Transcript Highlights:

• Shirley revealed in Minnesota, quote, any image of any designated immigration support services provider
• Shirley had dozens or 50, 60 fake learning centers for the Somali community in Minnesota.
• Shirley revealed in Minnesota, quote, any image of any designated immigration support services provider
• Shirley had dozens or 50, 60 fake learning centers for the Somali community in Minnesota.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on consumer transparency, environmental protection, education accountability, and privacy protections. AB 2143 by Assemblymember Irwin would prohibit online marketplaces from accepting payment for noxious weeds shipped into California; supporters said the bill would close an e-commerce loophole that helps spread invasive species, while TechNet opposed it unless clearer standards and safeguards were added. AB 1744 by Assemblymember Addis, the Clear Labels, Clear Seas Act, would bar sunscreen products containing chemical UV filters from being marketed as “reef safe” or similar claims; supporters, including a Sacramento high school eco club and Surfrider Foundation, said the bill would prevent misleading greenwashing, while the Personal Care Products Council expressed concern about implications for the safety of those ingredients. The committee also heard AB 1861 by Assemblymember Lackey, which would require the California Department of Education to maintain a public, searchable database of special education complaint decisions with personal information redacted. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and help identify patterns of noncompliance affecting students with disabilities, while county education officials argued state resources should instead go toward filling special education vacancies. AB 2624 by Assemblymember Bonta would expand the Safe at Home address confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers and restrict online posting of their personal information when intended to threaten or intimidate; supporters described rising harassment, doxing, and threats against immigrant-serving organizations, while Assemblymember DeMaio raised First Amendment and public transparency concerns and Assemblymember Patterson questioned the bill’s limits on protest and publication. Because the committee initially lacked a quorum, several bills were heard and later voted on once quorum was established. Members generally praised the bills and, in some cases, requested to be added as coauthors. When votes were taken, AB 1861, AB 1744, AB 2143, and AB 2624 all passed out of committee, with AB 2624 receiving 11 aye votes and 2 no votes; the others were reported out on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Community eligibility has played a key role. in allowing Minnesota to offer meals for children, to provide
• Minnesota chips in state funds on top of the federal reimbursements to allow every school. to offer meals
• In Minnesota, for example, schools will lose significant funding for local commodities and farmers, like
• We've done- Meat cutting in Minnesota, I've been at a bunch of their things, in trailers outside the

Bills: SB222

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Keywords: whole milk, school lunch, school meals, National School Lunch Program, Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, Child Nutrition Act, USDA, nutrition standards, dairy, nonfat milk, low-fat milk, reduced-fat milk, lactose-free milk, nondairy beverages, plant-based milk, milk substitution, parental consent, legal guardian, food allergies, allergic reaction

Summary: This meeting of the committee focused primarily on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, S222, which aims to permit schools to offer a fuller range of milk options, including whole, reduced, and low-fat varieties, that have garnered bipartisan support. Chairman Bozeman opened the session by highlighting concerns over children's nutrition and the obesity epidemic, emphasizing the significance of nutritious school meals in addressing these issues. Experts from various organizations were invited to discuss the implications of this bill as well as the current challenges facing school meal programs, including budget constraints and food supply issues. The meeting included passionate testimonies about the direct impacts of current dietary guidelines and federal funding reductions affecting schools' abilities to provide healthy meal options.

Transcript Highlights:

• 27.200><c> representatives</c><00:02:28.000><c> of</c><00:02:28.319><c> uh</c><00:02:28.640><c> coot<
• </c><00:02:29.760><c> to</c><00:02:29.920><c> the</c><00:02:30.080><c> table</c><00:02:30.239><c> and
• identify themselves<00:02:31.360><c> for</c><00:02:31.599><c> the</c><00:02:31.760><c> record?
• Please make sure<00:02:33.360><c> your</c><00:02:33.519><c> microphone</c><00:02:34.000><c> is</c><00
• I'm<00:02:38.720><c> Jim</c><00:02:38.959><c> Barnhart,</c><00:02:40.000><c> uh</c><00:02:40.400><c>

