Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:02.080><c> Uh</c><00:32:02.559><c> Mike</c><00:32:02.799><c> Jablonsky</c><00:32:03.440><c
• <00:32:04.320><c> of</c><00:32:04.559><c> footwork</c><00:32:05.279><c> and</c><00:32:06.080><c> he</
• and what is covered<00:32:14.159><c> and</c><00:32:14.480><c> also</c><00:32:15.279><c> uh</c><00:32
• ><00:32:16.640><c> enough</c><00:32:16.960><c> resources</c><00:32:17.840><c> that</c><00:32:18.080><
• <00:32:22.880><c> of</c><00:32:23.120><c> Ethan</c><00:32:23.519><c> Glenn</c><00:32:23.760><c> and</

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And<00:32:01.120><c> currently</c><00:32:01.519><c> in</c><00:32:01.840><c> our</c><00:32:02.080><c>
• 32:04.799><c> so</c><00:32:05.039><c> it</c><00:32:05.279><c> would</c><00:32:05.440><c> require</c><
• <00:32:06.320><c> in</c><00:32:06.640><c> the</c><00:32:06.880><c> statute</c><00:32:07.919><c> and</
• case</c><00:32:09.840><c> in</c><00:32:10.080><c> the</c><00:32:10.240><c> past</c><00:32:10.720><c>
• ><c> it's</c><00:32:20.159><c> okay</c><00:32:20.480><c> but</c><00:32:20.640><c> I</c><00:32:20.880>

Bills: SB2350 , SB2349 , SB2407 , SB3320

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, agribusiness, Department of Agriculture, regulatory functions, employee benefits, restorative practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, local food systems, Native Hawaiian, workforce development, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, state employment, SB3320, Hawaii, Agribusiness Development Corporation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SP 2350, which would transfer oversight of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division and the aquaculture and livestock support services branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The Department of Agriculture and ADC both testified, with ADC opposing the bill as written while supporting the goal of strengthening agriculture. ADC said the transfer could create federal operational and coordination risks, jeopardize federal funding and program continuity, and was unnecessary because ADC is a business development entity, not a regulatory agency. The Hawaii Farmers Union also expressed concern that moving the programs could weaken the department’s ability to access federal resources, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted written testimony and the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and H-Plan were noted as supporting the measure; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was noted as opposing it. Much of the discussion focused on aquaculture’s economic potential and the role of regulation, permitting, and funding. Committee members questioned why aquaculture had not grown faster, citing current gross revenues of about $66 million last year, a prior high of $82 million, and a possible long-term target of $500 million. Testimony identified permitting and feed costs as major barriers, along with market conditions and water quality issues affecting producers. ADC described ongoing efforts on feed development, permitting streamlining, coastal-state collaboration on seaweed and restorative aquaculture, and national advocacy for more parity in seafood import standards. Members also pressed the Department of Agriculture on its leadership and priorities, criticizing the lack of bills and resources dedicated to aquaculture and asking whether the department should have more authority to pursue land purchases and development opportunities. The department said it relies on divisions and industry feedback for bill ideas, noted it funds an annual aquaculture survey, and said it was pursuing congressional earmarks and other funding for aquaculture parks, research, and export/import issues. ADC said it would work with the department if the bill passed, but that its current statute does not give it regulatory authority and any such change would require a statutory amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:32:00.360><c> It</c><00:32:00.480><c> has</c><00:32:00.679><c> 90%</c><00:32:01.400><c> fewer</c
• 00:32:13.320><c> More</c><00:32:13.560><c> about</c><00:32:13.800><c> this</c><00:32:14.000><c> type<
• /c><00:32:14.160><c> of</c><00:32:14.280><c> SAF</c><00:32:14.679><c> is</c><00:32:14.880><c> in</c>
• :42.840><c> now</c><00:32:43.160><c> is</c><00:32:43.280><c> the</c><00:32:43.360><c> time</c><00:32:
• On<00:32:58.520><c> deck</c><00:32:58.840><c> we</c><00:32:58.960><c> have</c><00:32:59.720><c> Mr.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:32:00.559><c> was</c><00:32:01.039><c> very</c><00:32:01.360><c> curious</c><00:32:01.679><c>
• ><c> back</c><00:32:04.559><c> to</c><00:32:04.799><c> see</c><00:32:04.960><c> what</c><00:32:05.120
• </c> Good<00:32:13.919><c> to</c><00:32:14.080><c> have</c><00:32:14.159><c> you</c><00:32:14.320><c>
• We<00:32:17.519><c> kind</c><00:32:17.679><c> of</c><00:32:17.760><c> like</c><00:32:17.919><c> your<
• I see no<00:32:21.919><c> one</c><00:32:22.080><c> else</c><00:32:22.240><c> seeking</c><00:32:22.640

