Transcript Highlights:

• And then our adaptability. There's lots of things that you can apply to an identity.
• Uh and then our adaptability. Uh needed. Uh and then our adaptability.
• </c><00:10:23.279><c> based</c><00:10:23.519><c> on</c> um we have the ability to adapt based on um we
• have the ability to adapt based on the<00:10:23.920><c> application</c><00:10:24.640><c> what</c><00
• Um, the ability for this to adapt easily to applications doesn't present any real hurdles technically

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance received a presentation from Jim Barnhard, CIO of the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and David Carter, deputy CIO/CISO, on the state’s citizen identity management project. They said the project is intended to streamline citizen logins across agencies, reduce duplicated identity-management costs, improve security by centralizing authentication, and provide a flexible system that can scale with demand. The presenters described major implementation challenges, including integrating with diverse and legacy applications, and said the chosen software-as-a-service vendor was selected because it can connect to many systems and maintain the service in a federally certified cloud environment. The presenters emphasized that the project scope is limited to login, authentication, identity management, and identity proofing, while leaving authorization decisions to the individual applications and agencies. They said the work is being done in phases, beginning with discovery sessions with agencies, then selecting representative applications for onboarding rather than attempting a “big bang” rollout. They also said the vendor agreement includes professional services and knowledge transfer to reduce long-term dependence on outside support, and that the state has already begun outreach to agencies, including initial work with the Finance Cabinet and the Department of Revenue. Members asked about staffing, current spending, future costs, and whether existing systems or contracts could be reduced. The presenters said the project is being supported with existing staff, with no expectation of a large increase in positions, and that the vendor will carry most of the operational load. They said they did not have statewide spending figures with them but could try to gather them, and explained that the negotiated pricing is intended to be all-inclusive, with fixed costs for the first five years and capped increases in years six and seven. They said centralizing identity services should eventually allow the Commonwealth to stand down some duplicated agency-level licensing and reduce overall operational costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that it is important for us to adapt to any change, including those that occur with respect
• . to climate, not to mitigate to prevent it, just to adapt to it even if it's man-made pollution that
• As I stated previously, I believe that we need to be adapting to all changes, including those to the
• But I'm fully supportive of Americans and people adapting to any change. changes in the climate that
• and I believe that the American people can adapt to those changes.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It encompasses supportability, adaptability, sustainability, and KRS 7A.180 really contains a detailed
• 02:54.800><c> supportability,</c> encompasses uh supportability, encompasses uh supportability, adaptability
• ,<00:02:56.560><c> sustainability</c> adaptability, sustainability adaptability, sustainability and<00
• the end of the first row and then starting the second row, where we really start talking about adaptability
• </c> really start talking about adaptability. really start talking about adaptability. uh<00:03:52.239

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance heard a presentation from the Commonwealth Office of Technology on legacy IT modernization funds and how they are used to address outdated, unsupported, or unsustainable systems. David Carter and Carrie Welch explained the state’s definition of a legacy system under KRS 7A.180, emphasizing not only vendor support issues but also changing business needs, regulatory compliance, and the loss of institutional knowledge for older systems. They described the office’s review process for determining whether a project qualifies, including assessing business risk, comparing options such as upgrades, replacements, shared solutions across agencies, or commercial products, and then matching the project to available funding. The presenters said COT reports twice a year to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue on progress with legacy modernization projects. They reported 30 projects funded to date, with 18 completed, and said remaining projects are still moving forward while agencies continue to identify modernization needs. They highlighted examples of completed work, including modernized security cameras, replacement of unsupported systems, migration of documents to the Commonwealth Enterprise Content Management Platform, restoration of vendor support, a digital policy acknowledgement portal, replacement of the State Police dispatch system, and digitization of paper records for faster retrieval and better disaster resilience. Members asked for more detail on how the $10 million request would be allocated, including system-by-system spending, the split between software, hardware, vendor contracts, and staff time, and how the office determines when a system needs replacement. COT said it did not have a system-by-system or cost-category breakdown at the hearing but could provide one later, and explained that the funds are intended for development and first-time acquisition costs rather than ongoing maintenance. They also said the $5 million annual request was based on prior years’ experience and that agencies often contribute some funding themselves, so the program could still operate if appropriated less than the full amount. The committee then approved the minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:42.720><c> reuse</c> However, without it, many adaptive reuse However, without it, many adaptive
• However, in adaptive reuse projects, 70% of the cost is labor and 30% is material.
• However, in adaptive reuse projects, 70% of the cost is labor and 30% is material.
• </c> repositioning buildings for adaptive repositioning buildings for adaptive reuse.<00:45:45.680><c
• The best part is that adaptive jobs.

