Transcript Highlights:

• So, this amendment replaces that section.
• And for the people in the audience, I'll read the replacement section.
• Um, and for um replaces um that section.
• ,</c><01:10:19.599><c> it</c> read um the uh replacement section, it read um the uh replacement section
• I just wasn't clear on that particular section. That's all. Thank you, Representative Cordelli.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 206, which requires public schools to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use. Supporters argued that cell phones and personal devices contribute to student mental health problems, bullying, distraction, and disruptive behavior, and said teachers and administrators want a clear statewide rule rather than having to enforce policies themselves. Opponents raised concerns about local control, the breadth of the term “personal communication device,” and whether the bill would interfere with instructional uses of devices, especially in schools that rely on bring-your-own-device or have limited access to school-issued laptops. Members debated Amendment 2249H, which added an exception for teacher-led instruction and clarified that superintendent-approved exceptions could still apply for medical, disability, or language-proficiency needs. After discussion about whether the amendment was too restrictive or too broad, the committee adopted the amendment on a 9-8 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then voted 9-8, with one not voting, to recommend Senate Bill 206 ought to pass as amended. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 96, concerning mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents. The sponsor offered Amendment 2199H to replace language that would have required referral to DCYF whenever an educator withheld information due to concern about possible abuse at home. The amendment instead allows a district to withhold information if a reasonably prudent person would believe disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, and requires the decision to be documented in the student record. The amendment was discussed as a narrower, more workable safeguard, and the committee was still in discussion on the bill at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to address section three briefly, and then there are other people here who can address it more
• Section 1A notes that voters shall be treated as verified if they show the clerk photo ID that meets
• the requirements of RSA 659:13, section 2A, prior to election day.
• Section 1A notes that voters shall be treated as verified if they show the clerk photo ID that meets
• the requirements of RSA 659:13, section 2A, prior to election day.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I'm sure all of you have read the bill, and I'm happy to go over the bill section by section, but
• <00:04:03.879><c> by</c><00:04:04.079><c> section</c><00:04:04.439><c> but</c><00:04:04.560><c> you</
• c><00:04:04.680><c> know</c><00:04:05.200><c> we</c><00:04:05.360><c> have</c> section by section but
• you know we have section by section but you know we have some<00:04:05.680><c> people</c><00:04:05.920
• </c> very back of the bill to end in section very back of the bill to end in section six<00:21:46.720

Keywords: Discussion on SB 132 - 00:06 Vote on SB 132 - 04:41 Discussion on HB 219 - 43:49 Vote on HB 219 – 49:00 Discussion on HCR 20 – 50:08 Vote on HCR 20 – 51:28, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 132, which would create conscience protections for health care professionals who object to participating in certain procedures or services on religious, moral, or ethical grounds. Senator Donald Douglas and several supporters argued the bill is a recruitment and retention tool for Kentucky’s health care workforce, emphasizing provider shortages, maldistribution, and the need to protect individual conscience rights. Supporters said the bill would not apply to emergency care, would not permit denial of care based on a patient’s identity, and would mainly protect professionals from being forced to perform procedures they believe are unethical. They also cited similar laws in six other states and said the bill would have a cause of action to give it enforcement teeth. Supportive testimony came from an emergency physician, a registered nurse, and others who described personal experiences or examples involving objections to abortion-related care, opioid prescribing, and pressure to participate in procedures that conflicted with conscience. They said conscience protections would help attract providers, preserve ethical integrity, and allow clinicians to make professional judgments without corporate or institutional coercion. In questioning, senators asked about practical examples, the scope of the bill, whether it would cover hypothetical cases involving patients of particular religions or identities, and which states have similar laws. The sponsor and supporters repeatedly said the bill is about procedures, not patients, and that it should not be read to allow discrimination against individuals. Opponents, including pediatricians and a registered nurse/minister, warned that the bill is overly broad and could allow refusals of care by not only physicians but also pharmacists, clerks, and ambulance drivers. They argued it could delay treatment, increase discrimination, and worsen access problems in rural areas, especially for contraception, Plan B, blood transfusions, and other services. Critics said existing professional ethics already require patient care and that the bill could undermine evidence-based medicine and worsen Kentucky’s provider shortage. The committee took testimony and questions; no final vote or disposition was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:43.679><c> of</c><00:22:43.840><c> it</c><00:22:44.039><c> to</c> this bill to revise sections
• of it to this bill to revise sections of it to properly<00:22:45.200><c> address</c><00:22:45.840><c
• Were you just trying to add it in the preamble, but were you just trying to add in the underline section
• yes and as a safety measure section yes and as a safety measure gotcha<00:59:00.520><c> thank</c><00
• So DEH recommended changing what is now section, subsection F, but was subsection E on page seven, line

