Transcript Highlights:

• These recruitment opening facilities.
• They're tobacco-free facilities. You cannot carry personal cell phones within these facilities.
• You cannot tobaccof free facilities.
• those facilities?
• Uh, I feel very confident facilities.

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:42 Department of Corrections 04:14 Department of Juvenile Justice 16:22 Kentucky Law Enforcement Council 28:01 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard budget-related testimony from the Department of Corrections on a request for additional funding to take over operations of the Lee Adjustment Center, including $2.2 million in fiscal year 2027 and $5.2 million in fiscal year 2028. The witness said the governor’s budget did not recommend the request. Members asked about the cost savings of private operation versus state operation, the facility’s role in the department’s long-term goals, and whether the state intends to move toward operating all adult correctional facilities directly. The Department of Juvenile Justice then presented on staffing, recruitment, retention, and facility planning. Officials described recent pay increases and other investments, including a 10% security pay raise in 2021, an 8% state employee raise in 2022, higher youth worker starting salaries, and $4.8 million in 2023 funding to sustain salary increases. They said DJJ has also expanded mental health and medical staffing, improved recruitment efforts, and seen an upward trend in hiring. In response to questions, the commissioner said barriers to recruitment and retention include the Tier 3 retirement system, the structured and restrictive nature of detention work, and competition from other employers. He also said the department wants to move toward a regional model for female facilities under SB 162 and believes those facilities can be staffed. DJJ provided staffing figures showing 1,339 funded positions, with 157 filled and 182 vacant at a January benchmark, and 524 detention positions with 450 filled and 74 vacant. Officials said 30 correctional officers were in basic training and expected to join posts soon. Members also asked about the feasibility of staffing additional facilities and the department’s vacancy trends. Finally, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council testified on a funding request for one attorney, one paralegal, one additional monitor, higher costs for existing monitor positions, and Lexington office rent. Officials said the request is needed to handle a growing decertification caseload and expanded oversight responsibilities as the number of academies has increased to about eight, with more than 2,100 instructors requiring biennial review. They said KLEC currently has one attorney and about 15 total staff, with roughly 180 cases pending, more than 50 complaints left to file, and another 30 cases expected soon. Members asked about current staffing, attorney salary, the number of academies, and the move to a separate Lexington office. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned without a quorum for approving minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome back. uh solid waste facilities. That is uh solid waste facilities.
• . facilities. facilities.
• private animal boarding facilities. private animal boarding facilities.
• <00:51:04.880> I represent boarding facilities. I represent boarding facilities.
• <01:23:44.719> as facility and also uses the facility as facility and also uses the facility

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 302, which would update New Hampshire’s solid waste facility background-check law so the state can continue to access federal FBI criminal databases for checks on key owners and officers. Senator Howard Pearl and DES Waste Management Director Mike Whimsatt said the bill is the third attempt to correct prior drafting problems that prevented the FBI from accepting the language. They explained that the existing statute has long required background checks for hazardous and solid waste facility applicants because of concerns about organized crime, but the current wording is too ambiguous for federal use. The bill also includes technical corrections, clarifies which company officers must be checked, specifies which DES officials receive the results, and removes the Department of Justice as an unnecessary middleman. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, whether family members are covered, who pays the cost, and whether permits have ever been denied; Whimsatt said the applicant still pays, the checks focus on key officers, and at least one permit had been denied in the past due to a felony conviction. The hearing then closed, with one person listed in favor on the blue sheet and no opposition noted online. The committee then opened Senate Bill 229, which would allow retailers to sell uninspected bison, red deer, and elk meat and remove the sunset on the existing program. Senator Pearl said the bill would expand market opportunities for farmers while keeping labeling and traceability requirements in place, including identifying the meat as uninspected and maintaining records of the source farms. Representative Bixby, who had worked on earlier legislation, explained the current framework in detail: the animals are raised on closed farms, must be fenced, cannot be newly imported, and are subject to annual veterinary herd inspections and recordkeeping. He said the prior bison inspection regime was too burdensome for farmers to maintain, and the current law was intended as a workable compromise. Questions from members focused on how many farms participate, how many animals have been sold, and whether the program posed disease risks; the witness said he did not know the exact numbers, and Bixby said the existing import and fencing rules help prevent chronic wasting disease from entering the state. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the bill was left before the committee for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• And by moving the deadline facilities.
• Um, we facilities for these products.
• concentrate from manufacturing facility concentrate from manufacturing facility or<00:15:28.240>
• These venues are athletic facility.
• <00:33:01.440> to requiring long-term care facilities to requiring long-term care facilities