Keywords: MS House Floor - 25 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:03.360><c> I'm</c><00:32:03.480><c> guessing</c><00:32:03.880><c> maybe</c><00:32:04.120><
• :32:10.440><c> task</c><00:32:10.800><c> force</c><00:32:11.160><c> type</c><00:32:11.400><c> of</c><
• The<00:32:25.560><c> A9</c><00:32:26.160><c> uh</c><00:32:26.200><c> the</c><00:32:26.520><c> A9</c><
• Uh<00:32:29.240><c> Senator</c><00:32:29.520><c> Drazkowski,</c><00:32:30.240><c> to</c><00:32:30.440
• The<00:32:33.800><c> next</c><00:32:34.080><c> amendment</c><00:32:34.440><c> is</c><00:32:34.520><c>

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now,<00:32:01.440><c> this</c><00:32:01.600><c> is</c><00:32:01.679><c> going</c><00:32:01.760><c> to
• Um this<00:32:11.360><c> gives</c><00:32:11.519><c> a</c><00:32:11.760><c> scoring</c><00:32:12.159><
• c> tool</c><00:32:12.559><c> u</c><00:32:12.720><c> for</c><00:32:12.880><c> us</c><00:32:13.039><c>
• </c><00:32:20.720><c> how</c><00:32:20.960><c> we</c><00:32:21.200><c> make</c><00:32:21.360><c> sure
• So<00:32:27.200><c> specifically</c><00:32:27.679><c> on</c><00:32:27.840><c> this</c><00:32:28.000><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committees received an informational briefing from Hawaii DOT and related partners on the Navahine settlement and the department’s plan to meet its climate and transportation commitments. Speakers described the settlement as a first-of-its-kind agreement rooted in the state constitution, the public trust doctrine, and prior legislative findings and laws, including Act 131. They said the settlement is intended to formalize DOT’s work, establish milestones, and keep climate and transportation policy less dependent on changes in administration. The presentation emphasized that transportation is Hawaii’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and that the plan is aimed at meeting 2030 and 2045 clean energy goals. DOT outlined several major implementation pieces: creation of a new Office of Energy Security and Community Outreach, formation of a youth council, and development of an emissions reduction plan that will be updated over time. The youth council reported on its membership, statewide representation, meetings, and work on charter, bylaws, and committees focused on policy and legislation, events and advocacy, and ground transportation. Youth members said they provided feedback on the energy security plan and discussed walk audits and safe routes to school. The department also described a new project-scoring tool to measure greenhouse gas impacts of every DOT project, which it said is intended to make Hawaii a national leader in evaluating transportation emissions. A major topic was the settlement’s transportation network requirement, which speakers said compresses roughly 15 years of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit network work into five years and will require about $40 million to $50 million per year over the next five years. They said a GIS map is being developed to identify gaps and that the work will involve counties and other partners, with benefits for safety, connectivity, and emissions reduction. Other topics included clean fuel standards, electrification of ground transportation, sustainable aviation fuel, marine fuel transitions, cold ironing at ports, and the costs and availability challenges associated with those transitions. DOT also reported progress on EV charging infrastructure, including two completed sites and more planned, and said it is using a sustainability partner contract to maintain chargers and recover only electricity costs. The briefing also highlighted carbon sequestration and fire mitigation work, including native tree planting. DOT said it has exceeded its minimum annual tree-planting commitment, with 3,000 trees planted in 2024 and 4,200 by mid-2025, and noted that the Legislature provided $15 million for fire mitigation that is being used for this work. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so just briefly<01:32:03.679><c> on</c><01:32:03.840><c> the</c><01:32:04.000><c> quick</c><01:32
• </c><01:32:08.639><c> Um,</c><01:32:08.960><c> I</c><01:32:09.120><c> would</c><01:32:09.280><c> I</c
• > chose</c><01:32:10.880><c> to</c><01:32:11.120><c> make</c><01:32:11.280><c> the</c><01:32:12.560><
• in housing<01:32:15.199><c> and</c><01:32:15.360><c> in</c><01:32:15.600><c> the</c><01:32:15.679><c
• :32:17.920><c> a</c><01:32:18.159><c> time</c><01:32:18.320><c> when</c><01:32:18.639><c> we'd</c><01