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 117 on condominiums. Testifiers were split: reserve-study professionals and the Community Associations Institute opposed tying reserve requirements to assessed value, arguing reserve studies should be based on actual components and costs and that the bill could lead to over- or under-collection. Condominium owners and advocates supported the bill, saying some associations are not completing reserve studies or are failing to provide audits and adequate funding, and urging stronger fiduciary accountability. A member later asked about compliance rates, and a witness said he was not aware of any association that had failed to do a reserve study, estimating compliance at well over 95 percent, likely close to 100 percent. The committee then took testimony on HB 544 on pet insurance, which drew support from the Attorney General’s office and the Insurance Division with comments about contract-impairment issues, as well as support from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association and the Hawaiian Humane Society. Testifiers said the bill would help consumers understand and use pet insurance as veterinary costs rise. HB 983 on certified public accountants also drew mostly support, with the Hawaii Society of CPAs and the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants offering conditional support and proposed amendments. Public accountants said the bill could help address a shortage of CPAs and expand pathways into the profession, while some speakers cautioned that the language needed clarification and that public accounting experience should be tied to CPA-firm work. An instructor from UH West Oahu said students cannot afford the extra credits currently required and would benefit from a more accessible pathway. The committee also heard HB 1050 on Title 24, with DCCA supporting the measure and no opposition or questions. The discussion then moved to HB 256 HD1 on environmental protection and incinerator emissions. The Department of Health offered comments, while Energy Justice Network and Climate Protectors Hawaii supported strengthening the bill, warning that it could weaken existing standards at H-Power unless amended to preserve stricter state rules and require modern pollution controls. A member questioned the Department of Health about H-Power’s permits and whether additional controls would be required if federal rules change; the department said permits are reviewed every five years and that the facility currently meets state and federal requirements, while EPA rules remain in a public comment process. Finally, the committee heard HB 1051 HD1 on energy efficiency portfolio standards, with support from the Consumer Advocate, State Energy Office, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaii Energy. The committee then heard HB 350 HD1 on energy, where the State Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray Corporation offered conditional comments urging any new mandated water-heating technology to meet the same efficiency level as existing solar thermal systems, and the Kauai Climate Action Coalition testified in support. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't get Section 8 housing. You can't find a job.
• And then the license suspension penalties are not in 189A.010; they're in another section.
• </c> in 189a 010 they're in another section in 189a 010 they're in another section thank you<00:24:40.520
• The original House Bill 95 from last session had this language in the theft of services section, which
• </c> 51420 in the general provision section 51420 in the general provision section does<00:41:57.839>

