Transcript Highlights:

• Public comments will be limited to 30 seconds each. Each panel.
• Public comments will be limited to 30 seconds each and will happen at the end of each issue.
• So we want to make it as secure for all of the occupants and the visitors to the building. Got it.
• We passed a law limiting the wait time for someone to recover their stolen wages to 90 days.
• The Legislature contemplates joint occupancy between the two.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Division of Occupational Licensure, which is led by Sarah Wilkinson.
• They are occupational licensing and public safety. They support 26 boards of registration.
• I wonder what the percentage of occupancy for family beds is right now in the Commonwealth.
• I wonder what the percentage of occupancy for family beds is right now in the Commonwealth.
• So we're essentially at 50% occupancy at the lower rate when it drops to 3,200.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, and go ahead and call this month's meeting of the Occupational Licensing Subcommittee to order
• criteria for the state of Arkansas, both statutory and rules, not just with the Pharmacy Board, that limit
• possibly how those medications... ...rules, not just with the Pharmacy Board, that limit possibly how
• Just kind of what’s the state of the occupation?” “I think we are set as far as our numbers.

Committee: All ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Occupational Licensing Subcommittee reviewed four entities moved up from the July schedule: the State Board of Acupuncture, State Board of Pharmacy, Auctioneer Licensing Board, and Motor Vehicle Commission. For acupuncture, the board described its public-protection role, its small size and limited number of active licenses, and efforts to grow the profession through lower fees and online licensing. Members asked generally about what acupuncture treats, and the review was completed without objection. The Pharmacy Board discussion focused heavily on GLP-1 drugs, compounding pharmacies, home delivery of prescriptions, and enforcement against unsafe or unlicensed distribution. Members raised concerns about access to obesity and diabetes medications, mail-order restrictions, and whether compounding pharmacies and out-of-state entities were properly licensed. The director explained the difference between traditional compounding, sterile compounding, and 503B outsourcing facilities, said the board has issued cease-and-desist orders when needed, and noted that retail pharmacy inspections are currently on a 12- to 15-month cycle. Members also asked about pharmacist impersonation, complaint handling, pharmacy technician registration and training, and whether the state has enough pharmacists, with the board saying Arkansas has a pharmacy in every county but still needs to keep attracting new professionals. The Auctioneer Licensing Board reported no major issues, but members asked about dormant license numbers, exemptions from licensure for charity auctions, personal property sales, and livestock auction barns, and whether the profession has adequate numbers. The director said old license numbers cannot be reissued under the current system, charity auctions and sales of one’s own items are exempt, and the field is generally stable with online auctions helping growth. The Motor Vehicle Commission reported on its licensing of franchise dealers and manufacturers, discussed the revocation and fine against Superior RV after an administrative hearing, and said the business is currently shut down while the commission monitors for possible reentry under a different name. Members also asked about dealer licensing requirements, whether boats are licensed by the commission, and workforce shortages; the director said the biggest need is for service and repair technicians, and the commission awarded $250,000 in grants to 12 high school and college automotive programs this year. The committee concluded all four reviews without objection, asked members to email any recommendations for the final report, and announced the next meeting for September 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here on House Bill 128, which relates to occupational disease disablement for firefighters.
• I just want to say that it should come as no surprise to anyone in the fire service that occupational
• Current data shows that nearly 80% of firefighter deaths are due to occupational cancers.
• But this bill does address workers' compensation and occupational disease disablement.
• The federal... ...compensation and occupational disease disablement.