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the May 21 minutes, and welcomed a new executive branch member, Secretary Keith Jackson of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The board also received two informational items: agency responses to prior questions and amendments made to capital plans after the last meeting. It then heard the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s report on executive branch IT capital project scoring, which reviewed 16 IT requests totaling about $330.5 million. COOT said projects were ranked through an independent panel using standardized criteria focused on feasibility, statewide alignment, readiness, impact, and risk; the CIO recommended moving an enterprise application and artificial intelligence inventory system from rank 11 to rank 4 because of its enterprise-wide impact and connection to Senate Bill 4. The Department of Military Affairs presented its capital plan, describing 43 million in projects for the current period and 13 projects totaling $65 million for 2026–2028, with most funding coming from federal sources and restricted agency funds and no general fund request in the latter period. Its projects included maintenance pool adjustments, a statewide Army master plan, the Somerset readiness center, Shelbyville and Ashland armories, a future home for the Kentucky Army National Guard band, and other facility upgrades. Members asked about the Somerset project’s cost growth and federal delay; the department said the project remains in conceptual design, is awaiting federal MILCON action, and would require a state match of about $9.8 million against $29.6 million federal funding if it is approved. Members also asked about staffing levels, and the department said state employee and Title 32 numbers have been relatively steady, while technician positions have declined. The Department of Veterans Affairs outlined seven projects for 2026–2028, led by a Radcliff Veterans Center HVAC replacement that needs an estimated additional $16 million to finish phase two after phase one was already funded. Other requests included a maintenance pool increase, renovations and exterior upgrades at Eastern and Western Kentucky veterans facilities, a cooling tower replacement at Thompson Hood, and parking lot and lighting improvements. The department said some projects were already in the six-year plan and that the Radcliff phase two could be bid in June 2026 if funded. Members confirmed that a columbarium wall project at Grayson is federally funded. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented its six-year capital plan, citing more than $3 billion in loan commitments since 1988 and over $5 billion in supported infrastructure projects. KIA requested $298.439 million in the first biennium, including $27.742 million in state match for federal clean water and drinking water revolving funds, $25 million for its state Infrastructure Revolving Fund, $185.697 million in federal capitalization grants, and $30 million in leverage bond authorization for each year of the two federally assisted loan programs. Members asked about drinking-water quality, and KIA said that function is handled by the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, not KIA. KIA also said its loan rates currently range from 0.5% to 2.25%, averaging just under 1%, and that its revolving loan programs have had no defaults. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began its presentation at the end of the transcript, with staff identifying themselves, but no project details or board action from that presentation were included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Good<01:02:45.680><c> afternoon,</c><01:02:46.079><c> chair,</c><01:02:46.319><c> vice</c><01
• That<01:02:50.880><c> is</c><01:02:50.960><c> a</c><01:02:51.119><c> scary</c><01:02:51.280><c> title
• </c><01:02:51.520><c> for</c><01:02:51.680><c> us,</c><01:02:51.839><c> but</c><01:02:52.319><c> uh</
• uh in this<01:02:52.799><c> case,</c><01:02:53.200><c> we</c><01:02:53.440><c> stand</c><01:02:53.599
• :02:59.200><c> have</c><01:02:59.359><c> testimony</c><01:02:59.760><c> and</c><01:03:00.000><c> support

