Transcript Highlights:

• And what we found is we have a lot of high utilizers.
• Utilization is increasing.
• You know, I’ve talked to some utilities.
• the average state employee.
• How do you all utilize it at your agency?

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation on LSU Health Care Services Division and Lallie Kemp Medical Center. Staff reviewed HCSD’s roughly $74.7 million budget, much of it tied to legacy obligations for former LSU hospital systems and support for Lallie Kemp. Committee members asked about prisoner care, risk management costs, declining admissions and emergency visits, and the hospital’s 340B drug program. Lallie Kemp officials explained that prisoner care serves multiple state and local facilities, that lower admissions largely reflect more patients being placed in observation status, and that the in-house 340B program provides major savings to patients and the prison system. Members also asked about care for unhoused patients and the hospital’s discharge practices, and the hospital said social services works to find placement when possible. The committee then moved to the Louisiana Department of Health budget, which was presented as just under $23.5 billion, with Medicaid making up more than 90 percent of the total. The presentation covered the Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Medicaid. Major items included the new Rural Health Transformation Program, the transfer of several functions from DCFS to LDH under the One Door initiative, changes to SNAP administration, and large Medicaid adjustments driven by enrollment, utilization, and federal policy changes. Testimony also highlighted the statewide crisis hub and 988, the commodity food program for seniors, women’s health and maternal outcomes, and the department’s efforts to modernize technology and reorganize services. Members questioned LDH officials on a wide range of budget and policy issues, including the rural health grant, crisis services, Medicaid redeterminations, provider taxes, physician and hospital supplemental payments, nursing home rates, HCBS funding, and the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. LDH said the rural health grant would support workforce, technology, and care-delivery improvements; that the crisis hub and mobile crisis units are being expanded to improve access and reduce emergency room use; and that the department is working to keep the SNAP error rate below 6 percent to avoid a projected state cost increase. Officials also said they expect to return next year with additional funding requests for HCBS and other programs, while emphasizing that current budget changes are largely meant to realign funding with actual expenditures and new federal requirements. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state wanted to own their own utilities state wanted to own their own utilities companies<01:25:
• To allow an exempt employee to grieve a discharge would be problematic because many exempt employees
• </c> exempt exempt positions and employees exempt exempt positions and employees over<02:04:52.159><c
• </c> seen um attempts to exempt employees seen um attempts to exempt employees that<02:07:13.719><c>
• </c> easily understood so exempt employees easily understood so exempt employees can<02:10:14.119><c>

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• employees.
• So the question is if you have an employee who is treating someone very very, If you have an employee
• of another employee.
• We have a lot of government employees, right? We're all government employees.
• Our staff are government employees. If I treat Right? We're all government employees.

