Transcript Highlights:

• And so this mitigation working group is stakeholder-driven.
• Now we need the mitigation working group to continue to do that, and if for some reason somebody wasn
• Chairman, I think we’re right on track and justified for pulling this mitigation working group together
• But the takeaway here is number four: this process, if we do it with the mitigation working group, The
• It was sponsored by the East Valley Horsemen’s Group, and we worked with Tread Lightly on the signage

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee met to review the state’s off-highway vehicle program, with opening remarks focused on balancing recreation, safety, tourism, and land-use conflicts among OHV users, hikers, bikers, ranchers, and land managers. Arizona State Parks and Trails reported on OHV fund revenues, grant balances, and process changes intended to speed up mitigation and law enforcement spending. The agency said it has tightened grant oversight, eliminated informal grant “buckets,” increased delegated authority for quicker project approval, and is using contracted trail crews for expedited maintenance and mitigation. Examples discussed included fencing and signage at Bulldog Canyon, erosion-control work at Charlew Gap, and a mitigation project at Windmill Mountain Ranch. Members emphasized that prior committee discussions helped recover nearly $4 million from stale grants and redirect it to current priorities. Arizona Game and Fish reported that OHV education and enforcement activity has increased. The mandatory online safety course has been taken by more than 149,000 people through ADOT and 15,000 through Game and Fish, and officers said compliance, especially helmet use by children, has improved. Game and Fish also described its OHV enforcement role, including seven dedicated officers and 97 field officers, training for about 40 agencies, and a new requirement that OHV law be included in police academy curricula starting in 2026. The department said most citations involve no decal, helmet issues, cross-country travel, habitat damage, and reckless driving. Members asked about speeding standards, road use, and a helmet-law conflict involving children in side-by-sides; Game and Fish said it is currently harmonizing the statutes and has treated children in side-by-sides as exempt under the newer provision. ADOT explained the decal and registration process, including the required safety course, the $25 decal, and the new non-resident 30-day permit for certain out-of-state OHVs. Staff also clarified that the course is required for owners, not every occasional operator, and that rental companies are not statutorily required to have each renter take the course, though some do so voluntarily. The committee then heard a legislative overview of recent OHV bills: 2024’s SB 1576 on safety, age, and helmet requirements; 2025’s SB 1517 creating the temporary non-resident permit and extending the study committee; and this year’s SB 1519, which would raise the OHV weight limit from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds and add a proposed new fee class. Members and stakeholders discussed whether the higher weight limit would broaden the OHV category, affect revenue, and better reflect newer, heavier side-by-sides, while some cautioned against blurring the line between OHVs and regular vehicles. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of fact, she is part of our working group as well.
• As a matter of fact, she is part of our working group as well.
• As a matter of fact, she is part of our working group as well.
• As a matter of fact, she is part of our working group as well.
• in<00:35:56.079> and in that working group and stood in and in that working group and stood

