Transcript Highlights:

• decided to sunset that program and not offer it anymore because it was costing us more in time to go hunt
• And grow crops, and then people hunt on those.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This project is to purchase 1,74.58 acres in Wayne County, providing the public a place for hunting,
• of The project is to purchase 1,174.58 acres in Wayne County, providing the public a place for hunting

Keywords: November 20, 2025 00:12 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:58 Information Items 06:50 Finance and Administration Cabinet 09:10 KY Infrastructure Authority 21:20 Office of Financial Management 29:14 Meeting Recessed 44:58 Reconvened 45:07 Approval of Minutes 46:35 Next Meeting Date 47:05 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum for much of the meeting, so several agenda items were initially heard only for information. Early updates included six informational reports, such as an Auditor of Public Accounts compliance examination with no findings, university equipment and allocation reports, school district bond issuances, Western Kentucky University’s planned public-private partnership housing redevelopment, and quarterly Kentucky Communications Network Authority reports. Members then questioned WKU officials about the P3 housing project, including the number of RFQ responses, property tax responsibility, ownership of the student life foundation, and the status of repairs to residence halls. WKU said the foundation has owned the property since 2000, one hall would be razed or demolished at the end of the academic year, and repairs to the other two were expected to be completed by fall 2027. The committee also heard a Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources acquisition project for Mount River Farms in Wayne County and a Department of Corrections roof replacement project at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, but no votes were taken until a quorum was later established. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then presented six loans and four grant reallocations, including loan increases for Adair County Water District and the City of Harlan, new loans for Litchfield, Louisa, Southeastern Water Association, and Flatwoods, and grant reallocations under the Cleaner Water Program. Members asked about Harlan’s 30-year term and special condition requiring a revenue increase; KIA explained the longer term is reserved for disadvantaged communities and that the condition was meant to reinforce standard debt coverage requirements, while depreciation is reviewed but not included in cash-flow calculations. After a recess, Senator Thomas arrived and a quorum was reached. The committee approved the prior minutes and then took a consolidated vote on the action items, which passed. The final items included a Kentucky Economic Development Authority revenue bond refunding for CommonSpirit Health, several Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit and single-family bond issuances, a Western Kentucky University bond issuance, and SFCC debt issues. Members discussed the housing transactions, noting they are developer-financed and not subject to a traditional bidding process, and expressed concern about whether the process could produce more units for the same amount of money. The meeting adjourned after all information items were approved and the next meeting date was announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hunting and fishing are also significant activities in many of our land-grant communities, necessitating
• Chair, Representative Hunt, this is already something that currently exists.

Transcript Highlights:

• That son and his wife and kids are still surviving on the ranch because they now have a hunting business
• And that's where I'm a bit concerned too because during that time it was hunting season, and I see a

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the optional stuff we hunt on the back page, I know there's some consideration of where we can
• Some of the optional stuff we hunt on the back page, I know there's some consideration of where we can

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 2025, the Veterans Home/Veterans Affairs budget, and worked through the long sheet line by line. Members discussed base payroll, salary and health insurance increases, FTE pool adjustments, IT rate increases, operating expenses, transportation grants, the PTSD service dog program, salary equity requests, temporary help/intern funding, a Veterans Benefit Specialist FTE, accrued leave, and several one-time or carryover items including the Fisher House, document scanning, and veterans medical transportation. The committee also reviewed proposed policy language that would shift governance authority for the Veterans Home and Department of Veterans Affairs from the Administrative Committee on Veterans Affairs to the governor, and would remove board authority over salary-setting and related hiring powers. A major portion of the meeting focused on clarifying the commissioner salary equity line and how the agency had shifted operating dollars to fund the commissioner’s current salary increase. After discussion with agency staff and Lonnie, the committee voted to remove the separate commissioner salary equity increase line and instead restore operating funding, ultimately setting the operating line at $50,000 above the prior amount rather than fully funding the executive request. The committee also approved funding for the Veterans Benefit Specialist FTE, approved a carryforward/exemption for accrued leave, approved authority to accept $200,000 in federal transportation grant funds, approved the $500,000 transfers related to veterans homelessness, and approved the exemption language for certain federal/state fiscal recovery funds after discussing whether the funds were properly obligated. On the governance amendment, members expressed concern about making a major policy change in an appropriations bill, but also frustration over the board’s salary actions. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment transferring governance authority to the governor by a 7-1 vote. The committee also approved a smaller amount for veteran service officer salary equity than requested, and rejected funding for temporary salaries and an intern. The chair then directed staff to prepare the amended bill for further action, with the committee planning to revisit it once the revised version was ready.

