Transcript Highlights:

• my view was I wanted to deal with working with the ag community in the places where we have a collaborative
• And Mike... ...in the places where we can have a collaborative environment to talk about it, and my question
• Again, we're just trying to modernize the way we communicate and be collaborative with our property owners
• We're very glad to have a collaborative partnership with Representative Carbone. phone. glad to have
• a collaborative partnership with Representative Carbone.

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee heard several tax-related bills. House Bill 2261, sponsored by Representative Griffin, would rename and clarify the agricultural real property classification statute and codify the income-based valuation approach for agricultural lands, especially permanent crops such as orchards and vineyards. Griffin and farm/ranch supporters said the bill simply reflects recent court rulings and would avoid further litigation costs, while county assessors and the Arizona Association of Counties opposed it, urging the committee to wait for the pending Arizona Supreme Court case. After discussion about the tax court and appellate rulings, the committee voted 5-3 with one absent to return HB 2261 with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2173, sponsored by Representative Livingston, would allow tax officers to accept and send certain notices electronically unless certified mail is required. County assessors supported the measure as a modernization that would reduce delays, postage, and paper use, and there was discussion about how to handle outdated email addresses. The committee voted 7-0 with one absent to return HB 2173 with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2120 would add the Social Security Administration to the definition of competent medical authority for property tax disability determinations; it was described as reducing the need for duplicate documentation. The committee approved HB 2120 on a 6-1 vote with one present and one absent. House Bill 2786 would extend a tax deduction for bookstore textbook rentals to include textbooks required by state universities or community colleges, including digital rentals as clarified in testimony from the University of Arizona. Members said it would provide relief to students, and the committee returned the bill with a do pass recommendation on an 8-0 vote with one absent. House Bill 2792, a cleanup bill related to the 100% property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities, was supported by assessors as necessary to resolve conflicting language and implement the exemption correctly. The committee voted 8-0 with one absent to return HB 2792 with a do pass recommendation, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• with us here in committee today, Liz Egra is one of those survivor teachers who is part of our collaborative
• a really good step in the right direction with urgency and I really thank you so much for your collaboration
• We bring the right people to the table to plan, collaborate and coordinate.
• We know that this collaborative model works.
• Chairman, and thank you for your leadership for so many years and working very collaboratively with our

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're working with them with a member's office So we thank the member for collaborating with us And
• I would like to thank my Vice Chair, Assembly Member Heather Hadwick, for her partnership and collaboration
• But to give you an idea of what we've tried to do to make sure that this is as collaborative as possible
• , as we've tried to do to make sure that we're as collaborative of an approach as possible.
• And I think this is probably of all the bills that I've worked the most collaborative I've endeavored

Committee: House Emergency Management

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hosted by Iowa State University, the Iowa SBDC collaborates with various partners to provide tailored
• A prime example in Iowa is Senator Ernst Entrepreneur Expo, an annual collaboration between the senator
• small businesses with industry experts, government resources, and potential investors, fostering collaboration
• Continued collaboration among federal agencies, local resource providers, and entrepreneurs will be essential
• of collaboration should definitely be looked at being implemented everywhere across the nation, especially

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: SBIR, STTR, Innovate Act, small business, innovation, legislative reforms, economic growth, funding, technology transfer

Summary: The meeting focused on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR-STTR), emphasizing the critical reforms necessary to enhance their effectiveness. Chair Ernst introduced the Innovate Act to streamline processes, ensuring funding is awarded based on merit and addressing existing abuses within the system. The discussion was robust, with numerous members expressing concerns about phase transitions and the need for targeted funding to support impactful technological innovations. The conversation also highlighted the program's importance in fostering economic growth, particularly for small businesses in rural areas, and the urgency for legislative changes as the program's authorization approaches expiration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative has been going on now for about five years.
• The collaborative works very closely with our campuses to address wrap-around supports for students.
• The collaborative is involved with literally all of our campuses.
• ><c> very</c><00:18:36.560><c> closely</c> Um the collaborative works very closely Um the collaborative
• ><c> with</c> The collaborative is involved with The collaborative is involved with literally<00:19:17.320

