Video & Transcript Research : 'Legislative Reference Library'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Swearing-In Ceremony for Senators-Elect Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger and Michael Holmstrom Nov 18th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- For those that may know the building, it's the current temporary space of the Legislative Reference Library
- 26.720>
the it's the current temporary space of the it's the current temporary space of the legislative - <00:13:27.519>
reference <00:13:27.920>library. - <00:13:28.880>
Um <00:13:29.120>but legislative reference library. - Um but legislative reference library. Um but room<00:13:29.680>
321.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
WLA-EDU, EDU Public Hearings 02-18-2026
Water, Land, Culture and the Arts
Transcript Highlights:
- libraries. >> Okay.
- libraries within 500 ft of the school? libraries within 500 ft of the school?
- here and some >> Like our state library here and some other<00:59:12.079>
libraries <00: - Yes, the harder lift is the CIP<02:21:50.240>
library, CIP library, CIP library, >> which - reference to furniture in the classroom. reference to furniture in the classroom.
Bills:
SB2003
Keywords:
Mauna Kea, land management, University of Hawaii, astronomical observatories, leasable lands, natural resource management, stewardship authority, 912, senate, all
Summary:
The joint committees on Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts and Education heard testimony and discussed SB 20003, which would require the auditor’s report under Act 255 to include a recommendation on whether the Monarch Stewardship and Oversight Authority is fit to continue managing Monaca lands. Testimony focused on the bill’s reversion language, the role of the auditor, and whether the measure gave the auditor too much discretion without clear criteria. The Office of the Auditor’s position, read into the record, was that it had strong reservations because the bill did not provide standards for assessing fitness and asked that the requirement be held or amended. Other testimony suggested a work group with relevant agencies and Hawaiian practitioners to manage the transition and reduce conflict.
Committee members debated whether the bill should simply restore the original reversion language or also require an audit-based fitness determination. Several members questioned the need for a 2031 audit when Act 255 already provides for a performance and financial audit in 2031 and noted that the bill could shift authority away from the legislature. In response, the committee chair explained that the measure was intended to restore language removed during conference and to address the transition back to the University of Hawaii if the authority was not meeting the act’s purpose.
The committees ultimately recommended SB 20003 be passed with amendments. The amendments would strike the auditor/audit section, add language addressing timelines by providing a 10-year lease extension and sublease extension, and make technical changes including a defective date. The committees voted to adopt the amended measure and send it forward as an SD1.
The transcript also included a separate Education Committee hearing on SB 3286, which would require the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan and report to the legislature. University of Hawaii testimony said the system supports the intent but that the bill’s requirements are a heavy lift across 10 campuses and should follow development of a broader academic strategy. Members raised concerns about deferred maintenance, shifting priorities, and the lack of a systemwide plan, while the university said it already has a six-year capital improvement plan but acknowledged it does not fully incorporate the broader academic and housing strategy the bill contemplates.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- As you all know, there was significant legislation coming out of the 89th legislative session focused
- As you all know, there was significant legislation coming out of the 89th legislative session focused
- There was also significant legislation coming out of the 89th legislative session focused on addressing
- I've testified before this committee multiple times on legislation addressing library standards.
- I've testified before this committee multiple times on legislation addressing library standards.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Schumacher was joining us, and the motion would be to re-refer the bill to the Committee
- House File 2131 is referred to the General Register.
- would do addition access to paid Library would do addition access to paid Library resources<00:26
- <00:26:48.320>
has and that partnership with libraries has and that partnership with libraries - <00:31:19.240>
support because of the legislative support because of the legislative support
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- There's celebrations every year. libraries. So it is making a difference. libraries.
- <00:42:31.119>
can <00:42:31.280>come Library. um a library patron can come Library - back in the library. back in the library.
- So we have about 35 libraries<00:47:13.280>
that libraries that libraries that >> So<00: - to the library. Right. to the library. Right.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- The Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council will come to order.
- Women who are pregnant, we will still refer them to child support enforcement if that is appropriate.
