Transcript Highlights:

• They updated the vision statement.
• The They updated the vision statement.
• I've got a statement and then >> All right.
• ,</c><00:48:24.960><c> um</c> blueprint, the knowledge statements, um blueprint, the knowledge statements
• So we provide those knowledge statements.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:13 Approval of Minutes - 4:07 Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing - 5:18 Math Improvement Committee Report - 21:02 ETS Praxis Exam - 41:47 KDE Performance Review Data - 1:15:04 Adjournment - 1:57:54, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from KDE on the revised Kentucky academic standards for reading and writing. KDE explained the statutory six-year review process, the public comment periods, and the main revisions, including updates tied to the science of reading, decodable text, encoding/decoding, and an updated vision statement. KDE said 308 responses were received on the initial public comment, most respondents favored keeping standards as-is, and about 12% of standards were revised. The department also said the document was streamlined by removing repeated graphics and reducing its size by about 24%, and that a later comment period drew more than 400 responses. No new standards were flagged for review. Members asked about alignment between standards, curriculum, assessments, and NAEP, and KDE said instructional resources should be aligned to standards, KSA assessments are aligned to the standards, and screeners/diagnostics help identify student needs. Representative Truett raised the idea of a textbook-to-standards crosswalk, and KDE said publishers and a future repository partner should provide such crosswalks for local districts. Representative Bojanowski asked why foundational reading skills are not directly assessed on the third-grade KSA; KDE responded that the assessment is designed to measure end-of-grade expectations, while screening and diagnostics are used earlier to identify decoding needs. Representative Gel asked about early childhood supports, and KDE said it is working with early learning and special education offices and promoting LETRS professional learning for both teachers and preschool educators. The committee then received the mathematics improvement committee report. KDE said the mathematics committee unanimously approved a new strategic plan for improving math achievement from pre-K through grade 20 and adult education. The plan centers on six priorities: student empowerment, effective mathematics teaching and learning, continuous educator development and growth, a continuum of learning, community and family partnerships, and teacher recruitment and retention. KDE said the plan is intended as a living document with goals, recommended actions, and evidence bases, and that it aligns with the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Act by supporting high-quality instructional resources, professional learning, and family resources. In response to Senator Thomas, KDE explained that the professional learning recommendation means districts should tailor teacher training to classroom needs and instructional materials so math teachers are better equipped to implement standards and support students.

Transcript Highlights:

• The additional workload in a correctional facility is statement from the last um December 16th statement
• Woodward's statement um 2025 and Ms.
• I think it's related to just that previous statement.
• </c><00:43:10.240><c> Um</c><00:43:10.880><c> just</c> that previous statement.
• Um just that previous statement.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that a question or a statement?
• In any statement of the legislative intent is what I'm asking you.
• And do you make the statement that they are not doing that?
• And do you make the statement that they are not doing that?
• I want to make one little statement in reference to SUNO and UNO.

Bills: HB165 , HB175 , HB198 , HB272 , HB457 , HB488 , HB566 , HB603 , HB763 , HB902 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• know, the notice, and then you can call the police, that they also have some quick way to get a statement
• know, the notice, and then you can call the police, that they also have some quick way to get a statement
• Like, it really explains every statement that you had said and you would both be working together.
• I think if there is not a statement of if the parties don't include it in the lease, so-and-so has to
• </c> compliance with the statutory statement compliance with the statutory statement that<01:03:43.039

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker. >> Gentlemen, last year's bill did not have a fiscal impact statement.
• The Cabinet for Health produced a fiscal impact statement.
• It's the same statement that they released this year.
• There's no fiscal impact statement to this because it's an unfunded mandate.
• There has been significant statements against this bill.

Keywords: Convene 00:00:00 Calendar/2nd Readings 00:05:55 Report of Committees 00:07:26 Orders of the Day/HB 419 00:09:02 HB 103 00:12:30 HB 276 00:37:54 HB 188 00:43:39 HB 189 00:47:11 HB 258 00:53:52 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:58:16 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 01:11:11 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 01:13:29 ConC/Rules Report 01:17:06 Adjournment 01:18:20, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but to Senator Ward's statement, some kids don't know that they have allergies until they're in a
• Um, but to Senator Ward's statement, some kids don't know that they have allergies until they're in a
• Um, but to Senator Ward's statement, some kids don't know that they have allergies until they're in a
• Um, but to Senator Ward's statement, some kids don't know that they have allergies until they're in a
• Um, but to Senator Ward's statement, some kids don't know that they have allergies until they're in a