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 2 discusses DPS facilities.
• I want to pivot to the facilities.
• We also went inside of our existing facilities.
• We didn’t hire her; we brought her from another facility.
• or being dropped near our facilities.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation from the Legislative Budget Board on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Article 5 budget. LBB recommended $3.7 billion in all funds for 2026-27, a 5.2 percent decrease from the base, while FTEs would rise by 856.7. Major items included funding for driver license services, DPS facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, border security, and rider changes. The committee also reviewed DPS exceptional items not included in the recommendation, including additional staffing, technology, and facility requests. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, criticizing long wait times, call abandonment, and repeated staffing increases without clear process improvements. LBB said the agency’s call-answer rate was about 9 percent in fiscal 2024, with average hold times around 34 minutes, later reduced to roughly 22-25 minutes. Senators questioned whether more FTEs alone would solve the problem and urged a broader efficiency study and better use of technology. DPS officials said they were pursuing process changes, including appointment-system upgrades, online pre-population of forms, and remote issuance options, while noting that Real ID requirements and population growth continue to drive demand. DPS leadership then outlined the agency’s priorities: completion of the Williamson County training academy, recruitment and retention of troopers, capital needs for vehicles and aircraft, and expanded responsibilities at the Capitol complex and the Alamo. Officials said the new trooper funding would help address staffing shortages, public safety, and border operations, and that overtime and deployment patterns had been adjusted to reduce burnout and improve flexibility. They also discussed Operation Lone Star, saying DPS spending is largely overtime, travel, and fuel, and that the agency continues to coordinate with federal partners while awaiting clarity on possible federal reimbursement for border security costs. Senators also raised concerns about oilfield theft, cartel activity, high-speed pursuits, bilingual pay, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and DPS said it would follow up on some of those issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• These facilities would create an estimated 40,000 full-time jobs operating the facilities as well as
• These facilities would create an estimated 40,000 full-time jobs operating the facilities as well as
• Davidman said it is the same facility, the DG Fuels facility.
• > in facilities uh production facilities in facilities uh production facilities in Minnesota<01
• > those facil the production facilities those facil the production facilities those that<01:27

Bills: HF1126, HF967, HF1066, HF1669, HF926

Keywords: property tax, Indian Tribe, tax exemption, Minnesota, public charity, property tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, unorganized territory, federally recognized, soil conservation, water conservation, local government aid, environmental funding, Minnesota legislation, tax credits, sustainable aviation fuel, environmental policy, corporate franchise, Minnesota taxation, tobacco

Transcript Highlights:

• the facilities lensure part of the law. the facilities lensure part of the law. Yes. Yes. Yes.
• , or intermediate care facilities.
• <04:46:04.320> These<04:46:04.638> facilities healthcare facilities.
• These facilities healthcare facilities.
• facilities to accept all payers. facilities to accept all payers.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senator Pizzo: LET'S TAKE UP TO NUMBER EIGHT SOLAR FACILITIES BY CHAIR BRADLEY.
• NOT THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF MULTIPLE FACILITIES WITHIN A COUNTY.
• SOLAR FACILITIES GOING INTO A COUNTY.
• BUT WHAT YOU SEE IN THE COUNTIES NOW IS YOU WILL HAVE A FACILITY AT 74.9, 74.5, OFFENSE, ANOTHER FACILITY
• OUR MAIN CONCERN IS AND OUR QUESTION IS HOW MANY OF THESE FACILITIES CAN HANDLE?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as five facilities across the state.<00:33:15.360> Each<00:33:15.600> facility<00:33:16.080
• Each facility represents state.
• continue to invest in these facilities. continue to invest in these facilities.
• 03:20.400> to<01:03:20.640> pay these facilities will continue to pay these facilities
• to assume that these two new facilities to assume that these two new facilities will<01:03:27.039