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met for an overview of the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). After approving the prior meeting minutes, staff from CPE explained that the council was reconstituted in 1997 and serves as Kentucky’s statewide coordinating body for higher education, with responsibilities including advising the General Assembly and governor, coordinating the postsecondary system, supporting budget and performance funding work, and using data to track outcomes. They described Kentucky’s governance structure, including the KCTCS governing board, independent boards at public universities, and CPE’s role in licensing private institutions and overseeing transfer, closed-school records, and tuition approval. CPE staff emphasized statewide strategic planning and the “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of working-age Kentuckians hold a meaningful credential by 2030. They said the agency uses dashboards, KPIs, and peer comparisons to set targets for institutions and monitor enrollment, retention, and graduation. They also highlighted the Kentucky Graduate Profile, a voluntary effort to embed 10 essential workforce skills into general education and major programs, and noted ongoing work on academic program approval, performance funding, and a biennial budget request. The presentation also focused on student support and workforce alignment initiatives. Staff described the Kentucky Advising Academy, the Commonwealth Education Continuum, and the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, which work with K-12 partners and campuses to improve advising, transfer, wraparound supports, and career planning. They also discussed GEAR UP, the Futurity career-planning platform, and efforts to connect education pathways to workforce needs, including healthcare, veterans, and other adult learners. CPE reported that student debt at graduation has fallen to $10,168 at public institutions and that six in ten Kentucky undergraduates graduate debt free.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's choose the collaborative, data-driven path that respects our teachers, the collaborative, data-driven
• So again, I want to talk about compliance versus collaboration.
• You know, our state has ...about compliance versus collaboration.
• The Nebraska Education Collaboration, a statewide coalition dedicated to supporting the interests of
• If you look on this list of collaboration members, these people are invested in the education of our

Bills: LB878 , LB958 , LB958A , LB762 , LB1187 , LB966 , LB929 , LB962 , LB1209 , LB937A , LB962A , LB1050 , LB1050A , LB965 , LB1022 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LR293 , LR296 , LR422 , LR495 , LR496 , LR497 , LR498 , LR499 , LR500 , LR501 , LR502 , LR503 , LR504

Keywords: paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes

Transcript Highlights:

• am here on behalf of the California Charter Schools Association, and thank you again for your collaboration
• They would also be able to build collaboration and coordination across these critical governing entities
• , Build collaboration and coordination across these critical governing entities, across all of higher
• Second, collaboration. California values collaboration across institutions and levels.
• I merely need point to the establishment of the California Collaborative for Excellence in Education,

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The third thing that it does is it encourages more collaboration between school districts and their local
• Or collaboration.
• ><c> our</c><00:43:07.120><c> job</c> collaboration.
• We hear from our job collaboration.
• </c> work and collaborate and problem solve. work and collaborate and problem solve.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that his experience in tourism can really help with collaboration with a lot of the local markets
• I think that his experience in tourism can really help with collaboration with a lot of the local markets
• We work collaboratively with the other state Chief Information Officers' offices, you know, to really
• </c><00:55:20.480><c> with</c><00:55:20.640><c> the</c> AI we we work collaboratively with the AI we
• we work collaboratively with the other<00:55:22.400><c> state</c><00:55:23.119><c> um</c><00:55:23.760

