Transcript Highlights:

• </c> place of great safety place of great safety uh<00:45:57.000><c> and</c><00:45:57.160><c> flourishing
• </c><03:09:50.480><c> communications</c> the public safety communications the public safety communications
• Members, I think everyone here is for public safety.
• </c><06:43:29.840><c> I</c><06:43:29.920><c> think</c> here is for public safety.
• I think here is for public safety.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Republicans are obsessed with fairness and safety.
• So out of fairness and safety for females, I vote yes. ...votes aye.
• Okay, so this is a school safety program bill, and for that part, it makes changes to the school safety
• House Bill 2322, an act relating to the Department of Child Safety.
• I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this proposal is not about public safety.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They talk to me about kids, education, special education, the safety of students, learning, you know,
• Um, Senator Ward, you know, I make this motion because safety within our schools is a priority.
• Public safety has always been a priority for me.
• within our schools is because um safety within our schools is a<01:44:40.880><c> priority.
• > always</c> a priority. public safety has always a priority. public safety has always always<01:44:43.040

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This<00:15:00.760><c> ensures</c><00:15:01.160><c> public</c><00:15:01.520><c> safety</c><00:15:02.120
• ><c> while</c><00:15:02.360><c> still</c> This ensures public safety while still This ensures public
• </c><01:24:29.800><c> or</c> it does not change any safety or it does not change any safety or oversight
• </c><01:36:21.640><c> All</c><01:36:21.800><c> those</c> Judiciary and Public Safety.
• All those Judiciary and Public Safety.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Berg explained that it is a fairly simple safety bill.
• Not just it is about employee safety, but how broad is this going to get?
• Not just it is about employee safety, but how broad is this going to get?
• of folks that do guarantee the safety of folks that do good<00:29:37.520><c> work.
• </c> in the workplace to protect their safety in the workplace to protect their safety and<00:58:48.319

Bills: HF3707 , HF3732 , HF2581 , HF3731

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

Keywords: unemployment insurance, judicial officials, paid leave, economic development, worker protections, workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, grants, job creation, grant funding, revolving loan, underserved communities, disadvantaged groups, electrical licensing, installation, Class A installer, regulations, labor and industry, 1183

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill. The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers. Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think anyone should have to fear for their safety just going to work, especially if all they're
• . safety. safety.
• President, I did not intend to speak because I understand the intent here and safety is important.
• Uh, particularly in safety is important.
• </c><01:08:09.599><c> The</c> public safety. Let me be clear. The public safety. Let me be clear.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But let's at least put in the safety net and the safety guard that if we don't receive federal funds,
• at least put in the safety net and the<01:08:17.359><c> safety</c><01:08:17.759><c> guard</c><01:08:
• Those things that we fought so hard for in Senate Bill 290 to stabilize our safety net.
• It'll<02:01:04.080><c> increase</c><02:01:04.800><c> safety.</c> It'll increase safety.
• It'll increase safety.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and they began afraid for their safety and they began asking<00:58:42.640><c> us</c><00:58:42.880><c
• At the state level, is there any difference with the way that the state looks at the safety of public
• Is there any difference in the safety standards?
• </c> there any difference in the safety there any difference in the safety standards?
• </c> health, and safety requirements. health, and safety requirements.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, it was a public safety issue. It's how we saw it. And that is what this is about.
• I'm Brandy Craft with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Highway Safety. I'm Ryan Fiser.
• I'm the director for the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. Please raise your right hand.
• Safety. Safety. &gt;&gt; I'm<01:06:35.599><c> Ryan</c><01:06:35.920><c> Fiser.
• </c> Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.

Keywords: This meeting will take place Upon Adjournment of both Chambers. An exact time is not given or known at this time., 958, all

