Video & Transcript Research : 'priority'
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MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 01/21/25
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- She said she looks forward to continuing to brainstorm and come up with policies and priorities that
- She said she looks forward to continuing to brainstorm and come up with those policies and priorities
- <00:07:26.199>
which with those policies and priorities which with those policies and priorities - The scoring criteria also allows us to be constantly adjusting to the state's changing priorities.
- The scoring criteria also allows us to be constantly adjusting to the state's changing priorities.
Summary:
The Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee met for an organizational hearing focused on introductions, committee jurisdiction, and a presentation from Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner Jennifer Ho. Members described their priorities for the session, including addressing HOA issues, senior housing affordability, manufactured housing exploitation, first-time homebuyer access, housing and health connections, homelessness protections, downtown conversions, and expanding starter homes, ADUs, and smaller multifamily housing. Chair Port emphasized bipartisan collaboration and the committee’s focus on removing barriers to housing production and expanding homeownership.
A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to remembering Senator Carrie Dietz, with Chair Port, Senator Draheim, and Commissioner Ho each describing her deep knowledge, behind-the-scenes leadership, and role in major housing accomplishments. They highlighted her work on fire sprinkler requirements in high-rise buildings, rental housing safety, public and nonprofit housing repairs, protections against predatory investors, manufactured and workforce housing, tenant protections, down payment assistance, local affordable housing aid, homelessness services, and the Bring It Home program, which helped pave the way for Minnesota’s rental voucher program. Advocates’ letters honoring her contributions were also made available to members.
Committee staff then reviewed the panel’s jurisdiction, including housing and homelessness prevention, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency oversight and budget matters, housing bond allocation authority, housing infrastructure bonds, manufactured housing, rent control, transitional housing, and homeless prevention. Chair Port said the budget overview would be held for a later hearing. Commissioner Ho introduced her staff and outlined Minnesota Housing’s mission as a statewide mission-driven financial institution that finances affordable housing, homeownership, supportive housing, homelessness prevention, and manufactured housing through partnerships with lenders, developers, service providers, tribes, and local governments. No votes or formal legislative actions were taken at this meeting.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 41 (3-6-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm here because people before me fought to make awareness a priority.
- <00:49:31.680>
in <00:49:31.840>our prevention remains a priority in our prevention - remains a priority in our Commonwealth.
- > priorities shift, your perspective priorities shift, your perspective sharpens,<00:49:47.400>
and - make awareness a priority. make awareness a priority.
Summary:
The House convened, received the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. The clerk also announced Senate passage of Senate Bills 59, 137, 177, and 199 and requested concurrence. The chamber then moved into second reading, reporting a slate of bills and resolutions on health care, energy, child welfare, Medicaid, workplace violence, and coal/energy assessment, before proceeding to third reading and passage of several measures.
A major focus was House Bill 542 on eminent domain. The sponsor described it as a transparency measure to improve communication with property owners, require better notice, prohibit misleading statements, allow owner-paid appraisals to be used throughout negotiations, and account for agricultural improvements and access. Members discussed the bill’s intent to treat property owners fairly and reduce court costs; the House adopted House Committee Substitute 1 and passed the bill 89-0. House Bill 565 on fire protection was presented as technical cleanup to clarify enforcement authority for local fire appeal boards created last year, and it passed 91-0.
The House also passed House Bill 611 on domestic relations, which creates a 10-year interpersonal protective order for certain felony assault convictions involving family members, unmarried couples, or dating partners, and updates domestic violence data reporting requirements; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed 91-0. House Bill 657 on professional licensing background checks was explained as giving five licensure boards authority to obtain FBI ORI numbers so they can receive fingerprint background checks and comply with interstate compacts; it passed 91-0. House Bill 762 on legal representation was amended on the floor to avoid excluding appellate attorneys, then passed 91-0; it was described as clarifying Department of Public Advocacy representation and related salary provisions.
The House also passed House Bill 108 on solid waste management, which its sponsor said closes a loophole allowing residual waste landfills to be sited in a different county from the industry without local input; it passed 79-8. House Bill 67 on schools, a cleanup measure to prior legislation requiring traceable communication systems for school employees, was introduced with a committee substitute and discussed as clarifying definitions and exemptions while preserving protections for students; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs Aug 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And this is a top priority for us. I believe we will get to parity in the next round.
- For us, this has several priorities that I want to touch on briefly.
- I want to echo your comments about the priority from our leadership.
- I want to echo your comments about the priority from our leadership.
- As the Majority Leader mentioned earlier, this is a priority for our Speaker.