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:32:00.960><c> we</c><00:32:01.080><c> have</c><00:32:01.240><c> time</c><00:32:01.399><c> to</c>
• c><00:32:06.080><c> decision</c><00:32:06.880><c> but</c><00:32:07.080><c> also</c><00:32:07.320><c>
• :08.679><c> which</c><00:32:08.840><c> I</c><00:32:08.960><c> think</c><00:32:09.120><c> is</c><00:32
• ><c> my</c><00:32:13.240><c> view</c><00:32:13.440><c> on</c><00:32:13.639><c> that</c><00:32:14.360>
• > go</c><00:32:18.840><c> ahead</c><00:32:19.039><c> and</c><00:32:19.200><c> just</c><00:32:19.399><

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:35 SB 22 Discussion 00:01:20 SB 22 Vote 00:11:45 SB 100 Discussion 00:15:07 SB 100 Vote 00:38:53 SB 88 Discussion Only 00:42:11 Adjournment 01:03:52, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on February 18, 2025, and first took up Senate Bill 22 by Senator Reginald Thomas, which was presented as a cleanup measure following prior cosmetology reforms and a Legislative Oversight and Investigations report. The bill would allow cosmetologists to retake exams multiple times with a one-month wait, authorize the Board of Cosmetology to immediately close facilities that intentionally use unlicensed workers while preserving due process, give the board flexibility to hire an executive director based on qualifications rather than licensure, and recognize certain out-of-state or territorial cosmetology licenses. Board officials said the changes were intended to improve fairness, equality, and administrative due process. Senators asked about retesting fees and whether partial retests could dilute standards; Thomas clarified that the exam is cumulative and must be retaken in full. The committee approved SB 22 with all favorable votes, and Senator Meredith explained his support as a workforce and fairness issue. The committee then heard Senate Bill 100 by Senator Jimmy Higdon, as substituted, concerning tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product retail licensing and enforcement. Youth advocates from the University of Kentucky testified in support, describing youth nicotine use as a public health crisis and urging stronger enforcement, annual compliance checks, retailer licensing, and tougher penalties for illegal sales to minors. Higdon said the bill would create a Division of Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vapor Products Licensing within ABC, require licenses for retailers, authorize inspections and confiscation of contraband, impose escalating criminal and civil penalties for unlicensed sales and sales to minors, publish a list of licensed retailers, and dedicate fine revenue to enforcement and youth education. He said the measure targeted bad actors rather than responsible retailers. A retailer witness also supported licensing but raised concerns about contradictory product definitions that could sweep in hemp and medical marijuana vapor products, and asked that the bill be delayed until after an expected Supreme Court decision affecting federal vapor-product rules. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 100, before any committee vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> that</c><00:32:21.440><c> are</c><00:32:21.600><c> made</c><00:32:21.919><c> available</c><00:32
• </c><00:32:24.720><c> um</c><00:32:25.519><c> if</c><00:32:25.679><c> you</c><00:32:25.840><c> if</c>
• <00:32:31.799><c> mitigation</c><00:32:33.120><c> activity</c><00:32:34.120><c> um</c><00:32:34.600><
• c> so</c><00:32:47.519><c> I'm</c><00:32:47.600><c> not</c><00:32:47.720><c> sure</c><00:32:47.960><c
• 00:32:52.320><c> activities</c><00:32:52.799><c> of</c><00:32:52.960><c> the</c><00:32:53.080><c> two