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee began by rolling House Bill 132 at the sponsor’s request because amendment language was still being worked on. The committee then proceeded without quorum as a subcommittee until additional members arrived. House Bill 285, as amended, was heard first. The bill was described as a cleanup measure to clarify New Mexico’s disabled veterans property tax exemption, including that it applies to a veteran’s primary residence and how it works for properties with multiple owners. Testimony from New Mexico counties, the Tax and Revenue Department, and the Department of Veterans Services supported the bill, saying it would reduce confusion for assessors and help veterans access the exemption. One member raised broader concerns about housing insecurity among unhoused and renting veterans and asked for interim data on how many veterans would actually benefit, but the committee noted those issues were outside the bill’s scope. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 285 as amended with a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 128, which updates the state’s occupational disease and disablement law for firefighters by expanding the list of covered cancers and related conditions, aligning the state law with newer research and recent federal changes, and standardizing the employment period to five years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill reflects current science, removes outdated age limits for some cancers, and makes it easier for firefighters to receive workers’ compensation without having to prove causation case by case. Firefighters and union representatives gave emotional testimony about personal cancer diagnoses and the burden of fighting insurers while undergoing treatment. The Workers’ Compensation Administration, labor groups, and trial lawyers all supported the measure. Committee members asked about the federal model, the five-year threshold, the impact on rural jurisdictions, and why women’s cancers were not previously included; witnesses explained that the changes reflect updated data and the underrepresentation of women in the fire service. Dr. Dan Wu, speaking online, said firefighter cancer is an epidemic and argued the science supports the bill. The committee then adopted the motion and passed HB 128 with a do pass recommendation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Class 1C resort properties generally must be devoted to temporary and seasonal residential occupancy
• bill would mean about 72% of these homestead resorts would have market value under the first-tier limits
• </c><00:02:38.120><c> for</c> and seasonal residential occupancy for and seasonal residential occupancy
• </c> exceeding the current first tier limit exceeding the current first tier limit of<00:03:59.079><c
• with a0 5% class rate another TI limits with a0 5% class rate another 22%<00:04:10.640><c> of</c><00

Bills: HF1359 , HF1829 , HF290 , HF1933 , HF926

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: solid waste management, resource management account, environmental fund, taxation, Minnesota statutes, homestead, property tax, classification, disability, resort properties, recreational use, commercial property, tax refund, estimated tax, interest on refunds, income tax, corporate franchise tax, S corporation, partnership, corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• Four by Meyer proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the enactment of a law imposing an occupation
• They devote the limited amount of time that they have to go to elderly care centers, for example. example
• pensions investments and financial services HB 202 by Metcalfe relating to the permanent to the limitation
• HB 273 by Metcalfe relating to limitations on increases and appraised value of certain commercial real
• HB 283 by Guillen, relating to the actual wait limitations for certain vehicle transporting aggregates

Transcript Highlights:

• and Marina Wyant, Executive Director of the Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the California Debt Limit
• with us, TICAC, and SIDLAC, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the California Debt Limit
• here with us, TCAC and CDLAC, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee and the California Debt Limit
• And so housing's been a big issue for me, with limited injuries from military service. ...and then also
• My VA income is limited, so I don't get a home loan enough to purchase a house in California.

Summary: The committee held an outcome review hearing on AB 519, focused on streamlining California’s affordable housing finance system. State housing officials described the work group process and the resulting report, which calls for a consolidated application and coordinated review process across HCD, CalHFA, TCAC, and CDLAC, while preserving a separate direct path for projects that do not need state subsidy. They said the goal is to reduce duplication, align timelines, and get projects to construction faster, with implementation now being carried forward through the new Housing Development Finance Committee (HDFC) and related reorganization changes. Officials from HCD, CalHFA, and HDFC said the new committee launched July 1 and is developing regulations, a unified application workbook, and review procedures, with public comment and hearings planned before final adoption. They emphasized a two-track system: one for projects needing state subsidy and one for tax credits/bonds only. Members also discussed the transition period in 2027, the need to clear existing pipeline projects first, and the possibility of construction financing tools. Committee members raised concerns about transparency, stakeholder feedback, and whether additional statutory changes would be needed; staff said current authority appears sufficient. Affordable housing developers and advocates generally supported the reforms but said the work must go beyond a single application. They urged fully funding projects, simplifying post-award functions, modernizing asset management, preserving a direct path for locally funded and rehab projects, and improving geographic equity, especially for rural and farmworker housing. Several witnesses stressed that the system also needs stable funding, including general fund support and the proposed housing bond, and that the state should continue engaging stakeholders as the new process rolls out. Public comment echoed those themes and included a veteran describing the difficulty of navigating housing and VA-related systems, reinforcing the hearing’s focus on simplifying access to housing resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the rules promulgated pursuant to that act following participation
• This legislation recognizes the physical demands and occupational realities of police and helps ensure
• officers... ...demands and occupational realities of police and helps ensure officers who are injured
• House Bill 132, as amended, creates a new statute in the Occupational Disease and Disablement Act in
• House Bill 132, as amended, creates a new statute in the Occupational Disease and Disablement Act in

