Transcript Highlights:

• And other states are poised. We're going to need more and more data centers.
• And so we have states like Virginia and Texas and Ohio ready and willing to pass tax exemptions.
• That was $1 billion of investment that did not happen in our state.
• I think that makes us a less competitive state for everything, not just data centers.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the concept was to push the grant down into the states, but even further than the states, to the
• </c> block grant state plan. block grant state plan.
• </c> across shelters in our um state. across shelters in our um state.
• </c> the state, both in and out of shelter. the state, both in and out of shelter.
• . state. state.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its July 30, 2025 meeting. Members then heard a presentation from Roger McCann of the Department for Community Based Services on Kentucky’s 2026-2027 Community Services Block Grant state plan. He explained that the federally funded grant, now about $12 million annually, is distributed through 23 local community action agencies that use flexible funds for locally identified needs such as housing, nutrition, transportation, Head Start, and domestic violence services. McCann said the plan is submitted every two years and that the agencies served about 264,000 Kentuckians and 130,000 families in 2024. Senator Meredith asked whether there was a central place to review local projects, and McCann said regular reports exist and could be shared with members. The committee then approved the CSBG state plan by roll call vote. After that, members received an update on Kentucky’s state-designated domestic violence shelter programs from Angela Yanelli of ZeroV, Mary Foley of Maryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and Elizabeth Martin of the Center for Women and Families. The presenters described ZeroV’s role as the statewide domestic violence coalition, its 15 member programs across all area development districts, and its contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide emergency shelter, supportive services, housing assistance, and batterers intervention programming. They emphasized that services are available 24/7 and are trauma-informed, with a strong focus on children and family support. The domestic violence providers reported high demand and rising costs. ZeroV said its network served more than 14,000 adults and children in fiscal year 2025, including nearly 900 children in shelter and more than 500 in outreach, while Maryman House reported operating at 90-92% capacity, with 53 households waiting for emergency shelter and 63 more waiting for intake. Maryman House also described an 8-unit transitional housing complex and plans for a 48-unit apartment complex if tax credit funding is approved. The Center for Women and Families highlighted school-readiness support for children, tutoring, counseling, and family services, including back-to-school supplies and rights information for homeless students. No additional votes or formal actions were taken during the domestic violence presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the state name is Suprentice.
• </c> state, but there are three other states state, but there are three other states that<00:40:33.359
• but the people of the state.
• but the people of the state.
• but the people of the state.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 146, which would remove the requirement that a medical examiner physically view a body before issuing a cremation certificate. The prime sponsor, Sen. Suprentice, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jenny Duval explained that the bill would not change the death certificate process or the existing waiting period before cremation; it would only eliminate the in-person viewing step. They said the current review of death certificates already catches the vast majority of cases that should be reported to the medical examiner, and that the physical view changes outcomes in less than 1% of cremation cases. The witnesses emphasized that the bill is intended to improve efficiency and reduce delays for families and funeral homes, while freeing deputy medical examiners to focus on homicides, suicides, accidents, and unexpected natural deaths. Dr. Duval cited an example where review of a death certificate, not the body, uncovered a long-ago strangulation-related homicide, arguing that the key safeguard is review of records and cause of death, not the physical view. She also said the change would save travel time and some costs for the department. Committee members asked about how death certificates list primary and contributing causes of death, whether the low percentage of findings means the current process has a deterrent effect, why cremation is treated differently from burial, and whether identification concerns are adequately addressed. The sponsors responded that identification is handled earlier by hospitals, families, and funeral directors, and that any questionable identification would already fall under medical examiner jurisdiction. They also said the bill would not alter the two-day cremation delay or other existing safeguards. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to touch on the anticipated growth for that industry in the state of Arizona.
• So I want to put this into a context specifically for the state of Arizona.
• That's second only to Texas in terms of the number of new fabs in the United States.

