Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that you've probably noticed if you've filled out your financial affairs statement
• of being prioritized, to a status of being active, to a status of being finished.
• First of all, they can sign a statement that says they're discontinuing their campaign.
• It would honor me if you would ask the last question of the last committee hearing of the last year of
• A lot of lasts—I didn't... A lot of lasts.

Summary: The House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee held a work session with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) focused on campaign and candidate disclosure, customer support, training, and technology improvements. PDC staff described the agency’s mission, its citizen-initiative origins, and efforts to make filing and public access easier through a redesigned website, virtual trainings, recorded tutorials, newsletters, and outreach to filers, auditors, parties, and local jurisdictions. They reported heavy customer-service activity in fiscal year 2025, including thousands of email and phone inquiries, and emphasized same-day assistance, proactive reminders, and hands-on help for first-time and complex filers. The CIO outlined the agency’s technology approach, including guided filing workflows, accessibility features, mobile-friendly applications, built-in help prompts, and continuous improvement timed to filing cycles. He highlighted recent changes such as warnings when a contribution may affect reporting periods, improved mini-reporting guidance, and the transition from Secure Access Washington to login.gov/WA.gov, which the agency is working on early to avoid disrupting filers. He also noted that system changes go through controlled review and that the agency is beginning to use AI agents in code review. Members asked about whether the PDC’s requirements discourage candidates, accessibility issues, treasurer support, donation limits for entities, and the role of AI. PDC staff said candidate numbers have grown, especially in local election years, and that the agency tries to keep filing manageable through direct assistance, discontinuation options, and mini-reporting for small campaigns. They said treasurer training is an important and growing part of their work, with more online and lunch-and-learn offerings, and that they are considering a treasurer-specific class. No votes or formal committee actions were taken; the meeting adjourned after questions due to floor action.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that you've probably noticed if you've filled out your financial affairs statement
• One of the really kind of well.
• is a great idea, to a status of being prioritized, to a status of being active, to a status of being
• First of all, they can sign a statement that says they’re discontinuing their campaign.
• A lot of lasts. I didn’t... A lot of lasts.

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• My children were in their 30s, and I had over $100,000 in child support arrears, most of it interest.
• For many years, I have been the one to shoulder 100% of the financial responsibility for raising our
• And as somebody who was raised by a single mother who really struggled financially because of lack of
• And we know that this younger generation of physicians are more interested in just doing the work of
• At the same time, while dental licensure may be the goal for some of these professionals, the financial

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• > Human</c> next director of the Department of Human next director of the Department of Human Services
• of it.
• c> Development Office of of SSD to work Development Office of of SSD to work with<00:48:31.800><c> them
• I can call many of them all times of the night.
• “You guys can all see that we are interested in making sure that we take care of everybody that needs

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several gubernatorial nominations and appointments, beginning with Sunshine Cho and Barbara Tom for the Language Access Advisory Council. Both nominees said they stood on their written testimony and expressed interest in continuing to serve, and multiple organizations testified in strong support. No opposition or questions were raised on either nomination, and the committee moved on after hearing the testimony. The bulk of the meeting focused on GM 642, the nomination of Ryan Yamane to be Director of the Department of Human Services. Yamane gave an extensive opening statement describing his social work background, long public service career, and philosophy of compassionate, balanced leadership. He emphasized DHS’s role in helping people from keiki to kūpuna with dignity and support, and shared personal stories from disaster response and family-service work to illustrate his approach. Support testimony came from a wide range of state officials, agency directors, community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and former colleagues, who praised his leadership, problem-solving, communication skills, and empathy. One witness, Moani Kiala Katherine Tu Alun, testified in opposition, raising concerns about retaliation and safety issues affecting foster youth and alleging harmful treatment within Child Welfare Services. Another witness, Angela Melody Young, supported the nomination and said Yamane could help overcome barriers for vulnerable communities and improve DHS programs such as financial assistance, SNAP, and disability services. The committee also heard from DHS staff and related officials about the uncertainty surrounding possible federal funding and staffing cuts; Yamane said the department is gathering information, coordinating with Budget and Finance and federal partners, and preparing to prioritize services and adjust if federal changes affect programs. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel like we need to meet some threshold of public interest, and you know, I don't think you answered
• </c><00:04:02.159><c> public</c> some threshold of public some threshold of public interest<00:04:04.040
• Show me the financial statement.
• > from</c> The financial statement.
• I learn from the financial statement. I learn from Robaki. Show me the balance sheet.

