Transcript Highlights:

• </c> any questions, I'm happy to entertain any questions, I'm happy to entertain them.<01:02:10.960><
• </c> not want to be a professional landlord. not want to be a professional landlord.
• Um, I I'm I'm hoping that the committee<01:36:33.520><c> would</c><01:36:34.120><c> entertain</c><01:
• 36:35.120><c> on</c><01:36:35.360><c> page</c><01:36:35.679><c> two,</c> committee would entertain on
• I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Please move and second. All in favor please say I. I. I.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• It also broadens the base by extending sales taxes to a number of professional services, as you can see
• c><00:04:13.319><c> a</c><00:04:13.480><c> number</c><00:04:13.840><c> of</c><00:04:14.159><c> Professional
• </c> taxes to a number of Professional taxes to a number of Professional Services<00:04:15.360><c> as
• </c> and allowing them to do the Professional and allowing them to do the Professional Services<01:15
• um in in Minnesota for uh entertainers um in in Minnesota for uh 30<01:22:48.800><c> or</c><01:22:49.000

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• It is risky at a time when our state is entertaining some very exciting economic development opportunities
• Chad Bezier, with Professional Firefighters, is present in opposition and does not wish to speak.
• Chad Majors, Professional Firefighters, is present in support and doesn't wish to speak.
• The solution is to allow voc rehab professionals to do their job without obstructing.
• We have Chad Majors with Professional Firefighters, present in support and does not wish to speak.

Summary: The committee first voluntarily deferred House Bills 460 and 561, then took up House Bill 1101 on workers’ compensation. The sponsor said the bill would define maximum medical improvement, adjust fraud provisions, shorten temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit periods, and revise vocational rehabilitation rules; an amendment removed proposed age-based termination language for benefits. Business groups including LABI supported the bill as a way to reduce Louisiana’s comparatively high indemnity costs and align the state with regional norms, while injured-worker advocates and attorneys strongly opposed it, arguing it would cut benefits, shift medical and disability decisions away from treating physicians and judges, broaden fraud too far, and potentially push costs onto public programs. After debate, the committee voted to report HB 1101 with amendments. House Bill 282 was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 293, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Louisiana employment discrimination protections, drew generally supportive testimony from the sponsor and supporters, with some members raising questions about religious exemptions and federal law. The committee ultimately voted against reporting HB 293 favorably. House Bill 390, providing unpaid leave protections for domestic abuse survivors at larger employers, was presented as a tool for survivors, but the committee split 6-6 on a motion to report it favorably; the tie resulted in the bill being voluntarily deferred. The committee then heard House Bill 456, which would expand workers’ compensation petition requirements and allow employers or payers broader access to file disputed claims and seek discovery. Supporters argued employers currently lack a practical way to obtain records and challenge claims without first cutting off benefits, while opponents said the bill would revive a rejected 2012 approach, increase litigation, and undermine the no-fault workers’ compensation bargain. The discussion centered on whether the bill would preserve benefits while allowing discovery or instead encourage more disputes and penalties. The transcript ends with testimony still underway on HB 456, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:41.400><c> Incentive</c> and the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive and the Kentucky Entertainment
• Eric Polfrey, Division of Professional Services for the Transportation Cabinet.
• Eric Polfrey, Division<00:21:15.840><c> of</c><00:21:15.880><c> Professional</c><00:21:16.280><c> Services
• </c><00:21:16.720><c> for</c> Division of Professional Services for Division of Professional Services
• </c><00:29:51.480><c> architectural</c> architectural professional architectural architectural professional