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up its only bill, House Bill 132, which would create workers’ compensation presumptions for police officers for certain conditions, including noise-induced hearing loss/tinnitus, PTSD, and heart injury or stroke occurring within 24 hours of responding to or returning from a call or emergency. The sponsor described the bill as a bipartisan effort developed with input from workers’ compensation officials, PERA, and the Albuquerque Police Department, aimed at easing the burden on officers to prove causation while still allowing employers to rebut claims. An amendment was adopted first, refining definitions and adding language that preserves an officer’s ability to prove causation even when the presumption does not apply, and tying the heart/stroke presumption to the existence of a physical training program and medical screening requirements. Supporters included representatives of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, the Workers’ Compensation Administration, New Mexico State Police, AFSCME/NMFL, and a workers’ compensation attorney. They argued the bill recognizes the cumulative physical and psychological toll of law enforcement, could improve treatment and retention, and would reduce disputes over causation while remaining balanced. One supporter asked the sponsor to consider changing the 20-year requirement tied to PTSD coverage so officers in smaller departments could access benefits earlier. Committee discussion focused on the amendment’s physical training and medical screening condition for the heart/stroke presumption, with questions about whether all departments have such programs and whether the language could limit coverage. Workers’ compensation staff testified that, from 2016 through 2025, there were 75 statewide claims potentially covered by the bill’s provisions before amendment, including about 20 hearing-loss claims, 11 heart-related claims, and about 44 mental-injury claims. A medical witness said research supports a correlation between law enforcement work and these conditions, though no New Mexico-specific study was available yet. After discussion, the committee voted to give House Bill 132, as amended, a do-pass recommendation, with no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 771, Health Occupations, human trafficking awareness training.
• :08:39.919><c> massage</c> bill 975, health occupations, massage bill 975, health occupations, massage
• ><c> and</c> Occupations, Public Health and Occupations, Public Health and Insurance,<01:20:49.240><c
• 48.640><c> to</c><02:14:48.760><c> enforce</c> limitations, civil suits to enforce limitations, civil
• The Health Occupation Subcommittee will be meeting at 8:00 p.m. for four bills."

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax rate is limited to 3%.
• The law limits these levies with the 590 aggregate limit, meaning that the total rates for regular levies
• limits.
• The result of the limit factor increase can temporarily or permanently impact future levy limit calculations
• We have limited revenue resources.

Summary: The House Finance Committee heard briefings and public testimony on several bills related to local tax authority and exemptions. HB 2559 would let cities and counties impose an additional 4% lodging/short-term rental excise tax starting in 2027, with revenues dedicated to affordable housing programs and up to 15% for administration. Staff explained existing lodging tax limits and estimated substantial local collections, while the prime sponsor and supporters argued it would give local governments a needed tool to address housing shortages caused in part by short-term rentals. Opponents, including short-term rental owners and hosts, said the tax would hurt tourism communities, reduce supplemental income for owners, and should not single out one lodging segment. The hearing on HB 2559 was suspended and later reopened for additional testimony; no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 2133, which would make permanent the property tax exemption for multipurpose nonprofit senior citizen centers. Staff said the exemption is currently set to expire in 2028 and that the bill would remove it from the automatic 10-year sunset. The sponsor and a veteran/senior center perspective emphasized that the exemption helps keep senior centers open and supports isolated older adults. A question was raised about whether a broader nonprofit community center with senior-focused space would qualify, and staff said they would follow up. The hearing on HB 2133 was then closed. HB 2135 would increase and extend the adaptive housing sales and use tax remittance for disabled veterans, raising the individual lifetime cap from $2,500 to $5,000, increasing the statewide annual cap, and extending the program’s expiration to 2038. Staff said the fiscal impact would be minimal because use is low, and a veterans coalition representative supported the bill as a way to ensure more federal grant dollars go toward home modifications. The hearing on HB 2135 was closed. The committee spent the most time on HB 2442, an eight-part local government tax and fund-flexibility bill. It would expand uses of existing REET revenues, allow cities to adopt an affordable-housing REET under certain conditions, authorize county public utility taxes with a low-income assistance set-aside, create a new local sales tax for children and family services, broaden housing-related sales tax uses, restructure mental health and veterans property tax levies, extend levy lid lift periods, and allow rental car tax revenues to be used for criminal justice purposes. Supporters from counties, cities, housing groups, and some local officials said the bill would provide needed fiscal flexibility and new tools to address housing, public safety, and service demands. Opponents from utilities, realtors, water and sewer districts, wireless carriers, auto dealers, and tax critics argued the bill would raise regressive costs, especially on housing and utility customers, and that some provisions lacked a sufficient nexus to the original taxes. The hearing on HB 2442 was closed after extensive testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to try to limit each of the three discussion questions to a maximum of about 10 minutes,
• But, you know, there are a limit to the number of beds.
• So I think when occupancy is very high, which it is in a lot of these places right now, it's, you know
• So I think when occupancy is very high, which it is in a lot of these places right now, it's, you know
• And when occupancy is low, maybe it isn't. But that should be addressed.

