Video & Transcript : 'open primary' :
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AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/04/2026 - House Ways & Means
House Ways & Means Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- It is also important to note that the City of Mesa does not have a primary property tax, so what, when
Summary:
The House Ways and Means Committee first took up Senate Bill 1293, which would limit Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) abatements so they cannot reduce the portion of property taxes that would otherwise go to school districts. The sponsor and supporters, including the Arizona Tax Research Association and the National Federation of Independent Business, argued that GPLET shifts costs to the state general fund and other taxpayers through school finance backfilling, while city representatives from Phoenix and Mesa and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council said GPLET is an important redevelopment tool that helps projects move forward in difficult urban areas and eventually returns properties to the tax rolls at much higher values. After extended questioning about tax shifts, school district impacts, and whether cities could act without affecting other jurisdictions, the committee voted 5-3 to return SB 1293 with a do pass recommendation.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 1294, a clarifying measure concerning property classification after destruction by fire, flood, or other verifiable accident. The sponsor said the bill was intended to refine language adopted the previous year and to reflect discussions with assessors and ATRA. With little opposition, the committee approved SB 1294 on a 6-1 vote, with one member present and one absent.
Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 1430, the annual technical corrections bill for tax statutes administered by the Department of Revenue. The sponsor offered an amendment to remove a disputed unclaimed-property provision after concerns were raised, and the department supported the bill as amended. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed SB 1430 as amended on a 7-0 vote, with one member present and one absent, before adjourning.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture & Natural Resources Feb 4th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- This state-run game farm is the primary source of nitrate contamination in the Centralia outwash gravel
Committee:
House Agriculture & Natural Resources
Keywords:
relocation, wildlife, game farm, agriculture, environmental impact, animal welfare, force-feeding, birds, humane treatment, sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, derelict vessels, marine environment, coastal management, environmental protection, maritime economy, farmers
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 9, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- gets to fight that has actually now together they make more than the old patients who used to be the primary
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Vice President of Client Services. and client support for Con Cariño Primary Home Care.
Bills:
SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR36 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SR62 , SR92 , SR95 , SR108 , SR110 , SR111 , SR113 , SR114 , SR117 , SR120 , SB314 , SB314
Keywords:
bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, El Paso, economic development
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- The primary change was made in 24 V.S.A. 4752 by adding terminology to the definition section of title
- Old Constitution House, which is where Vermont's first state constitution was signed, has not been open
- There was budgeted $140,000 to get that building open in time for July 8, 2027, which is the 250th anniversary
- that needs to be done in order to<01:27:36.560><c> get</c><01:27:36.720><c> it</c><01:27:36.880><c> open
- </c> to get it open to get it open by<01:27:38.040><c> July</c><01:27:38.440><c> 8th,</c><01:27:38.680
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services Mar 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- When California extended foster care to age 21, it unknowingly opened Pandora's box to adult systems.
- CWDA appreciates DSS's engagement through their listening sessions and their openness to working through
- I just want to make sure that they know that they can at least participate if it's open to them.
- We will even have trouble keeping our schools open by that time.
- We will even have trouble keeping our schools open by that time.
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability.
The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action.
The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- There's 700,000 acres of land that takes a significant... every square inch is open 365, 24/7, and so
- 50.640><c> so</c><00:41:51.640><c> managing</c><00:41:52.160><c> you</c><00:41:52.280><c> know</c> open
- 365 247 and so managing you know open 365 247 and so managing you know it's<00:41:52.560><c> managing
- The first thing is, DOA is the primary responder for wildlife fires occurring across 1 million acres.
- They are the primary leads with developing research, so the treatment and monitoring protocols that are
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Iryna and Charlie opened many eyes to the battle being waged against our nation.
- We need to be open and honest about the truth.
- We need to be open and honest about the truth.
- We need to be open and honest about the truth.
- WE NEED TO BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT THE TRUTH.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Funding Review Committee Mar 25th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Higher Education Funding Review Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- But if you open that report, the blue one or the white page that's layered on top is the actual program
- But by having a system of reporting that's very flexible to your point, it does open up conversations
- So the primary driver of this funding formula would be FTE enrollment. Senator Beckett.
