Transcript Highlights:

• Vicky, we show you Russia as Vicky Van Est on behalf of the Plum Heating Cooling Contractors Association
• The Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors Association represents plumbers and... across the state
• . and HVAC contractors.
• OK, Shannon, we show you registered as Shannon Noble. on behalf of the Texas Air Conditioning Contractors
• Shannon Noble, representing the Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association. Association.

Bills: HB20, HB 120, HB20, HB120

Keywords: applied sciences, career education, high school diploma, certificate program, work-based learning, job placement, high-growth jobs, technical training, career readiness, education reform, workforce training, public schools, financial aid, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Transcript Highlights:

• last rule we have on the agenda today is a rule to allow us to be exempt from the recovery audit contractor
• I don't have a problem with this rule, but can you expand a little bit on what a recovery audit contractor
• So we were not able to secure a recovery audit contractor using a traditional form of payment.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee met briefly, approved the January 7 minutes, and heard several Department of Human Services rules. DHS explained a rule allowing rehabilitative hospitals to open psychiatric units, provide acute psychiatric services, and receive Medicaid reimbursement, noting the service is needed and already being provided in Jefferson County. Members also reviewed a rule allowing DHS to participate in the CMS cell and gene therapy model for value-based payment agreements to treat sickle cell disorder with CGT therapy. A third DHS rule would exempt the state from the CMS recovery audit contractor requirement. DHS said recovery audit contractors typically work on contingency to identify fraud, waste, abuse, or overpayments, but Arkansas law prevents contingency arrangements, so the state uses other program-integrity layers instead. Those layers include internal retrospective reviews, an external payment integrity office, the Office of Medicaid Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Members asked for clarification on the contractor role, and DHS responded that the exemption has no cost and was approved by CMS. During new business, Representative Pilkington asked about a reported increase in uninsured postpartum cases in a DHS quarterly report. DHS representatives said they were not prepared to answer at the meeting and would follow up offline. Representative Johnson also asked about a handout related to program integrity and Arkansas Medicaid. With no further business, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires covered local governments to establish a qualified contractor program by January 1, 2007.
• It limits the roles of those qualified contractors to ministerial and technical review functions only
• It requires covered local governments to establish a qualified contractor program by January 1, 2007.
• It does not authorize qualified contractors to exercise quasi-judicial or discretionary authority.
• It does not authorize qualified contractors to exercise quasi-judicial or discretionary authority.

Summary: The committee first considered CS/SB 1434 on infill redevelopment. A late-filed strike-all amendment narrowed eligibility to certain contaminated or brownfield properties in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, added adjacency and density/intensity limits, and excluded agricultural land, park land, land outside the urban growth boundary, and land near military installations. The amendment was adopted without opposition, and the bill was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote, with limited support and opposition noted in waived appearance forms. Members then took up CS/CS/SB 212 on sexual offenders and sexual predators. The strike-all added public swimming pools and related child-centered locations to residency and presence restrictions. Testimony was sharply divided: proponents argued the bill would help protect children and law enforcement, while opponents, including treatment experts and homelessness advocates, said there was no empirical evidence the restrictions reduce abuse and warned of retroactive punishment and increased homelessness. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 8-1. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after an amendment allowing certain enclaves adjacent to interstates to be developed for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential uses and clarifying exclusions for protected areas. Opponents argued it would weaken zoning and comprehensive plans, while supporters framed it as a property-rights measure; the bill was reported favorably 10-0. SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, a technical update to nonprofit law modeled on prior for-profit corporate revisions, also passed unanimously after supportive waived testimony. Later, the committee approved SB 1338 on charitable giving, which creates a donor remedy for endowment restrictions and limits state reporting burdens on certain regulated or exempt organizations; members discussed cy pres and the sponsor said further changes would be worked out later. CS/SB 532 on court fees was amended to let clerks retain all collections above revenue projections rather than half, with supporters saying clerks have been underfunded for years; it passed 10-0. The committee also favorably reported SB 218 on land use regulations, which restores normal land-use authority to counties not affected by recent hurricanes, and CS/SB 692 on cybersecurity standards and liability, which creates a presumption against liability for entities that comply with cybersecurity frameworks and reporting requirements; the cybersecurity bill drew concerns about retroactivity and the adequacy of compliance incentives but passed 9-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we do update a BEAD contractor list, and then finally we have 50 telecommuter-forward communities
• Um, I know we've looked at contractors and permitting and qualifying.
• What's driving the RFP to contractors?
• :42.720> and contractors and permitting and contractors and permitting and qualifying.<00:35:44.079
• they're creating their own contractors they're creating their own contractors or<00:36:05.040>

