Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the proposed legislation would close current loopholes by requiring hands-free technology for cell
• Uh, the proposed legislation would close current loopholes by requiring hands-free technology for cell
• It unlawful to have a handheld communication device in your hand.
• So that way people do know communities.
• </c> for the next generation of technology for the next generation of technology that<00:55:03.119><c

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its sixth and final interim meeting after a brief technical delay, approved the October 14 minutes, and heard a presentation on a proposed Kentucky hands-free driving bill. The main discussion centered on distracted driving and a draft measure modeled on South Carolina law that would prohibit holding or supporting a mobile electronic device while driving on public roads, while allowing limited exceptions for parked/stopped vehicles, navigation, emergency reporting, dispatch systems, first responders, and certain hands-free call functions. The bill would make a violation a $100 fine plus court costs, with the draft allocating fine revenue to the traumatic brain injury trust fund, Kentucky trauma care system, and veteran program trust fund. The sponsor also said the bill would address prior concerns about enforcement and clarify that officers need a clear, unobstructed visual observation before stopping a driver, and that they may not search or seize devices or make custodial arrests solely for the violation. Alyssa Burns gave emotional testimony in support of the bill, describing the death of her young daughter Kimberly in a crash she attributed to a distracted driver and urging lawmakers to pass the measure to improve roadway safety. The sponsor cited Kentucky traffic fatality statistics, including 814 deaths in 2023 and an estimated 20% involving distracted driving, and argued that the bill could reduce preventable deaths. Several members voiced support and sympathy, including remarks comparing the effort to past seat belt legislation and suggesting possible future additions such as community service. One member raised concerns about enforcement and whether officers could reliably observe phone use inside vehicles, while another asked about the bill’s interaction with existing texting-while-driving penalties and whether points would still apply. The sponsor said the draft was still being refined, acknowledged gray areas, and invited further changes as the bill moves forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker and gentlelady, is that there is a huge desire from smaller communities and rural communities
• These are all benefits that our most vulnerable communities, such as our rural communities, are most
• They're in the chapter communities.
• and rural communities.
• Technology and mathematics.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're pushing and have been pushing to get the chip technology done.
• I agree with you with that technology, but I don't agree.
• I agree with you with that technology, but I don't agree that I think that would be just an excuse to
• Because we're talking, one is technology and the other is just an app and language.
• And the more we don't have chip technology, the more we have fraud.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Social Services Committee met on April 20 with Senators Cleare, Kavanagh, Weik, and Murray present. The committee considered five bills, all of which were reported to the calendar. Senator Kavanagh introduced S.913, which would remove the requirement that a court proceeding be initiated before someone can qualify for rent arrears grants and ongoing rental assistance; members supported it as a way to avoid unnecessary eviction proceedings. S.2022 by Senator Cooney, which exempts certain income when determining eligibility for public assistance, was also reported without objection. The committee then discussed S.5807A by Senator Sepulveda, requiring EBT-related websites and mobile apps to be available in the 12 most common non-English languages. Several members supported the language-access goal but raised concerns that the bill could distract from or delay implementation of chip technology for EBT cards and fraud prevention; Senators Murray and Weik voted no, while the bill was still reported with concerns to be conveyed to the sponsor. S.7612 by Senator Martinez, establishing statewide co-shelter toolkits, was described as helping domestic violence survivors keep pets safe and together with victims, and it was reported unanimously. Finally, S.8045 by Senator Bino, requiring the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to provide materials on removing accounts from smart home systems, was reported unanimously. Members noted concerns about tracking devices and smart-home-related safety issues in domestic violence cases. No other actions were taken beyond motions, seconding, and reporting each bill to the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we’re not utilizing new technologies.
• we're like ranked 49th in technologies we're like ranked 49th in the<00:40:22.040><c> entire</c><00:
• Many communities do not have the resources to hire independent third parties to do that work for them
• </c> available to host communities available to host communities okay<03:56:47.120><c> any</c><03:56:
• uh the committee afford the community uh the committee with<03:57:54.920><c> your</c><03:57:55.399><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in a work session on several environmental bills, beginning with HP 152, which would prohibit the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps. Members discussed whether the bill should be amended to allow professional pest control use while restricting retail sales to the public. Testimony and member comments focused on animal welfare concerns, the relative humaneness and effectiveness of glue traps versus snap traps, consumer education, enforcement difficulties, and whether the bill should instead be limited to professionals. No vote was taken on HP 152 during the discussion. The committee then turned to HB 171, establishing a moratorium on new landfill permits. Representative Gruber distributed an amendment shortening the proposed moratorium from five years to three years as a compromise. Members supporting the moratorium said it would give the Department of Environmental Services time to update rules and reflect recent landfill-siting reforms, while opponents argued that three years was too long, could tie the hands of a future legislature, and might be difficult to pass in the Senate. Others noted the House, Senate, and governor had each discussed different lengths of moratorium, making the bill a likely bargaining position in later negotiations. Throughout the landfill discussion, members emphasized that the three-year version was intended as a middle ground between a one-year proposal associated with the governor and a six-year Senate bill. Several members said the moratorium reflected years of bipartisan work on solid waste and landfill policy and would help create time for new rules to take effect. The transcript provided does not show a final committee vote or other action on HB 171 during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with our parent community. with our parent community.
• </c><01:37:06.480><c> members</c> businesses and from community members businesses and from community
• We don't think you can do that unless you're out in the community doing that.
• This is about the community saying the kids know how to do the formula.
• </c> um you know, that the technology um you know, that the technology revolution<02:42:58.680><c> that

