Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, for putting it on the agenda, and especially Senator Bracey Davis for leading on this very, very
• Senator Bracey Davis for leading on this very, very, very important bill. Thank you.

Bills: S0214 , S0694 , S1266

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 214, by Senator McLean, would allow certain special districts in rural communities and rural areas of opportunity to receive invoice payments for verified work under state and federal financial assistance agreements, rather than relying on reimbursement models that can strain cash flow. An amendment narrowing and clarifying the bill for independent special districts and water and wastewater projects was adopted, and the committee heard support from representatives of W3C Water and Sewer Cooperative, the Amakily Water and Sewer District, Resiliency Florida, and the Florida Association of Special Districts. The committee then reported CS for SB 214 favorably. The committee next took up CS for SB 1266, by Senator Colata, addressing cybersecurity internships and workforce readiness. The bill was described as a response to Florida’s cybercrime threat ranking and workforce gap, and a delete-all amendment created a cybersecurity experiential learning opportunity and clearance readiness program within the Department of Commerce, in partnership with Cyber Florida at USF and participating institutions. A proposed amendment to the amendment was withdrawn by Senator Bernard, and with no opposition or appearance forms, the committee reported CS for CS SB 1266 favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS for SB 694, by Senator Bracey Davis, providing compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four: Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas. The bill was presented as a final step in redressing the wrongful accusations, convictions, deaths, and incarcerations tied to the 1949 case, following prior legislative apologies, pardons, and vacatur of convictions. Delatry Hollinger testified in support, and Senator Smith praised the measure as an important step toward justice. The committee reported CS for SB 694 favorably, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assemblymember Alvarez will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Colleagues, please join me.
• California is already leading with innovations like green shipping corridors and the electric, excuse

Transcript Highlights:

• Sciences Center project, but I can't justify not really knowing what those dollars are or anything leading
• Sciences Center project, but I can't justify not really knowing what those dollars are or anything leading

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered two items tied to prior budget appropriations. The first was House Joint Resolution 31, described as relating to a $5 million appropriation to the Department of Economic Development from the previous year’s budget. Senator Boswell moved approval, Senator Maiden seconded, and the resolution passed on a roll call vote with all members voting aye. The second item was House Joint Resolution 53, which would release design funds for Kentucky State University’s Health Services Center project. Members discussed the amount, with one senator estimating it at about $5.3 million, though the resolution did not specify a dollar figure. Several members expressed concern that they had not met with Kentucky State University and did not have enough detail about the project or the underlying budget, and one member said he wanted to see more sustained improvement from the university before supporting the measure. After the roll call began, multiple members changed their votes from aye to no. The chair noted that the measure failed by a vote of three ayes to five noes. No other business was taken up, though the chair said another committee meeting might be held later that day and members should watch for an announcement from the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just wondering if you could identify yourself, and I'd like to know more about the office that you lead
• um because I I don't know that you lead um because I I don't know that I<00:13:16.160><c> had</c><00
• </c><00:18:42.400><c> to</c><00:18:42.559><c> a</c><00:18:42.720><c> more</c> to help uh kind of lead
• to a more to help uh kind of lead to a more systematic<00:18:43.440><c> process</c><00:18:44.640><c>
• </c> leads that organization is here. Okay. leads that organization is here. Okay.

Bills: HF4072 , HF3691 , HF4613

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Lead Dames then asked Senator Bolden about Section 8, whether if you want to go with the 3%, it'd be
• Lead Dames then asked Senator Bolden about Section 8, whether if you want to go with the 3%, it'd be
• Lead Dames then asked Senator Bolden about Section 8, whether if you want to go with the 3%, it'd be
• Lead Dames then asked Senator Bolden about Section 8, whether if you want to go with the 3%, it'd be
• </c><01:57:19.080><c> health</c> organization, and the leading health organization, and the leading health

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:21:38.480><c> think</c><00:21:38.640><c> that</c><00:21:38.880><c> leads</c><00:21:39.200><c> me
• me to end with some I think that leads me to end with some of<00:21:40.400><c> the</c><00:21:40.559>
• </c><00:36:23.520><c> to</c><00:36:23.680><c> the</c><00:36:23.839><c> greatest</c> often times lead
• I have the pleasure of leading government relations for the School of Education at Western Governors
• /c><01:20:34.560><c> relations</c> pleasure of leading government relations pleasure of leading government

Bills: HF3635 , HF3638

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And our GOP lead is none other than Senator Draheim. Thank you.
• I'm going to follow Casey's lead, Rich Draheim, Senator for this session only.
• &gt;&gt; And<00:03:05.360><c> our</c><00:03:05.599><c> GOP</c><00:03:06.080><c> lead</c><00:03:06.400
• is none other than &gt;&gt; And our GOP lead is none other than Senator<00:03:07.760><c> Dreheim.
• I'm going to follow Casey's lead,<00:03:10.640><c> uh,</c><00:03:11.120><c> Rich</c><00:03:11.440><c>

