Transcript Highlights:

• But what benefits do the students have?
• And so the the benefit there that I see on the relationship piece alone is chef's kiss.
• However, I will just say the economy go support is is not limited to students with a major deficiency
• . is is not limited to students with a major deficiency.
• I don't know if I would love to see and I love the advantages that are there, the benefits.

Transcript Highlights:

• students because what we're finding, the students that are coming to us are, are pretty, they're limited
• based on their data, and so having that resident expert in their building has really had a lot of benefit
• All students are benefiting from the structured literacy focus.
• Language learners have limited already present knowledge of phonology and semantics.
• Those benefits and, and we're not doing it for the district, we're doing it for the kids that are the

Transcript Highlights:

• to 5 minutes, but in no event limited to 5 minutes, but in no event shall<00:05:55.640><c> debate</c
• I am a limited voting delegate. I serve on committees. I fight for my constituents.
• I am a limited voting not elect.
• </c><03:15:53.240><c> People</c><03:15:53.520><c> lost</c> limited evacuation routes.
• People lost limited evacuation routes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a significant amount of people here to speak on HB 60, but I don't want to put a time limit on
• You said one of the benefits to this was the introduction of certainty for both parties, and I think
• You said one of the benefits to this was the introduction of certainty for both parties, and I think
• The benefit to tenants is the contract as it is written, and the terms of that contract should be what
• As always, I'm not going to limit the testimony of the prime sponsor. It's actually Rep.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• in the districts seen so much benefit in the districts that<00:46:01.200><c> have</c><00:46:01.440><
• </c><00:46:16.160><c> that</c><00:46:16.280><c> we're</c> Again, to see the benefits that we're Again
• But the benefits of that was that data.
• But the benefits of that was that we'd<00:48:29.680><c> be</c><00:48:29.840><c> able</c><00:48:30.120
• you want them to that are income limited you want them to report<00:53:39.320><c> it?

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of the most significant pension benefit of the most significant pension benefit improvements<00:
• </c> benefit, we're willing to uh take this. benefit, we're willing to uh take this.
• </c> then we couldn't have got this benefit then we couldn't have got this benefit and<00:15:34.880><
• benefit the retirees, including the big benefit, which is that teachers will now have this option to
• With the proposed benefit 2034.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So what SB 922 is meant to do is to ensure that local funding is protected within constitutional limits
• Subjected to being able, because I, if there's a weight limit, an upper weight limit, is there a gross
• So there's a gross vehicle limit that this kicks in at, correct? Basically, yes. Okay.
• , an upper weight limit, is there a gross vehicle weight when this kicks in?
• So there's a gross vehicle limit that this kicks in at, correct? Basically, yes. Okay.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met, established a quorum, and first approved a consent calendar containing SB 1005, SB 1080, SB 935, and S.J.R. 11 on a 4-0 vote, with those items remaining on call until later. SB 992 had been pulled at the author’s request. The committee then heard SB 922 by Senator Laird, which would clarify that local governments may recover street maintenance and repair costs caused by public service operations, such as waste hauling, through rates, fees, or franchise agreements. Supporters included the League of California Cities, county groups, cities, waste haulers, and legal counsel who argued the bill restores a long-standing practice disrupted by a recent court decision and does not authorize new taxes or development fees. The California Building Industry Association opposed unless amended, warning the bill could inadvertently broaden local fee authority. After discussion about the bill’s scope and whether it would apply only to heavy service vehicles, SB 922 passed the committee 7-0 and was sent to the Senate floor. The committee also heard SB 1078, which would allow Santa Cruz County voters to consider raising the local tax cap to fund essential services, including health care, food assistance, and hospital support, in response to federal funding cuts. The County of Santa Cruz and the Central California Alliance for Health supported the measure, emphasizing Medi-Cal enrollment, CalFresh needs, and budget shortfalls tied to HR1 impacts. Some senators questioned whether the bill was effectively authorizing a tax increase and raised concerns about setting a precedent for other counties, while supporters stressed that the measure only allows voters to decide. SB 1078 passed 5-2 and was sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. The committee then reconfirmed passage of the consent calendar items 7-0 and adjourned after concluding the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply ensures that if digital ID is ever offered, it remains voluntary and limited, and that physical
• And fourth, it limits digital identification to media identity verification only.
• It protects digital choice, privacy, and limited government while allowing innovation to remain voluntary
• They're prohibited from doing that because they don't fall within the city limits.
• A majority of Idaho's distilleries are located within the city limits, and most of those have liquor

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:47.679><c> to</c> I think there are incredible benefits to I think there are incredible benefits
• </c><00:23:58.559><c> to</c> law, the family court is limited to law, the family court is limited to
• <00:24:08.559><c> often</c> practical matter, that limitation often practical matter, that limitation
• Uh, the benefit to extending it and doing more research is important.
• Uh, the benefit to familiar with.