Bills: HF3508, HF3548, HF3549

Keywords: dairy assistance, agriculture, investment, relief initiative, farm support, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Rule C is the recovery audit contractor exemption rule.
• It is a state plan amendment that we put in with CMS to exempt us from the recovery audit contractor
• Recovery audit contractors are contractors that are used by Medicaid and Medicare programs to review

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed a series of agency rules and related requests. The Department of Corrections and Post-Prison Transfer Board reported quarterly updates with no questions, and several Commerce rules were approved, including repeals tied to the minority business enterprise and women-owned business enterprise programs and the Consolidated Incentives Act because they were superseded by Act 116 or duplicative of statute. The Insurance Department’s new rule for online marketplace guarantee providers was also approved, with Airbnb used as an example of the type of platform covered. The Department of Education presented an update to the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program to align payment milestones with Act 502 of 2025, and DFA presented a rule implementing a new tax credit for Arkansas rice used in beer and sake production under Act 874 of 2025. Members asked about verification of grain bills and whether the credit was broadly available; DFA said the rule tracks the statute and requires producers to submit the grain bill with their return. DHS then presented a SNAP rule implementing federal changes from Public Law 119-21, including raising the able-bodied adult without dependents age limit to 64, changing treatment of dependents and exemptions, and adjusting energy assistance income treatment; the rule was approved despite one public comment. Later, DHS Medical Services amended the Medicaid Rehab Hospital Manual to allow rehab hospitals to operate psychiatric units and bill Medicaid for those services, and also secured approval for a recovery audit contractor exemption because Arkansas law bars contingency-fee contractors and the state already has other program integrity safeguards. The Board of Public Accountancy’s rules implementing Act 428 of 2025 were approved after discussion of a new CPA licensure pathway requiring a bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience, changes to substantial equivalency for out-of-state CPAs, and removal of a government/not-for-profit coursework requirement. The committee also approved the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from certain reporting requirements, retained all 18 DAPSAF rules under a review of Group 3, filed outstanding 2023-session rulemaking updates, and adjourned after filing monthly updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• For commerce, the bill adds an application and approval process for owner-controlled and contractor-controlled
• approval process for ownerc<00:02:54.000> controlled<00:02:54.319> and<00:02:54.560> contractor
• ownerc controlled and contractor ownerc controlled and contractor controlled<00:02:55.840> insurance

Bills: SF1832

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FROM THE ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
• CAROL BOWEN SPEAKING IN SUPPORT, WAIVING IN SUPPORT, ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS CHRIS DAWSON
• FLORIDA ROOFING AND SHEET-METAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION WAIVING IN SUPPORT, ADRIANA SOTO FLORIDA CHAMBER
• OF COMMERCE WAIVES IN SUPPORT, DAVID SHIP CONTRACTORS WAIVES IN SUPPORT, IS THERE DEBATE ON THE BILL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alarm and sprinkler projects sets deadlines for permits and inspections laws, contractors to begin work
• immediately after submitting a complete application requiring contractors to provide plans for onsite
• Within 3 business days of request, contractors must maintain plans and specs on site for fire alarm and
• So representing fire sprinkler contractors, engineer suppliers and again during the Lee.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requesting agencies when they are conducting a base suitability or fitness assessment for federal or contractor
• federal<00:05:03.479> or asset assessment for federal or asset assessment for federal or contractor
• employees<00:05:05.800> under<00:05:06.280> five<00:05:06.880> USC contractor
• employees under five USC contractor employees under five USC section section section 9101<00:05:09.600

