Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4710, changing the limit on switching parties before filing
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4710, changing the limit on switching parties before filing
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4710, changing the limit on switching parties before filing
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4481, the West Virginia Load Forecast Accountability Act
• and accuracy in electric load forecasting.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required. The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments. The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We created our own calculation tool using the limited documentation that the apportionment team were
• We also limited this testing to three districts using their data as test cases.
• I just want to emphasize that this limited review captures only the formulas and calculations applied
• that as a single and our enrollment system, do the calculation, and then load that as a single Excel
• And so we are trying to figure out how to best manage the system with limited personnel.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on OSPI’s school apportionment system, which distributes K-12 funding to districts. Auditors said the system and its underlying 2008-era infrastructure are outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of errors or failure. They also found weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and monitoring, with heavy reliance on a small number of staff and vendor knowledge. In limited testing of three districts, the system calculated 2023–24 funding correctly, but auditors identified small discrepancies between state budget inputs and underlying statutory language and said broader system risks remain unresolved. JLARC members asked about the scope of the district testing, whether smaller districts face greater risk, the meaning of the funding discrepancies, and whether the system could support a future change to a simpler per-student funding formula. Auditors said the discrepancies were small but could compound into millions statewide, and that the audit did not evaluate broader policy questions or alternative system owners. They recommended OSPI modernize or replace the system and address current control weaknesses while the new platform is developed. OSPI officials largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said a feasibility study completed in 2024 found the system at catastrophic risk of failure. They clarified that the Legislature had approved up to $16 million in the state IT pool for the project, but that funding is released through gated oversight and not all of it had yet been appropriated for the current biennium. OSPI disputed the auditor’s characterization of some rounding and budget-law issues, saying the calculations were consistent with agency rules and legislative inputs, and explained that some manual workarounds are used to handle newer statutory requirements. One member of the public testified in support of modernizing the system and strengthening controls. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:43.759> their to lock workers in place and limit their to lock workers in place and
• they limit career trajectory growth. they limit career trajectory growth.
• <00:10:41.519> yourself but if you really can um limit yourself but if you really can um limit
• They load up the food.
• I know there's other questions around the table and we have limited time. Okay. All right.

Bills: HF3889, HF2567, HF3878

Keywords: workforce development, grant program, employment, economic development, funding, employment contract, labor policy, employee rights, unconscionable provisions, public policy, legal enforcement, airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we have a limited amount of volume in that basket or in that bucket.
• Plus also an increased case load with a focus, at least in 2024, on bias.
• in case load? in case load?
• Plus also an increased<00:53:19.400> case<00:53:19.800> load<00:53:20.040> with<
• But then in the descriptor, it pretty much limits it to right around Louisville.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the September 19 meeting minutes and then took up a deferred University of Kentucky personal services contract amendment for guardianship services. UK officials explained that the contract covers court-appointed guardians for patients who cannot make medical decisions and are not eligible for state guardianship, with the work funded by UK Medical Center agency dollars rather than the general fund. Members questioned the large increase in the not-to-exceed amount, the number of cases, the hourly billing structure, and whether there are safeguards to prevent unnecessary costs or reimbursement issues if a patient later has resources. UK said the increase reflects shifting work from a prior firm, anticipated new cases, a move from a monthly fee to hourly billing, and the need for a second firm because one prior attorney died and another firm has had difficulty appearing in court promptly. The committee ultimately approved the contract, while Senator Thomas said he would vote aye but urged future review of attorney fee limits and broader guardianship statutes, which he described as outdated and inconsistent. The committee then deferred three Office of Energy Policy memorandum of agreement items to the November 2025 meeting without objection. After that, it approved the remaining agenda items, including the contract lists and deferred items not separately selected for review. The final major item was a University of Kentucky personal services contract related to fundraising and philanthropic outreach. UK representatives said the contract supports marketing and donor engagement efforts to grow the university’s endowment pipeline and philanthropic support. The transcript cuts off before the committee finished its questions or took final action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• We should not put a limit on the best ideas.
• We should not limit the number of contracts that a large defense contractor receives from the federal
• So why would we consider limiting our most nimble allies in innovation, our small businesses?
• And three, limits on SBIR awards.
• They have the flexibility to decide on, you know, limiting the number of applicants.

Keywords: SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer

Summary: The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Representative Wadsworth, is there a limit on, like, if you impound a vehicle?
• Is there a limit on the fees that a towing company can...
• Well, in Birmingham, I mean, there's no limit on what...
• I mean, there's no limit on what you can charge for that.
• So the jury doesn't even have that on their case load, I mean on the case...