Bills: SB1041

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> talent in state. talent in state.
• </c> physicians who will serve our state. physicians who will serve our state.
• State. State.
• </c> State University. He's from Kenya. State University. He's from Kenya.
• , including Metro State.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also cheats the state.
• the state...
• the state.
• We can’t be an employee of a municipality, an arm of the state, or a tribal or the state.
• Approximately 25 other states have implemented this policy in some way, and those states...

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The Commerce Committee heard and passed several bills dealing with insurance fraud funding, education scholarships, apprenticeships, workers’ compensation fraud, credit unions, manufactured home installation licensing, short-term rentals, homeowners associations, condo disclosures, and an advanced manufacturing infrastructure reimbursement program. HB 4020 would raise the annual insurer assessment cap for the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions fraud unit from $1,050 to $1,350; it passed after testimony from Nationwide supporting the added resources. HB 2255 would extend Arizona Teachers Academy scholarship eligibility for community college students from two academic years to four, and HB 2591, as amended, would revise the definition and requirements for registered apprenticeships under DES standards; both passed unanimously. HB 2680, as amended, would narrow and clarify workers’ compensation fraud-related provisions and insurance disclosure requirements, and HB 2979, as amended, would modernize credit union bylaws, name changes, and operating powers; both also received due pass recommendations. HB 2868, which adds insurance and fingerprint-clearance requirements for manufactured home/mobile home installation licensees and gives the Department of Housing additional licensing authority, passed with some members present or voting no. The committee also took up HB 2429, a strike-everything amendment on short-term rentals that would let local governments set occupancy limits, extend the violation window for suspension actions from 12 to 24 months, and allow suspension after certain building code violations. The sponsor and city officials described it as a compromise giving communities more local control, while short-term rental owners and neighborhood advocates raised concerns about overbroad enforcement and the scale of the housing impacts; the bill passed 8-2 with one present. HB 4011, which would codify duties for condominium and planned community associations to act reasonably and provide access to information, was heard without the proposed Carter amendment and passed 11-0 after testimony from homeowners, attorneys, and HOA representatives about fairness and enforceability. HB 2397, another HOA-related bill, would expand disclosure requirements for condo and association purchases and escrow information; it passed unanimously after supporters said it would improve consumer transparency. Finally, the committee heard HB 4026, which would change the public infrastructure reimbursement program for advanced manufacturing projects by replacing the current statewide cap with a $75 million annual cap and requiring more transparency for related agreements. Supporters, including Queen Creek’s mayor, GPEC, and the Arizona Chamber, said the program helps fund roads, water, wastewater, and other infrastructure needed to attract large manufacturing investments and jobs, while some members questioned the budget impact and whether the program benefits rural areas. The discussion emphasized projects such as LG in Queen Creek and other major manufacturing investments, with supporters arguing the bill preserves Arizona’s competitiveness and generates long-term tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, we own a company in Dallas, Texas called Frozen Food Express, and so I operate all of those.
• You've done your oath and your statement of economic interest with the Secretary of State.

Committee: Joint Highways and Transportation

Keywords: Highways and Transportation - Room 216, 25 March, 2026; 11:45 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And other states are poised. We're going to need more and more data centers.
• And so we have states like Virginia and Texas and Ohio ready and willing to pass tax exemptions.
• That was $1 billion of investment that did not happen in our state.
• things that they've already had planned and under contract, I think that makes us a less competitive state