Bills: HB1546

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• opioid use disorder if the patient is transitioning from a full opioid agonist to buprenorphine, limited
• to a period of to buprenorphine limited to a period of no<00:04:27.440><c> longer</c><00:04:27.840><
• </c> would benefit if we have no regulation. would benefit if we have no regulation.
• </c><00:20:24.960><c> But</c><00:20:25.039><c> if</c> people that benefit from that.
• But if people that benefit from that.

Summary: The subcommittee met on October 14, approved the minutes, and then took up a large group of staff-suggested amendments to multiple regulations. Those staff amendments were approved without objection and were described as technical changes needed to comply with KRS Chapter 13A and other governing law. The committee then moved out of order to consider Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure regulation 2011 KAR 9:270, which governs buprenorphine prescribing and related standards. Board representatives said the regulation has been updated over time since 2015 and that the current amendments are intended to streamline the rule, remove outdated federal references such as the X-waiver, narrow education requirements to addiction-related topics, and create exceptions for settings like emergency rooms and certain pain treatment situations. The agency amendment would also allow buprenorphine monoproduct for up to 30 days when a patient is transitioning from a full opioid agonist, and would add physicians certified in addiction medicine as eligible specialty consultants. Board officials said the regulation was developed through a two-year process with a work group, informal outreach to medical organizations, and multiple comment periods, and they argued the rule is working because overdose deaths have declined and provider numbers have increased. Several witnesses and committee members raised concerns that the regulation remains too restrictive. Senator Rocky Adams noted that major medical organizations had said the proposed language could restrict access and worsen overdose risk, and he questioned whether the committee was being asked to choose between conflicting expert views. Opponents, including a medical student, a recovery advocate, and Dr. Colleen Ryan of the Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine, argued the rule is outdated, creates unnecessary barriers to buprenorphine treatment, and should be repealed or substantially revised to align with federal guidance and evidence-based care. They said rigid requirements can discourage treatment and that addiction should be treated like other chronic illnesses. No final vote on the medical licensure regulation is reflected in the transcript excerpt, and the discussion ended with the chair preparing to hear from additional opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, because of the high level of interest in testifying, can we limit, um, for today's hearings?
• I think that one of the real benefits of having the way you set it up is that we were able to hear from
• </c><00:02:49.519><c> of</c> think that one of the real benefits of think that one of the real benefits
• </c><00:59:37.040><c> Our</c> this low wage with no benefit job.
• Our this low wage with no benefit job.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I improvements will benefit Minnesotans.
• a monthly limit.
• Um so keeping within the monthly limit.
• </c> the implementation of the limit the implementation of the limit and<00:41:59.440><c> then</c><00
• So is there any limit on the Mr. Chair.

Bills: HF3526 , HF3375 , HF3469

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:35.680><c> not</c> in my County where I've been limited not in my County where I've been limited
• What are the limitations, Commissioner Barnett?
• </c> they're ask you said there was limit they're ask you said there was limit limitations<01:24:45.280
• ><c> for</c> limitations for limitations for asking<01:24:47.040><c> no</c><01:24:47.560><c> Barnett<
• </c><01:24:51.840><c> as</c> representative there's no limitations as representative there's no limitations

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I would ask the group to understand we have a limited time here. It's 9:16.
• we have a limited time here it's<00:10:03.040><c> 9:16</c><00:10:03.800><c> we</c><00:10:03.959><c>
• We know how to support the mental well-being of transgender and non-binary people, and it benefits the
• We know how to support the mental well-being of transgender and non-binary people, and it benefits the
• </c><00:13:56.320><c> the</c> non-binary people and it benefits the non-binary people and it benefits