Summary:
The California State Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its first hearing to examine the state of child care access, affordability, and provider compensation. Chair Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and other members described child care as essential infrastructure for working families and the economy, noting that costs are unaffordable for many households and that providers are underpaid. Early testimony came from a San Francisco parent, Quinn Chung, who described the difficulty of finding safe care and the financial and career sacrifices caused by lack of child care, and from Tuolumne County provider Anita Viscini, who detailed her monthly costs, low margins, and the need to work weekends and teach CPR classes to make ends meet. Assemblymembers also emphasized the crisis in rural communities and the need for a long-term strategy.
The first policy panel featured Jennifer Troia of the California Department of Social Services, Laura Pryor of the California Budget and Policy Center, and Alexa Frankenberg of Child Care Providers United. Troia said the state has nearly doubled child care funding in five years, expanded subsidy slots, and reached a new tentative three-year agreement with providers that includes cost-of-living adjustments, stabilization payments, and continued work on an alternative rate methodology and single rate structure. Pryor argued that despite funding gains, child care remains too expensive, only a fraction of eligible children receive subsidies, and provider wages remain far below comparable jobs, worsening racial and gender inequities. Frankenberg said the tentative agreement is progress but not enough, calling for a true cost-of-care system, fair wages, paid time off, better support for emergency and nontraditional care, and stronger integration of family child care into the mixed-delivery system.
Members asked about why the crisis persists, how the alternative methodology will work, how family fees and sliding-scale help are being used, and why middle-income families still struggle. The panel said the problem reflects long-term underinvestment, a broken market, and a system that still leaves many families without access. The committee also heard an economic panel from Ashley Hoffman of the California Chamber of Commerce and Sarah Bone of the Public Policy Institute of California. Hoffman described employer child care benefits and public-private partnership models in other states, including shared-cost programs and local chamber efforts. Bone said child care costs reduce family financial security and labor force participation, especially for mothers of young children, and estimated that if mothers of young children worked at the same rate as mothers of older children, more than 80,000 additional women could be in the workforce each year. In the final panel, parent and provider advocates, including Jennifer Greppie and Black Californians United for Early Care and Education co-founder Keisha Doyle, argued for fully funding child care, ending waiting lists, protecting culturally affirming care, and addressing racial inequities and private equity’s role in the sector.
NV
Nevada 2025 Regular Session
Assembly Committee on Ways and Means May 31st, 2025 at 09:00 am
Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- and that's not something DMV has, you know, as a priority or can afford to do, it's still in statute
- because I think it's a priority for our constituents.
- We're here in strong support of SB 132, which is one of NCL's top funding priorities this legislative
- NAPNA, For making GME expansion a top priority, and NSMA, ACOG, and NAPNA are in proud support.
- The priority for awards... And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions the committee may have.
Bills:
AB568, SB90, SB133, SB147, SB229, SB233, SB240, SB245, SB280, SB378, SB393, SB417, SB434, SB494, SB495, AB62, SB104, SB119, SB132, SB193, SB262, SB422, SB431, SB435, SB468, SB503
Keywords:
higher education, Nevada System of Higher Education, operational expenses, instructional expenses, public funding, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel, civics education, Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, funding, youth programs, civic involvement, Southern Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas Valley, regional planning, economic resiliency
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations & Revenue. (7-1-26)
Appropriations & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:36:17.200>
one We only spend our funds on priority one We only spend our funds on priority - Again, that priority is on the far left, 2B, which tells me they're not going to do it right now.
- Again, that priority is on the far left, 2B, which tells me they're not going to do it right now.
- Again, that priority is on the far left, 2B, which tells me they're not going to do it right now.
- Again, that priority is on the far left, 2B, which tells me they're not going to do it right now.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Budget Process 00:02:28
Allotment Process 00:10:30
School Facilities Construction Commission 00:29:10
Role of KDE in School Facilities Funding 00:47:00
Kentucky School Boards Association 01:13:25
Elementary and Secondary School Construction 01:20:40
Perkins V Funding 01:35:32, 958, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- However, it's also worth noting that all of our legislative priorities come from our faculty board, a
- The question though top priority for me.
- It's a priority conversation. I'll use today as an example.
- It's a priority conversation.
- maybe aren't as high of a priority? maybe aren't as high of a priority?
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:07:27.760>
number number one priority number number one priority number priority<01:07 - But this is a main priority for us. Thank you.
- <01:20:31.679>
it going forward and it is a priority it going forward and it is a priority - But this is a main priority for us. Thank you.
- But this is a main priority for us. Thank you.