Bills: HF1833 , HF148 , HF1127 , HF1227 , HF1681 , HF1974 , HF1106 , HF1016 , HF2197

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: sales tax, education funding, construction, Aitkin Public Schools, tax exemption, refundable credit, HF148, use of force training, deadly force, peace officer training, police training, law enforcement, POST Board, Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, scenario-based training, de-escalation, defensive tactics, force-on-force training, stress management, officer wellness

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's laws that change, then rules and policies would have to adapt. Okay.
• lot of the work that we're doing around climate change, including our recent report called Delta Adapts
• lot of the work that we're doing around climate change, including our recent report called Delta Adapts
• If you are like our Delta Adapts is a great example that had first a vulnerability study.
• So you're bringing people into the process throughout. ...and then also the adaptation plan.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules convened with a quorum and first took up several governor’s appointments not required to appear. It approved Paulette Brown Hines, PhD, to the California Transportation Committee, Christopher Clark and Maggie Hallahan to the Board of State and Community Corrections and Boating and Waterways Commission respectively, Kent Sasaki to the Building Standards Commission, and Danielle N. Munoz to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, with one appointment receiving a 3-1 vote and the others passing unanimously or 5-0. The committee also approved a reference of bills to committees by a 5-0 vote. The committee then heard Tanya Pacheco Warner, PhD, for reappointment to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District Board. She described her public health background, her family’s experience with asthma, and her work on agricultural burning phase-outs and AB 617 community efforts. Members questioned her about the cumulative economic impact of air rules on Valley agriculture, mobile-source emission strategies, the FARMER tractor replacement program, collaboration with fellow board members, and how to communicate climate and air-quality risks to the public. After public comment, her appointment was approved 4-0 and sent to the full Senate. Next, the committee considered three reappointments to the California Horse Racing Board: Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, and Thomas Hudnut, J.D. The nominees emphasized horse and rider safety reforms, reduced equine fatalities, the impact of Golden Gate Fields’ closure on Northern California racing, and the need for new revenue sources and possible legislative support to strengthen purses and keep the industry viable. Senators pressed them on safety, HISA relations, gambling-related revenue options, and the decline of racing in the North. Public witnesses from the racing industry supported the nominees, and all three appointments were approved 3-0. Finally, the committee heard Julie Lee and Ann Patterson, J.D., for the Delta Stewardship Council. Both stressed the Delta’s importance to statewide water reliability, ecosystem health, and climate adaptation, and highlighted the council’s science program, performance metrics, and community engagement efforts. Senators asked about the co-equal goals, the role of science and social science in building trust, the council’s future mission, and how to communicate climate impacts such as sea-level rise and salinity intrusion. The hearing continued into discussion of balancing water supply and ecosystem protection, with the members framing the Delta as a statewide system requiring coordinated management.

Transcript Highlights:

• Disabled veterans who receive an adaptive housing grant from the United States Department of Veterans
• The refund applies to sales and use taxes paid for labor and materials for an adapted housing project
• JLARC is required to, at a minimum, evaluate the total number of qualifying adaptive housing projects
• and the total amount of adapted housing grants awarded to veterans.
• Veterans with disabilities who live in homes not properly adapted to their needs can experience their

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:

• One of them is a project that we just finished: an adaptive reuse of the old Hill Street School.
• We used state credits to do an adaptive reuse of the school, turning it into housing for the elderly
• So adaptive reuse of old historic structures is a great way to... ...permits.
• Adaptive reuse is expensive and complicated. It's difficult to do.
• Adaptive reuse is expensive and complicated, and market-rate developers just have not been attracted

Bills: HB2388 , HB2804 , HB2926

Committees: House Rural Economic Development , House House Rural Economic Development Committee of Reference