Bills: HB105, HB296, HB15, HB264, HB34, HB304, HB146, HB26, HB15, HB34, HB26

Keywords: law enforcement, retirement benefits, Alabama Peace Officers, agency-issued badge, agency-issued pistol, resisting arrest, custody, public safety, Alabama law, traffic infractions, traffic ticket, disposition, criminal contempt, vessel registration, boating fees, state funds, regulatory changes, water safety, compliance, false information

Transcript Highlights:

• before your statute of limitations is up.
• [snorts] limitations. And I I raised this limitations.
• But further uh it limits no pros that.
• Uh, and I've been part of some of those other case loads as well.
• What this other uh case loads as well.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is only limited to racetracks. That's it.
• I mean, if we're going to do some limitation, then why not just have it limited to everybody and everybody
• Not if you're talking, you talked about term limits.
• Not if you're talking about term limits.
• It limits—there is no limit.

Bills: HB410, HR310, HR314, HR316, HR317, HR321, HR275, HR276, HR279, HR282, HR286, HR289, HR292, HR295, HR302, HR319, HR307, HR273, SCR59, SCR61, SCR62, SCR68, SCR69, SCR70, SCR54, SCR55, SCR64, SCR75, HCR32, HB776, HB42, HB119, HB159, HB302, HB1017, HB1028, SB217, SB283, HB953, SB208, HR74, HB998, HB901, HR20, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB646, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, SB97, SB123, SB237, HB36, HB74, HB75, HB258, HB259, HB414, HB459, HB784, HB848, HB956, HB1095, HB1220, HB1252, SB469, SB479

Keywords: recording, privacy, notification, direct conversation, law enforcement, first responder, penalties, oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:25.120> which of being caused by in lake loading which of being caused by in lake loading
• Uh so some limited funding significant.
• a limit.
• <01:07:34.559> as eliminate the limit entirely and then as eliminate the limit entirely and
• Okay any other limit. Thank you sir.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each public testimony will be limited to two minutes total to speak on the bills.
• VBMs manage vision plans for Texans, and these networks are often closed or selectively limited, even
• It threatens affordability, reduces competition, and limits consumer choice.
• And then on, is this to be limited to only subsidiaries accepting new enrollees?
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, key protections like limits on mandatory overtime were suspended, even

Bills: HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think there's some built off the coast of Japan, but it's very limited.
• We have limited pipeline capacity into the region, so if that’s our greatest danger, isn’t it in New
• At a 100% load, that's 333 million gallons of chlorinated heated seawater into the ocean.
• <01:37:58.040> on the state to establish limits on the state to establish limits on Technologies
• At 100% load, it's 333 million gallons a day.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, it's great from a safety point of view, but it limits what you can do.
• limits what you<00:27:23.840> can<00:27:24.000> do.
• And now the substation, instead of being 90% loaded, goes down to, say, 80, then 70, then 50.
• And now the substation, instead of being 90% loaded, goes down to, say, 80, then 70, then 50.
• I think what he’s talking about is basically a load reducer, or, you know, a demand side.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought this was very interesting, and as an update in Chapter 5A to the Alabama Limited Liability
• Then you start to introduce a loaded gun into it; it's just not a good idea.
• We ought to be answering them whether or not we have a loaded firearm.
• We ought to be answering them whether or not we have a loaded firearm or a firearm in our possession

Bills: SB76, SB35, SB116, SB119, SB118, SB129, SB32, SB31, SB115, SB75, HB27, HB40

Keywords: jury duty, nursing mothers, exemption, legal rights, parental responsibilities, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, firearm possession, domestic violence, violent offenses, criminal penalties, pretrial detention, bail, offenses, constitutional amendment, criminal justice, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Those restoration targets are known as total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs.
• Once we establish the BMAP and we know what the loading needs to be, and we know what the current loading
• It will identify all the load reductions we have seen to date and the locations of all the different
• All the load reductions that we've seen to date, all locations of all the different projects, and then
• And so an entity could have, you know, a load allocation reduction requirement... ...say they need to

