Transcript Highlights:

• Chair: I'll call this meeting to order.
• consideration of that block. consideration of that block.
• Roll call vote. Eve. another vote. Roll call vote. Eve.
• Question being called. Um, Eve, would you call the roll?
• consideration of that entire block. consideration of that entire block.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is what you're asking: a block grant gets us started.
• We should call it a discretionary block grant.
• Chair, and thank you for calling.
• grant that is fully discretionary funded through not a block grant process or a block grant Mechanism
• Proposed $1.8 billion for the Student Support Block Grant.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, when we look at the block grant, the original block grant started in 1980.
• The second is a in the EMS block grant.
• grant, the original we look at the block grant, the original block<00:03:00.239> grant<00:03:
• which will benefit by this this block which will benefit by this this block grant<00:08:16.479><
• <00:09:07.519> grant one piece of equipment the block grant one piece of equipment the block

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) 00:00:53 Approval of Minutes 00:23:37, 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Board of EMS presented an additional budget request focused on grant funding for local EMS agencies, not agency operations. Officials said the board has 13 full-time staff after losing employees in the 2022 transition back to state government, and that the request would be a 100% pass-through to providers. They initially described two requests totaling $12.91 million: $10.8 million for the EMS block grant and $2.1 million for workforce education tied to House Bill 484, but later said they would withdraw the $2.1 million request because rural health transformation funding appears likely to cover those education needs. Most of the testimony explained why the EMS block grant should be increased. The board said the grant began in 1980 at about $1.2 million and has remained largely unchanged while EMS costs have risen sharply. They cited higher prices for ambulances, stretchers, and cardiac monitors, along with increased labor and reimbursement pressures. Board members emphasized that modern EMS now provides much more advanced care in the field, especially in rural areas, and argued that equipment such as 12-lead cardiac monitors can significantly improve patient outcomes. They said the current grant provides about $10,000 per county, while the request would raise funding to about $100,000 per county and increase the per-capita amount from roughly 26 cents to $2.60. Members also discussed whether the block grant statute should be reformed to target need more directly. Board officials said they had considered making the grant more competitive, but decided against it for now because many counties rely on the annual funding and shifting money away from some areas would create hardship. In response to questions, they said Kentucky has about 160 class one EMS agencies providing 911 response across 120 counties, and that grant awards in recent years reached 91 counties, then 108, then 110 counties. They also highlighted the cost and safety benefits of power loading systems for stretchers, saying they can reduce back injuries and help retain EMS workers, but are often unaffordable for smaller departments. No votes were taken on the budget request during the hearing. After the testimony and questions, the committee approved the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and second, with no opposition, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will please call the roll.
• The clerk will please call the roll.
• The Governor's appointments are confirmed in block.
• I voted against the block; some of those people were great.
• The governor's appointments are confirmed and block is listed.

