Transcript Highlights:

• You know, they come to us with advanced degrees, either masters or doctoral degrees, and um their content
• You know, they come to us with advanced degrees, either masters or doctoral degrees, and um their content
• You know, they come to us with advanced degrees, either masters or doctoral degrees, and um their content
• You know, they come to us with advanced degrees, either masters or doctoral degrees, and um their content
• or or doctoral degrees either masters or or doctoral degrees and<02:08:43.840> um<02:08:44.000

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint Education and Higher Education committees met on February 10, 2026, first hearing HB 1676, which would create an AI and education task force, require documentation from AI vendors before procurement or use, and appropriate funds. The Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, and University of Hawaii all supported the bill’s intent and described existing AI literacy efforts, teacher training, guidance for students and staff, and privacy/monitoring safeguards. DOE said it had already convened an AI task force, produced a report, trained over 10,000 educators, and embedded AI into computer science and broader curricular guidance. Members questioned DOE about student privacy, harmful content monitoring, personal devices, cell phone policy, teacher training, and whether AI literacy should extend beyond computer science into all subjects and across rural schools. After discussion, the chair announced HB 1676 would be deferred to Friday, February 13, and that a HD1 draft would be prepared. The chair said the committee would revisit the task force composition and procurement standards, with possible elimination of the procurement section, and circulate the revised draft before the next hearing. The committee then recessed and later reconvened for HB 1811, a student loan repayment program for educators. Testimony from the Department of Education, Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, HSTA, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus was generally supportive, with HSTA and the Teacher Standards Board emphasizing teacher recruitment and retention, student loan burden, and the need to address the teacher shortage. In decision-making on HB 1811, the committees adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The main amendment collapsed the repayment structure into a single disbursement of up to $25,000 after five years of service, with technical/non-substantive changes and a corrected effective date. Both the Education and Higher Education committees voted unanimously in favor. Later in the meeting, the Education Committee began hearing HB 1561 on student meals, which drew broad support from the Public Charter School Commission, Department of Health, HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and many individuals. Appleseed requested amendments to ensure charter schools are treated the same as other public schools if eligibility expands and to address reimbursement issues for schools already participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision; members discussed those concerns but no action was taken in the portion of the transcript provided. The committee then moved on to HB 779, on expanding student meal coverage, where DOE supported the intent but said it could not support the bill in its current form because of fiscal constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:39:53.280> It's<00:39:53.520> pushed in the condo master policy.
• It's pushed in the condo master policy.
• because they need it. >> So, they might need coverage because their lender requires it. >> Or the master
• :29.040> so<00:44:29.680> um<00:44:29.920> there's<00:44:30.240> very master
• And so um there's very master policy.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees held an informational briefing on efforts to expand insurance capacity in Hawaii’s property market, especially for condominium and homeowners coverage. The Insurance Commissioner reviewed the background: a legislative task force, the governor’s emergency proclamation in August 2024, and Senate Bill 1044 in May 2025 led to new condo insurance products. He said the work over the past two and a half years was producing positive results and introduced representatives from HPIA and HHRF/HHR to provide updates. HPIA’s board chair and its administrator described the organization’s history, structure, and current products. HPIA said it was created in 1991 as a residual market for homeowners insurance, now writing four residential products: HO2 homeowners, renters, HO6 condo unit owners, and dwelling fire. They reported policy counts have grown again as admitted-market carriers tightened underwriting, and they discussed financial pressure from reinsurance costs, though those costs had declined in 2025 after different purchasing decisions. They also said the market has become more favorable overall, with some capacity returning and deductibles beginning to ease. Members focused much of their questioning on HPIA’s proposed higher dwelling limits. HPIA explained that the current $450,000 limit for homeowners and dwelling fire was set in 2023, but agents are now asking for a higher limit in the $650,000 to $750,000 range because construction costs have risen and many policies are not being submitted when the limit is too low. HPIA said it has the authority to raise the limit through a filing with the Insurance Division and expects more submissions if the cap increases. They also discussed the shift in the book of business from roughly 70% lava-zone coverage to closer to a 50/50 split between lava and non-lava risks. HPIA outlined strategic initiatives: a new policy administration system that went live October 1 and now allows online payments, online claims reporting, and electronic notices; a filed request to raise the homeowners and dwelling fire limit to $650,000 effective March 1 for new business and April 1 for renewals; an increase in the HO6 condo unit owners limit from $5,000 to $100,000; and a planned commercial property all-other-perils-excluding-hurricane condo product targeted for filing by January 31. No votes were taken, and the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a master plan community on HHFDC lands in North Kaa Kamicon Villages, which provide 1,600 homes
• It's a 1,600-unit master-planned community over 273 acres, including an elementary school and 6 acres
• 1600 unit uh master plan community over 1600 unit uh master plan community over 273<01:37:34.360>
• <01:38:11.000> plan<01:38:11.400> Community us to Poise this master plan Community
• us to Poise this master plan Community forward<01:38:12.360> which<01:38:12.480> will<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've currently have a 140-acre site that is being master planned soon for up to 98 townhomes, 350 apartments
• We've currently have a 140-acre site that is being master planned soon for up to 98 townhomes, 350 apartments
• have a 140 acre site that is being<00:08:36.959> uh<00:08:37.519> uh<00:08:38.399> master
• planned<00:08:39.200> soon<00:08:40.000> for<00:08:40.560> up being uh uh master
• planned soon for up being uh uh master planned soon for up to to to uh<00:08:42.640> 98<00:08