Keywords: HB2388, Arizona Commerce Authority, ACA, small modular reactor, SMR, nuclear energy, advanced nuclear, data center, data centers, economic development, study, appropriation, general fund, jobs, wages, tax revenue, broadband, infrastructure, secondary businesses, tertiary businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• By and large, what I would say is: would I anticipate universities having to adapt?
• Would I anticipate higher education having to adapt?
• Would I anticipate higher education having ...universities having to adapt.
• Would I anticipate higher education having to adapt to this new model? Yes, I would.
• Do I think those adaptations are challenging? Yes, I do.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• By and large, what I would say is would I anticipate universities having to adapt?
• Would I anticipate higher education having to adapt?
• Would I anticipate higher education having Universities having to adapt.
• Would I anticipate higher education having to adapt to this new model? Yes, I would.
• Do I think those adaptations are challenging? Yes, I do.

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The committee spent most of the meeting discussing a proposed overhaul of Missouri’s higher education funding model, centered on shifting core funding toward an FTE-based formula. The chair and vice chair argued the current system is outdated and inequitable, saying the new approach would better align state dollars with student enrollment and workforce outcomes. Several members supported the need for change but raised concerns about the speed of implementation, the lack of advance consultation with universities, and the possibility that some institutions could face severe budget cuts, accreditation problems, or even closure. Community college representatives were noted as unanimously opposing the recommendation, and members repeatedly asked for clarification on whether graduate programs would be counted at 9, 12, or 15 credit hours, with no definitive answer provided during the meeting. Testimony and comments focused heavily on the consequences for specific institutions and programs. Some members warned that the proposal could hurt schools with expensive programs such as nursing, engineering, doctoral study, research, and specialized missions, while others argued that institutions should be rewarded for producing graduates who are in demand in the workforce. Truman State, Harris-Stowe, Missouri State, and several community colleges were discussed as examples of schools that could either gain or lose substantially under the model. The chair and vice chair said the proposal was not intended to force consolidation, but several members said the size of the cuts could indirectly lead to consolidation or closure and would require a phase-in to avoid harming students. After the higher education discussion, the committee moved through other budget items. The chair described cuts and restorations in several areas, including removing easement funding at the Department of Revenue, adding hearing officers for the State Tax Commission, restoring some MODOT requests, and shifting interest earnings from I-70 and I-44 project funds back to general revenue. Members also asked about Bartle Hall funding, a Bolivar road project, and new language restricting personal-service spending unless appropriations explicitly allow it. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would continue moving through the budget items and follow up on unresolved questions with the department.

Transcript Highlights:

• shaped by three different lenses: the private sector, where I learned how vendors pitch, implement, and adapt
• The goal isn't just compliance; it's securing solutions that work, scale, and adapt to our needs.
• Even well-scoped, strategically aligned projects may need to pause or adapt based solely on where they
• The goal isn't just compliance, it's securing solutions that work, scale and adapt to our needs.
• Even well-scoped strategically aligned projects may need to pause or adapt based solely on where they

Summary: The subcommittee heard a panel on Florida’s IT procurement process from the Florida Digital Service, the Department of Management Services, and the Department of Financial Services. Witnesses walked through the procurement lifecycle, including planning, market research, solicitation, evaluation, award, implementation, and closeout, and emphasized the role of budget timing, contract managers, and subject matter experts. DMS described the state’s enterprise contracting system, noting more than 1,100 active vendor agreements, over 800 involving IT services, and the statutory requirement to request 25 quotes for certain IT purchases. DFS demonstrated the Florida Accountability Contract Tracking System (FACS), explaining how agencies upload contract and payment data and how the public can search contracts and related documents online. Members focused on accountability, transparency, and whether the state is getting the best products and vendors. Questions addressed how contracts are vetted, how technical evaluations are performed, how financial consequences are used for missed deliverables, how public records and confidential information are handled, and how the state screens vendors for foreign-concern or bad-actor issues. Witnesses said agencies rely on technical experts for evaluations, that contract terms should include measurable deliverables and meaningful financial consequences, and that agencies—not procurement staff—generally manage performance, though Florida Digital Service oversees large IT projects of $10 million or more. The committee then shifted to broader policy discussion, including Senate Bill 7026 and proposals to reorganize state IT governance. Several members argued for stronger centralization under a state CIO or similar enterprise authority, while others cautioned against abrupt restructuring and stressed the need for a transition plan. Members also raised concerns about workforce retention, consulting services, recurring project overruns, and the need for better planning and periodic monitoring. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking members and staff and adjourning the subcommittee.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:55.640><c> and</c><00:03:56.200><c> activation</c> preservation adaptation and activation
• preservation adaptation and activation we've<00:03:57.400><c> been</c><00:03:57.519><c> serving</c><00
• </c><00:10:45.079><c> reuse</c><00:10:45.839><c> of</c> To be feasible, the adaptive reuse of vacant
• Paul and the state of Minnesota at a key turning point as we plan for adaptation of our downtowns in
• Adaptive reuse even possible so if past Adaptive reuse even possible so if past this<00:15:46.240><c>