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:03.200><c> That's</c><00:32:03.440><c> a</c> win.<00:32:06.960><c> At</c><00:32:07.200><c>
• /c><00:32:12.320><c> we</c><00:32:12.480><c> got</c><00:32:12.559><c> to</c><00:32:12.640><c> look</c
• </c><00:32:15.440><c> This</c><00:32:15.679><c> is</c><00:32:15.760><c> a</c><00:32:15.919><c> win</c
• Uh it really was<00:32:34.720><c> a</c><00:32:34.720><c> a</c><00:32:35.039><c> a</c><00:32:35.440><c
• 00:32:56.880><c> I</c><00:32:57.039><c> I</c><00:32:57.440><c> want</c><00:32:57.600><c> to</c><00:32

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• um<00:32:03.919><c> I</c><00:32:04.080><c> mean</c><00:32:04.159><c> it</c><00:32:04.399><c> wasn't<
• <c> kind</c><00:32:10.960><c> of</c><00:32:11.200><c> challenges</c><00:32:11.679><c> about</c><00:32
• <00:32:22.240><c> opportunity</c><00:32:23.039><c> to</c><00:32:23.679><c> like</c><00:32:24.559><c>
• key question<00:32:25.360><c> was</c><00:32:25.679><c> where</c><00:32:25.840><c> do</c><00:32:26.080
• as</c><00:32:33.679><c> saying,</c><00:32:34.240><c> "Where</c><00:32:34.640><c> do</c><00:32:34.799

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :06.159><c> would</c><00:32:06.399><c> be</c><00:32:06.799><c> to</c><00:32:07.039><c> pass</c><00:32
• </c><00:32:18.399><c> Thank</c><00:32:18.559><c> you</c><00:32:18.799><c> chair.
• </c><00:32:20.880><c> Thank</c><00:32:21.039><c> you.
• :32:54.559><c> members</c><00:32:54.880><c> voting</c><00:32:55.399><c> no?
• Seeing<00:32:56.720><c> none,</c><00:32:56.960><c> your</c><00:32:57.120><c> chair</c><00:32:57.360><

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:09.720><c> We've</c><00:32:09.840><c> also</c><00:32:10.160><c> heard</c><00:32:10.360><c>
• </c><00:32:19.840><c> such</c><00:32:20.040><c> as</c><00:32:20.160><c> the</c><00:32:20.240><c> power
• of establish<00:32:24.040><c> a</c><00:32:24.080><c> quorum</c><00:32:24.679><c> that</c><00:32:24.880
• to<00:32:47.840><c> this</c><00:32:48.040><c> council</c><00:32:48.480><c> was</c><00:32:48.840><c>
• Um<00:32:58.960><c> and</c><00:32:59.080><c> showed</c><00:32:59.280><c> that</c><00:32:59.440><c> this

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> to</c><00:32:16.240><c> see</c><00:32:16.320><c> a</c><00:32:16.559><c> growth</c><00:32:16.799>
• </c><00:32:20.399><c> It's</c><00:32:20.559><c> going</c><00:32:20.640><c> to</c><00:32:20.799><c> be
• </c><00:32:22.399><c> have</c><00:32:22.480><c> to</c><00:32:22.640><c> go</c><00:32:22.799><c> too</
• ><c> even</c><00:32:28.640><c> as</c><00:32:28.799><c> we</c><00:32:29.120><c> try</c><00:32:29.279><
• :32:37.039><c> to</c><00:32:37.120><c> go</c><00:32:37.279><c> into</c><00:32:37.519><c> that</c><00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• c> and</c><00:32:01.519><c> there</c><00:32:01.760><c> will</c><00:32:01.919><c> be</c><00:32:02.080>
• c> Hart</c><00:32:08.240><c> has</c><00:32:08.480><c> an</c><00:32:08.640><c> issue</c><00:32:08.880>
• 32:19.120><c> go</c><00:32:19.279><c> and</c><00:32:19.600><c> build</c><00:32:19.840><c> to</c><00:32
• ><c> with</c><00:32:26.960><c> that</c><00:32:27.200><c> in</c><00:32:27.440><c> the</c><00:32:27.600
• ><c> on</c><00:32:33.600><c> it</c><00:32:33.760><c> and</c><00:32:33.919><c> and</c><00:32:34.159><c

