Transcript Highlights:

• In front of you, a list of the projects by county included in the substitute bill.
• I mean, if they can't do a rodeo ground in Eunice in one year or in three years.
• I do have some stuff in here.
• Eight in the affirmative, zero in the negative. Thank you, Senator Campos. This is you, right?
• Anybody in the audience in support? One. Anybody in opposition? None. Anybody on Zoom? Okay.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, all in favor, aye. Aye. Seeing none, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed?
• All those in favor of printing? Printing. All those in favor of printing RS 33-246, say aye. Aye.
• The program was created in 2000 by the Idaho Legislature, and you'll find the enabling statute in Title
• We'd love to have your help in highlighting the program in your local area.
• We put information in libraries. We put information in every newsletter you can think of.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee approved the minutes from January 28, January 29, and February 2, 2026, and then voted to print RS 33-246, which related to pending and temporary rules from the State Board of Education’s Division of Career Technical Education. No opposition was noted on the minutes or the RS, and the motions carried by voice vote. The committee then received an update on the Ideal Idaho College Savings Program (Idaho’s 529 plan) from Executive Director Don Hall. He described the program’s structure as self-funded and governed by a board of constitutional officers, and reviewed its tax advantages, investment options, and expanded uses for K-12, higher education, trade schools, apprenticeships, student loan repayment, and Roth IRA rollovers. He also highlighted recent growth, including an 11% increase in new accounts, broader use in north and central Idaho, and employer participation through payroll direct deposit and a state tax credit for employer contributions. Members asked about whether state tax credits could be combined with 529 deductions and about outreach efforts for the program. Hall said he would verify the tax-credit question and report back, and he outlined current outreach through social media, broadcasters, libraries, schools, sports sponsorships, and chambers of commerce. Senators suggested additional outreach at kids’ fairs. The committee concluded without further action and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• future so that the great young men who participate in American Legion Boy State would in the future
• future so that the great young men who participate in American Legion Boy State would in the future
• Fair point. Uh, Coach, thank you.
• </c><00:03:55.200><c> The</c> in favor, please say I. I. Opposed. The in favor, please say I. I.
• All those in favor, please say motion. All those in favor, please say I.<00:04:44.880><c> I.

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in the month, which corresponds to about five days a week.
• The committee then broke for a short caucus, with Democrats in Hearing Room 3 and Republicans in ABC,
• fair to use the current rate until a new one is available.
• All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?
• All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on March 10, 2026, and first reviewed engrossed House Bill 2487, which concerns taxes imposed on insurers. Staff explained the bill’s B&O tax exemption changes, the advanced computing surcharge adjustments, and the preliminary fiscal note. Amendment 1 had been withdrawn before action. The committee then considered and rejected Amendment 2, which would have further lowered the surcharge cap; Amendment 4, which would have removed retroactivity for tax payments; and Amendment 5, a striking amendment that would have conformed the B&O exemption to a court decision and removed the advanced computing surcharge provisions. The committee then advanced HB 2487 to the Rules Committee with a due pass recommendation. The committee next took up Substitute House Bill 2689 on the Working Connections Child Care Program. Staff described the bill’s changes to attendance-based reimbursement, rate-setting, and eligibility, with an estimated four-year savings of $565 million. Amendment 6, offered by Senator Wilson, was adopted and changed the market rate survey response threshold by delaying the 65% requirement and allowing validity with lower response rates under certain conditions. Amendment 7, offered by Senator Robinson, was also adopted and revised the attendance reimbursement tiers, with staff indicating it would increase projected savings to about $770 million over four years. The amended bill was then moved to the Rules Committee with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered engrossed House Bill 2681, which raises annual issuance and renewal fees for cannabis producer, processor, and retail licenses by $400. Staff said the bill would increase deposits to the dedicated cannabis account by about $866,000 per year, or $2.6 million over four years. With no amendments offered, the committee approved HB 2681 and sent it to the Rules Committee with a due pass recommendation. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the month, which corresponds to about five days a week.
• The chair announced a short caucus, with Democrats in Hearing Room 3 and Republicans in ABC, and said
• All those in favor of adopting Amendment 6 signify by saying aye.
• All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?
• All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

Bills: HB2487

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It says that the contract shall be awarded in a public meeting.
• If you continue to read in that section, it says such limits shall not exceed the fair and reasonable
• Mimics exactly OMES's language in their title.
• It's not necessarily in 1f05.
• In these counties, there's no recourse for that.