Committee: House Finance

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 1602 HD1 drew support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Ulupono Initiative, and others, with testimony emphasizing the value of a dedicated grant writer who had secured nearly $9 million in federal funds and was pursuing additional grants. Members discussed how much time grant applications take and how the position helps position projects for implementation. The committee then moved on without objection. HB 1832, relating to aquaculture, received support from state agencies and industry groups, with one individual opposed. HB 1707 HD1, relating to agriculture, also drew broad support. A committee question focused on the bill’s definition of “necessary supplies,” and the Hawaii Farm Bureau said the language was broad enough to cover the inputs farmers need, including transportation-related costs, and would help reduce production costs and food prices. HB 2155 HD1, relating to agricultural statistics, prompted testimony in support of better data collection to help Hawaii compete for federal agriculture funding. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity explained that its role would focus on production, import, and export data, distinct from the scientific data collected by another unit, and said it wanted an electronic system tied to existing manifest and GIS tools to avoid duplicative clipboard-based collection. HB 1831 HD1, relating to agricultural lands, was heard with support and no questions. HB 1650 HD1, relating to environmental assessments, drew opposition from several individuals who argued it would weaken environmental protections and resident input; no action was taken. The committee then heard HB 1652 HD1, relating to storm water management systems. The engineering industry supported clarifying that low-risk green stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavement should not be treated like detention or retention ponds subject to fencing and other safety requirements. Opponents, including family members affected by a drowning and other residents, argued the bill would weaken Act 281’s safety protections and increase liability. The Hawaii Farm Bureau questioned whether agricultural water infrastructure should be exempted from the fencing requirements and said the costs would vary by system, but the committee did not take final action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• :01.279><c> goal</c><01:02:01.520><c> is</c><01:02:01.680><c> to</c><01:02:01.920><c> ensure</c><01:02
• :24.760><c> and</c><01:02:24.920><c> is</c><01:02:25.079><c> in</c><01:02:25.240><c> the</c><01:02:25.359
• <c> district</c><01:02:30.839><c> is</c><01:02:31.039><c> obligated</c><01:02:31.480><c> to</c><01:02
• :32.240><c> service</c><01:02:32.680><c> there</c><01:02:32.799><c> are</c><01:02:33.079><c> times</c
• </c><01:02:36.039><c> that</c><01:02:36.160><c> can</c><01:02:36.359><c> happen</c><01:02:36.559><c>

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:02:48.400><c> And</c><00:02:48.640><c> let's</c><00:02:48.959><c> see,</c><00:02:49.280><c> Kathleen
• And let's see, Kathleen Chu from Bowers<00:02:50.560><c> and</c><00:02:50.720><c> Kubota</c><00:02:51.200
• ><c> is</c><00:02:51.360><c> in</c><00:02:51.519><c> support.
• Don Hegger<00:02:52.720><c> Nordl</c><00:02:53.280><c> is</c><00:02:53.440><c> in</c><00:02:53.599><c
• Uh,<00:02:55.920><c> anyone</c><00:02:56.239><c> else</c><00:02:56.400><c> wishing</c><00:02:56.720><

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committee heard multiple gubernatorial confirmation nominations, beginning with GM509 for Jay Stone to the Environmental Advisory Council. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and other supporters praised Stone’s more than 30 years of engineering experience and said he would help balance environmental protection with economic development. Stone said he wanted to contribute to environmental health and sustainability, and identified sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water as key concerns. The committee then moved to GM531 and GM532, nominations of Judson Leair and Nicholas Ta to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported both nominees. Leair emphasized his farming background and said pesticide policy should be more comprehensive, selective, and threshold-based rather than relying on broad-spectrum use; Ta said he would focus on integrated pest management, label compliance, education, and using the least amount of pesticide necessary, including non-chemical alternatives such as exclusion and behavior changes. The committee next considered GM533, Janet Ashman’s nomination to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau all supported her, citing her experience, responsiveness, and prior service. Ashman said she wanted to help make pesticide regulations more understandable and stressed targeted pest control, scouting, and more precise products. Members asked about the complexity of pesticide regulations and the shift away from broad-based pesticide use; Ashman explained that regulations are complicated for both farmers and homeowners and that newer, more targeted products are needed as pests develop resistance. The committee then heard GM57 for Don Hegger Nordl to the Environmental Advisory Council. Supporters said she has environmental planning experience and knowledge of Chapter 343 and related rules. Nordl said she could bring state, county, and federal experience to the council and identified the need for more volunteers and broader professional representation as the council’s biggest challenge. Finally, the committee took up GM697, Dean Matsukawa’s nomination as deputy director of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and several other testifiers strongly supported him, highlighting his 30 years with the department, his family farming background, and his understanding of farmers’ needs, especially access to capital and biosecurity challenges. Testifiers said he is calm, logical, experienced, and already familiar with the department’s work. Matsukawa was described as a reluctant nominee who was sought out for the role. The transcript does not show any final votes or committee action on the nominations during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• States</c><00:02:07.200><c> of</c><00:02:07.439><c> America</c><00:02:08.399><c> and</c><00:02:08.640
• to the republic<00:02:09.759><c> for</c><00:02:10.080><c> which</c><00:02:10.239><c> it</c><00:02:10.479
• ><c> stands,</c><00:02:11.440><c> one</c><00:02:11.760><c> nation</c> republic for which it stands, one
• ,</c><00:02:14.959><c> with</c><00:02:15.120><c> liberty</c><00:02:15.760><c> and</c> under God, indivisible
• , with liberty and under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice<00:02:16.560><c> for</c><00:02:16.800