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senate Republican leaders held a press event to roll out a package of anti-fraud proposals focused on state welfare and human services programs. Mark Johnson opened by citing recent fraud scandals, including a shuttered housing program and reports of vulnerable adults being left without care while providers billed for full services, and said Republicans want top-down reform, stronger accountability, new technology, and tighter oversight of taxpayer dollars. Michael Kreun said Republicans support an independent Office of Inspector General and argued the Senate-passed bill should not be weakened in the House; he also said the Senate should restore its role in confirming agency commissioners, especially at DHS, which he described as central to the fraud problem. Jordan Rasmusson outlined a plan to stop “blank checks” for DHS and DCYF services by requiring legislative audit review when a program exceeds budget by 5 percent and legislative approval for additional spending at 10 percent over budget. He also said DHS should adopt basic integrity tools such as electronic visit verification and client sign-off. Steve Drazkowski described two bills: a statewide “do-not-pay” list to block payments to ineligible people or entities, and an “I’m Not a Robot” proposal for Medicaid managed care that would require enrollee verification forms, with a 2 percent payment withhold used to encourage compliance and potentially fund county system upgrades. Mark Krueger said the state should improve technology and data use for eligibility determinations, citing other states’ rapid fraud-fighting systems, and proposed penalties for false reporting to the Legislative Auditor after a DHS audit found falsified site-visit records. Steve Gruenhagen said his bill would require DHS and DCYF to resume annual fraud-prevention and oversight reports to the legislature, which he said had stopped after 2017 despite rising fraud cases. Michael Holmstrom proposed unannounced site visits for all DHS and DCYF providers before enrollment, reenrollment, and revalidation, funded through provider service fees, and cited a recent case involving a woman with autism who was billed for far more care than she received. In the Q&A, Kreun said House Democrats’ delete-everything amendment to the inspector general bill removed the law enforcement division and stripped the bill of its “teeth,” and he suggested the governor’s office may have been involved in efforts to replace the bill with a weaker coordination council model. No votes were taken in the press conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is fantastic work.
• study group to say, hey, DOE, let's get some work done.
• they are working and they are working they are working and they are working full-time<01:20:44.440
• Shaver, for his work.
• Shaver, for his work.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't forget, there are also certain things that are going to require a working group and an action plan
• We don't need a whole working group to talk about it for... ...working group to talk about it for another
• And you don't need necessarily two groups working because people go to so many meetings anyway, right
• Just so folks know, process-wise, there are these recommendations from the working groups for the commission
• We appreciate these recommendations, and thank you all to all the working groups for helping put these

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They were a really interesting group, looking at equine supplements and feed, and we worked with them
• She said there is a group called NEON in her district and asked whether they have worked with them before
• Schlek said they are working with groups out of Colorado and North Dakota and are creating those collaborations
• She said there is a group called NEON in her district and asked whether they have worked with them before
• She said there is a group called NEON in her district and asked whether they have worked with them before

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• operations around the state that work operations around the state that work with<00:06:49.000>
• Also within that group is Kentucky Valor, working with all the military that are transitioning, both
• is Kentucky Valor working with all group is Kentucky Valor working with all the<00:08:36.320> military
• So we did our blueprint work.
• Those groups still exist.