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The committee took up several bills and one set of confirmations. SB 330, relating to disability provisions for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, was explained as clarifying the heart disease presumption and allowing transferred law enforcement officers to rely on a prior physical if the new agency fails to provide one; it was reported favorably. SB 526, a broad commercial construction bill, was amended with a title amendment and a delete-all amendment before being reported favorably. SB 1192 created a pilot program for callback queues at certain executive agencies to reduce hold times, and it was also reported favorably. SB 1078 established gubernatorial transition procedures, including liaisons, briefing materials, office space, and access to records; an amendment narrowed and reassigned some duties and increased penalties for improper disclosure, and the bill passed favorably. SB 7022 extended and updated a public records exemption for classroom examinations and assessment instruments through 2031, and it was reported favorably. SB 1250 removed the Florida Commission on Human Relations’ requirement to use registered mail for certain notices, allowing less expensive notice methods, and it passed favorably. SB 1698 allowed certain employer notices and posters to be posted electronically instead of physically, and it was reported favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of 10 appointees to the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the State Retirement Commission. SB 1072 created an anti-Semitism task force within the Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights to review anti-Semitism in Florida, improve community relations, advise on law enforcement training, assess digital media literacy efforts, review hate crime statutes, and issue annual reports. The bill drew extensive public testimony, with many speakers opposing it on First Amendment, academic freedom, and equal-protection grounds and arguing it could chill criticism of Israel or be used selectively; supporters said it was needed to address rising anti-Semitism and that the state’s definition of anti-Semitism had already been adopted in statute. After debate, the bill was reported favorably. SB 862, as amended, set a $60,000 salary goal by 2030 for state correctional officers, probation officers, and institutional security specialists, with annual raises subject to appropriations; members questioned a separate provision allowing deployment of correctional officers during emergencies, including whether that could intersect with immigration enforcement, but the sponsor said he would follow up and that the bill was aimed at recruitment, retention, and workforce stability. The bill received support from law enforcement and corrections groups and was reported favorably. SB 1642, the Freedom in the Workplace Act, generated the most contentious discussion: it would bar certain pronoun-related requirements, prohibit mandatory training or activities related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression as a condition of employment, require sex on employment forms to reflect biological sex, and extend similar protections to public employees and contractors. Supporters framed it as protecting free speech, conscience, and against compelled speech; opponents argued it would authorize discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people, invite litigation, and harm workplace safety and inclusion. An amendment moved the bill into the chapter governing public employers and employees, and the bill was then reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• , on behalf of the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association.
• At ECS, that means 162 employees would be impacted, including counselors.
• without advance notice to the employees most directly affected.
• without advance notice to the employees most directly affected.
• Public safety employees. Happy to be here with you this morning.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• That company grew to nearly 1,000 employees across New England.
• We call the electric utilities, or the utilities now, perhaps soon to be the electric utilities only,
• Yeah, I'll let the utilities answer in their own way of what they do.
• The utilities are delegating the important questions of granular...
• This idea of the utility...

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Summary: The committee held a hearing on the value of Mass Save, with opening remarks emphasizing that despite past criticisms the program has delivered major energy, cost, climate, and equity benefits. The chair cited large avoided system costs, strong benefit-cost ratios, and recent legislative changes that set emissions goals, restricted fossil-fuel equipment incentives, and increased focus on low- and moderate-income households. Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney testified that Mass Save has weatherized hundreds of thousands of homes, reduced bills, avoided emissions, and that the current plan includes budget controls after the DPU ordered $500 million removed from the approved budget. She said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer the program was intended to reduce administrative costs and align with current implementation trends. Members questioned Mahoney about what counts as marketing and administration, and she said the category includes traditional advertising as well as community-based outreach, customer resource centers, and other customer engagement work, much of it in low- and moderate-income communities. She said administrative and marketing costs are under 5% of the budget, while more than 80% goes to incentives and direct program delivery. Several witnesses then focused on workforce and contractor impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, creates careers, and supports thousands of jobs; both warned that budget cuts would reduce hiring, training, and work in homes and businesses. They also described a broad ecosystem of suppliers, trainers, and service providers that depends on stable program funding. Other witnesses addressed cost-effectiveness, affordability, and emissions. Anna Johnson of ACEEE said Massachusetts remains a national leader, with Mass Save returning about $2.80 per dollar invested, reducing peak demand, and lowering bills for participants, especially through weatherization and heat pumps. Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said the program is statutorily required to be cost-effective and has avoided billions in supply and infrastructure costs for all ratepayers, including nonparticipants, by lowering overall demand and peak prices. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that efficiency is the cheapest way to meet climate targets and that cutting the budget would force more expensive power generation. The hearing also featured testimony on equity and housing: Mary Wampo described historic under-service to renter-heavy and lower-income communities and said recent reforms, including designated equity communities and performance incentives tied to equity, are helping correct that imbalance; Brian Biot and James Collins of LEAN/ABCD described low-income delivery systems and wraparound services; Barney Heath and John Nannari said Mass Save incentives are essential to affordable housing, passive house construction, and keeping projects on time and on budget. The final witnesses highlighted Connected Solutions and electrification: Sunrun’s Bronte Payne said the virtual power plant program saved more than it cost and helps avoid peaker plants and grid upgrades, and Highland Electric Fleets’ Ben Sondaga said electric school buses can provide similar grid benefits while lowering transportation costs for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have double-digit growth starting in 2023, 58%, up to 67% utilization, up to 75% utilization.
• So 98% penetration, 75% utilization.
• So we have 98% deployment. 75% utilization. Okay, 75%.
• You know, one of the things that I look at is utilization.
• and providing the training for their employees?