Summary: The Government Contracts Committee met for its first 2026 meeting, approved the December 9 minutes, and reviewed 337 contracts totaling about $71.8 million. After a motion to consider the routine contract lists without objection passed, the committee pulled several items for discussion, including contracts from the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Department of Highways, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission, and Kentucky State University. Most items were ultimately approved by roll call votes. For the Council on Postsecondary Education item, members discussed why the contract was not handled through the usual Finance Cabinet bidding process. Staff explained it stemmed from House Bill 200 and the healthcare workforce incentive fund, which uses a separate competitive award process and steering committee under different statutory standards. The committee accepted that explanation and approved the contract. Department of Highways staff then explained the difference between scour assessments, which evaluate erosion and foundation risk around bridge piers, and load ratings, which assess the bridge structure itself. Members also questioned a larger engineering contract increase; staff said it reflected progression from preliminary engineering to final design on a phased project and estimated the funding split at roughly 80% federal and 20% state. Those highway contracts were approved. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission presented a legal services contract. Officials said the new corporation had identified legal needs, issued an RFP, and awarded four firms to create a pool of counsel to avoid conflicts as the agency now licenses racing, sports betting, and charitable gaming. They also said an emergency contract was needed after a temporary restraining order was issued in litigation involving charitable gaming machines and alleged losses to charities. The committee asked about the litigation and the affected organizations, and the contract was approved. Kentucky State University then defended a marketing/enrollment contract despite financial concerns, saying the work was intended to raise awareness of the university, improve enrollment, and support financial stability. University officials also said they were tightening student payment enforcement and collection practices, including payment plans and holding students accountable for balances. That contract was also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Attachment and safety for children is the building block of a healthy society.
• And we need our social safety net programs to be accessible and effective.
• The issue that I have is we continuously push people to the social safety net programs.
• And it's important before a massive increase of Californians began to depend on this social safety net
• net. ...disabilities discredits the whole point of having a safety net, and what's the point in all

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:

• </c><00:36:04.240><c> of</c> quality uh of work and qu the safety of quality uh of work and qu the safety
• I value the safety board for valuing our safety. I think it is a good thing.
• </c> the safety board for valuing our safety the safety board for valuing our safety I<01:36:04.719><
• Having a board like this helps establish a floor for worker safety, as we've heard.
• Having a board like this helps establish a floor for worker safety, as we've heard.

Bills: HF1419 , HF500

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's get some things on the ballot to provide public safety.
• Your safety matters.
• Your safety matters.
• Your safety<03:13:34.720><c> matters.
• Your future matters safety matters.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our safety are in the public interest.
• ,</c> compliance, overseeing patient safety, compliance, overseeing patient safety, and<01:52:54.800>
• </c><01:58:58.239><c> It</c> care safety net for Kohas County. It care safety net for Kohas County.
• And so we well-being and their safety.
• </c><02:35:26.800><c> as</c> quality and ensuring the the safety as quality and ensuring the the safety

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Public Safety Committee. Public Safety Committee.
• </c><01:17:09.520><c> The</c> safety, and protect victims. The safety, and protect victims.
• Um, and that 20-year safety concerns.
• </c><01:55:36.400><c> and</c> seeking a balance between safety and seeking a balance between safety and
• </c> they're not receiving adequate safety they're not receiving adequate safety gear<03:02:55.120><c

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have completed at least 40 hours of radiation safety training and documented...
• this amendment to exempt cardiac techs from the Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Health and Safety
• Senate Bill 1334 is about patient safety and professional accountability.
• milk bank is a regional milk bank that carefully screens donors, pasteurizes the milk to ensure its safety
• 780, legislation that gives communities a tool to address unauthorized camps that challenge public safety

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• specifies the amount appropriated to the City of Wilmington, up to $300,000, to be used for public safety
• procedures and reporting requirements related to the law enforcement grant funding to the Department of Safety
• Section 17 refers to the appropriation for the Higher Education Public Safety Fund, and it details to
• procedures and reporting requirements related to the law enforcement grant funding to the Department of Safety
• Section 17 refers to the appropriation for the Higher Education Public Safety Fund, and it details to