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and approved the journal from February 17, 2026. The House communicated passage of several bills and requested concurrence, and committee reports were received, including favorable reports on Senate Bills 70, 74, 80, 127, and 154. Senate Bill 191 was also reported and then recommitted to the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Senate Bill 104 was passed over and retained its place on the calendar. The chamber then took up and passed Senate Bill 47, which provides line-of-duty death benefits for search and rescue volunteers, with supporters emphasizing the dangerous emergency work these teams perform and the need to treat them like other first responders. Senate Bill 159, concerning missing and unidentified persons and aligning Kentucky with federal “Billy’s Law” database requirements, also passed unanimously after testimony about its value in helping families and law enforcement. Senate Bill 85, allowing state retirement beneficiaries to establish special needs trusts, passed unanimously as well, with members describing it as a way to provide long-term security for dependents with special needs. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 78 honoring the CSX Santa Train and Senate Resolution 76 honoring Frank Ryard and the Ryard’s Scoreboard for its long-standing role in Kentucky high school athletics. Members spoke about the scoreboard’s importance to athletes, families, and sports coverage statewide. Later, new bills and a concurrent resolution were introduced, including measures on state government, duty-related disability benefits, arrest-related deaths, detainee fatality review, carbon dioxide sequestration, and a mental health alternative response task force. The Senate received notice that Senate Bill 172 had been delivered to the Governor, then recessed for committee meetings and adjourned until February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not in statute. It is case law derived.
• If you typically these types of cases, presumably you'd bring it under multiple statutes.
• New York, Connecticut, or Vermont statutes as of the state.
• We had a seven-year statute, and that was how long we kept our documentation for.
• There are lengthy statutes of limitations under California law. And so this is not...

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on domestic violence protections, pay equity enforcement, Jewish demographic data collection, court transparency, auto glass insurance practices, pet policy disclosure for renters, and civil rights accountability for federal officers. SB 99 would require courts and law enforcement to better recognize military protective orders in domestic violence cases; supporters from the Department of Defense and military organizations said it would close jurisdictional gaps for military families, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1237 would increase penalties for repeat noncompliance with California pay data reporting laws; supporters said stronger enforcement is needed to address persistent wage gaps, and the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1387 would allow Jewish identity to be reported as an ethnic category in state demographic data; supporters said better data would improve policy and anti-discrimination efforts, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary or divisive, and it passed to Privacy. SB 932 would require assignees filing civil actions to identify the original party in the case caption; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it passed to Judiciary/Appropriations on call. The committee also took up SB 98, which would regulate auto glass insurance claims by restricting assignment of benefits, requiring clearer estimates and invoices, and limiting inducements to consumers. The sponsor and NICB said the bill would curb fraud and unsafe repairs, while independent glass shops and industry groups argued it could reduce consumer choice and favor insurer-aligned networks; the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies before collecting application fees and provide refunds if nondisclosure materially affected an applicant’s decision; supporters said it would save renters time and money, while rental housing representatives objected to a provision limiting eviction based solely on failure to sign a pet addendum. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 747, the No Kings Act, would create a California cause of action allowing people to sue federal officers for constitutional violations using standards similar to Section 1983. Senator Wiener and a witness who said he was unlawfully detained by Border Patrol argued the bill is needed because federal officers currently lack comparable accountability after the Supreme Court narrowed Bivens remedies. Law enforcement groups opposed the bill, warning that the qualified immunity language is unclear, could create a separate California standard, and might expose officers and governments to retroactive litigation; members discussed possible amendments on qualified immunity and retroactivity, and the bill was moved forward with an urgency amendment while negotiations continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• ; At this time, I'll ask the clerk to call the<00:02:01.040><c> role.
• &gt;&gt; Representative<00:02:24.319><c> Balman.</c> &gt;&gt; Representative Balman.
• &gt;&gt; Representative<00:02:31.920><c> Chester</c><00:02:32.239><c> Burton</c> &gt;&gt; Representative
• Fugate &gt;&gt; here.<00:02:39.120><c> Representative</c><00:02:39.680><c> Hancock</c> &gt;&gt; here
• &gt;&gt; Representative<00:02:46.080><c> Miles.</c> &gt;&gt; Representative Miles.