Keywords:
Medicare, health insurance, supplement policies, preexisting conditions, medical assistance, premium classification, real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, continuing education, out-of-state, licensing, commerce, fraud prevention, automobile theft, law enforcement, insurance crimes, 1183
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Tue Feb 11, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- to plan and implement subsequent priorities as well as priority two is really setting up the Office
- I recognize that there's 10 priorities I recognize that there's 10 priorities identified<02:48:37.880
- >
one <02:48:40.000>and identified and priority ones and one and identified and priority - /c><02:48:48.080>
two <02:48:48.359>is priorities as well as priority two is priorities - priority vegetation and Land Management priority can<02:49:11.439>
um <02:49:11.800>you
Summary:
The committee heard three House bills related to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. HB 606 would extend the Act 279 special fund to June 30, 2028, continue deposits and appropriations to help eliminate the DHHL waitlist, and require a strategic plan and annual reporting. DHHL strongly supported the measure, saying most of the initial $600 million had been used and that the need remains large, with more than 29,000 people on the waitlist. Public testimony also supported the bill, emphasizing its importance to Native Hawaiian families and concerns about Hawaiians leaving the islands because of housing costs. A member noted the bill is a priority and that the committee will keep working on how to fund another $600 million.
HB 1086 would exempt DHHL homestead lot and housing development from general excise and use taxes. DHHL supported the bill, saying any tax savings would reduce the eventual cost of housing for low-income beneficiaries. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the measure and noted it is already being implemented under the governor’s emergency proclamation, with a proposed effective date of January 1, 2026. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical comments and urged the committee to weigh existing benefits already received by DHHL beneficiaries.
HB 1307 would appropriate funds for DHHL water well development and geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL said the bill is a follow-up to prior study funding and would support slim-hole drilling, site evaluation, and consultant work to identify viable geothermal resources, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Several testifiers opposed the bill, arguing there had been inadequate beneficiary consultation, raising environmental, cultural, and safety concerns, and objecting to using $20 million for geothermal rather than housing. In response to committee questions, DHHL staff explained that the goal is to gather information for a future public-private partnership to develop geothermal electricity, and that a Chapter 343 environmental review would be required later in the process. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee Apr 2nd, 2025
Children and Senior Advocacy
Transcript Highlights:
- The priority number one is the welfare of the child.
- The priority number one is the welfare of the child. So this does not change the DHR timeline.
- That is priority number one. They have great policy procedures.
- That's priority number one, but... ...of the child. That's for clarity's sake.
Bills:
HB340
Keywords:
child protection, due process, family preservation, child custody, human resources, 1136, house, all
WI
Wisconsin 2026 1st Special Session
Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs and Senate Committee on Natural Resources Veterans and Military Affairs May 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Eliminating these behaviors from our ranks has long been one of our top priorities, and it remains central
- My number one priority is to create a culture where everyone in this organization feels safe and protected
- I know that they kind of put together priorities, and so I talked to them at the start of this legislative
- We had actually... ...priorities, and so I talked to them at the start of this legislative session.
- We had actually gotten a couple of their priorities signed into law this session.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations - S/C on Article III Feb 26th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Article III
Transcript Highlights:
- Our remaining legislative priorities are similar to those in the past and are straightforward.
- And as you can see by our handout, our top legislative priority is clear to support the coordinating
- The funding requests outlined in the handout will allow us to tackle some of the state's highest priority
- funding is the primary way Lamar is funded, securing additional funding through this formula is a high priority
- Our highest priority is the restoration of our institutional enhancement exceptional item funding in
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Article III Feb 26th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Article III
Transcript Highlights:
- Our remaining legislative priorities are similar to those in the past and are straightforward.
- And as you can see by our hand. out our top legislative priority is clear to support the Coordinating
- The funding requests outlined in the handout will allow us to tackle some of the state's highest priority
- is the primary way Lamar is funded and carrying additional funding through this formula is a high priority
- Our highest priority is the.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion
Transcript Highlights:
- So our priorities include banning future 287G agreements.
- The second priority, and our recommendation, is prohibiting informal partnerships with ICE.
- The fourth priority is to find legal help to fight deportations.
- in complementary ways, and we just ask that these priorities be reflected in them.
- We need to start in Massachusetts, and... ...those priorities right there—that’s a place to start.
Summary:
The committee held an informational hearing on responding to federal immigration enforcement in Massachusetts, with opening remarks from Sen. Liz Miranda and Rep. Bud Williams emphasizing fear in immigrant communities, recent ICE operations, and the need to learn from advocates and affected residents rather than debate individual bills. The hearing was organized around three topics: detention, arrests, and surveillance, with members repeatedly asking what the legislature can do to improve transparency, legal access, and oversight.
