Transcript Highlights:

• Then we go into the system.
• largely be taken care of by the<03:22:01.359><c> market</c><03:22:01.760><c> system</c><03:22:02.399
• Uh, a healthc care provider. wording. Uh, a healthc care provider.
• . care. care.
• There's no statistically valid evidence of long-term benefit of any transgender procedures, but there

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We need education specialists, literacy specialists, and people committed to long-term careers in education
• We need education specialists, literacy specialists, and people committed to long-term careers in education
• have enough officers on campus to take care of our kids and our teachers.
• Well, that's in effect what we're doing with our K-12 system as it is now.
• If we want to harken back to a term that we heard in the past.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:25:25.960><c> disengagement</c> resources, health care, disengagement resources, health care
• system of representation.
• I'm asking you to take a long-term view, not just what is legally permissible, but what is sustainable
• </c><00:51:56.120><c> again</c> that term again that term again tells<00:51:58.520><c> me</c> tells me
• <01:03:45.400><c> of</c> terms of terms of the<01:03:46.720><c> way</c><01:03:46.880><c> it</c><01:03

Bills: HB1

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's been around for a long time.
• long long period of been around for a long long period of time<00:02:52.480><c> hosts</c><00:02:53.200
• </c><00:03:08.519><c> time</c><00:03:09.120><c> in</c> around for a long time in around for a long time
• temporal term.
• </c><01:20:37.719><c> as</c> until we get started on how long as until we get started on how long as

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Um it's been a it's been a long uh Yes.
• It's been a long in this year, 2025.
• </c> coming renovation project, same terms coming renovation project, same terms space<00:21:28.960><
• :59.840><c> will</c> original terms and conditions will original terms and conditions will remain<00:
• restrained systems. Those 34 grants were restrained systems.

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including a quorum call, approval of the April minutes, and several informational reports. Those information items covered upcoming general obligation debt for Bullitt, Jefferson, and Warren counties; Kentucky Communications Network Authority updates tied to House Bill 6; Eastern Kentucky University asset preservation reallocations under House Bill 1; and School Facilities Construction Commission debt activity, including 20 prior debt issues totaling about $386 million with roughly 85% locally supported debt service and 15% SFCC participation. Members then discussed concerns about a Kentucky Communications Network Authority project, focusing on a reported discrepancy between an appropriation of $12.927 million and an apparent payment of about $8.532 million on a project with a cost estimate of $12.449 million. Several members asked for more detailed written information before the next Capital Projects meeting, noting that a lawsuit is pending and that they wanted to better understand the basis for the request and the spending to date. The committee also heard and unanimously approved a donor-funded Northern Kentucky University project to renovate tennis courts, with possible pickleball additions, after questions about why approval was needed, the project’s estimated $3 million cost, and its expected minimal ongoing operating costs. The committee next received Kentucky State University pool allocation reports for three projects: a $2 million McCullen Hall renovation, a $1.75 million walkway and miscellaneous repairs project, and a $2 million academic services building roof-and-window project. A member asked specifically about curb cuts and accessibility in the walkway project, and Kentucky State said existing curb cuts would be repaired and additional accessibility issues would be reviewed by engineers. The lease report from the Finance and Administration Cabinet included one lease modification requiring approval for the Attorney General’s office in Franklin County and one no-action modification for the Board of Cosmetology; the Attorney General lease was approved by roll call vote. Finally, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented five loans and 37 grants, with action taken on the loan and grant items. The loans included a Hodgenville wastewater treatment plant increase, a Grant County sewer district treatment plant loan, a Mount Sterling dam rehabilitation loan, and two Morganfield drinking water loans for granular activated carbon treatment, one with full principal forgiveness. Members asked about the Morganfield project’s purpose and were told it was a remediation effort for a water-quality concern, and they also raised questions about engineering fees, which KIA said are compared against a U.S. Rural Development fee schedule that is industry accepted. The committee also reviewed cleaner water program grant reallocations from county allocation pools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year our state took a great step towards addressing the long-term funding needs of survivors.
• The platform built into the Minnesota VOCA is an important long-term step to dedicated funding.
• VOCA<00:20:35.080><c> is</c><00:20:35.240><c> an</c><00:20:35.320><c> important</c><00:20:36.080><c> long-term
• </c><00:20:36.720><c> step</c><00:20:37.120><c> to</c> VOCA is an important long-term step to VOCA is
• an important long-term step to dedicated<00:20:37.880><c> funding.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The system Majority Leader Garcia moves, and Mr.
• , or go without care altogether.
• We feel that in District 69 with the Port of Long Beach.
• that patients skip or delay getting the care that they need.
• Now, why should we all care about this?

