Transcript Highlights:

• This is going to include your home health care individuals, and the projections that have come out—15
• -year projections they did from 2023 to 2038—are showing a projected need for 40% workforce in health
• The largest projected needs are going to... ...sectors in long-term care and support services.
• These are based on numbers from 2023; haven't seen the latest '24 or '25 projections.
• But to your short-term issues and the bridge, those are also issues that have to be addressed.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from Marty Wright, CEO of the West Virginia Healthcare Association, on the state’s long-term care system. He described the continuum from home care to assisted living to skilled nursing facilities, emphasizing that these settings increasingly serve short-term rehab-to-home patients as well as older adults needing round-the-clock care. He also outlined the number of facilities in West Virginia, the predominance of Medicaid as the payer for long-term nursing home care, the private-pay nature of assisted living, and the role of OFAC/CMS in regulation. A major focus of the presentation was workforce shortages and turnover, especially for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs, along with declining interest in nursing careers and the impact of regulatory burden and burnout. Wright said the system is also struggling to serve younger patients with substance use disorder, mental illness, or other behavioral needs, who are often not well suited for traditional nursing home placement but have limited alternatives. Senators raised concerns about where such patients are being housed, the long-term effects of opioid and behavioral health issues, and the gap between school-age special needs populations and adult care needs. Wright said Medicaid can cover long-term nursing home care for those who meet financial and medical eligibility requirements, but affordability and spend-down requirements remain major barriers. He also warned that Medicare Advantage can create confusion and shorter covered stays for rehab patients, and he urged early planning around long-term care insurance and estate planning. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Department of Finance, as we've been told, is projecting a $7.8 billion drop in state revenues
• SB 769 creates a flexible, revolving fund to support the financing of large infrastructure projects by
• SB 769 bridges that gap and helps us to finance and deliver major infrastructure projects throughout
• SB 769 bridges that gap and helps us to finance and deliver major infrastructure projects throughout
• Projects. This investment will do more than fix what's broken.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact met on July 11, 2025, and heard six measures focused on small business contracting, ports and trade, local economic development, clean energy transition, tariff impacts, and infrastructure finance. SB 70 would raise the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act contract cap from $250,000 to $350,000 and index it to inflation; supporters said it would reflect current economic conditions, while opponents argued it could reduce transparency, favor larger firms, and strain small businesses’ ability to carry inventory and wait for payment. The bill was approved 7-0 to Appropriations. AJR 14 urged federal agencies to consider the effects of tariff policy on California ports, with testimony emphasizing impacts on cargo volumes, jobs, supply chains, and infrastructure needs; it passed 7-0. SB 781 would require cities and counties to adopt small business utilization plans and strengthen the California Small Business Technical Assistance Program; chambers of commerce and committee members supported it as a way to expand procurement opportunities and technical assistance, and it passed 7-0 to Local Government. SB 227 would extend and expand the Green Empowerment Zone in Contra Costa County, add environmental justice representatives, and extend authorization to 2040; it passed 7-0 to the floor. SB 263 would direct the California Transportation Agency to study the statewide impacts of tariffs, with supporters from the ports, retail, and trucking sectors arguing that better data is needed to guide budgeting and policy responses; it passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 769 would create the Golden State Infrastructure Fund to finance major infrastructure projects through a revolving public-private investment model; supporters said it would help address long-term infrastructure needs and prepare for major events, and the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations after opposition was withdrawn. All measures were reported out of committee, and the meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• .came back and we really wanted to look at a way to simplify how we look at the distributions of projects
• , road projects.
• And, well, it's a local and bridge and grant program, which is $162 million.”
• So when we did US 2 and Memorial Bridge, that was a Garvey bond.
• But that’s $80 million being taken away from some other projects that are needed that, you know, aren