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of Governor’s messages for confirmation to several boards and councils, with the chair noting the meeting would continue on Monday and that testimony would be limited due to the large volume of submissions. For Governor’s Message 660, Kelly Oka was nominated to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Oka described her work in workforce development and technology, emphasizing equitable access to tech jobs for local residents, keeping young talent in Hawaii, and using HTDC to attract major technology firms and support cybersecurity and startup growth. Testimony from multiple individuals and organizations was strongly supportive, and members asked about HTDC’s challenges, federal funding, and how to attract more tech investment; no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then considered Governor’s Message 529, nominating Fono Cafi Mei to the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board. Mei said he had 20 years of crane-operating experience, including work on rail projects, and union representatives and labor organizations testified in support. Next, Governor’s Message 502 nominated Ken Louie to the Workforce Development Council. Louie highlighted his four years on the council, including two as chair, his family business, and his goal of expanding opportunities for younger and adult workers. DBEDT, council members, and labor representatives supported him, and members questioned him about the council’s priorities, staffing, federal funding uncertainty, apprenticeships, and military-to-private-sector transition programs. The committee also took up Governor’s Messages 581 and 690 together, both relating to Jared Gashi’s nomination to the Workforce Development Council for different terms. Gashi, from the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said he would bring the tourism industry’s perspective to workforce development, citing workforce shortages, internships, scholarships, and the need for a broader tourism voice on the council. Support testimony came from state officials and community members, who praised his reliability and leadership; a member asked how he would broaden the council beyond tourism, and Gashi said HLTA represents a wide range of tourism-related sectors and partners. The committee then heard Governor’s Message 571 for Eric Noi to the Deferred Compensation Plan Board, with Noi citing his fiscal and budgeting background; DHS, the board chair, and others supported him. Finally, Governor’s Message 667 nominated Ty Noara to the same board, and Keith Regan testified in strong support, citing her public service, intelligence, and ability to handle difficult situations. The excerpt ends as the committee begins Governor’s Message 560, nominating David Louie to the Employees’ Retirement System Board, with Louie, the ERS executive director, the finance director, and former Governor Abercrombie offering strong support.

Transcript Highlights:

• the partner of the United States on the partner of the United States on the international stage collaborating
• with international stage collaborating with international stage collaborating with our nation in many
• uh nurses which will collaborative uh nurses which will collaborative uh nurses which will include uh
• collaborate with the collaborate collaborate with the collaborate collaborate with the Physicians and
• I've been working with and collaborating I've been working with and collaborating with and serving as

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've been working in close collaboration with the city of Alexandria as both entities are going
• </c> I'd like to highlight our collaboration I'd like to highlight our collaboration with<00:37:12.280
• </c><00:53:40.360><c> of</c> which is a collaboration of which is a collaboration of organizations<00
• This strong collaboration reflects how important this MTID is for our city.
• 08:07.240><c> how</c> This strong collaboration reflects how This strong collaboration reflects how important

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sylvia Leong on behalf of the Santa Clara County School Board's Association Success Collaborative on
• The dashboard would focus on what matters most: service quality, collaboration and coordination among
• Are they collaborating? Are they communicating together? I think sometimes yes.
• Are they collaborating? Are they communicating together? I think sometimes yes.
• Are they collaborating? Are they communicating together? I think sometimes yes.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they will share ideas and resources and collaboration.
• And they will share ideas and resources and collaborate, which is something that all of us should be
• With regard to cross-collaboration, caring for veterans takes all of us, as you well know.
• For justice-involved veterans, the OVA has initiated a collaborative effort between the U.S.
• For justice-involved veterans, the OVA has initiated a collaborative effort between the U.S.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a FY27 budget session on Health and Human Services held in Mattapan, hosted by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Opening remarks from Senator Lydia Edwards, Representative Brandy Fluker-Reed, Representative Russell Holmes, and Boston Public Library President David Leonard emphasized the significance of holding the first Ways and Means hearing in Mattapan, the importance of community access, and the role of libraries as human services institutions. Committee members and attendees introduced themselves before agency testimony began. MassAbility testified first, describing its mission to support people with disabilities through employment, independent living, and disability determination services. The agency highlighted federal funding uncertainty, a modest FY27 budget reduction, and a proposed reworking of its home care program, which it said is outdated and should better target those most in need. Members questioned the home care cut, staffing reductions, and federal coordination. MassAbility also shared a participant story about recovery and community support to illustrate the impact of its services. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing then presented its FY27 request, focusing on interpreter and captioning access, workforce development, emergency communication, aging-related hearing loss, and transition services for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth. Members asked about interpreter shortages, after-hours emergency coverage, ASL education, and community training; the commission said it is expanding mentorship and referral systems but still faces staffing and vendor challenges. The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind followed with a $30.8 million request, describing services for nearly 9,000 consumers, peer support groups, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 services, while noting federal funding uncertainty and a 7% budget cut. Members raised concerns about maintaining services with fewer resources, and the commissioner said the agency had trimmed overhead and could manage the proposal. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants closed the segment, outlining expanded legal, housing, workforce, citizenship, and financial literacy supports for immigrants and refugees, including Know Your Rights trainings, legal defense initiatives, and the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative. Members discussed the effects of federal policy changes, the loss of refugee resettlement funding, and the need for state support to fill gaps. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the hearing consisted of agency presentations and committee questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Task Force of New Collaborative Task Force of New Hampshire<00:14:44.079><c> in</c><00:14:44.320><c>
• Through organized<00:28:21.360><c> collaboration,</c><00:28:22.320><c> multiple</c> organized collaboration
• , multiple organized collaboration, multiple communities<00:28:23.120><c> across</c><00:28:23.440><c>
• task force, and we house collaborative task force, and we house the<01:10:09.040><c> task</c><01:10:
• </c> force works to provide a collaborative force works to provide a collaborative and<01:10:13.440><