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes, then heard announcements and introductions from members and guests, including an invitation to an East Kentucky trail ride opening and welcomes for new EPIC and Kentucky Coal Association representatives and several constituents. After the opening business, the committee turned to a presentation on nanotechnology and energy applications by Rodney Andrews of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research. Andrews explained how nanoscale materials behave differently because of their size and surface area, and described uses in consumer products, batteries, solar panels, catalysts, coatings, sensors, and energy storage. Members asked about the relationship between nanomaterials and coal, and Andrews said carbon nanotubes can be made from coal-derived hydrocarbons, which members noted as an opportunity for Kentucky’s coal and manufacturing sectors. He also discussed work on improved solar coatings, more stable perovskites, fuel-processing catalysts, hydrogen storage, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, electromagnetic shielding, and conductive yarns and fabrics. The presentation also covered more advanced applications such as thermoelectric textiles, power transmission materials, thermal transport composites for aerospace, nanofluids for cooling, and fusion reactor shielding. In the final discussion, members raised questions about electromagnetic pulse protection and quantum computing; Andrews said the materials discussed could absorb and spread energy and that shielding applications may help with EMPs, while quantum computing remains limited by extremely low operating temperatures. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• that</c><01:02:03.280><c> that</c><01:02:03.599><c> boy</c><01:02:03.760><c> is</c><01:02:03.920><c>
• So that that boy is going to go places.<01:02:04.720><c> Let</c><01:02:04.799><c> me</c><01:02:04.960
• &gt;&gt; Uh<01:02:08.880><c> any</c><01:02:09.119><c> other</c><01:02:09.440><c> comments</c><01:02:09.839
• &gt;&gt; Not<01:02:13.760><c> we</c><01:02:13.920><c> stand</c><01:02:14.079><c> a</c><01:02:14.240><
• </c><01:02:14.559><c> Thank</c><01:02:14.720><c> you.</c>

Bills: HB235 , HB236 , HB565 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB235 , HB236 , HB565 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety, youth social media, HB236, Baldwin County, Board of Equalization, per diem

Transcript Highlights:

• the news from other states, like, wow, how can it get that far out of control and nobody in the Minnesota
• What you saw in Minnesota, that's Minnesota.