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:03 HB 220: 00:01:49 Discussion in Opposition to HB 220: 00:14:37 HB 136: 00:28:21 HB 201: 00:34:14, 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met with a full roll call and first took up House Bill 220, which would strengthen Kentucky DUI penalties. The sponsor and a Commonwealth’s attorney testified that the bill would make a third DUI within 10 years a felony, while keeping first- and second-offense penalties the same, and that the committee substitute also adds escalating fines for under-21 DUI offenses and aligns interlock requirements. Supporters argued the change is needed to protect families and respond to repeat impaired driving, citing a fatal case involving a young victim and a repeat offender with a high blood alcohol level and prior DUI convictions. Members asked about treatment, sentencing, and drafting details. The sponsor explained that the existing mandatory substance-abuse treatment requirement for fourth-or-greater offenses would apply to third-or-greater offenses under the substitute, and that a 120-day minimum remains in place. Questions were also raised about removing redundant statutory language and about whether felony treatment could sometimes result in less actual jail time than a misdemeanor; the sponsor and prosecutor said such cases are rare and that the bill gives prosecutors and juries more tools. Representative Blanton supported the bill but noted it does not address fentanyl, and the sponsor said he has a separate bill for that issue. Opposition testimony came from Scott West of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, who said he supported tougher DUI enforcement but opposed felonyizing the third offense. He argued that the current system already imposes mandatory jail and treatment, that felony cases often resolve through plea bargains with parole eligibility that may not increase actual time served, and that the better approach would be stronger mandatory counseling, longer license suspensions, and ignition interlock requirements rather than felony status. After discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute and passed HB 220 favorably by a 19-0 vote. The committee then began House Bill 136, which would require the Department of Corrections to compile and submit annual reports to the General Assembly on corrections and parole outcomes, including time served and supervision data. The sponsor and a witness from the Georgia Center for Opportunity said the bill is intended to improve transparency and give lawmakers better data for policy decisions. Members voiced support for better post-release data and asked whether DOC could implement the reporting; the witness said DOC had not expressed concerns and already submits some reports. Discussion on HB 136 was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section two just requires that there be an election of portability.
• Section three is just the election of the portability of that deceased spouse unused exclusion.
• Section three is just the election of the portability of that deceased spouse unused exclusion.
• And then section four again is just striking that obsolete language.
• And then section four again is just striking that obsolete language.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the standard provision in Section 1. Section 2 is a little bit different.
• So this piece of legislation, Section 2, is necessary to allow the water bank, which operates at a state

Summary: The Resources and Conservation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 789, which would ratify and implement the Coeur d’Alene Tribe water rights settlement. The bill was described as resolving long-running litigation in the Coeur d’Alene-Spokane-Spokane River Basin adjudication by confirming the tribe’s reserved water rights, protecting existing state-law water users through subordination, and authorizing a local water bank/rental pool arrangement for the tribe’s natural flow rights. The chair disclosed a Rule 80 conflict because he was among the original plaintiffs in the adjudication, but said the settlement affected his district and the committee’s work. Norm Somanco explained the settlement structure and said the legislation was needed because existing law did not allow the state water board to delegate a natural-flow water bank to the local level. Tyrell Stevenson for the tribe and Chairman Chief Allen emphasized that all parties supported the agreement and that it would provide certainty for the tribe, farmers, businesses, counties, and municipalities while avoiding further litigation. Joy Vega of the Attorney General’s office said the settlement was a win for all parties, protecting state water rights with priority dates of September 6, 2023 or earlier and future municipal development, while giving the tribe finality on its rights. Candace McHugh, representing the City of Coeur d’Alene, said the city supported the settlement because it also resolved key water-right issues affecting Lake Coeur d’Alene, including the governor’s and Avista’s rights, and provided certainty for lake operations. Vice Chairman Shepard moved to send HB 789 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, and the committee approved the motion by voice vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , line 11, by deleting after the word “appropriated” and before the period the words “pursuant to Section
• On page 5, lines 3 through 11, by deleting Section 3 in its entirety and renumbering subsequent sections

Bills: SB169 , SB1991 , SB1992 , SB1204 , SB1339 , SB182 , SB1847 , SB1360 , SB1346

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: longevity pay, state employees, Oklahoma government, salary increase, emergency declaration, capital planning, funding allocation, state budget, infrastructure, emergency measures, income tax credit, qualified project, economic development, infrastructure funding, small population areas, school employees, teachers, support personnel, support employees, public schools