Summary: The joint Housing and Public Safety/Water and Land hearing first took up HB 1096, which would repeal statutory tenant-selection preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans in state low-income housing. HPHA testified in support, saying the change was a housekeeping measure because the same preferences already exist in administrative rules and could be adjusted later to align with other local preferences, while also noting the federal VASH program provides stronger veteran housing support. Several members questioned why the preference should be removed at all, emphasizing that veterans have long been underserved and asking for a stronger justification; the committees ultimately deferred HB 1096. The later Housing/Hawaiian Affairs agenda heard HB 606 HD1, a measure to extend Act 279 funding and related exemptions for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Supporters argued the bill would give DHHL more time to use the $600 million appropriation to acquire land, work with developers, and address a wait list of about 29,000 applicants, while also helping restore Hawaiian communities and reduce the Hawaiian diaspora. Opponents focused on accountability and oversight, saying DHHL needs clearer plans, measurable goals, and stronger safeguards before receiving more money, and warning that prior spending and strategic-plan changes had reduced the number of applicants served. The committee also heard testimony that the bill would help DHHL fulfill long-standing obligations to Native Hawaiians and that the housing need affects the broader state, not only Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries.

Transcript Highlights:

• In protest of the loss of the land.
• In Enrollment Management, we are especially proud of having dramatically improved. financial aid packaging
• And then later on, if we could sit with you, I would be interested in some of those reimbursements.
• A lot of interesting situations occurred. Embarrassing, interesting, all the way around.
• If anyone is interested in a tour of that property, I would be happy to take you.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The most important aspect of an audit of use of lodging taxes is related to compliance auditing.
• There was also interest in the dairy industry, so we have left the scope of this particular study open
• the agricultural industry that is of interest.
• Area or sub-industry of the agricultural industry that is of interest, and tailor our analysis to be
• for program funding and the share of Washington's qualified lenders known as community development financial

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on September 17, 2025, in hybrid format. After roll call, the committee initially lacked a quorum and deferred approval of the July 15 minutes until Representative Berg arrived; the minutes were then adopted. Members also discussed the proposed 2026 JLARC meeting schedule, including possible changes to address crowded July meetings and the annual tax exemption review workload. Staff presented the annual lodging tax expenditures report, noting that 213 municipalities received distributions in 2024, with 91% reporting compliance, $114 million awarded for more than 1,700 activities, and no independent verification of the self-reported data. Several members questioned the value and usefulness of the report, and the executive committee indicated it may recommend removing the statutory reporting requirement. The committee then heard the preliminary performance audit of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which found the office meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but recommended updating the statute to better match the office’s current capacity and focus and improving performance measures to reflect long-term privacy outcomes rather than outputs. Members asked about FERPA and other federal privacy laws, and OPDP staff said they provide general privacy training and consultation but not law-specific training unless requested. The committee adopted the final report on Washington State recreational boating programs without recommendation, after staff reported that boating revenues support both general government and boating activities and that no participating agencies submitted formal comments. Members asked about boater safety education and possible overlap among the six agencies involved; Parks staff said education has reached more than 500,000 boaters and that fatalities and incidents have declined. The committee also reviewed planned study questions for a JLARC review of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker laws, with members raising scope questions about the term “farm worker” versus “agricultural worker,” and for DNR’s Eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation, which JLARC will review as DNR completes its recalculation. Finally, staff outlined the 2026 tax preference performance reviews covering seven preferences, and members asked about racial equity, environmental impacts, disclosure of beneficiary savings, and how the reviews will measure effectiveness; the meeting adjourned before noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this one's been interesting, and in testimony and in discussions outside of committee, it became
• Just have a quick statement. I'll read. of hair or your amount of hair?
• ><01:20:13.120><c> the</c> interests at the expense of the interests at the expense of the taxpayer,<
• In the interest of compromise, uh days.
• In the interest of compromise, uh I<01:41:31.040><c> would</c><01:41:31.199><c> support</c><01:41:31.600

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• I know firsthand of going without this support financially, emotionally, and mentally. state your name
• </c> of session. of session.
• Coming into session, Minnesota State certainly understood the financial position the state of Minnesota
• /c><01:10:54.159><c> interests</c><01:10:54.480><c> of</c><01:10:54.640><c> rural</c><01:10:55.080><c
• </c> needs and interests of rural motans. needs and interests of rural motans.