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity and the Committee on Emergency Management held a joint informational hearing on maximizing the value of state cybersecurity investments, with a focus on whether California is fully using the security features already included in vendor contracts. The first panel included Microsoft, Zscaler, and Palo Alto Networks, whose representatives described the products and services they provide to the state, including endpoint protection, data loss prevention, zero-trust access, attack surface management, incident response, and AI-enabled security tools. They generally said utilization is strong in some areas but that underuse can occur because of limited staff, lack of awareness, overlapping tools, audit-driven purchases, and the difficulty of keeping up with rapidly changing threats and products. They also emphasized the need for training, leadership buy-in, and coordination among IT, procurement, budget, and mission staff. Members pressed the vendors on risks such as ransomware, data loss, IoT and operational technology vulnerabilities, major events like the World Cup and Olympics, and the role of AI in both attacks and defense. The vendors said AI is already changing both sides of cybersecurity, speeding attacks but also helping defenders triage alerts and improve response times. They also discussed workforce shortages and the challenge of retaining trained staff in state government. One public commenter argued that restrictive software licensing can worsen cybersecurity by locking customers into vendors and limiting flexibility, integration, and modernization. The second panel featured the Department of Technology, Cal OES/CalSIC, and the California Military Department. CDT said its audits, maturity metrics, independent security assessments, continuous monitoring, advisory services, and vulnerability disclosure program are helping improve statewide security, and that departments are making progress but still vary in maturity. Cal OES and CalSIC described training, advisories, cyber advisory services, and statewide exercises like Cyber Dawn, while the Military Department said its assessment teams have seen significant score improvements over time. Officials said underutilization is not always due to lack of awareness; sometimes features are intentionally disabled to reduce attack surface or because tools overlap. The hearing also covered federal funding concerns, including the reduction of MS-ISAC support and the final year of the state and local cybersecurity grant program, and the meeting adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It can be very safe and secure, efficient, and utilize great technology.
• Does that include schools and all the special utilities? Thank you.
• Members, we’re probably sitting close to 260-262 employees in-house.
• We have mandatory days in the office for those employees.
• We have mandatory days in the office for those employees.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment ensures that California tribes may seek the exemption utilizing the best form of entity
• The tribal forms of entities that tribes do utilize today are recognized as eligible for the welfare
• Hourly employees like truck drivers, plumbers, and others.
• When employees take on extra hours to cover the rising cost of gas, groceries, and utilities, a significant
• We are telling hardworking employees that their extra efforts belong back in the pocket.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the utilities have to make an implementation plan.
• which is a main way that utilities make money for their shareholders.
• WHICH IS A MAIN WAY THAT UTILITIES MAKE MONEY FOR THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.
• There were several debates about Utility-related bills, and someone mentioned that utility rates are
• This bill will force utilities to raise rates.