Transcript Highlights:

• County Commissioner's Court today, so she's not here, but they want to use hotel tax revenue to fund hunting
• But they want to use hotel tax revenue to fund hunting, golf resorts, and sporting activity in that area

Bills: SB913, SB1086, SB1087, SB1143, SB1534, SB1553, SB1718, SB1754, SB2004, SB2322, SB2448

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not Duck Hunt. It's not Golden Tee.
• That's not duck hunt. It's not golden tea.

Summary: The Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee met to hear a panel on the prosecution and enforcement of illegal gaming in Florida. The chair opened with a video showing seized machines at a Florida Gaming Control Commission warehouse and described the scale of illegal operations. Panelists included the commission’s executive director, local sheriffs and police officials, and state attorneys from several counties, who described widespread illegal slot-machine locations, often in strip malls or convenience-store-type settings, and said the machines are typically used in organized criminal activity rather than legitimate amusement gaming. Witnesses repeatedly said the current penalty structure is ineffective because possession and operation of illegal slot machines are generally second-degree misdemeanors, which they described as too minor to deter operators who can quickly reopen after paying fines or completing diversion. They said enforcement is resource-intensive, requiring undercover work, search warrants, machine seizure, storage, forensic review, and long prosecutions, often while the same operators reopen elsewhere. Several panelists cited associated crimes such as robberies, firearms offenses, prostitution, drug activity, human trafficking, and at least some homicides tied to illegal gaming locations. Members also asked about the difference between legal amusement devices and illegal slot machines, online gambling, illegal horse racing, local licensing and ordinances, and whether manufacturers or distributors could be pursued. The commission and prosecutors said legal slot machines are limited to specific regulated locations and that lawful amusement machines lack a material element of chance. They said many illegal machines are imported or reworked versions of gaming devices and that upstream accountability is difficult under current law. Panelists also discussed cooperation with licensed casinos, tribal gaming entities, and local governments, noting that some local ordinances have tried to permit or limit these businesses. The main policy takeaway from the panel was a call to increase penalties, likely to felony-level offenses, and to consider stronger forfeiture and enforcement tools. No vote or formal action was taken at the meeting, and the chair adjourned after thanking the panelists.

Transcript Highlights:

• It felt like I'm hunted like an animal, not like a human being.
• , high school, that they're protected in our hospitals and in our streets, and that folks are not hunted
• c> that uh uh that uh uh folks<00:52:15.120> are<00:52:15.200> not<00:52:15.320> hunted
• as<00:52:15.880> you<00:52:16.080> as<00:52:16.320> as folks are not hunted
• down as you as as folks are not hunted down as you as as you<00:52:16.600> say<00:52:16.840><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This package of fish and wildlife regulations revises provisions related to fishing, hunting, wildlife
• This package of fish and wildlife regulations revises provisions related to fishing, hunting, wildlife
• related regulations revises provisions related to<01:25:59.600> fishing,<01:26:00.080> hunting
• ,<01:26:00.560> wildlife,<01:26:00.960> and to fishing, hunting, wildlife, and to fishing
• , hunting, wildlife, and licenses.<01:26:02.239> 3015022 licenses. 3015022 licenses. 3015022 revises

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met on October 14, approved the minutes, and then took up a large group of staff-suggested amendments to multiple regulations. Those staff amendments were approved without objection and were described as technical changes needed to comply with KRS Chapter 13A and other governing law. The committee then moved out of order to consider Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure regulation 2011 KAR 9:270, which governs buprenorphine prescribing and related standards. Board representatives said the regulation has been updated over time since 2015 and that the current amendments are intended to streamline the rule, remove outdated federal references such as the X-waiver, narrow education requirements to addiction-related topics, and create exceptions for settings like emergency rooms and certain pain treatment situations. The agency amendment would also allow buprenorphine monoproduct for up to 30 days when a patient is transitioning from a full opioid agonist, and would add physicians certified in addiction medicine as eligible specialty consultants. Board officials said the regulation was developed through a two-year process with a work group, informal outreach to medical organizations, and multiple comment periods, and they argued the rule is working because overdose deaths have declined and provider numbers have increased. Several witnesses and committee members raised concerns that the regulation remains too restrictive. Senator Rocky Adams noted that major medical organizations had said the proposed language could restrict access and worsen overdose risk, and he questioned whether the committee was being asked to choose between conflicting expert views. Opponents, including a medical student, a recovery advocate, and Dr. Colleen Ryan of the Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine, argued the rule is outdated, creates unnecessary barriers to buprenorphine treatment, and should be repealed or substantially revised to align with federal guidance and evidence-based care. They said rigid requirements can discourage treatment and that addiction should be treated like other chronic illnesses. No final vote on the medical licensure regulation is reflected in the transcript excerpt, and the discussion ended with the chair preparing to hear from additional opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this, he started a small Easter egg hunt that grew into one of the largest in the country.
• The hunt grew to 90,000 eggs a year and raised money to provide food, clothes, back-to-school supplies
• In this, he started a small Easter egg hunt that grew into one of the largest in the country.
• The hunt grew to 90,000 eggs a year and raised money to provide food, clothes, back-to-school supplies
• The hunt grew to 90,000 eggs a year and raised money to provide food, clothes, back-to-school supplies