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Reid's going to lead us in the pledge, and I'm going to ask Representative Fugat for the prayer
• Kentucky does lead the nation in effective regionalization.
• Kentucky does lead the nation in Kentucky does lead the nation in effective<00:18:10.320><c> regionalization
• So, uh this may lead into with us.
• So, uh this may lead into something<00:58:21.839><c> else,</c><00:58:22.000><c> but</c><00:58:22.240>

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the minutes, and brief remarks, including birthday recognition for Representative Maseroni and a moment of reflection for a soldier who died during training at Fort Knox. The committee then heard a presentation from Tony Hatton, commissioner of the Department for Environmental Protection and acting director of the Kentucky Division of Water, with Amanda Lefer, deputy commissioner, on the state’s water and wastewater programs and planning. Hatton described Kentucky’s water resources and the Division of Water’s responsibilities, including watershed and nonpoint source work, KPDES discharge permitting, PFAS response, engineering review of water infrastructure, inspections, public outreach, and sampling. He said Kentucky has 428 public water systems, 263 water treatment plants, about 1.9 million service connections, and nearly 97% of the population has access to municipally treated water. He also noted that the state has 43 systems receiving awards for EPA areawide optimization and emphasized operator training, regionalization, and use of GIS mapping and Kentucky Infrastructure Authority data to support planning and funding decisions. Members raised concerns about aging infrastructure, water loss, staffing shortages, and wastewater problems in local systems. Representative Blandon described severe failures in a city system, including major water loss and sewer backups, and asked whether the state could intervene; Hatton said the division inspects treatment facilities and provides compliance assistance but is not authorized to manage delivery systems, though third-party help and emergency funding can be used in some cases. Senator Smith and others shared similar experiences with line loss and system failures, while Hatton pointed to regionalization and funding support as the main tools available. The discussion also highlighted PFAS as an emerging issue, with Hatton saying the department is working with systems to meet anticipated federal requirements by 2029.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the leading causes of death and injury in the 1900s was school fires.
• causes of death and of the leading causes of death and injury<00:08:39.479><c> in</c><00:08:39.640><
• In the aftermath, I was entrusted with co-leading the Columbine crisis response team, guiding recovery
• Jordan oh there we go to lead Jordan oh there we go representative<00:37:58.000><c> Keeler</c><00:37
• </c> represent Jordan or lead represent Jordan or lead Jordan<00:51:14.640><c> Sydney's</c><00:51:15.520

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We've taken the lead in the House. Now it's time for the Senate to do the same.
• </c><00:53:21.280><c> Now,</c><00:53:21.520><c> it's</c> taken the lead in the House.
• Now, it's taken the lead in the House.
• It leads to worse safety.
• It leads to lower quality, and we see it play out across so much of our economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lead poisoning. >> The next AU is a lead poisoning fund.
• fee, a lead abatement worker fee, a lead abatement supervisor fee, a lead inspector fee, and a risk
• fee, a lead abatement worker technician fee, a lead abatement worker uh<01:53:03.440><c> fee,</c><01
• Uh fee, lead inspector, risk assessor.
• There's food lead radio there.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review inactive and dedicated accounts, note prior legislation that had passed, and begin its annual review of agency funds. Members discussed several inactive funds, including some HHS-related accounts, a law enforcement memorial fund, and possible cleanup of accounting references where funds had been reorganized or merged. Staff noted that some newer funds may simply not have started receiving revenue yet, and the committee agreed to follow up on specific accounts later rather than address everything immediately. The committee then heard from Fish and Game on its dedicated funds. Topics included the statewide public boat access account, which is used for boat ramp and access-site maintenance and is supported by boat registration fees and federal funds; the ORV education, training, and enforcement account, which has declined over time and may need attention because revenue depends heavily on weather and snowmobile use; and the search and rescue account, which is funded by Hike Safe cards, a $1 fee from boat and OHRV registrations, and court-ordered fees. Fish and Game also explained that the conservation license plate fund had been merged into the non-game species management account, which is supported by donations, federal funds, and a statutory general fund transfer, and that pheasants are treated as game species under a separate program. The committee spent considerable time on the lifetime license account, an off-book Treasury-held account that collects lifetime license sales and returns funds to Fish and Game based on annual sales plus 9% of the fund balance. Members questioned why the account’s presentation did not clearly show the transfer as a revenue reduction and suggested the reporting format needed cleanup so the flow of money would be easier to understand. Fish and Game said the account is operating properly and that the transfer to the unrestricted Fish and Game fund exceeded $400,000 in the most recent year. The committee also reviewed the publications and fundraising revolving fund, which keeps a $100,000 balance for inventory purchases and transfers excess year-end funds to the unrestricted Fish and Game fund; members again raised concerns that the reporting format did not clearly show the transfer, and staff said they could add a note or other clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it made sense for the state to step forward, take the lead role in developing a tool.
• And, Doctor, how much lead time is there?
• How much lead time is there? You know... ...for me, or, you know, experience and everything.
• That leads to another question. Can you sell land that is underwater?
• Yes, and I would be happy to be that lead contact and get this moving forward.