Bills: HF4680, HF4047, HF4590, HF3757, HF3569, HF4507, HF4426, HF4927, HF4788, HF4757, HF4747, HF3561, HF4014, HF4013, HF4689, HF4766, HF4589

Keywords: wastewater treatment, improvements, capital investment, Greenfield, bonds, water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, state bonds, public utilities, HF4590, Tamarack, municipal infrastructure, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, Public Facilities Authority, sewer system, collection system, street reconstruction, local infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• Putting master contracts in our code section, putting other elements and tools that we could use to better
• tell you that we are at work right now and have already presented to the IT board with the first master
• contract, and that hopefully that master contract will be with OpenAI.
• tell you that we are at work right now and have already presented to the IT board with the first master
• contract, and that hopefully that master contract will be with OpenAI.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 24 February, 2026; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Legislative leaders opened the hearing by focusing on statewide technology issues affecting agencies, including rising IT costs, cloud migration, cybersecurity risks, procurement delays, and the need for better coordination across government systems. They said the meeting was intended to hear from agency directors about current challenges and possible legislative solutions. The ITS director described the state’s IT structure as decentralized but increasingly moving toward shared services. He highlighted recent legislative and executive actions on cloud computing, artificial intelligence, procurement modernization, and data sharing, including House Bill 1491, Senate Bill 2426, Senate Bill 2267, House Bill 958, and an executive order on AI. He said ITS has worked with large agencies on a cloud center of excellence, a procurement modernization advisory council, and a state data exchange, and noted plans for a master contract, potentially with OpenAI, that could be available to all public entities. He also emphasized cybersecurity, saying the state is seeking a secure operations center and a broader “cyber maturity” approach after recent incidents. On procurement, he said the goal is to speed up purchasing while keeping it safe, and on optimization he pointed to potential savings from consolidating duplicate agreements, such as multiple Microsoft enterprise contracts. In response to questions, he said exceptions to centralization would be based on business and technical architecture and regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, CISA, or FERPA, rather than ad hoc decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hold a master peace officer license, a master of arts in public administration, and a master of science
• I'm a master peace officer. I'm an instructor for TCOLE. I'm an instructor for TCOLE.
• I have a master peace officer license.
• I'm a master firefighter. I'm an advanced peace officer.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• 04:30.520> tested funded pilot project that uh, tested funded pilot project that uh, tested master
• <00:04:31.560> mattress<00:04:32.040> collection<00:04:32.560> systems master mattress
• collection systems master mattress collection systems throughout<00:04:33.720> Minnesota.
• My background is in housing, mixed-use development, and larger-scale master plan communities primarily
• My background is in housing, mixed-use development, and larger-scale master plan communities primarily