- Women who are pregnant, we will still refer them to child support enforcement if that is appropriate
- Today we have the Arkansas State Library, and its report is in your packet.
- The Arkansas State Library is under our purview. ...staff for the Department of Education.
Summary:
The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed several agency rules and most were approved without objection. The Department of Agriculture moved to repeal rules tied to the now-repealed Arkansas Catfish Processors Fair Practice Act. The Department of Human Services updated Medicaid policy to clarify that pregnant women may still be referred to child support enforcement but will not be sanctioned during pregnancy and the 60-day postpartum period, removed the word “forcible” from rape/incest good-cause language, and eliminated a 90-day waiting period for ARKids B when group health coverage ends. DHS also received approval for a CMS cell and gene therapy model for sickle cell disease and a technical Medicaid medication-assisted treatment update that does not change coverage.
The Department of Labor and Licensing presented several rules. One created procedures for the department to issue interpretations in local construction plan disputes under Act 591 of 2025. The Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee amended rules to raise the restricted commercial license threshold and light building project limit from $750,000 to $1.5 million, and to allow deferral of owner-complaint investigations while related civil litigation is pending. The HVACR Licensing Board presented broader cleanup and policy changes under Act 746 of 2025, including eliminating the Class C license by moving those holders into Class B, expanding work limits for Class A and B licensees, changing continuing education to eight hours per three-year code cycle, and keeping annual license renewal. Members asked detailed questions about impacts on businesses, training, youth working with parents, and whether any unintended burdens were created; the board said it had notified licensees and had received little pushback.
The committee also granted the Department of Inspector General’s request for exclusion from rulemaking reporting for Act 473 of 2025, concluding that the statute was sufficiently detailed and did not require additional rules. In addition, the Arkansas State Library’s report was accepted, with the Department of Education stating that the library’s three existing rules should remain in effect. During the update on outstanding 2023-session rulemaking, Education explained that many delayed rules were held back because they were likely to be amended again in 2025, and members expressed concern about the length of time some rules have remained unfinished. The meeting ended after written 2025 rulemaking updates were noted, with no further action taken.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- If we change—you as the legislative which... Time.
- I'm Julie Lindsay with the Legislative Budget Board.
- I know we passed legislation last time.
- Okay, we'll move on to the State Law Library.
- It's only in one library here in Austin, Little Walnut Creek Library branch.
Bills:
SB 1
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee held its first hearing of the 89th regular session, adopted nearly identical committee rules from the previous legislature by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the budget framework, emphasizing conservative spending, a $332.9 billion all-funds budget, and major priorities including property tax relief, public education, border security, health and human services, transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. She also introduced committee and leadership staff and described the hearing schedule and public testimony procedures.
Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending, including a $23.8 billion ending balance, but warned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid using temporary spikes for ongoing commitments. Senators questioned him extensively about the Economic Stabilization Fund cap, sales tax trends, inflation, and whether the state should consider raising the cap or using severance-tax revenues differently. Hager said the Rainy Day Fund is expected to hit its cap, which would leave more severance-tax revenue in general revenue, and he stressed that infrastructure needs remain significant.
The Legislative Budget Board then gave a detailed overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major components. LBB staff explained that the bill includes continued funding for the Foundation School Program, $850 million for the Texas State Technical College endowment, $1.3 billion for the Texas University Fund, $6.5 billion for border security, salary increases for correctional officers and state troopers, $3 billion for dementia research, higher community attendant wages, expanded community-based care, $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, and funding to clear volunteer fire department grant backlogs. They also outlined supplemental priorities such as water infrastructure, retirement legacy payments, rail grade separations, wildfire aircraft, and emergency facilities, and said the current controlling budget limit is the tax spending limit.
