Transcript Highlights:

• which the Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to report on current House documents, for Order C
• within which the Committee on Revenue is authorized to report on current House documents, for Order C
• which the Committee on Transportation is authorized to report on current House documents, for Order C
• The Committee on Steering Policy and Scheduling reports recommending that the following matters be scheduled
• The Committee on Steering Policy and Scheduling reports recommending that the following matters be scheduled

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Committee on Rules reports. It adopted a resolution congratulating Stoneham on its 300th anniversary and approved orders extending reporting deadlines for the Judiciary, Revenue, and Transportation committees. The House also concurred with a Senate referral of a petition on school bus safety to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a petition on dogs and kennels to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee recommended several matters for consideration, including a Millbury town meeting validation bill, a sick leave bank for a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education employee, a commuter rail parking payment pilot program, and a study of extending the Orange Line. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered these items to a third reading. It then passed to enact a bill authorizing Westfield to set an age limit for original appointment as a police officer. The House also took up and passed to engrossment a bill permitting Revere to establish penalties and liens for noise ordinance violations. Finally, it adopted an order to adjourn to Monday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But those events that aren't scheduled may be meeting with different people.
• And that's something that, you know, I'm giving up work schedule to go do that.
• There are certainly C-4s and C-6s.
• They list the donors on Schedule B. Right. Schedule B...
• Schedule B is not subject to public records.

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 23 and advanced several bills dealing with judicial vacancies, travel reimbursement, election administration, public records, and board transparency. Senate Bill 397 by Chairman Reese was reported favorably without objection; it allows the Supreme Court to reappoint a retiring judge on an ad hoc basis to finish cases or provide urgent coverage, while not changing other laws that prevent a judge from returning to the same seat after retiring or resigning. House Bill 398 by Representative Zerang was reported as amended after the committee adopted a new amendment removing lodging from the bill, leaving only meal reimbursement limits tied to the federal GSA rate. House Bill 1201 by Representative Ilk was also reported favorably; it would create per diem pay for legislators doing legislative business outside session and raise statewide elected officials’ salaries using a formula tied to university president pay. The committee deferred Senate Bill 41, which would have extended the deadline for public bodies to publish open-meeting minutes from 20 to 45 days, after the author said he wanted more time to work with opponents. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Abraham, which would have created public-records exceptions for certain university searches, research, and donor information, drew substantial questioning and testimony from the press and members; after amendments narrowed the scope, the committee ultimately held the bill for further work rather than voting it out. Senate Bill 47 by Senator Mizell, as amended, was reported favorably; it requires public boards and commissions to provide contact information, including at least two contacts, a mailing address, email addresses, a website if available, and a phone number, without requiring public funds for member phones. On election-related bills, Senate Bill 248 by Chairman Miller was reported favorably as amended. It allows precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters to be consolidated with another precinct at the same polling place when both use the same ballot, with Secretary of State Landry saying it would preserve voter privacy, reduce costs, and be seamless for voters. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Klein-Peter was also reported favorably; it increases the number of election commissioners allowed in closed party primaries to match staffing needs created by the new system. Senate Bill 106 by Senator Klein-Peter, which makes certain crime-scene photos, audio/video recordings, and digital images nonpublic except by court order or clerk access, was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 2 nays. House Bill 906 by Representative Billings was reported favorably as amended; the amendments let party state central committees decide whether unaffiliated voters may participate in party primaries, require notice to the Department of State, and make participation rules consistent across the party’s related races, with an effective date of January 1, 2027. The committee also deferred Senate Bills 218 and 220 to the following week before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• But those events that aren't scheduled may be meeting with different people.
• We tried to sit down, but we just had conflicting schedules.
• There are certainly C-4s and C-6s.
• They list the donors on Schedule B. Right. Schedule B...
• Schedule B is not subject to public records.