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to implement adaptive item-level tests for the beginning of year and in the middle. of the
• which is taking this test out and testing a lot of these changes because we're going to be doing adaptive
• If you go to an adaptive level item test, if somebody keeps answering the questions, then they go, you
• Those are adaptive tests, and it sounds like there are various tests already in place that can be used
• All of these will be, because we don't currently offer a BOI adaptive test either, so these will all

Bills: SB8 , SB 8

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission in support. Thank you.
• climate change you we have the climate change mitigation<00:04:17.880><c> and</c><00:04:18.120><c> adaptation
• will be used to advance projects addressing climate change impacts, including projects that mitigate, adapt
• will be used to advance projects addressing climate change impacts, including projects that mitigate, adapt
• will be used to advance projects addressing climate change impacts, including projects that mitigate, adapt

Summary: The joint hearing of the Committees on Economic Development and Technology and Tourism on February 12, 2025, focused on HB 77/HB 1077, a measure related to increasing the transient accommodations tax and directing revenue toward climate mitigation/resiliency and economic development/tourism resiliency. Most testifiers supported the bill, including the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, State Energy Office, Governor’s office, DLNR, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Nature Conservancy, the Hawaii Climate Advisory Team, Care for Aina Now Coalition, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Ocean Legislative Task Force. Supporters emphasized the need for reliable funding for disaster preparedness, environmental restoration, infrastructure resilience, and tourism-related resilience projects; some cited polling and a reported funding gap for natural resource protection and restoration. Opposition or concerns came from the Kohala Coast Resort Association, which argued the state should fully collect existing taxes from short-term vacation rentals and other accommodations before considering any tax increase. The Attorney General and Department of Taxation offered technical comments, noting the bill’s special fund language referred to fees that the chapter did not actually authorize and recommending either deleting that language or authorizing fee collection through rulemaking. The Hawaii Tourism Authority supported the measure but asked that the funding mechanism have a clear nexus to tourism resiliency. After a brief recess, the chair recommended amendments to redirect the proposed 1.75% TAT increase away from the two special funds and into the general fund, while earmarking 7.3% of total revenue for climate mitigation/resiliency and 7.3% for economic development and tourism resiliency, with technical and defect-effective-date amendments. Both committees then voted to pass the measure with amendments; the recommendations were adopted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of them is a project that we just finished: an adaptive reuse of the old Hill Street School.
• We used state credits to do an adaptive reuse on the school, turning it into housing for the elderly
• So adaptive reuse of old historic structures is a great way to... ...permits.
• Adaptive reuse is expensive and complicated. It's complicated. ...difficult to do.
• Adaptive reuse is expensive and complicated, and market-rate developers just have not been attracted

Committee: House House Rural Economic Development Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with short video presentations highlighting historic sites in Prescott, including the Arizona Pioneer Home and the Charlotte Hall Museum/First Territorial Governor’s Mansion, with members discussing the value of showcasing district landmarks and rural history. The committee then took up HB 2804, a bill to create a state rural development and housing tax credit tied to the federal low-income housing tax credit for projects in counties under 800,000 population. Supporters, including the Flagstaff mayor and several affordable-housing developers, said the bill would help finance rural and workforce housing, especially for seniors, veterans, and low-income residents, while opponents from the Arizona Free Enterprise Club argued the program is inefficient, hard to police, and benefits intermediaries more than residents. Members debated the policy at length, but the bill was ultimately passed on a 7-0 vote with a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered HB 2388, which would appropriate unspecified funds to the Arizona Commerce Authority to study the economic benefits of small modular reactors and data centers for the state and local governments. The sponsor described it as a study bill to gather information on a topic already drawing significant attention, and a representative from the Libre Initiative supported it as a way to assess workforce and economic opportunities. Members discussed possible amendments, including adding data on utility-rate impacts and other costs, and the sponsor said she was open to that conversation. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote, with one member opposed and others expressing support contingent on possible amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would require state-regulated health plans to provide coverage for adaptive devices.
• We've been in service for 20 years, providing adaptive outdoor sports and recreation for people with
• We've been in service for 20 years, providing adaptive outdoor sports and recreation for people with
• And one of the worst responses I got was that the adaptive trike would be denied because the activity
• It completely adapted? So is that protecting families? Is that protecting children?