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Should we take a roll call vote? Representative Block. No, with an explanation, please.
• This is a message for the governor: Please call a special session. Please call a special session.
• Demand this be on your call. Thank you. Thank you. Please call a special session.
• Demand this be on your call.
• Representative Block.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, calling to order the House Committee on Higher Education.
• ,<00:16:52.800> block<00:16:53.440> granting, have like block ranting, block granting
• , have like block ranting, block granting, block<00:16:55.279> funding,<00:16:55.759> I'm
• And you know, block funding, I'm sorry.
• Hawaii, we do have uh a degree of block Hawaii, we do have uh a degree of block grant<00:17:59.679>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 18, 2026, and heard four bills. HB 2519 would shift University of Hawaii funding toward block appropriations, a stabilization fund, limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, performance-based metrics, and annual reporting. UH supported the bill, saying line-item budgeting hampers systemwide efficiency across its 10 campuses; the State Procurement Office commented on the procurement exemption. The chair proposed amendments to address concerns from Budget and Finance and procurement, including capping UH’s retained funds at 10%, requiring lapse after three fiscal years, removing CIP-to-operating transfers, narrowing procurement exemptions while keeping Chapter 103B principles, shifting performance metric-setting to the Board of Regents, and requiring annual reporting. The committee then voted to pass HB 2519 with amendments. HB 2409 would establish the Hawaii Geological Survey in Hilo and designate its director as the state geologist. UH Hilo supported the concept but said it would need sufficient general-fund support, estimating roughly $200,000 to start. DLNR and the Attorney General offered comments, with the AG calling it a matter of statewide concern. The chair said the DNR testimony raised public safety concerns and that UH Hilo had not identified a firm funding amount, so the committee voted to defer the bill. HB 2141 HD1 concerned state enterprise zones and would expand eligible business activities and allow DBED to designate up to two areas as enterprise zones with gubernatorial approval. DBED, the Tax Foundation, and other organizations submitted support or comments. After discussion, the chair said the current version no longer fit the higher education committee’s focus and recommended reverting to the original bill, which would limit the zone to Kakaʻako Makai for a biomedical health innovation hub near JABSOM and the Queen’s Cancer Center, with a defective date. The committee voted to pass HB 2141 HD1 with amendments. HB 2233 HD1 would appropriate funds to continue the SNAP-Ed program through UH and the Department of Health. DOH supported the bill and said it had been working on nutrition education and environmental changes; it estimated about $600,000 each for DOH and SEAR, or $1.2 million total. Testimony in support also came from several organizations and individuals, including a senior advocate who described the program’s practical benefits. The chair said the committee would reflect the $600,000-per-entity estimate in its report, and the committee voted to pass HB 2233 HD1 as is before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Division will please come to order and ask the clerk to call the roll. The H.R.
• technically, you know, with the block grant we're not given an FTE number.
• That's the point of the block grant. We give them that discretion.
• It’s a block grant, you know, it’s correct.” “It’s a block grant. You know, it’s correct.
• Call me with all questions.” “I made the right call.” “Mr.

Bills: SB2015

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The committee met to review revised long sheets and section-by-section language for a human services/health budget bill, with much of the discussion focused on how to present block grant funding and full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for behavioral health clinics and CCBHCs. Members debated whether to keep FTE counts in the budget at all, ultimately leaning toward removing or zeroing out the FTE references while keeping the dollar authority, and reducing the salaries-and-wages block grant by about $4.75 million. They also discussed public health federal authority, agreeing to remove about $60 million in unused federal spending authority tied to COVID-era funds, and clarified that if federal money later becomes available it could be requested through the Emergency Commission. A major topic was the provider inflation increase. The House version had 2% and 2%, while members debated alternatives and appeared to settle, at least for further work, on 2% in the first year and 1.5% in the second year, with staff asked to recalculate the fiscal impact. The committee also reviewed FMAP changes, noting a revised 2027 FMAP estimate and its effect on general fund and other funds, and discussed whether to adjust public health and other line items accordingly. Several members emphasized that many of these numbers are still tentative and will be refined before final action. The committee also touched on several policy items and capital-related provisions, including behavioral health services, Medicaid expansion, the moratorium on new ICF beds, and a proposed amendment for a medical homes/fourplex-related item that would show a $400,000 legislative investment with repayment from a developer. There was extended discussion of the All True hospital/facility proposal, with some members favoring leaving it in with a smaller initial commitment and others preferring to remove it and revisit later in conference committee. The meeting ended with staff asked to continue updating the bill language and members instructed to review remaining sections before the next meeting; no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will please call the roll.
• The clerk will please call the roll.
• The Governor's appointments and reappointments are confirmed in block.
• The Governor's appointments are confirmed in block.
• I voted against the block. Some of those people were great.