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its January 13 meeting and then moved through a large agenda of contracts and agreements, with members repeatedly voting to review items without objection. The chair noted the agenda included 227 contracts totaling about $89.5 million, all with vendors registered with the Secretary of State. Most items were approved after brief discussion and roll-call votes. Several contracts drew questions. Kentucky State University explained two four-month contracts tied to its online academic program: one for continued implementation support and one for marketing. University officials said the program is in a transition year under a management improvement plan, that the university owns the intellectual property, and that the marketing effort is aimed at growing enrollment in targeted programs such as business and social work. They reported online enrollment had grown from 74 students to 612, with an overall university enrollment of 2,872, and said the goal is to reach about 1,000 online students by fall. The committee approved both items, though Senator Douglas said he would keep watching university spending. The Department of Education presented a contract cancellation for administrative reviews of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. Officials said USDA changed the review requirement from every three years to every five years, making the outside contract unnecessary because internal staff can now handle the work. The committee approved the cancellation. The Transportation Cabinet also explained an increase to a professional services contract for engineering work on a section of KY 54 in Owensboro, describing it as preliminary design and commissioning work for a multi-section roadway project; the committee approved that item as well. The Kentucky Lottery Corporation sought approval for an amendment tied to its iLottery platform. Officials said the increase reflected higher sales volume, since the contract structure causes prize and platform-related expenses to rise as sales grow. The committee approved the amendment. The Department of Public Health also discussed a perinatal psychiatry consultation program funded by a five-year federal HRSA grant; members raised concerns about what would happen if federal support changes, but no action beyond discussion was noted in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :31.919><c> the</c><00:05:32.039><c> middle</c><00:05:32.560><c> licensed</c><00:05:33.240><c> professional
• </c> In the middle, licensed professional clinical counselors, we have 1,381 providers enrolled in 2019
• I’d be happy to entertain any questions or comments. Thank you very much, Commissioner.
• <c> any</c><00:14:00.480><c> questions</c><00:14:00.800><c> or</c><00:14:01.040><c> comments</c> entertain
• any questions or comments entertain any questions or comments thank<00:14:01.839><c> you</c><00:14:01.959

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services held its first meeting and received an overview from the Department for Medicaid Services on Medicaid’s behavioral health and substance use disorder services. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal said Kentucky Medicaid serves about 1.4 million members, including over half of Kentucky children, with 485,000 expansion members, more than 69,000 enrolled providers, and total fiscal year 2024 expenditures of $18.5 billion. They said Kentucky covers a broad range of behavioral health services, and behavioral health provider enrollment has grown from a little over 4,500 in 2019 to nearly 8,000 in 2024. They also described how Medicaid spending and utilization are tracked through claims and encounter data, with most members served through managed care organizations. Members focused on sharp increases in certain behavioral health billing codes, especially peer-to-peer services, and asked about reimbursement, utilization review, and whether the growth reflected increased need or expanded coverage. DMS said the rise was partly tied to combining facility and nonfacility behavioral health fee schedules in 2023, choosing the higher reimbursement rate to avoid cuts, and that the department has seen an uptick in peer-to-peer services. In response to concerns about overutilization, DMS said it mailed a letter to behavioral health providers, is considering limits and prior authorizations for some services, and plans to create a standardized monthly behavioral health report to monitor trends consistently and identify when controls may be needed. Lawmakers also asked whether the provider network is sufficient and whether access is adequate, especially for children. DMS said provider enrollment has expanded because behavioral health services were added to Medicaid in 2014 and because demand increased after COVID, but acknowledged studies showing children have less access than adults and said that would be an area of focus. The department said managed care organizations are required to ensure access to needed services and that current trends indicate access is available, though one member disagreed and said workforce shortages remain a major concern. Another member asked about non-emergency medical transportation spending, and DMS explained that it is handled through a capitated arrangement administered by the Transportation Cabinet rather than directly by the managed care organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• This extends the sunset to 2013 for the State Board of Licensure for the Professional Engineers and Surveyors
• Senator Murdoch, would you entertain a question from the chair?
• Seeing none, Senator Thompson, would you entertain questions from the chair? I would be happy to.
• clarification, and I think at the end of the day, do we believe that our dental providers, as professionals

Bills: SB1732 , SB1217 , SB1443 , SB1455 , SB1457 , SB1459 , SB1465 , SB1944 , SB1946 , SB1218 , SB1942 , SB1352 , SB2132 , SB1920 , SB1285 , SB1304 , SB1305 , SB1326 , SB1590 , SB1767

