Transcript Highlights:

• She argued that the proposal is so massive and radical that, at minimum, it should fade away in five
• But really it doesn't require us or obligate us to any specific minimum dollar amount to put in that
• Unfortunately, their age has now risen to something like 40 years old.
• with resident age.
• I started my first business at age 22. And for the last eight years, I've been pretty quiet.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said when other countries are buying or owning ag land, it needs to be stopped.
• He said when other countries are buying or owning ag land, it needs to be stopped.
• He said when we have other countries buying ag land or owning ag land, it needs to be put to a stop.
• He said when we have other countries buying ag land or owning ag land, it needs to be put to a stop.
• He said when we have other countries buying ag land or owning ag land, it needs to be put to a stop.

Keywords: 00:00 -- Introduction 00:13 – Attendance Roll Call 08:25 – Discussion of HB 315 23:45 – Roll call vote on HB 315 26:35 – Discussion of HB 356 46:30 – Roll call vote on HB 356, 958, all

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee first spent much of the meeting recognizing the large number of 4-H and FFA students and guests in attendance, with members from several counties introducing their groups and praising the programs for developing future agricultural and civic leaders. Comments emphasized the value of youth involvement in agriculture, leadership, and public speaking, and several members noted their own 4-H or FFA backgrounds. The committee then took up House Bill 356, and adopted a committee substitute before hearing testimony on the revised measure. House Bill 356, sponsored by Representative Carney, would create the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, expanding the original urban farming concept into broader agricultural education, agribusiness, advocacy, and work-ready skills. The substitute removed the requirement that participants have access to farmland, lowered the age floor from six to five, broadened participation, and established a pilot program with implementation left to Cooperative Extension. Supportive testimony came from a 4-H student and Kentucky 4-H representatives, who described how the program helps youth explore many interests and removes barriers for urban students. Members from both parties praised the bill as a way to reach more youth and strengthen agricultural education. The committee approved House Bill 356 as amended by the committee substitute on a roll call vote, with all members present voting yes. The committee then heard House Bill 315 from Representative Sharp, a foreign adversary land bill intended to limit certain foreign entities’ ability to purchase Kentucky land. Before member questions, Tim Shank of the Kentucky Bankers Association testified in opposition to one section of the bill, saying banks already screen borrowers through federal systems and that Section 8’s reference to an Attorney General lien for “actual costs” was too vague. He warned the language could create uncertainty for mortgage holders and potentially affect credit availability for farmers. Representative Sharp said he had just learned of the concern and may need to work with the Attorney General’s office to address it. He also said the bill was largely the same as last year’s version, except for the removal of a leasing-related paragraph, and the committee began discussion of the bill after that testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means maintaining our... ...aging infrastructure.
• Single-use plastic bags, which are those that don't meet the minimum specifications for reusable plastic
• They must have a minimum thickness of 2.25 mils under the current requirements.
• And then it's scheduled to sunset when the four-mil minimum thickness requirement takes effect.
• If a tribal-owned store was located off the reservation, it may apply, but you should really ask the AG

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the way it's true. ...statute with a minimum dollar amount after.
• Unfortunately, their age has now risen to something like 40 years old.
• with resident age.
• Infrastructure ages and economic conditions evolve. Consider Port St.
• I started my first business at age 22. And for the last eight years, I've been pretty quiet.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have never liked the minimum wage.
• The last time it was minimum wage.
• <01:15:18.480> Thank try to raise the minimum wage. Thank try to raise the minimum wage.
• outgoing traffic by raising our minimum outgoing traffic by raising our minimum wage<01:18:21.280
• So despite the fact that we don't have a state-mandated minimum wage above the federal minimum wage,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that had residency requirements, uh, specific timeline residency requirements in the past, uh, the AG
• But putting an actual requirement on residency and term of, uh, how long you've lived here, uh, the AG
• <00:26:42.559> did<00:26:42.720> raise in the past, uh the AG did raise in the past
• , uh the AG did raise concerns<00:26:43.520> with.
• Our members take age-restricted sales very seriously. We strictly check IDs and follow the law.

Bills: HB1977, HB1764, HB1934, HB2533, HB1790, HB2181, HB1870, HB2140, HB2468, HB2358, HB1588, HB1688, HB1986, HB2030, HB2195, HB1949, HB1695, HB1950, HB2094, HB2115, HB2297, HB2336, HB2416, HB2049

Keywords: maternal health, infant health, mobile application, Medicaid, healthcare access, state programs, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, libraries, education, reading programs, early childhood, nonprofit, community engagement, teacher retention, Hawaiian language education, special needs schools

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:33.040> Minimum<00:36:33.760> 21<00:36:34.160> weeks minimum 21 weeks
• Minimum 21 weeks minimum 21 weeks old.
• . demand. 13 is the average age girls are demand. 13 is the average age girls are sex<03:35:58.880>
• And I I believe and I hopefully the AG And I I believe and I hopefully the AG will<04:29:18.960>
• Representative Muse. someone under the age of 18 or it's someone under the age of 18 or it's unclear<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Even among co-ops, we'll have the same minimum order. A co-op will be 10 miles from the next co-op.
• co-ops, we'll have the same minimum co-ops, we'll have the same minimum order.<00:10:36.560>
• as being able to bring a struck the AG as being able to bring a case<00:30:03.600> and<00:30:
• Um and to your point<00:30:29.279> about<00:30:29.520> the<00:30:29.960> AG,<00:
• , I think, you know, point about the AG, I think, you know, the<00:30:32.080> way<00:30:32.240

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• users under 13 to manage privacy and settings, with appropriate tools available for parents of minors age
• of my ad hoc committee on election integrity to include issues about how democracy will work in an age
• of AI. ...issues about how democracy will work in an age of AI in general.
• And when it comes to setting rules around protecting people's privacy in the age of AI, we do need the
• But now we're in this age of high-tech, fast-paced stuff, and we will be dealing with AI issues next

Bills: HB2311, HB2371, HB2409, HB2410, HB2456, HB2457, HB4005

Keywords: artificial intelligence, disclosure requirements, data privacy, minor protection, online safety, HB2371, Arizona divorce, family law, dissolution of marriage, AI arbitration, AI-assisted arbitration, automated dispute resolution, online arbitration, binding determination, recommendation, superior court appeal, de novo review, marital dissolution, spousal consent, minor children

Summary: The committee met in a special morning session and first heard HB 2371, a pilot proposal to allow consenting divorcing parties without minor children to use AI-assisted arbitration in simple divorce cases. Rep. Martinez described it as a voluntary, fairness-focused tool for people who cannot afford lawyers, with the judge retaining final authority. Members raised concerns about the bill’s binding-language, privacy, and the need for clearer guardrails on assets and support, but the sponsor said amendments were welcome. The committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2371 a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up HB 2311, which requires conversational AI systems to notify minors they are interacting with AI, restrict sexual content, prohibit deceptive human impersonation, and require self-harm response protocols. Google testified in support, saying its Gemini product already uses similar safeguards and that the bill would set an industry-wide floor; a speaker also noted similar measures are being considered in several other states. After adopting a committee amendment clarifying customer-service AI and limiting developer liability, the committee voted 7-0 to recommend HB 2311 do pass as amended. Next, the committee heard HB 2409, creating a voluntary statewide summer AI education program focused on digital hygiene, civic integrity, privacy, media literacy, critical thinking, and algorithmic bias. Supporters argued Arizona needs to prepare residents for AI-driven job disruption and help people use the technology to become more self-sufficient, while opponents objected to the program’s funding and potential unfunded mandate to the education department. The bill passed 4-3. HB 2410, which would treat communications with AI as privileged like communications with human professionals, also passed after testimony from the sponsor and a criminal defense advocate who argued the measure would protect sensitive legal and personal conversations; the vote was 6-0 with one member present. The committee then approved HB 4005, requiring school districts and charter schools to provide instruction on ethical, moral, and educational uses of AI, by a 4-2-1 vote after some members said schools lacked resources and should not be mandated to add curriculum without funding. Finally, the committee considered HB 2456 and HB 2457, both related to small modular nuclear reactors and utility siting/streamlining for energy development tied to large power users. Supporters framed them as necessary for future energy demand, data centers, and economic growth, while opponents raised concerns about local zoning authority and environmental oversight. Both bills were amended and advanced on 4-3 votes, and the meeting adjourned after the final roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• These requirements cover employer participation criteria, minimum academic standards for students, and
• That is 1 in 20 deaths, including 41 deaths among people under age 21.
• That is, 1 in 20 deaths, including 41 deaths among people under age 21.
• This alcohol excise tax accomplishes two things, at minimum.
• Forty-one of those people would be under the age of 21.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills related to advertising, economic development, tourism, digital advertising, delivery taxes, and alcohol taxation. The first panel supported H. 3249, which would create a high school trade partnership program linking public schools with private employers, especially in manufacturing, and would offer employers a tax credit for participation. Representative Soder, Uxbridge High School leaders, and others argued the bill would strengthen career pathways, build a skilled workforce, and keep students and jobs in Massachusetts. The committee then heard testimony on H. 3031 and S. 2003 to modernize the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund by dedicating an additional share of hotel occupancy tax revenue to tourism promotion. Tourism and hospitality representatives from Cape Cod, Southwick Zoo, and Indian Ranch said the proposal would not raise taxes but would reinvest existing visitor-generated revenue into marketing that supports jobs, local businesses, and municipal tax receipts. A tech-industry coalition opposed several digital advertising tax bills and a delivery tax bill, warning they would raise costs, create uncertainty, and burden consumers, small businesses, and delivery workers. The largest portion of the hearing focused on S. 2029, which would raise the alcohol excise tax by 10 cents per drink and dedicate the revenue to public health programs. Public health experts, advocates, a student prevention leader, and representatives from Jane Doe, Inc. argued the tax would reduce alcohol-related harms, address decades of inflation-driven erosion in the tax, and generate substantial new funding for prevention, treatment, domestic violence services, and community schools. Committee members asked questions about the current tax structure, inflation, and how the proposal compares with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then number four is with DHS Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services.
• Number 9, DHS Division of Aging and Adults and Behavioral Health Services with ATA Services.
• Number 12, DHS Division of Aging, Adults, and Behavioral Health with Lennon King.
• Number 12, DHS Division of Aging, Adults, and Behavioral Health with Lennon King.
• Jay Hill, Division of Aging Adult Services with DHS.

Summary: The subcommittee reviewed multiple methods of finance and construction items, including projects for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College, UAMS, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and UCA. The UAPB Allied Health and Sciences Building appeared both as a method of finance and as an alternative delivery construction project, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members approved the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, and several discretionary grants, including Department of Health grants for a heart attack center designation and community health worker training, and DHS grants related to homeless services, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. The committee then reviewed service contracts, including RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and a large number of out-of-state and in-state contracts. Testimony focused heavily on DHS staffing and state hospital contracts, the Arkansas State Police seatbelt survey, AEDC’s lithium supply chain analysis, and Shared Administrative Services’ new SuccessFactors performance-management contract. Members asked detailed questions about contract nursing costs, turnover, hiring timelines, and whether some contracts were being renewed or amended beyond their original projected costs. DHS and Veterans Affairs officials explained staffing shortages, retention incentives, and the use of contract labor as a supplement to state employees. Several contracts drew scrutiny and were held for further review. Representative Wardlaw raised concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments on the Department of Education security contract and on DHS staffing contracts, arguing that some had exceeded their original projected totals. The committee voted to hold contracts 5, 7, and 8 until Friday, while adopting the remaining contracts. The meeting ended after informational reports on service contract amendments without material change, executed contracts, and emergency procurements were presented, with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the cost of care for an infant and school-aged child is nearly 71% of the median salary
• First, increases in rates remain far below the increase in the minimum wage.
• And that's parents with school-aged children. And I suspect it... Or nearly every day.
• And that's parents with school-age children.
• They have their degrees, and there's no way that we're going to pay below minimum wage.

Summary: The California State Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its first hearing to examine the state of child care access, affordability, and provider compensation. Chair Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and other members described child care as essential infrastructure for working families and the economy, noting that costs are unaffordable for many households and that providers are underpaid. Early testimony came from a San Francisco parent, Quinn Chung, who described the difficulty of finding safe care and the financial and career sacrifices caused by lack of child care, and from Tuolumne County provider Anita Viscini, who detailed her monthly costs, low margins, and the need to work weekends and teach CPR classes to make ends meet. Assemblymembers also emphasized the crisis in rural communities and the need for a long-term strategy. The first policy panel featured Jennifer Troia of the California Department of Social Services, Laura Pryor of the California Budget and Policy Center, and Alexa Frankenberg of Child Care Providers United. Troia said the state has nearly doubled child care funding in five years, expanded subsidy slots, and reached a new tentative three-year agreement with providers that includes cost-of-living adjustments, stabilization payments, and continued work on an alternative rate methodology and single rate structure. Pryor argued that despite funding gains, child care remains too expensive, only a fraction of eligible children receive subsidies, and provider wages remain far below comparable jobs, worsening racial and gender inequities. Frankenberg said the tentative agreement is progress but not enough, calling for a true cost-of-care system, fair wages, paid time off, better support for emergency and nontraditional care, and stronger integration of family child care into the mixed-delivery system. Members asked about why the crisis persists, how the alternative methodology will work, how family fees and sliding-scale help are being used, and why middle-income families still struggle. The panel said the problem reflects long-term underinvestment, a broken market, and a system that still leaves many families without access. The committee also heard an economic panel from Ashley Hoffman of the California Chamber of Commerce and Sarah Bone of the Public Policy Institute of California. Hoffman described employer child care benefits and public-private partnership models in other states, including shared-cost programs and local chamber efforts. Bone said child care costs reduce family financial security and labor force participation, especially for mothers of young children, and estimated that if mothers of young children worked at the same rate as mothers of older children, more than 80,000 additional women could be in the workforce each year. In the final panel, parent and provider advocates, including Jennifer Greppie and Black Californians United for Early Care and Education co-founder Keisha Doyle, argued for fully funding child care, ending waiting lists, protecting culturally affirming care, and addressing racial inequities and private equity’s role in the sector.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:35.520> of<00:49:35.599> one Minimum of one hour, um, a minimum of one hour
• This is clearly a minimum level standard. It is a minimum level standard.
• standard only a minimum level, a minimum standard only a minimum level, a minimum standard of<01
• <01:59:45.040> Director an in age a variation. Dr. Director an in age a variation. Dr.
• We have done things for aging.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California's public university buildings are aging rapidly, with over half of the UC and CSU facilities
• California's public university buildings are aging rapidly, with over half of the UC and CSU facilities
• I accepted committee amendments in the Assembly Local Government Committee, which addressed the minimum
• Our research has shown that there are 1.9 million mortgage-ready Latinos aged 18 to 45 in California,
• I'm with AG Global Solutions. I'm here today to speak in strong support of ACA 4.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development heard a long agenda focused mainly on housing production, higher education facilities, homelessness, and permitting reform. Early items included AB 6, which would direct HCD to convene a working group on allowing three- to ten-unit “missing middle” housing to be built under the Residential Code rather than the Building Code; AB 48, a higher education bond proposal that would fund campus repairs, modernization, disaster recovery, and student/employee housing; and AB 76, which would clarify a Chula Vista university innovation district exemption so the project can include academic buildings and housing without conflicting with surplus land rules. Supporters emphasized affordability, cost savings, student housing needs, and access to education, while members raised questions about implementation, affordability requirements, and project scope. The committee later took votes on these items, with AB 6, AB 48, and AB 76 all moving forward on unanimous or near-unanimous votes to Appropriations. Members also heard AB 595, which would create a state homeownership tax credit pilot to support affordable for-sale housing. The author and supporters argued that California’s homeownership rate is at historic lows and that the bill would help close racial wealth gaps by financing homes working families can buy. The committee approved AB 595 and sent it to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including several other housing-related bills, was also approved unanimously. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1165, the California Housing Justice Act of 2025, which would require ongoing state investment and a financing plan to address homelessness and housing affordability. The author and witnesses described the scale of homelessness, the limits of one-time funding, and the need for sustained, accountable funding streams. After testimony from housing advocates and people with lived experience, the committee passed AB 1165 on a 10-0 vote to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard AB 609, a CEQA reform bill that would create a simplified exemption for qualifying infill housing projects in already developed areas. Supporters framed it as a targeted way to reduce delays and costs for housing near jobs and transit, while opponents from environmental justice, labor, and tribal groups warned it could reduce public participation, weaken protections for disadvantaged communities, and create consultation concerns for tribal cultural resources. The author said the bill would not change zoning or affordability tools and would continue to work with opponents on amendments. The bill was moved forward after extensive discussion, with members noting ongoing negotiations on tribal consultation and labor concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• aging in place, strengthen aging in place, strengthen intergenerational<01:21:07.920> living,<
• Uh I am... anybody over the age in Durham of 160 anybody over the age in Durham of 160 years<03:48:16.080
• At the age of seven, I became a lake kid.
• So typically DES sets minimum standards statewide based on what should be the minimum standard that everyone
• So typically DES sets minimum standards statewide based on what should be the minimum standard that everyone