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's still planning to be a scoping document for mandatory environmental impact statements.
• Ensuring that alternative scoping processes for environmental impact statements preserve public input
• So, we are not talking about environmental impact statement projects on tier 2 permits like mining or
• So, we are not talking about environmental impact statement projects on tier 2 permits like mining or
• So, we are not talking about environmental impact statement projects on tier 2 permits like mining or

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Fryberg: I wanted to give you enough time to be able to do your statement, Mr.
• Representative Lee: I wanted to give you enough time to be able to do your statement, Mr. Chair.
• Representative Fryberg: I wanted to give you enough time to be able to do your statement, Mr.
• Representative Fryberg: I wanted to give you enough time to be able to do your statement, Mr.
• Representative Fryberg: I wanted to give you enough time to be able to do your statement, Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just trying to tease this out the plain statement and I want you to tell me if I'm wrong. that our
• And where we have a statement that says that it is not that it will make the system actually You were
• The actuarial statement from LBB, it says we would need another $3.1 billion.
• I don't want to belabor the point, this will be my last statement on this.
• That's a fair statement. I appreciate that because this has surfaced today.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• not you'll see on the front it says do not you'll see on the front it says do not inhale you see statements
• such as for inhale you see statements such as for inhale you see statements such as for culinary use
• pres so verifying authorized pres so verifying authorized pres so again I go back to my original statement
• again I go back to my original statement again I go back to my original statement this would include
• summarizing no no no I I statement summarizing no no no I I statement summarizing no no no I I wouldn't

Bills: SB82 , SB78 , SB4 , SB6 , SB62 , SB66 , SB77 , SB63 , SB79 , SB53 , SB55 , HB14

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: SB82, warrant recall, outstanding warrants, stale warrants, misdemeanor warrants, Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, municipal magistrate, circuit court clerk, criminal procedure, court administration, docket cleanup, warrant audit, law enforcement notification, domestic violence, sex offense, weapons offense, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, felony-related charges

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we'll have an opening statement, and then we'll get to the people's business. Rep.
• That's my opening statement.
• That's my opening statement.
• I just have a statement, and then I'm going to pass on to Rep. Holmes.
• That's just a statement I want to make. I'm going to— I know Rep.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held a hearing on the impact of federal policy on the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts, the fourth in a series on federal impacts on racial equity. Chair Bud Williams and Chair Miranda opened by emphasizing that no bills were being heard and that the committee would instead take testimony from invited witnesses; public written testimony was also accepted. The chairs and witnesses repeatedly cited long-standing wealth disparities affecting Black and brown communities, including homeownership, wages, business ownership, and access to capital, and linked those disparities to federal policy changes, housing, education, health care, and workforce development. Administration officials testified first. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones described persistent labor market disparities, including higher unemployment for Black and Latino residents, lower median hourly wages, and underemployment among degree holders, and highlighted state efforts such as ESOL-for-work funding, workforce training grants, MassHire career centers, skills-based hiring, and the state equity dashboards. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiami Mahania argued that poverty drives poor health, not the reverse, and said wealth gaps contribute to chronic disease, maternal health inequities, medical debt, and shorter life expectancy; she pointed to the Advancing Health Equity Massachusetts initiative, a health care affordability working group, and the governor’s push to bar medical debt from credit reporting. Assistant Secretary Juan Vega of EOED focused on entrepreneurship and procurement, citing technical assistance grants, founder support programs, place-based investment, the Business Front Door, and the need to broaden access to contracts, capital, and business growth opportunities. Committee members pressed the panel on the effects of the federal “big beautiful bill” on households, especially single-parent and Black women-led households, and on whether the state could develop more timely data systems instead of relying on federal numbers. Officials said the impacts were still being monitored, but warned that Medicaid and SNAP changes would likely hit lower-income households and community institutions hard. Members also asked about unions and apprenticeships, microbusiness definitions, supplier diversity, pay equity, and degree inflation; the administration said registered apprenticeships and skills-based hiring are key tools, and noted that wage equity reporting is still in its early stages. Later testimony from BECMA’s Nicole O’Bean stressed that tariffs, DEI rollbacks, immigration enforcement, capital gaps, and federal funding cuts are constraining Black-owned businesses and inclusive procurement, while Gastón Institute researchers described severe Latino homeownership and rent burdens, educational inequities, and the need for housing, labor, and education policy changes to close the wealth gap.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we'll have an opening statement, and then we'll get to the people's business. Rep.
• That's my opening statement.
• That's my opening statement.
• I just have a statement and then I'm going to pass on to Rep. Holmes.
• That's just a statement I want to make. I'm going to—I know Rep.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held a hearing on the impact of federal policy on the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts, with no bills heard. Chairs Bud Williams and Miranda opened by framing the issue as a structural, long-standing disparity affecting Black and brown communities, citing major gaps in wealth, income, housing, and opportunity. Members noted this was the fourth hearing in a series on federal impacts on racial equity, and public written testimony was invited by the posted deadline. Administration witnesses Secretary Lauren Jones, Secretary Kiami Mahania, and Assistant Secretary Juan Vega described how labor, health, and economic development policy intersect with wealth-building. Jones pointed to higher unemployment, wage gaps, and underemployment among Black and Latino workers, and highlighted ESOL, workforce training, MassHire, and skills-based hiring efforts. Mahania argued poverty drives poor health, linking medical debt, Medicaid instability, maternal health, and chronic disease to wealth loss, and said federal changes could worsen both health and wealth gaps. Vega focused on entrepreneurship and procurement, citing disparities in business ownership and revenue, and described state efforts such as small business technical assistance, founder pipelines, place-based grants, and the Business Front Door; members also pressed him on microbusiness definitions, supplier diversity, and whether state programs were reaching firms that had received prior grants. Nicole O’Bean of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts testified that Black-owned businesses face a hostile environment due to tariffs, DEI rollbacks, immigration enforcement, capital barriers, and federal funding cuts that reduce contracts from education, health care, and nonprofit sectors. She emphasized that certification alone is not enough and called for stronger inclusive procurement outcomes, better data, and more support for microbusinesses. Dr. Melissa Colon and Dr. Fabian Torres-Dal of the Mauricio Gaston Institute testified on Latino wealth gaps, especially low homeownership, high rent burden, limited access to credit, and occupational segregation; they said structural racism, wage gaps, and education inequities are central drivers and urged housing, labor, and education reforms. Committee members repeatedly linked the hearing’s themes to redlining, medical debt, single-parent households, financial literacy, and the need for legislation and state programs to close the gap, but no votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you give me a statement?
• I challenge that credibility of that statement. That is wrong. They need to follow the law.
• Houston, question: You sound like the statement you've made on a couple occasions is that as written
• Houston question you sound like the statement you've made on a couple occasions is that as written you
• Yeah, I just would like to clarify a statement that I think this is great legislation.