- from four of them sitting at this table, and I hope you appreciate we're trying to have a realistic open
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation (10-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- 48.000><c> the</c> The reason this was going through the alternative delivery process, one of the primary
- install new bridge, all of those different things, that's a lot more complex than if you've got a wide open
- So, and I'm not trying to open up a can of worms, but would that be considered an OPIB contract, or is
- This program is open to freight railroads operating in the Commonwealth, as well as any railroad authority
Keywords:
00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call
01:20 Road Projects
46:30 Approval of Minutes
46:50 Railroads
57:26 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum, so it could not approve the minutes. The chair announced an Eastern Kentucky University health forum later that day and then proceeded with testimony on alternative delivery methods for road projects. Jason Sawala of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Chad Laroo of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors were sworn in and introduced themselves.
Sawala explained KYTC’s use of alternative delivery tools, including design-build, construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), and public-private partnerships (P3s). He said the cabinet’s goal is to deliver the best value to taxpayers in terms of quality, cost, and time, and emphasized that alternative delivery is most useful on projects with special circumstances such as innovation needs, specialized technology, complex constructibility, schedule pressure, or early contractor input. He cited the cabinet’s wrong-way driving prevention project as an example where design-build helped evaluate technologies and coordinate with stakeholders such as EMS and first responders.
He also outlined the main tradeoffs: alternative delivery can improve collaboration and sometimes accelerate schedules, but it also brings risks related to right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, changing scope, and the need for dedicated staff and compressed decision-making. He stressed that these methods are not a cure-all and are not appropriate for every project, while noting that traditional design-bid-build remains effective for most of KYTC’s work.
Representative Branscum responded favorably, saying early contractor involvement is valuable and consistent with his experience in the vertical construction world. No votes or formal actions were taken because the committee lacked a quorum.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- If you signed up for multiple bills, you'll be called based on the first bill you listed as your primary
- This opens the door to mass cataloging of sensitive activities and is highly error-prone.
- court that within an online doc, that pro se litigants could see the document images, but could not open
- This bill opens the door to punishing or censoring individuals like me, Jewish Israelis, who question
- Adoption of this definition restricts freedom of speech and would chillingly open the door for legal
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Summary:
The committee opened with procedural guidance for a very large hearing, explaining testimony limits, written testimony procedures, and rules for maintaining order. Members then heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including proposals to define antisemitism using the IHRA definition, regulate facial recognition technology, restrict weaponized robotics and drone use, expand protections for journalists’ confidential sources, address access to decedents’ email accounts, and create or adjust rules around municipal enforcement and animal cruelty fines. Several sponsors and advocates asked for favorable reports, and committee members asked clarifying questions on implementation, costs, and how the bills would interact with existing law.
On facial recognition, sponsors and advocates described the technology as a threat to privacy, due process, and civil liberties, and urged adoption of the Special Commission’s recommendations, including warrant requirements, notice to defendants, and limits on untargeted surveillance. Support came from legislators, the ACLU, CDT, EFF, and a UMass professor, while committee members asked about current state law and municipal bans. On robotics, Senator Moore and industry witnesses from MassRobotics, Boston Dynamics, and AUVSI supported a bill prohibiting weaponized robots and requiring warrants for certain law enforcement uses, describing it as a public-safety and trust-building measure. On the shield law bill, newspaper publishers, journalists, NEFAC, and the Reporters Committee argued Massachusetts needs statutory protection for confidential sources, citing costly subpoenas and chilling effects on reporting.
The committee also heard testimony on a bill to expand the right of publicity to cover image and voice, with SAG-AFTRA members supporting protections against AI-driven exploitation and some discussion about viral content and consent. Another bill would allow limited access to a decedent’s email accounts, with one witness describing a family’s inability to use a deceased relative’s email to notify friends. The committee then took testimony on psilocybin-related bills: supporters described medical and personal benefits and argued for narrow decriminalization or study, while an opponent warned of public-health risks, impaired driving, and youth exposure; the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society supported limited, safety-based decriminalization. Finally, the committee heard strong support for a “safe reporting” bill for sex workers and trafficking survivors, with advocates saying immunity would encourage victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of arrest, and members raised questions about how the immunity would work in practice.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- So the other thing that I notice is, um, I understand, you know, the primary goal here is we're talking
- c><00:30:39.800><c> the</c> it um I understand you know it the it um I understand you know it the primary
- 40.640><c> is</c><00:30:40.720><c> we're</c><00:30:40.840><c> talking</c><00:30:41.000><c> about</c> primary
- goal here is we're talking about primary goal here is we're talking about price<00:30:41.440><c> increases
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Cmte on Rules - Subcommittee on the Federal Impact on Minnesotans and Economic Stability - 02/20/26
Transcript Highlights:
- they end up in the emergency room with Senator Mann for strep throat when they could have seen a primary
- 17.840><c> a</c> strep throat when they could have seen a strep throat when they could have seen a primary
- ><c> provider,</c><01:52:19.520><c> but</c><01:52:19.920><c> sorry,</c><01:52:20.480><c> they</c> primary
- care provider, but sorry, they primary care provider, but sorry, they don't<01:52:20.800><c> have</c
Summary:
The Senate Rules and Administration Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability met on February 20, 2026, to hear from Minnesota Management and Budget State Budget Director Anna Mingi about federal funding changes affecting the state budget. Before testimony began, Senator Rasmusson objected to a draft committee report that had been prepared in advance of the hearing, arguing it was inappropriate to summarize testimony before it occurred. The chair responded that nonpartisan staff had prepared the draft from Mingi’s submitted presentation and could revise it after the hearing if needed.