Bills: SB2130 , SB2135

Committee: Senate Local and County Government

Keywords: municipal finance, audit exemption, biennial reporting, local government, transparency, county purchasing, purchase card, government accountability, emergency expenditures, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in district 12 in district engineer in district 12 in Pikeville<00:02:37.760><c> in</c><00:02:37.920>
• /c><00:08:09.919><c> the</c> uh 23 million in in costs and um the uh 23 million in in costs and um the
• in in one of my counties, uh we have in in in one of my counties, uh we have some<00:18:52.799><c> people
• 00:31:14.399><c> in</c><00:31:14.640><c> my</c> I've had some folks in my in my uh in my I've had some
• Is that is that fair a fair discussed. Is that is that fair a fair question? question? question?

Keywords: 0:00:15 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:01:15 Maintenance Update 0:21:07 Approval of Minutes 0:21:32 Regional Offices 0:43:47 SHIFT Scoring 1:04:24 Local Assistance Road Program 1:16:41 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum and first received a maintenance update from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials James Ballinger and John Moore. They described how repeated disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and ice storms, have strained routine road maintenance and forced crews to focus on emergency response, snow and ice removal, pothole patching, ditching, signal repairs, mowing, striping, sign work, and other day-to-day upkeep. They said snow and ice costs have averaged about $60 million to $61 million annually in recent years, disaster response has totaled hundreds of millions of dollars over five years, and the cabinet often must carry those costs until FEMA or FHWA reimbursement arrives. They also said maintenance work is increasingly contracted out because of staffing and resource limits, and that competitive pay is needed to retain employees and contractors for around-the-clock emergency work. Members then discussed traffic roundabouts and other intersection designs. Senator Hickden asked about their cost savings and safety benefits compared with traffic signals, and cabinet staff said they would provide life-cycle cost figures later. They emphasized that roundabouts and related designs reduce serious injuries and fatalities, with serious injuries down roughly 70% to 80% and fatalities over 90% in their experience. Chair Douglas and others asked about roundabout sizing for trucks and farm equipment, and staff explained that designers tailor the inscribed diameter to local traffic needs and context. The committee also briefly discussed red-light running and traffic-light cameras, with members stressing the safety risks of drivers ignoring signals. The committee adopted the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and voice vote. It then heard from Sarah Jackson and Matthew Cole on the Real ID and driver licensing transition. They said the cabinet has expanded from almost no regional offices to 35, grown driver licensing staff from 89 to 400, and now issues about 1.3 million credentials annually. They reported improvements in office capacity, queue management, staffing, and compensation, including added workstations, new or expanded offices in Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown, and the use of contract staff. They said statewide average wait times have fallen to just under 30 minutes, and Kentucky’s Real ID adoption rate has risen to 42.9%. Members asked follow-up questions about driver testing and CDL scheduling. The presenters said all permit and CDL testing is coordinated through Kentucky State Police, with written tests available in most regional offices and CDL testing at a smaller number of KSP locations. Senator Douglas asked when the driver testing requirements were last updated, and the presenters said that was set by KSP. The discussion ended with additional questions about which regional offices lack KSP testing presence, but no further action was taken before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> established the advisory Council in established the advisory Council in April<00:21:07.280><c> in
• Yes, we have included that in the report, the Medicare Savings... yeah, and in this slideshow, not in
• </c><00:51:38.559><c> in</c><00:51:38.720><c> your</c> then as a second question in in your then as a
• There is not a lot in 570.
• </c><01:11:07.640><c> the</c> in 570 so so it's not done we're in the in 570 so so it's not done we're