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a long agenda of Senate bills covering real estate, construction licensing, insurance, alcohol regulation, medical marijuana, and other business matters. Among the measures discussed were SB 1732, which preserves Oklahoma’s current rule that brokers are not required to enter into a buyer brokerage agreement before showing real estate; SB 1443, which codifies payment rules for anesthesia services and physical status modifiers; and several sunset-extension bills for boards and agencies including the architects and interior designers board, the Construction Industries Board, the Abstractors Board, and the engineering and surveying board. The committee also heard bills on workers’ compensation, dental insurance billing practices, salvage title thresholds, energy standards for state-funded buildings, self-storage lien modernization, and medical marijuana training and licensing issues. Testimony and debate focused heavily on consumer costs, market competition, and regulatory clarity. Supporters of the dental bill (SB 1942) argued it would keep insurers from setting prices for non-covered services and allow patients and providers to negotiate directly, while opponents warned it could raise costs for consumers; the bill passed 8-2. Similar free-market arguments were made for the real estate, anesthesia, and alcohol-related bills, while consumer protection concerns were raised on the self-storage and dental measures. SB 1590, which would expand a fortified-roof grant program to commercial buildings, drew discussion about funding and the state’s role in helping reduce insurance costs. SB 1767 sought stronger enforcement against out-of-state spirit shipping, with concerns noted about lost tax revenue and age verification. Most bills received committee approval, often unanimously or by wide margins, including SB 1732, SB 1217, SB 1443, SB 1455, SB 1457, SB 1459, SB 1466, SB 1944, SB 1946, SB 1352, SB 2132, SB 1920, SB 1285, SB 1304, SB 1305, SB 1326, SB 1590, and SB 1767. Several bills were amended in committee, often to update sunset dates or clarify language, and title-striking motions were adopted on some measures that were still being worked on. The meeting ended with the chair noting that 20 bills had been handled and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I would entertain questions.
• Uh, I would entertain questions. >> Are there questions?
• Uh, I would<00:50:07.920><c> entertain</c><00:50:08.319><c> questions.
• </c> would entertain questions. would entertain questions.
• Chairman, I would entertain questions. >> Thank you for that explanation.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm speaking on behalf of New Mexico IDEA, the statewide association for economic development professionals
• And when we look at health professional shortage areas, we have health professional shortage areas even
• And when we look at health professional shortage areas, we have health professional shortage areas even
• Happy to entertain a motion.
• So I'm going to be voting against this bill, and I'm happy to entertain a motion.

Bills: HB99 , HB38 , HB165 , HB127 , HB72 , HB151 , SB40 , SB104 , SB136 , SB164

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• First group that you'll hear from is experienced professionals and subject matter experts in the field
• initial petition; they will have the same 30 minutes to speak, up to 30 minutes, and then we will entertain
• You'll just have a one-liner that says management, business, professional, administrative services.
• There was $355,000 in expenditures to management business professionals in the House.
• I will now entertain a motion to close this hearing." written testimony may be transmitted electronically

Summary: The hearing opened with committee chairs explaining the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions’ role under Article 48 and outlining the process for initiative petition 25-14, H5-004, an act to improve access to public records. The first panel consisted of subject-matter experts. William Clark of the National Conference of State Legislatures gave an overview of public records laws across states, noting that all states have some form of open-records law but that exemptions for legislatures vary widely. He discussed common legislative exemptions, legislative privilege, and court cases showing that outcomes often turn on specific constitutional and statutory language. Rebecca Murray, General Counsel for the Secretary of the Commonwealth, described Massachusetts public records trends, saying state agency requests and appeals have risen sharply since the 2017 law update, with 2025 setting a record for appeals. She said the initiative would extend the public records law to the General Court and the Governor’s Office and add exemptions specific to those offices, while also noting resource concerns from the growing volume of requests and appeals.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if you want to entertain a further amendment down the road, we can take a look at that.
• Aye. entertain a further amendment down the entertain a further amendment down the road,<00:02:14.560
• Um, that uh there so she doesn't leave it wide open for a professional student, right?
• </c><00:04:26.479><c> Um</c><00:04:26.800><c> so</c><00:04:27.120><c> she</c> professional student, right
• Um so she professional student, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• At this moment, I will entertain a motion. So moved by Senator Choi. The motion is to...
• I would now entertain a motion. Move by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.
• I will entertain a motion at this time. Moved by Senator Choi.
• And then Doug Suber is on behalf of California Professional Firefighters.
• Doug Suber is on behalf of the California Professional Firefighters.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative Cruz, we were hoping to resolve this as, you know, professionals and not get to
• I think it's going to be an easy thing by just simply saying that for professional use, if you're using
• Please, would you entertain... Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• And so with that, I hope the Chair will entertain just a suggestion. And with that, I'm an aye.
• organization that do... ...slash complaints to AZ Post because they're the professional organization