Bills: HB398, HB906, HB1201, SB41, SB47, SB106, SB210, SB218, SB220, SB248, SB289, SB397

Keywords: travel expenses, reimbursement, state officials, US General Services Administration, disaster management, nominating petitions, unaffiliated voters, party primaries, political participation, elections, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, boards and commissions, public records, contact information, email addresses, phone numbers

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 23 and advanced several bills related to judicial appointments, travel reimbursement, elections, public records, and board transparency. Senate Bill 397 by Chairman Reese was reported favorably without objection after discussion clarifying that it would allow retired or resigned judges to be reappointed ad hoc to finish cases or provide temporary coverage, without changing existing limits on returning to the vacated seat. House Bill 398 by Representative Zerang was amended to remove lodging from the reimbursement cap and instead tie meal reimbursements for state officials and employees to the federal General Services Administration rate; it was then reported as amended. House Bill 1201 by Representative Ilk, which would create per diem for legislative business outside session and adjust salaries for statewide elected officials using a formula tied to university president pay, was also reported favorably without objection. Senate Bill 41 by Senator Allen, which would have extended the deadline for local public bodies to publish meeting minutes from 20 to 45 days, drew concerns about delayed public access and was voluntarily deferred in committee for further work. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Abraham, proposing confidentiality exceptions for university presidential searches, research records, and certain donor information, was heavily debated; opponents argued the donor provisions were unnecessary and could reduce transparency, and the bill was held in committee for further work. Senate Bill 248 by Chairman Miller, allowing precincts with fewer than 20 voters to be consolidated with another precinct at the same polling place and same ballot, was supported by the Secretary of State as a privacy and efficiency measure and was reported favorably as amended. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 47 by Senator Mizell, as amended, requiring public boards and commissions to provide contact information, including email and phone access, for members and designated contacts. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Klein-Peter, increasing the number of election commissioners for closed party primaries, was reported favorably. Senate Bill 106 by Senator Klein-Peter, restricting public release of certain crime scene photos, audio, video, and digital images except by court order or clerk of court, was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 2 nays. Finally, House Bill 906 by Representative Billings, revising presidential nominating petitions and rules for unaffiliated voters in party primaries, was amended and reported favorably; the committee then deferred Senate Bills 218 and 220 to the following week and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• establish<01:25:21.960><c> ac><01:25:22.080><c> feec><01:25:22.440><c> schedulec><01:25:23.000
• ><c> Ic><01:25:23.080><c> thinkc><01:25:23.199><c> it'sc> establish a fee schedule I think it's
• ><c> schedulec> charge you can figure out the schedule charge you can figure out the schedule however
• <01:58:32.440><c> schedulec> department to put together the schedule department to put together the
• schedule and<01:58:33.560><c> andc><01:58:33.719><c> Ic><01:58:33.840><c> canc><01:58:34.400><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> wec> which is scheduled to begin in 2029, we which is scheduled to begin in 2029, we need<00:30
• c><00:34:37.520><c> Lanesc> to be scheduled for replacement.
• :11:44.440><c> thatc><02:11:44.680><c> workc><02:11:44.960><c> onc><02:11:45.160><c> schedule
• c><02:11:46.040><c> andc><02:11:46.160><c> willc> keeps that work on schedule and will keeps that
• scheduledc><02:20:07.640><c> pavementc> MnDOT is performing a scheduled pavement MnDOT is performing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:09:55.480><c> Youc><00:09:55.560><c> havec><00:09:55.680><c> toldc><00:09:55.960><c> us
• c><00:09:57.600><c> andc><00:09:57.760><c> wec><00:09:57.880><c> do,c><00:09:58.720><c> toc><
• > wec><00:10:08.160><c> askc><00:10:08.520><c> itc><00:10:08.640><c> inc><00:10:08.720><c> Jesus
• a scheduling<02:57:09.640><c> problem.
• c> scheduling problem. scheduling problem.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then quickly handled routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with the prior journal, and allow bills and committee reports throughout the day. The chamber first took up House amendments to Senate Bill 19 on insurance, including a changed start date and a bill name honoring David McHanie and Roy Johnson. On a long roll, the Senate concurred 22-0 with one abstention. Senator Singleton then used personal privilege to present a Black History observance highlighting Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., and Mahalia Jackson. Committee reports followed, with the Senate confirming Brandy Williams to the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards and Education Commission and Lynn Brewer to the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors. Senator Singleton spoke at length in support of the trades-related confirmation, emphasizing the importance of skilled labor, contractor oversight, and workforce training, while also discussing the need to support such professions and the role of boards in protecting consumers. The Senate also received favorable reports from Judiciary, Education Policy, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Tourism, and Local Legislation on a range of bills, many with amendments or substitutes, and placed them on the next day’s calendar. In motions and resolutions, Senator Elliott recommitted Senate Bill 310 to local legislation and introduced Senate Joint Resolution 50 honoring Coach Tim Carter, which was sent to rules. The Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 51 mourning Junior Harold Sorrells and several House resolutions from the Rules Committee, including recognitions for the Alabama State Games, Mack McCutcheon’s retirement, the Black pioneers of Macon County, Alicia Cannon, Joseph William Jones Jr., and Louis Vuitton the Pitbull Day. The chamber also recognized several school leaders in the gallery and then moved into local bills, beginning with Senate Bill 266, a proposed constitutional amendment regarding Covington County, for which a bill reading was requested using the previous roll.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:03:35.200><c> Withc><00:03:35.360><c> mec><00:03:35.519><c> isc><00:03:35.599><c> myc
• wasc><00:23:21.919><c> scheduledc><00:23:22.159><c> toc><00:23:22.320><c> expirec><00:23:22.640
• ><c> atc><00:23:22.880><c> 100%c> funding was scheduled to expire at 100% funding was scheduled to
• funded by 2037 which is also ahead of<00:25:01.919><c> schedulec><00:25:02.880><c> andc><00:25:03.120
• ><c> ac><00:25:03.360><c> contributionc><00:25:03.840><c> ofc><00:25:04.080><c> 2.97%c> of schedule

