Transcript Highlights:

• Agricultural users are struggling, and recently, the only sugar mill in Texas located in the Rio Grande

Committee: House S/C on State-Federal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we could run the mill levy and figure it out, but it's going to be different in every county.
• , Mill Levy's amendments. >> Representative Campbell, two minutes. >> Thank you, Mr.
• respects local control by giving the voters the ability to choose whether they want to increase the mill
• respects local control by giving the voters the ability to choose whether they want to increase the mill
• All right, members, you're voting on House Bill 144, Fire Protection Districts, Mill Levy's Amendments

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have all that beautiful cherry<00:13:26.560><c> wood</c><00:13:27.519><c> um</c><00:13:27.920><c> mill
• work</c><00:13:28.480><c> inside</c><00:13:28.800><c> of</c><00:13:28.959><c> the</c> cherry wood um mill
• work inside of the cherry wood um mill work inside of the capital<00:13:29.519><c> building</c><00:13
• are<00:18:42.880><c> looking</c><00:18:43.120><c> at</c><00:18:43.440><c> the</c><00:18:43.919><c> mill
• at the mill work that's present<00:18:45.039><c> in</c><00:18:45.200><c> the</c><00:18:45.360><c> room

Committee: Joint Capitol Interpretive Exhibits and Wayfinding Subcommittee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The county is fiscally constrained if the value of one mill is less than $5 million.
• If you’re over $5 million, I guess, our one mill of taxation in Liberty County is about $363,000.
• As Superintendent Petty said, one mill raises about $300-something thousand in Liberty County.
• As Superintendent Petty said, one mill raises about $300-something thousand in Liberty County.
• Jay Mills, Florida Academy of Family Physicians, is against the bill.

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• country, there were, you know,<01:37:03.440><c> big</c><01:37:03.679><c> steel</c><01:37:04.000><c> mills
• <01:37:04.880><c> that</c><01:37:05.199><c> employed</c><01:37:05.600><c> lots</c> know, big steel mills
• that employed lots know, big steel mills that employed lots of<01:37:06.000><c> people</c><01:37:06.480
• ><01:37:34.719><c> like</c><01:37:34.880><c> those</c><01:37:35.199><c> steel</c><01:37:35.520><c> mills
• </c><01:37:36.159><c> and</c> up just like those steel mills and up just like those steel mills and others

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that if House Bill 127 makes it to the Senate, they should not have to vote for public recreation mills
• because they spend $90,000 of their public recreation mill on their pool every year, and their entire
• community — Kemmerer, Diamondville, Opal, and the library — benefits from that recreation mill.
• because they spend $90,000 of their public recreation mill on their pool every year, and their entire
• community — Kemmerer, Diamondville, Opal, and the library — benefits from that recreation mill.

Bills: SF0035 , SF0090 , SF0072

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• c> $950,000</c><01:10:38.640><c> a</c><01:10:39.360><c> year</c><01:10:39.800><c> for</c> base the mill
• the $950,000 a year for base the mill the $950,000 a year for the<01:10:40.120><c> next</c><01:10:40.320
• La which was appointed by the leg the o La recommended recommended recommended 950<01:13:29.239><c> Mill
• 32.080><c> year</c><01:13:33.080><c> for</c><01:13:33.400><c> 10</c><01:13:33.840><c> years</c> 950 Mill
• $950,000 a year for 10 years 950 Mill $950,000 a year for 10 years and<01:13:35.000><c> by</c><01:13

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grazie mille per la missione specifica.
• Texas 2036, Sheila Hemp Hill, consultant, and Tom Mills, college president.
• And Tom Mills, is Tom Mills still here? Okay, you can have a seat up here, sir. Sheila, come on up.
• Tom Mills, you're next, or last? No, please. Madam Chair. Really? Really? Come see me in there.
• Mills, sir, you're out of chairs. Senators, thank you for... Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :40.720><c> quick</c> But a couple of the folks—my quick response is this: So, to the taxpayers in Mille
• Your community, Mille Lacs County, Benton County, benefit greatly from the work that these folks in this
• Your community, Mille<01:29:58.720><c> Lacs</c><01:29:59.000><c> County,</c><01:29:59.360><c> Benton<
• /c><01:29:59.640><c> County,</c> Mille Lacs County, Benton County, Mille Lacs County, Benton County,