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• think most recently it's been able to provide some real-time data related to the flu activity in the community
• I mean, it's everybody else is moving at the speed of technology, but yet you guys are thinking about
• ,</c><00:13:30.560><c> but</c> moving at the speed of technology, but moving at the speed of technology
• It helps sustain hospitals' capacity, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities, which is
• It helps sustain hospitals' capacity, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities, which is

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard several health-related measures. SB 3132 on syndromic surveillance drew support from the Department of Health, healthcare organizations, and others, with DOH explaining the bill would formalize a surveillance program that has helped with real-time flu tracking and response to events like the Maui fires. A member raised privacy concerns from opponents, and DOH responded that the data are deidentified and do not include Social Security numbers or dates of birth. No votes were taken on the bill in the portion provided. SB 3134 on emergency medical systems of care received broad support from SHIPA, DOH, military and EMS representatives, and others, who said it would modernize the EMS system. SB 3136 on lead materials and water infrastructure was also supported by DOH and SHIPA; members asked whether the bill would allow Hawaii to keep stronger standards if federal drinking water rules were weakened, and DOH said the state would not have to follow weaker federal standards as long as Hawaii remained as stringent or more stringent. SB 3138 on independent audits of deposit beverage distribution drew support from DOH and several industry groups, but with amendments to reduce burdens on small businesses, raise the audit threshold, and modernize reporting; opponents also testified. DOH later clarified that the measure would affect a limited number of distributors and said it is working on an electronic submission system, though not yet for audit filings. SB 3139 concerning SHIPA was supported by SHIPA and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, while HMSA suggested one provision should remain under the insurance commissioner’s purview. SHIPA said the bill is about collaboration and a broader health vision, not regulation, and members indicated they were comfortable with removing the disputed portion. SB 3207 on background checks drew support from healthcare providers but opposition from the Attorney General and DOH. Supporters argued the FBI fingerprinting requirement is costly, duplicative, and difficult to schedule, while opponents said the bill would improperly shift fingerprint collection authority to hospitals and other facilities and could conflict with federal law. The committee engaged in extended questioning about costs, federal requirements, and whether the mandate would be passed on to patients; no final action is reflected in the excerpt. The committee then began SB 2271 on hospital licensing, with support from SHIPA, the Developmental Disabilities council, healthcare groups, Kaiser Permanente, and DOH, and commenters said the bill would allow hospitals to demonstrate compliance through CMS-recognized accreditation, with a suggested wording change to “approved” accrediting organization.