Summary: The Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities met for its third meeting, focused on regulations, oversight, and enforcement. Staff and agency presenters reviewed the current framework: the Executive Office of Aging and Independence explained that assisted living regulations generally do not apply to CCRCs unless an assisted living component markets itself separately, and that CCRCs must submit marketing materials, contracts, and disclosure statements for public posting. The Attorney General’s office described Chapter 93A consumer protection standards and noted it is working on draft assisted living-specific regulations. DPH outlined its oversight of licensed nursing facilities associated with some CCRCs, including routine surveys, complaint investigations, and enforcement tools such as admissions freezes, fines, receivership, and license actions, along with federal CMS sanctions for certified facilities. Commission members and presenters then discussed gaps and ambiguities in how CCRCs are defined and regulated, especially whether communities without on-site skilled nursing should still be treated as CCRCs, how assisted living-like services within CCRCs are classified, and whether residents have enough clarity about the services they are buying. A major theme was disclosure: members raised concerns about entrance fees, refund timing and conditions, whether skilled nursing is on-site or provided by contract, and how residents can compare communities. Several participants suggested more standardized disclosure and possibly broader consumer protection rules, while others cautioned that overly rigid requirements could affect community finances and development. The commission also explored enforcement and resident protections. Some members argued that independent living residents are already covered by landlord-tenant law and that existing complaint systems and community education may be sufficient, while others said residents in supported or assisted settings within CCRCs should have clearer access to ombudsman services and oversight. The discussion turned to closure and ownership transfer, with members citing recent national examples of sales and bankruptcies that changed resident terms. DPH explained its closure process for licensed nursing facilities, and members noted that Chapter 197 of 2024 adds oversight for facility transfers and financial disclosures. The meeting ended with logistics for the next session at Brookhaven at Lexington on June 2, a public hearing on June 16, and a request to circulate the hearing notice broadly to residents and stakeholder organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1641, we are simply asking that the articles of organization for a limited liability company
• Senate Bill 1653 by Miller of the House in haste of the Senate, an act relating to professions and occupations
• Senate Bill 1653 enacts the occupational therapy licensure compact.
• Senate Bill 1653 by Miller of the House in haste of the Senate, an act relating to professions and occupations
• The only difference I think between this bill and the bill that I ran is it moves the gallon limit from

Bills: SB1543 , HB1933 , HJR1088 , HJR1090 , HJR1091 , HJR1092 , HJR1093 , HJR1095 , SB1859 , HB2988 , HB3016 , SB237 , SB2065 , HB3418 , HCR1027 , SB1641 , SB1589 , SB44 , SB563 , SB1403 , HB1979 , HB3075 , SB2045 , SB1653 , SB1655 , SB2030 , HB2951 , SB2028 , SB2071 , SB206 , SB1849 , HB3755 , SB1509 , SB1314 , SB1561 , SB1217 , SB1618 , HJR1096 , HJR1099 , HJR1100