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, observed a moment of silence for John Burton, and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and routine procedural motions. Members approved a rule suspension to allow floor amendments on SB 271 and SB 67, and several committee notices and bill referrals were handled. The chamber then moved through a long third-reading file, with many bills passed and a number of items temporarily passed or retained on file. Among the major measures approved were bills on civil rights and public safety (SB 477, SB 19, SB 36, SB 571, SB 580), health care and coverage (SB 257 on pregnancy as a qualifying life event, SB 530 on Medi-Cal access standards, SB 660 on health data exchange, SB 754 on menstrual product contaminant disclosure), housing and disaster recovery (SB 610, SB 655), transportation and climate (SB 533 on EV charging payments, SB 30 on diesel locomotives, SB 71 on CEQA exemptions for transit, SB 263 on tariff impacts), and natural resources/energy (SB 283 on battery storage safety, SB 88 on biomass emissions, SB 427 extending the Habitat Conservation Fund). The Assembly also passed urgency measures including SB 864 on tribal gaming compacts, SB 663 on wildfire-related property tax relief, SB 471 expanding DDS ombudsman authority, and SB 497 on privacy protections for legally protected health services. Several bills drew notable debate. SB 41 on pharmacy benefit managers saw opposition over concerns about moving ahead before broader PBM data and licensing reforms take effect, but it still passed. AB 1340, a concurrence item on gig worker collective bargaining rights, prompted extended debate over labor rights, consumer costs, and union influence. Other concurrence items included AB 671 on restaurant permitting, which passed without opposition. The Assembly also took up SB 640 on direct admission to CSU, SB 702 on demographic reporting for appointees, SB 710 preserving a solar property tax exclusion, and SB 793 on counterfeit lighter safety, all of which passed. The session ended with the Assembly continuing through the file, including concurrence votes and additional bill actions, with most measures approved by substantial margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• So is there current litigation around this issue right now in our court system?
• care?
• care?
• managed care rate floor for one more year to July 1 of 2028.
• financial relief to our child care providers and reduce some regulatory burden.

Bills: HB1979 , HB1225 , HB3931 , HB4454 , HB3849 , HB1746 , HB3720 , HB4275 , HB4300 , HB3586 , HB2268 , HB3755 , HB4117 , HB4294 , HB3650 , HB4298