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations section met with a full committee present and took up discussion of the Department of Transportation budget and a House funding package. Members described a proposal to simplify DOT funding by eliminating the Prairie Dog bucket, consolidating money into three main buckets/funds, and using DOT expertise to select projects while giving counties, cities, and townships more certainty. They said the plan would also restore 100% of the motor vehicle excise tax to the general fund and use other existing funds, including SIF and the legacy earnings fund, to support DOT and local road distributions. A major part of the discussion focused on how to cover Highway 85 and other road needs. Members and DOT Director Ron Hankey said federal highway formula funding for the next biennium should continue as long as the federal highway bill remains unchanged, but that the six-mile Highway 85 segment is unlikely to receive a federal grant because of benefit-cost issues. The committee discussed bonding for the $155 million set aside for Highway 85, with members noting Garvey bonds as one option but wanting flexibility to use the best available rate. They also discussed a possible five-cent gas tax to support the highway distribution fund; several members raised concerns about the policy and political difficulty, while others argued it was needed because oil revenues are down and the state needs a sustainable funding source. Members repeatedly asked for a clearer visual or flow chart showing how the money would move through the new structure, and the chair and sponsors said staff would prepare a pictorial and amendment language. There was general support for the concept, but some members wanted caucus education before floor action. No formal vote was taken during this discussion, and the chair indicated the committee would move quickly, with amendments to follow and the bill expected to continue in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you aware of what particular projects or... ...the things that they've done in the past and how this
• As far as qualified projects or qualified properties are concerned, are other states able to apply for
• We even have sky bridges, which some airports lack.
• Um, do they accept, and obviously, being able to come in with the REAL ID currently at the bridge?

Bills: HB3484, HCR112, HCR125

Keywords: border municipalities, agreements, funding eligibility, infrastructure, intergovernmental cooperation, REAL ID, travel document, border crossing, Texas, U.S. citizens, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, defense innovation, national security, U.S. Army Futures Command, military technology, economic growth, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, President Obama gave us a temporary bridge when the bridge went out.
• those bridges those bridges uh<01:00:56.160> for<01:00:56.400> the<01:00:56.640>
• > the<01:03:20.480> bridge<01:03:20.799> went temporary bridge when the bridge went
• <01:23:46.159> Um, same infrastructure projects. Um, same infrastructure projects.
• increase spending on municipal projects increase spending on municipal projects that<03:21:36.479

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Bridges Program provides rental assistance for households in which at least one adult member has
• The Bridges Program provides rental assistance for households in which at least one adult member has
• <00:15:45.440> program<00:15:46.360> the with home and the bridges program the with
• home and the bridges program the base<00:15:47.199> um<00:15:47.399> levels<00:15:47.759
• program provides rental and the bridges program provides rental assistance<00:16:12.440> for<

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee met for an informational session with no bills taken up and no votes or formal actions. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Speno said the committee would focus on understanding housing policy and barriers to building more homes, noting Minnesota’s housing shortage and the need to support both single-family and multifamily construction. House Research analyst Mary Davis and House Fiscal analyst Katrina Heimark gave an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency’s programs and funding streams. Davis outlined areas the committee may hear about, including real estate law, landlord-tenant law, manufactured home parks, housing cooperatives, zoning, property taxes, and MHFA programs. Heimark described MHFA’s five main budget areas—development and redevelopment, housing stability, homeownership assistance, preservation, and resident/organization support—and reviewed recent appropriations, emphasizing that much of the large 2024–25 funding was one-time money and that ongoing base funding is lower in 2026–27. Members asked several questions about how prior appropriations were spent, whether unused funds return to the general fund, and whether funds can be repurposed. Heimark said transferred funds generally are not returned to the general fund if unspent, but are expected to be used for the purposes outlined in the appropriation; she also said she had requested more detailed expenditure information from the agency and would follow up. Questions also focused on who benefits from programs such as rental housing rehabilitation and the affordable rental investment fund, with the testifiers explaining that most MHFA programs are targeted to low- and moderate-income households and that income eligibility varies by program. The committee also discussed the new metro-area sales tax revenue dedicated to housing, with members requesting more detail on reporting, oversight, and allowable uses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Analysis suggests that earlier diagnosis leads to a projected cost savings of about $63,000 per person
• partner, the kindest father, let me say this without getting emotional, sorry, and a construction project
• commitment to design practical and sustainable and inclusive long-term care financing solutions that bridge
• shouldn't be just a one-time, we call it the fire sale, but it should be a continual opportunity to bridge
• In the city of Boston, we know that about 20,000 residents are projected to have a dementia diagnosis