Summary: House Finance met on Saturday, March 7, and reviewed several tax-related Senate bills before taking executive action. SB 6129 concerned cigarette, tobacco, and vapor product taxes; staff described a striker that would lower the new cigarette tax rate, keep separate tax structures for other tobacco and vapor products, direct portions of OTP revenue to the Andy Hill account and foundational public health services, and provide penalty relief and collection stays for certain retailers. SB 6228 would repeal a preferential B&O rate for warehousing/reselling prescription drugs and create a preferential rate for critical access pharmacies; Amendment 174, lowering that rate from 0.25% to 0.138%, was adopted after testimony that the original rate was not enough to support pharmacies serving isolated communities. SB 6231 would remove a tax exemption for replacement equipment at data centers and had no amendments, with members discussing the bill’s impact on budget balancing and economic development, especially for data centers and related construction jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:04:00.159><c> and</c> cooperation of the federal, state, and cooperation of the federal, state
• Please state your name for Leslie Shurk. Please state your name for the<00:13:35.920><c> record.
• </c><01:06:38.160><c> SEIU</c> work in the United States. SEIU work in the United States.
• </c> from Minnesota to the camps in Texas. from Minnesota to the camps in Texas.
• State your name for the &gt;&gt; Go ahead. State your name for the record.<01:31:30.000><c> Proceed.

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• is uh Florida, states I'm familiar with is uh Florida, Texas,<01:39:56.080><c> Texas,</c><01:39:56.400
• </c><01:39:58.320><c> Um</c> Texas, Texas, and Georgia uh as well.
• Um Texas, Texas, and Georgia uh as well.
• </c> A scorecard comparing state to state.
• </c> history of this state. history of this state.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It varies by the state.
• </c> of most people in the state. of most people in the state.
• lottery</c> name of state lottery to state lottery name of state lottery to state lottery and<01:54:
• that money is going out of state. I will that money is going out of state.
• So the wager would be in state. The wager would be in state.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on SB 60, which would expressly authorize advanced deposit wagering for horse racing in New Hampshire and set the online tax rate at 1.25%, matching the existing rate for in-person horse betting at Seabrook and Belmont. Senator Tim Lang said the bill is intended to clarify that online horse betting is permitted, regulate the activity, and create a revenue stream while keeping the tax rate consistent with brick-and-mortar wagering. Members asked about the rate compared with other states, whether the bill was really about casino front money, and whether geofencing would apply; Lang and later witnesses said the bill is narrowly limited to parimutuel horse racing and would use geofencing to keep wagering within New Hampshire. Peter Bragdon, speaking for Churchill Downs, supported the bill and described advanced deposit wagering as remote betting on horse races under the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978. He said Churchill Downs and other operators have long been active in New Hampshire, but the state’s lack of a specific statute has created a gray area. Bragdon said Churchill Downs stopped its own New Hampshire online operations in 2022 after discussions with the Lottery Commission and attorney general, while competitors continued operating, and he framed the bill as a fairness and consumer-protection measure that would clarify the law going forward. He also said the bill would not affect historic horse racing machines and would not create cannibalization of charitable gaming. Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre said the Lottery Commission and attorney general had identified the issue as similar to the earlier fantasy sports situation, where legislation was used to regulate an activity rather than pursue enforcement. He said the commission requested the bill, would serve as the regulator, and would address violations through rulemaking and penalties. McIntyre said operators would maintain customer and transaction records, with the commission reviewing them as needed, and he noted that three operators are currently active in the state and not paying the proposed 1.25% rate. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> it uh it could fill a library. it uh it could fill a library.
• What is it about our What is it about our state state state that<01:28:43.720><c> causes</c> that causes
• It's the state.
• That will cost the state<01:40:05.400><c> $128</c><01:40:06.680><c> million</c> state $128 million state
• The stated Hattiesburg. The stated is<02:59:55.880><c> Ms.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 11 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Secretary of State.
• I'm David Scanland, Secretary of State.
• </c><00:12:06.320><c> the</c> 2026 um and section two states the 2026 um and section two states the remainder
• </c><00:15:32.440><c> the</c> it gives the Secretary of State the it gives the Secretary of State the
• </c> with after I became Secretary of State with after I became Secretary of State and<00:19:19.679><