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• But so is learning how to learn, how to build and strengthen skills, how to adapt, how to think critically
• But so is learning how to learn, how to build and strengthen skills, how to adapt, how to think critically
• to build and strengthen skills,<00:09:21.839><c> how</c><00:09:22.000><c> to</c><00:09:22.160><c> adapt
• ,</c><00:09:22.880><c> how</c><00:09:23.040><c> to</c><00:09:23.279><c> think</c> skills, how to adapt
• , how to think skills, how to adapt, how to think critically<00:09:24.399><c> about</c><00:09:24.720>

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:49.240><c> legislation</c> proven, or more um adaptable legislation proven, or more um adaptable
• </c> adaptive regulatory framework. adaptive regulatory framework.
• I also think it's the least adaptive framework.
• </c><01:25:49.240><c> over</c> it allows a lot more adaptability over it allows a lot more adaptability
• </c> decisions day-to-day and it can adapt decisions day-to-day and it can adapt over<01:27:21.040><c

Transcript Highlights:

• now move on to House 3194, Senate 1973, An Act Relative to Affordable Housing and Environmental Adaptation
• to construct energy-efficient and climate-resilient housing, and more broadly integrate climate adaptation
• I echo the points made by my co-panelists and will focus my testimony today on adaptation in particular
• climate preparedness is not something to be thinking about in the focused my testimony today on adaptation
• The Ahead Act provides essential funding for climate adaptation and resilience.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I have particularly, perhaps all of y'all too, seen how very adaptive Dollar General is.
• And believe me, if they want that SNAP money, they will adapt.
• It's probably because they hadn't adapted yet. Right. But the thing is...
• We're expecting businesses to adapt because they want. those dollars.
• So if they have a they'll adapt rather than pull out. Well, uh.

Bills: HB2510 , HB3589 , HB4611 , HB4655 , HB4665 , HB4666 , HB4670 , HB4700 , HB4730 , HB4798 , HB4838 , HB5136 , HB5243 , HB5302 , HB5539

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked with an adaptive equipment company called Be Adaptive, and so no matter how injured the individual
• was, whether they were a quadriplegic, whether they were missing arms or legs or whatever, this adaptive
• I never would have believed it, but each one of those got a deer during the deer season with the adaptive

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Summary: The Committee on Veterans and Armed Forces met briefly to hear testimony from Tron Peterson, director of Peterson Outdoors Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit that provides free outdoor recreational therapy for veterans, active-duty service members, military chaplains, and their families. Peterson described the organization’s 20-year history, its Lodge of Hope facility near Sheldon, Missouri, and its use of adaptive equipment to serve veterans with severe injuries. He said the ministry now serves more than 500 veterans a year across several states and also offers events for female veterans, spouses, children, and chaplains. Committee members praised the program’s focus on healing, family support, and suicide prevention. Peterson said the ministry’s events are designed to reduce isolation, strengthen marriages and families, and help veterans cope with PTSD and suicidal thoughts; he claimed recent events had helped prevent suicides and included baptisms and family activities. Members also discussed the high divorce rate among veterans and special forces, and Peterson said chaplains are helping him develop marriage retreats and enrichment programs to address that need. In response to questions, Peterson explained that the ministry is funded through churches, individuals, businesses, sponsorships, and donations, often secured at the last minute. He also said the organization has expanded with RV pads and a bunkhouse, and that it takes its model to other locations through volunteers and partner sites. No legislation was considered and no votes were taken; the committee concluded after the testimony and adjourned.