Bills: HF4477

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• However, a lot of those dams were at that point in time owned by power companies or downstream mill users
• 01:04:48.799><c> or,</c><01:04:49.119><c> uh,</c><01:04:49.280><c> downstream</c><01:04:49.760><c> mill
• </c> power companies or, uh, downstream mill power companies or, uh, downstream mill users.<01:04:50.880
• and Executive Council to receive some federal money for design of New Found Lake Dam and Pittsville Mill

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony from State Treasurer Monica Misipelli on House Bill 1042, which would increase the contingent credit limit for the BFA. She explained that under RSA 66 the state’s debt capacity is capped at 10% of unrestricted revenue, and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is not direct debt. She said the state currently has about 65% of its capacity used, roughly $120 million of remaining room, and that raising the BFA contingent credit limit from $200 million to $450 million would reduce that capacity. She noted the state’s debt-to-revenue ratio is about 4.2%, that the state’s credit rating is not immediately affected by the guarantee program unless the state actually has to assume the liability, and suggested unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Peace Development Authority, could be reviewed in the future. Members asked whether a credit guarantee affects bonding ability like actual debt, what the usual debt level is relative to the statutory cap, and whether the increase would crowd out future capital borrowing. Misipelli answered that guarantees are included in the formula and do affect available capacity, though the current ratio remains manageable. She also said she had been using a $120 million benchmark for capital budget planning and was now modeling $130 million in future state debt. When asked whether the full $250 million increase was necessary, she deferred to the BFA, saying the question should be answered by the agency. James Key Wallace, executive director of the New Hampshire BFA and interim commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, then testified in support of the bill. He said the request was driven by larger project costs over the last several decades, with construction inflation causing guarantees to be used up in bigger chunks, and by the fact that the BFA has been close to its current cap. He said the agency does not use taxpayer funds, has never had a payout on a guarantee in nearly 35 years, and requires collateral, reserves, and an 80% loan-to-value buffer. He told members the Senate had a similar bill to raise the limit to $400 million and that the BFA considered that range acceptable. In response to questions, he said a smaller increase such as $150 million would cover known transactions but might not provide enough runway for future opportunities, and he confirmed the bill was brought at the BFA’s request. He also said businesses consider housing availability when deciding whether to locate in New Hampshire, since housing and workforce are key location factors. At the end of the work session, the chair closed House Bill 1042 and opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage of pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Nagel began introducing the bill and asked for copies of the treasurer’s debt-capacity report, but the transcript cuts off before any further action on HB 241.

Transcript Highlights:

• The report penetrates the smokescreen of out-of-state petition mills who steal citizens' identity.
• on behalf of everyone else, they steal voter ID information, they work with out-of-state petition mills
• acting inappropriately and who produces a number of petitions that have been run through a petition mill
• you find when you read the Office of Election Crimes and Security report that talks about petition mills
• petitions that we do have are valid, because we're stepping into an environment that's rife with petition mill