Committee: House Business

Summary: The committee first introduced a new page, approved the January 27 and January 29 minutes, and then heard House Bill 703, which would consolidate multiple disciplinary provisions into a single procedural framework in Title 67 without changing substantive licensing standards. The sponsor said it was a cleanup measure building on prior code consolidation work, and a contractor group testified in support. The committee voted to send HB 703 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The main item was House Bill 704, a universal E-Verify bill requiring employers to verify new hires through the federal system. Sponsors said it would protect Idaho workers and businesses, align with federal law, and create a level playing field; they also said they were open to adjusting the implementation date. Supporters included business, law enforcement, immigrant, and advocacy witnesses who argued it would enforce existing law and reduce unauthorized employment. Opponents, including the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, small business and bookkeeping witnesses, and others, argued E-Verify is flawed, burdensome, and could harm agriculture, construction, household employers, and other sectors; they also raised concerns about biometric language, private complaints to the Attorney General, and possible unintended coverage of service relationships. After extensive committee questioning and testimony, a motion to send HB 704 to general orders failed 11-7. The committee then voted 16-2 to send HB 704 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation, with several members noting they reserved the right to change their votes on the floor. The committee then began House Bill 700, which would add criminal penalties for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers while providing a defense for employers who use E-Verify in good faith. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an enforcement measure, while opponents repeated concerns about E-Verify’s reliability and added burdens; the transcript ends during the sponsor’s closing remarks on HB 700, before any committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important to understand the data behind that statement. Why were... Why were they dismissed?
• So you're right, it's hard to discern from simply that statement who it was.
• So sorry for that incorrect statement.
• It was actually, I very much regret that statement. It was me.
• I actually very much regret that statement. My favorite. No need to be apologetic.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a one-page bill, and I've got just a little bit of statements that I am bringing, but I'm bringing
• He described it as a one-page bill and said he had just a little bit of statements to make.
• It is a one-page bill, and I've got just a little bit of statements that I am bringing, but I'm bringing
• and</c><00:47:11.920><c> I'd</c><00:47:12.160><c> be</c> I don't have a question, just more of a statement
• So with that, our meeting is adjourned. statement. Um, when I first came in, I statement.