A major portion of the hearing focused on property tax relief. LBB explained that prior-session relief grew from an expected $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher-than-anticipated property values and interactions among hold-harmless provisions, and that SB 1 continues and expands relief with $51 billion in total property tax relief, including $3 billion more for compression, $3 billion to raise the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, and a $500 million placeholder for business tax relief. Senators discussed the automatic nature of some of these costs, the effect of the non-homestead circuit breaker, the role of federal COVID funds, and the need to maintain school finance commitments if the state continues to compress school tax rates.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Dec 18th, 2025 at 01:07 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Next up, we have the LASC endorsed legislation proposals.
- This is endorsed legislation, and seeing none, it is adopted, Mr. Chair.
- This bill does focus on reading and the parts that you're referring to.
- Legislation. Thank you. Okay, another Office of Special Education.
- Representative, I believe it's specifically in regard to library materials.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-06-02 (9:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Other motions relating to committee reference: none on the desk, Mr. President.
- First and foremost, public libraries, is that a yes or no?
- passed legislation requiring a detailed study of property tax reform.
- We do legislation all the time. We do legislation all the time.
- And so, of course, most of these bills were not heard during this legislative session.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Overview of Minnesota State budget request before House higher education committee 3/11/25
Transcript Highlights:
- so we've been working with our libraries so we've been working with our libraries to<00:14:34.600
- <00:15:13.600>
has and that partnership with libraries has and that partnership with libraries - Journey with this legislative support in Journey with this legislative support in August<00:17:17.760
- Slide the legislation provided the 13.5 Slide the legislation provided the 13.5 million<00:35:06.079>
- Pals which is our Consortium of Library Pals which is our Consortium of Library facilities<01:26
Summary:
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests.
Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion.
Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards.
The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- from the House: Several petitions come from the House on the suspension of Joint Rule 12 and are referred
- Joint Rule 12 is suspended, and those matters will be referred to their respective committees.
- It's extremely helpful, and I appreciate the table that the gentleman made reference to.
- We all know that the Chair is a champion of libraries in Massachusetts, as is the Vice Chair.
- We all know that the Chair is a champion of libraries in Massachusetts, as is the Vice Chair.
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two commendatory resolutions honoring the Plimpton Historical Society’s Deborah Sampson Day recognition and Megan’s Light’s Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month observance, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committee. The chamber also briefly recognized Diane Talk of the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center on her retirement after 30 years of dispatch service. Later, the Senate passed two local bills to enactment: House No. 4006, authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional all-alcoholic beverages license, and House No. 473, relating to the charter of Westwood.
The main business was the Senate Ways and Means presentation of the fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling about $63.3 billion. The chair described the budget as balanced, with no new taxes or tax cuts, based on a consensus revenue estimate of $986 million in growth over FY26 (2.4%), and including about $15.8 billion in federal financial participation and roughly $2.7 billion from the Fair Share surtax. The budget emphasized record local aid, including $1.376 billion in unrestricted general government aid, $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increased minimum school aid, higher regional school transportation reimbursement, rural aid, and the revival of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. It also highlighted major investments in MassEducate free community college, food security, housing, and support for vulnerable residents.
Members then engaged in extended colloquy on the budget’s major cost drivers and policy choices. Questions focused on debt service, pension and OPEB liabilities, MassHealth caseload and rising per-enrollee costs, child care funding, and program integrity in DTA and other benefit programs. The chair said debt service would be about $2.67 billion, pension payments would be $5.1 billion, OPEB would receive a $150 million payment, and MassHealth enrollment was projected at about 2 million with costs driven by acuity and medical inflation. He also said the budget includes no collective bargaining agreements and no state tax changes. Senators supporting the budget praised its investments in education, local aid, homelessness prevention, public health, libraries, and housing, while minority leaders and others stressed the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and further work on affordability and municipal support. The Senate also received a House message on House No. 5316, which the House had nonconcurred in, and a conference committee was appointed on the disagreement.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Other motions relating to committee reference? None on the desk, Mr. President.
- First and foremost, public libraries, is that a yes or no? Passes.
- We do legislation all the time. We do legislation all the time.
- I think, you know, in reference to Senator...