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Summary: The committee met for its third interim meeting, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard a series of statutory reports from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Water Resources. Chair Hauck noted that Legislative Management had denied the committee’s earlier request for a fertilizer capacity study, and that the committee would also revisit the proposed Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger later in the day. Commissioner Doug Goring reported on several agriculture topics, including uncrewed aerial systems grants to detect noxious weeds, irrigation expansion potential, the low-carbon fuels program for ethanol plants, the Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund, model zoning ordinances for animal feeding operations, and fertilizer production and usage in North Dakota. He emphasized that fertilizer supply depends heavily on natural gas and water, that most nitrogen fertilizer is imported, and that large-scale fertilizer plants require very large capital investments. Members discussed fertilizer storage, natural gas pipeline capacity, water availability, and the role of state infrastructure in supporting value-added agriculture. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Water Resources’ economic analysis tool for water conveyance and flood-related projects. Dr. Dwayne Poole explained that the tool was created under 2017 legislation to help evaluate projects expected to cost $1 million or more, and that the department is proposing adjustments to better account for end-of-useful-life conditions and changing hydrologic data. He said the changes would remain focused on direct, demonstrable costs and benefits, not indirect impacts, and would be implemented through guidance and operating procedures rather than statutory changes. Committee members and water users discussed whether the revisions would better reflect real-world conditions, including deferred maintenance, changing rainfall patterns, and downstream effects. A representative from the Water Resource District Association said the group was working with DWR and hoped to review test scenarios before the June meeting. The committee then received a detailed presentation on Devils Lake, its outlets, and the Tolna Coulee control structure. State Engineer John Paskowski reviewed lake history, outlet capacities, sulfate and downstream flow constraints, and the purpose of the Tolna Coulee structure in limiting head cutting and preventing uncontrolled downstream releases. Members questioned whether the structure was effectively a dam, whether the lake would naturally overflow without it, the last time the outlets ran, and whether water quality in Devils Lake has improved over time. Paskowski said the outlets last operated in August 2025, that sulfate levels still limit operations, and that the lake has freshened somewhat but not enough to eliminate water-quality concerns. The discussion also touched on whether water from flooded areas or closed-basin systems could be reused for irrigation, and on the broader implications of wet cycles, inundated land, and drainage management across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those experiences prepared me not just to lead in my school, but to represent students all across this
• That next generation is here now, learning to lead, learning to innovate, and learning to navigate an
• my</c><00:03:53.200><c> school,</c><00:03:53.519><c> but</c><00:03:53.760><c> to</c> me not just to lead
• in my school, but to me not just to lead in my school, but to represent<00:03:54.480><c> students</c
• now, learning to lead, learning to innovate,<00:04:46.960><c> and</c><00:04:47.280><c> learning</c><

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a supervisor, auditors, lead investigators, nurse investigators, analysts.
• </c> We have a supervisor, auditors, lead We have a supervisor, auditors, lead investigators,<00:10:58.160
• So, if we're into tax fraud and it leads to something else, it goes into a program fraud.
• </c> So, if we're into tax fraud and it leads So, if we're into tax fraud and it leads to<01:08:24.160
• </c> could lead to it. could lead to it.

Bills: HF1338

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• is the leading industry group states<01:20:03.600><c> that</c><01:20:03.840><c> on</c><01:20:04.159>
• Maybe it's time to look at a world where extraordinary claims things can happen, which would lead one
• to think, at least lead me to think, that a higher reserve level might be a good idea.
• to</c><01:24:54.080><c> think,</c> Which would lead one to think, Which would lead one to think, at least
• at least lead me to think at least lead me to think that<01:24:58.560><c> a</c><01:24:58.880><c> higher

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:28.560><c> person</c><00:04:28.960><c> in</c> and a passionate KO uh lead person in and a
• passionate KO uh lead person in Shelley<00:04:29.600><c> Hampton</c><00:04:30.080><c> here</c><00:04:
• But in spite of that, I worked day and night with detectives and there were no leads.
• </c><00:48:25.359><c> So</c><00:48:25.599><c> I</c> detectives and there were no leads.
• So I detectives and there were no leads.