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, of course, there'll be the master list held by the Department of Revenue."
• And, of course, there'll be the master list held by the Department of Revenue."
• be<00:18:25.679> the<00:18:25.840> the<00:18:26.000> the<00:18:26.559> master
• course, there'll be the the the master course, there'll be the the the master list<00:18:27.280>

Bills: SB57, SB155, HB39, HB77, HB104, SB57, SB155, HB39, HB77, HB104

Keywords: property, acknowledgment, conveyance, business entities, limited liability companies, state employees, payroll deduction, salary deduction, comptroller, membership association, membership dues, voluntary contributions, insurance premiums, financial instruments, deferred compensation, state payroll, employee benefits, association dues, withholding, Alabama Code 36-1-4.3

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce training efforts including but not limited to the strong workforce program, LA RIDES, the Master
• Full-time job and full-time master program, just to make sure I could cover my cost of living.
• Thus this highly successful inter-segmental program fulfills division of the California Master Plan for
• As pertaining to the master plan for career education, the May revision proposes. reducing the investment
• For the other master plan investment with the colleges credit for prior learning that may revise reflects

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You are our everything, Master. And we come to this place this morning, this sacred place, this...
• It also exempts admission to any Association of Tennis Professionals, ATP Masters 1,000 tournament, or
• So why was only Masters 1,000 chosen for a tax break? Senator Avila. Thank you, Mr. President.
• admissions for the MLB, for MLS, for high-profile... ...for MLS, for high-profile bowl games, for the Masters

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides that each public school board is to install exterior master key boxes to allow for rapid
• So SB 132 strengthens public school safety by establishing exterior master key boxes at public schools
• must submit up-to-date blueprints and school mapping data, including the location of the exterior master
• An exterior master box installed on each campus by January 1, 2028, must be placed at a location determined

Bills: HR249, HR251, HB395, HB902, SB83, SB132, SB157, SB338, SB450, SB484, SB501, SB507

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, content standards, K-12 education, public schools, curriculum, digital literacy, computer science, STEM, technology education, student privacy, ethical AI, workforce development, future-ready workforce, instructional resources, education policy, school standards, Louisiana education

Transcript Highlights:

• Down in that great community you heard about, Rancho Mission Viejo, which is the best master-planned
• And that comes back to this issue, what we call master planning.
• But as you look at what we are seeing, as you look at how to plan entire communities, a master-planned
• me telling you that since 2017, since we've had these major conflagrations, we have not lost one master-planned