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then heard an announcement inviting members to the Kentucky National Guard’s annual legislator briefing and rotary-wing flight over Frankfort on March 10, with a Friday deadline to RSVP. After roll call, the committee took up House Bill 340, sponsored by Representative Tony Hampton, with testimony from Hampton and representatives of the Kentucky sheriffs and law enforcement community. HB 340 would create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 requiring criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records information to requesting federal agencies conducting suitability or fitness assessments for federal or contractor employees under 5 U.S.C. 9101. The bill also allows a $25 fee to reimburse agencies for the cost of providing the records and makes a conforming change to juvenile justice records law. Supporters said the measure is needed to bring Kentucky into compliance with federal law, noting the state had been out of compliance and could risk federal funding; they also said sheriffs’ offices need statutory authority to charge the fee. Members asked about whether the bill covers all background checks, sealed or expunged records, and juvenile records. Testimony explained that the bill applies to federal security-related background checks, that federal law requires access to sealed or expunged records, and that juvenile information would remain in-house but could be relevant when applicants disclose past conduct. One example was given involving a juvenile firearms-related offense discovered during a federal suitability review. The committee then voted on the bill, and House Bill 340 passed with favorable expression, with the chair announcing it should do the same in the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Weber Pierson and fellow senators, I am Rebecca May on behalf of the Contractor State License Board
• This bill would allow contractors to bypass an inspection performed by local building departments if
• provides essential oversight to protect consumers and business owners from harm by requiring a contractor
• However, I do have similar concerns as have been raised by the Contractor State Licensing Board.
• I am concerned about a contractor who does this work on your behalf, on an owner's behalf, self-certifying

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the SAU operation in its entirety, all employees and contractors, is a key administrator cost we'd
• :03:41.800> all<01:03:42.320> employees<01:03:43.320> and<01:03:43.600> contractors
• entirety, all employees and contractors entirety, all employees and contractors is<01:03:45.200>
• purposes of this subsection,” “Administrators” shall be defined by reference to all employees and contractors
• of the school administrative unit and all district employees and contractors covered by the definition

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The conference committee first discussed HB 1099, which creates a committee to study private business providing special education services and local school district reimbursement. Members explained that the issue is broader than special education alone, involving residential placements, foster care, court-ordered placements, and questions about which entity pays for education and care costs when students are placed in residential facilities. The House proposed an amendment to expand the study to include students placed in residential facilities by school districts as well as those placed through episodes of treatment or court order, and members agreed the existing commission would not resolve the issue before its July 1, 2026 expiration. Representative Coker raised concern about the phrase “but not limited to,” but members said the broader language was needed to capture placements beyond the existing statutory categories. The committee then agreed to accede to the Senate version of HB 1099 with a committee amendment, and the House voted unanimously to adopt amendment 2026-1845H. The bill was placed on the consent calendar, and the meeting adjourned. The transcript also includes a separate conference committee discussion on HB 1807, concerning mandatory reporting to voters. The main dispute was how to present administrator compensation: the House favored total administrative cost, while the Senate initially preferred average administrator salary. Members debated whether voters would be better informed by totals or averages, and whether the bill should define “administrator” more clearly by reference to DOE rules. The committee reached a tentative compromise to add both an average administrator salary graph and a total administrator cost graph, define administrators by reference to ED 501.02(B), scale the graph more precisely, and list the top 10 highest-paid administrators plus any employee earning over $100,000. Both chambers then gave unanimous support to the revised approach, with the understanding that the draft would be finalized and signed later.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Uniform Standards Code for Manufactured and Modular Housing, to provide for the Residential Contractors
• and factory-built housing developers, to provide for warranties, ...housing residential contractors
• Brad Hassert here with the Contractors Licensing Board who can help me with answering any questions you
• Amendments 1 and 2 provide that the definition of factory-built housing developer encompasses contractors
• Brad Hassert, on behalf of the Contractors Licensing Board. I don't...

Bills: HB744, HR197, SB54, SB79, SB163, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB398, SB469, SCR5