- And so, of course, most of these bills were not heard during this legislative session.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Postsecondary Education (3-11-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh it does reference KRS 164.020 subsection 15 as I mentioned earlier and also references that their
- Uh it does reference KRS 164.020 subsection 15 as I mentioned earlier and also references that their
- Uh it does reference KRS 164.020 subsection 15 as I mentioned earlier and also references that their
- Uh it does reference KRS 164.020 subsection 15 as I mentioned earlier and also references that their
- Uh it does reference KRS 164.020 subsection 15 as I mentioned earlier and also references that their
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 77, which would allow comprehensive universities to pursue doctoral programs under a new approval process and, in the original bill, would also change who may serve on the EPSB board for small colleges and universities. The sponsor and Council on Postsecondary Education representative explained that the committee substitute removed the current statutory prohibition on comprehensive universities offering certain doctoral degrees, but added eligibility guardrails: a 77% first-to-second-year retention rate, a 56% six-year graduation rate, and three months of unrestricted cash reserves. They said the thresholds were based on national data placing institutions in roughly the top quartile, and that CPE would still review proposals for mission fit, workforce need, fiscal impact, and, where applicable, programmatic accreditation and legislative appropriations. EKU President David McFaden supported creating a pathway for comprehensive universities, said Kentucky is unusual in having an explicit statutory prohibition, and urged the committee to keep the standards attainable and durable. The committee approved the bill and adopted a title amendment, with the motion passing unanimously.
The committee then heard Senate Joint Resolution 55, which addresses antisemitism on postsecondary campuses. Senator Tichenor said the resolution responds to a rise in antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023, and would require campuses to notify students each semester of Title VI rights, complaint procedures, existing harassment policies, and available Jewish student resources. It would also direct campuses to disband student organizations found to provide material support to known terrorist organizations, report such matters to law enforcement, and collect and report antisemitism data to CPE for posting on its website. A guest speaker from the Kentucky Jewish Council described a sharp increase in reported incidents, including harassment, threats, vandalism, and hostile campus activity, and argued that schools have often done too little to respond. He said the resolution was amended to protect free speech while ensuring Jewish students receive the same protections as other protected groups. The transcript ends while testimony on the resolution was still underway, before any committee vote on SJR 55.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Oh, sorry, blank out the appropriation and reference the appropriation value in the committee report.
- We already pay taxes for the State Library; people can go to the library, watch free YouTube videos on
- <00:58:33.599>
the appropriation and reference the appropriation and reference the appropriation - <00:58:52.400>
people pay taxes for the State Library people pay taxes for the State Library - deliberate that through the legislative deliberate that through the legislative process<01:12:46.280
Summary:
The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a series of housing bills. HB 1432 and HB 1428 drew support from HHFDC, and HB 1428 also received testimony from Hawaiian Community Assets, which said housing counseling funding is needed to meet demand for financial education tied to affordable housing, and that such counseling can help reduce evictions, prevent foreclosure, and stabilize households. HB 833 on community land trusts received broad support from HHFDC, county housing officials, community land trust representatives, and a local developer; testimony emphasized keeping housing affordable in perpetuity, but also asked for clearer access to financing, longer repayment terms, and inclusion of additional land trusts in the bill. Peter Savio argued that community land trusts are the best way to control demand and keep housing tied to local incomes.
The committee also heard HB 19 on the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, which HHFDC said should be made permanent because the pilot has been successful, with 81 units in the program and $7.4 million of the $10 million allocation already committed. HHFDC said the fund helps stalled for-sale projects by providing state equity that revolved back when homes are sold. HB 529 and HB 432 were also heard; HB 432 would create a subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund for projects above 60% AMI, and HHFDC said this would help finance housing for households at 65% and 80% AMI. The bill drew support from several housing, business, and industry groups.