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The working session focused on the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s budget request and its recent work. Early discussion centered on a technical question about a statutory dedicated fund for donations: members asked why the budget did not show a line item for accepting donations, and DHHS CFO Nathan White explained that the statute already authorizes the fund, but because no revenue has been received yet, it does not appear in the budget. He said any future donations would go through the normal process under RSA 14:30-a, with fiscal committee and Governor and Council approval and a memo to the Department of Revenue Administration. The chair clarified that the account was not a prerequisite to soliciting donations, and White said the fund would supplement, not replace, General Fund support. Kirk Williamson, the board’s executive director, then presented the board’s mission and budget. He said the governor’s budget provides about $256,500 in the first year and slightly more in the second, all General Funds, and that the board had distributed a technical amendment to continue the executive director position. He described the board’s role as analyzing prescription drug costs, identifying savings opportunities, monitoring market trends, promoting transparency, and making recommendations to the legislature and public payers. He also emphasized that the board operates publicly, with live-streamed meetings and a stakeholder advisory council that includes unions, state agencies, Medicaid, corrections, higher education, and other stakeholders. A major topic was the board’s estimate of $6 million in potential savings, based on Medicare’s newly negotiated prices for 10 drugs. Williamson explained that the board used those federal negotiated prices as a benchmark to estimate what New Hampshire public payers might be missing by not having similar leverage, and said the board is trying to build evidence for future recommendations rather than directly setting prices. Members asked how those potential savings could become actual savings, and Williamson said the board is sharing findings through its advisory council and feedback loops, though it has not yet sent a formal recommendation letter to specific purchasers. He also discussed the difference between pharmacy-benefit spending, which relies heavily on PBM-negotiated rebates, and medical-benefit spending, which is administered differently and is being added to the board’s next report. Williamson highlighted other work, including a model on Humira and a pending legislative effort to improve biosimilar competition, plus a proposed state-backed pharmacy savings card that would be no cost to the state and could save users about $240 per prescription based on Connecticut’s experience. No votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• in in I don't want to schools and in in in I don't want to schools and in in in I don't want to debate
• We we're in we're in good financial shape. Uh in in we're in good financial shape.
• in this in the state. social issues in in this in the state. social issues in in this in the state.
• I on nationally in in education in 76? I on nationally in in education in 76? I wasn't born then.
• in in the room is going and somebody in in in the room is going and somebody in in in the room is going

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, we do.
• in court uh<00:32:19.840><c> in</c><00:32:20.120><c> in</c><00:32:20.320><c> Supreme</c><00:32:20.760
• in.
• In the last budget, we also appropriated in the operating budget another $1.1 million in '24 and in '
• the state in July 2021 and again in July 2023.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division 2 hearing took testimony from the director of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training on the agency’s budget request and operations. He described the agency’s role in setting hiring, education, certification, and discipline standards for police, corrections, probation and parole, and court security officers, and noted that the agency runs the full-time, part-time, corrections, and court security training programs. He also outlined the agency’s staffing, facility, and budget request for FY 2026-27, including a request to keep funding level with the governor’s recommendation while shifting funds to support an IT manager position by defunding a vacant administrative slot. The agency requested several statutory changes in Chapter 106, including clarifying the definition of police misconduct, allowing a temporary member on the Conduct Review Committee, clarifying reporting requirements for misconduct allegations, and codifying the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. The director also reviewed new responsibilities added in recent years, including crisis intervention training, statewide accreditation, the Conduct Review Committee, and increased annual in-service training requirements. He explained that crisis intervention funding is carried in a continuously appropriated, non-lapsing account and that some budget lines were reclassified, including software and janitorial services, to reflect actual spending needs. Members asked about national standards, the different academy tracks, crisis intervention funding, maintenance and contract changes, temporary positions, and the court security training program. The agency said it coordinates with national peers through IADLEST, that the part-time and corrections academies are longstanding programs, and that the new court security academy can be delivered either as a full academy or as in-service training depending on resources. The director also said the agency has been running extra full-time academies because of high vacancy rates, but expects to return to three full-time academies this year, with two corrections academies and one or possibly two part-time academies. He also explained the current approach to misconduct records and public disclosure, saying sustained findings under RSA 106-L are heard by the council and published, replacing the older, less standardized exculpatory list process.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> whether in sports or in in a prison. whether in sports or in in a prison. Right. Right. Right.
• So, it's in in in the committee.
• We strongly support SB 268 in the interest of ensuring fair opportunities and safe spaces for women and
• /c><02:23:28.560><c> of</c><02:23:28.800><c> ensuring</c><02:23:29.280><c> fair</c> SB 268 in the interest
• Skier to the Supreme Court, representing girls and women and advocating for safety and fairness in their