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Insurance held an informational hearing on how climate change, wildfire risk, and related catastrophes are affecting California’s insurance market, affordability, and availability. Chair and members framed the issue as a statewide challenge tied to resiliency, land use, utilities, legal liability, and the FAIR Plan. Senator Becker noted the hearing was connected to SB 254 and its recent report, while the Vice Chair emphasized that the state’s current regulatory framework limits flexibility and that industry testimony would also have been useful. Amy Bach of United Policyholders described worsening availability and affordability, driven by climate impacts, insurtech/risk scoring, inflation, and the growth of surplus lines coverage. She said the Sustainable Insurance Strategy is beginning to show progress, but the FAIR Plan remains too large and non-admitted carriers create concerns because they are less regulated and do not share FAIR Plan or guaranty fund obligations. She stressed that mitigation incentives, grants, and voluntary insurer rewards for wildfire-hardening are important, but that many households cannot afford the needed improvements. In response to questions, she said underinsurance remains a major problem, especially after recent fires, and suggested stronger insurer responsibility for replacement-cost estimates or broader replacement-cost endorsements. Actuary Nancy Watkins and Stanford’s Michael Wara argued that California must both reduce wildfire risk and allow actuarially sound pricing if it wants a healthier market. Watkins compared the market to a household with rising expenses and said the state needs a mitigation framework focused on the highest-risk communities, especially older neighborhoods and homes near the wildland-urban interface. Wara said premiums must roughly equal expected claims plus expenses, and that California is “burning down too many houses,” which drives both availability problems and higher rates. He highlighted the role of structure-to-structure spread, older housing stock, utility ignitions, and the need to focus on community hardening, not just vegetation management. Both speakers said mitigation should be targeted, science-based, and sustained rather than one-time or scattered. Frank Freebalt of Cal Poly and Michael Gullner of UC Berkeley continued the discussion on fire modeling and risk reduction. Freebalt said the problem is best understood as a structure ignition and urban conflagration problem, requiring integrated land-use, utility, and community mitigation, with evidence-based priorities and better analytics. He emphasized that the state should focus on the highest-risk intersections first and that targeted mitigation can multiply the effectiveness of suppression and evacuation resources. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational and focused on testimony, questions, and policy discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 792, Representative an act relating to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Fund. >> Gentleman
• c><00:52:03.920> to<00:52:04.040> the<00:52:04.200> Tobacco<00:52:04.720> Master
• an act relating to the Tobacco Master an act relating to the Tobacco Master Settlement<00:52:05.600

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 02:25:33.040> our<02:25:33.280> independence<02:25:33.920> from Together, we mastered
• world's greatest cities.<02:26:24.560> Together,<02:26:24.960> we<02:26:25.280> mastered
• Together, we mastered the cities.
• Together, we mastered the world's<02:26:26.640> mightiest<02:26:27.280> industries<02:26

Keywords: Presidential address to the Joint Session of the United States Congress on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School, received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska, and his master
• <01:06:49.680> Nebraska<01:06:50.240> and<01:06:50.480> his<01:06:51.039> master
• <01:06:51.440> of University of Nebraska and his master of University of Nebraska and his
• master of hospital<01:06:52.079> administration<01:06:53.039> from<01:06:53.359> Baylor

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a declared quorum. The chamber approved the journal, received committee reports, and heard the House message transmitting House Bills 44, 66, 305, 313, 432, and House Joint Resolution 25 for concurrence. New Senate measures were also introduced, including bills on virtual currency kiosks, chronic pain treatments, kindergarten readiness child care incentives, municipal financial reporting, and a highway designation. The floor then took up several bills. Senate Bill 172, relating to utility fuel adjustment, was explained as giving the Public Service Commission authority to spread fuel adjustment surcharges over time to reduce spikes in electric bills; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed 38-0. Senate Bill 160, relating to child care centers and an emergency clause, was described as limiting license revocation or suspension to serious violations and adding oversight for new centers; a floor amendment adding the cabinet’s designee to weekly support contacts was adopted, and the bill passed 38-0. Senate Bill 158, concerning vehicle financial protection products, was presented as codifying consumer protections and regulatory standards for gap-type products; it passed 37-0. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 155 on animal health emergencies, which would allow the agriculture commissioner, in consultation with the state veterinarian, to respond more quickly to livestock and poultry emergencies and suspend certain requirements to expedite feed and medicine delivery. Senate Bill 153, addressing harmful and fraudulent practices, was amended and passed 38-0; it codifies fraud-investigation practices, creates a post-disaster contractor registry, and restricts door-to-door solicitations during declared emergencies. Senate Bill 145, updating Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control rules for caterer licenses, passed 35-1, and Senate Bill 118, relating to credit personal property insurance, passed without dissent after a technical committee substitute clarified that gap waivers are excluded and aligned filing rules with existing law. The transcript ends as the chamber moves on to Senate Bill 45 on agritourism, with explanation beginning but no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• She has a master degree though, but she had to go back and get a GED. >> Mhm. >> So I understand those
• uh<00:45:22.800> she<00:45:22.960> has<00:45:23.040> a<00:45:23.200> master
• <00:45:23.440> degree<00:45:23.760> though, She uh she has a master degree though,
• She uh she has a master degree though, but<00:45:24.960> uh<00:45:25.200> so<00:45:25.359