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:34 Economic Development Cabinet 27:51 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum, so the minutes from the last two meetings were not approved. Secretary Noel of the Cabinet for Economic Development then gave a broad overview of the cabinet’s work and an update on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPD), with Deputy Secretary Katie Smith and General Counsel Matt also present. He said the cabinet’s strategy is to focus on high-wage job creation, especially in automotive transformation, business and financial professional services, tourism, logistics, agri-tech, aerospace, and other high-tech sectors, while also supporting small and medium-sized businesses and existing employers. Noel highlighted several program results and examples, including average incentivized wages approaching $27 per hour, 877 jobs and $346 million in investment through hub operations, $90 million through Commonwealth Ventures, help for hundreds of companies through the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance, work with 220 companies through the Kentucky Science and Technology Council, nearly 3,000 students in Advanced Kentucky, and more than 1,100 participants in Kentucky Valor. He also cited 35,000 workers trained through Bluegrass State Skills, 177 businesses helped by the small business tax credit, and 77 entertainment incentive transactions totaling about $200 million and 7,400 jobs. On the grant side, he said the cabinet had approved 155 projects under a federal grant program, committing $99 million, with outreach aimed at smaller communities and all 120 counties. The main focus of the second half was KPD. Noel described it as a program that requires more than basic due diligence, emphasizing community readiness, local vision, title and mineral-rights review, sewer validation, and consultant review. He said 109 projects had been awarded in the earlier rounds, and in 2024 there were 45 requests for information seeking $81 million against $35 million in available funding, showing strong demand. He also said the cabinet has worked with local economic developers through five regions aligned with area development districts, and that the secretary, deputy secretary, or commissioner of business development must attend the regional meetings, with 100% attendance reported for the key three last year. In response to questions, he said Jefferson County’s lack of KPD projects so far likely reflects where local land and development strategies are in the process rather than a lack of interest, and he said the cabinet has not heard that Kentucky’s occupational safety and health rules are clearly helping or hurting competitiveness, though he offered to look into it further.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a result of worked going forward.
• c> little<00:35:05.160> bit some cases um just work a little bit some cases um just work a
• we are hearing from um different groups we are hearing from um different groups that<00:40:46.440
• what the department's view of the work what the department's view of the work that<00:41:34.520>
• We have this that works for all members.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to walk through nonpartisan side-by-side comparisons of House File 4188, focusing on differences between House and Senate language across consumer protection, insurance, financial services, health, and technical provisions. Staff highlighted numerous Senate-only items, including rules for financial providers communicating through trusted contacts, virtual currency requirements for banks and credit unions, a prohibition on virtual currency kiosks beginning in 2026, mortgage servicing and student loan servicing changes, the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act, insurance and travel-related provisions, scrap metal licensing changes, protections related to minors accessing chatbots and AI companions, and several technical or conforming repealers. Staff also noted that some provisions were identical or substantially similar between the chambers, including mortgage originator standards, student loan borrower protections, securities-related changes, unclaimed property provisions, and technical updates in the bill’s miscellaneous articles. The Senate-only health-related articles were also summarized, including repeal of the prescription drug affordability advisory council, technical changes to the reinsurance program, and a series of health insurance provisions on enrollment-growth notices, limits on officer and director salary increases under certain capital conditions, guaranteed issue rights for certain Medicare supplement enrollees, data-sharing between Commerce and Health, restrictions on using artificial intelligence alone to deny claims, reimbursement for clinical trainees, home care nursing coverage, and PBM transparency. The Senate’s telecommunications article was described as largely technical and conforming, with repeals of obsolete statutes. Staff also noted that some standalone bills had already passed and would be removed from the comparison report. Public testimony followed. Thomas Elness of AARP Minnesota supported inclusion of the cryptocurrency kiosk bill, expressed support for guaranteed issue protections for a narrow group of consumers affected by discontinued plans, and urged adoption of changes to the consumer protection restitution account, including raising the cap to $10 million per fiscal year. Representative Lee testified that the restitution account proposal should be treated as policy rather than finance because it has a zero fiscal note, and said the House would accept the Senate’s $10 million cap. Robin Rowan, representing the Minnesota Insurance and Financial Services Council and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, urged adoption of Senate travel insurance language, requested a House-style change to lead-generation recordkeeping language, and supported a Senate provision allowing employers and insurers to coordinate notice to employees when group policies are cancelled. The Department of Commerce then responded to questions, explaining that the prescription drug affordability council would be sunset because the board already has other avenues for public input, that the reinsurance changes were technical and did not alter the prior agreement, and that the abandoned cryptocurrency provisions rely on statutory definitions of inactivity and known examples such as keys stored in safes or deposit boxes.

Transcript Highlights:

• um and they are excluded from the work um and they are excluded from the work group<00:55:49.599
• <00:55:56.240> group<00:55:56.480> that MMB is a part of any work group that MMB is
• <01:00:38.000> instead<01:00:38.319> of<01:00:38.480> f work group needed uh
• work group together to be part of this work group together to have<01:01:49.920> actual<01:01
• Or I think we could have this<01:04:20.640> working<01:04:20.960> group<01:04:21.200>

Bills: HF4479, HF4368, HF4889

Keywords: higher education, public university, college campus, postsecondary institution, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota, town hall, town hall meeting, elected official, legislator, public forum, constituent meeting, campus access, free meeting space, parking fees, civic engagement, public outreach, chapter 135A, HF4368, Minnesota State