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 141, which would create a narrow exception to New Hampshire’s three-year deadline for motions for a new trial when a petitioner has newly discovered evidence, new forensic testing, or new scientific understanding. The prime sponsor’s representative and advocates from the Innocence Project and New England Innocence Project argued the bill is needed to help wrongfully convicted people access the courts, noting that exonerations often take many years and that outdated forensic science has contributed to wrongful convictions. The chair also said he had drafted a proposed amendment for committee review, but it had not yet been formally submitted. Witnesses supporting the bill emphasized that the measure would not guarantee relief, only allow a petition to be filed and reviewed under existing standards. They discussed examples such as arson science, explaining that some convictions were based on forensic methods later shown to be unreliable. Committee members asked about the scope of habeas corpus, whether the bill would create a new cause of action, and whether additional screening or pleading requirements should be added. The supporters said they would be open to requiring a petitioner to plead innocence, but opposed adding more burdensome preliminary procedures or counsel requirements at the filing stage. Thomas Farardi, from the Attorney General’s Office, testified in opposition or with caution, saying the bill was a “solution looking for a problem” because existing habeas corpus and coram nobis procedures already provide avenues for relief, and prosecutors can act when credible new evidence arises. He argued the current draft could invite additional litigation and create a new cause of action, and said he favored more screening before cases proceed. The discussion also touched on whether the statute applies in criminal cases, the current three-year limitation in RSA 526:4, and questions about posthumous petitions and petitions by deported individuals. No vote or executive action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• A historic increase in civil protection order filings in addition to historic filings in eviction cases
• The guy's in the uniform. He's in a truck.
• It's in...
• It is not in statute. It’s in the oath. It’s not in statute.
• There's nothing fair about having an unqualified person remain in office.

Summary: The committee held a work session in Mill Creek focused first on the eviction process. Judge Michael Scott of King County Superior Court described historic highs in unlawful detainer filings across Washington, especially in urban counties, and said King County has reduced its backlog and average time to resolution to about 60 days by adding two dedicated eviction judges and using more judges when needed. He also described how King County and other counties are implementing the right to counsel for indigent tenants, and noted that additional housing commissioners may help. Office of Civil Legal Aid representatives Philippe Knapp and Jane Paxe said the statewide appointed counsel program has represented more than 30,000 tenants, referred clients to social services, and helped many remain housed, but they warned of a funding shortfall that could eliminate about 17 attorneys and leave roughly 2,000 tenants without representation. A landlord-side panel argued that eviction timelines remain too long and fragmented, creating unpaid rent, safety issues, and uncertainty for both landlords and tenants; they urged more uniform procedures, streamlined rental assistance, and procedural changes to reduce refiling and delays. The second work session addressed theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, especially copper and telecom cable theft. Committee staff reviewed existing criminal and regulatory laws covering malicious mischief, theft, scrap metal businesses, and metal property deception. Comcast, Mason Public Utility District, and the Recycled Materials Association testified that theft of aerial cable and copper has become a crisis affecting power, internet, 911 service, schools, hospitals, and line-worker safety. Utility representatives described outages, hazards, and rising costs, and asked for stronger audits of scrapyards, tougher penalties for theft affecting critical infrastructure, and tighter rules on payment and identification. Recyclers said they oppose the thefts and already operate under heavy regulation, but acknowledged enforcement gaps and the need for better coordination; committee members discussed possible bill concepts and asked for written recommendations. The final work session covered standards for law enforcement personnel. Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander and Assistant Director Kimberly Bliss explained current certification and decertification rules, including background checks, training requirements, mandatory and discretionary grounds for decertification, and the hearing process. They said elected sheriffs are not currently required to undergo the same pre-election background check as other applicants, though they can still be decertified if already certified, and they reported a backlog of more than 1,000 cases with about 70 to 80 new cases coming in each month. Retired Judge Ann Levinson then outlined ways the legislature could strengthen and align standards for chiefs, sheriffs, and marshals, including requiring certification within a set time, setting a minimum age, requiring recent state background checks, and making loss of certification a vacancy in office. Committee members asked questions about accountability for elected sheriffs, background-check administration, and decertification outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the county.
• As an attorney with team Hanley here, we attend numerous resource fairs in the area that are put on by
• And keep in mind these are not necessarily in priority.
• I think that that is a fair statement to say and in a fair way to do it, and I'm trying to make the jump
• In fact, in 2024, the U.S.