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anybody in the public here wishing to register a statement or a position of opposition?
• I'm an organizing director with PIRG, national partner of CalPIRG, or California Public Interest Research
• , which reflects that customers have ways to restrict access to some of this data, that the privacy interests
• When we first drafted this bill, it was an interesting theoretical question about what the state of the
• We are a statewide coalition that focuses on guardrails and safeguards in the interest of privacy protections

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• a complete overview of the Department of Human Services.
• Well, let me ask one more follow-up—not a follow-up, just sort of a statement to see if I'm understanding
• I had our director of financial policy pull some numbers for me.
• Have we done an up-to-date assessment of where hospitals are as far as their financials?
• of cost.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Department of Human Services hospital payments in Arkansas Medicaid, with DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks presenting first, followed by Arkansas Hospital Association Executive Vice President Jody Ann Tritt and a brief comment from Arkansas Children’s. DHS outlined the main hospital payment streams: fee-for-service per diem payments, upper payment limit (UPL) supplemental payments, cost settlements, and smaller payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked for plain-language explanations of cost settlements, why per diem rates vary by hospital type, and why UPL applies to private hospitals. DHS said cost settlements and UPL are mechanisms to help offset Medicaid underpayment, with SFY 2025 hospital payments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars and no general revenue used for supplemental payments beyond the state share funded through hospital assessments and related financing structures. Committee members focused heavily on whether Arkansas hospitals are adequately reimbursed and why rural hospitals struggle. Tritt explained that critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals operate under different federal and state rules, and said lower per diem rates for some facilities help with cash flow and later cost settlement adjustments. She said Arkansas hospitals are under financial strain, citing a negative patient services margin statewide and noting that Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers all contribute to the problem. She also said the association had just authorized a statewide survey of hospital finances and costs, which she expected would take about a year to complete. A major theme was commercial insurance reimbursement. Tritt argued Arkansas hospitals are paid far less than hospitals in neighboring states even though premiums are similar, and said administrative burdens, prior authorizations, and denials add to the problem. She said hospitals receive about 52 to 53 cents on the dollar for Medicaid costs without UPL and about 78 cents with UPL, still below cost. Members also discussed Medicare wage index issues, Medicare Advantage, and whether hospitals could use technology or alternative arrangements to improve finances. No votes were taken on the hospital presentation. At the end of the meeting, DHS provided a brief update on Living Choices and assisted living reimbursement. Officials said one assisted living facility, Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, with nine waiver clients being transitioned to other settings. DHS said the current cost reporting period was underway and that a new rate study could be ready for review before the end of the fiscal year if reports were submitted on time. Members also asked about the broader waiver plan, and DHS said the next waiver iteration would likely be brought back to the committee in the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• promise of the United States of America.
• of the audit and the financial report.
• Of respect for the Majority Chair of the Energy Committee, but all of that would still be possible, what
• of roles cared deeply about the success of the school and the well-being of the students who went there
• Many of you know the costs, many of you know the mandate language, many of you know why you should not