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee first considered the nomination of Christy D. Fisher to the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Senator Stanridge presented her as a lay member with legal and paralegal experience, and Fisher spoke about her family’s experience with speech therapy and autism-related speech needs. After brief questions, the committee advanced the nomination on an 8-2 vote. The committee then heard several bills, including measures creating an Early Childhood Task Force (HB 1979), clarifying that Oklahoma has always prohibited sex-to-gender-identity amendments on birth certificates (HB 1225), and establishing a process for correcting death certificates after one year (HB 3931). Members also advanced a bill restricting edible medical marijuana products from being attractive to children (HB 4454), updating the mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents (HB 3849), and allowing juvenile safety plans to take effect if not acted on within 24 hours (HB 1746). Other bills addressed local food sales thresholds (HB 3720), allowing case managers and peer support specialists to work for cities and counties (HB 4275), DHS background-check and email-notice updates for child care centers (HB 4300), and a clarification that raising a child consistent with biological sex is not child abuse and that adoption cannot be denied solely over refusal to support a gender transition (HB 3586). The committee also advanced bills on Medicaid reimbursement for dementia cognitive assessments and care planning (HB 2268), juvenile detention medication funding (HB 3755), family resource centers including faith-based and workforce organizations (HB 4117), epilepsy insurance coverage protections (HB 4294), extending the managed care rate floor to July 1, 2028 with a carve-out for multi-state contracts (HB 3650), and child care reforms raising subsidy co-pays and directing DHS to set more flexible master-teacher ratios for certain facilities (HB 4298). Several bills were amended or worked from committee substitutes, and most passed on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, with HB 1225, HB 3586, and HB 4294 drawing some opposition. The committee adjourned after noting it would likely meet again later for additional executive nominations.

Transcript Highlights:

• care.
• And are these, but are we in long-term leases or can we stop as of July 1? Generally, we can.
• leased okay and are these but are<01:36:56.800><c> we</c><01:36:56.920><c> in</c><01:36:57.119><c> long-term
• ><c> leases</c><01:36:58.080><c> or</c><01:36:58.239><c> can</c><01:36:58.400><c> we</c> are we in long-term
• leases or can we are we in long-term leases or can we stop<01:36:59.119><c> as</c><01:36:59.239><c>

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ budget, with testimony from division leadership on staffing, funding sources, and program changes. Early discussion focused on vacant positions in the agency, including a senior planner tied to FEMA requirements, a federally funded program assistant, a program specialist to be reclassified during a planning reorganization, and two Housing Champions positions that were authorized but not funded in the current biennium and are requested for 2026-27. The witnesses also explained that temporary welcome center positions are filled as funds allow, and that the agency’s requested general fund increase is driven largely by the Division of Travel and Tourism Development and its formula-based funding. Members then reviewed rest areas, welcome centers, outdoor recreation, economic development, procurement, and workforce opportunity lines. The department said there are 12 rest areas, with 5.8 million foot counts in FY 24, and that welcome centers are generally open year-round, though Sutton is currently closed and staffing relies on a mix of full-time and temporary employees. The outdoor recreation position is federally funded through USDA and supports business outreach, trade shows, and industry promotion. In economic development, the agency said increased dues reflect participation in the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and that a marketing line item is intended to support recruitment and promotion of growth industries such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The Apex Accelerator Program was described as a state-federal partnership requiring a state match and providing government contracting assistance to businesses, while the Office of Workforce Opportunity was explained as a federally funded WIOA-related effort administered through multiple agencies and subrecipients. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which members said had generated significant public concern. The department described SBDC as a highly effective technical assistance program for new and small businesses, but said the cut was one of the few places it felt it had room to reduce funding. Members asked about federal support and matching requirements for various programs, and the department said less than half of its overall budget is generally funded by the state and that some programs require state match. The committee also discussed travel and tourism marketing and the Joint Promotional Program, with the department saying those funds support broader advertising campaigns and grants to chambers and trade associations for events such as Bike Week, Restaurant Week, and the Seafood Festival. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• You see, Senate Bill 72 is a long needed common sense bill to simply ask for parity for health care professionals
• And so, because I worry about what this means for our health care system, I worry about what this means
• This is a long-term issue.
• This is a long-term<00:30:35.760><c> issue.
• We're talking about the long-term issue.

Transcript Highlights:

• But unfortunately, if the system.
• It creates substantial and long-term financial risk.
• It creates substantial<01:21:33.520><c> and</c><01:21:33.760><c> long-term</c><01:21:34.400><c> financial
• </c> substantial and long-term financial substantial and long-term financial risk.<01:21:35.920><c> Raising
• Requiring a public vote every four years creates funding instability, and public facilities require long-term

Bills: HB0068 , HB0062 , HB0127 , HB0109

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• This system fails to meet the needs of families today.
• If you're asking Representative Wally, why do you care about this issue?
• about doing. months ago, but this is a glossary of terms for IVF.
• That's TRS active care. So public's a lot of your public schools.
• The term pre-paid funeral benefits does not include this transportation protection.