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Aging and Independence/Elder Affairs Committee heard testimony on several bills, with the main focus on H.769/S.468, an act to improve care and prepare for the new era of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Legislators and advocates described the bill’s provisions, including expanded dementia training for first responders, a dementia services coordinator/director in state government, improved hospital discharge and caregiver access protections, dementia care coordination benefits for certain MassHealth members, public awareness and data collection requirements, and expanded support for geriatric workforce recruitment. Representative Danielle Gregoire and Senator Gomez framed the measure as a zero-cost, bipartisan continuation of the 2018 Alzheimer’s and Dementia Act, while the Alzheimer’s Association, Boston Public Health Commission, police representatives, clinicians, and family caregivers all testified in support, emphasizing public health needs, early diagnosis, caregiver involvement, and safer emergency and hospital care. The committee also heard testimony on H.796/S.476, which would establish an Office of Older Adult Advocate and a special commission on a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program. Representative Steve Ultrino supported an independent older adult advocate to help navigate fragmented state services and improve constituent services, while committee members asked about funding and the office’s relationship to existing secretariats. On the long-term care commission bill, NAFA Massachusetts and LeadingAge Massachusetts supported creating a stakeholder commission to review actuarial findings and explore public-private financing options for long-term care, stressing that neither public nor private coverage alone is sufficient and that middle-income families need more planning tools and options. The committee also took testimony on H.786/S.466, a bill to protect vulnerable elders by expanding the Executive Office of Elder Affairs’ authority to investigate abuse or neglect in non-traditional custodial settings such as prisons, jails, shelters, group homes, and certain treatment facilities. Prisoners Legal Services said the bill would close a jurisdictional gap that leaves some older adults without an investigative agency once they age out of DPPC coverage. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• that differentiating project success from project failure is leadership.
• This is a well worth project.
• million or more um but this this project million or more um but this this project is<00:26:21.360
• seems like increasingly the projects seems like increasingly the projects that<00:42:12.839>
• and you're going to do these projects and you're going to do these<00:42:42.040> projects<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have not engaged on that specific project.
• <00:37:54.560> on<00:37:54.880> that<00:37:55.599> specific<00:37:56.400> project
• <00:37:57.880> Um<00:37:58.880> but engaged on that specific project.
• Um but engaged on that specific project.
• um it's it's sort of bridging two ideas. um it's it's sort of bridging two ideas.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Eight years ago, it was the funding for the Rocheport Bridge. Many weren't here at that time.
• He was very concerned that for the first time we were using general revenue to build a highway project
• got built, and I think the state and really the nation can be proud of that project.
• Adding the following Memorial Highways and Bridges: Freeman Bosley Jr.
• Memorial Bridge, Following Memorial Highways and Bridges: Freeman Bosley Jr.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• project.
• bridge, my job is to look at that project and determine what goal for minorities and women we place
• on that project.
• bridge, my job is to look at that project and determine what goal for minorities and women that we place
• on that project.

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• . $2.5 billion and $4 billion projects currently ongoing in San Patricio County and it's It's only going
• Department of Housing and Urban Development to pursue many infrastructure projects.
• Texas Warrior Golf Association was founded as part of a high school graduation project in 2011. by a
• HB 2877 by Villalobos relating to the definition of the project financing zone for the purpose of the
• It would be 2948 by law relating to the cessation of tolls of toll project entities and circumstances

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that really is for the 2031 project, a program of projects.
• projects.
• Our project done.
• of their project.
• of their project.