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some are federal and some are state. So this is to do with a state adult assisted living.
• There's a number of states — Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, and Texas — have passed these bills
• I think there's a state in Utah.
• So it seems to me like it’s stating that when they do the state plan amendment, LDH will not be able
• Other states are doing that.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee first heard SB 145, which would require adult residential care providers, especially assisted living centers, to have generators or other backup power arrangements and to submit preparedness plans to LDH. After technical amendments and testimony from the sponsor, LDH, and the assisted living industry clarifying the bill’s scope and cost concerns, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. It then took up SB 433, which would require Medicaid coverage of medically necessary FDA-approved weight loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications, subject to appropriations and fiscally sustainable coverage criteria; the bill was reported favorably after discussion of current Medicaid coverage and costs. The committee also approved SB 52, which requires better coordination between DCFS and LDH so SNAP and Medicaid benefits can follow children more quickly when they are removed from or returned to a home. Technical amendments changed reporting deadlines and required written notice, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 4 on public water fluoridation was amended to allow local governments or voters to opt out through a petition and election process, with support from the Louisiana Dental Association and others after compromise language was adopted; it was reported favorably with amendments. SB 152, which would prohibit the sale of cultured or lab-grown food products for human consumption, was also reported favorably with amendments after brief testimony in support and opposition. The committee next approved SCR 37, which asks the Surgeon General to review Louisiana’s informed consent laws and report back on any gaps, after discussion that the existing medical disclosure panel had not met since 2018. It then considered SB 194, a public assistance bill aligning Louisiana Medicaid and SNAP rules with recent federal changes on non-citizen eligibility and tightening Medicaid’s reasonable opportunity period for citizenship verification. After extensive debate over immigration, emergency care, and whether the bill could harm eligible applicants or rural hospitals, the committee adopted an amendment allowing LDH discretion for emergency health care services and reported the bill favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, HCR 113 created a task force to study gestational carrier agreements and assisted reproductive regulation; after debate over surrogacy, ethics, and referral to Civil Law, the committee rejected the referral motion and then reported the resolution favorably, and the meeting moved on to SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and legal representation funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Delta State, and Mississippi State.
• </c><00:40:26.320><c> This</c> the state. It didn't stop there. This the state.
• ><c> State,</c><00:41:29.920><c> Mississippi</c><00:41:30.480><c> State.
• </c><00:41:31.520><c> We</c> Delta State, Mississippi State. We Delta State, Mississippi State.
• in many manners, Jackson State and state in many manners, Jackson State and others.<01:18:01.040><c>

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 25 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the Texas border.
• I'm state senator from District 31, which is the southernmost part of the state.
• LSAT, the bar exam, that he's licensed in the state of Texas.
• test scores were so high that other states that allow, including the state of Texas, Gave him his license
• state police officer.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• But prior states we've had to consider placement and bed space in Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, Michigan,
• We we discuss<00:20:32.080><c> these</c><00:20:32.400><c> states</c><00:20:32.880><c> Texas,</c><00:20
• :33.520><c> Michigan,</c><00:20:34.400><c> uh</c> discuss these states Texas, Michigan, uh discuss these
• states Texas, Michigan, uh and<00:20:34.799><c> Pennsylvania</c><00:20:35.440><c> as</c><00:20:35.679
• doing</c> of state youth. other states are doing of state youth. other states are doing it<00:40:22.160