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Holo Collaborative in support. >> On behalf of Collaborative, we stand on our written testimony. >> Thank
• And even if we're all working collaboratively right now, we still can't meet the current cycle.
• And even if we're all working collaboratively right now, we still can't meet the current cycle.
• Hawaii Data Collaborative [cough] in support. Housing Hawaiʻi's Future in support.
• Hawaii Data Collaborative [cough] in support. Housing Hawaiʻi's Future in support.

Bills: HB1719 , HB1742 , HB1737 , HB2049 , HB1725 , HB1726 , HB1738 , HB1799 , HB1700

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: housing crisis, manufactured homes, factory-built housing, zoning, relocatable housing units, farm employee housing, agriculture, Hawaii Revised Statutes, agricultural districts, land use, regulation, renewable energy, community development, housing, affordable housing, real estate, state regulation, building codes, construction, permitting

Summary: The joint public hearing covered several housing-related bills and one building-code measure. HB 1719 would make manufactured homes a permitted use by right on residentially zoned lots in the urban district, HB 1742 would authorize self-contained relocatable housing units with restrictions, and HB 1737 would clarify that a farm dwelling in an agricultural district may include an accessory employee housing structure. Testimony on these bills was overwhelmingly supportive from groups including Hawaii Realtors, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Housing Hawaii’s Future, the Modular Building Institute, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and others, with a few agencies offering comments. No one testified in opposition on HB 1719 or HB 1742, while HB 1737 drew one opposition and one comment in addition to broad support. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 2049, which restructures the conveyance tax into a marginal-rate system and changes how the revenue is allocated, including funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the rental housing revolving fund, while also affecting the legacy land conservation fund. Supporters, including DHHL, Hawaii Appleseed, Aahu Youth Action Board, Hawaii YIMBY, and others, argued the bill would help Native Hawaiian housing and, for most transactions, function as a tax cut. Opponents, including NAP Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Land Trust, Mhai Land Trust, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, objected to using conveyance tax as a revenue-generating tool and raised concerns about higher upfront costs and reduced funding for other housing uses. Committee members and staff discussed the bill’s revenue estimates, the reduced percentage but higher cap for the land conservation fund, the effect on rental housing funding, and the bill’s cost-of-living adjustment language; staff said a line-by-line comparison of the current and proposed tax structure would be provided before decision-making. The hearing also took up HB 1725, which would extend the state building code adoption cycle from two years to six years, apply the IRC to triplexes and fourplexes, allow counties to adopt more or less stringent amendments, and appropriate funds for code adoption work. Most testimony supported the bill, with advocates saying the current process is unmanageable, too resource-intensive, and creates confusion because state and county codes can diverge; supporters said a longer cycle would improve clarity and allow more focused review. The International Code Council and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers opposed the measure, warning that delaying adoption could have negative consequences and urging the committee to let an existing statewide code-adoption strategy proceed first. Members asked about sequencing, county implementation, and whether the longer cycle would create catch-up problems, but no action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said it requires collaboration, and that this was a very ambitious goal in 2017 when Governor Ige
• She said the plan exists, but the offices need to collaborate and figure out what's working and what's
• It requires collaboration, and this was a very ambitious goal in 2017 when Governor Ige signed the act
• This represents collaboration between the wastewater industry and wipes manufacturers.
• <00:31:08.600><c> between</c><00:31:08.840><c> the</c><00:31:08.960><c> Wastewater</c> collaboration