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and first handled routine business including postponing approval of the prior journal and confirming a quorum. Several committee reports were adopted, including measures from Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Tourism and Recreation and Economic Development, Appropriations, Rules, Commerce, and Environmental and Natural Resource Protection. The chamber also adopted House Resolution 531, designating June 2026 as Scoliosis Awareness Month, after testimony from Rep. DeLosier and discussion of a constituent’s experience with severe scoliosis; the resolution passed 201-1. The House then adopted a series of additional resolutions and bills, including Diaper Need Awareness Week, a study on PANS/PANDAS, 717 Day, Little League World Series Week, and a resolution commemorating America 250 in Pennsylvania. It also passed bills on Sunshine Act agenda notice changes, veteran death notifications, Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, township audit deadlines, first responder memorials, road transfers, parole board succession, and restrictions on HOA limits for rooftop solar. The solar bill drew multiple failed amendments on HOA voting rules, native plants, energy-source discrimination, and net metering; one amendment on indemnification for elected officials at special events was adopted. In final passage votes, the House approved legislation to prohibit NDAs related to data centers, with debate centered on transparency and local control; it passed 171-31. The chamber also passed bills allowing Pittsburgh school administrators to collectively bargain, requiring hunting and trapping education options in schools, expanding SWIF’s equity investment authority, and scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule 3 controlled substance. The Counseling Compact bill and a parole-record privilege bill both passed unanimously or near-unanimously, and the House signed those measures for presentation to the Governor. The session ended with referrals of new bills to committees, a motion to adjourn, and adjournment until July 1, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business is introduction of special guests. Introduction of special guests.
• Next order of business is introduction of special guests. Introduction of special guests.
• So I have a couple questions about some of the statements that you've made here.
• I think maybe my first question is, About some of the statements that you've made here.
• It just rises as the cost of goods go up, so it saves us a lot of work and cuts a lot of red tape, so

Transcript Highlights:

• one of the ...year four of the chart you can see here.
• And then as part of one of our large federal grants, which is part of how we’re funding the other parts
• , out of the Arizona Department of Education, and with that comes a series of on-the-job standards that
• This bill denies the rights and responsibility of parents to make decisions that are in the best interest
• So if I make some inaccurate statements, one of the complexities of the law is that it applies to a certain

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Education first heard a presentation from Dr. Victoria Dyson Homer on the Arizona Teacher Residency Program. She argued that Arizona faces a teacher retention and certification crisis, with high attrition and many uncertified or underprepared teachers, and said research shows practice-based residencies improve retention, teacher confidence, and student outcomes. She described the Arizona Teacher Residency as a year-long, cohort-based, district-partnered program with mentoring, coursework, and induction support, and said its early data show very high retention and positive student and teacher feedback. Committee members asked about how the program differs from traditional student teaching, salary schedules, and whether residency graduates outperform traditional preparation pathways; the presentation was generally well received. The committee then took up SCR 1006, a ballot referral dealing with school restroom and locker room accommodations and pronoun/name use for students. The sponsor framed it as a parental rights and student safety measure, while opponents from education, legal, and advocacy backgrounds argued it was discriminatory, unnecessary, and harmful to transgender and non-binary students. After public testimony and member debate, the committee approved SCR 1006 on a 7-5 vote. Members then considered SB 1126, which would require schools to provide certain student records and information to Department of Child Safety caseworkers and prohibit schools from blocking staff from speaking with DCS during abuse or neglect investigations. DCS testified neutral, saying the bill would help clarify information sharing and support child safety; the committee passed the bill 10-0 with two members present. Finally, the committee heard SB 1210, which would require certain out-of-state private postsecondary institutions offering fully online programs to Arizona residents to register with the state board unless they participate in a reciprocity agreement, and to comply with student tuition recovery fund requirements if they collect prepaid tuition. Supporters said the bill closes a regulatory loophole and protects students and the state’s oversight of online providers. The committee approved SB 1210 on an 11-1 vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• one of the ...year four of the chart you can see here.
• And then as part of one of our large federal grants, which is part of how we're funding the other parts
• , out of the Arizona Department of Education, and with that comes a series of on-the-job standards that
• This bill denies the rights and responsibility of parents to make decisions that are in the best interest
• So if I make some inaccurate statements, one of the complexities of the law is that it applies to a certain

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• of really important information. 911 calls, audio witness statements, all the media reporting, newspaper
• In a somewhat unusual level of interest, 468 entities dialed in to the Zoom call.
• Some of them were extensively interviewed in the media, or at least one of them, so we used her statement
• Yes, and audio statements that were taken of them. Were any of them interviewed?
• The only thing that I would point out in the interest of fairness and in the interest of hindsight, and

Transcript Highlights:

• extraordinary work of our budget subcommittee chairs, of the members of this committee, of our incredibly
• proud of.
• Of course, I wanted to kind of go back to some of the housing.
• And so we do our part of the care of our seniors today.
• falling off of SNAP benefits as a result of HR1 cuts.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of that business went to the state of Georgia.
• And so we have a huge number of folks interested. Thank you.
• And so we have a huge number of folks interested in this type of profession.
• Of Missouri.
• of families, especially parents of young children.