Bills: HB367 , HB497 , HB549 , HB983 , HB 1188 , HB 1290 , HB1368 , HB2243 , HB2310 , HB2849 , HB3099 , HB3546 , HB3629 , HB3627

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Senator Woods, it's in health insurance GSD rates and in rate increases in GSD.
• I'm in here in place for Fernando Macias.
• trial, PEP, in motion practice, and literally in trial.
• We're in a conundrum in McKinley County. We're in a real bind.
• That's almost cutting it in half in two years.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also in support: we got our letter in late.
• We want to ensure fairness in pricing because it's not just about economic justice.
• And fair pricing is a concept in law that we want to make sure that we are holding on to right now because
• But again, it's early in the year in the early hearing.
• But again, it's early in the year in the early hearing.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the main discussion focused on AB 1705, AB 1898, AB 2076, and AB 2564. AB 1705 would require pornographic websites and uploaders to certify consent and age before sexually explicit content is posted, including AI-generated nude images, and would allow civil actions by nonconsenting individuals or minors depicted in the material. Supporters, including child advocacy, women’s groups, district attorneys, and university women’s organizations, said it would help combat nonconsensual sexual imagery and revenge pornography; there was no opposition testimony, and the bill drew favorable comments from members. AB 1898 would require employers to give workers advance notice before using AI-powered tools to surveil or manage employees, including disclosure of the purpose, data collected, decisions affected, and general locations of use. Labor groups and privacy advocates supported the measure as a transparency and worker-protection bill, while business and industry groups opposed it, arguing the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements could expose proprietary or security-sensitive information, and the private right of action could lead to litigation and overbroad compliance burdens. Members raised cybersecurity and scope concerns, and the author said the bill had already been narrowed and would continue to be refined, but the committee ultimately took a roll call and advanced the bill on a vote, leaving it on call for absent members. AB 2076 would add nitrous oxide to the list of products subject to online age verification under the Parents’ Accountability and Child Protection Act and increase penalties for large sellers that fail to comply. The author and supporters, including a parent, a deputy district attorney, narcotics officers, Children Now, labor, and the Children’s Advocacy Institute, described rising youth access, health harms, and online sales loopholes. Some opposition groups said they appreciated the amendments but remained concerned about other provisions. Members questioned the bill’s gift-card restrictions and whether they would unnecessarily limit adult purchasing choices; the author and committee staff explained the restriction was aimed at anonymous purchases of the most dangerous items. The bill passed on a 7-0 vote and was left on call for absent members. AB 2564 would prohibit “surveillance pricing,” or using personal data to set individualized prices, while preserving certain transparent discounts and loyalty programs. The author and supporters from Consumer Reports, TechEquity, labor, and privacy groups argued the bill would prevent discriminatory pricing and protect consumers from opaque data-driven price manipulation. Retail, chamber, and industry opponents said the bill was too broad, could chill legitimate discounts and promotions, created compliance and litigation risks, and contained vague definitions. Members discussed the balance between consumer protection and business concerns, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on AB 2564.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, the city of Denton issued almost $243 million in COs.
• Be approved in in multiple public meetings.
• Uh, we do primarily work here in Austin, uh, and in select other markets in Texas.
• , in, in our elections.
• um, in, in, in this state over the past 10 years.

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• to be put in in the first place.
• poverty in the country here in Louisiana.
• Presumably, it's in their books and in their system.
• Not in most of us' lifetimes in this room. Okay.
• Because in all fairness, I mean, we've not allowed multiple bills out of here with fiscal notes today