Committee: House Legislative Council

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:02:01.280><c> The</c><00:02:01.520><c> plan</c><00:02:01.840><c> continues</c><00:02:02.159><c>
• The plan continues to serve as<00:02:02.640><c> our</c><00:02:02.799><c> roadmap</c><00:02:03.200><c>
• for</c><00:02:03.439><c> making</c><00:02:03.680><c> decisions</c> as our roadmap for making decisions
• as our roadmap for making decisions about<00:02:04.320><c> state</c><00:02:04.560><c> office</c><00:
• 02:04.880><c> space</c><00:02:05.200><c> moving</c><00:02:05.520><c> forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Constitution, not federal statutes.
• It is not in statute; it is case law derived.
• It is not in statute. It is case law derived.
• We're talking about the statute of limitations primarily. Underlying liability.
• Uh, there are lengthy statutes of limitations under, uh, California law.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I I would be happy to make<01:02:01.359><c> a</c><01:02:01.520><c> motion</c><01:02:02.799><c> of</c>
• </c><01:02:04.160><c> I</c><01:02:04.480><c> believe</c><01:02:04.640><c> if</c><01:02:04.880><c> I</
• I believe if I made<01:02:05.280><c> a</c><01:02:05.440><c> motion</c><01:02:05.680><c> of</c><01:02:
• 05.839><c> IPL</c><01:02:06.480><c> right</c><01:02:06.720><c> now,</c><01:02:07.040><c> it</c><01:02
• </c><01:02:12.960><c> I</c><01:02:13.280><c> would</c><01:02:13.520><c> suggest</c><01:02:14.000><c>

Summary: The committee began by explaining that the meeting was a work session and that votes would only be taken where there was clear consensus. CACR 6, the proposed constitutional amendment on a “right to compute,” was discussed first but not acted on because the prime sponsor was absent. Members raised concerns about whether the issue belonged in the constitution and what the amendment would mean in practice, and the chair recessed the matter for a future meeting. HB 74, concerning the definition of “citizen” for the right-to-know law and disclosure of preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum or majority of a public body, drew little support. Members noted the Senate’s prior rejection of a related bill and agreed the proposal was unlikely to advance. A motion to ITL the bill passed unanimously by roll call, 15-0, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. HB 232, dealing with rights of conscience for medical professionals, was also recessed. Members said they had not yet seen the amendment, which was described as narrowing the bill to abortion-related issues and limiting penalties. Several members said they could not judge the bill without the amendment and expected disagreement, so the chair recessed it. HB 253, on interest-bearing pooled trust accounts maintained by lawyers, was discussed at length; the chair said the bill did not address the underlying IOLTA issue and would likely create conflict with the bar and judiciary. Members cited existing Supreme Court procedures and suggested the bill was unnecessary. A straw vote showed support for interim study and ITL, and the committee ultimately voted 15-0 to place HB 253 on consent. HB 293, aimed at preventing minors from accessing obscene material on internet-connected devices, prompted substantial debate. Members generally supported the goal but objected to the bill’s private right of action, its focus on manufacturers rather than content providers or internet platforms, uncertainty about the filtering technology required, and concerns about defining obscenity on a national rather than community basis. The committee discussed forming a subcommittee to work on the bill further, and members volunteered to serve, indicating the issue would be revisited rather than voted on immediately.

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.479><c> 21107</c><00:02:01.360><c> to</c><00:02:01.600><c> 21109</c><00:02:02.399><c> for</c><00:
• 02:02.640><c> adoption.
• And I just wanted to just<00:02:53.840><c> kind</c><00:02:54.080><c> of</c> just kind of just kind of
• convey<00:02:56.959><c> my</c><00:02:57.120><c> my</c><00:02:57.440><c> thoughts</c><00:02:57.760><c
• > about</c><00:02:58.400><c> u</c><00:02:59.280><c> some</c><00:02:59.519><c> of</c> convey my my thoughts

Bills: SB2445 , SB2125 , SB2355 , SB2834 , SB3237

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I could only find evidence of one other moratorium in the United States, and that's Minnesota
• Also, this is a very long statute, for a couple of people who asked.
• “Representative Carter, do you know if there’s any other statute that, a separate statute that nursing
• There’s some federal statutes, but laws, but not in the state law.” “Not that I know of.
• There’s some federal statutes, but not in the state law.