Committee: Joint Finance

Summary: The Joint Finance Committee met to review and vote on the fiscal year 2027 Grants and Aid Act, which was expected to be pre-filed as Senate Bill 337. Members first reviewed Section 1, covering county seat payments, paramedic operations, senior center allocations, senior center transportation, and Homeland Security grants. They approved Section 1 after discussion of how senior center transportation is being moved from DART to grant-in-aid and how some organizations can appear in both the senior center formula and the general aging category. The committee then worked through Section 2, which included one-time appropriations and the various grant categories for aging, arts/historical/recreation, economic housing or labor services, family and youth services, health or disability services, and neighborhood and community services. Members discussed several specific items, including New Castle County reassessment-related funding, Friends of Cooch’s Bridge, Slaughter Neck Community Action Organization, Plastic-Free Delaware, Love, Inc. of the Delmarva, and the Southern Delaware Horse Retirement Association. One aging line for Slaughter Neck was reduced back to flat funding after members questioned a large increase, and the revised category total was adjusted accordingly. Each of the Section 2 subcategories was then adopted. Section 3, covering fire companies and public service ambulance companies, was approved with increases across apparatus, ambulance, rescue truck, aerial truck, rescue boat, substation, and insurance rebate equalization funding. Section 4, for veterans organizations and youth programs such as Boys State, Girls State, and Trooper Youth Week, was also adopted. The committee then approved the epilogue sections, which included eligibility, audit, payment, and reporting rules; special provisions for the Wilmington Senior Center contingency; conditions tied to several one-time appropriations; withholding funding from Merri-Dell Volunteer Fire Company pending a corrective report; and reprogramming $1,485,000 from a prior SMART food program appropriation toward SNAP/WIC-related food access initiatives. The meeting ended with remarks thanking staff and noting that it was likely the last JFC meeting for two members, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• should follow the same common-sense principle and save during good years to protect schools, public safety
• Indeed, as we have all witnessed... ...protect schools, public safety, and essential services.
• conversation that we think this is really about protecting those core services: CHP, firefighters, schools, safety
• spoken about very passionately, and that we can both protect taxpayers and protect our roads and our safety
• that public schools are going to take a hit or that fire prevention is going to take a hit or that safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There has been mismanagement, fiscal and financial challenges, and dire public safety concerns.
• eligibility before enrolling in the E.A. system to confirm qualifications, which will prioritize the safety
• On safety concerns, the bill will permanently require each individual applicant or beneficiary of the
• Education, public safety, infrastructure—these are a few of the needs that run the risk of being funded
• And I hope people are reading it carefully, and that we have tried to weave a safety net that allows

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House considered House No. 57, a $425 million supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025 to fund the emergency shelter/emergency housing assistance system and related activities. The bill, as described by the chair of Ways and Means, included major policy changes requested by the Governor: immediate residency verification at intake, limits on eligibility, required criminal history disclosures and CORI checks, a reduced maximum shelter stay from nine months to six months with hardship waivers, temporary respite sites for 30 days, and a cap on system capacity. Supporters argued the changes were needed to preserve the right-to-shelter system amid fiscal strain and federal inaction; opponents said the bill still did not go far enough or, in some cases, went too far and risked harming families and children. The House debated and voted on numerous amendments, mostly focused on tightening eligibility or changing shelter operations. Several Republican amendments to reduce funding, impose a one-year residency requirement, require broader background checks, limit eligibility to homelessness caused within Massachusetts, and require cooperation with ICE were rejected, often after roll call votes. A point of order was sustained on multiple amendments as beyond the scope of the bill, including proposals affecting court officers, law enforcement, and ICE-related provisions. The House also rejected amendments to cut the appropriation from $425 million to $200 million and to add other restrictions on eligibility and administration. Some amendments were adopted. A redrafted Amendment 27, offered by Rep. Decker, was adopted 25-25 on a tie vote and expanded protections to children under age six and added related hardship/extension language. A subsequent amendment by Rep. Consalvo was adopted unanimously to add disability-related protections and extend benefits in certain cases. Another amendment by Rep. Finn was adopted to modify language about seeking federal reimbursement, and Amendment 9 was adopted to require competitive bidding for certain service funds. After debate and roll call, the bill was passed to be engrossed by a vote of 126-26. The House then observed a moment of tribute for Doug Selfick and adjourned to meet again Monday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reverend Daniel Huval, Southwest Safety Training, present, does not wish to speak in support.
• It creates a task force to examine the feasibility and public safety implications of permitting certain
• where this growth is going to take place for all the reasons I said, but most importantly for the safety
• So the passing of this very important bill will offer safety, dignity, and equitable treatment for brain
• It is a tool for safety, understanding, and compassion. It can help. It can help.