Bills: HF1669, HF4709, HF3531, HF4048

Keywords: tax credits, sustainable aviation fuel, environmental policy, corporate franchise, Minnesota taxation, electricity generation, property tax exemption, renewable energy, incentives, economic development, fuel delivery, tax exemption, retail transactions, diesel exhaust fluid, fuel lubricants, healthcare tax, gross receipts tax, hospitals, chiropractors, healthcare providers

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:21.520> with this is truly a regional facility with this is truly a regional facility
• This will ensure that this facility.
• department and city center facility department and city center facility including<00:14:31.040><
• a combined fire and ambulance facility. a combined fire and ambulance facility.
• <01:00:11.760> A facility is aging and undersized. A facility is aging and undersized.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Waste incineration facility that's been in place about 40-plus years.
• So that would make this the largest medical waste facility in the United States.
• , well, really any facility—it's any facility, any facility in the state of Oklahoma that is going to
• So the question really is: are we okay with having any facility in...
• So all this says is any facility in the state of Oklahoma, if you are going to be...

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:14:13.080> 3 recreational and wellness facility, 3 recreational and wellness facility
• Athletic Facility, 7.5 million. Athletic Facility, 7.5 million.
• Facility, 2.478 million. Facility, 2.478 million.
• for the public works facility, 800,000. for the public works facility, 800,000.
• aquatic facility, 4.15 million. aquatic facility, 4.15 million.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up a large bonding bill and reviewed the final spreadsheet of capital investments. Chairs and members repeatedly thanked staff, House and Senate negotiators, and the Governor’s team for a collaborative process. The bill was described as a statewide package rather than a partisan one, with major funding for higher education asset preservation, DNR projects, public safety, transportation, the Met Council, veterans facilities, corrections, DEED/local projects, and a large water infrastructure section. House Fiscal staff and Senate fiscal staff walked through the bill line by line. Highlights included University of Minnesota and Minnesota State asset preservation, education and language immersion school funding, DNR trail and flood mitigation projects, public safety facilities, local road and bridge grants, Met Council parks and I/I grants, veterans home and armory funding, corrections projects including the Faribault vocational expansion, and many local economic development and public facility projects across Greater Minnesota and the metro. The bill also included Public Facilities Authority water and wastewater grants, housing rehabilitation funding, historical society grants, a Minnesota Zoo operating transfer, airport appropriations, and several cancellations of prior appropriations to help finance the package. Members generally praised the bill and the bipartisan work behind it. Some Republicans emphasized the one-time license fee reduction and affordability, while also saying DEED’s business development infrastructure funding was too low. Senator Nelson highlighted long-awaited transportation projects such as Highway 14 and township roads. Senator Dibble supported the transportation investments but criticized the bill for having no transit funding, calling that a major omission. No vote was recorded in the excerpt, but the discussion centered on final review and support for moving the bonding bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• who will benefit from the facility. who will benefit from the facility.
• Hearing other testimony today of how old the facility is, our facility...
• <01:10:10.000> Uh uh facility project. Uh uh facility project.
• The public works facility that's been proposed to you is a vintage 1950s facility.
• . facility. facility.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• facility.
• <00:26:33.240> right practice in a lot of facilities right practice in a lot of facilities
• multi-level, multi-unit facilities. multi-level, multi-unit facilities.
• . facilities. facilities.
• . facilities. facilities.

Bills: HF4110, HF4101, HF4144, HF3546

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, medical assistance, data matching, eligibility, reporting, human services, assisted living, health regulations, inspection authority, vulnerable adults, local government, program integrity, high-risk providers, enrollment requirements, fraud prevention, compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• board rate protections for participants in the Assisted Living Waiver and CalAIM Assisted Living Facility
• Recently some facilities and all assisted living program participants to keep a personal needs allowance
• One report being charged $1,480 by her ALW facility from her monthly income of $1,500.
• Facility Transitions Community Support, which is not included under that waiver.
• Additionally, for child care facilities and adult day health facilities, which are paid based on daily