On detention, Leah Hastings of Prisoners’ Legal Services said most people end up in ICE custody through contact with the criminal legal system and argued that state carceral systems are deeply intertwined with immigration enforcement. She described conditions at Plymouth County House of Correction and Burlington ICE holding as concerning, citing limited medical care, disability accommodations, solitary confinement, retaliatory transfers, and poor attorney access. Hastings said Massachusetts should reduce funding for sheriffs and the Department of Corrections, ban intergovernmental service agreements and 287(g) agreements, and invest instead in housing, treatment, and other community supports. Members also discussed ICE reimbursement, the immigrant legal defense fund, and the need for more immigration attorneys.
On arrests and enforcement tactics, David Albright of JALSA said federal immigration enforcement has been expanded by major new funding and incentives, including higher payments for 287(g) and bed contracts, and he noted that most ICE detainees nationally do not have criminal records. He said Massachusetts has one 287(g) agreement with the Department of Corrections and one IGSA with Plymouth County, and that ICE also uses Burlington, Hanscom, and informal local collaboration in places such as Milford and Auburn. Danny Tampona of Neighbor to Neighbor and the LUCE Rapid Response Network described more than 10,000 hotline calls from 46 cities and towns, with arrests often involving masked agents, surveillance of workers and families, traffic stops, broken windows, and arrests at check-ins or schools; he said the network is concentrated in places including Everett, Chelsea, Lynn, New Bedford, Milford, Marlboro, Framingham, and Springfield. He urged legislation requiring clear identification for law enforcement, limits on surveillance technologies, and stronger legal defense resources.
On surveillance, Joshua Dancoff of Citizens for Juvenile Justice argued that current state policies allow broad sharing of fingerprints and surveillance data with ICE, including through BRIC, the Massachusetts Fusion Center, and municipal police policies. He cited cases in Chelsea and Everett where children were taken from police custody into ICE custody and said many departments automatically share arrest fingerprints and other information with federal authorities. He recommended limiting fingerprint sharing, restricting surveillance databases and task-force participation, and curbing police and sheriff collaboration with ICE even where no formal 287(g) exists. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for more immigration lawyers, possible bar advocate-style funding for immigration defense, and legislative action to prevent further collaboration and deportation infrastructure.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- the priorities of the state and how you spend our precious tax dollars.
- the priorities of the state and how you spend our precious tax dollars.
- Gator as an important priority in the mix of how we deliver education in Louisiana.
- But this is a priority.” “This is a priority that families are asking for. It’s popular.
- That was a top priority for L.A. Gator last year.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Children and Families Jan 13th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Children and Families
Transcript Highlights:
- I think that it gets the priority that it needs.
- Everybody's going to come and say that their priority is... ...excuse for not having it.
- Everybody's going to come and say that their priority is public safety.
- Efforts play a key role in executing and delivering on this priority for Missourians.
- And so that has been a priority for many of us, to change that.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture (11-6-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, but there's some of those priorities that I feel like will be priorities of 2026.
- Reid to talk about our budget priorities that we have. Thank you, Commissioner.
- Reid to talk about our budget priorities that we have. Thank you, Commissioner.
- Reid to talk about our budget priorities that we have. Thank you, Commissioner.
- [laughter] But, uh, like you said, we'll just go straight to our priorities.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:01:00
Approval of Minutes 00:02:31
Kentucky Farm Bureau 00:02:42
Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:28:18
Kentucky Cattlemen's Association 01:48:13, 958, all
Summary:
The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products.
Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December.
Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AGR/AEN Joint Info Briefing - Fri Jan 17, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- under doa's programs is a priority under doa's programs is a priority action<01:24:16.000>
item - <01:24:23.920>
action domain and it is a top priority action domain and it is a top priority - <01:24:47.760>
keyword to protecting 30% of priority keyword to protecting 30% of priority - 01:24:50.840>
2030 <01:24:51.719>that priority Watershed Forest by 2030 that priority Watershed - approximately 20,000 Acres of priority approximately 20,000 Acres of priority Watershed<01:25:36.400
Summary:
The joint House and Senate agriculture committees met on January 17, 2025, for an informational briefing on biosecurity and invasive species; Chair Kahaloa opened by noting there would be no public testimony. Members introduced themselves, and the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) program manager Chelsea Arnot outlined the purpose of the briefing and the statewide impacts of invasive species, citing examples such as coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, coquí frogs, albizia, and mosquito-borne disease. She emphasized that biosecurity requires coordinated action across state departments, counties, federal agencies, universities, and communities, and highlighted HISC’s role in funding interagency projects, island invasive species committees, research, outreach, and early detection efforts.