Bills: HCR35 , SJR59 , SJR84 , SCR30 , SB127 , SB317 , SB324 , SB457 , SB506 , SB511 , SB529 , SB547 , SB584 , SB619 , SB636 , SB646 , SB659 , SB715 , SB732 , SB735 , SB771 , SB784 , SB800 , SB801 , SB904 , SB1026 , SB1049 , SB1065 , SB1181 , SB1224 , SB1250 , SB1383 , SB1467 , SB1524 , SB1528 , SB1531 , SB1568 , SB1585 , SB1640 , SB1681 , SB1754 , SB1757 , SB1777 , SB1972 , SB1980 , SB2007 , SB2041 , SB2046 , SB2050 , SB2055 , SB2069 , SB2080 , SB2119 , SB2138 , SB2139 , SB2154 , SB2201 , SB2225 , SB2268 , SB2306 , SB2308 , SB2310 , SB2330 , SB2366 , SB2375 , SB2392 , SB2401 , SB2422 , SB2480 , SB2514 , SB2530 , SB2533 , SB2543 , SB2544 , SB2589 , SB2610 , SB2615 , SB2623 , SB2660 , SB2662 , SB2693 , SB2695 , SB2707 , SB2722 , SB2742 , SB2753 , SB2807 , SB2843 , SB2844 , SB2858 , SB2880 , SB2885 , SB2891 , SB2925 , SB2938 , SB2986 , SJR3 , SJR18 , SB5 , SB914 , SB963 , SB1197 , SB1415 , SB1437 , SB1786 , SB326 , SB767 , SB769 , SB783 , SB1035 , SB1271 , SB1619 , SB1637 , SB1806 , SB1 , SB260 , HB135 , HB 1109 , HCR35 , HCR64 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SJR84 , SJR59 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SCR48 , SCR19 , SCR30 , SCR3 , SB2023 , SB619 , SB2742 , SB646 , SB1026 , SB2880 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB1502 , SB507 , SB1434 , SB1376 , SB1585 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1163 , SB1122 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB261 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB529 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB1999 , SB511 , SB2309 , SB510 , SB584 , SB1085 , SB2046 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB1524 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB884 , SB517 , SB1200 , SB1845 , SB1863 , SB2681 , SB2200 , SB2199 , SB1757 , SB2050 , SB2458 , SB2201 , SB2660 , SB2662 , SB1065 , SB801 , SB2533 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB1721 , SB2366 , SB1013 , SB2797 , SB2383 , SB1754 , SB2119 , SB2448 , SB1777 , SB1283 , SB2392 , SB2076 , SB2786 , SB2876 , SB2284 , SB2225 , SB1540 , SB2929 , SB1972 , SB2540 , SB2595 , SB2217 , SB715 , SB2330 , SB1383 , SB500 , SB1640 , SB2001 , SB2080 , SB506 , SB2514 , SB2753 , SB2398 , SB1241 , SB2927 , SB2173 , SB2538 , SB898 , SB1449 , SB2529 , SB1531 , SB2846 , SB2476 , SB986 , SB1181 , SB2075 , SB2154 , SB2864 , SB1359 , SB2386 , SB771 , SB2844 , SB2550 , SB1351 , SB1423 , SB1931 , SB2245 , SB2589 , SB2707 , SB2807 , SB410 , SB659 , SB2776 , SB2693 , SB2580 , SB1980 , SB1886 , SB1234 , SB739 , SB456 , SB127 , SB1666 , SB2843 , SB2801 , SB800 , SB2055 , SB784 , SB2986 , SB735 , SB1012 , SB324 , SB2926 , SB2938 , SB2007 , SB2138 , SB1242 , SB2615 , SB1049 , SB2310 , SB1224 , SB2972 , SB1568 , SB2841 , SB2885 , SB3016 , SB2858 , SB2610 , SB2139 , SB1856 , SB2035 , SB2308 , SB2306 , SB2041 , SB1528 , SB1681 , SB1141 , SB2401 , SB2530 , SB2375 , SB547 , SB1266 , SB1373 , SB1467 , SB2069 , SB2269 , SB2480 , SB2544 , SB672 , SB904 , SB2695 , SB2891 , SB2422 , SB2543 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB2539 , SB2532 , SB2925 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB2203 , SB457 , SB2357 , SB2721 , SB243 , SB1285 , SB2568 , SB1959 , SB1442 , SB1454 , SB2520 , SB2541 , SB1708 , SB1237 , SB1844 , SB1586 , HB1392 , HB22 , SB1551 , SB3039 , SB2819 , SB66 , SB629 , SB1015 , SB2342 , SB2903 , SB2933 , SB1965 , SB2477 , SB3029 , SB2605 , SB2419 , SB1957 , SB375 , SB250 , SB777 , SB628 , SB2523 , SB2367 , SB2703 , SB2608 , SB2778 , SB3044 , SB2965 , SB2521 , SB865 , SB127 , SB506 , SB529 , SB584 , SB659 , SB735 , SB771 , SB784 , SB800 , SB1049 , SB1383 , SB1531 , SB1568 , SB1681 , SB1972 , SB1980 , SB2007 , SB2041 , SB2046 , SB2050 , SB2080 , SB2225 , SB2306 , SB2308 , SB2366 , SB2392 , SB2544 , SB2610 , SB2660 , SB2662 , SB2807 , SB2843 , SB2844 , SB2885 , SB2938 , SB2986 , SB324 , SB1065 , SB1754 , SB2330 , SB2693 , SB2858 , SR448 , SR463 , HCR35 , SB324 , SB619 , SB646 , SB1026 , SB1065 , SB1754 , SB2330 , SB2693 , SB2742 , SB2858 , SB2880 , SB3063 , HJR5 , HJR98 , HB 109 , HB 114 , HB388 , HB421 , HB431 , HB879 , HB 1244 , HB1399 , HB1445 , HB1672 , HB1695 , HB1734 , HB1875 , HB1893 , HB1950 , HB2152 , HB2217 , HB2558 , HB2559 , HB2775 , HB2789 , HB2809 , HB2856 , HB3012 , HB3126 , HB3135 , HB3163 , HB3229 , HB3306 , HB3513 , HB3770 , HB4134 , HCR56 , HCR102 , SB3063 , HJR5 , HJR98 , HB 109 , HB 114 , HB388 , HB421 , HB431 , HB879 , HB 1244 , HB1399 , HB1445 , HB1672 , HB1695 , HB1734 , HB1875 , HB1893 , HB1950 , HB2152 , HB2217 , HB2558 , HB2559 , HB2775 , HB2789 , HB2809 , HB2856 , HB3012 , HB3126 , HB3135 , HB3163 , HB3229 , HB3306 , HB3513 , HB3770 , HB4134 , HCR56 , HCR102