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to ensure safety and continued operations of the battery facilities.
• They're different than any other fires, and as many as there are in solar facilities, wind facilities
• They are very concerned about these facilities going up.
• Battery storage facilities are going to be going up in the thousands.
• House Bill 3809 establishes requirements for BESS facilities for full financial assurance for facility

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• nursing facility payment system changes. nursing facility payment system changes.
• this would adjust the nursing facility this would adjust the nursing facility uh<00:07:29.199>
• facility.
• So, this repurposes assisted living facility special project funding for an assisted living facility
• So, this repurposes assisted living facility special project funding for an assisted living facility

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reality is uh there are facilities reality is uh there are facilities licenses<01:08:43.199>
• facility.
• . facility.
• to actually own the facility?
• No, I'm thinking about the facility?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Had been moved into a residential care facility, so she was in a residential facility.
• And in fact, the nursing facility, as I understand it, the nursing home facility is on the hook for this
• We're on a roll here. with uh you know a nursing facility in with uh you know a nursing facility in in
• problem for many if not all facilities problem for many if not all facilities at<02:33:03.040>
• The facility has to pay the money back to the fund, and even if it is denied again, the facility has

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:27.400> Beardsley facilities. And you know, Mr. Beardsley facilities.
• We anticipate moving into that facility, which is a 55,000 square foot facility, in March of 2027, so
• doubled since 2010 at that facility. doubled since 2010 at that facility.
• c> them,<01:16:03.040> which purpose-built facility for them, which purpose-built facility
• since we opened this facility in 2001. since we opened this facility in 2001.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those new facilities are a new farm animal hospital and a new hallin facility for cattle.
• <00:15:29.839> Oklahoma facilities, new hospitals. Oklahoma facilities, new hospitals.
• investing $18 million in new facilities investing $18 million in new facilities for<00:15:59.199
• Uh, phase one is a cattle handling facility. So it's a handling facility.
• So it's a uh cattle handling facility. So it's a hallin<01:02:46.400> facility.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Mississippi State University officials testified in support of the university’s separately funded agricultural, forestry, and veterinary units, emphasizing their economic impact, research output, and need for continued state support. Keith Cobalt, vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, said the division generates a $1.7 billion impact on Mississippi, but warned that state and local funding has not kept pace with federal dollars or inflation. He argued that global competition, especially from China and Brazil, is hurting row crop and forestry producers, and highlighted a Vision 2030 study finding about $10 billion in agricultural and forestry value leaves the state through value-added processing. He also raised concerns about rural depopulation and proposed rural innovation hubs to help retain population and jobs. Nick Frank, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said state appropriations make up about 25% of the college’s operating budget and are needed to support salaries, staffing, and service capacity. He described the college’s education, diagnostic, and clinical missions, including disease surveillance and responses to threats such as avian influenza, screwworm, and equine herpes virus. Frank said the college is expanding facilities with $18 million in 2024 state funding for a new farm animal hospital and cattle handling facility, but still needs additional support for equine and small animal renovations. He also requested support for rural veterinary scholarships and said inflation and salary competition from other schools and private practice are making retention difficult. In response to committee questions, Frank said the college enrolls about 118 to 119 students per class, with roughly 54 to 55 in-state students and tuition of about $29,900 for in-state and $53,000 for out-of-state students. He clarified that the “vet assistants” program is a four-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary medical technology, not a certificate. He also explained that staffing growth has largely been in the hospitals to address clinical shortages and improve care. Dr. Westberger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said Mississippi’s forests support a $19 billion economic impact, 84,000 jobs, and a $4.5 billion payroll, while also providing environmental benefits. He said the college and research center are nationally recognized, including an NSF ranking placing Mississippi State 10th in natural resource conservation research expenditures for a small university. Westberger highlighted research on forest management, pest detection, mass timber, wildlife disease surveillance, and value-added bioproducts, including efforts to attract mills and manufacturing. He said Mississippi has added 10 mills or mill expansions in five years with more than $1.5 billion in investment and over 1,000 high-paying jobs, and noted the college is planning a new mass-timber annex to address capacity and showcase the material. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.