Summary: The committee approved the April 9 minutes and then took up House File 4479, which would require public postsecondary institutions to make space available for town halls and similar official events by elected officials, with limits intended to keep the events on the official side and not campaign-related. Representative Frederick said the bill is meant to prevent universities from creating barriers such as fees or parking charges and to ensure a neutral, accessible venue for community conversations. The bill was laid over for possible later action. The committee heard supportive testimony from Jim Dimmick of Minnesota State University, Mankato, who argued that town halls should be public, open, moderated, and dialogic rather than speeches, and said universities should be centers for public discourse. He also said charging fees can undermine neutrality and that using partisan student groups to sponsor events can create the appearance of bias. Minnesota State official Mr. Omen said campuses often host these events, fees are set locally to cover costs, and student government sponsorship can sometimes avoid charges; he also noted the fee at Mankato is discounted and depends on room size. Several members raised concerns about the bill. Representative Scott, Chair Robbins, Representative Schwarz, Representative Allen, and others argued that campuses should not be required by statute to give legislators special treatment, that fees and parking costs cover real expenses, and that universities should remain focused on education rather than political events. Questions also focused on who would decide what room size is reasonable, how disputes would be handled, and who would pay for security if protests or safety issues arose. Representative Frederick responded that room selection would be a good-faith partnership with the university, that the bill does not require a town hall or guarantee a specific room, and that security funding is not spelled out in the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Vernig was part of the study group, and it’s been fantastic working with her.
• Representative Vernig was part of the study group, and it’s been fantastic working with her.
• We called them eight buckets in the working group.
• Um as we move forward in working group.
• “One of the things that I really enjoyed about the study group was the bipartisan work, working with

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They're going to be a part of a work group.
• However that's going to work.
• How we work through that is a question, and I look forward to working with y'all.
• They did great work.
• I think that's the group you've been charged to work with.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some input from a varied group of stakeholders...
• That group could not have known where Mississippi was in working with CMS on Mississippi was in working
• CMS is heavily involved in the ongoing work, as well as the evaluation of that work on an ongoing basis
• It's already been decided by a group of people here.
• Since you brought up the Horn Group, how much...

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 4 June, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It essentially would create a short-term working group with the goal of looking at the reporting for
• This is just one thing that they do, and so the working group would look at the feasibility, the pros
• at<00:47:43.079> um<00:47:44.079> the the working group would look at um the the working
• things um and that's what this working things um and that's what this working group<00:47:58.240
• group so I would want to have those work group so I would want to have those conversations<00:59:50.039

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank my colleagues and staff who are part of the Petroleum Work Group for their diligent work
• I want to thank my colleagues and staff who are part of the Petroleum Work Group for their diligent work
• Great respect to the working group and all the members that have worked very hard on this.
• Great respect to the working group and all the members that have worked very hard on this issue.
• And what I learned from the work group, and it was echoed from the work group, and even on this floor