Summary: The Senate opened with routine formalities, approved the journal, welcomed a SkillsUSA student delegation, and then moved into budget and policy business. The chamber accepted a Rules Committee report and took up a supplemental budget extender, Senate Print 9963, which would extend state operations through April 22 and authorize $12.7 billion, including about $5.1 billion in new funding for Medicaid, payroll, and school aid. Senator O’Mara questioned the delay in the budget, the lack of public detail, and unresolved issues such as CLCPA changes, auto insurance, and SEQR reforms; the sponsor said negotiations were ongoing and that school aid would likely build on the executive budget. The extender passed 57-1, with Senator Weik voting no. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 1887, sponsored by Senator Brisport, memorializing the Governor to proclaim April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month. Senators Brisport, Fahy, Salazar, and Gounardes spoke in support, emphasizing Arab Americans’ cultural, civic, and economic contributions in New York and condemning anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. The resolution was adopted by voice vote and opened for co-sponsorship. The chamber next considered several bills on the calendar, including a bill by Senator Cleare to prohibit state-chartered financial institutions from investing in private correctional facilities. Supporters framed it as a moral response to private prisons and rising federal use of detention facilities, while opponents argued it would overregulate state-chartered banks and affect private investment decisions. The bill passed 36-22. The Senate also passed a bill by Senator Krueger raising the nonprofit lobbying disclosure threshold from $5,000 to $10,000, after debate over transparency and whether the change would reduce oversight; it passed 35-23. Finally, the Senate passed Senator May’s bill on advanced transmission technologies and utility planning, after extensive debate over ratepayer costs, battery storage, and data center growth; supporters said it could lower energy costs through more efficient grid use, while opponents said it would raise rates and duplicate existing studies. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• . employees.
• I have 118 employees, 143 when we're at. full capacity.
• Utilities have different programs, different kinds of rebates.
• owned utility from enforcing its interconnection and service.
• We're the trade association for the 72 municipally owned electric utilities.

Bills: SB264 , SB542 , SB924 , SB1008 , SB1029 , SB1036 , SB1057 , SB1058 , SB1185 , SB1202 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1376 , SB1569 , SB1664 , SB1697 , SJR50

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• The employee had a break in service.
• The Employee Benefits Division paid $3.8 million for Arkansas State employee health claims and $6.5 million
• The Employee Benefits Division paid $3.8 million for Arkansas State employee health claims and $6.5 million
• Just curious, how do you—well, I mean, like would an employee use their employee badge to log into the
• Just curious, how do you, well, I mean, like would an employee use their employee badge to log into the

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-STATE AGENCIES

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard audit reports from Tom Bullington. For the Department of Public Safety FY24 audit, two findings were presented: a duplicate vendor payment of nearly $3,700 that was later recouped, and a $2.5 million collateral deficiency tied to bank deposits that exceeded FDIC coverage because securities were not properly pledged to the State Police. Agency representatives from Arkansas State Police and the Department of Public Safety answered questions, and members discussed how the collateral requirement works before the report was filed without objection. The committee then reviewed the Department of Transformation and Shared Services FY24 audit, which contained five findings. These included an $800 career service overpayment caused by incorrect rehire data, delayed deactivation and inaccurate listing of fixed assets including stolen cameras, a double count of more than $940,000 in year-end cash records, $10.3 million in health claims that should have been recorded as fiscal year 2024 payables, and repeated deficiencies in vehicle mileage logs. Agency officials said the stolen cameras were recovered through restitution, and they described corrective steps for asset tracking, cash reporting, and vehicle logs. Members asked detailed questions about the vehicle log issues and the planned statewide GPS/telematics rollout. Shared Administrative Services said it is negotiating a vendor contract, expects to implement the system first in its own department, and aims to use GPS, geofencing, alerts, and WEX fuel-card data to improve oversight while preserving privacy. The committee also discussed possible future vehicle sharing across agencies, but no action was taken beyond filing the report. The meeting adjourned after announcing the next meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the budget for the Public Utilities Commission.
• The Commission does not regulate publicly owned municipal or cooperative utilities, and the Public Utilities
• Commission serves the citizens and utilities of Idaho by a determination. ...of utilities, and the Public
• Utilities Commission serves the citizens and utilities of Idaho by determining fair, just, and reasonable
• There's just one enhancement request for the Public Utilities Commission this year.