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception. Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty. The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not so much the salary or the benefits that they're looking at. It's just the demand.
• It's not so much the salary or the benefits that they're looking at.
• And so we've been able to hire very experienced people, perhaps for the benefits.
• Okay, so Leon County is our only office, and that certainly comes with its limitations.
• There’s no benefit. There’s no paid days off.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency vacancy reports and agency-requested budget reductions, with Chair Lopez framing the discussion around stewardship of taxpayer dollars, agency efficiency, and whether long-vacant positions should be cut or repurposed. Members were given vacancy summaries and asked to focus on how agencies are functioning with current staffing, which positions are mission critical, and whether some vacancies reflect market pay issues, re-engineering of work, or true excess capacity. The chair also noted that agency heads had been asked to provide follow-up information on current openings, average vacancy duration, mission-critical roles, and reasons for vacancies. The Department of Revenue was the first major agency reviewed because it had the largest number of vacancies. Its leadership said vacancies had improved from pandemic-era highs due to market pay adjustments, but that some areas—especially general tax and audit—still had long-term openings. The department explained that some positions are intentionally frozen while work is restructured, that it hires above minimum salary in some cases to stay competitive, and that it is using automation and process changes to reduce backlogs. Members raised concerns about vacancies outside Leon County, out-of-state auditor positions, salary compression, and whether the department should provide a list of frozen positions and the salaries actually needed to recruit. The Department of Financial Services said its long vacancies were concentrated in risk management, law enforcement, and the general counsel’s office, where salaries and competition from private employers and other agencies make hiring difficult. DFS said it was using outside vendors in some areas, had reduced vacancies in its general counsel office significantly, and was willing to identify positions that could be cut, including some from treasury and OAT. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation reported progress in lowering vacancies through statewide recruiting, centralized legal hiring, automation in service operations, and leadership changes in alcoholic beverages and tobacco; it said one recommended cut could be achieved by combining two half-time positions. The Florida Lottery reported a low vacancy rate, said all positions were critical, and explained its longer onboarding time due to extensive background checks; members discussed sales reps, incentives, and the agency’s field-office structure. The Office of Financial Regulation said many of its vacancies were already in the hiring pipeline, with recent vacancies tied to promotions, a death, and internal moves, and noted that it often serves as a training ground for federal agencies. The Office of Insurance Regulation, which had a high vacancy rate concentrated in Leon County, said it had been reducing vacancies from a much higher level and was still working through hiring and administrative constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even though it's going to benefit Kansas City, I urge the body to vote yes. Thank you.
• Joseph's Memorial Airport, into the city limits. Let me provide a very quick history.
• There is one small problem: this land is not contiguous to the city limits.
• Joseph to be able to put this in their city limits. We've done this time and again.
• There are two large farms, and those are not in the city limits.

Summary: The House met for prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal, which passed 121-2 for February 26 and by voice vote for February 27. Members then offered several points of personal privilege, including tributes to law enforcement officers killed and wounded in Christian County, expressions of support for the affected families and departments, and recognition of a local racquetball championship and visiting guests, including U.S. Representatives Mark Alford and Eric Burlison and a child’s birthday. The chamber then took up numerous bills on third reading. HB 2097/1905, an elementary agriculture education pilot program, passed 148-0. HB 2167, authorizing the Attorney General’s Office to employ post-certified investigators in-house, passed 97-50, but its emergency clause failed 88-58 after debate over whether a unique emergency existed. HB 2747/2047, the Clean Slate expungement bill, passed 140-7 despite concerns about a fiscal note and implementation costs. HB 2587, addressing unmanned aircraft threats around large public gatherings and critical infrastructure, passed 140-2 and its emergency clause was adopted 133-11 ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Kansas City. Other bills passed included HB 1977 on civil detention for mental health evaluation (137-9), HB 2593 on National Guard and veterans-related matters including cybersecurity and tuition assistance (144-2), HB 1948, a fatherhood bill aimed at helping fathers overcome barriers to involvement with their children (141-4), and HB 2473, which clarifies handling of interest in real estate broker escrow accounts (149-0). The House also moved several bills to perfection, including HB 1786 on Highway Patrol purchase authority, HB 2105 on landlord water and sewer billing transparency, HB 2397 on water district dissolution thresholds, HB 2108 on Jefferson City viaduct and land conveyance issues, HB 2818 to annex St. Joseph Memorial Airport into city limits, and HB 1980 expanding peer review protections to EMTs and paramedics. The day ended with announcements, including an elections committee meeting and a rescheduled freshman meet-and-greet with the Attorney General.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we've already discussed, stands to benefit from this.
• from that, they would sure tell us that we got a huge benefit out of it.
• And they operate, you know, for the benefit of the St. Louis area.
• My concern was the limited information provided to us by the governor's office.
• The House rule just allows our committee to limit time debate.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And you had mentioned earlier that this bill would limit the use.
• I want to remind everyone we do have a three minute time limit.
• I want to add that I think that the child benefits as well.
• not only themselves but, more importantly, society can benefit as well.
• They have limited capacity and culpability compared to adults.