Transcript Highlights:

• clients and also would expand the definition of lobbying in the lobbying law to include certain communications
• <00:01:08.119><c> with</c><00:01:08.320><c> high</c><00:01:08.520><c> level</c> Communications with high
• level Communications with high level government<00:01:09.159><c> officials</c><00:01:09.600><c> regarding
• We are in many ways kind of a victim of the low technology situation that we have.
• </c> administered contracts any communication administered contracts any communication by<00:45:21.920

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 412 HD1, which would expand the definition of lobbying to include certain communications with high-level officials about procurement decisions and create presumptions regarding lobbying on behalf of private clients. The State Ethics Commission and State Procurement Office supported the measure, saying it would improve transparency and align Hawaii with other states, while the Hawaii Primary Care Association opposed it over concerns that employers and others could be swept in too broadly. No public testimony or questions led to any action on the bill during the hearing. The committee then took up House Bill 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain research purposes and clarify the Office of Information Practices’ rulemaking authority. OIP and the Public First Law Center supported the bill, arguing it would create uniform standards and that concerns could be handled through rules. The University of Hawaiʻi system, DBEDT, DHS, DLNR, and others raised concerns about the breadth of the terms “research” and “researcher,” privacy, confidential information, and possible misuse; Hawaiian Electric also warned about access to sensitive infrastructure information. Members questioned whether the bill was premature and whether definitions should be narrowed in statute, and OIP said it would consider working with agencies and the University on clearer definitions. House Bill 792 HD1, relating to the Office of the Legislative Analyst, drew no testimony beyond a late written support from the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and the committee moved on without discussion. The committee then heard House Bill 1424, which would restrict transfers between appropriated funds for positions and operating expenses. Budget and Finance explained that current practice allows transfers from payroll to other current expenses when there are savings, but legislative appropriations for specific purposes must still be spent for that purpose. Several agencies expressed opposition or concerns, saying the bill could reduce flexibility, especially in response to federal funding changes or vacant positions, though members emphasized transparency and accountability. Budget and Finance suggested a reporting approach instead, and the committee discussed quarterly reporting as a possible alternative. Finally, the committee began House Bill 1153 HD1, which concerns funding adjustments for state programs and capital improvement projects and establishes a protocol fund. Budget and Finance, DAGS, and the State Procurement Office supported the measure, while the General Contractors Association and several construction-related groups opposed section two, arguing it would undo recent procurement protest-bond safeguards adopted in Act 162. The hearing then moved on toward House Bill 1297, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was fully discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e e e e e e e e e <00:08:29.479> e Welcome to the Committee on Economic Development and Technology
• Moving on to our next testifier, we have Pacific Biodiesel Technologies in support.
• Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is the most promising technology to address aviation carbon emissions
• Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair Carlos Pelos, on behalf of the community colleges, we submitted our written
• </c> of the community of the community colleges<00:56:10.799><c> um</c><00:56:11.079><c> we</c><00:56

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on HB 976, a measure related to incentives for renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Supporters said the bill would help close the cost gap between renewable and conventional fuels, strengthen Hawaii’s energy security, support climate goals, and encourage local economic development. Testifiers from Pono Pacific, PAR Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Pacific Biodiesel, Aloha Carbon, and others described ongoing or planned projects, local feedstock development, and potential benefits for agriculture, waste diversion, and emissions reductions. Several testifiers also discussed proposed amendments. The Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition said it wanted to remove the import tax credit, eliminate the aggregate cap increase to avoid additional state funding, and revise local-production language to rely on a carbon-intensity threshold rather than location-based preferences. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised technical concerns about the bill’s administration, including prorating credits if the cap is exceeded and the feasibility of a 30-day filing window. Some supporters urged keeping solid waste, including construction and demolition debris, as eligible feedstock, while Energy Justice Network opposed that approach and also urged removing GMO-related language and waste-based feedstocks because of environmental and toxic emissions concerns. Opposition testimony focused on the bill’s cost and feasibility. Energy Justice Network and Ted Metros argued the measure could become a large subsidy for a refinery and questioned whether Hawaii has enough land and water to produce meaningful quantities of biofuel locally. Metros also criticized the refundable credit structure and said the state should not bear the cost for what he described as a benefit largely tied to tourism and imported fuel. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair later noted the committee had received 13 testimonies in support, 18 in opposition, and seven comments, and then invited further discussion on cost allocation and lowering caps to broaden participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent District 39, which are the communities of St.
• </c><00:34:14.040><c> and</c> explore uh the uh the communities and explore uh the uh the communities
• </c> members it is uh General community members it is uh General community members<00:36:10.480><c> it
• </c><00:36:59.079><c> health</c> State min OTA areas the community health State min OTA areas the community
• </c> they can serve their communities they can serve their communities adequately<01:45:41.920><c> um