Keywords: spaceports, tax-exempt bonds, aerospace investment, Texas space economy, Federal legislation, education funding, Texas State Technical College System, capital projects, infrastructure, higher education, tax exemption, property tax, homestead, fire damage, constitutional amendment, Birding Capital, Matagorda County, wildlife, conservation, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, I'd be more than happy to explain to you, going back to Arc versus Pennsylvania Mills versus
• If not, I'd be more than happy to explain to you, going back to Arc versus Pennsylvania Mills versus
• So, Senator<01:29:30.800><c> Mill,</c><01:29:31.120><c> I</c><01:29:31.280><c> appreciate</c><01:29:32.159
• ><c> um</c><01:29:32.639><c> you</c><01:29:32.800><c> know</c> Senator Mill, I appreciate um you know
• Senator Mill, I appreciate um you know the<01:29:33.280><c> the</c><01:29:33.600><c> cleanup</c><01:

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 2008, I've lived in Verndale and, at present, in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis.
• Since 2008, I've lived in Verndale and, at present, in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis.
• Since 2008, I've lived in Verndale and, at present, in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis.
• Since 2008, I've lived in Verndale and, at present, in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis.
• Since 2008, I've lived in Verndale and, at present, in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis.

Bills: HF2367 , HF2319 , HF2523 , HF1742 , HF671 , HF2331 , HF2722 , HF2406 , HF1674

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust

Transcript Highlights:

• They found the highest levels in General Mills-made Annie's Organic Cheesy Ravioli, Cheerios, Yoplait
• There is now a lawsuit against General Mills due to this contamination. bill comes from a consumer reports
• <00:08:24.560><c> levels</c><00:08:25.120><c> in</c><00:08:25.280><c> General</c><00:08:25.639><c> Mills
• </c><00:08:26.039><c> made</c> the highest levels in General Mills made the highest levels in General
• Mills made Annie's<00:08:27.000><c> organic</c><00:08:27.440><c> cheesy</c><00:08:27.800><c> ravioli