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force opened its sixth meeting by approving the minutes and then taking up a presentation from University of Pikeville representatives and local leaders on an Eastern Kentucky Disaster Relief Center at Bear Mountain in Pike County. Speakers included Greg May, Rep. Ashley Tacket Laferty, Lori Worth, and Laura Damron. They described repeated flooding and other disasters in eastern Kentucky, the lack of a single prepared relief location, and the need for a centralized, elevated site that could serve as a flood and broader natural-disaster hub. The presenters said the Bear Mountain property, about 530 acres and well above flood levels, could support a multi-use facility combining disaster response functions with university and community uses. Proposed features included a command and communications center, distribution space, emergency shelter, medical and clinic support, food service, restroom facilities, RV hookups, and an indoor track/distribution building. They emphasized that the project would help avoid disrupting existing venues such as the Pikeville Expo Center and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, while also supporting tourism and economic recovery. Committee members asked about community and emergency-management support, annual operating costs, and resilience standards such as tornado-related building codes. In response, the presenters said local stakeholders, including Appalachian Wireless, Pikeville Medical Center, Community Trust Bank, the city of Pikeville, and emergency management officials, had expressed support. They said the university planned to absorb some operating costs through multiple uses of the facility, community camps, and budgeted maintenance, and that construction documents were nearly complete with plans to begin building within months. After the presentation, the chair thanked the presenters and moved the committee into its recommendations discussion, noting the broader fiscal and humanitarian importance of disaster preparedness and resiliency and indicating that future legislation would likely follow from the task force’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um um<00:32:15.039><c> Christristine</c><00:32:15.360><c> Nizumini</c><00:32:16.000><c> Tao</c><00:32
• </c><00:32:17.679><c> Um</c><00:32:18.080><c> this</c><00:32:18.320><c> is</c><00:32:18.720><c> a</c>
• 32:27.679><c> lot</c><00:32:27.760><c> of</c><00:32:28.000><c> public</c><00:32:28.440><c> sentiment.
• </c><00:32:37.919><c> Um</c><00:32:38.480><c> it</c><00:32:38.720><c> would</c><00:32:38.880><c> also
• <00:32:40.159><c> of</c><00:32:40.320><c> the</c><00:32:40.480><c> state</c><00:32:41.360><c> and</c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 126, which would change civil asset forfeiture law. The Attorney General’s Office, Honolulu Police Department, and county prosecutors opposed the bill’s proposed SD1, arguing that requiring a criminal conviction and changing how forfeiture proceeds are distributed would weaken or effectively end the tool, create fiscal and law enforcement problems, and make it harder to address organized crime or cases where an owner cannot be identified. The Public Defender’s Office, Community Alliance on Prisons, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters argued the measure would improve transparency and accountability, protect property rights, and reduce abuses that disproportionately affect low-income people. The chair questioned law enforcement about fairness, storage of seized property, and access to counsel, and the discussion focused heavily on whether forfeiture should depend on a conviction. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 280, which would make the Community Outreach Court permanent and appropriate funds for it as a division of the First Circuit district court. The Department of the Attorney General and Judiciary supported the concept and described the court’s success in helping people resolve cases, clear license stoppers, recall bench warrants, and access services, but suggested amendments to remove the Attorney General from the bill’s definition and funding mechanism. The Public Defender, Department of Human Services, mental health and substance use advocates, neighborhood and community groups, and others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing its benefits for people facing housing instability, behavioral health issues, and transportation barriers. No opposition was voiced, and no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 370, which would increase partial public campaign financing for elective offices. The Campaign Spending Commission supported the original bill and asked the committee to restore the original percentage amounts, keep the proposed funding increases, and reinstate funding for two additional full-time staff positions. Supporters said the public financing system has not kept pace with inflation and needs modernization to be viable; a few testifiers opposed the measure. The committee reported 30 in support, two opposed, and one comment, and then moved on without a vote. Finally, HB 371 was heard, a campaign contribution bill that would bar state and county contractors, grantees, and certain related persons from contributing during the contract period. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is intended to address pay-to-play concerns and false-name contributions, while the State Procurement Office raised concerns about the burden of requiring agencies to provide contract information for all contracts regardless of dollar value. The testimony ended with the commission saying it was working with procurement and the Attorney General on implementation details; no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:09.840><c> and</c><00:32:10.159><c> of</c><00:32:10.320><c> course</c><00:32:10.480><c> we</c>
• ><c> now</c><00:32:20.000><c> to</c><00:32:20.320><c> the</c><00:32:20.480><c> work</c><00:32:20.640>
• </c> I'll<00:32:24.799><c> share</c><00:32:25.039><c> on</c><00:32:25.279><c> this</c><00:32:25.440><
• </c><00:32:29.840><c> the</c><00:32:30.240><c> pre</c><00:32:30.480><c> previous</c><00:32:30.799><c>
• visual</c><00:32:36.000><c> of</c><00:32:36.240><c> all</c><00:32:36.399><c> of</c><00:32:36.480><c>