Bills: HB61 , HB176 , SB12

Committee: House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully, they could just look to that legislative intent from your statement.
• Glad to have that definitive statement. Representative Ree, thank you, Madam Chair.
• That was an incorrect statement. So, I just want to delete that me saying that.
• That was an incorrect statement. So, I just want to delete that me saying that.
• That was an incorrect statement. So, I just want to delete that me saying that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up several Senate messages on House bills. It recommended non-concurrence and a committee conference on HB 428 after Representative Pearson raised a constitutional concern about a retroactive provision in the building code bill. It also recommended non-concurrence on HB 156, which had been rewritten by the Senate to create a permanent subcommittee related to food/procurement; members said they did not want to create a permanent subcommittee and preferred to let the issue return next year if needed. On HB 85, concerning temporary student licenses for respiratory therapists, the committee concurred with a Senate rewrite that added restrictions but preserved the bill’s main purpose. On HB 82, a cleanup bill for occupational licensing, the committee concurred with a Senate amendment explicitly allowing the electricians board to create subcommittees, with members noting they did not think the authority was necessary but that it would not do harm. The committee then considered SB 178 on laboratory water testing. Representative Leyon offered amendment 2025-1743H to clarify how fees would be deposited and to direct a portion of certain fees and grants into a non-lapsing lab equipment and replacement fund rather than the general fund. Members said the amendment made the bill’s fiscal flow easier to understand. The amendment passed unanimously, and the committee then voted ought to pass as amended on SB 178, also unanimously, and placed it on consent. For SB 180, dealing with Coos County distressed-area designation, the committee adopted amendment 1748H to remove a provision requiring commissioners to give extra consideration to Coos County and to add a 20-year sunset on the designation. The amendment passed 14-2, and the committee then voted ought to pass as amended 15-1; Representative Schmidt said he would file a minority report because he viewed the provision as unenforceable rather than objectionable. The committee also voted to retain SB 185, which concerned OPLC-related issues, so the agency could continue working on a policy and report back later; that motion passed 16-0. Finally, the committee voted inexpedient to legislate on SB 198, establishing New Hampshire Service Dog Week, after debate over whether the recognition should be statutory or left to a gubernatorial proclamation. Supporters argued the bill would raise awareness and help promote service dogs, while opponents said the effort could continue without a statute and that special-day statutes often lose attention once enacted. The committee also voted inexpedient to legislate on SB 182 after extensive discussion of proposed changes to the maternal mortality review process. Opponents argued the bill would broaden access to personally identifiable information, change panel structure, and affect data comparability; supporters said it was a housekeeping update requested by DHS that would add DCYF and Corrections and improve review of maternal deaths. The ITL motion passed 10-6, and Representative Long said he would file a minority report and explain the committee’s reasoning to the bill’s sponsor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm gonna finish my statement before you finish. I'm gonna finish.
• I'm gonna finish my statement before you finish. 90% of these children are returning back to.
• You made a statement that you believed Representative Shaheen wrote this for the rights of the child,
• That's that delegitimizes your statement because we know that to be the case.
• This isn't a political statement.

Bills: HB 2646 , HB 3941 , HB 5153 , HB 5155 , HB 5394 , HB 1106 , HB 426 , HB 4529 , HB 3984 , HB 4273 , HB 1097 , HB 3940 , HB 1941 , HB 4377 , HB 3153

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• strongest anti-DEI legislation in the country. has just followed our model and moved diversity statements
• concern faculty don't feel comfortable speaking their mind and 20% of the entire faculty made the statement
• And, you know, she went before our faculty senate and she made certain statements about her role in that
• us at the system leadership team and our presidents, they set the budgets, they set the mission statements
• In its about statement, It endorses several ideologies, including Western civilization, the American

Bills: SB37 , SB1489 , SB452 , SB724 , SB1067 , SB1741 , SB1273

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, faculty governance, decision-making, transparency, public meetings, department head, employment approval, public institutions, institutional oversight, education, funding, accountability, state budget, school performance, employment, Texas legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the saddest statements that I've heard in the last year or so is that since 2012, and that was
• One of the saddest statements that I've heard in the last year or so is that since 2012, and that was
• One of the saddest statements that I've heard in the last year or so is that since 2012, and that was
• One of the saddest statements that I've heard in the last year or so is that since 2012, and that was
• Uh one of the saddest statements issues.