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered several bills focused on environmental protection and wastewater management. HB 26 HD 2, relating to environmental protection, drew support from the Department of Health, Reworld, and Energy Justice Network. Supporters said it would preserve existing standards for waste-to-energy facilities, including H-Power, even if federal EPA rules are weakened, while Energy Justice Network urged the state to go further and require stronger pollution controls on older burners at the plant. HB 734 and HB 735, both relating to wastewater systems, received broad support from state agencies, county representatives, realtors, environmental groups, and others. Testimony emphasized reducing the cost of cesspool upgrades, updating rules, and improving coordination between the Department of Health, counties, and the University of Hawaiʻi. Members raised concerns about whether some areas, such as Ewa, should be treated differently if they are not near aquifers or the ocean, but the department said the existing prioritization process already considered statewide conditions and that cesspools generally still affect water resources. On HB 735, the committee discussed the current bedroom-based limits for individual wastewater systems and whether the bill would allow more flexibility for housing configurations, with the department explaining the limits are tied to density and system capacity. HB 879, relating to cesspool conversions, was also supported by the Department of Health, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and several advocacy groups. Testimony said the bill would help low- and moderate-income homeowners in priority areas by increasing grant assistance for cesspool upgrades, but the Department of Health noted it would need three full-time positions to administer the program. Members asked for clarification on the grant amount and staffing costs, and the department indicated the grant cap should remain at $20,000 unless changed. HB 918, relating to labeling of non-flushable wipes, drew support from wastewater and industry groups, including the Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, which said similar laws have passed in other states and that the bill reflects cooperation between manufacturers and wastewater officials. The Department of Health and county officials supported the concept but said enforcement and outreach would require additional staff, and senators questioned whether the state could effectively enforce the labeling requirement without a national standard.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll begin with the presentation on the history of the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators
• </c><00:25:33.440><c> uh</c><00:25:33.600><c> collaborative</c> to the collaborative uh collaborative
• to the collaborative uh collaborative urban<00:25:34.720><c> and</c><00:25:34.880><c> greater</c><00
• <00:57:55.119><c> urban</c><00:57:55.440><c> and</c><00:57:55.520><c> greater</c> collaborative urban
• and greater collaborative urban and greater minnesota<00:57:56.319><c> educators</c><00:57:56.880><c