Keywords: driving under the influence, felony offense, ignition interlock device, community service, criminal assessment, nitrous oxide, Maddix Bias Act, intoxication, underage sale, misdemeanor, drug paraphernalia, enforcement, education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Morris said his main concern is that the bill appears to place limits on option contracts, which he described
• period, it assumes that time is always better, but in our experience, time is actually normally what's limited
• hearing, we are enrolled in the program that you all passed within the last couple of years, the Occupation
• hearing, we are enrolled in the program that you all passed within the last couple of years, the Occupation
• License Review Program. passed within the last couple of years the Occupation License Review Program

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The committee first deferred several bills, then took up House Bill 468 by Representative A-Bear, which would regulate wholesaling of residential real property by requiring disclosures, a right to cancel within 14 days, and other consumer protections. Representative A-Bear said the bill is meant to increase transparency without banning wholesaling, while committee members and witnesses debated whether the bill should instead focus on proof of funds or other safeguards. The committee adopted an amendment set that added disclosure of assignment fees, required a 1% earnest money deposit, and imposed a civil penalty for violations, then reported the bill favorably after hearing testimony from real estate professionals, title attorneys, and the Louisiana Real Estate Commission, many of whom supported transparency but urged changes to the rescission period and other provisions. Witnesses on HB 468 generally agreed there are bad actors in the wholesale market, especially in residential transactions involving distressed or unsophisticated sellers, but several argued the bill could interfere with legitimate local investors who close quickly and help move problem properties back into commerce. The Real Estate Commission explained that the bill creates a rebuttable presumption based on marketing activity and that the agency has enforcement tools even against unlicensed actors. Representative Jordan raised concerns about intent, assignability, and whether represented sellers need the same protections, and Representative A-Bear said he would continue working on the bill before floor debate. The committee then heard House Bill 548 by Representative Bowie, which changes CPA licensing by allowing either a master’s degree or an additional year of experience in place of the current extra undergraduate hours, while keeping the exam requirement the same. The bill also codifies board composition criteria and modernizes CPA mobility/practice privilege rules for out-of-state CPAs. After brief questions about enforcement and mobility, the committee heard support from the Louisiana Society of CPAs and others and reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 848 by Representative DeWitt on motor vehicle dealer licensing and repair facility requirements, adopted technical amendments, and then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Jordan said his questions were basically about whether the bill was putting limits on
• period, it assumes that time is always better, but in our experience, time is actually normally what's limited
• hearing, we are enrolled in the program that you all passed within the last couple of years, the Occupation
• hearing, we are enrolled in the program that you all passed within the last couple of years, the Occupation
• Thomas DeVilliers, Executive Counsel and Deputy Director of the Real Estate Commission, said the Occupation

Bills: HB387 , HB388 , HB468 , HB548 , HB827 , HB848 , HB921 , HB924 , HB953

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, contracting services, unsolicited contact, homeowners, penalties, regulations, wholesaling, real estate, earnest money, cancellation rights, residential properties, Louisiana Real Estate Commission, certified public accountant, CPA, accounting board, Louisiana State Board of Certified Public Accountants

Transcript Highlights:

• Even though this plan has no annual or lifetime limits, let me be clear about that, it does not.
• To put in that the cap minimum that if you ever do have an annual limit, it'll be a minimum amount on
• That's limiting third-party brokers from selling these plans. We also added on that same line...
• They would say, "Now, they're limited to what they're looking at.
• We enjoy life on the farm and see our occupation as a calling to provide for our fellow citizens.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• The next steps were not the violence, but the politics that led to it, such as limiting the rights of
• At eight years old, Eva, her mother, and her twin sister lived through the Nazi occupation by hiding
• His memories of the Nazi occupation are all too vivid.
• The bill also removes the hard limit that an alternative birthing center must be 30 minutes from a hospital
• Assembly Bill 596 by Assemblymember McKenna, an act relating to occupational safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• Raising the occupational license tax is not something to take lightly.
• </c> enacted a 0.5% occupational license tax. enacted a 0.5% occupational license tax.
• </c> Lexington increased the occupational Lexington increased the occupational license<00:27:00.720><
• Raising the occupational license them.
• Thank you. the occupational license tax above the the occupational license tax above the base<00:28:40.399