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> andc><00:04:14.879><c> soc><00:04:15.120><c> doc><00:04:15.360><c> you.
• /c><00:04:56.800><c> atc><00:04:56.880><c> itc><00:04:57.040><c> andc><00:04:57.280><c> toc>
• c><00:18:55.039><c> It'sc><00:18:55.280><c> onc><00:18:55.600><c> schedulec><00:18:56.000><c>
• It's on schedule and it's<00:18:56.480><c> usingc><00:18:56.880><c> otherc><00:18:57.120><c> project
• ><c> toc><00:23:31.520><c> umc><00:23:32.080><c> toc><00:23:32.400><c> keepc><00:23:32.880><c

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:47 Maintenance 12:40 Approval of Minutes 12:55 Vehicle Regulation 21:08 General Admin and Highways 34:11 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum at first, then later approved the minutes once quorum was established. The committee heard presentations from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Jeremy Slinker, and Sean McCarnieran on maintenance, vehicle regulation, general administration, highways, and related capital projects. Hancock emphasized that maintenance is the cabinet’s most visible public service, especially for snow and ice removal and routine roadway upkeep, and said rising costs have outpaced funding. He cited a 61% increase in highway construction costs since 2020 and said maintenance spending was $488 million in FY 2024 and $511 million in FY 2025, while the FY 2026 baseline request was $483.3 million. The cabinet’s additional maintenance request would add $23.6 million in FY 2027 and $38.6 million in FY 2028, with expected impacts on litter pickup, mowing, vegetation management, and pothole repair if not funded. The cabinet also outlined five maintenance-related capital projects: additional funding for Ballard County maintenance/salt storage, Hopkins County maintenance/salt storage, Whitley County maintenance/salt structure, and the District 2 office and materials lab, plus reauthorization of the Breckinridge County maintenance and salt facility. Hancock also asked for budget language allowing the cabinet to use unexpected restricted and federal funds more quickly, similar to existing authority for federal earmarks. McCarnieran described the governor’s inclusion of funding for the ASHTOWare system, employee health exams, priority IT projects, and a District 7 office renovation request, noting that some items were not funded because they ranked low among competing projects. He also said the governor’s budget included a $7.5 million annual maintenance pool for the cabinet’s 1,200 facilities and requested additional restricted fund authority for Trimark and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Slinker focused on the Department of Vehicle Regulation, saying recent investments in staffing and equipment had reduced wait times and improved customer service in driver licensing offices. He requested $535,600 to keep temporary contract workers in place for the rest of the year, warning that without it regional office operations would have to be reduced. He said the surge in demand was driven by new 15-year-old licensing requirements, vision testing, and Real ID implementation, but believed the volume was beginning to level out. He also outlined FY 2027 and FY 2028 plans totaling $20.38 million and $19.85 million, including six new regional offices and a shift away from temporary workers toward state positions. Additional requests included $106,000 for debt service on the new driver’s license modernization system and operating costs of $5 million in FY 2027 and $2.5 million in FY 2028 to support the transition from the old system. Members asked about the cabinet’s funding sources, and officials said the road fund is the primary source, supported by motor fuels tax, usage tax, driver-related receipts, and some restricted funds; they stressed that the requests were not for additional general fund dollars. Questions also covered employee health exam reimbursements, the annual Trimark/Cumberland Gap contract, and the District 7 renovation request. No votes were taken on the budget items during the meeting, beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• farc><00:01:45.880><c> outc><00:01:46.119><c> havingc><00:01:46.320><c> toc><00:01:46.479><c
• ><c> somec><00:01:47.960><c> ofc><00:01:48.079><c> thesec><00:01:48.640><c> openingsc><00:01:
• :01:50.000><c> knowc><00:01:50.119><c> Ic><00:01:50.200><c> knowc><00:01:50.399><c> DFSc><00:
• c> toc><00:02:54.760><c> doc><00:02:54.959><c> thec><00:02:55.400><c> ac><00:02:56.400><c> five
• c><00:04:07.959><c> Dc><00:04:08.319><c> DVSc><00:04:08.879><c> isc><00:04:09.000><c> ac> look