Summary: The committee met for its sixth meeting, established a quorum, and approved the minutes from the October 21 meeting. The main agenda item was a presentation from Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) leaders and county officials on jail funding and jail-system reform. Speakers said county jail costs have reached crisis levels, citing large and rising general-fund subsidies in counties such as Hardin, McCracken, and Warren, and noting that county general-fund contributions to jail funds have increased by 76% since 2019. KACo outlined a three-part legislative approach for the upcoming session: incentivizing regional jails, clarifying responsibility for pre-trial felony detainees, and redefining the model for housing state inmates in county jails. On regional jails, they proposed one-time state construction funding, statutory changes to allow former county jails to serve as 96-hour holdover facilities, broader participation of jailers on regional jail authority boards, an increased supplement for closed county jails, and a one-time payment for counties that close local jails and join regional facilities. Union County Judge Adam Onan described his county’s savings from contracting with Webster County and said regionalization can reduce costs where feasible. Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosley focused on pre-trial felony detainees, saying counties bear the full cost of housing people awaiting trial for long periods, sometimes years, and that pre-trial time is later credited toward state sentences. He argued the state benefits from that credit and referenced prior bills that would have reimbursed counties for time-served credit. Shelley Hampton then proposed replacing the current per diem model for state inmates with contracts requiring the Department of Corrections to pay actual housing costs and to support programming such as substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral programming, re-entry services, workforce training, and academics. No votes were taken on the jail proposals, and the meeting ended with the presentation and discussion of the county recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know that we necessarily need to lead with this.
• So would anybody like to lead off and representative? Tuesdays ago.
• I think it would be lead with this.
• So would anybody like to uh<00:13:36.399><c> lead</c><00:13:36.720><c> off</c><00:13:37.200><c> and</
• Because the ability to move really quickly leads to making mistakes really quickly.

Summary: The Education Funding Committee Subcommittee on Adequacy and Funding Sources opened its second meeting by reviewing four retained bills assigned to it: HB 651, HB 772, HB 491, and HB 734. The chair said the goal was to compare the bills across the board, consider whether any one of them should be the committee’s recommended vehicle, and then vote on a recommendation to the full committee. He noted the bills would move out before November 21 and be taken up on the House floor in January, while related LSRs were also being developed for the coming session. Representative Ames argued that HB 651 should be the main vehicle because it would substantially raise the adequacy base and adjust differential aid categories to better reflect real school costs, including poverty, special education, and English learner needs. He described the bill as building on court guidance and said the current funding formula is far below actual district needs. He also supported HB 491 as a study vehicle to examine revenue options, saying the legislature needs informed choices about how to pay for the changes. Representative Damon strongly backed HB 651 and HB 491, citing constitutional obligations, the Conval and Rand rulings, and large projected funding increases for districts such as Claremont, Windham, and communities in the chair’s district if HB 651 had passed earlier. Representative Fellows said he has an LSR similar to HB 491 that would study existing and new revenue options using criteria such as revenue potential, administrative cost, affected groups, implementation timeline, and implementation cost, with input from revenue administration and outside agencies. Representative Papich Muller emphasized constitutional separation-of-powers concerns, reading Article 83 and saying he was not comfortable with the broad claim that “cherish” clearly mandates a specific spending level, though he said he intends to follow Supreme Court guidance. Representative Ricky read testimony from a local school board member arguing that the state already imposes many mandates on schools while providing the least funding in the country, and that HB 651 would help restore meaningful local control. No final vote or action was taken in the portion provided, though the chair had indicated the subcommittee would vote before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we're going to do is we're going to have a public comment, but to lead us off on public comment
• , we're going to have CCPU and Every Child California lead us off with two minutes each.
• And Every Child California will lead us off with two minutes each.
• Lastly, and most importantly, a well-trained workforce leads to better...
• Lastly, and most importantly, a well-trained workforce leads to better individual-level outcomes.

Summary: The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored. Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants. The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services. Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Hanson, the reason I hesitated about recognizing you here is to try and have the lead of your
• 28:59.039><c> the</c><00:28:59.159><c> aisle</c><00:28:59.559><c> and</c><00:28:59.720><c> ours</c> lead
• of your side of the aisle and ours lead of your side of the aisle and ours end<00:29:00.720><c> it</
• Paul for 27 years, leading care public policy chair, and I have worked in the public policy legislative
• Um, I am testifying on behalf of Leading Care in support of this bill modifying the ratio.

Bills: HF656 , HF655 , HF633

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And for me, I have my staff person, lead person on finance, Susanna Wilson.
• I have my staff person, lead person on finance, Susanna Wilson, and I look forward to working with the
• It's a very helpful document and kind of leads into the very last slide.
• So higher values will lead... ...is reduced by a district's property value growth.
• So higher values will lead to higher property tax relief.

Bills: SB 1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.