Several other housing measures were discussed with mixed testimony. HB 419 had HHFDC support, Limby Hawaiʻi opposition, and support from the Grassroot Institute and others; members asked about whether councils approve these projects in one or multiple readings. HB 527 and HB 416 also drew a mix of support and opposition, with questions focused on county approval timelines and whether state-financed projects would still go through normal local review. HB 417 on the rental housing revolving fund prompted questions about how it differs from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund and whether it should be more flexible for mixed rental and for-sale projects. HB 418’s proposed working group was noted as potentially unnecessary because HHFDC said a public working group was already being formed. HB 1411 on housing preference raised questions about what happens if a recipient changes jobs, and HB 374 drew an Attorney General’s Office recommendation to remove a duration requirement to avoid possible constitutional travel issues. HB 373 and HB 1492 were also heard, with strong testimony from Peter Savio in favor of a broader trust-based model for affordable housing. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- The Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council will come to order.
- Women who are pregnant, we will still refer them to child support enforcement if child support enforcement
- One of them came from a legislator, and I talked with them, and we found out what the problem was.
- Today we have the Arkansas State Library, and its report is in your packet.
- The Arkansas State Library is under our purview. ...staff for the Department of Education.
Summary:
The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed several agency rules and most were approved without objection. The Department of Agriculture repealed rules tied to the now-repealed Arkansas Catfish Processors Fair Practice Act. The Department of Human Services updated Medicaid policy to clarify child support enforcement treatment for pregnant women, remove the word “forcible” from rape/incest good-cause language, and eliminate a 90-day waiting period for ARKids B after loss of group coverage; members highlighted the significance of the language change and asked for a quick-reference eligibility chart. DHS Medical Services also received approval for a CMS cell and gene therapy model rule for sickle cell drugs and a technical Medicaid-assisted medication-assisted treatment update that was described as cost-neutral and non-substantive.
The Department of Labor and Licensing presented several rules implementing recent acts and internal cleanup changes. These included procedures for local construction plan disputes under Act 591, Contractors Licensing Board amendments raising the restricted commercial license threshold from $750,000 to $1.5 million and allowing deferral of owner-complaint investigations during civil litigation, and a similar residential contractors change. The HVACR Licensing Board presented broader revisions under Act 746, including grammar and cleanup changes, elimination of the Class C license with transfer of existing holders to Class B, expansion of allowable work limits, a change to continuing education from four hours annually to eight hours per three-year code cycle, and clarification on training, child labor, and licensing issues. Several members questioned the practical impact of the HVAC changes, but the rule was approved.
The committee also granted the Department of Inspector General’s request for exclusion from rulemaking reporting under Act 473, concluding that no rule was necessary because the act already defines the key terms and review process for foreign-adversary cultural exchange agreements. In addition, the Arkansas State Library’s report recommending continuation of its existing rules was accepted. During the status updates on outstanding 2023-session rulemaking, Education explained delays were due to overlapping 2025 amendments and the large volume of rules, while members expressed concern about the length of time since enactment; staff noted only a small number of 2023 rules remain outstanding. The meeting ended after written 2025-session updates were received with no further questions.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Legislators from both sides of the aisle have heard you.
- Northstar promise programs legislators Northstar promise programs legislators from<00:02:17.920>
- So they are an underlying resource for all of the state's libraries, schools, and our counties.
- resource for all of the states libraries resource for all of the states libraries in<00:36:54.800
- The motion passes and the bill is referred to the committee on finance as amended.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- If I can find my testifiers list. library system facilities. Allows the library system facilities.
- legislative appropriation. legislative appropriation.
- , when we do expend legislative appropriations at our public and school libraries, that we have authority
- <01:36:38.080>
Uh Public Library System. Um thank you. Uh Public Library System. - , when we do expend legislative appropriations at our public and school libraries, that we have authority
Keywords:
telecommunication devices, student use, public schools, student engagement, educational outcomes, confiscation policy, mental health, statewide policy, community literacy, education, Title I funding, reading proficiency, underserved communities, family engagement, tutoring, literacy support, adult education, community education, literacy programs, workforce development
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Bill 203- FN inexpedient to legislate Bill 203- FN inexpedient to legislate Senate<00:58:43.640>
- <01:22:39.840>
is motion is inexpedient to legislate is motion is inexpedient to legislate - There is a reason why our committee originally voted to re-refer this legislation.