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• c> have been scheduled.
• ><c> thatc><00:15:05.600><c> exactc><00:15:06.000><c> sessionc><00:15:06.240><c> upc> schedule
• 02:57:27.840><c> ofc><02:57:28.000><c> thisc><02:57:28.240><c> workc> schedule a continuation of
• ><c> what'sc><02:57:33.120><c> alreadyc><02:57:33.359><c> scheduledc> have done what's already
• scheduled have done what's already scheduled >> to<02:57:35.680><c> lookc><02:57:35.840><c> at

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May 7th has been scheduled for summary judgment.
• And so the use of the fee schedule is...
• Price scheduling, you say you do like that word.
• I think where you CVS standard rate schedule, yes.
• We are not concerned about section, subsection B; it's subsection C because subsection C has a direct

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> andc><00:01:34.640><c> uhc><00:01:34.799><c> I'mc><00:01:34.960><c> goingc><00:01:35.040>
• :01:36.320><c> andc><00:01:36.479><c> thenc><00:01:36.640><c> I'vec><00:01:36.880><c> askedc>
• That's<00:13:22.880><c> ac><00:13:23.120><c> currentc><00:13:23.360><c> schedule.
• c><00:13:24.320><c> Uhc><00:13:24.639><c> thatc><00:13:24.880><c> willc> That's a current schedule
• c><00:35:37.760><c> Andc><00:35:37.920><c> ifc><00:35:38.160><c> not,c> schedule statutoily set