Summary: The committee met to review the general fund update and several budget-setting items, with staff explaining how to track the latest “green sheet” online and how JFAC actions were affecting the FY 2026 and FY 2027 bottom lines. Members also discussed whether work group progress should be summarized more broadly, but leadership emphasized that work groups were intended to remain independent and that members should consult analysts directly rather than have a running public summary of each group’s internal deliberations. The committee then acted on a series of agency budgets. It approved the Idaho State Tax Commission enhancement package after revising it to remove the chief operating officer personnel item and adopted language limiting use of $550,000 for fast tax collection vendor payments, with any unused amount reverting to the general fund. It also approved supplemental and enhancement requests for the Office of Information Technology Services, including Chinden campus furnishings, E-Core grant staffing and funding, enterprise security/firewall upgrades, the IT modernization transfer of 58 positions from Health and Welfare, and a one-time cash transfer language item to cover transition-year health insurance costs. The Military Division’s request for $120,000 for Office of Emergency Management indirect cost recovery was approved, but an alternate motion to also add $190,800 for the state education assistance program failed, and the original motion was later held in committee. The Industrial Commission and Public Utilities Commission budgets were both advanced with dedicated-fund increases for IRIS maintenance, training, disability fund needs, OITS hardware, and replacement laptops. The Department of Fish and Game budget was also advanced, with approval of a large package of dedicated and federal funds for fishery habitat projects, Good Neighbor Authority work, hatchery and laboratory inflation, temporary employees, wolf depredation response, communications, and replacement items, along with reappropriation authority for prior-year funds. The committee then took up the Department of Health and Welfare Division of Public Health Services, where competing motions focused on the Idaho Home Visiting Program, immunization assessment fund restoration, laboratory testing, HIV and hepatitis prevention, suicide prevention, and moving the home visiting program to Early Learning and Development. Both the substitute motion and the original motion failed after split votes in the House and Senate committees, leaving that budget held for later action. Finally, the committee considered new language for the State Controller and State Treasurer to require monthly reconciliation of cash balances between Luma and TARS from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, with a report due by the fall interim JFAC meeting and documentation retained for audit. Members discussed the need for accurate cash reconciliation and the resources available to the Controller’s office, but no final action was taken before adjournment. The chair announced upcoming budget-setting meetings and reminded members to complete work group motions by the end of the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would require that employees and agents receive the training within 30 days of initial hire and
• We are the statutory representative of utility ratepayers here in the State of New Jersey.
• Because if they are already employees of a company, then they enjoy that employment status.
• , and they pay their employees their proper taxes, employer taxes.
• Is that employee at AAA? Yeah, but not employed by AAA at all. So. Employee at AAA?

Committee: Senate Senate Budget and Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe it's appropriate because of the technology itself and the way it's utilized.
• Navit Purrier, on behalf of the California School Employees Association, in support.
• When the employee knew a manager was watching, it stopped.
• I mean, are you going to say we can never put an employee in that situation?
• It does not mean that the employee is being taken care of or not taken care of.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• Fund and the increases in employee liability rates.
• Fall off of Medicaid, why is there a utilization increase?
• Of the premiums for state employees, and again that doesn't include those under public education employees
• , but that is the state employee rate.
• And who are the employees that are not making that money?

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So therefore, the employees, it's not fair to increase the employees.
• I think they should be the returning employee.
• So therefore, the employees, it's not fair to increase the employees.
• I think they should be the returning employee.
• And as an employee or as an insured, I would like to see whatever law they're referring to.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• So when you employ the employees, can you walk me through how you train your employee?
• So when you employ the employees, can you walk me through how you train your employee?
• I know you said you utilize CPI, and I didn't know if it was CNR or CPI or PMT or what you utilized from
• So if we had employees who were full-time employees who stayed at the job longer...
• So if we had employees who were full-time employees who stayed at the job longer and I shouldn't say

Transcript Highlights:

• More than 75 percent of CSU spending is employee compensation.
• , and previously agreed-to employee compensation increases.
• I'm not sure I have the trends in breakdown of employees.
• The Chancellor's Office has about 700 staff out of 63,000 employees, so about 1% of total employees.
• We also, in our priorities, include employee compensation.