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Local communities to be certified.
• Then the community, as a mayor, a former... Wow.
• What kind of communication are you having with those students?
• How do we communicate to the students?
• Clearly, this is a lack of communication. Listen. Clearly, this is a lack of communication.

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs. For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources. The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates. The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Solutions, provide relief, and also ensure safety for our communities.
• Probation and community intervention.
• It focuses on communication skills and conflict resolution.
• We are partnering with community employers.
• We do something called the community assessment tool. It's a validated tool.

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs. Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing. The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted. Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> on</c> Outreach efforts to their communities on Outreach efforts to their communities on the<00:
• You know, we've had lots of things that are technology improvements that are driving improvements.
• </c> Transit partnered with 10 Community Transit partnered with 10 Community organizations<00:48:35.800
• -</c> continuing to partner with community- continuing to partner with community- based<00:49:02.920>
• </c> primarily by mtpd officers and community primarily by mtpd officers and community service<00:52:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• BROADBAND ARE GRATEFUL AND EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT IN PRINT ON YOUR COMMUNITIES
• IT BEGINS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS LOCAL TECHNOLOGY PLANNING TEAMS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
• THE MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY FACILITY PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS FUNDED OVER $86 MILLION TO 29 GRAMS
• THIS PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED ACCESS TO DEVICES TO THOSE HOMES AND COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE
• THIS DICTATES AND SHOWS THE PRIORITY OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:15.440><c> develop</c> I've watched various communities develop I've watched various communities
• <c> and</c><00:35:49.160><c> the</c> those rural communities and the those rural communities and the
• </c> certainly the deaf culture and community certainly the deaf culture and community shouldn't<00:42
• </c> but to have very direct communication but to have very direct communication and<00:46:21.120><c>
• </c> engaging these children to communicate. engaging these children to communicate.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:10 SB 6 Discussion 00:40 SB 6 Vote 00:13:30 Cochlear Implants 00:16:25, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, which would create an endowed research fund to support collaborative university research in Kentucky. Stivers described the bill as an extension of earlier higher-education research efforts, arguing that Kentucky should build research “hubs” by requiring or encouraging partnerships among universities and outside entities, with potential focus areas including health care, engineering, aerospace, agriculture, and other emerging fields. He said the proposal would establish five research tranches over five years and sought a $30 million endowment for each, generating annual interest to fund consortium-based research and leverage additional private and federal dollars. Senators Frommeyer, Neal, Givens, Boswell, and Richardson spoke in support, emphasizing economic development, job creation, and examples from other research clusters such as Boston and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The committee voted 12-0 to report the bill favorably to the Senate floor. The committee then received a presentation from Dr. Matthew Bush of the University of Kentucky on pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants. Bush explained that early hearing detection and intervention is critical because hearing loss in newborns is a neurocognitive emergency that affects language, literacy, and long-term outcomes. He outlined national screening benchmarks, Kentucky’s incidence of childhood hearing loss, and the high educational and societal costs of untreated hearing loss. Bush also highlighted disparities in rural and western Kentucky, where children face delayed diagnosis, longer waits for hearing aids or cochlear implants, and more difficulty accessing follow-up care. He described cochlear implants, the multidisciplinary care they require, and research showing improved language development, quality of life, and cost savings when children are treated early.