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, beginning with HCR 2059, a resolution reaffirming support for county sheriffs and recognizing their constitutional authority in their jurisdictions. Supporters said it was a tribute to sheriffs’ work, especially in rural areas, while some members objected to language describing sheriffs as having “supreme constitutional authority,” calling it overly broad or tied to fringe legal theories. The resolution received a due-pass recommendation on an 8-3 vote. Members then considered HB 2811, which expands obstructing governmental operations to cover interference with a lawful arrest when violence or force is used. The sponsor said the bill closes a gap and should make such conduct a felony, while an opposing attorney argued existing statutes already cover much of the conduct and that the bill was duplicative and confusing. Despite concerns about the drafting and interaction of subsections, the bill received a do-pass recommendation. The committee also heard HB 4129, a proposed DPS-run mental health and wellness program for law enforcement funded with $15 million; the sponsor described it as confidential counseling and support for officers, but several members said it duplicated existing services and was too costly, and the sponsor ultimately withdrew the bill before a vote. The committee next took up HB 2270, which would expand protections for county seals and office insignia to include logos and other identifiers, and give sheriffs exclusive rights over posse names and dissolution. Sheriffs and county representatives said the bill was needed to prevent misuse of official names and to avoid litigation after disputes over posse identities; some members raised First Amendment and vagueness concerns about broad language such as “could imply” affiliation. The bill passed 12-1. HB 2416, a $20 million appropriation for border-related law enforcement support, drew strong support from sheriffs and county law enforcement groups who said the funds help with drug interdiction and border-related crime, and strong opposition from speakers who argued the money should go to schools, housing, health care, and other needs; it passed 7-5. Finally, the committee heard HB 4018, a strike-everything amendment clarifying sheriffs’ authority over volunteer posses and reserve organizations. MCSO and county officials said it was meant to clarify existing authority and protect public safety operations, while an opponent warned it could expand posse use into immigration enforcement and increase militarization. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and gave the bill a do-pass recommendation. HB 2253, barring retaliation against employees who testify in law enforcement disciplinary appeal proceedings, also passed after a chairman’s amendment removed one voiding provision. The transcript ends as the committee begins hearing HB 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund funded by forfeited digital assets and redirected investment deposits.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, I'm going to call us out of recess and, um, I would entertain a motion to go into executive
• </c> recess and recess and um<00:03:20.159><c> I</c><00:03:20.480><c> would</c><00:03:20.640><c> entertain
• a motion to go into um I would entertain a motion to go into executive<00:03:22.720><c> session</c><
• :57:20.079><c> broader</c><00:57:20.640><c> area</c> entertain covering a more broader area entertain
• <02:26:53.040><c> a</c><02:26:53.280><c> motion</c><02:26:53.680><c> to</c> entertain a motion to entertain

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis vaudeville acts, went on to become an internationally celebrated entertainer in Paris, and was
• Louis vaudeville acts, went on to become an internationally celebrated entertainer in Paris, and was
• But her legacy reaches far beyond entertainment.
• I celebrated my six-year anniversary as director on Monday, and this has been the honor of my professional