Summary: The subcommittee heard opening remarks and updates from UC President James Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia on the state of higher education, including federal funding losses, civil rights/Title IX compliance, enrollment, housing, and budget needs. Both leaders emphasized the value of UC and CSU to California’s workforce, research, and economic mobility, while warning that federal grant cancellations, investigations, and changes to student aid are creating major financial and operational strain. UC reported losing or having at risk more than 1,600 grants and over $1 billion in research activity, while CSU said it had lost more than 200 grants totaling about $161 million, including minority-serving institution grants that affected student support programs. Both systems said they are investing in civil rights services and trying to limit the release of personally identifiable information in response to federal requests. The committee then reviewed the higher education student housing grant program. Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office staff said the governor’s budget does not include major new changes but continues support for the program. CSU reported 12 approved projects that will add about 5,047 beds, with roughly 75% below market rate, and said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing housing insecurity among students. UC said its housing projects have added more than 7,000 beds when reduced-rent and regular-rent units are combined, but nearly 10,000 students were on housing wait lists at the start of fall 2025. Both systems described rapid rehousing efforts, emergency beds, and partnerships with community colleges, and UC noted several joint housing projects, including at Riverside, Merced, and Santa Cruz. Members discussed whether future housing bonds and use of surplus school sites could help expand capacity. In the enrollment section, the LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan at the three highest-demand UC campuses, and holding UC enrollment flat in 2027-28. For CSU, the LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 enrollment expectation downward to reflect updated projections, while also funding enrollment growth separately and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. CSU said it has rebounded from pandemic-era declines, is above its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. UC said it has already exceeded its compact enrollment goals and is planning continued growth, but that sustaining it depends on ongoing state support. Members raised concerns about campus-specific enrollment declines, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pathways. The final section covered core operations and deferred payments: Finance said the governor proposes another one-year deferral of about $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU, and the LAO recommended retiring the deferrals when one-time funds are available. CSU described rising compensation, financial aid, utilities, insurance, and deferred maintenance costs, and said it is pursuing cost-saving measures such as procurement alignment, campus integration, and shared administrative services.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:19:33.840><c> including</c> to hire several new employees, including to hire several new employees
• </c><00:50:21.760><c> that</c> this by having better employees that this by having better employees that
• Looking at how we utilize farmers.
• </c><00:57:50.799><c> utilizing</c><00:57:51.200><c> biouels</c> the state of Kentucky. utilizing biouels
• In the three they can then utilize.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement heard presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Agriculture. Secretary of State Michael Adams said his office had no major new budget or authority requests, but he updated members on voter-roll maintenance, ongoing litigation over a law preventing voting in multiple states, the Safe at Home program for domestic violence survivors, human trafficking outreach, reduced spending, and new anti-fraud measures for business registrations and electronic service of process. Members then discussed Adams’ remarks, especially his criticism of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. One senator objected that the organization should not be shut out of the legislative process, citing First Amendment concerns. Adams responded that he was not seeking to ban anyone from speaking, but wanted lawmakers to remember the harm he believes the group’s litigation does to election integrity and bipartisan reform. Representative Jackson praised Adams and his staff for their work. Deputy Attorney General Rob Duncan outlined the office’s work, including criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, body armor grants, administrative hearings, domestic violence and violent crime initiatives, election security, child support services, and the new Office of Data Privacy. He said the child support program transition from CHFS had created budget shortfalls and that the office would seek additional funding next session. In response to questions from Representative Lockett, Duncan said he did not yet have exact cost figures but expected funding needs and noted barriers related to personnel, budgeting, and integration. The committee also heard from Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, who highlighted the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy’s 25th anniversary, the new Office of Economic Development, and the role of Miss Kentucky in promoting agriculture. He said the department would seek recruitment and retention funding, possible staffing for EV station inspections, and continued support to make the agriculture economic development fund permanent.

Transcript Highlights:

• EAP is a union-negotiated benefit for all state employees.
• utilized, which will result in overall annual savings to the state.
• That covers basic counseling services at a fixed employee-rate pricing model regardless of utilization
• baseline employee rate for the core services and then will utilize usage-based pricing for the clinical
• It assumes CalHR's projected utilization rate of 15%.