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• land and it becoming public land, but I firmly believe there are areas like our parks, wild areas, hunting
• Taos was that they were spraying at the park downtown at Red Willow, and then it was the Easter egg hunt
• It's where we go to kind Of finding ourselves, I was elk hunting all day and almost was late because
• bill just said for the propagation of game and fish, and game is a legal term for species that are hunted
• I think it's really important that the hunting community, the landowner community, the guide and outfitter

Transcript Highlights:

• bathroom rooms, parking areas, showers, campsites, trails, day-use areas, interpretive facilities, and hunting
• bathroom rooms, parking areas, showers, campsites, trails, day-use areas, interpretive facilities, and hunting
• interpretive Trail Trails dayuse areas interpretive facilities<00:48:33.359> and<00:48:33.480> hunting
• facilities and hunting facilities and hunting blindes<00:48:35.400> providing<00:48:35.839

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Natural resources, hunting, management, education, energy, and the environment. >> Bill, consider the

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, February 6, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met in a brief pro forma session with a quorum call and the clerk calling the roll. The chamber considered the reading of the prior day’s journal and then introduced two bills: Senate Bill 643 by Senator Bailey, concerning natural resources, hunting, management, education, energy, and the environment, and Senate Bill 680 by Senator West, concerning intercepted communications penalty and judicial proceedings. Both bills were ordered read and referred to the appropriate standing committees. The Senate also took up Senate bond initiatives, including one for the American Legion Cook Pinkney Post 141, which was referred to the capital budget subcommittee. The presiding officer noted the approaching Monday deadline for bill introductions and commented on the growing number of measures filed. The session included remarks thanking the pages for their service and encouraging them to share their experience and apply again in the future. No substantive debate or votes on legislation occurred. The Senate then agreed to a motion to recess until Monday, February 9th at 8:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that in this modern day and age of GPS and hunting apps like OnX, people can identify landowners
• In the modern age of GPS and hunting apps like OnX, there are ways to easily find landowners and connect
• The senator responded that they are not saying there are a lot of animals on the property to go hunting
• throat] uh animals on your property<01:29:26.400> to<01:29:26.560> go<01:29:26.719> hunting
• property to go hunting with, right? property to go hunting with, right?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this isn’t a license to go hunting for foreign jurisdictions.
• So, it isn’t a license to go hunting for foreign jurisdictions.
• So, it isn’t a license to go hunting for foreign jurisdictions.
• So, it isn’t a license to go hunting for foreign jurisdictions.
• So, it isn’t a license to go hunting for foreign jurisdictions.

Bills: HB0103, HB0070, HB0091

Keywords: First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about more fishing and more hunting. And why not, right? That's what we do in this state.
• It's about more fishing<00:29:53.360> and<00:29:53.679> more<00:29:53.919> hunting.
• <00:29:54.399> And<00:29:54.559> why<00:29:54.799> not, fishing and more hunting
• And why not, fishing and more hunting. And why not, right?
• the Mississippi roads and the outdoors and stuff that it's fun to watch, and good, uh, I enjoy the hunting