Director Mingi explained that federal dollars make up more than one-third of state spending and support about 650 federal awards totaling over $23 billion this year, with more than $15 billion supporting state entitlement programs. She said the federal funding environment had changed significantly since January 2025 through executive orders, pauses, terminations, new grant conditions, delayed awards, and the July 2025 passage of H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill. Her main focus was H.R. 1’s effects on health care and food assistance, including work requirements for some adults, changes to eligibility for legal non-citizens, limits on retroactive Medicaid coverage and directed payments, new limits on provider taxes, and SNAP changes that shift some benefit and administrative costs to the state and counties. She estimated H.R. 1 would reduce federal funds to state-administered programs by about $327 million in the current biennium and $1.6 billion in the next, with additional costs to hospitals, counties, and other partners beyond the budget horizon.
Members asked follow-up questions about whether the estimates were relative to the forecast and whether federal Medicaid funding would still rise over time. Mingi said the estimates were based on the November forecast baseline and that Medicaid federal dollars would likely continue growing overall, though the law still creates significant losses relative to prior projections. Senator Rasmusson emphasized that point in remarks to the committee. The discussion then shifted to federal grant pauses and cancellations: MMB’s tracker showed about six awards on hold totaling roughly $491 million, 13 confirmed cancellations across areas including clean energy, education, food assistance, and public health, and additional threatened or litigated cuts not included in those totals. Mingi identified two canceled violence-prevention-related grants, including a FEMA public safety grant and a justice reinvestment grant, and noted that CDC had recently moved to cancel or seek cancellation of several Minnesota public health grants, including a $65 million public health infrastructure award.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama Joint Contract Review Committee Jul 9th, 2026
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance. (3-4-26)
Banking & Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, the primary function of Senate Bill 153 is to address some of the fraudulent activities involving
- Normally, you would like to hear yourself talk a little more than that, Senator. >> I open myself up
Committee:
House Banking & Insurance
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
September 22, 2025 - 12:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Property taxes are the primary source of funding of public schools at the local level.
- Again, that's a policy decision open to the legislature on what they do and do not allow.
Summary:
The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved.
Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP.
Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns.
The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Would the chair be open to amending it to better reflect the work that was done by the committee so that
- the</c><00:06:30.560><c> chair</c><00:06:30.960><c> be</c><00:06:31.599><c> um</c><00:06:31.880><c> open
- </c><00:06:32.479><c> to</c><00:06:32.919><c> amending</c> would the chair be um open to amending would
- the chair be um open to amending it<00:06:33.560><c> to</c><00:06:33.800><c> better</c><00:06:34.199
- </c> career is over you you may have opened career is over you you may have opened the<00:53:19.280><
Committee:
Senate Education
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Higher Education Funding Review Committee Mar 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But if you open that report, the blue one or the white page that's layered on top is the actual program
- Carla: "Having a system of reporting that's very flexible to your point, Representative Hager, it does open
- Having a system of reporting that's very flexible to your point, Representative Hager, it does open up
- So the primary driver of this funding formula would be FTE enrollment. Senator Beckett.
- from four of them sitting at this table, and I hope you appreciate we're trying to have a realistic open
Summary:
The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting.
The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later.
A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board (6-25-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- There are two primary functions of this board. One is to educate and also to provide oversight.
- And let me preface my question by thanking you and Co-Chair Adams for your opening remarks.
- co-chair<00:50:12.480><c> Adams</c><00:50:12.880><c> for</c><00:50:13.040><c> your</c><00:50:13.200><c> opening
- </c> co-chair Adams for your opening remarks. co-chair Adams for your opening remarks.