Summary: The Senate convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Senator Starr, followed by several courtesies recognizing Pride Month, a staff birthday, and later a retirement and a community celebration. Senator Robinson then used remonstrances to warn against expanding surveillance through school bus camera systems, arguing that leaked plans from a vendor could create commercial databases of drivers’ movements and erode privacy. The main business was confirmation of numerous gubernatorial appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions. Senators debated the process at length, with several minority members objecting that the volume of nominees, limited hearing time, and lack of transparency made meaningful advice-and-consent review difficult. Supporters responded that the nominees were qualified public servants and that the Senate should work with the Governor’s office on reforms. The Senate first confirmed a large block of appointments, then confirmed two Sustainability Board appointees, and later confirmed three Quality Education Commission appointees after extended debate. The Quality Education Commission nominations drew the most substantive policy discussion. Opponents argued the commission needs more technical research expertise and broader representation, while supporters emphasized the nominees’ education experience and direct knowledge of Oregon schools. Several senators described Oregon’s education system as in crisis, citing low reading and math proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and the need for urgent reform of the Quality Education Model and school funding. The Senate also received a proposed rule amendment creating an official Senate seal, which was distributed and held on the table, and the chamber adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Block.
• Please call roll. Representative Norton? Yes. Representative Block? No, sir.
• Please call the roll. We have a motion for a do pass and a second. Yes. Representative Block. Pass.
• Block, Representative Block, and then Representative Borrego. Okay, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Please call roll. Representative Anya Narnu? Yes. Representative Block? No, sir.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please call the roll. Representative Annenornu? Yes. Representative Block? Pass.
• Representative Block, to explain your vote. Representative Block, to explain your vote.
• Please call the roll. Representative Anyanonu? Representative Block? Yes to table.
• And before I call the vote, Representative Block to explain your vote. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• And before I called a vote, Representative Block, to explain your vote. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, um, All right, so I see um Representative block, senator block. Um, who else over there?
• Uh, Madam Chair, Senator Block, no, it was a competitive.
• I did want to just, um, kind of call your attention.
• Gotta watch the block caucus.
• Have we made individual phone calls?

Transcript Highlights:

• like to call up uh Senate Bill 3051. like to call up uh Senate Bill 3051.
• >> Make the motion to take them up and block. >> Motion is to take them up and block.
• 86 like take those up in block. 86 like take those up in block.
• block. All in favor say I. Oppose. Nay. block. All in favor say I. Oppose. Nay.
• 3071 and 3102 up in block. 3071 and 3102 up in block.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 18 February, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee began with process instructions about using committee substitutes, identifying bills with reverse repealers, and taking up noncontroversial items in blocks. It then approved Senate Bill 3051, the DFA budget, which included LBR-level funding with a reverse repealer and agency-by-agency allocations for the status of women, DFA, tort claims, state property insurance, BEAM, and Mississippi Home Corporation. Senate Bill 3052, the governor’s support budget, was also approved as a final-action bill without a reverse repealer, with members noting the reduction from the prior year was tied to lower federal funding. The committee then handled the IHL budget bills. Senate Bill 3053, the general support bill, included a 3% across-the-board raise for IHL professors and $20 million for repair and renovation at universities, plus $5 million for UMMC; it passed as a committee substitute with a reverse repealer. Senate Bill 3054, the original IHL-related bill, passed without a committee substitute. Bills 3055 through 3059 were taken up in block and approved, providing 3% increases for A units at Alcorn State and Mississippi State. Senate Bill 3060, student financial aid, added about $7.7 million for scholarship costs, including MESG, MTAG, and Winters-Reed loan repayment, and passed as a committee substitute. The committee also approved the larger IHL budget bill with a reverse repealer and discussed, but did not fund, a UMMC cancer center request at that stage. Subcommittee 3 presented education-related bills. Senate Bill 3062 was approved at LBR with a reverse repealer and included a large transfer from the education enhancement fund. Senate Bill 3063 added $15 million for repair and renovation and $8.11 million for faculty pay raises, and passed as a committee substitute with a reverse repealer. On Senate Bill 3064, the Employment Security Commission budget, members discussed whether the committee substitute included a reverse repealer and noted they might revisit that on the floor if needed; the bill was advanced. Subcommittee 4 then took up Senate Bills 3065, 3066, 3068, and 3069 in block and approved them: Ethics Commission funding increased for salary realignment and a database; Judicial Performance Commission language was tightened to freeze the director’s salary and ensure youth court oversight funds were used solely for that purpose; Tax Appeals Board funding was increased to restore cuts and vacancy funding; and Workers’ Compensation Commission funding rose to cover commissioner salary increases and related language changes. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 3067 for the Department of Public Safety, which included a reverse repealer, LBR-level funding, additional money for furniture for the new headquarters, and reappropriation language. Senate Bill 3071, the GCRF bill, was approved with a reverse repealer and reappropriation language for prior-year projects. Senate Bill 3072, the Department of Mental Health budget, was approved with a reverse repealer and included $12 million for the Canopy project, prior-year invoice funding, and language tied to mental health-related legislation. Finally, Senate Bills 3073 through 3075 were taken up in block for licensing boards, with increases for the Chiropractic Examiners, Dental Examiners, and Pharmacy boards, including funding for licensing system updates, vacancy funding, and expansion of the pharmacy recovery program.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair at this point calls Lee Spiller.
• I'll call Judy Powell.
• There's something called in camera review, obviously.
• Yes, let me call on Chris Mueller. Thank you, Mr. Mears.
• Call on Chairman Dutton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bills: HB368, HB3311, HB1734, HB2495, HB2716, HB793, HB3376, HB2524, HB3421, HB3446, HB3181