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I</c><00:32:31.159><c> I</c><00:32:31.360><c> will</c><00:32:31.600><c> have</c><00:32:31.760><c> a<
• for uh<00:32:40.039><c> greater</c><00:32:40.480><c> use</c><00:32:40.919><c> of</c><00:32:41.200><c
• :32:43.240><c> a</c><00:32:43.399><c> tremendous</c><00:32:43.760><c> amount</c><00:32:43.960><c> of<
• it</c><01:32:05.560><c> is</c><01:32:05.760><c> not</c><01:32:06.000><c> ready</c><01:32:06.239><c>
• 32:36.400><c> for</c><01:32:36.520><c> a</c><01:32:36.639><c> roll</c><01:32:36.920><c> call</c><01:32

Bills: HF10

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

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Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

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Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:04 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:29 Approval of Minutes: 00:01:50 Kentucky Buy American Act: 00:02:08 Earn As You Learn: KY Building Trades Apprenticeship: 00:30:42 Worker Misclassification in the Construction Industry: 01:02:00 Investing in KY’s Future Workforce Through the Good Business Initiative: 01:20:44 Adjournment: 01:28:28, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on October 23, 2025, approved the September minutes, and heard testimony on a proposed “Kentucky by America” procurement preference bill. Representative Patrick Flannery described the concept as giving preference in public construction and public works contracts to iron, steel, aluminum, and other manufactured goods made in the United States, while emphasizing he wanted to avoid excessive taxpayer costs and was open to changes. Chad Connley of the United Steelworkers and Dustin Reinsteller of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO supported the idea, arguing it would strengthen domestic manufacturing, keep tax dollars in the local economy, and support jobs; Connley said the bill would include waivers for items not made domestically and noted Kentucky has opted out of the GPA trade agreement. Mike Buckington of Metals Innovation Initiative, testifying virtually, also supported the concept and said Kentucky’s metals sector has seen significant investment and can supply most construction needs, while stressing supply-chain reliability and national security concerns. Members generally expressed support but raised questions about implementation. Representative Branscum asked who would grant waivers and how contractors would know the rules during bidding; Flannery said he was open to revising the language and process. Representative Gentry supported the concept but said the bill would likely need editing to avoid harming businesses or markets. Senator Nun suggested aligning the bill’s definition of a U.S. good with industry country-of-origin standards to make compliance easier. Representative KC Carney asked for data on the impact of similar laws in other states, and Connley said he could provide numbers later but did not have them on hand. Senator Boswell supported the concept and asked about the cost threshold for waivers; Connley said the federal standard is a 25% cost increase, while the prior Kentucky version used 10%, and that the threshold is a key detail. The committee then shifted to an informational presentation on building trade apprenticeships. Eric Elie of the Kentucky State Pipe Trades Association, Nick Brown of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 502, and retired IBEW training director Steve Willinghurst explained how union apprenticeship programs work. Brown described earn-while-you-learn training, with apprentices placed on jobs by signatory contractors and attending classes two nights a week for five years. He outlined the work of plumbers, pipefitters, welders, and HVACR technicians, emphasizing that these trades support construction, industrial facilities, distilleries, and other critical infrastructure. No votes or formal actions were taken on the policy topics beyond approval of the prior minutes.