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met remotely on February 16, 2022, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the previous day by voice vote. Chair Dabney said the committee was spending the week on public school staffing shortages, especially efforts to increase and retain BIPOC teachers, and introduced testimony on the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color Grant Program (CUGMEC) and the broader Increasing Teachers of Color Act. Testifiers from St. Thomas, Augsburg, and Hopkins described the history and impact of the legacy educator-of-color programs. Kathleen Campbell said the original Q program was created to address underrepresentation, remove financial barriers, and provide mentorship and culturally relevant support; she argued that when the grant became competitive in 2017 without additional funding, support was spread too thin and student capacity dropped. Audrey Lensmeyer described Augsburg’s East African Student-to-Teacher Program, rooted in community advocacy in Cedar-Riverside, and said it has produced strong completion and licensure outcomes. Keenan Jones shared his path from paraprofessional to teacher and district leader, emphasizing the importance of scholarships, mentorship, and outreach to high school students, including a statewide co-enrollment Intro to Teaching course. Representative Hassan then presented House File 3079, saying the bill aims to attract, prepare, complete, and retain more teachers of color and American Indian teachers through several grant and program changes, including Closing the Educational Opportunity Gap grants, Cook Mac funding, teacher mentorship and retention updates, and revisions to CUGMEC. He said the bill responds to a severe shortage of BIPOC teachers and that the requested investment is small relative to the state surplus. Student and educator testimony followed, including a third-grade student from Crookston and Ava Roots, both of whom described the importance of having teachers who reflect students’ cultures and experiences. Natalia Benjamin, the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, also testified about retention challenges for educators of color and racialized workplace treatment. The committee indicated it intended to lay over HF 3079 for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill, and Representative Richardson moved the bill to be laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another statewide collaboration. My collaborator, Dr.
• This is another statewide collaboration. My collaborator, Dr.
• </c><01:03:33.039><c> My</c> statewide collaboration. My statewide collaboration.
• My collaborator,<01:03:33.839><c> Dr.
• Megan Mars, is at the collaborator, Dr.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the October 15 minutes, and began with a moment of silence following a Louisville UPS plane explosion that was described as a local tragedy affecting many families and first responders. The main presentation was an overview of Kentucky’s Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NMT) program from the Department for Medicaid Services and the Transportation Cabinet. Witnesses explained that NMT is a federally required Medicaid benefit, administered by the Transportation Cabinet under a risk-based capitated model, with eligibility limited to Medicaid members traveling to medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services and who lack access to other transportation. They also described exclusions, including certain KCHIP, QMB, and PACE members, and outlined the brokered regional structure, call center operations, scheduling rules, vehicle and driver oversight, complaint handling, and rider surveys. The presenters reported that NMT handled more than 3.1 million trips in state fiscal year 2024, with over 1.38 million trips already recorded in October, and said customer satisfaction surveys were high. They said the FY 2025-26 contract total is about $360.6 million, with monthly per-member capitation rates set by region through an actuarial process and approved by CMS. They emphasized that payments are tied to monthly Medicaid enrollment and that the state draws down federal funds for the exact amount paid, with no leftover balance. They also said most NMT use comes from adult day centers and rehabilitative care such as dialysis. Members questioned the witnesses about how quality metrics and contract standards are set, whether the state had explored alternatives such as Uber Health or other integrated models, and how utilization was calculated. The witnesses said contract requirements are developed collaboratively by Medicaid Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and other agencies, and that studies of other models generally found higher costs and lower approval ratings, with additional research on a hybrid model expected by the end of the year. They clarified that one figure reflected the share of Medicaid members with registered vehicles, while another reflected actual NMT users, and they defended the capitated structure as shifting financial risk to brokers rather than the state. Representative Fleming also raised concerns about oversight, reporting, and the apparent gap between budgeted and contracted amounts, asking whether any unused funds would return to general funds; the discussion ended before a final answer was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one is creating collaborative models.
• Um the first one is creating collaborative<00:37:03.920><c> models.
• </c><00:37:04.960><c> So</c><00:37:05.359><c> encouraging</c><00:37:06.160><c> our</c> collaborative
• So encouraging our collaborative models.
• </c> Um<00:38:03.920><c> collaborative</c><00:38:04.640><c> models</c><00:38:05.680><c> um</c><00:38:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to adopt the minutes of the second meeting by voice vote, then heard an update focused on disaster preparedness, resiliency, response, and coordination among state agencies and partners. The chair emphasized avoiding duplication of resources and highlighted the importance of agriculture-related response issues, including animal evacuation, feed distribution, and the role of extension services during disasters. The Department for Public Health was invited to explain its role in emergency planning and response. Public Health described its Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch as the lead coordinating agency for Emergency Support Function 8, covering health and medical services under Kentucky’s emergency operations framework. Testimony outlined its broad responsibilities, including support for hospitals, morgues, local health departments, behavioral health, crisis counseling, suspicious package testing, disease outbreaks, and coordination with emergency management, EMS, transportation, and nonprofit and private partners. Officials also described the agency’s risk-assessment process, training and exercise programs, and deployed assets such as PPE caches, deployable communications, a federal medical station, a mobile treatment center, and alternate care support used in events like the eastern Kentucky floods and COVID-19. The agency also discussed funding through federal cooperative agreements for public health emergency preparedness and hospital preparedness, noting that these programs have evolved since 9/11 and have been shaped by major disasters and emerging threats. Officials said Kentucky’s funding has declined over time and that current awards are partially funded for the first time in the program’s history. They expressed support for efficiency if federal programs are consolidated, but cautioned that combining programs could risk further funding losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• COMPREHENSIVE CARE AND TRAINING EDUCATORS AND TRAINING CLINICIANS ALL ACROSS OUR GREAT STATE AND FORMING COLLABORATION
• LAST FIVE YEARS AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND AGREED TO A SUNSHINE CONSORTIUM THAT WOULD FOSTER THE COLLABORATION
• IF WE DON'T I TREATMENT THE COLLABORATIVE WILL PUT OUR UNIVERSITIES TOGETHER.

Keywords: 999, senate, all