Bills: HF4807

Keywords: overweight vehicles, aggregate mining, local ordinance restrictions, legislative audit, transportation, resource inventory

Transcript Highlights:

• . capital outlay for our projects.
• True shovel-ready projects. So that's one of the things that we're focusing on.
• So that's a key project.
• You know, I'm a little familiar with what You're talking about water projects.
• On the Mexican side, we are working on some projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• representative Bridges representative Bridges yep<00:14:47.839> representative<00:14:48.680
• We'll be glad to address any questions you have about the projects.
• questions you have about the projects questions you have about the projects but<00:18:53.600>
• have two years ago phase two project have two years ago phase two project actually<00:21:59.600>
• The more—it's colloquial to say, but time is money on this project. Time is money on this project.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:29 Roll Call 00:00:40 HB 2 Discussion 00:02:55 HB 2 Vote 00:14:10 Kentucky Exposition Center Redevelopment Plan Discussion 00:17:22 HB 545 Discussion Only 00:39:15, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2, which would address the taxation of currency and bullion and was presented as a response to last session’s dispute over whether a line-item veto could be applied to a revenue measure. The sponsor said the bill, as amended by Committee Substitute 2, was largely technical but also made the tax exemption retroactive to August 1, 2024 while making the $1,000-per-day penalty prospective only. Members asked about fiscal impact, possible legal liability for executive branch officials, and whether the issue should instead be resolved by the courts. The sponsor argued the Constitution limits the governor’s line-item veto power to appropriations, not revenue bills, and said the bill would create a judicial remedy and refund process if the executive branch continued collecting the tax. The committee approved the committee substitute and then passed House Bill 2 by a vote of 19-1, with two members passing; the bill was reported favorably to the floor. During discussion, Representative Bojanowski voted no, saying he could not support removing taxes on gold bars while parents pay taxes on diapers. Representative Gentry passed, saying he supported the original intent but was not yet convinced and wanted more time to review the issue. The sponsor also clarified that any liability would be joint and several and could involve executive officials or their budgets if the tax collection continued despite the exemption. The committee then heard a discussion-only presentation on the Kentucky Exposition Center Redevelopment Plan Phase 2. Facility representatives described Phase 1 and the planned Phase 2 expansion, saying the center had record attendance and needed more space to remain competitive and meet client demand. They said Phase 1 was about 20% complete, with completion now expected in October 2026 and an opening target of December 31, 2026 after a short testing period. Phase 2 would follow, including demolition of the West Wing, utility work, and improvements to food service and circulation areas. They said the project would be funded without federal dollars and estimated that, once complete, it could generate about $683 million in annual economic impact, $302 million in state sales tax, and 850,000 room nights in Jefferson County.

Transcript Highlights:

• um, being able to move that project um, being able to move that project forward,<01:59:30.800>
• I just did a plumbing project.
• I just did a plumbing project.
• <03:53:04.160> replacement basis to the local bridge replacement basis to the local bridge
• projects, community requests, etc. projects, community requests, etc.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• scores to each project. scores to each project.
• . projects. projects.
• the projects. the projects.
• For especially for a more complex, sophisticated project like a highway or a bridge.
• like a you know a highway or or project like a you know a highway or or a<01:08:42.239> bridge.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:09 Approval of Minutes 00:01:10 Welcome New Members 00:01:26 Information Items 00:01:49 COT Special Report 00:02:38 Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:07:41 A. Department of Military Affairs 00:08:07 B. Department of Veterans’ Affairs 00:20:34 C. Kentucky Infrastructure Authority 00:25:54 D. Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet 00:35:05 E. Transportation Cabinet 00:55:53, 958, all