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, and first advanced several Senate measures with little or no opposition. It reported favorably Senate Bill 79 recreating Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and Senate Bill 375 on Class B firefighting foam, after adopting a technical amendment clarifying use in declared emergency firefighting operations. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 398, which moves manufactured and modular housing regulation under the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board and expands inspection and enforcement provisions, after adopting two sets of mostly technical amendments and hearing testimony that the change would improve consumer safety and increase inspection coverage without adding net cost to locals. It then reported favorably Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing, after adopting an amendment providing that any future federal licensing law would preempt the state act, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks, which adds refund timelines, disclosure requirements, customer support, and reporting duties; witnesses from the banking and law enforcement community said the bill responds to common fraud complaints and improves consumer protection. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 54, which allows estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services, despite strong opposition from cosmetology board representatives and industry witnesses who argued the service is outside esthetics training, could create scope-of-practice and facility issues, and should instead be addressed by lowering or revising separate blow-dry licensing requirements. The committee then considered House Resolution 197, which urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study the feasibility and value of distributed energy generation and storage resources. After adopting technical amendments and a second amendment changing mandatory language to requests and urging the PSC to coordinate with the LSU Energy Institute, the resolution was reported favorably. Testimony from solar and energy industry representatives, the PSC, and LSU focused on how distributed resources, batteries, rooftop solar, and virtual power plants could improve reliability, reduce costs, and help meet rising demand; members also discussed how the study would evaluate market value, avoided costs, and capacity benefits. Questions centered on methodology, grid impacts, and comparisons to Texas’s ERCOT system and Winter Storm Uri, with PSC officials emphasizing that the study would help determine whether such resources benefit ratepayers. Representative Wright presented House Bill 744, a proposed constitutional amendment to transfer regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the Public Service Commission. He argued the change could reduce rates through consolidation and eliminate duplicative regulatory costs, while PSC officials explained the city’s authority is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921 and that Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana operate as separate companies with different regulatory environments. After discussion of rate impacts, utility structure, and whether the proposal should instead become a study, the bill was deferred. The committee then began Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, which would give consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of certain uses of personal data; the sponsor introduced the bill and the committee started considering technical and substantive amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• complicit in the corrupt scheme that ICE exploits for sweetheart deals with its favorite for-profit contractors
• , this bill is not focused on regulating the question of contracting directly between detention contractors
• We know that contractors, including CoreCivic, are heavily reliant on bringing people in on temporary
• To hold its contractors to. Okay, thank you, Madam Chair and Representative.
• sought to regulate their direct contracts between the federal government and private detention contractors

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you guys utilize private contractors for the construction, or is it all within your organization,
• Madam Chair and Representative Hernandez, we do private contractors, but we do a typical process.
• So, we have typically a half dozen or so contractors that we use regularly.
• Equally important, we're growing consistently and intentionally working to balance staff and contractors
• With a flat budget in the 300 category, In contract services, we will not be able to hire a contractor

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that some of the panelists after me today can provide perspective from the building officials, contractors
• Contractors are prevented from being able to mobilize on site.
• altered in a way that gives them the breathing room to perform quality review, as well as giving contractors
• “And then we have to coordinate between design teams, contractors, and building officials to avoid the
• for a hearings examiner, which is a person that's either a member of the local government or a contractor

Summary: The committee heard a series of presentations on comprehensive plan updates, permitting reform, special purpose district coordination, and subdivision reform. Pierce County and the City of Redmond described their recent comprehensive plan updates, emphasizing housing production, transit-oriented development, middle housing, preservation of affordable housing, and the need for technical assistance and clearer state guidance. Both jurisdictions said the planning process took years and was complicated by overlapping state requirements, changing legislative mandates, and multiple review authorities. Redmond in particular said mid-course legislative changes forced supplemental environmental review and added significant cost and delay, and both local governments asked for more stability, clearer statutes, and better-aligned timelines. Presenters from the architecture, building official, and development sectors focused on permitting delays and proposed ways to speed housing delivery. Dave Boucher of AIA Washington argued for a provisional construction permit process for projects stamped by licensed professionals, along with mandatory deadlines and fewer stalled review cycles. Tim Woodard of WABO described existing tools such as pre-application meetings and phased approvals, noting they can improve certainty but also require staff time and careful coordination. Representatives from Master Builders and D.R. Horton said permit and subdivision delays add substantial cost to housing, citing studies showing months of delay and tens of thousands of dollars added per home, and urged administrative approvals, concurrent review, self-certification, and limits on repeated review cycles. The committee also reviewed a Commerce-led task force report on integrating special purpose districts into Growth Management Act planning. The task force recommended early invitation and notice to water, sewer, school, port, and other service providers during countywide planning policy and comprehensive plan updates, better coordination on grants and capital projects, updated water system coordination plans, and improved school siting and funding alignment in fast-growing areas. Speakers stressed that the recommendations were intended to be light-touch and focused on better communication rather than major statutory overhaul, while also noting that rural and slow-growing areas should not be burdened with the same requirements as rapidly growing jurisdictions. On subdivision reform, FutureWise and the City of Spokane discussed making more subdivision decisions administrative, preserving vesting, clarifying exemptions, and reducing unnecessary notice and appeal steps. Spokane described local reforms such as smaller minimum lot sizes, unit lot subdivisions, and reduced-process “minor engineering review” for simple plats, while raising concerns about new notice requirements and appeals to city councils for technical plat decisions. Across the hearing, members repeatedly returned to the theme that local governments, builders, and state agencies need clearer, more coordinated rules to reduce delay and uncertainty while still protecting safety and planning goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Electrical contractors are uniquely positioned among the licensed trades to be harmfully affected by
• <00:08:17.480> at and potentially leave a contractor at and potentially leave a contractor
• It will provide my member contractors It will provide my member contractors some<00:08:37.680>
• I'm a director of government and public affairs with Associated Builders and Contractors.
• The Associated Builders and Contractors has 146 firms that would be affected by this legislation, and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, section one of the bill prohibits a school employee, independent contractor, or volunteer from
• or volunteer from independent contractor or volunteer from being<00:03:24.720> alone<00:03:25.040
• It sets a clear statewide expectation that no school employee, contractor, or volunteer is alone with
• , or volunteer is employee, contractor, or volunteer is alone<00:09:58.000> with<00:09:58.160>
• , employees, independent contractors, employees, independent contractors, volunteers.<00:18:03.840