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and considered a series of bills, most of them receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support. Senate Bill 169 would increase the annual longevity payment award for state employees by 50% across all service years and passed 17-1. Senate Bill 1991, described as a cleanup bill for the Ocamp Fund, passed 19-0. Senate Bill 1992, which defines “strategic financing partner” under the SIDE Act for Department of Commerce projects, passed 20-0. The committee also approved Senate Bill 1204, as amended, to provide Oklahoma teachers and school employees three days of bereavement leave after the death of a spouse or child, including a miscarriage; the amendment specified funding from the public school paid maternity leave revolving fund. Senate Bill 1339 passed to codify continued funding for off-the-formula schools and allow the State Department of Education to access funds to cover the 2023 teacher pay raise for those schools. Senate Bill 182 passed to allow certain CLEET-certified law enforcement officers and resident care specialists to join the OPERS hazardous duty retirement plan. Additional measures approved included Senate Bill 1847, allowing certain Advantage Waiver Medicaid recipients diagnosed with cognitive impairment to remain in assisted living and age in place; Senate Bill 1360, creating a three-year pilot program placing math instructional teams in the lowest-performing districts; and Senate Bill 1346, as amended, directing the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to establish a water and wastewater infrastructure investment program after removing an appropriation section. Several questions focused on funding sources, eligibility, and population-based allocation formulas, but no bills were rejected. Senate Bills 1427 and 1566 were laid over to go directly to the floor with no fiscal impact, and the committee adjourned after announcing it would meet again the following Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mister Chair, I move to amend HJr1074, page three, section 1, line 3, after the word 'guard' and before
• Please, Mister Chair, I moved to in HJR 1070, page two, section 1, line six, by removing the word 'in
• So section 3A of this draft says no person shall be eligible for office of blah blah blah attorney general

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Looking through the standards, the section that's listed in law answers some of the questions as far
• I do want to point out, I think this is your point here, and then in the section of Title 21, 1024.1,
• Section D, it says that it doesn't include things that a reasonable person would find obscene, or that

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related bills. HB 4359 would require statewide assessments to be administered between May 1 and the end of May starting in the 2026-27 school year; members discussed whether schools that end earlier might need flexibility, and the bill passed 11-9. HB 4115 would raise the allowable professional development cap for educators from 150 to 200 hours over five years without mandating additional training; the sponsor said it would give local districts more discretion, and it passed 10-0. HB 3467 would amend maternity leave for school teachers to include adoption of newborn children under four years old, and it passed 10-0. The committee also considered HB 2978, with a proposed committee substitute, dealing with school library materials and community standards. The sponsor said the bill was aimed at removing obscene material from school libraries, not at banning books generally, and members questioned how it would affect librarians, AP coursework, and whether it could sweep in works with literary or educational value. The sponsor said the bill would not affect bookstores or online retailers, only access through taxpayer-funded school libraries, and the bill passed 10-0. Later, the committee heard HB 3026, which would require districts to adopt a kindergarten starting-age policy with an exception for certain military families returning from overseas so children are not held back unnecessarily; it passed 10-0. HB 32, also with a committee substitute, would require families to complete or opt out of a child nutrition program form annually as part of enrollment to improve data collection and funding, while exempting schools already covered by federal CEP rules; the sponsor said the measure could help recover lost funding, and it passed 8-2. The chair also noted HB 4277 would be laid over, and the meeting ended with a short presentation to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we go to page two, lines 50, you refer to this section...
• Yeah, I think that that was an agreed-on section by the two... was an agreed-on section by the two entities

Bills: HB441 , SB274

Committee: House Health

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, makeup application, blow-dry styling, cosmetology, licensing, regulation exemption, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those sections that are in conflict in House Bill 2 appear on page 51.
• Those sections that are in conflict in House Bill 2 appear on page 51.
• Those sections that are in conflict in House Bill 2 appear on page 51.
• Those sections that are in conflict in House Bill 2 appear on page 51.
• Um, as I go through the presentation, we'll come to a section of some updated photos.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: Division Three of the Finance Committee met in work session on April 20, 2026, to consider Senate Bills 481, 603, and 663, with the discussion focused primarily on SB 481, relative to the sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center property. The chair explained that the bill was advisory only and that the committee’s recommendations would go to full Finance on April 27. For SB 481, members reviewed conflicting provisions in the prior budget law about whether sale proceeds should go to the general fund or the Youth Development Center Claims and Administration Settlement Fund, and the bill was described as a compromise that would direct proceeds to the general fund before June 30, 2027, and to the settlement fund after that date. It was noted that the settlement fund had originally received about $20 million and had roughly $10 million remaining. The committee also received an extensive update from DCYF Director Marie Noonan on the new Youth Development Center in Hampstead. She reported that construction remained on schedule, with major structural and interior work complete, substantial completion expected in late summer or early fall 2026, and occupancy anticipated in early 2027. The presentation highlighted the facility’s design features, including single-occupancy bedrooms, sensory rooms, an education wing, medical and clinical suites, visitation space, a gym, and multiple outdoor courtyards, all intended to support a trauma-informed setting. Members asked about the facility’s funding, square footage, fencing, and scanner; staff said the building is about 34,000 square feet, funded entirely with federal ARPA state recovery funds to date, and that the scanner is on site but not yet operational pending policy and staff training. Committee members also raised concerns about the facility’s design and security. In response, DCYF said some concrete walls are required for structural and safety reasons, but they are being painted to maintain a brighter environment, and that the fencing will be about 15 feet high with privacy netting because the campus is shared with Hampstead. Officials said the new facility is legislatively limited to a maximum of 12 youth, while the current center can house 12 to 18, and emphasized that courts ultimately determine placements. No votes or final actions were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The statute currently lists that retail, cultivation, and manufacturing as their own sections of law
• <01:25:11.720><c> uh</c> sections uh sections uh um um um the<01:25:14.080><c> the</c><01:25:14.200><
• Excuse me, just MICSY regarding the lead generator section.
• </c><01:45:33.120><c> This</c> generator lead generator section.
• This generator lead generator section.