Bills: HF44 , HF2102 , HF2279 , HF2280 , HF2281

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF44, Casey Jones State Trail, Pipestone Trailhead, Currie Loop, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, trail rehabilitation, trail reconstruction, recreational trail, bike trail, hiking trail, infrastructure, state trail, Pipestone, Currie, bonding authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• Up next is Donkey Mill Art Center. Good afternoon.
• My name is Ashley Raymond, executive director at the Donkey Mill Arts Center, a rural community art center
• </c><00:35:25.240><c> at</c><00:35:25.359><c> the</c><00:35:25.480><c> donkey</c><00:35:25.760><c> Mill
• </c> executive director at the donkey Mill executive director at the donkey Mill Arts<00:35:26.160><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees first heard House Bill 229, which would establish a statewide speed restriction for motor vehicles under certain circumstances. Testimony on the bill was limited and came in support from the City and County of Honolulu’s transportation services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. No one testified in opposition, and there were no questions. The committees then took up House Bill 860, which would grant immunity from liability to the state or counties when they repair or maintain a street whose ownership or jurisdiction is disputed between them. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted written testimony, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee, Hawaii County Council member Heather Kimble, and the Iolani Homestead Community Association for Justice testified in support. The Ho Association for Justice opposed the bill, arguing the immunity was too broad and that the issue had already been addressed by prior legislation. In discussion, members raised concerns about liability and asked whether a different approach, such as extending the 2017 law transferring Oahu roads in limbo to the counties, would be acceptable; county representatives said that path could be considered if immunity were removed. House Bill 1161, which would authorize counties to use a road usage charge mechanism similar to the state’s, drew support from the Department of Transportation, the Energy Office, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, several county and city offices, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. Rental car companies and industry groups supported the concept but asked for amendments, including a flat fee instead of a per-mile charge, relief for plug-in hybrid vehicles, and a delayed implementation date. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii also supported relief for hybrids. Members questioned the rental car representatives about the flat-fee proposal, and they said a per-mile charge would be difficult to calculate and pass on to customers. At the end of the joint agenda, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1161 to Tuesday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m., and the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee also deferred the three measures to that date and time. The Transportation and Culture and the Arts committee then began hearing House Bill 925, which would create a Performing Arts Special Fund, and House Bill 1378, which would establish a Performing Arts Grants Program and Special Fund and revise the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ responsibilities and funding sources. HB 925 received support from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and written support or comments from DBEDT, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, and others. HB 1378 drew extensive testimony and discussion focused on preserving arts funding while addressing concerns about the use of Works of Art Special Fund dollars for positions and programming. The Governor’s office said it supported the intent but had concerns; the Attorney General warned that the bill’s cap and transfer provisions were unclear and could affect the tax-exempt status of bond-funded dollars; and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts opposed the measure, urging an audit, tracking of deposits, and a shift of positions and programs to general funds instead of changing the law. The chair explained that the bill was intended to protect arts funding while tightening the legal guardrails around bond-financed dollars and preserving federal support, and asked testimony to focus on new points as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the design components: there is a concrete mill wall.
• When the levee was first designed, there was a flour mill in the south end of Mandan.
• We have been receiving the maximum four mills since we've been working on this project for at least 10
• So we'll more than likely be maxing out the four mills as we go, at least from what I can see, 10 to

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and Dakota people have been on these lands, but we're proud of the partnership that we have with the Mille
• and Dakota people have been on these lands, but we're proud of the partnership that we have with the Mille
• At East Central Energy, we've built a strong, productive relationship with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
• At East Central Energy, we've built a strong, productive relationship with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Bills: HF3458 , HF3777 , HF3778 , HF3912

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: electric utilities, service areas, Tribal lands, Minnesota statute, energy regulation, utility rates, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, ratepayer, consumer protection, affordable energy, energy affordability, ability to pay, just and reasonable rates, rate regulation, electric rates, natural gas rates, energy conservation, renewable energy

Transcript Highlights:

• I really do hope they're granted additional funding, you know, with the mill levies raising from three
• you to vote no on it. additional funding, you know, with the additional funding, you know, with the mill
• 23.280><c> raising</c><00:07:23.599><c> from</c><00:07:23.840><c> three</c><00:07:24.080><c> to</c> mill
• levies raising from three to mill levies raising from three to something<00:07:24.479><c> greater</c

Bills: HB0076 , HB0102 , HB0115

Committee: House Education

Keywords: annexation, landowner rights, municipal law, city planning, property, local government, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, cardiac emergency, defibrillator, school safety, training, public health, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• North American Stainless is undertaking a new mill expansion.
• ground, or are underway, in construction of a 645-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle unit. ...at Mill
• We would also build Mill Creek 6 in Louisville, available in 2031, another 645-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle
• And we would also extend the operation of a coal unit at Mill Creek 2 in order to continue to have short-term