Summary: The House first established a quorum, then took up several bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 2297, a fence-law bill, was presented as a way to let livestock owners enter up to 10 feet onto neighboring property to repair fences, remove trees and debris on the fence line, and avoid trespass liability while repairing damage caused by livestock escaping. Supporters said the measure addresses a real rural problem and protects farmers who are already responsible for keeping animals contained; the bill was adopted and perfected and printed after debate over property rights and access concerns. The chamber then considered House Bills 2142 and 2058, a film and television tax incentive measure. Supporters said Missouri’s film credit program has produced strong economic returns, created jobs, and attracted productions, and they argued for combining separate film and TV funding buckets while removing a proposed sunset extension. An amendment to keep the sunset at 2029 was adopted, and the bill was then adopted, perfected, and printed. The House also took up House Bill 3004, a hardwood labeling bill requiring products sold in Missouri to be labeled accurately as wood or non-wood materials; supporters framed it as truth-in-advertising and protection for the state’s timber industry, while one member questioned how the law would apply to online and out-of-state sellers. The bill was adopted and perfected and printed. Next, the House considered House Bills 3283 and 3306, which set a timeline and process for public-sector collective bargaining disputes, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, and defined “good faith” in bargaining. An amendment narrowed the bill so it would not apply to teachers, police, or other excluded public employees under existing law. Supporters said the bill would prevent years-long contract disputes and save taxpayer money, especially for firefighters and other first responders; the substitute was adopted and perfected and printed. Finally, House Bill 2536, a bill on sex-designated restrooms and other private spaces in government-controlled settings, drew extensive debate. The sponsor said it was intended to protect privacy and safety in restrooms, changing rooms, sleeping quarters, schools, airports, correctional facilities, and similar spaces, and an amendment clarified exceptions for corrections officers and other public safety duties. Opponents argued the bill would target transgender people, create enforcement problems, and rely on signage rather than preventing crime; supporters said it was needed to protect women and girls. The amendment was adopted, and debate continued on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the effort of you investing in financial aid and support of our students.
• support</c><00:26:23.480><c> of</c><00:26:23.560><c> our</c> in financial aid and support of our in
• chair sign off on a financial statement each year saying that they're financially secure.
• </c><00:33:24.640><c> So,</c> financially good statements. So, financially good statements.
• Um, you know, we're looking at financial health of institutions.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met for an overview of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). After approving the prior meeting minutes, staff from CPE explained that the council was reconstituted in 1997 and serves as Kentucky’s statewide coordinating body for higher education, with responsibilities including advising the General Assembly and governor, coordinating the postsecondary system, supporting budget and performance funding work, and using data to track outcomes. They described Kentucky’s governance structure, including the KCTCS governing board, independent boards at public universities, and CPE’s role in licensing private institutions and overseeing transfer, closed-school records, and tuition approval. CPE staff emphasized statewide strategic planning and the “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of working-age Kentuckians hold a meaningful credential by 2030. They said the agency uses dashboards, KPIs, and peer comparisons to set targets for institutions and monitor enrollment, retention, and graduation. They also highlighted the Kentucky Graduate Profile, a voluntary effort to embed 10 essential workforce skills into general education and major programs, and noted ongoing work on academic program approval, performance funding, and a biennial budget request. The presentation also focused on student support and workforce alignment initiatives. Staff described the Kentucky Advising Academy, the Commonwealth Education Continuum, and the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, which work with K-12 partners and campuses to improve advising, transfer, wraparound supports, and career planning. They also discussed GEAR UP, the Futurity career-planning platform, and efforts to connect education pathways to workforce needs, including healthcare, veterans, and other adult learners. CPE reported that student debt at graduation has fallen to $10,168 at public institutions and that six in ten Kentucky undergraduates graduate debt free.

Transcript Highlights:

• KLC and the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police are here to discuss one of the most significant
• </c><00:16:04.960><c> times,</c> first line of defense a lot of times, first line of defense a lot of
• </c> a lot of money. a lot of money.
• All of our training, all of the time spent, all of our equipment, and all of our travel comes out of
• /4 of the cost of We operate at about 1/4 of the cost of other<00:53:23.800><c> agencies</c><00:53:25.000

Bills: HB339

Committee: Joint Local Government