- the purposes of introducing legislation the purposes of introducing legislation referring<03:34:
- referring re-refer bills to committee referring re-refer bills to committee scheduling<03:34:55.160
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Education Policy and Administration (03/10/2025)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- our legislative our legislative work<01:03:59.640>
finally <01:04:00.640>we <01:04: - will close by saying that legislation will close by saying that legislation regarding<01:04:54.079
- <01:06:52.119>
of in the past the legislative history of in the past the legislative history - <04:08:50.479>
to <04:08:50.640>find library or the public library to find library - or um taking a book out of a library or um taking a book out of a library we're<04:14:42.760>
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 749, which would require high schools to provide at least one hour of instruction on the nature and history of communism. The prime sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns that students lack basic historical knowledge about communism and its effects, and argued that a short, flexible requirement could be embedded in an existing course without creating a new full class. He described communism as a totalitarian ideology and cited historical examples including the Soviet Union, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Cold War, and current events involving Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan as reasons students should understand the topic.
Members asked whether the subject is already covered in current social studies standards, whether one hour is enough, and whether the bill would apply to public, private, parochial, and charter schools. The sponsor said he did not believe communism is specifically required in current standards, that he would prefer a full course but was proposing a minimal requirement, and that he intended the bill to apply broadly to schools under the Department of Education’s umbrella, though he acknowledged the wording may need clarification for charter schools. He also said the proposal was both reactive and proactive, based on anecdotal concerns and his teaching experience.
A second supporter testified that he was born in the Soviet Union and favored the bill, but suggested the instruction should emphasize critical thinking and explain both why communism can appeal to some people and why it can have harmful consequences. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 12 (1-22-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Because we have some other legislation that might affect those individuals.
- Uh, it's not because I don't think the legislation is excellent legislation.
- Uh, it's not because I don't think the legislation is excellent legislation.
- This legislation would extend the pilot program to January 1, 2031.
- Imagination Library Program, Senator Chambers<01:11:27.120>
Armstrong.
Summary:
The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. During second reading, several bills and a joint resolution were reported to the Rules Committee, including measures on trauma center provider coverage, cremation, public library trustees, local occupational license fees and taxes, and a food-is-medicine resolution. The House also communicated passage of House Bills 176, 178, and 280 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced Senate Bill 39, Senate Bill 181 with a committee substitute, Senate Bill 17 with a committee substitute and title amendment, and Senate Bill 34.
The chamber then took up and passed Senate Bill 13, which would allow military installations to have ex officio representation on nearby planning and zoning bodies to improve communication about land use near bases. It passed 37-0. Senate Bill 46, concerning school transportation, was amended by committee substitute to require background checks and drug testing for drivers of school vans and to extend van use to 10-passenger vehicles; it passed 37-0 after a brief clarification about the amendment’s display in the system. Senate Bill 22, expanding the dual credit scholarship program to support a teacher apprenticeship pathway, was amended to require a 2.75 GPA and then passed 36-1 after questions about employment status and liability; the sponsor explained it would help address teacher shortages and reduce student debt.
The Senate also passed Senate Bill 90, which extends the behavioral health conditional dismissal pilot program from 2027 to 2031 to continue offering treatment-based alternatives to incarceration for eligible low-level offenders; it passed 37-0. Senate Bill 51, a proposed constitutional change to freeze property tax assessment increases for homeowners age 65 and older on their primary residence, also passed 37-0. Senate Bill 30 was passed over but retained its place in the orders of the day. The rules committee later posted Senate Bills 27, 40, and 76 for the next day, and the Committee on Committees referred Senate Bill 109 to Licensing and Occupations, Senate Bill 68 to State and Local Government, and Senate Resolutions 45 and 46 to the Senate floor.