Summary: The chamber reconvened after a late-night session and first adopted the consent calendar, including ACR 107 on the Diablo Range, by a 48-0 vote. Members then took up several Senate bills and Assembly measures, with repeated remarks about the long hours and the need to respect staff and keep proceedings moving. A vote change was also announced for Assembly Member Patel on SB 414, changing from aye to not voting. The main policy debate centered on energy, climate, and affordability. SB 237, dealing with oil and gas policy, refinery closures, pipeline safety, Kern County permitting, gasoline blend flexibility, and regional fuel coordination, drew strong support from members who framed it as a managed transition to stabilize fuel supply and protect jobs, and strong opposition from members who called it a giveaway to oil interests and a setback for climate goals. The bill passed 59-0. SB 254, an energy affordability and wildfire package, included wildfire mitigation financing, a successor wildfire fund, transmission cost reductions, clean energy permitting changes, and energization timelines; members raised some concerns about local control, but the bill passed 58-0. SB 840 and AB 1207 advanced the cap-and-invest reauthorization package, with supporters emphasizing emissions reductions, housing, transit, wildfire prevention, and community air programs, while opponents argued it would raise costs and function as a tax-and-spend scheme. SB 840 passed 54-15 and AB 1207 passed 55-10, both with urgency and immediate transmittal. Members also approved SB 352, which makes the Bureau of Environmental Justice permanent and requires air quality monitoring and reporting on AB 617 implementation, by 43-19. AB 825, authorizing California to help establish a Westwide electricity market, was presented as a way to lower bills, improve reliability, and reduce emissions; it passed 67-2 and was sent to the Governor. Additional actions included concurrence in Senate amendments to AB 8 on cannabinoids and AB 383 on firearms cleanup, and the chamber began consideration of AB 764 on wildlife as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• talking about the ones that just worked talking about the ones that just worked the<00:09:42.200
• um So we had worked and worked with my co-chair.
• What I want to talk about are the groups involved with this bill.
• Thank you for the work that you're doing to support our veterans in this state.
• And they're a group that looks like they do a lot of good work, so I will vote.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate VMAP Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. Senate Bill 144, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, would require destruction of firearms used in homicides and allow destruction of certain defaced, hazardous, unsafe, or owner-requested firearms, while prohibiting agencies from intentionally damaging firearms before transfer and requiring written agency policies. Senator Tichenor asked about lost auction revenue; KSP said it could not track homicide weapons separately, that auctions bring in about $1.2 million annually, and that most proceeds support Kentucky Homeland Security. Senators Boswell and others said they generally oppose destroying firearms but supported moving the bill forward; the bill passed favorably with no nays. House Bill 191, sponsored by Representative Aaron Thompson and presented with state and veterans’ officials, would align Kentucky law with federal changes to allow additional burials in state veteran cemeteries for certain National Guard and Reserve veterans, their spouses, and dependents who were not previously eligible. Testimony explained the bill would cover veterans who served in reserve components without Title 10 activation, including those who assisted during floods, fires, and tornadoes, and clarified eligibility rules for spouses and children. Senators asked about minimum service and dependent eligibility, and the committee passed the bill favorably and unanimously. Senate Bill 198, sponsored by Senator David Yates, addressed protection of veterans’ benefits by regulating third-party claims consultants. The committee adopted a substitute adding definitions and accreditation-related provisions, and Yates said the bill was intended to curb abusive fee practices and direct penalties to the special license plate fund for veterans. He explained the bill’s fee limits, including a cap tied to three times the monthly increase in benefits and an overall ceiling, while senators questioned whether the cap might discourage good actors and how the dollar limits would work. A veteran witness, Bob Casher, supported the bill and urged more public information on free claims assistance; the committee held further action while allowing guest comments, and the discussion focused on balancing consumer protection with access to legitimate consultants.

Transcript Highlights:

• The changes proposed here reflect the work of a working group that represented all the stakeholders and
• She worked with this working group for the entire year. Mr.
• , then a small group, Came to work on this bill.
• We know from working in the working group that the data that's currently being collected by the public
• in the working group that I believe it was 114 cases of restraint.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . works. works.
• How does all that work? How does all that work?
• . groups. groups.
• /c> is something we work on. and I work with is something we work on. and I work with uh<03:14:45.760
• May I ask a follow to the group?<05:08:30.160> Go group? Go group?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got the report from a group called The 106 Group.
• We've got the report from a group called The 106 Group.
• report from a group called The 106 group report from a group called The 106 group we're<00:09:39.000
• <00:41:06.960> the the the group and so what this group the the the group and so what this
• this bill and then also supporting work this bill and then also supporting work working<00:42:56.599

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• One other change is it references that the work group meets in calendar years.
• So the work group would be completed in time prior to the January 27 session beginning.
• /c> chair of that work group as a non- chair of that work group as a non- voting<00:12:16.320> member
• change is it references that the work change is it references that the work group<00:12:38.560><
• group would be completed in the the work group would be completed in time<00:12:48.240> prior