Keywords: The original version of this live stream dropped before the meeting was technically finished. This is the complete copy pulled from back up sources., 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear updates from the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections on two related issues: a proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility and medical services contracts, including the impact of Wellpath’s bankruptcy proceedings. At the start, the chair agreed to hear the Department of Corrections first so members could get context on the medical contract before turning to DJJ’s proposal. DOC officials said Wellpath, the department’s comprehensive medical and mental health provider since 2013, was awarded its current contract through a 2021 procurement process. They reported that Wellpath’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan had been confirmed and that the company had transitioned ownership to lenders, but had not yet fully completed the bankruptcy process. DOC said there had been no service lapses, no reduction in care, and no known impact on Kentucky vendors or hospitals, and that DOC staff meet with Wellpath almost weekly. Members asked whether the committee had been kept informed and whether the bankruptcy could affect future services or subcontractors. DJJ then presented its concept for a high-acuity facility, explaining that the project is still in the preliminary programming and conceptual stage and has not yet entered the formal design phase with DECA. Officials said the proposal in the capital plan would create a 24-bed facility, with 16 clinical beds and 8 assessment/stabilization beds, to serve justice-involved youth with serious mental health needs. They said the facility would need to separate males and females and high- and low-risk youth, and that current placements often require sending youth out of state to places such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas. Staff said the goal is to centralize treatment, improve safety, and reduce the need for fragmented or out-of-state placements. Committee members questioned the cost estimates, staffing needs, and whether the facility was justified given the small number of youth currently placed out of state. DJJ said the operational estimate includes an unknown medical-contract component and that the number of youth needing the facility can fluctuate because of surges in the juvenile population. Officials also said they had consulted with South Carolina, which is developing a similar facility, and noted that renovating existing facilities was considered but could be more expensive or impractical than building a separate site. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this conversation around menhaden has really evolved around other states and what other states are
• As I stated earlier, Rep.
• So I just wanted to state that.
• Every other state, every other state, every other— In the Chesapeake Bay.
• Every other state, every other state, every other— Every other state has done something similar to this

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 886 by Rep. Orgeron, which would make seasonal catch totals and related reporting for the commercial menhaden fishery publicly available by carving out an exception to confidentiality rules. The author said the bill was intended to align with the original intent of prior reporting legislation and to ensure the public can see how much menhaden is being taken from Louisiana waters. Supporters, including Louisiana Wildlife Federation, CCA, charter captains, and recreational anglers, argued the fishery uses a public resource and that transparency is needed for policymaking. Opponents said they did not object to transparency in principle, but one speaker asked that size-sampling data be removed, arguing it has no scientific value and is already handled through NOAA and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Council processes. The committee reported HB 886 favorably without opposition. The committee then heard House Bill 855, also by Rep. Orgeron, which would establish a 22-foot depth requirement for the commercial use of purse seines in the menhaden fishery. The author said the bill was based on a state-funded bycatch study showing red drum bycatch rises sharply in shallow water and that the current quarter-mile buffer is insufficient, especially in nearshore areas where recreational fishing and sensitive habitats are concentrated. Supporters emphasized the public trust nature of menhaden, the economic value of recreational fishing, and concerns about bycatch, beach fouling, and localized depletion. Several speakers cited the bycatch study, public comments opposing the recent reduction from a half-mile to a quarter-mile buffer, and the belief that deeper-water fishing would reduce impacts on redfish and other species. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries staff and the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Scott Rayburn, answered questions about the current buffer rules, enforcement, and the science behind the 22-foot threshold. They explained that the recent reduction to a quarter-mile buffer came from a commission directive and that the department had investigated complaints but found no violations. Dr. Rayburn said the 22-foot figure came from modeling red drum bycatch as a function of depth and that the study focused on red drum because of its economic and social importance, while not analyzing every species in the same way. Opponents of the bill, including West Bank Fishing and Ocean Harvesters representatives, said the rule of three is a standard confidentiality concept, argued the bill should not be framed as anti-transparency, and urged removal of the size-sampling provisions. The committee heard extensive testimony but no final action on HB 855 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this conversation around menhaden has really evolved around other states and what other states are
• So I just wanted to state that.
• It's fisheries economics in the United States. States Department of Commerce.
• Every other state, every other state has done something similar to this.
• Not on the state charge level, maybe on some federal violations, but not on state charge cases.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, since things Texas.
• You now have the the state level.
• >> Yes, you're coming through loud and clear. state. I really appreciate your time and state.
• The state of the wrong culprit.
• </c><00:29:50.799><c> of</c> against the monopoly and the state of against the monopoly and the state

Keywords: 1183, house