration authority. Several amendments were offered and defeated, including proposals to extend protections to Venezuelans with TPS, to remove the mandatory death penalty, to protect certain long-term immigrant workers and teachers, to expand exemptions for Haitians and humanitarian parole recipients, and to create a task force on best practices for immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive locations. A final amendment to strip the bill as unconstitutional was also rejected. The bill then passed 85-29. The final measure discussed was Senate Bill 2C, which creates a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establishes grants and incentive bonuses for local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, repeals the fee waiver for undocumented students beginning July 1, 2025, and appropriates more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as a broad enforcement package, while questions from members focused on the impact on current students who receive in-state tuition and whether the bill would remove incentives for those already enrolled. The transcript ends during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:52:27.720><c> request</c> directly related to our budget request directly related to our budget
• So do been in and out of your budget.
• </c> our budget request together. our budget request together.
• </c> of the budgeted authorized positions. of the budgeted authorized positions.
• That's true. down the lit the line of budgeting, all down the lit the line of budgeting, all of<03:19

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as the budget, that wasn't based on our budget because we do it much cheaper here.
• </c><00:26:51.840><c> that</c> for free um as far as the budget that for free um as far as the budget
• </c><01:05:25.160><c> annually</c> to the finances the doe budget annually to the finances the doe budget
• We deal with that in the budget also.
• </c> why are you putting this in the budget why are you putting this in the budget they<03:28:02.640>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposal is going to accompany our next biennial budget.
• This will be in the governor’s budget.
• /c><00:50:37.359><c> be</c><00:50:37.520><c> in</c><00:50:37.680><c> the</c> budget the our budget will
• be in the budget the our budget will be in the governor's<00:50:38.319><c> budget</c><00:50:38.880><
• </c><00:58:05.720><c> the</c> if you're interested in the budget the if you're interested in the budget

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an orientation-style overview from the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), led by Executive Director Deana Jurus and staff. They described the office’s mission to protect public health, safety, welfare, the environment, and the public trust, and outlined the agency structure: enforcement, licensing and board administration, operations, legal counsel, board counsel, and the hearings bureau. OPLC said it currently supports 57 boards, including seven advisory boards, and has about 104 filled positions out of 120 authorized. They also noted new voluntary certifications for doulas, lactation consultants, and community health workers that are in rulemaking. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on how boards and staff divide responsibilities under RSA 310:4. Staff explained that the office handles application processing, complaint intake and initial review, records retention, 91-A requests, and rule drafting, while boards make final decisions on licensure criteria, complaint dismissals or investigations, disciplinary actions, and some hearing matters. They also described the rule structure by chapter number ranges and the distinction between full licensing boards and advisory boards. The committee asked about complaint notifications, and OPLC said it is tightening policies so complainants are told whether a matter is closed or moving forward. The licensing process was discussed in detail, especially for nursing. Bethany Katrell explained that applicants apply through an online portal, may receive approval to sit for exams, can work under provisional authority in some cases, and then receive full licensure after exam results and criminal background checks are complete. OPLC said the portal now reduces back-and-forth paperwork and that, as of the latest biweekly report, 87% of applications were decided within the statutory 90-day period and 57% within 14 days. Members also raised questions about why some professions require board approval before taking an exam, and OPLC said that requirement varies by statute or board rule. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we have underfunded our schools yet again according to this budget.
• The majority has never cut education in the previous budgets that we've done, as was just insinuated
• that we've done, in the previous budgets that we've done, as<01:43:41.119><c> was</c><01:43:41.360><
• It's a budget session.
• It's a budget session. We really reason. It's a budget session.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications. The Senate reported passage of Senate Bills 52 and 124, and several House committees reported favorable action on bills including HB 1, HB 2, HB 94, HB 246, HB 282, HB 299, HB 307, HB 519, HB 613, and HB 648. Most of those measures were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar; HB 1 and HB 307 were sent to the Rules Committee after having had two previous readings. The House then recessed briefly before returning to the orders of the day. The chamber took up HB 568, relating to public adjusters. The sponsor explained that the bill would prohibit new public adjuster licenses, allow current licensees to renew, impose conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, set a 5% fee cap, and bar public adjusters from negotiating claims, citing consumer protection concerns and legal opinions about the practice of law. After debate and a brief explanation of vote from a member citing local storm-related abuses, the House voted on roll call and passed HB 568 with one nay vote. The House then considered HB 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program. Supporters said it would allow private donations to scholarship-granting organizations to benefit Kentucky students without using state general funds, and argued it could help public, private, and homeschool families with education-related expenses. Opponents criticized the speed of the process, warned it could open the door to vouchers and charters, and argued it would mainly benefit wealthier donors while public schools remain underfunded. Members also questioned the bill’s waiver of 11th Amendment immunity and received explanations that the waiver was limited to federal-court jurisdiction over the federal program and would not create individual liability for state actors. A motion to table the bill failed with 19 votes in favor, and debate continued.