Keywords: electronic devices, family violence, criminal prosecution, protective orders, tracking, harassment, family allowance, decedent's estate, surviving spouse, minor children, inheritance, child support, maintenance, HB 1734, Family Code, Section 155.207, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, SAPCR, continuing exclusive jurisdiction, jurisdiction transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the secretary please call the roll to establish quorum? Senator Block. Present.
• If you could call the roll, please. Senator Block. Senator Charley. Senator Gallegos. Yes.
• So anyway, with that, we call... Then our Block. Then our Charley. Then our Gallegos.
• You can call the roll, please. Senator Block: Aye. Senator Charley: Senator Gallegos: Yes.
• You could call the roll, please. Very block. Pass. Senator Charlie. Senator Dales. Senator Nava.

Bills: SB246, SB146, SB300, SB301, SB309, SM17

Keywords: massage therapy, licensure, health and safety standards, continuing education, establishment licensing, civil rights, sovereign immunity, damages, public body, lawsuit limitations, legal notice, child welfare, computing infrastructure, data management, Department of Health, appropriation, foster care, Indian children, cultural competency, training services

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, and I'm glad you called my name. Mr.
• Next up in the block, Senate Bill 815...
• Those three are out of the block. House Joint Resolution 210 is out of the block.
• House Joint Resolution 210 is out of the block. House Resolution 195 is out of the block.
• House Resolution 206 and 210 are out of the block. House Resolution 235 is out of the block.

Keywords: March 09, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk will call the roll here. Landgraf Gonzalez.
• And so there's very good reasons not to be blocking parents from records.
• Chair calls Patty Henry.
• The chair calls Lauren Hunt. Who is testifying in favor.
• Call on Chairman Dutton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk to call the roll: Senator Berman, Senator Block, Senator Boone.
• The clerk to call the roll. Senator Berman votes yes. Senator Block votes no.
• President, Senator Block.
• President, Senator Block? No, Mr.
• The roll has been called.

Bills: SB273, SB37, SB100

Keywords: SB273, appropriations, general fund, hold harmless, local government finance, municipal revenue, county revenue, correctional facility, jail contract, private prison, detention facility, immigration detention, revenue bonds, clawback, child welfare, juvenile justice, protective services, school improvement, New MexiCare, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the roll. Senator Bergman. Senator Block. Senator Bergman. Senator Block.
• We are on a call of the Senate.
• But will Senator Block please yield? Senator Block, do you yield? Mr. President, I do. Mr.
• Senator Block. Mr.
• Thank you, Senator Block.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, let's go ahead and call roll. Good morning, Rep. Okay, let's go ahead and call roll.
• Representative Block. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Representative Block.
• Madam Chair and Representative Block, we do not have the New Mexico Housing Trust. to block we do not
• Please call in a second. Please call roll. Representative Anyanonu: No to table.
• Please call roll for a motion for a due pass. Representative Anyanonu? Yes. Representative Block?

Bills: HB70, HB93, HB95, HB139, HB140, HJR4

Keywords: Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility oversight fund, public utilities, utility regulation, commissioners, commission staff, chief of staff, ethics, Gift Act, revolving door, post-employment restrictions, consumer complaints, telecommunications, pipeline safety, natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines, license fees, regulatory oversight, administrative cleanup

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next I have, um, Uh, Senator Block. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• So Senator Block, and then I'll go to Representative Kate.
• Um, and so my question is, what is the plan for getting, you called it intercept zero, Just calling it
• Thank you, Senator Block.
• Madam Chair, Senator Block, the, the.