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: MDES presented its FY27 budget request, describing the agency as a special fund workforce agency focused on helping Mississippians get jobs through employment services, labor market information, and unemployment insurance. Executive Director Bill Ashley said the revised request seeks level spending authority similar to FY26, with line-item changes driven mainly by higher salaries and fringe benefits and lower contractual services. He said MDES currently has 406 employees, 28 active recruitments, and six additional planned positions, for a requested total of 440 positions, down from 453 authorized last year. The request also includes $1.4 million for the State Longitudinal Data System and $400,000 for Accelerate Mississippi fiscal support. Committee members asked about the SLDS pass-through funding, whether it is recurring, and the staffing/pin changes; MDES explained the SLDS is a recurring annual pass-through and that the staffing request reflects turnover and recruitment needs rather than a net expansion. Accelerate Mississippi then outlined its FY27 request and program updates. Officials said the office is requesting level funding overall, with some salary adjustments tied to benefits and two new positions, including one for Talent Solutions and one systems administrator. They described workforce initiatives such as Encore, a recruiter/instructor program; Facet, a partnership with Northwest Mississippi Community College to strengthen instructor preparation; Power Path, a K-12 advanced manufacturing credential model; and expanded career coach activity, reporting 204 coaches serving 209 schools and more than 22,000 unique student interactions. They also reviewed funding streams for workforce enhancement training, Mississippi Works, Equip Mississippi, and ARPA, saying ARPA funds are on track to be fully spent by the September 30 reimbursement deadline and that monthly check-ins are being used to ensure funds are drawn down. Members asked about the budget changes, the use of contractual services, and the career coach program; the office said it was shifting some audit and monitoring costs to the funds being monitored and was not requesting an increase for career coach funding. The Mississippi community college presidents and the Community College Board also presented their budget priorities. They reported that Mississippi community colleges served 88,600 students in academic year 2023 and said the system’s graduation rate is about 42 percent, with a goal of reaching 55 percent. Their FY27 request includes a 6 percent salary increase for employees, increased basic operations funding, and continued support for CTE Advantage programs, totaling $61.5 million in general support. On facilities, they requested $150 million after receiving no facilities funding last year, citing roughly $413 million in identified needs across capital improvements, repairs and renovations, and pre-planning. The Community College Board requested restoration of $310,000 in general fund cuts and a new $2 million appropriation for adult education, noting that an estimated 300,000 to 330,000 Mississippians lack a high school diploma. No votes were taken during the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it's really interesting that in the late '90s, when the tobacco settlement master agreement was being
• 08.080> settlement late 90s when the tobacco settlement late 90s when the tobacco settlement master
• 09.520> being<00:24:09.679> made<00:24:10.159> that<00:24:10.400> our master
• agreement was being made that our master agreement was being made that our legislators<00:24:11.120>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:08 Approval of Minutes 00:43 KOAP Report 00:59 KY Office of Drug Control Policy 23:04, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on September 18, 2025, approved the July 10 minutes, and received Brandon Reid’s monthly report on Kentucky agriculture development and finance activity for July and August. Reid emphasized the long-running structure created under House Bill 611 and Senate Bill 28, the role of county agriculture development councils in all 120 counties, and the importance of the program as a national model for supporting Kentucky agriculture. He also introduced new staff and interns, including a new loan programs manager, Rachel Coward, and project manager Kylie Davis. For July, the development board reported $3.4 million invested in agriculture and the finance corporation reported $3.1 million in loans. Highlights included 11 county council meetings, site visits, program reviews, and 18 project reports. July approvals included county agriculture incentive programs, deceased farm animal removal programs, youth incentive programs, county/state projects, infrastructure loans, an agriculture processing loan, and beginning farmer loans. Staff also noted that all 120 counties had submitted their required five-year comprehensive plans on schedule. Bill McCloskey then highlighted several funded projects, including Dino’s Farm LLC in Jefferson County, which received support to purchase a meat processing facility and equipment, with the goal of creating market opportunities for goat, sheep, and cattle producers and establishing Kentucky’s first halal meat processing facility. Other projects included a veterinarian facility project to address large animal vet shortages and Grow Appalachia at Berea College, which provides technical assistance and market support for small-scale and eastern Kentucky producers. Members discussed the need for programs such as high tunnels and other small-scale opportunities in rural areas, and staff noted related resources such as CAPE and NRCS funding. For August, the board reported $500,000 in development board investments and just over $3 million in finance corporation loans, along with fewer staff activities than July but continued county council, site visit, and project review work. August approvals included county agriculture incentive programs, deceased animal removal programs, youth incentive programs, county/state projects, agriculture infrastructure loans, beginning farmer loans, and a horticulture incentives loan. Additional project updates included another veterinary equipment purchase, emergency safety equipment in Graves County, and a food safety and efficiency incentive for Jared Cornet.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I think that um I would hope that the plan could really focus on what are we the masters of, what
• 08:41.519> the could really focus on what are we the could really focus on what are we the masters
• 00:08:42.719> what<00:08:43.599> can<00:08:43.839> we<00:08:44.080> do masters
• of what what what can we do masters of what what what can we do uh<00:08:45.760> that<00:08:46.080