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 06:30 Calendar/2nd Readings 07:18 Report of Committees 08:19 Orders of the Day 09:04 HB 96 09:16 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 15:21 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 21:24 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:35 ConC and Rules Report 31:06 Floor Amendments 32:42 Return to Rules Report 33:28 Adjournment 34:27, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum of 98 members, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber approved the journal from January 21, 2026, and received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 29, 38, and 49, along with Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, requesting concurrence. The House also took second reading on several bills, including measures on agriculture programs, milk transportation, food donation, criminal trespass, concealed firearms and deadly weapons, human trafficking, sexual material involving minors, reading and writing in schools, and educators. Committee reports advanced House Resolution 7 on Kentucky election principles, House Bill 134 on sexual assault nurse examiners, and House Bill 168 on boating under the influence. The House then considered House Bill 96, which would revise the membership of the postsecondary education performance-based funding work group, adding more legislators and changing the work group timeline to calendar years; the sponsor said the bill had support from university presidents and the Council on Postsecondary Education. After a question about geographic representation, the House passed HB 96 by a vote of 79-16 and applied the clincher. During motions and announcements, the House brought House Resolution 34 to the floor and heard it reported as recognizing January 22, 2026 as Kentucky Arts Day. Rep. Burke spoke in support, citing the economic impact of Kentucky’s arts and culture sector, and the resolution was adopted without objection. Members also announced upcoming events, including a Holocaust survivor program, a breakfast, and a conservation district reception, and one member withdrew House Bill 284. The House introduced a large slate of new bills and resolutions, including measures on real property, civil rights, local boards of education, peer support specialists, Medicaid coverage for doula services, public contracts, foster care, residential safety, gender, reproductive rights, hate crimes, a child welfare and family court reform task force, memorial highway designations, and constitutional recognition days. The Committee on Committees and Rules later referred and reassigned several bills to standing committees, posted selected bills and amendments for Friday’s calendar, and the House adjourned until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• didn't work very well.
• <03:15:27.000> and work more the way our rules work and work more the way our rules work and
• a pay if he's working or she's working a pay if he's working or she's working a patrol<03:38:34.600
• But because of the progression of time now, folks that are in Group Two have been forced to work additional
• as it pertains to Group II.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 180, which concerns critical incident stress management teams. Representative Mark PR, the bill sponsor, proposed an amendment to add a definition of “team leader” and to clarify that teams may or may not be affiliated with a municipality. He argued that a certification test offered by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation is unnecessary and too expensive at $400, since team members are volunteers who already receive training and continuing education. Committee members asked about the training structure and certification language, and the sponsor explained that the teams are self-certified and that the amendment was intended to clean up the bill’s language. The committee then voted on HB 180 in executive session. Amendment 0261H was adopted 11-0, and the bill was then moved as amended and passed 11-0. The committee placed the bill on consent. Later, the committee heard House Bill 438, sponsored by Representative Timothy Horan, dealing with immigration detention and related state policy. Horan described the bill as an update to earlier legislation and said it would codify best practices, prohibit state cooperation with mass deportation efforts, bar for-profit operation of immigration detention facilities, and require Executive Council approval before the governor could deploy the National Guard for immigration deportation activities. Committee members questioned whether the bill could be read as authorizing detention facilities and discussed the relationship between the state and Strafford County Jail. An amendment presented on behalf of Representative Patrick Long was described as a technical rewrite that removed several sections and changed language, but the hearing ended before any vote was taken on HB 438.

Transcript Highlights:

• and it was the result of a bipartisan, bicameral working group as well.
• There are two working groups that were brought over by the Senate.
• house to the table in the working group. house to the table in the working group.
• <00:04:59.919> were working group from the Senate were working group from the Senate were
• There are two working groups schools.

Keywords: 1183, house