Bills: HF3794 , HF4472 , HF4410 , HF4347 , HF4412 , HF4398 , HF4397 , HF4201 , HF4199 , HF4203 , HF3706 , HF4071 , HF4120 , HF4175 , HF4188

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, automated decision systems, consumer protections, data privacy, biometrics, school district health insurance, charter school health benefits, employee benefits, public sector health insurance, health insurance survey, Legislative Budget Office, LBO report, premium costs, retiree coverage, broker commissions, third-party administrator, health plan transparency, health reimbursement arrangement

Transcript Highlights:

• For purposes of this section, a person does not commit criminal trespass.
• Representative Wharff, 63303 already has a notice section. You have to provide notice already.
• Representative Wharff, 63303 already has a notice section. You have to provide notice already.
• Representative Wharff, 63303 already has a notice section. You have to provide notice already.
• You have to has a notice section.

Bills: HB0015 , HB0017 , HB0019

Committee: House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's just the sections we had.
• So I think removing it from the list would keep the section in.
• Um the list would keep the section in.
• ,</c> list would be to approve the section, list would be to approve the section, right?
• The other one was sections to consider.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is section 1.30 of the Code of Ethics.
• section section 10A.07<00:52:19.119><c> to</c><00:52:19.359><c> say</c><00:52:19.599><c> if</c><00:52
• </c> provided in Minnesota statute section provided in Minnesota statute section 10A.07.<01:00:46.160
• </c> 56.4 and Minnesota statutes section 56.4 and Minnesota statutes section 10A.07<01:05:10.400><c>
• </c> Champion violated section Champion violated section 1.30<01:38:20.560><c> of</c><01:38:20.800><c

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So section 197.23, this is a significant cost to the agency.
• So section 197.23, this is a significant cost to the agency.
• </c><01:10:45.520><c> So</c><01:10:46.000><c> section</c> grave markers on line 1.28.
• So section grave markers on line 1.28.
• to those benefits to the section one, this C portion, significantly reducing the costs.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The sections that are open to ATV use provided integral connections between all the major communities
• The sections that are open to ATV use provided integral connections between all the major communities
• that are open to maintain the sections that are open to ATV<00:16:23.959><c> use</c><00:16:24.560><c
• For example, some sections overlap with the Superior Hiking Trail.
• </c><00:20:59.559><c> overlap</c> bikers for example some sections overlap bikers for example some sections

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:10.400><c> of</c> in this case in a very small section of in this case in a very small section
• </c><00:46:59.760><c> 14.57</c> on line 116 it references section 14.57 on line 116 it references section
• Um section one provides that uh nature.
• </c><01:14:07.920><c> Section</c><01:14:08.400><c> two</c> the MH and so forth.
• Section two the MH and so forth.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a while uh a section where it delineates<00:19:47.760><c> tenant</c><00:19:48.160><c> responsibilities
• If she just added section one, I would have been like, 'Okay, right.'
• one, I would if she just added section one, I would have<00:34:36.560><c> been</c><00:34:36.720><c>
• 540A, section 61A, is a consumer protection violation.
• Are you aware of the new law on application fees, Section 540-A:3, Roman numeral 8?

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all