Video & Transcript : 'Minnesota Statutes 474A.02' :

Page 47 of 500
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Health Services (1-22-26)

Health Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • :00.479><c> we</c><00:02:00.719><c> are</c><00:02:00.880><c> going</c><00:02:00.960><c> to</c><00:02:
  • And I know that<00:02:19.360><c> Kuckians</c><00:02:20.000><c> are</c><00:02:20.319><c> very</c><00:02
  • 02:25.360><c> it's</c><00:02:25.599><c> going</c><00:02:25.680><c> to</c><00:02:25.760><c> help</c><00
  • But thank<00:02:31.920><c> you</c><00:02:32.080><c> for</c><00:02:32.239><c> being</c><00:02:32.480><
  • Please introduce<00:02:33.440><c> yourself</c><00:02:33.760><c> for</c><00:02:34.000><c> the</c><00:02
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  • I was really shocked<00:02:02.240><c> at</c><00:02:02.479><c> how</c><00:02:02.640><c> much</c><00:02
  • :02.880><c> work</c><00:02:03.119><c> they</c><00:02:03.360><c> do</c><00:02:03.520><c> when</c><00:02
  • </c><00:02:35.920><c> we</c><00:02:36.160><c> we</c><00:02:36.480><c> never</c><00:02:36.720><c> discuss
  • So, thank<00:02:38.080><c> you</c><00:02:38.239><c> for</c><00:02:38.400><c> that</c><00:02:38.560><c
  • ><00:02:40.160><c> all</c><00:02:40.400><c> of</c><00:02:40.560><c> you</c><00:02:40.720><c> do.
Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed a new member, approved the July meeting minutes, and then took up testimony on the statewide emergency responder voice system, also described as the state police radio system replacement project. John Hicks, secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet and state budget director, testified that the project is unusually complex because it combines multiple IT replacements, land acquisition, and tower construction. He said the existing system dates to the early 1970s and that the administration is treating the project as a priority, with work proceeding in phases and weekly coordination among the Justice Cabinet, Kentucky State Police, and Finance and Administration Cabinet. Hicks said the project has already spent about $110 million, with nearly 1,900 portable radios acquired, microwave replacement completed at 56 sites and underway at 76 more, and routers, switches, and network upgrades addressed. He explained that because the State Police are not set up to handle real property work, the administration brought in outside real property consulting vendors through an RFP, and three vendors are now qualified to help identify and negotiate sites. He said the goal is to speed up land acquisition and tower construction while the State Police continue the technology work, and he emphasized that the project is intended to close coverage gaps for state police first and later benefit local governments and other first responders. Members of the committee expressed concern about the project’s cost and pace. Representative Petri noted that about $218.8 million has been authorized since 2018 and questioned whether the project could stretch into 2030 or later, asking what more the General Assembly could do to help. Representative Blandon also raised concerns about the long timeline and the risk of the project becoming another costly, delayed infrastructure effort, while asking when the vendor RFP was completed and whether any sites had been acquired since then. Representative Sharp asked whether there was a detailed plan and timeline, and Hicks responded that the technology side is well defined but the property acquisition side must proceed site by site because each location depends on ownership, access, power, and other factors. Hicks said the west-to-east phasing has been a smart approach and that the executive branch should improve performance to beat the current timeline expectations.
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Transcript Highlights:
  • :18.040><c> that</c><00:02:18.280><c> Cas</c><00:02:18.480><c> you</c><00:02:18.560><c> has</c><00:02
  • seen before<00:02:21.480><c> fall</c><00:02:22.480><c> this</c><00:02:22.760><c> past</c><00:02:22.959
  • ><c> recall</c><00:02:32.000><c> prior</c><00:02:32.280><c> to</c><00:02:32.440><c> my</c><00:02:32.840
  • :02:55.440><c> to</c><00:02:55.640><c> me</c><00:02:56.200><c> so</c><00:02:56.519><c> you</c><00:02:
  • /c><00:02:58.599><c> you</c><00:02:58.760><c> have</c><00:02:58.920><c> done</c><00:02:59.159><c> something
Summary: The committee first reconsidered House Joint Resolution 53, which concerns releasing previously appropriated funds for Kentucky State University. Kentucky State University President Kofi Aapo testified in support, describing significant enrollment growth, a balanced budget, and a $5 million fund balance since his arrival, and asking for continued support. Members praised his leadership while noting the institution still has work to do. The motion to reconsider passed, and the resolution then received favorable expression by a 9-2 vote. The committee next took up House Bill 622, a compromise bill involving the Kentucky Nonprofit Network and the Finance and Administration Cabinet. Testimony explained that the bill is intended to improve prompt payment practices for grants and contracts, including partial payments on undisputed invoice items within 30 days and a process for disputed items. The bill also included several appropriation-related corrections and adjustments, including a fix to an allocation for Elizabethtown water and sewer projects, a change in an economic development recipient, revisions to school resource officer language, and additional contingency authority for the Capitol renovation. The committee adopted a title amendment and passed the bill with favorable expression by a 10-1 vote. House Bill 775 was then discussed as a broad tax and economic development measure. The bill covers TIF districts, electronic filing for craft brewers, pipeline property tax treatment, bourbon barrel tax cleanup, staged income tax reductions, extension of the Metropolitan College incentive, tourism and lodging incentives, reauthorization of an expired TIF, taxation and licensing of cannabis-infused beverages, alternative fuels and jet fuel tax credit review, entertainment event incentives, the selling farmer tax credit, IRC conformity, data center incentives, the first audit of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation, and limits on additional electronic charity gaming locations until regulations are adopted. Members raised questions about the beverage tax structure, TIF impacts, and the income tax reduction provisions; some expressed concern about making future tax cuts easier, while others supported the bill’s TIF and agriculture provisions. The bill passed with favorable expression by a 7-2 vote with two pass votes, and the committee then adjourned.