Bills: HB31 , HB3360

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Keywords: juvenile justice, community supervision, felony offenses, treatment of children, juvenile facilities, chemical dispensing device, solitary confinement, rehabilitation, criminal proceedings, delinquency

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's a five-year transformation, so it is time-limited.
• Um, it's a five-year transformation, so it is time-limited.
• </c><00:14:37.040><c> We</c> There's some limits and exclusions.
• We There's some limits and exclusions.
• Now there's limited carveouts everybody.

Summary: The Health Services Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Steven Stack, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program. He said Kentucky received about $213 million in federal funding, among the highest awards nationally, after a fast application and negotiation process. He emphasized that the grant is time-limited, must be used for the specific goals in the state’s application, and cannot be treated as a general bailout or replacement for existing funding. He also noted the state will use a website, ruralhealthplan.ky.gov, to share the full application, award terms, and future opportunities. Dr. Stack outlined five focus areas: maternal health and prenatal/early childhood supports; EMS and trauma response workforce and transfer capacity; behavioral health crisis care through the EMPATH model and mobile crisis services; oral health access through more hygienists, telehealth, and hub-and-spoke models; and rural community hubs for chronic disease prevention and innovation, including food-as-medicine and healthier lifestyle interventions. He stressed that the program is meant to be transformative, not duplicative, and that it cannot pay clinician salaries, fund new construction, replace EMR systems broadly, or duplicate billable services. He said the state will work with community partners, hospitals, universities, and others, including the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, to begin implementation. Members responded positively overall. Senator Berg praised the award and the goal of integrating care across the state, but raised concerns about access to prenatal care and about possible future changes to water fluoridation, warning both could harm children and rural families. The chair and other members thanked Dr. Stack for the update and congratulated him on the award. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• and auto draft continue to happen before they get their arms around those situations, including benefits
• from the federal government, like Social Security or veterans benefits checks.
• Initiative, the department may utilize such efforts as considered appropriate, including but not limited
• At the top of the scope is limited to acquiring images and assisting patients during exams.
• Is there any limit on those?

Committees: Senate Health & Welfare , Senate Health and Welfare

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 6, 2026, with five members present. After adopting the April 28 minutes, the committee heard a brief presentation on the new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, which is intended to bring together health care, business, policy, and education leaders to study Louisiana health challenges and build a network for action. Members expressed support for the program and its potential value to health policy work. The committee then advanced several bills, often with technical or substantive amendments. SB 57, a nutrition-labeling bill, was amended to push its effective date to December 31, 2028 and reported as amended. HB 62 increased the membership of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission to 27 members and was reported as amended. HB 193 updated membership rules for the sickle cell commission foundations so long-serving executive directors would not have to reapply repeatedly, and it was reported as amended. HB 815 would allow financial institutions to receive death certificates to help families manage accounts after a death; it was reported favorably after a question about state-licensed banks. SB 405 was substantially revised to codify LDH’s new Ascend nursing-facility quality initiative, including statewide quality oversight goals, stakeholder involvement, reporting requirements, and tools such as dashboards and surveys; after reconsidering prior action and adopting the new amendment, the bill was reported as amended. The committee also approved HB 222, which provides Medicaid dental coverage when needed for another covered medical procedure, and HB 420, which requires background checks for all DCFS employees with access to sensitive information. HB 475 requires verbal consent when AI is used to record or transcribe a medical visit and was reported favorably after a technical question. HB 246 updated membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the council on grandparents raising grandchildren, including replacing an inactive coalition seat with the state police superintendent or designee. HB 486 would enter Louisiana into the psychology inter-jurisdictional compact to expand access to mental health care, and HB 574 updated outdated board names on the Mental Health Advisory Services Board; both were reported favorably. Later, the committee reported HB 949, which creates a licensure framework for radiologist assistants to help address imaging workforce shortages, especially in rural areas, and HB 584, which requires foster children to be provided luggage instead of trash bags for their belongings and restores “rights” language in the Foster Youth Bill of Rights. The committee also reported HB 1214, restructuring certain LDH facilities into a single system under the secretary’s office; HB 1092, a technical renaming/terminology cleanup bill; and HB 203, which adds members to the uterine fibroids commission. Throughout the meeting, members and witnesses emphasized access to care, workforce shortages, child welfare, and quality improvement, and the committee repeatedly adopted amendments and reported the bills favorably or as amended before adjourning.