Arnot and HISC representatives described major funding and program needs, including a requested $4.25 million increase to HISC to raise its baseline budget to $10 million, support island committee operations, research, biocontrol, marine biosecurity, surveillance, and staffing. They also requested $500,000 for the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, saying it is critical to invasive ant research and little fire ant response. The briefing also noted HISC’s leverage of federal dollars, including a $4.6 million REPI award with HISC providing the match, and cited successful collaborative eradications and responses, including veiled chameleons on Maui, axis deer on Hawaiʻi Island, and a 2023 coconut rhinoceros beetle response on Maui that prevented further spread.
Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture officials then discussed implementation of updated administrative rules effective January 20, 2025, which permanently restrict movement of coconut rhinoceros beetle host material and give the department stronger authority to stop movement of infested material. They reported 2024 import activity of about 50,000 ship and aircraft arrivals, inspection/clearance of 20 million pieces, and 16,000 interceptions, with additional staffing from Act 231 expected to increase interceptions. They also described Act 231 funding and current spending status: about 65% obligated and 52% encumbered, with some funds tied to contracts for CRB and little fire ant response, plus an $800,000 green-waste hauling RFP that had to be reissued because of a flaw. The department said 580 Oʻahu homes and 290 Hawaiʻi Island homes are slated for little fire ant treatment, while Maui and Kauaʻi will focus on survey and outreach.
Members questioned how homes are selected for subsidized treatment, whether HISC and the island invasive species committees received Act 231 support, and whether the state should direct how contracted funds are prioritized. Representative Martin raised concerns that the RFP limited eligibility to private pest control companies and excluded more experienced entities such as the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab. Department officials said they would follow up on prioritization and funding details, and noted that emergency proclamations and procurement flexibility could help with rapid response and hiring during invasive species emergencies.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Gun Violence Prevention Working Group - 09/17/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So it's all about priorities and where does this fit on the priority list for me. Thank you.
- on the priority list for me. Thank you. on the priority list for me. Thank you.
- But I I don't know if this is um as u higher priority. once again looking at priorities on on what to
- . once again looking at higher priority. once again looking at priorities<01:57:14.239>
on <01: - must be top priority. must be top priority.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (5-12-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- Protecting the public remains the board's highest priority.
- board's highest priority. board's highest priority.
- [laughter] >> So, the priority categories are based on functional limitations that a person has, like
- When individuals apply, we determine eligibility and then we assign them a priority category.
- When individuals apply, we determine eligibility and then we assign them a priority category.
Summary:
The subcommittee considered an emergency regulation from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, 201 KAR 5021E, along with a staff amendment to conform the text to KRS Chapter 13A. The regulation was described as implementing an Attorney General opinion and a review of optometrists licensed during the 2020–2023 period when alternative testing and waivers were used during the COVID-19 era. The board explained that the rule requires affected licensees to complete specified examinations or an alternative certification before renewing in 2027, and that it now removes the OEBC Canadian exam as a future pathway while preserving recognition of OEBC results submitted during the period when that option was in effect. The staff amendment was approved without objection.
Testimony was sharply divided. Board representatives and the Attorney General’s office said the regulation is needed to protect public health and to bring the licensure review into the formal administrative process. They said the NBEO Part 3 exam is the nationally recognized hands-on clinical licensure test, while the American Board of Optometry certification is a post-licensure credential for already licensed practitioners and is not a substitute for initial licensure testing. They also said no other state uses the ABOC certification for licensure, and that the board’s approach balances fairness, due process, and public protection.
Opponents argued the regulation would allow individuals who were improperly licensed to continue practicing without meeting the same standards as other Kentucky optometrists. A representative from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation described cases of alleged inadequate care and urged the committee to require full national board passage before independent practice. Representatives from ARBO and NBEO said the emergency regulation is not justified as an emergency, does not adequately address public safety or fiscal impacts, and exceeds the board’s authority by creating a renewal path for licensees whose initial licensure was challenged. They emphasized that NBEO Part 3 is a practical, hands-on exam and that the ABOC certification is not designed or validated for initial licensure. The committee asked several questions about the differences between the exams, and no final vote on the regulation itself was described in the transcript beyond approval of the staff amendment.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity 8/27/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Our top priority has been ensuring the continuity of those critical systems I just described to you.
- <00:13:55.279>
To execute both operational priorities. - To execute both operational priorities.
- frankly have not been our top priority. frankly have not been our top priority.
- Our<00:14:10.480>
top <00:14:10.639>priority <00:14:11.279>has <00:14:11.519>