Transcript Highlights:

• that are being made, not just the change in Senator DeCourt's life, but to her children, to her community
• name and also said that we had heard that one of the siblings got out and went forward into the community
• </c><00:09:49.000><c> and</c> and went forward into the community and and went forward into the community
• , applying their culinary skills to bake sales, snack fundraisers, community cooking competitions, and
• competitions, and community cooking competitions, and catering<00:23:14.400><c> for</c><00:23:14.520

Bills: HB1576, HB2490, HB1546, HB1588

Keywords: HB1576, Hawaii film industry, DBEDT, BLNR, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Board of Land and Natural Resources, film permits, motion picture production, television production, commercial filming, digital media tax credit, film production tax credit, public notice, transparency, state lands, film studio, land set-aside, revocable permit, memorandum of agreement, memorandum of understanding

Transcript Highlights:

• Another thing we did, which I didn't have time to put in here, is that we did away with a technology
• And again, what's so frustrating when I see them come from a rural community, being raised, born, and
• There is a way to revive some of these communities. It's gonna Take time.
• by that rural community.
• Our drone technologies we're working on drone Detection, first of all.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the best available technology to get to type 1 reuse.
• It's not just important to our community, it's important to all the downstream residents and communities
• Is that when we're talking about communities who have.
• As far as the HOA community-owned systems, um, I don't know.
• And if that's the case, I mean, it's a nonstarter for a whole lot of people in our communities.

Bills: HB 29, HB 685, HB 1633, HB 1689, HB 1690, HB 1918, HB 2010, HB 2500, HB 2608, HB 2626

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...marginalized communities.
• and uphold the oath of serving and protecting our communities on a daily basis.
• That's what builds trust in our communities with our law enforcement.
• I believe there's technology to...
• I believe there's technology to determine who a drone belongs to.

Bills: SB156, SB134, SB108, SB47, SB88, SB89, SB106, SB18, SB9, HB38, HB54

Keywords: habitual felony offender, resentencing, Alabama Department of Corrections, victim notification, criminal justice reform, life sentences, parole eligibility, pardon, parole, law enforcement, GPS monitoring, data sharing, mail theft, stolen mail, criminal penalties, personally identifying information, felony, misdemeanor, expungement, criminal records

Transcript Highlights:

• Following his military service, he moved to Alabama and began a business career in the information technology
• 53.039><c> and</c><00:29:53.279><c> a</c> Guided by faith, family, service, and a deep love for his community
• The university honored him as a School of Communications alumnus of the year in 2001.
• The university honored him as a School of Communications alumnus of the year in 2001.
• The university honored him as a School of Communications alumnus of the year in 2001.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:20:29.440><c> Farm</c> executive director of Community Farm executive director of Community Farm
• We sincerely believe that whether it's a rural community or an urban community, you know, and programs
• community and be profitable.
• ,</c><00:21:40.080><c> you</c> community or an urban community, you community or an urban community,
• </c> rural and urban communities, and that rural and urban communities, and that that<00:21:53.919><c

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:50 Approval of Minutes 00:01:21 KOAP Report 00:01:42 Community Farm Alliance and KY Double Dollars 00:20:25 Feeding Kentucky 00:40:55, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee received a monthly report from the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and the A Development Board/Finance Corporation. Staff reviewed May activity, including county council visits, loan and grant approvals, farm safety funding, and support for beginning farmers, agricultural infrastructure, processing, and county/state projects. The committee also recognized an intern and thanked Tara Roberts for her service as she prepares to leave the agency. Members were reminded about a June 20 anniversary event marking 25 years of the office and related programs. A major topic was K-CARD, the Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Staff explained that the program is being expanded to provide more technical assistance for beginning farmers and farm families, including help with business plans and estate planning/farm transition discussions. Members asked how farmers would access the service and were told the extension office would be the front-line contact, with K-CARD providing the technical assistance and neutral-site consultations. The committee also discussed support for large food animal veterinarians. Staff said the incentive program has helped more than 33 veterinarians and is intended to support existing providers rather than quickly increase numbers; members raised concerns about the pipeline and selection process at Auburn University, and staff said discussions with the university were ongoing. The committee then heard from Community Farm Alliance on Kentucky Double Dollars, Fresh Rx for Moms, and farmers market support programs. CFA reported expansion to roadside stands, more retail onboarding, seven new counties, and estimated economic and farmgate impacts, emphasizing that state funding helps leverage federal and private dollars and stabilize local food access programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the May minutes.