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation from a charter-school authorizer agency. Witnesses explained that the agency no longer receives the federal CSP grant, that a one-time $499,000 equipment grant was not recurring, and that in FY25 they also had no general fund appropriation. They said their special-fund revenue has grown but is not enough to sustain operations alone, especially because the money arrives once a year and the agency needs a cash balance in advance. Their budget request sought a mix of general and special funds, but the legislative budget recommendation stayed near the FY26 appropriation level. Members asked about salary growth and contractual spending; the agency said higher salaries reflected doctorate-level staff and a planned sixth position, while contractual costs covered technical assistance, consultants, CPA reviews, and outside legal support. The agency also said a pending bill, identified as House Bill 2, could significantly affect its operations and revenue. Members asked about Republic, and the agency said a peer report had just been released, the school had made operational changes, and progress was being made though questions remained. The Library Commission then presented its budget request. The outgoing director announced retirement and introduced the incoming director, and praised the agency’s recent federal and state audits with no findings. The commission asked to restore two headcount reductions in the budget recommendation, saying the positions were hard to fill because they require specialized librarianship credentials and that losing them would cost about $130,000. It also asked to restore federal spending authority in case IMLS funding became uncertain, and requested about $173,000 for a 5% salary progression pool because turnover had reached 35% and many employees were near the start step. Senators asked about the open positions and turnover; the commission said one position had been open 10 months, another about eight months, and some turnover was due to retirements. Mississippi Public Broadcasting then presented its request for an $18.153 million appropriation. The agency said it wanted salary progressions to retain staff, four new vehicles for engineering and transmitter work, and $522,000 in reappropriated digitization funds to continue a project that has digitized more than half its library holdings for online access. The director also highlighted programming and outreach, including a new food-focused show, a music program, live coverage of the National Folk Festival, a Medgar Evers documentary now in national distribution, and expanded radio programming. He said MPB reaches nearly 1 million TV viewers annually, has strong radio and app usage, and continues to provide required weather, Silver Alert, and Amber Alert notifications. He also described a partnership with the Department of Education using e-glass technology to connect teachers to classrooms lacking instructors, saying the program is already serving multiple districts and drawing national interest.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did try to do a night hunting out on Big Island.
• You guys should hopefully we can get some arrest, um, particularly night hunting in our egg areas on
• We did try to do a night hunting out on Big Island.
• You guys should hopefully we can get some arrest, um, particularly night hunting in our egg areas on
• We did try to do a night hunting out on Big Island.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My question is to both you as well as Chairman Hunt: How are these two different, or how are these different
• My question is to both you as well as Chairman Hunt: How are these two different, or how are these different
• 16:49.120> morning,<01:16:49.679> uh,<01:16:49.920> Chairman<01:16:50.320> Hunt
• <01:16:50.719> and Good morning, uh, Chairman Hunt and Good morning, uh, Chairman Hunt and
• <01:16:57.440> School<01:16:57.840> Care Good morning, Chairman Hunt and esteemed members

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee took up the pooled risk management program bill and reviewed a new amendment drafted with input from the Insurance Department and Legislative Services. Department witnesses explained that the proposal would move oversight of pooled risk management programs from the Secretary of State’s office to the Insurance Department, add a licensure requirement, preserve the programs’ non-insurer status, and exempt them from third-party administrator licensure. They also described a series of solvency tools in the draft, including financial reporting, risk-based capital standards, minimum capitalization, investment limits, commissioner examination and enforcement authority, rulemaking authority, merger and affiliate-transaction review, confidentiality protections, and a separability clause. A major theme of the discussion was that pooled risk management programs differ from commercial insurers because the risk remains with the member local governments rather than being backed by a state guarantee fund. Witnesses said the bill is designed to emphasize solvency over return of premium and to give the Insurance Department a regulatory “toolbox” to prevent insolvency, including a proposed $5 million excess or stop-loss coverage benchmark, optional accessible policies, and a requirement that boards vote on dividends or premium returns when capital exceeds 600% of risk-based capital. Members questioned how this approach differed from the original Secretary of State bill and whether assessments on towns would still be possible; the department responded that the new framework would allow more flexible oversight and alternatives to immediate court action. The committee also discussed why the statute should continue to say the programs are not insurers, with the department explaining that this preserves their autonomy and avoids applying unrelated insurance laws and premium taxes. Members asked about the department’s workload and were told the department believed it could absorb the new duties without additional funding. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hunt. Thank you, chairs and commissioner. Mr.
• Senator Hunt. Thank you, chairs and commissioner.
• Senator Hunt. Thank you, chairs and commissioner.
• 06.800> and Hunt.
• Thank you, chairs and Hunt.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 16, extending the sunset for crossbow hunting. Section 17, repealing the shotgun zone.
• Further discussion of the A52 amendment. hunting. Section 17, repealing the hunting.
• dealing with disabled veterans<00:25:11.600> fishing<00:25:11.919> and<00:25:12.159> hunting
• veterans fishing and hunting licenses. veterans fishing and hunting licenses.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all