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:30 Personnel Cabinet 00:03:25 Department of Veterans Affairs 00:12:40 Auditor of Public Accounts 00:22:39 State Treasurer 00:42:24, 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard from Personnel Cabinet officials on House Bill 6, which required the Kentucky Employees Health Plan to offer a qualified high-deductible health plan by the 2026 plan year. Officials said the plan was already added for 2025, described it as the lowest-premium option with higher deductibles, and explained that federal rules prevent first-dollar coverage except for limited preventive services. They said 264 members had selected the plan out of about 142,000, and noted it also allows health savings accounts. Members asked about the plan’s benefits, what “catastrophic” meant, the deductible amounts, and whether employees were aware of the option; the cabinet said it would continue to highlight the plan in communications and that the deductible is above $8,000 for individuals and above $16,000 for families. The committee then received an update from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs on the Bowling Green veterans center. Officials said the current target is to move into the building on October 28, with first admissions about two months later, pending final fixes and certification steps for Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA. They explained that about $7 million in FY25 appropriations lapsed because of construction delays, staffing ramp-up was postponed to avoid unnecessary spending, and the unspent funds should be considered in the next budget request. Members praised the project and asked about annual operating costs; officials said the current operating budget is about $15 million, though they do not expect to spend all of it this year. The commissioner also announced the fifth annual state commanders conference in Lexington, focused on veterans issues and featuring state, federal, and advocacy leaders. State Auditor Allison Ball then outlined her office’s budget priorities. She said the office is primarily a billing agency that charges audited entities for its work, and warned that some agencies are now signaling they may refuse to pay for audits related to kinship care and the medical cannabis application process. She said the office plans to continue requesting outlier credits for unusually burdensome county audit fees, funding for the ombudsman office’s transition and expanded in-office operations, and revenue replacement for local government audits and possibly state audits and special examinations. Ball also said the office conducts about 500 audits, reviews, and examinations a year and wants to restore performance audits with seed funding, as well as add investigators to the ombudsman office to focus more on child abuse and neglect cases. Members discussed the value of performance audits, the possibility of raising certain board thresholds to account for inflation, and the need for additional capacity to handle more audits.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:01:11.200><c> Wec><00:01:11.360><c> havec><00:01:11.439><c> ac><00:01:11.600><c> motionc
• c><00:01:51.360><c> Ic><00:01:51.600><c> needc><00:01:51.680><c> toc><00:01:51.840><c> sitc
• c> schedule has gone down? schedule has gone down?
• andc><00:56:36.000><c> reviewc><00:56:36.319><c> theirc><00:56:36.640><c> schedulesc><00:56:
• 37.280><c> andc> reviews and review their schedules and reviews and review their schedules and um<00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Government Contracts Committee first approved the minutes from its July 8 meeting and then moved through a large agenda of contracts and deferred items. The committee deferred a Kentucky Education Television contract because the vendor was still not registered with the Secretary of State, and also deferred a University of Louisville contract to the September meeting at the university’s request. Both motions passed by roll call. The committee then took up a contract with the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities for Seven Counties Services. Committee members questioned why the state continues funding the provider despite its ongoing bankruptcy tied to unpaid retirement contributions, how the funding split is determined, whether the state had explored other providers or direct state delivery, and whether all services in the contract are truly required by statute. Agency officials said Seven Counties is the statutorily designated community mental health center for the region, serves about 24,500 people, and provides core safety-net services that would be difficult to replace; they also said the bankruptcy dispute is still ongoing and the contested amount is about $20 million. The committee ultimately deferred the contract to the next meeting and requested additional information on the scope of services and potential offsets or recovery of unfunded liabilities. The final deferred item was a Department for Community Based Services contract with Youth Villages for the Intercept program. DCBS explained that the program is used because it is an approved evidence-based service under the Family First Prevention Services Act, that Youth Villages has Kentucky staff and offices even though it is headquartered in Tennessee, and that the contract is intended to support intensive in-home services, foster care stabilization, and family reunification. Members asked why the services could not be provided in-house, whether Medicaid should cover more of the cost, and whether the state requires the provider to bill Medicaid as a payer of last resort. DCBS said it would verify billing and funding details and provide them back to the committee. The committee then voted to defer the contract to the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 18.800><c> farmingc><00:02:19.160><c> orc><00:02:19.319><c> anythingc><00:02:19.560><c> ofc>
• 02:48.400><c> ofc><00:02:48.560><c> Twic><00:02:48.800><c> Eaglec><00:02:49.800><c> Clarissac
• c><00:25:47.279><c> seemsc><00:25:47.559><c> toc><00:25:47.679><c> bec><00:25:47.840><c> Cc
• family schedules<00:35:01.680><c> soc><00:35:02.640><c> Ic><00:35:02.800><c> justc><00:35:03.280
• c> wantc> schedules so I just um you know uh want schedules so I just um you know uh want to<00:35:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee held a Dairy Day hearing focused on Minnesota’s dairy industry, beginning with a presentation recognizing Pat and Jodi Lunneman of Twin Eagle Dairy in Clarissa as Minnesota Milk Producers’ Dairy Producer of the Year. Their farm’s history, growth from a 50-stall tie-stall barn to an 800-900 cow freestall operation, and the role of family and long-term employees were highlighted. Members praised the Lunnemans’ work, community involvement, and the collaborative nature of the video tribute. Garrett Luthin, president of Minnesota Milk Producers Association, testified on industry priorities. He said the group represents Minnesota’s 1,625 dairy farms and emphasized that dairy farmers invest in their communities and want policies that support long-term viability. He raised concerns about compliance with labor mandates such as earned sick and safe time, paid family leave, and secure retirement requirements, saying dairy work does not fit a standard schedule and that smaller farms lack HR capacity to track leave requirements. He also urged improvements to county and state permitting by allowing processes to run concurrently rather than sequentially, and he expressed support for dairy profitability and development programs. Members asked about the status of federal dairy support programs, labor mandate implementation, and the realities of dairy work. Luthin said Minnesota Milk was waiting on federal action to keep certain dairy funds in place and described labor compliance as a wage and administrative burden. Pat and Jodi Lunneman later described why they expanded their farm in the 1990s, citing labor efficiency, changing economics, and the need to remain profitable; they said they do not use robotic milkers but do use robotic calf feeders. Pat explained their double-12 parallel parlor, three-shift milking schedule, and the need to keep equipment fully utilized. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• 27:59.640><c> hearingsc><00:28:00.360><c> scheduledc><00:28:01.360><c> therec><00:28:01.519><c>
• :30:49.560><c> didc><01:30:49.800><c> schedulec><01:30:50.280><c> thosec><01:30:50.480><c> for<
• /c><01:30:50.679><c> 9:30c> 29th and I did schedule those for 9:30 29th and I did schedule those for
• c> scheduling an executive session scheduling an executive session right<01:31:21.520><c> wouldc>
• c><01:39:31.520><c> uhc> scheduled for January 29th at 1 p.m. uh scheduled for January 29th at 1