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, so it began with an informational presentation from Dr. Kristen Goodell, executive director of LifeKY, about innovation infrastructure and a proposed grant program to support life sciences and other startup facilities. She argued that Kentucky’s research investments only translate into jobs and companies if startups have access to physical lab and equipment space, and said shared facilities can serve many companies over time. Goodell described LifeKY’s Northern Kentucky facility as a proof of concept, noting it has attracted companies from other states and Japan, secured a Thermo Fisher Scientific partnership, and could be replicated elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Members asked about university pipelines, local talent development, sustainability, and how the grant program would measure return on investment; Goodell emphasized public-private partnerships, earned revenue, philanthropy, internships, and STEM programming as part of the model. The committee then took up Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Senator Bledsoe, which would limit school board occupational license tax increases by raising the population threshold for such increases from 300,000 to 500,000. Bledsoe said the bill was intended to respond to Fayette County’s recent tax controversy, restore public trust, and provide stability for employees, employers, and the school system. He argued that occupational taxes affect many commuters who work in Fayette County but live elsewhere, and said the measure would give time for community buy-in before any future increase. Supportive comments came from Senator Nunn and others, while Senator Boswell asked about the tax rate and cautioned against local tax increases offsetting state income tax reductions. After discussion, the committee called the roll on SB 76. The bill advanced on a roll-call vote, with Senator Armstrong explaining a no vote because he did not want to take tools away from local government and preferred local control. The transcript indicates the measure moved forward from committee after the vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again it's it's a way to limit timelines here.
• Very high level, our DXP project has three phases, occupational licensing, vehicle registration, and
• And we have, we've asked you to try to limit that to 10 minutes.
• And the temporary event includes any time required from construction occupation removal.
• high occupancy toll lanes, and run Olympics only.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> employees um and do you pay occupational employees um and do you pay occupational tax<00:39:55.280
• As far as the occupational tax, I'll be honest, I don't know the tax law.
• They're going to build a hotel up there, but we're limited on hotels.
• </c><00:46:36.560><c> on</c> &gt;&gt; a hotel up there, but we're limited on &gt;&gt; a hotel up there
• , but we're limited on hotels.<00:46:37.119><c> We've</c><00:46:37.280><c> got</c><00:46:37.359><c> a

Summary: The committee met for its second Interim Joint Committee on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology meeting, approved the June minutes, and then heard a presentation from representatives of the Ark Encounter on its 10-year anniversary. Eddie Lutz and Anna Katherine Scalf described the Ark as a major tourism anchor in Kentucky, citing nearly 9.3 million total guests, about 1 million annual visitors, 16,871 bus groups, and a largely out-of-region audience. They emphasized that the Ark and the nearby Creation Museum together draw about 1.5 million visitors a year and have helped drive hotel development, restaurant activity, and other tourism spending in Northern Kentucky and surrounding areas. They also previewed future expansion, including a large first-century Jerusalem model in the welcome center and a 40-day Christian music festival with more than 120 concerts. Members asked about the project’s financing, location choice, and business structure. The witnesses said no taxpayer dollars were used to build the Ark, but the project did receive a Kentucky tax incentive/rebate program, which they said helped bring the attraction to the state. They said Kentucky was chosen in part because of the available land off I-75 and because the Ark and Creation Museum are close enough to encourage overnight stays. In response to questions, they explained that Answers in Genesis is the nonprofit parent organization, the Creation Museum is nonprofit, and the Ark Encounter operates as a for-profit entity owned by a nonprofit; revenue comes from ticket sales and events, while development was funded through private donations. They also said staffing can reach about 1,400 employees seasonally, though they did not know the occupational tax details. Several legislators offered supportive comments and personal observations about the Ark’s draw for out-of-state and international visitors, including license plates from many states and stories of travelers extending their stays to visit. The witnesses and members also discussed broader tourism collaboration in Kentucky, including partnerships with Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky attractions, and nearby hotels and businesses that benefit from Ark-related traffic. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the June minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• only paid less than the median worker, they are also more likely to face unstable work schedules, limited
• hours fluctuate and access to employer-provided health insurance, retirement plans, or paid leave is limited
• And then, as you mentioned, there's just a tremendous need for the work that occupations are traditionally
• low-wage occupations.
• The occupations that are traditionally low-wage are still important and essential.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement