Transcript Highlights:

• And if so, have you asked for any sort of a fiscal note on any additional cost beyond the one for the
• <00:54:06.960> note<00:54:07.280> and working through the fiscal note and working through
• I know Senator Matthews was asking for a walkthrough of the fiscal note.
• Andrew Ericson, the fiscal analyst covering the committee. And we'll walk through the fiscal note.
• The fiscal note that we have here is going to probably be five times that. >> Senator Swedzinski.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• note as Senator question of the fiscal note as Senator rest<00:21:57.279> said<00:21:57.440><
• For members’ benefit, I’ll point out that we don’t have a fiscal note on this bill; we have a revenue
• <00:23:48.799> we<00:23:48.919> have have a fiscal note on this bill we have have a
• Senator Dibble: Just going to thank you for making note of the fact that we have revenue notes, not fiscal
• <00:27:38.760> committee notes not fiscal notes in this committee notes not fiscal notes in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in fiscal 27. in fiscal 27.
• by $700,000 in fiscal 27, and federal funds by $27 million in fiscal 27 and $9.5 million in fiscal 28
• fiscal 28 for the performance fund. fiscal 28 for the performance fund.
• in fiscal 28 for the Ford C.
• <00:25:29.280> 28<00:25:29.720> for fiscal 27, $3.6 million in fiscal 28 for fiscal

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:23 HB 503 Discussion 00:01:00 HB 503 Vote 00:02:17 HB 504 Discussion 00:02:53 HB 504 Vote 00:04:48 HB 500 Discussion 00:05:19 HB 500 Vote 00:29:18 HB 900 Discussion 00:32:02 HB 900 Vote 00:33:00, 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, adopting a committee substitute and reporting it favorably. The chair said the Senate version fully funds defined calculations, provides 2% raises in each fiscal year for legislative employees, removes a paragraph on operating expense reductions, and includes $1 million in the first year for a judicial branch salary study. House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, was then amended and reported favorably; changes included 2% annual raises for judicial employees, revised operating expense language, $1 million each year for county current services, retention of Boyle County fit-up language, reporting requirements for smaller capital projects, full funding for nine judges added in 2022, and removal of furlough prohibitions and certain budget implementation language. Both bills passed the committee unanimously with favorable expressions to the floor. The committee then considered House Bill 500, the executive branch budget, adopting a committee substitute before hearing a lengthy summary of major spending and policy changes. The chair described statewide 2% annual employee raises, agency base reductions with many exemptions, increased school safety and 911 funding, veterans and military funding, local government and severance-related changes, attorney general and auditor funding, pension and retirement system support, education funding changes including SEEK, postsecondary and scholarship provisions, public safety and corrections funding, and multiple capital projects. The chair also highlighted Medicaid-related provisions, including added waiver slots, increased state-directed payments, a 2.5% reduction in managed care vendor payments for plan years 2027 and 2028 with savings redirected to fee-for-service rates, and additional funding for behavioral health and public health programs. The bill was reported favorably after members explained their votes, with several noting they had only recently received the full 228-page bill and wanted more time for detailed review. Finally, the committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 900, an appropriation measure for government agencies, and reported it favorably. The chair said the bill remains a work in progress and that one-time funding requests from across the Commonwealth and across party lines would continue to be addressed as the process moves forward. All measures considered during the meeting passed the committee with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We didn't require it to, to tap into that at this, in this fiscal year.
• Uh, that will be shifting, uh, starting the next meeting we'll be moving into fiscal year 26.
• One year ahead of those fiscal years too.
• We also want to look at the, the fiscal responsibility that we have with the number of schools.
• responsible fiscally, being fiscally cognizant of how we are making awards to other districts that have

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will note. At the request of the author...
• Clerk will note.
• Despite these efforts, fiscal challenges persist.
• Despite these efforts, fiscal challenges persist.
• Clerk will note. SB 1294, Rubio, from the consent calendar. Clerk will note. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly met with an initial quorum call, then proceeded through routine floor business, guest introductions, and several procedural motions. Members approved requests to suspend rules for adjournment-in-memory remarks and guest seating, removed some bills from the consent calendar, and re-referred or withdrew several measures. The chamber also took up a number of second-reading and concurrence items later in the day. Two major bills drew floor debate. SB 762, a tax measure allowing eligible local governments to seek voter approval for transactions and use tax rates above the statutory cap, was presented as a response to local fiscal pressures and was described by supporters as giving voters local choice rather than imposing a tax increase. It passed with an urgency vote of 54-13 and was sent immediately to the Senate. AB 126, the education budget trailer bill, was presented as a major investment in TK-12 education, special education, community schools, and educator leave; one member supported many provisions but objected to policy changes affecting charter schools being included in a budget bill. The Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments on AB 126 by a vote of 56-1. The Assembly also concurred in AB 35, an urgency environmental protection bill intended to speed implementation of Proposition 4-funded projects by narrowing administrative delay; supporters said it would accelerate wildfire prevention, water, and other environmental projects. The measure passed unanimously, 66-0. The consent calendar was then adopted, including AB 2796 on criminal history information, which passed 67-0. The session concluded with multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, including remarks honoring victims of a B-52 test flight crash at Edwards Air Force Base, former West Covina Mayor Lloyd Johnson, civil rights leader Harold Brown, educator and activist Kiyoko Nancy Oda, and Auburn Mayor John Mike Holmes, followed by announcements of summer recess and adjournment until August 3.

Transcript Highlights:

• that was in the fiscal note and that was that was in the fiscal note and that was in<00:58:22.079
• <00:58:48.559> Um ever going through a fiscal note. Um ever going through a fiscal note.
• to the fiscal note I believe<01:02:36.319> fiscal<01:02:36.559> notes<01:02:36.880>
• generally<01:02:37.119> only believe fiscal notes generally only believe fiscal notes generally
• <01:04:08.000> note and uh I looked back at the fiscal note and uh I looked back at the fiscal

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, I did request a fiscal note and it came back as undetermined because we can't really predict the
• note or is Uh does this have a fiscal note or is this<00:10:17.160> something<00:10:17.640>
• Yes, I did request a fiscal<00:10:35.560> note<00:10:35.840> and<00:10:35.960> it
• ><00:10:36.080> came<00:10:36.320> back<00:10:36.600> as fiscal note and it came
• back as fiscal note and it came back as undetermined<00:10:37.600> because<00:10:37.920> we

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection met with a quorum and took up three bills. House Bill 297, sponsored by Rep. Chris Lewis, would make Kentucky State Fair Board police explicitly eligible for inclusion in the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund and related certification provisions. Testimony explained that the bill is intended to correct a technical gap, noting the officers are already POPS-certified and that Louisville Metro Police Department would provide annual training. The committee reported the bill favorably after a roll call vote. House Bill 364, sponsored by Rep. Steve Bratcher, would provide hazardous duty pay for Kentucky National Guard members called to state active duty for natural disasters or emergencies, limited to the first 72 hours of a declaration. Supporters described the risks faced during the initial response period and said the measure recognizes the time and family sacrifices of part-time Guard members. In response to a question, the sponsor said the fiscal note was undetermined because disaster frequency cannot be predicted, but noted federal reimbursement has covered Guard emergency expenditures in past events. The committee passed the bill favorably. House Bill 436, sponsored by Rep. Wesley, addressed mental health for first responders and was described as a request from search and rescue personnel. The sponsor said the measure had passed the House unanimously in a prior session. Guests from the Kentucky Fire Commission and Kentucky Professional Firefighters were introduced, and the committee reported the bill favorably without opposition. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional presence and votes, the chair announced Military Kids Day on February 19, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I see the fiscal note, but I don’t see what the cost is, actually. ...don't see what the cost is actually
• I'm hopeful that by the time we would get to the floor, we would have more information about fiscal notes
• And I think I know, when you look at the fiscal note, it says it could decrease revenues.
• Yeah, we were unsure of the fiscal note on that.
• note.

Bills: HB61, HB327, HB253, HB297

Keywords: home school, career and technical education, public schools, K-12 education, enrollment policy, parental leave, state employees, adoption, employee benefits, aircraft tax, aviation tax, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, lease tax, rental tax, commercial aircraft, air carrier, airline, aircraft parts, maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• have is um have we requested a fiscal have is um have we requested a fiscal note<00:52:43.880>
• how they would generate uh the fiscal how they would generate uh the fiscal note<00:53:20.720>
• <00:53:44.119> note you chair quam I believe a fiscal note you chair quam I believe a fiscal
• So that's part of the reason why we don't instantaneously have a fiscal note.
• Chair, members, yes, a fiscal note has been requested, but, Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll talk through a few notes on each of these sections.
• A couple of key notes before I hand it over to Graham.
• And as Graham noted, where material, the 2027-29 rates also...
• As Graham noted, there's more information on this in the appendix.
• I will note, as noted in the footnote, this table does not include any rate changes from LEOFF 2.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it'll change through the end of this fiscal year.
• But so that's To build again in the second fiscal year of the biennium.
• For fiscal year 26 and then fiscal year 27, we've got $26 and $29 million.
• These are based on the current 2025 baseline, fiscal year 2025 baseline.
• That one time and not 12 times over the course of a fiscal year.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I'm concerned with in not in your line of questioning but we got there's no fiscal note on the base
• It's not my intention to put a fiscal note on your bill, Senator, but...
• I don't know what the fiscal note might be for this version, or if the comptroller, even if the I don't
• know what the fiscal note might be for this version, or if the comptroller, even If the governor commands
• If it eliminates a fiscal note, my preference is still to have the governor as the unified commander

Bills: SB825

Keywords: illegal immigration, economic impact, environmental impact, financial impact, annual study, Texas, government report, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the fiscal note is missing. So what is that?
• And in terms of the fiscal note, I'll let others talk about the fiscal note itself, the amounts and whatnot
• <00:30:20.560> So know, the fiscal note is missing. So know, the fiscal note is missing.
• <00:30:52.720> note let others talk about the fiscal note let others talk about the fiscal
• budget which the fiscal note addresses. budget which the fiscal note addresses.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 1563, a special education aid formula bill, after a brief recess. Members reviewed a replace-all amendment that would keep the current reimbursement lag structure but make the bill effective July 1, 2028, with districts beginning to collect the new data in the next biennium. The amendment changes the reimbursement tiers from a dollar-based system to one tied to average per-pupil spending: districts would pay 100% below 2.5 times average per-pupil spending, 85% from 2.5 to 3.5 times, 20% from 3.5 to 10 times, and 10% above 10 times, with the state covering the remainder. Speakers emphasized that the bill is intended as an incremental step to gather better data before any larger expansion of state participation. A major new section would create a risk-based monitoring program for reimbursement claims. Instead of reviewing every claim individually, the department would review at least 20% of districts each year so every district is reviewed at least once every five years, with additional random or targeted reviews based on risk indicators, anomalies, prior findings, or other department criteria. Members discussed whether the audit sample should be district-based or student-based, and whether the bill should more specifically define the type of audit and the meaning of “other” criteria. Department witnesses said the current process already involves confidential information and that the new approach would not worsen privacy concerns; they also said the department would follow federal and state privacy laws and adopt rules to implement the process. Several members supported the bill as a practical first step to improve data collection and eventually expand aid, noting that districts currently do not track lower-cost special education students well. Others raised concerns about the lack of a fiscal note, possible local costs, and whether the new monitoring language gives the department too much discretion. The discussion ended with no vote taken in the excerpt, and members indicated they may need more time to review the final amendment before proceeding.

Transcript Highlights:

• represents again the end of the fiscal represents again the end of the fiscal year<00:04:38.320>
• <00:13:11.360> of really the only one to to make note of really the only one to to make note
• <00:52:15.760> and before just before uh I will note and before just before uh I will note
• Fiscal year 2024 was $300 million.
• Fiscal year 2024 was $300 million.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with a quorum call, the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and approval of the prior meeting minutes. The first presentation was from Bo Craycraft of the Judicial Form Retirement System, who gave an update on investment performance, asset allocation, cash flow, and projected employer costs. He reported strong fiscal year 2025 investment results, with both the legislative and judicial retirement plans outperforming their actuarial assumed rates of return and benchmarks, driven largely by U.S. equity performance. He also noted the plans remained near their target asset allocation and continued to experience negative cash flow, though he said that was manageable in context of strong asset growth. Craycraft then discussed a recent experience study and actuarial assumption changes, especially a revised salary growth assumption and a higher cash balance interest credit rate. He said these changes increased projected employer costs, with contributions rising from about $700,000 to a projected $2 million in later years, though he expected the eventual 2025 valuation and investment gains to reduce that estimate. Members asked about mortality assumptions, the impact of the experience study on liabilities, and the sharp increase in the judicial plan’s projected employer cost. Craycraft explained that the increase was driven mainly by the updated assumptions and that no other major plan changes were involved. At the chair’s request, Craycraft also addressed the recent rise in Medicare Advantage premiums for the plan’s health coverage, saying the 2025 increase was largely tied to Part D changes and the Inflation Reduction Act and had been about 45%, but that future growth was expected to be under 5%. After his presentation, the committee moved to the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority update, where the next speaker began by saying the funds had exceeded actuarial assumed returns for the fiscal year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I just want a little help on understanding the fiscal note.
• Um, I just want a little help on understanding the fiscal note.
• Um, I just want a little help on understanding the fiscal note.
• understanding the fiscal note. understanding the fiscal note.
• > note<00:30:03.679> in<00:30:03.919> front Chair, members, the fiscal note in front

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it has grown from a cost of $1.2 billion in state fiscal year 20 to $1.6 billion in fiscal year
• In fiscal year 2024, and is projected to reach $2 billion by 2027.
• And so if you think about the fact that between state fiscal year 2020 and state fiscal year 2024, the
• In state fiscal year 24, MassHealth spent $71 million on overtime.
• In state fiscal year 24, MassHealth spent $71 million on overtime.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with MassHealth LTSS Chief Leslie Darcy to review the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program and the legislative work group focused on its long-term sustainability and cost containment. Darcy and Charlie described the work group’s five meetings and three consensus recommendations: enforce the 66-hour overtime cap, address fraudulent activity in the PCA program, and eliminate MassHealth handling of PCA paperwork/administrative work for members without a live-in exemption because those members are subject to EVV. They explained EVV as an electronic visit verification system replacing paper timesheets, and noted the rollout is expected to be completed this fall. The group estimated about $7 million in savings from the consensus recommendations and agreed to continue meeting through June to consider additional ideas. Darcy presented data showing the PCA program served about 56,000 members in state fiscal year 2024 and has grown from $1.2 billion in FY20 to $1.6 billion in FY24, with projections near $2 billion by 2027. She said much of the growth is driven by wage increases and older adults using more services, and compared PCA costs with other LTSS programs. The discussion also covered overtime spending, the role of federal financial participation, and how Massachusetts’ PCA program differs from other states because it has no hard caps on hours or activities. Several members emphasized the program’s value for independent living and community participation, while also acknowledging the need to control growth without undermining services. Members asked about undocumented immigrants and MassHealth funding, and Darcy explained that some eligibility categories are state-funded only and do not receive federal matching funds. Another member asked about workforce recruitment and wage pressures; Darcy said recent collective bargaining agreements raised PCA wages, with some workers eventually reaching $25 per hour and the entry wage reaching $20. The group also discussed whether IADL hours are disproportionately high compared with ADL needs, and reviewed data suggesting potential savings if IADL hours were limited relative to ADL hours, though no consensus recommendation was made on that point. The meeting ended with approval of the prior minutes by roll call vote, an update that the next health equity informational hearing is scheduled for May 19, and a motion to adjourn carried unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• the fiscal note we now have received the fiscal<00:02:13.360> note<00:02:13.560> in<00:
• That was part of the fiscal note, and we will adjust for that.
• We just got the fiscal note, right?
• We just got the fiscal note, right?
• So I assume now we'll get a fiscal note requested.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• like House Fiscal to outline the fiscal impacts of the bill.
• House fiscal. >> Um, thank you, Mr.
• already stated that there's no fiscal already stated that there's no fiscal impact,<00:05:18.560
• outline the fiscal impacts of the bill. outline the fiscal impacts of the bill.
• House<00:05:24.160> fiscal. House fiscal. House fiscal.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• c> also have a fiscal note on this a also have a fiscal note on this a revised<00:03:50.400> fiscal
• > be<00:08:39.880> talking the fiscal notes coming I'll be talking the fiscal notes coming
• So let's get into the fiscal note. Did the fiscal note come around? We have them? Okay.
• c> happens the fiscal note outlines what happens the fiscal note outlines what happens when<01:05
• The fiscal note is related to the local level.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 651, a school-funding bill that would raise the base cost of an adequate education and increase differentiated aid for students in poverty, English language learners, and special education. The chair opened with housekeeping notices about parking and eating in committee spaces, and noted a revised fiscal note would be distributed. Representative David Luneau presented the bill as part of a broader package of public school funding measures, explaining that HB 651 builds on HB 550 and is intended to respond to court rulings and the ongoing school-funding litigation by adjusting both the base adequacy amount and equity-based funding factors. Luneau said the bill would raise the state’s adequacy grant from about $4,100 to $7,351 per student and increase differentiated aid, while also updating statutory language so future recalculations include the court-identified resource elements. He argued the measure is about fairness and shifting more of the burden from local property taxpayers to the state, not about increasing overall education spending. He reviewed fiscal-note figures indicating the bill would add roughly $576 million to the state share of school funding, bringing the total state share to about $1.65 billion, and said the note also mentions possible effects on charter schools and vouchers. Committee members asked about the evidence supporting higher costs for low-income and English learner students, how long ESL funding should continue, why free-and-reduced-lunch aid remains higher than special education aid, whether the formula is based on enrollment or average daily membership, and whether the bill is truly equitable across districts of different sizes and needs. Luneau and later witness Zach Shen of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project said the bill is supported by research and court findings, that the current formula relies heavily on local property taxes, and that shifting more funding to the state would reduce property-tax pressure and help address disparities among districts. Shen also cited broad public support for the related HB 550 testimony and said HB 651 is intended as a step toward a more equitable funding system. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• year 25 and fiscal year 26 to these 13 projects.
• Uh noted here are the three country.
• Just as a note again, I'll brag on our folks.
• In fiscal year 24, we brought in $1.4 million, and in fiscal year 25, preliminarily, at the early beginning
• > 25 million and in fiscal year 25 million and in fiscal year 25 preliminarily<00:45:35.760> this

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:47 Approval of Minutes 01:07 Airport Projects 12:17 Riverport Projects 38:27 Electric Vehicle Charging Program 54:10 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met on July 15, 2025, approved the June 4 minutes, and heard updates on aviation and riverport funding programs. Commissioner Mark Carter of the Kentucky Department of Aviation reported on the $200,000 grants for general aviation airports included in House Bill 1, saying the money is being used mainly for hangar projects, fuel trucks, parking lot resurfacing, airport equipment, crew cars, and public education efforts. He said about 25 hangar-related projects were reported, with an estimated 60 T-hangars and four or five box hangars supported, and noted that the grants are often used to match federal funds. He also said the state’s jet fuel tax revenue generates about $23 million annually, up from about $19 million in 2021, and that most airports are now compliant with the ADS-B/VOR-related reporting system required in budget language, which has improved reported operations and may help airports qualify for FAA grants. Members asked about the pace of airport projects, the limited number of contractors for hangar construction, and whether airports could finance hangars themselves. Carter said timing has generally been good, though federal projects have slowed somewhat and contractor capacity remains a challenge, and he said there is no statute preventing airports from financing part or all of a hangar project. Questions also focused on the long-term need for hangars and the effect of the jet fuel cap, with Carter saying general aviation airports still have significant hangar demand and rely on state assistance because hangars are a key revenue source. Jeremy Edgeworth of the Transportation Cabinet and Brian Wright of the Kentucky Association of Riverports then reviewed riverport projects funded through House Bill 265 and House Bill 1. Edgeworth said the cabinet’s riverport grant program awarded $500,000 in each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026 for 13 projects under an 80/20 match, and that House Bill 1 provided $7.5 million per year for public riverports with no local match. He described completed or underway projects at multiple ports, including equipment replacements, dock and road repairs, material handling upgrades, mooring cell rehabilitation, and a waterline loop at Owensboro. He said $12.6 million of the KPRCM funds had been awarded across 20 projects, with about $2.4 million still to be awarded later in the fall. Wright said the riverport investments are helping ports replace aging assets, expand capacity, and match federal dollars, but he also said the statewide capital need remains large, with the current list of top projects already in the $90 million range and longer-term needs still estimated at $60 million to $90 million. Members asked about timelines and future needs, and Edgeworth said many of the larger projects will take two to five years because of permitting and coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.