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 105, which reinstates a sunset-expired TOPS Tech benefit for eligible veterans. Senator Kathy said the bill would use existing TOPS dollars, not new funding, and would help veterans stay in Louisiana and enter the workforce. After brief questions about eligibility and funding, Representative Marcelle moved the bill favorably, and it was reported favorably without objection. House Resolution 3, by Representative Newell, asked the Louisiana Housing Corporation to study whether vacant state-owned property could be repurposed for housing and rental assistance for cost-burdened state employees. Members discussed the high fiscal note and whether the work could be absorbed in existing budgets. Fiscal staff said LHC had requested a full-time position and four part-time positions for the study, but the committee also talked about narrowing the study’s scope. Representative Marcelle moved the resolution favorably, and it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then debated House Bill 189, which would extend supplemental pay to fire protection officers at the Lakefront Management Authority’s airport fire department. Representative Newell and airport representatives argued the firefighters perform specialized, hazardous ARFF duties and should receive the same supplemental pay as other qualifying public firefighters. Some members questioned whether the airport and its employees qualify under existing law and whether the supplement should be expanded further. After discussion, Representative Marcelle moved the bill favorably, but the motion failed on a roll call vote of 8 yeas to 10 nays. Later, Senate Bill 461, concerning Office of Group Benefits coverage for certain small employee groups, was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 623, creating a three-tier permitting system for vapor products, was amended to clarify direct-to-consumer shipment restrictions and then reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1222, creating a grocery initiative grants and financial support program through LED to address food deserts, drew extended debate over whether it would amount to government-run grocery stores; supporters framed it as an incentive and grant program for private grocers, while critics raised concerns about government involvement. After amendment, it was reported favorably as amended by a vote of 16 yeas to 2 nays. Finally, House Resolution 80, directing a comprehensive fiscal audit related to Board of Regents and university system spending on certain executive budget metrics, was amended into a substitute version. Members debated whether the resolution would require universities to do additional work and whether it belonged in Appropriations at all, especially since the fiscal note had been removed. The discussion also raised concerns about the listed schools and the resolution’s purpose in light of a federal civil rights investigation. The transcript ends while the committee is still discussing the resolution and related procedural motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are interested in testifying, please make sure that you have signed in on the sign-in sheet.
• There is a meeting in here in one hour exactly.
• </c><00:04:47.759><c> in</c><00:04:47.960><c> in</c><00:04:48.280><c> this</c> successful in in in this
• We had a film office when I started in Frankfort in the Fletcher administration in 2004.
• I started in Frankfurt in the Fletcher Administration in 2004.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:52 SB 1 Discussion 01:33 SB 1 Vote 32:39 SB 76 Discussion 34:35 SB 76 Vote 36:20 SB 162 Discussion 37:04 SB 162 Vote 46:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1, which would create a Kentucky Film Office and a Kentucky Film Leadership Council to promote film production in the state. Sponsors said the bill is intended to expand Kentucky’s use of film tax incentives, improve marketing and infrastructure, and attract productions that could generate jobs, tourism, and broader economic development. They noted a committee substitute made two changes: adding a salary cap for the film office executive director and correcting a date. Members asked about whether the office should instead be housed in the Economic Development Cabinet, how Kentucky’s refundable credit compares with Georgia’s transferable credits, the bill’s obscenity language, the size of the current incentive cap, and whether there should be reporting on the program’s results. Supporters cited a University of Louisville study estimating about $200 million in industry revenue in 2022 and argued the state is not fully using existing credits; an outside witness, Andrew McNeel, opposed the bill, calling the incentives subsidies, warning that Georgia’s uncapped program could lead to pressure to raise Kentucky’s cap, and arguing the bill could subsidize films with little lasting local benefit. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and passed Senate Bill 1 as amended by House Committee Substitute 1 with an expression of opinion that it should pass. Several members explained their votes, including concerns about transparency, local hiring, and the need for further review. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 76, which would raise the threshold for a retainage/escrow requirement in certain real estate improvement contracts from $500,000 to $2 million. The sponsor said the change is meant to reflect construction cost inflation since the statute was enacted in 1990. The transcript indicates a motion and second were made, but the discussion was cut off before any final action on the bill is shown. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 162, a simplified bill on unemployment insurance fraud. The sponsor said it would require suspected fraud to be referred to the appropriate state or federal law enforcement authorities, including the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, county or Commonwealth’s attorneys, and, where applicable, the U.S. Department of Justice, to create a clearer process and accountability. The transcript ends during the presentation, before any vote or committee action on SB 162 is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in the fight for free and fair in the fight for free and fair elections. elections. elections.
• compliance</c> residing in that address in compliance residing in that address in compliance with<00:
• </c> somebody voted in a in a subsequent somebody voted in a in a subsequent election<01:10:18.560><c
• in Senator Westrom's, 27% in Senator Green's, 26% in Senator Draheim's.
• </c> in Minnesota. in Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will try to be fair in the way we order the testimony today.
• Successful regulation requires an industry that is willing to be regulated in a way that is fair and
• In 2014, 18.3%. In 2015, it was 17.6%. In 2016, it was 17 percent, and in 2017, 21.4 percent.
• Oh, and I mean, and that's fair, but I will tell you there's concern in our community about it because
• In fairness, he can enforce it if there's an outright ban, which is really what his whole point is.

Bills: HB5

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: hemp, cannabinoids, regulation, occupational licenses, consumable products, marketing, criminal offenses, labeling requirements, health and safety, 997, house, all