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met in executive session and approved three House bills: HB 2307, designating Missouri Military Academy as the official military academy of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 3264, designating Kansas City as the barbecue capital of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 1960, naming the smooth chanterelle the official state mushroom, passed 9-1; and HB 3074, establishing William Lacey Clay Senior Day in Missouri, passed 10-0. After the executive session, the committee opened a public hearing on HCR 36, which would designate June 3 as Josephine Baker Day in Missouri. The sponsor and a witness described Baker’s St. Louis roots, international entertainment career, service in the French Resistance, civil rights work, and her significance to Missouri heritage and tourism. Committee members voiced strong support and asked questions about her legacy, including her adopted children and her role as a model for Black women and civil rights advocacy. The committee then heard a presentation from Stephen Fouts, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, on the state’s tourism marketing efforts and economic impact. He said tourism generated more than $21 billion in economic impact, over $18 billion in direct spending, and supported more than 307,000 jobs, with more than 43 million visitors in the last fiscal year. He outlined the division’s marketing strategy, including the Mo character campaign, cooperative marketing grants for local DMOs, the Meet in Missouri Fund, film incentives, and major event promotion tied to the World Cup, Route 66 Centennial, and America 250. He also reported strong returns on marketing investment and discussed sports tourism, youth sports, and the importance of the cooperative marketing program to local communities. A major topic of discussion was the possibility of significant budget cuts to tourism. The chair and several members argued that tourism is a major economic driver and said they would oppose deep reductions, with multiple members offering to sign a committee letter or otherwise advocate against cuts. Members asked how reductions would affect marketing, sports tourism, and the cooperative marketing program; Fouts said large cuts would likely reduce co-op funding proportionally and could harm local partners. No final action was taken on HCR 36 during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And through rapid innovation and thanks to our ludicrously talented team of professionals at Workforce
• What we have talked about at the fair is an entertainment district. We have an arena.
• And entertainment is important to people's lives. And we want to see this growth now.
• the grounds, as well to be as have an entertainment district also to expand into the grounds as well
• And entertainment is important to people's lives.

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They choose to medical professionals.
• You guys all love to come to Hennepin County and spend dollars in our entertainment districts.
• You guys all love to come to Hennepin County and spend dollars in our entertainment districts.
• You guys all love to come to Hennepin County and spend dollars in our entertainment districts.
• You guys all love to come to Hennepin County and spend dollars in our entertainment districts.

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand for CFT, a union of educators and classified professionals, who is a proud co-sponsor.
• It is a transition that can last years, often coinciding with women's peak professional responsibilities
• The portion that allows holders of the registered professional reporter certification, or the RPR for
• This bill would add recognition of the registered professional reporter certification administered by
• This bill would add recognition of the registered professional reporter certification administered by

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 456, Ashby, for the Business and Professionals Committee to the Arts and Entertainment, Sports and
• Tourism Committee, and then back to Business and Professionals Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, I will entertain a motion. Move.
• At this time, I will entertain a motion. Move. Thank you. At this time, I will entertain a motion.
• We'll entertain a motion. Moved by Senator Gonzalez.
• I'm an autistic professional and subject matter expert.
• I'm here as a professional and a subject matter expert.

Committee: Senate Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, do I entertain a motion? Entertain a motion. We have a due pass and a second.
• I will entertain a motion. We have a due pass and a second. I will entertain a motion.
• I'll entertain a motion. We have a do pass. Do I hear a second? We have a motion and a second.
• I'll entertain a motion. I have a due pass. Do I hear a second? Second.
• I will tell you that you are very professional, and no one who did not know would know that you were

Bills: HB1453 , HB2933 , HB2941 , HB2945 , HB2959 , HB3087 , HB3094 , HB3297 , HB3298 , HB3319 , HB3321 , HB3386 , HB3453 , HB3471 , HB3505 , HB3510 , HB3544 , HB3549 , HB3652 , HB3727 , HB3791 , HB3845 , HB3906 , HB4119 , HB4125 , HB4126 , HB4198 , HB4236 , HB4425 , HB4343 , HB4094 , HB3407

Committee: House Civil Judiciary

Keywords: foreign ownership, property rights, agricultural land, Attorney General, divestment, real estate, felony penalties, insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, fentanyl, overdose, first responders, drug reporting, immunity, controlled substances, penalties, abortion