Summary: The committee met with four members present and approved the May 7, 2026 minutes. It then considered a series of transportation, motor vehicle, aviation, port, and memorial designation bills. Several measures were reported favorably, including HB 1086 on electronic titling and digital title transfers, HB 745 extending special tandem load permits, HB 1175 updating the definition of aerospace, HB 1108 creating a Homeschool Proud license plate, HB 722 changing reinstatement procedures so certain suspended licenses are restored once fees are paid, HB 1024 creating a Louisiana Democratic Party license plate, HB 1173 giving drivers on reinstatement payment plans a three-month grace period before late fees apply, and HB 98 imposing a $25 annual royalty fee on a retired legislators’ plate to help restore the Pentagon Barracks. HB 487, dealing with red-light overtaking and an added fine, and HB 1032, a technical cleanup bill aligning DWI/drug-impairment language, were also reported favorably. HB 1050, a CDL cleanup bill that adjusts age and testing provisions and removes outdated vision-waiver language, and HB 1192, creating a Louisiana Dental Hygienist Association plate, were approved as well. HB 989, which would have raised public license tag agent convenience fees, was supported by private tag agents but drew questions about fee parity and business impacts; it was reported favorably. A separate bill on driving school pricing and refunds was deferred and turned into a study resolution after the sponsor said more stakeholder discussion was needed. The committee also advanced several memorial and infrastructure measures. HB 401 designated the Lance Corporal Justin McLeese Memorial Bridge, with members speaking about his military service and sacrifice. HB 1081 moved the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission under the Office of Multimodal Commerce for administrative support while leaving port boards independent. HCR 63 created a task force to study whether certain active-duty military personnel could operate federally owned vehicles on state highways without a civilian license. HCR 69 urged priority improvements to the Interstate 12 corridor, especially the bottleneck and interchange areas near I-55, citing safety and evacuation concerns. SCR 58 asked DOTD to review public-private partnership practices, using the Belle Chasse Toll Bridge as a case study and focusing on lessons learned for future projects. HB 1001 designated a portion of U.S. 190 as the Jesse Jackson Memorial Highway. HB 1218 named Highway 1090 the Lewis Pett Miramon Memorial Highway, with family members and supporters describing Miramon’s wartime service and role in building Slidell. HB 1172 designated a highway segment in memory of a 14-year-old hit-and-run victim, Kulin Carrier. One major policy bill, SB 514, was amended and reported favorably. It updates Louisiana’s aeronautics statutes, transfers responsibility for aeronautics activities and facilities from the DOTD secretary to the Office of Multimodal Commerce commissioner, and modernizes the law to align with federal aviation rules and new technologies, including advanced aviation and electric vertical takeoff and landing programs. Members asked about the lengthy amendments, fuel tax language, airport development reporting, and the Transportation Trust Fund, and the sponsor and DOTD explained that the changes were largely technical and intended to keep Louisiana eligible for federal aviation funding and compliant with current standards. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 1244, which would add a brain-injury designation to driver’s licenses and require law-enforcement training. The sponsor and advocates described how the designation could help de-escalate encounters and improve safety for people with brain injuries; the bill was reported favorably, with members noting it could also cover broader brain-injury conditions if medically certified. After that testimony, the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I felt that the areas of agreement were animal safety and welfare.
• Animal safety and welfare must remain central. Consumer transparency matters.
• hold the facilities actually accountable that are doing things that are outlandish or outside of safety
• hold the facilities actually accountable that are doing things that are outlandish or outside of safety
• It had been in the statute that dogs and kennels are required to wear tags, and there's some safety concerns

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

Summary: The joint Audit Committee hearing focused on implementation of Ollie’s Law, including MDAR’s progress on regulations for commercial boarding and training kennels and the new municipal reporting requirements. MDAR Director Mike Cahill said the department formed the required advisory committee, held two Zoom trainings for municipal officials, created a public information webpage, and completed draft regulations that are now under secretariat review. He reported that 269 of 351 municipalities had submitted kennel data, leaving 82 out of compliance, and said the department has been posting compliant and noncompliant municipalities online to increase transparency. Committee members pressed MDAR on the lack of a clear enforcement mechanism for municipalities that fail to report and on the delay in finalizing regulations. The chair urged the department to consider stronger sanctions and asked for a central reporting system for injury data, noting that injury reports currently go only to municipalities. Cahill said the statute does not give MDAR explicit authority to fine municipalities, though he supported a House bill that would grant that power. He also said the department could not easily add municipal penalties through regulation alone. Representatives from the Animal Rescue League of Boston and the MSPCA, including the advisory committee chair Jenny Mather, said the advisory process was thorough and aimed to balance animal safety, consumer transparency, and fairness to compliant businesses. They supported better municipal accountability, more standardized training and resources for animal control officers, and clearer reporting of injuries and kennel information to MDAR. They also raised concerns about third-party advertising platforms that may list unlicensed home-based kennels and argued that public education and enforcement should focus on bad actors rather than penalizing well-run facilities. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, but with support expressed for the pending bill and for continued regulatory revisions.