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources convened with a quorum present, heard opening remarks from Chair Rodriguez and member introductions, and discussed broad priorities including water quality, climate change, budget oversight, and accountability for environmental investments. Members emphasized concerns about nutrient pollution, springs, Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, and the need for better data and measurable results. The committee then received a presentation from DEP Deputy Secretary Adam Blaylock on the state’s water quality restoration framework. He explained how water quality standards, total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), and reasonable assurance plans work together to address impaired waters, and noted that BMAPs are updated every five years with annual reviews in between. He also described recent statutory changes requiring five-year milestones, restrictions on new septic systems in certain areas, and public-facing data tools to track projects and water quality trends. Members questioned whether BMAPs are producing enough improvement and whether the five-year update cycle is too slow. Blaylock said results can take years because of project lag and environmental variability, but that the department can adjust plans if data show they are not working. He also highlighted $2.9 billion in statewide water quality funding since 2019, nearly 1,100 funded projects, and a $1.1 billion water quality improvement grant program that now covers impaired waters beyond BMAP areas. The committee discussed agricultural projects, DEP and FDACS funding roles, and a new dashboard and centralized monitoring platform under development. No formal votes or other actions were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment moved by the vice chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• dock or garage our vet team is loading dock or garage our vet team is unable<00:05:26.600> to
• <00:08:30.960> to<00:08:31.280> unload<00:08:31.840> and<00:08:32.080> load
• <00:08:32.919> um have a safe space to unload and load um have a safe space to unload and
• load um anesthetized<00:08:33.760> or<00:08:33.919> crated<00:08:34.360> animals
• dock to bring access Bay and loading dock to bring animals<00:08:56.120> to<00:08:56.320>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• only 27 members in this committee, so I know everybody wants to say something, but we only have a limited
• So when you front-load growth, it really has a substantial amount of growth each year, and that's my
• So we're front-loading in this budget.
• My impression is we're front-loading high-revenue growth in year one and high expense in year one, and
• Chairman, we certainly would limit it to hard capital, but we'd be happy to have a conversation with

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation, with the chair repeatedly asking members to keep questions brief and avoid speeches. The discussion focused first on the overall revenue and spending outlook, including concerns from members that the executive forecast was more optimistic than the JLBC baseline and that the budget appeared to front-load revenue and expenditure growth. The governor’s budget team said the forecast was close to JLBC’s, that the budget was structurally balanced, and that differences were roughly $100 million per year on ongoing revenue. Members asked for follow-up calculations in writing, including the total multi-year gap and the amount of revenue enhancements above base revenues. A major portion of the meeting centered on tax and fee proposals tied to data centers, water use, and sports betting. The governor’s team defended eliminating the existing data center tax incentive as the removal of a loophole rather than a new tax, arguing the incentive had already succeeded in attracting major investment. They also described a proposed Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority for data centers to support a new Colorado River Protection Fund, and said the proposal would apply to existing and future facilities without a grandfather clause. Members raised concerns about fairness, competitiveness, and whether the changes would require a supermajority vote. The team also discussed increased sports betting fees, saying the revenue forecast did not include dynamic behavioral effects. The committee then moved through major spending areas, including corrections, public safety, border security, cybersecurity, K-12 education, Medicaid, and developmental disabilities. The governor’s budget includes ongoing funding to prevent correctional officer pay cuts, money to comply with prison health care court orders, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl task forces, and cyber readiness grants. Members questioned the lack of funding for a prison oversight committee and asked for corrections spending totals over the administration. On border security, the executive said it was seeking about $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border-related costs and that the governor had met with federal officials, including Secretary Noem and Tom Homan, about the request. In education, the budget proposes renewing Prop. 123, adding K-12 base funding, and issuing $1.5 billion in school facilities bonds over three years; members debated whether the proposal was appropriate and whether Prop. 123 revenues could support the debt service. The meeting also covered AHCCCS cost growth and federal HR1 impacts, with the executive warning of major coverage losses and hospital funding reductions, and DDD funding, where the governor’s team said the budget fully funds services and includes about $120 million in supplemental needs. No votes were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, case load adjustments is $34 million from Medicaid caseload.
• of the human services case load reserve. of the human services case load reserve.
• We<00:48:43.440> have<00:48:43.520> a<00:48:43.760> case<00:48:43.920> load.
• We have money We have a case load.
• Like if there's some reason case load.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It sets limitations and guidelines for investment in distribution electric generation.
• It modifies the scope of capacity and limitations for community solar projects, which includes expanding
• metering members to sign agreements with multiple group hosts, as long as their combined allocated loads
• do not exceed their total load.
• and then the 6 to to 500 kilowatts limit and then the 6 to 12<00:19:48.640> um<00:19:48.880><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any additional witnesses will be limited to name, position on the bill, and the organization they represent
• Because one thing is for sure, current social workers, their case loads are too high.
• eliminate turnover, and then number two, get more social workers so that more people can take on the load
• The goal of this bill is to improve economic access for Californians with limited English proficiency
• I pursued this profession because it is one of the only few career paths for limited English proficiency

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Water is our limiting factor. It's, it's not land, it's, it's water.
• I talk every time I talk about this, but in the great state of Texas, we have been limited on our, um
• And as those move up, I mean, the fly also is not limited to the animal.
• Um, They haven't actually surpassed the time that they have to give the water that 5-year limit.
• But now the cost is not a couple of loads of rock to fill in the hole.