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the May 21 minutes, and welcomed a new executive branch member, Secretary Keith Jackson of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The board also received two informational items: agency responses to prior questions and amendments made to capital plans after the last meeting. It then heard the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s report on executive branch IT capital project scoring, which reviewed 16 IT requests totaling about $330.5 million. COOT said projects were ranked through an independent panel using standardized criteria focused on feasibility, statewide alignment, readiness, impact, and risk; the CIO recommended moving an enterprise application and artificial intelligence inventory system from rank 11 to rank 4 because of its enterprise-wide impact and connection to Senate Bill 4. The Department of Military Affairs presented its capital plan, describing 43 million in projects for the current period and 13 projects totaling $65 million for 2026–2028, with most funding coming from federal sources and restricted agency funds and no general fund request in the latter period. Its projects included maintenance pool adjustments, a statewide Army master plan, the Somerset readiness center, Shelbyville and Ashland armories, a future home for the Kentucky Army National Guard band, and other facility upgrades. Members asked about the Somerset project’s cost growth and federal delay; the department said the project remains in conceptual design, is awaiting federal MILCON action, and would require a state match of about $9.8 million against $29.6 million federal funding if it is approved. Members also asked about staffing levels, and the department said state employee and Title 32 numbers have been relatively steady, while technician positions have declined. The Department of Veterans Affairs outlined seven projects for 2026–2028, led by a Radcliff Veterans Center HVAC replacement that needs an estimated additional $16 million to finish phase two after phase one was already funded. Other requests included a maintenance pool increase, renovations and exterior upgrades at Eastern and Western Kentucky veterans facilities, a cooling tower replacement at Thompson Hood, and parking lot and lighting improvements. The department said some projects were already in the six-year plan and that the Radcliff phase two could be bid in June 2026 if funded. Members confirmed that a columbarium wall project at Grayson is federally funded. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented its six-year capital plan, citing more than $3 billion in loan commitments since 1988 and over $5 billion in supported infrastructure projects. KIA requested $298.439 million in the first biennium, including $27.742 million in state match for federal clean water and drinking water revolving funds, $25 million for its state Infrastructure Revolving Fund, $185.697 million in federal capitalization grants, and $30 million in leverage bond authorization for each year of the two federally assisted loan programs. Members asked about drinking-water quality, and KIA said that function is handled by the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, not KIA. KIA also said its loan rates currently range from 0.5% to 2.25%, averaging just under 1%, and that its revolving loan programs have had no defaults. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began its presentation at the end of the transcript, with staff identifying themselves, but no project details or board action from that presentation were included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Help us to bridge the gaps in our communities and to work together with tolerance and a spirit of service
• Help<00:01:40.480> us<00:01:40.640> to<00:01:40.760> bridge<00:01:41.160> the
• Khalil is here for the first phase of a senior project, which focuses on bridging the gap of trust between
• phase of a senior project, which focuses on<00:04:50.440> bridging<00:04:50.760> the<00
• > on<00:04:57.600> the Through this project centered on the Through this project centered

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 6, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, received an invocation from Pastor Shannon Watkins of Souls One Outreach Cathedral in Cumberland, and welcomed several guests and student pages. The chamber also announced the week’s schedule for the final days of session, including likely double sessions later in the week and a possible Saturday hold. Administrative items included the reading of House messages, a favorable executive nominations report that was special ordered for Tuesday, and the introduction of several House bills and Senate bills on the calendar. The main floor debate centered on Senate Bill 841, the Utility Relief Reducing Energy Load Information for Every Family Act. Senators discussed energy affordability, ratepayer relief, utility costs, data center growth, in-state generation, and the role of programs such as RGGI, EmPower, and the RPS. Supporters said the bill provides a comprehensive short- and long-term response, including consumer transparency and low-income relief, while critics argued it did not go far enough and should have included stronger relief or pauses on renewable energy mandates. After debate and several explanations of vote, the Senate passed SB 841 by a constitutional majority, 38-affirmative votes. Earlier in the session, Senate Bill 213 on state procurement transparency and procedures also passed with 40 affirmative votes. After SB 841 passed, the Senate took up House Bill 1532, a conforming companion to the utility relief measure. The committee offered an amendment to align HB 1532 with SB 841, the amendment was adopted without objection, and the bill then passed on third reading. Senators who explained their votes largely echoed the same themes from the SB 841 debate, with some emphasizing the need for more relief and others stressing the bill’s broader policy changes and regional energy-market constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• The greatest risk for any project.
• new water supply project.
• We support funding for new water projects and for water infrastructure projects.
• project in place.
• to their next project.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the governor's projections today, he talks about the state patrol having some deficit money, and
• And in the governor's projections today, he talks about the state patrol having some deficit money, and
• And in the governor's projections today, he talks about the state patrol having some deficit money, and
• It needs to be talked about in the committee that has more expertise on that than some road and bridge
• on that uh than some road and bridge on that uh than some road and bridge people.<00:23:53.280><

Bills: HF3919, HF3791, HF1781, HF3908, HF4233, HF3966, HF3430

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, security, protective services, state officials, Capitol complex, state patrol, public safety, legislative protection, threat assessment, transportation, electronic attestation, traffic signals, accident reporting, legislative routes, agricultural aircraft