Bills: HF3489, HF3550

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• And then it also provides accountability, whether that's to contractors, electricians, and so on and
• There's two contractor members on the State Board. There is two journeyworker members.
• , contractors, contractors, uh<00:04:28.520> electricians,<00:04:30.000> uh<00:04:30.160
• contractor members on the State Board. contractor members on the State Board.
• ,<00:13:37.320> one engineers, pipefitters, contractors, one engineers, pipefitters, contractors

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Contractors often feel pressured to use more salt than necessary to avoid potential lawsuits.
• :36.080> to<00:03:36.319> use Contractors often feel pressured to use Contractors often
• Specifically, accredited Snow Contractors Association, the Snow and Ice Management Association.
• <01:25:30.400> community, our utility, the contractor community, our utility, the contractor
• <01:25:42.800> We with our contractor community is key.

Bills: HF3793, HF3699, HF793, HF3322, HF3426

Keywords: groundwater, water use permit, data centers, public health, environmental regulations, municipalities, state park license plate, specialty license plate, Minnesota DNR, Department of Natural Resources, license plate design contest, North Shore, Lake Superior Agate, AI-generated art, artificial intelligence, Minnesota resident, state parks, specialty plates, vehicle registration, contest requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Less Mechanical is the contractor that's performing the work.
• Uh Less Mechanical is the contractor Uh Less Mechanical is the contractor that's<00:16:27.120>
• And why aren't we holding the contractor accountable?
• And we should have made note of this, and we should have held the contractor if there's a design flaw
• if there's a design flaw or contractor if there's a design flaw or flaw<00:30:45.840> or<00:30

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with the pledge and prayer, a roll call established quorum, and members announced a Veterans Caucus meeting to follow the session. The committee also recognized distinguished veteran Joe Mash Masterson of Bardstown, who was praised for his Army service, long-time advocacy for veterans, and leadership in the American Legion and local veteran organizations. Masterson thanked his family, the American Legion Post 121, and the VA staff, and several members offered remarks honoring his service and the committee’s practice of recognizing veterans. The committee then briefly addressed a referred administrative regulation, 017 KAR 001 030, which leadership described as technical updates to existing policy; no vote was taken. After that, members heard testimony from KDVA and Finance and Administration officials on the ongoing HVAC replacement project at the Radcliffe Veteran Center. Officials said the system had been problematic for years, that design work began early to accelerate the project, and that the work was complicated by the need to replace the system in an operating nursing facility. They explained that the project was bid in March, awarded to Less Mechanical, and that protective measures, shop drawings, and equipment orders were underway. Committee members pressed officials on why the problem had taken so long to resolve, why the original system had been installed, whether the issue had been communicated regularly, and whether the state should be paying for a replacement in a relatively new facility. Officials said the original system’s components and warranties had failed, that they had tried to replace parts before moving to a full replacement, and that the system’s manufacturer and quality differed from a similar facility in Glasgow that had not had the same issues. They said the current phase one contract was about $6 million, with the remaining funds held for phase two to restore full occupancy; phase two design was nearly complete and could be bid later if funding is approved. Officials estimated phase one completion around January 2026 and full completion around March 2027, depending on funding and scheduling.