Bills: HB201 , HB272 , HB618 , HB 1094 , HB 1142 , HB201 , HB272

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is a lot to do with term limits, which we didn't have when this was. Years.
• I think this is a lot to do with term limits, which we didn't have when this was put into place.
• So, admittedly, that's a substantive change, and again, a lot of that due to term limits.
• And so, you know, traditionally they've done program evaluations or for a long time.
• I don't care. Two quick questions for either yourself, Mr. Chair, or the bill sponsor.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• As it's written, undermining the trust we place in our legal system.
• For the public to look at if they care.
• Back in 2019, you were responsible for the tier system. That was like.
• As you mentioned, Senator Huffman takes too long and costs too much.
• The time frame for the investigation is quite long.

Bills: SB260 , SB263 , SB293 , SJR18

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's because Title 33, which oversees our local statutes, is 2,000 pages long.
• So it's not an overarching board for the entire system.
• to a student in the data collection system.
• Fell out of the system. We don't know where they are. Correct.
• look at reduced funding as enrollment reduces, staffing pressures, school closures or consolidations, long-term

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on May 6 and first welcomed LSU President Wade Roos and Chancellor Jim Dalton, who outlined LSU’s goals of becoming an elite, accessible flagship university, increasing research expenditures, improving student recruitment and retention, and expanding pathways that keep Louisiana students in-state. Members praised the new leadership and LSU’s workforce and research direction, and a representative from LSU enrollment reported gains in TOPS Excellence commitments for the coming fall. The committee then advanced several education bills. SB 105 by Sen. Kathy, which reinstates TOPS Tech eligibility for honorably discharged veterans, was reported favorably without objection. SB 374, also by Sen. Kathy, creates a uniform framework for college economic development districts; members adopted an amendment adding a legislator to each district board, and the bill was reported favorably with amendments. SB 304 by Sen. Edmonds, which authorizes the Board of Regents to establish a list of eligible accreditors and allows institutions to seek different accreditors, was reported favorably. SB 522 by Sen. Edmonds, allowing vocational and technical charter schools to apply directly to BESE as Type 2 charters with Commerce and Industry support, drew discussion about whether the authority should extend to public schools as well; it ultimately passed 9-1. The committee also approved SB 290 by Sen. Abraham, a cleanup bill requiring school system concurrence before student exit-code changes in the data system, and HCR 81 by Rep. Freiberg, which asks the Department of Education to study options for districts facing declining enrollment and related financial pressures. HCR 175 by Rep. Larvadain, a study resolution on possible TOPS Tech changes, was deferred by the author because it overlapped with another measure. Several members also used personal privilege to welcome local mayors and community guests to the committee room.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ...where we can see where our water systems and our sewer systems are at.
• . system. system.
• </c> well like was on the prior system. well like was on the prior system.
• system.
• </c> long time. Right. long time. Right. &gt;&gt; That's<05:07:54.480><c> right.

Transcript Highlights:

• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term
• these corridor plans help us identify those answers to some of those questions, what's kind of the long-term

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to be here today and talk about a topic we care a lot about.
• I know the general public in this body also care about the subjects of pursuits and TVIs.
• I know the general public in this body also care about the subjects of pursuits and TVIs.
• being placed in law in terms of TVIs?
• So we've created a system that helps solve that problem.

Committee: All ALC-GAME & FISH/STATE POLICE

Transcript Highlights:

• But it's also different in such a way that, you know, we have people long term, right?
• We have people with long-term sentences, in some cases lifetime sentences.
• system.
• that is classified to medium, 30 points under in terms of the nationwide number system in the NIC classified
• to medium 30 points under in terms of the nationwide number system in the NIC classified to minimum.