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met for its first meeting of the new session with opening remarks, member introductions, and a discussion of committee logistics. Members described their backgrounds and priorities, including criminal justice, right-to-know and privacy issues, domestic violence, death-with-dignity legislation, abortion, firearms, landlord-tenant policy, housing, and technology/privacy concerns. The chair noted there were already 34 bills assigned to the committee and expected more, and said the committee would likely continue to have a heavy workload this session. The chair also outlined how the committee would operate: meetings would generally be on Wednesdays, with possible Mondays as needed; hearings would not require a quorum, but executive sessions would; and members were asked to provide updated phone numbers and email addresses, especially cell numbers. He explained that the committee would continue its practice of seating members in a mixed partisan arrangement to encourage communication, and that the new clerk had joined the committee. A significant portion of the meeting focused on procedures for executive sessions and meeting times. The chair said the committee would follow the traditional rule allowing executive sessions on bills heard that day if proper notice was given, but he would avoid taking up controversial matters without full attendance. Members then discussed whether meetings should start at 9, 9:30, or 10 a.m., with concerns raised about long commutes, evening obligations, and winter driving after dark. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the chair indicated he would try to accommodate the committee’s preference while balancing the workload.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> uhc><01:58:31.040><c> scheduledc><01:58:31.440><c> forc> hearing uh scheduled for hearing uh
• > scheduledc><02:04:04.000><c> HR39.
• c><02:04:26.719><c> schedulec><02:04:27.040><c> hearingc> minutes uh until the schedule hearing
• c><04:02:32.000><c> onec><04:02:32.720><c> scheduledc><04:02:33.040><c> forc> And then uh the
• ><c> it'sc><04:14:59.920><c> notc><04:15:00.159><c> scheduledc><04:15:00.479><c> untilc><04:15

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:02:02.479><c> Ic><00:02:02.719><c> wantc><00:02:02.880><c> toc><00:02:02.960><c> apologize
• <c> isc><00:02:05.520><c> thec><00:02:06.240><c> billc><00:02:06.560><c> thatc> committee.
• c> andc><00:03:14.879><c> Ic><00:03:15.120><c> thinkc><00:03:15.280><c> thec><00:03:15.599><c
• c><00:19:50.640><c> priorc><00:19:50.880><c> toc><00:19:50.960><c> thec><00:19:51.200><c> scheduled
• c> library 30 days prior to the scheduled library 30 days prior to the scheduled public<00:19:51.840