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the infrastructure is aging, and we really need to start investing in it.
• Thousands of acres were removed from the rolls with minimum payment in lieu of taxes compensation.
• These minimum standards cover many commonly known enforcement activities like the Food Code, Housing
• These minimum standards cover many commonly known enforcement activities like the Food Code, Housing
• Beginning after the last ice age, this ecoregion was the home of the Wampanoag people.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing covered a broad set of environmental and water-related bills, with much of the testimony focused on blue economy and circular economy proposals, drought management, drinking water safety, flood resilience, and water infrastructure funding. Supporters of bills such as H. 987 and H. 988 described grant programs for blue economy workforce development, research, small businesses, and public education about a circular economy. Other speakers backed measures on coastal erosion research, recreational boating dredging, cranberry water-right transfers, sand mining oversight, and a voucher program for home water filtration in PFAS-impacted communities. Several elected officials and advocates also urged passage of bills to require private well testing, improve school drinking water safety, and address sand mining pollution and PFAS contamination. Water supply and drought issues drew extensive testimony. Senator Eldridge and others supported legislation to let the state, through DEP and the drought management task force, impose regional water-use restrictions during droughts and make the task force permanent in statute. Advocates from watershed groups, farms, and environmental organizations said the current town-by-town approach is inconsistent and ineffective, and they described drought impacts on rivers, farms, private wells, and wildfire risk. A related bill on private wells was supported as a way to help homeowners test and remediate contaminated wells, especially in rural areas without public water. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to allow the Lynnfield Water District to join the MWRA, with local officials saying the move would help address PFAS and other contamination and improve supply reliability. Another major panel supported a water infrastructure funding bill, arguing that aging drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems need major new investment, including support for PFAS treatment, sewer rate relief, biosolids research, and regional interconnections. Members asked about costs, funding sources, and the relationship to existing revolving loan funds; witnesses said the bill would need to be paired with future bond funding and new revenue ideas. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs repeatedly invited written testimony and noted the large number of speakers.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want you to believe that there should be a minimum number of years that those schools should be in
• No, you don't believe there should be a minimum time requirement for a school to be in existence before
• Members, these programs are not going to be universal. without all school-aged children.
• According to the Census Bureau it's approximately 23,000, 36% of kids under the age of six who are at
• standards for school safety, minimum standards the same standards we use for bullying.

Bills: SB2, SJR36, SB2, SB2, SR29, SB2

Keywords: Maverick County, recognition, economic development, Texas Senate, community celebration, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> We don't age ourselves. [laughter] Thank you very much. you. Owie. Got it.
• I think we in Hancock County during that time. >> Many years ago. >> We don't age ourselves.
• I think we were in Hancock County during that time. >> Many years ago. >> We don't age ourselves.
• I think we were in Hancock County during that time. >> Many years ago. >> We don't age ourselves.
• <00:15:59.759> salary salary listed on the minimum salary salary listed on the minimum salary

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard an Office of Education Technology presentation on the Kentucky Education Technology System (KTS) and a request to increase its annual budget from $15.4 million to $30 million, including an additional $14.6 million. The witness described KTS as a statewide service model that provides districts with student information and financial systems, internet bandwidth, regional support, cybersecurity, online registration, learning management and email services, and collaborative instructional technology support. He argued the state’s centralized purchasing saves districts 40% to 60% compared with buying services individually, and said federal internet discounts and district matching funds create a strong return on investment. He also said KTS has faced long-term funding cuts, has not received a cost-of-living increase since 1992, and is now at a “breaking point” where some services may have to be shifted to districts at higher cost. The request was broken into six main items: restoring funding for the computer science and information technology academy; strengthening cybersecurity defenses in response to sharply rising attacks on K-12 systems; funding online registration through Infinite Campus; stabilizing ongoing support costs for Infinite Campus; providing cost-of-living increases for KTS services; and increasing the KTS financial assistance sent to districts, which requires local matching funds. Members asked about the current appropriation, and the witness said it is $15.4 million. One member praised the office’s work and support for districts, while another noted the district had been an early adopter of one-to-one technology. The committee then received an overview of the KRS 156 salary schedule and step-and-rank system for state-operated career and technical education staff at area technology centers. Officials explained that salaries are set under statute and regulation based on years of service and educational rank, with annual calculations tied to statewide teacher salary averages and retroactive adjustments to July 1. They said the current ABR request is $325,000 over the biennium to cover step and rank increases. The presentation noted that KRS 156 salaries are generally comparable to local districts but are less competitive with business and industry, making recruitment and retention difficult, especially for instructors coming from the trades. Members agreed that trade instructors are underpaid relative to the market and said the issue deserves further review, with department officials indicating they are considering possible statutory revisions and a delayed implementation in a future biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• So then the language would read, equip or furnish heat at the minimum temperature.
• equip or furnish heat at the minimum equip or furnish heat at the minimum temperature.<00:21:29.120
• For those of you that have kids that are heading towards the age where they're going to buy a house,
• <00:33:38.240> And minimum and that we need to do more.
• And minimum and that we need to do more.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 11, we come to House Bill 238, relating to labor and employment, payment of wages, minimum wage
• This bill provides that an employer that violates provisions relating to minimum wage, overtime wage
• House Bill 888 relates to minimum off-street parking requirements in certain areas.
• House Bill 888 helps address the supply side of our housing affordability crisis by lowering minimum
• We can look back to the age of the young men and women who fought to free America some 250 years ago.

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session, 976, house, all