Keywords:
Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00
Introduction of Board Members – 00:02:04
Overview of the Purpose and Goals of the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board – 00:12:46
Medicaid Legislative Update - 00:20:26
Discussion of Next Steps and Future Meeting Dates – 01:04:06
Adjournment – 01:06:37, 958, all
Summary:
The first meeting of the Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board opened with Chair Ken Fleming and Co-Chair Rocky Adams welcoming members, explaining the board’s purpose, and introducing the diverse membership of legislators, providers, advocates, and state officials. Fleming said the board would meet monthly, allow public comment at the end of meetings, and operate transparently with materials posted online and distributed in advance. Both chairs emphasized that the board’s work would focus on improving Medicaid outcomes, efficiency, and oversight, while preparing for possible federal changes and avoiding premature assumptions about what Congress may do.
Members then gave brief introductions describing their backgrounds in medicine, nursing, hospital administration, behavioral health, insurance, budgeting, pharmacy, and Medicaid administration. Several noted direct experience with Medicaid populations or managed care, including the Department for Medicaid Services commissioner, health plan representatives, hospital and clinic leaders, and legislators with health care backgrounds. The board also heard from Stephanie Bates of the LRC Office of Health Data Analytics, who said her office supports the General Assembly with health-related data, policy, and research and would serve as a resource to the board.
Bates then began a presentation on Medicaid basics, explaining that House Bill 695 created the board and that the presentation would cover eligibility, enrollment, covered benefits, waivers, managed care, the budget, and the federal reconciliation bill. She described Medicaid eligibility as complex, noted that Kentucky had more than 1.4 million enrollees, and explained enrollment churn and the unwinding of pandemic-era continuous coverage. She also outlined mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits, the requirement that services be medically necessary and provided by enrolled providers, and the main waiver types used in Kentucky, including 1115, 1915(b), and 1915(c) waivers. No votes or formal actions were taken at this meeting beyond organizational setup and receiving the initial informational presentation.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education (2-19-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome, everyone, to the third meeting of the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee.
- with the drafting of this bill, and we sure do not want to cut out competition, so yes, we would be open
- we</c><00:15:29.399><c> would</c><00:15:29.639><c> be</c><00:15:30.519><c> uh</c><00:15:30.720><c> open
- </c> competition so yes we would be uh open competition so yes we would be uh open to<00:15:31.279><c
Summary:
The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first took up House Bill 14, which would establish Alyssa’s Law in Kentucky public schools. The bill, as amended by committee substitute, would allow districts to implement wearable panic alert systems for school staff beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Sponsor Rep. Kevin Jackson and supporters described the system as a silent badge/button that can alert school offices, 911, first responders, and other personnel, with different button sequences for different emergencies. Testimony from Lori Alade, Alyssa’s mother and founder of Make Our Schools Safe, emphasized that “time equals life” and said the technology can help in active threats, medical emergencies, weather events, and other urgent situations. Students from St. Margaret Mary’s Kentucky Youth Assembly also supported the bill, citing the Georgia school shooting response as an example of how such systems can save lives. Members asked about vendor neutrality, costs, training, and whether the system could be used off campus; sponsors said the bill is intended to be vendor neutral, estimated statewide costs ranged from about $2 million to $6 million, training would be provided before the school year, and they would follow up on the off-campus question. The committee approved HB 14 with the committee substitute attached.
The committee then reconsidered and approved House Bill 48, a cleanup measure related to school reporting requirements. The substitute was described as addressing department concerns about eliminating certain reporting forms while preserving district flexibility and reducing burdensome reporting. It would allow schools to maintain or use alternative reporting methods, provide KDE a timeline and guidelines for reporting on Cognia software used for CPS and C-dips, and require a written report to the LRC describing reporting requirements imposed on public schools and districts, with items not reapproved by the legislature sunsetting in 2026. The bill passed the committee with the committee substitute attached.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 190, as amended by committee substitute, which would shift the measure from a planning-and-action bill to a planning-only bill for advanced coursework and codify some gifted-student regulations. Rep. Duvall and Dr. Julia Link Roberts of WKU said the bill is intended to expand opportunities for high-potential students by requiring districts to set policies on advanced coursework or accelerated learning options for grades 4 through 12. The substitute changes the standard from “proficient” to “distinguished,” allows districts flexibility in how they implement the policies, and may require automatic enrollment for students scoring distinguished, with opt-out provisions and a principal exception if coursework conflicts with career pathways or CTE access. Members discussed how the proposal differs from current advanced programs, the broader inclusion of students, and district variation in available opportunities. No final vote on HB 190 was included in the transcript excerpt.