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon Recess of the Senate Chambers. There is not an exact time for this meeting therefore a placeholder time for the live stream has been set for 12:30PM est., 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met with a quorum and took up several education bills near the end of session. House Bill 342, which would require a financial literacy course for Kentucky high school students, was presented by Rep. Michael Meredith and student advocate Patrick Reovi. Meredith explained that a committee substitute addressed Kentucky Department of Education concerns by making the course a required elective anywhere in high school rather than limiting it to junior or senior year, and by retaining flexibility on credit options. Reovi testified in support, arguing that many students lack basic financial knowledge and should graduate prepared to handle budgeting, credit, debt, and student loans. The substitute was adopted, and HB 342 passed the committee 10-0. The committee then heard House Bill 480, a teacher workload and bureaucracy reduction measure. Rep. Shane Baker described the bill as the product of a working group with educators and administrators and said it was intended to reduce redundant requirements and let teachers focus more on students. He said the bill would lengthen the evaluation cycle from every three years to every five, streamline professional development requirements, update continuous school improvement plan filing rules, and limit new reporting mandates. A committee substitute removed the CSIP provisions after discussion with KDE, and members noted concerns about implementation and federal funding implications for mentor training language. The substitute was adopted and HB 480 passed unanimously. House Bill 190, relating to advanced education opportunities, was presented by Rep. Robert Duvall. He said the bill would require districts to adopt policies on advanced coursework and accelerated learning for grades 4 through 12, with local flexibility. He also explained that the House committee substitute changed several provisions from mandatory to permissive, including automatic enrollment for students scoring distinguished and parent opt-out language. The bill passed unanimously. House Bill 430, on school bus safety training, was presented by Reps. Mike Clines and Emily Callaway, who said it would reduce regulations, improve bus safety, and fix regulatory issues arising from prior legislation allowing nine-passenger vans for school transportation. A committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed unanimously, and a title amendment was also adopted. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 208 on technology and public schools. Rep. Josh Bray, Rep. James Tipton, and Nick Spencer of the Family Foundation of Kentucky supported a policy requiring districts to prohibit student cell phone use during instructional time, with exceptions for disabilities, teacher-directed educational use, or incentives. They argued the bill would improve academic performance, reduce bullying and mental health problems, and limit social media access during school. The transcript cuts off during testimony on HB 208, before any committee action on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that a fair statement?” “Were originally blighted, neglected.
• Is that a fair statement when we start looking at them?
• I'm going to go with what your statement is. I agree. All right.
• Just real quick, I just want to make one statement. I should have made it first.
• Just real quick, I just want to make one statement. I should have made it first.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 1088, which would authorize state and local sales and use tax rebates for certain items used in aerospace facilities and activities. Chairman Bacala, LED Secretary Susan Bouchois, and governor’s office representative Julie Emerson argued the bill would help Louisiana compete with states like Texas and Florida for aerospace and defense investment, build on Michoud’s history, and attract high-paying jobs. Members asked about job growth, the scope of aerospace versus defense, and whether downstream activities like jet fuel production could qualify. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then approved HB 1179, which extends the ad valorem tax exemption for certain manufacturing establishments to aerospace manufacturing establishments, also reporting it favorably without objection. HB 1122, a placeholder bill tied to a future path toward reducing the state income tax rate, was voluntarily deferred by its sponsor after brief explanation. The committee then heard HB 515, which would let political subdivisions sell certain adjudicated properties directly to buyers at appraised value if the property is under $50,000. The sponsor and supporters said the bill was intended to help parishes clear long-vacant blighted properties and return them to commerce and the tax rolls. Members raised concerns about transparency, competition, title issues, and possible conflicts with recent tax-sale reforms. The committee adopted a conceptual amendment requiring the property to have been offered at public auction within the preceding 12 months before an over-the-counter sale could occur, and HB 515 was reported favorably as amended. The committee next considered HB 440, a constitutional amendment allowing parishes to increase the homestead exemption above the current level. The sponsor said the exemption has not been updated since 1980 and argued that raising it would provide relief from rising property taxes, insurance costs, and cost of living pressures. Amendments were adopted requiring parish approval and a local election before implementation, and delaying effectiveness until 2030. Several members and LABI warned the change could shift tax burdens onto businesses and other taxpayers, create parish-by-parish disparities, and affect bond ratings. The committee voted 5-9 against reporting HB 440, and the sponsor voluntarily deferred the companion bill, HB 543. Finally, the committee took up HB 614, presented with help from eighth-grader Elijah Brown as part of a civics competition. The bill would rebate state sales taxes on lodging and meals for utility company workers performing disaster or emergency-related work. After discussion, the committee adopted a large amendment set that narrowed the bill to water, gas, and electric utilities regulated by the PSC, limited the rebate period to 10 days after a declared disaster, tied eligible lodging and meal costs to federal per diem rates, and capped annual rebates at $55,000. Members asked about administration, eligible workers, and fiscal impact; the Department of Revenue said it could administer the rebate with existing resources. The discussion was ongoing at the end of the transcript.