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met on January 12 and heard a presentation from Department of Correction officials and UMass Chan researchers on DOC’s objective point-based classification system. DOC described how the system, in place since 2007, uses standardized criteria to assign custody levels and is intended to balance public safety with reintegration. Officials reviewed the system’s initial and reclassification tools, the role of trained classification staff, and the use of non-discretionary restrictions and discretionary overrides. They said the current population is about 16% maximum security, 74% medium, and 10% minimum/pre-release, and that discretionary overrides remain within national guidance levels. UMass Chan presented findings from a multi-year NIJ-funded study using historical DOC data from 2019 to 2022, focused mainly on male reclassification cases. Researchers said the scored custody level predicted institutional misconduct well, with stronger separation between minimum, medium, and maximum groups. They reported violent misconduct in the sample was under 5% over the follow-up period, while general misconduct ranged from about 30% to 45%. When DOC’s override-informed final custody levels were analyzed, predictive accuracy declined somewhat, and researchers said the reduction was driven primarily by non-discretionary restrictions rather than discretionary overrides. They noted that removing the non-discretionary restrictions, especially Code C civil-commitment-related restrictions, improved the model’s performance. Commission members and guests questioned whether the system overclassifies people into medium security, whether the low minimum-security rate reflects infrastructure and risk tolerance differences from other states, and how much historical practice and subjective judgment still affect placement. DOC officials said the restrictions are designed around safety concerns such as flight risk, serious legal issues, and medical needs, and that the system has been revised over time through revalidation. UMass researchers said there is no compelling evidence that release from minimum security is necessary for successful community outcomes once risk level is accounted for, and they emphasized that comparisons with other states are difficult because Massachusetts’ correctional structure is different. The commission asked members to submit follow-up questions for additional data, and a public commenter argued that the data suggest overclassification to medium security harms incarcerated people.

Transcript Highlights:

• other long-term metrics for success.
• other long-term metrics for success.
• long-term metrics for success.
• long-term metrics for success.
• Uh system to to take care of itself.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its July 30, 2025 meeting. Members then heard a presentation from Roger McCann of the Department for Community Based Services on Kentucky’s 2026-2027 Community Services Block Grant state plan. He explained that the federally funded grant, now about $12 million annually, is distributed through 23 local community action agencies that use flexible funds for locally identified needs such as housing, nutrition, transportation, Head Start, and domestic violence services. McCann said the plan is submitted every two years and that the agencies served about 264,000 Kentuckians and 130,000 families in 2024. Senator Meredith asked whether there was a central place to review local projects, and McCann said regular reports exist and could be shared with members. The committee then approved the CSBG state plan by roll call vote. After that, members received an update on Kentucky’s state-designated domestic violence shelter programs from Angela Yanelli of ZeroV, Mary Foley of Maryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and Elizabeth Martin of the Center for Women and Families. The presenters described ZeroV’s role as the statewide domestic violence coalition, its 15 member programs across all area development districts, and its contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide emergency shelter, supportive services, housing assistance, and batterers intervention programming. They emphasized that services are available 24/7 and are trauma-informed, with a strong focus on children and family support. The domestic violence providers reported high demand and rising costs. ZeroV said its network served more than 14,000 adults and children in fiscal year 2025, including nearly 900 children in shelter and more than 500 in outreach, while Maryman House reported operating at 90-92% capacity, with 53 households waiting for emergency shelter and 63 more waiting for intake. Maryman House also described an 8-unit transitional housing complex and plans for a 48-unit apartment complex if tax credit funding is approved. The Center for Women and Families highlighted school-readiness support for children, tutoring, counseling, and family services, including back-to-school supplies and rights information for homeless students. No additional votes or formal actions were taken during the domestic violence presentations.