Keywords: Meeting Start - 00:00 Roll Call – 00:15 Approval of Minutes of the July 15, 2025, Meeting 00:55 Helping Power Kentucky’s Growth – 01:25 Powering and Deploying AI – 41:00 Fueling America’s Intelligence – 56:12 Adjournment – 01:10:37, 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force met with a quorum, adopted prior meeting minutes, and then focused on energy policy and economic development as they relate to AI and data centers. John Bevington of LG&E and KU, introduced by Caroline Clark of LG&E/KU and PPL, described the utility’s Kentucky-only service territory, vertically integrated system, 1.3 million customers, and about 7.5 gigawatts of generating capacity. He said the company has supported 76 Kentucky projects in 2024 totaling about $3 billion in announced investment and roughly 3,000 jobs, with a large share of statewide announcements occurring in its service area. Bevington said LG&E and KU’s current project pipeline is unusually strong, totaling about 170 projects and 8.5 gigawatts of requested power, with data centers accounting for about two-thirds of that demand. He broke the pipeline into existing customer expansions, new-to-Kentucky projects, and 20 data center projects representing about 5.6 gigawatts of potential load. He highlighted a Louisville data center project by PO Development Company and Powerhouse Data Centers that has announced a 400-megawatt facility and may expand to 525 megawatts, estimating that such a project could represent about $4 billion in investment. He also explained that large data centers generally must locate near transmission lines and that utilities must conduct studies, order long-lead equipment, and secure reimbursement commitments before proceeding so other customers are not harmed. Members asked about how Kentucky compares with other states, the size of data center projects, and whether regulatory reform is needed. Bevington said the 20 projects reflect current Kentucky interest, which he attributed in part to the state’s sales tax exemption for data centers, and noted that states like Ohio have had similar incentives for years. In response to questions from Senator Thomas, he confirmed that data centers can vary in size and said the state should have a regulatory environment that supports economic development, while emphasizing that the benefits would flow to the state, local communities, and schools rather than just the utility. He also cited national and regional data suggesting data centers generate indirect jobs and tax revenue, and said LG&E and KU are investing in transmission, reliability, solar, and gas generation projects, including proposed additional 645-megawatt natural gas units and other system upgrades, to meet expected demand.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a Worthington steel, we had a paper mill, we put in beautiful Birmingham landscaping, built some
• we</c><00:43:09.520><c> had</c><00:43:09.599><c> a</c><00:43:09.760><c> paper</c><00:43:10.079><c> mill
• /c><00:43:10.560><c> we</c><00:43:10.800><c> put</c><00:43:10.960><c> in</c> steel, we had a paper mill
• , we put in steel, we had a paper mill, we put in beautiful<00:43:11.520><c> Birmingham</c><00:43:12.160

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from Secretary Jeff Noel of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, joined by Matt Wingate and Terry Bradshaw of the Kentucky Association of Economic Developers, on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI) and the closing fund. The presentation focused on how KPDI helps communities develop shovel-ready industrial sites by funding infrastructure, engineering, geotechnical work, and other site-preparation costs. Noel emphasized that the program is designed to reduce uncertainty for companies, improve speed to market, and support statewide job creation and investment, especially in rural and eastern Kentucky where development costs are often higher. Testimony highlighted the complexity and expense of preparing sites, with examples of road, water, power, and rock-removal costs, and the importance of third-party evaluation in scoring applications. Noel said the program has 116 total projects statewide, with 20 active projects stemming from pilot efforts and 35 projects already resulting in about 6,381 jobs and $4.4 billion in investment. He cited examples including Crown Holdings, Flash Metals, Phoenix Paper, Pratt Paper, AESC, Sound Elements, Kitchen Foods, Latte, Krueger, Biomass, and Anna Munsman. Bradshaw added that even communities that have not yet landed a project have benefited by building spec buildings or improving access to industrial property. The speakers said the last KPDI round drew $81 million in requests but only $35 million in available funding, and they urged lawmakers to consider whether additional funding or program adjustments are needed. Suggested changes included modestly increasing eligibility or funding flexibility for rural and eastern Kentucky, while maintaining third-party performance metrics, and continuing to prioritize finishing existing parks and creating strong regional sites. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.