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• money in teaching is to go to a principalship, we're going to lose a lot of good teachers, a lot of master
• of hard work I can even remember<00:37:54.200> in<00:37:54.280> his<00:37:54.440> Masters
• me<00:37:55.480> at<00:37:55.680> 10<00:37:55.920> years remember in his Masters
• me at 10 years remember in his Masters me at 10 years of<00:37:56.319> age<00:37:56.960> proof

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and Travis Pal briefed the committee on Kentucky higher education performance, affordability, workforce alignment, and budget needs. Thompson said the state has made progress toward its 60x30 attainment goal, reporting 56.2% of adults with a credential of value and a 6.4% one-year increase in credentials. He highlighted gains in completion, enrollment recovery after COVID, lower student borrowing and debt, and faster degree completion, saying Kentucky is now back to an average of 4.1 years for four-year degrees. He also emphasized that postsecondary education has a strong return on investment for both students and the state. A major theme was student success and access. Thompson described efforts to reduce barriers through test-optional admissions, the elimination of zero-credit developmental education, expanded wraparound supports, and Bridge programming for students not fully prepared for college. He also promoted Futurity, a student-facing information website, and said CPE wants modest ongoing funding to maintain it. He argued that higher education must work in a P-20 system with K-12, and that the state should better communicate the value of certificates, trade programs, and other credentials, especially for adult learners and men, who he said are underrepresented in college-going. The presentation also focused on performance funding, capital needs, and workforce initiatives. Thompson and Pal said performance funding has pushed institutions toward more need-based aid and lower costs for low-income students, but they want more base funding, more performance funding dollars, and relief from about $38 million in mandated tuition waivers. They also said asset preservation and deferred maintenance remain major needs, estimating roughly $7 billion in campus need overall. On workforce, they cited healthcare pipeline work supported by state funding and private partners, and said HB 200 continues that effort into aviation, aerospace, and defense. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the presentation, which ended with members indicating interest in further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• ranked, regionally focused institution that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. degrees, 49 masters
• initiatives, to support workforce development needs, just as our bachelor's lines. aerospace engineering, master
• of data science, and master of nursing education and leadership degrees.
• actually established and we began as a upper division institution just taking junior. your seniors and masters

Keywords: 1184, house, all