Bills: HB199 , HB222 , HB223 , HB224 , HB235 , HB246 , HB405 , HB535 , HB554 , HB907 , SCR3 , SB43 , SB52 , SB54 , SB113 , SB168 , SB219 , SB222 , SB270 , SB311 , SB359

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: nursing facilities, moratorium, healthcare, patient care, data collection, Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, Department of Children and Family Services, sunset law, statutory entities, regulatory authority, re-creation, termination dates, child welfare, foster care, children's rights, legal guardianship

Transcript Highlights:

• Um so we had just<00:02:23.040><c> had</c><00:02:23.200><c> the</c><00:02:23.520><c> governor's</c><00
• :02:23.920><c> office</c><00:02:24.160><c> just</c><00:02:24.400><c> has</c> just had the governor's
• </c><00:02:25.599><c> Um,</c><00:02:25.920><c> according</c><00:02:26.160><c> to</c><00:02:26.319><c>
• ><00:02:34.160><c> funds</c><00:02:35.120><c> um</c><00:02:35.280><c> to</c> in non-recurring general
• costs<00:02:38.400><c> um</c><00:02:38.959><c> for</c><00:02:39.360><c> FY27.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also created language and statute that suggests where EL funding should be used, including tutoring
• That was a statute from 1953, so back when there... ...were single schoolhouse districts.
• get to Senator Figueroa's earlier question about working with LFC: the other piece of this is that statute
• Minnesota has a tax credit and deduction.

Transcript Highlights:

• :45.440><c> exchange</c><00:02:45.920><c> health</c><00:02:46.160><c> data</c><00:02:46.480><c> utility
• :47.920><c> uh</c><00:02:48.080><c> in</c><00:02:48.239><c> 12</c><00:02:48.560><c> states</c><00:02:
• Um our interest<00:02:54.239><c> is</c><00:02:55.599><c> uh</c><00:02:55.840><c> in</c><00:02:56.239>
• uh in providing capability for<00:02:57.920><c> states</c><00:02:58.319><c> to</c><00:02:59.200><c> uh
• </c><00:02:59.360><c> have</c><00:02:59.599><c> a</c><00:02:59.840><c> very</c><00:03:00.160><c> private

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services opened its first meeting of the 2026 interim session, took roll, and moved directly into presentations. The main presentation was from Ryan Bramble of Crisp Shared Services, who described the organization’s health information exchange and health data utility model in Kentucky and other states. He emphasized that Crisp is a nonprofit, that data ownership remains with providers, and that governance is local. He also outlined the technical infrastructure, including a master patient index, cloud-based data lake, support for modern standards like FHIR and USCDI as well as older formats, and data quality tools used to normalize and standardize information. Bramble said the model is intended to reduce duplication, lower costs, and support rural providers and future use cases such as reporting, analytics, and AI-enabled decision support. Members asked how the state can ensure the data is actually used and who should drive priorities for health care improvement. Bramble said Crisp can provide tools, expertise, and examples from other states, but local teams such as KHI and state stakeholders must tailor and lead utilization efforts. In response to questions about ownership and coordination, he stressed that successful HIE governance requires a multistakeholder body that includes hospitals, health plans, government, and other interests, with a unified approach rather than multiple competing directives. He also said the Commonwealth has an opportunity to convene those stakeholders and set clear priorities. A senator raised concerns that responsibility for Medicaid and broader health policy has become fragmented and suggested a stronger central role for the state, possibly through the Department of Public Health, to coordinate health priorities. Bramble agreed that a single convening authority and multistakeholder governance are important, and noted that local governance should determine what data is shared and how it is used. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the meeting. After Bramble’s presentation and questions, the committee was told that Secretary Stack from the cabinet would testify next on the rural health transformation plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.880><c> is</c><01:02:01.880><c> off</c><01:02:02.119><c> the</c><01:02:02.279><c> table</c><01:02
• :03.079><c> when</c><01:02:03.920><c> in</c><01:02:04.119><c> this</c> students is off the table when
• c> 12</c><01:02:06.680><c> through</c><01:02:06.920><c> 15</c><01:02:07.720><c> zero</c> legislation
• ><c> guideline</c><01:02:10.880><c> of</c><01:02:11.039><c> an</c><01:02:11.200><c> income</c><01:02:
• </c><01:02:14.079><c> literally</c><01:02:14.520><c> anybody</c><01:02:14.880><c> can</c><01:02:15.039

Committee: Senate Education Finance