Keywords: Municipalities - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 9:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2578, which would create a federal match land bank fund administered by the Mississippi Development Authority, with a 1.25% administrative allowance and an effective date of July 1, 2026. The chair explained it as a municipal tool to help purchase dilapidated property using available federal and state funds. The committee asked no questions and passed the bill by voice vote, title sufficient, do pass. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2679, the Mississippi Land Bank Act. Sheri Visay of the Mississippi Municipal League testified in support, describing land banks as locally created entities to acquire, manage, and return vacant, abandoned, and tax-forfeited properties to productive use. She emphasized that the bill would not authorize eminent domain, would be locally controlled, and would be subject to public accountability requirements. Senators asked about title, acquisition, funding, and whether the bill should also allow acquisition of privately owned non-tax-forfeited parcels; the sponsor said the bill was intentionally limited at first to tax-forfeited properties, though future expansion could be considered. The committee then passed the bill by voice vote. Next, Senate Bill 2729, with a committee substitute, was explained as a narrow change to allow Capitol Police in Jackson to enforce local noise ordinances for alcohol-permitted businesses, without removing authority from local police or sheriffs. The sponsor said he had spoken with Commissioner Tindle, who did not object, though the chief of Capitol Police was still consulting internally. The committee nonetheless adopted the motion to pass the committee substitute, title sufficient, by voice vote. The committee also took up Senate Bill 2862, a code-forwarding bill related to annexation. The chair noted it made no substantive changes and only brought forward existing code sections, and a reverse repealer was added by amendment. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill, title sufficient, do pass committee substitute. Finally, Senate Bill 2893 proposed expanded notice requirements for zoning changes, including newspaper notice, posting on social media platforms, online posting, public access to the proposed changes, and extending the appeal period from 10 to 20 days. After discussion, an amendment was added to require signage for 30 days instead of 7, and the committee then passed the committee substitute by voice vote. The meeting ended with the bills reported and the committee in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• :44.560><c> theirc><00:01:44.759><c> testimonyc><00:01:45.399><c> forc><00:01:45.640><c> forc
• :01:48.960><c> youc><00:01:49.360><c> umc><00:01:49.799><c> goodc><00:01:49.960><c> morningc>
• /c><00:07:37.039><c> youc><00:07:37.120><c> willc> scheduled later on my handout you will scheduled
• ><00:26:54.480><c> arec><00:26:55.200><c> scheduledc><00:26:55.799><c> forc><00:26:56.360><c> PFA
• c><00:26:56.880><c> fundingc> um we we are scheduled for PFA funding um we we are scheduled for PFA

Bills: HF201, HF217, HF314, HF315, HF406, HF408, HF425, HF426, HF730, HF731, HF652, HF761, HF1079, HF928, HF1017, HF1056, HF1081

Keywords: HF201, Minnesota income tax, tax subtraction, tax deduction, volunteer firefighter, volunteer fire and rescue, emergency responder, ambulance service personnel, EMR, EMS, search and rescue, canine search and rescue, underwater search and rescue, paid-on-call, part-time volunteer, tax relief, state tax law, section 290.0132, drivers license, identification card

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:44.560><c> ifc><00:01:44.880><c> Ic><00:01:45.040><c> didc><00:01:45.200><c> notc>
• ><c> beenc><00:41:22.480><c> scheduledc><00:41:22.800><c> onc> someone who might have been scheduled
• on someone who might have been scheduled on last<00:41:23.440><c> Mondayc><00:41:24.000><c> andc
• > scheduledc><00:41:41.680><c> forc><00:41:42.000><c> aboutc><00:41:42.319><c> 30c> and have
• that scheduled for about 30 and have that scheduled for about 30 patients<00:41:43.520><c> whoc><00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:10:07.360><c> forc><00:10:07.839><c> 11:35c> scheduled for 11:35 scheduled for 11:35 um<00:10:
• /c><00:37:08.480><c> onc><00:37:08.800><c> schedulec><00:37:09.200><c> today,c> So, in order to
• c><02:12:15.920><c> onlyc> 9to-5 schedule.
• ><c> thisc><02:43:33.680><c> point,c><02:43:33.840><c> andc><02:43:34.000><c> Ic> behind schedule
• caught up on our<03:40:07.600><c> schedulec><03:40:08.239><c> andc> our schedule and our schedule

Keywords: 1189, house, all