Transcript Highlights:

• Alicia Cannon on 50 years of serving the state of Alabama and the Alabama judicial system.
• So that's what I'm bringing it for the judicial system.
• Smith, commending Alicia Cannon for over 50 years of service to the state of Alabama and the Alabama judicial
• Resolution commending Alicia Cannon on 50 years of service to the state of Alabama and the Alabama judicial
• years of faithful, distinguished, and impactful service to the state of Alabama and to the Alabama judicial

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber also recognized guests, including members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and employees of the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative. A senator then delivered a Black History Month-style presentation highlighting James Weldon Johnson, A. Philip Randolph, Jan E. Matzeliger, and Percy Lavon Julian for their contributions to civil rights, labor, industry, and science. The Senate received House messages referring two Archives and History board appointments to the Committee on Confirmations, then took up numerous committee reports. Several bills from Finance and Taxation, Judiciary, Education Policy, Agriculture, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Healthcare, Tourism, Veterans and Military Affairs, State Government Affairs, and Local Legislation received favorable reports, some with amendments or substitutes, and were advanced to second reading and placement on the next legislative day’s calendar. The chamber also recommitted Senate Bill 266 to the Tourism Committee. The Senate confirmed multiple appointments, including Llaya McNair to the Alabama Trust Fund Board, several members to the Credit Union Administration Board, and Elizabeth Smithart, Leslie Sanders, and Wayne Sers to the Alabama State Board of Human Resources. It then adopted several resolutions, including commendations and memorials, such as resolutions honoring Mary Francis Holland, the Stanhope Elmore boys bowling team, and Alicia Cannon for more than 50 years of service to the Alabama judicial system. The Senate also adopted a resolution creating the Study Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Children’s Internet Safety, after discussion about its purpose, membership, and duties; an amendment to the commission resolution was adopted before the resolution itself was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:27:54.400> for qualifications for qualifications for cosmetology<01:27:56.159> in<01
• Now I know we've done a lot of work over the last few years to try to rightsize qualifications.
• Now I know we've done a lot of work over the last few years to try to rightsize qualifications.
• Now I know we've done a lot of work over the last few years to try to rightsize qualifications.
• I'm glad to take any qualifications.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 185, which would add timelines to Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) investigations. Senator Howard Pearl said the bill was prompted by concerns from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors about delays at the Real Estate Commission, and he explained that the proposal would require OPLC staff to make an initial determination within 30 days and, if misconduct is found, complete an investigation within 60 days. He said the goal is to improve transparency and give consumers and licensees more timely information, while preserving the board’s adjudicatory role. He also noted that the bill had been amended to delay implementation to give OPLC time to work through its backlog. Committee members questioned how the bill would work when an investigation is incomplete and whether the board could send a case back to OPLC without a firm deadline. Pearl said the board would have discretion to continue the investigation or make a final determination, and that the bill was intended to streamline OPLC’s process rather than impose a hard cap on complex cases. OPLC Executive Director Deanna Durus and General Counsel Nicholas Fry then testified that the agency has already changed its procedures under prior legislation, including a facial review of complaints and monthly board review of dismissal memos. They said the bill would substantially alter the current structure, could conflict with existing limitation periods and board duties, and would be difficult to implement without additional staff and funding. Durus said the agency’s backlog is large, that new complaints are being triaged and prioritized, and that some urgent matters are moved ahead based on risk and statutory deadlines. She said OPLC had completed a review of about 500 backlog cases that would now be dismissed under current screening standards, and that those cases are being turned into memos for board review. Board of Medicine public member Nina Gardner testified in favor of the bill but said the backlog is significant and that the agency needs more resources to make the process work effectively. She said the board is seeing progress, but not fast enough, and suggested the bill may not go far enough without additional staffing and funding. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were changes made to the qualifications for certification...
• This reduces the licensure requirements by removing letters of qualifications.
• This reduces the licensure requirements by removing letters of qualifications.
• And so, given that, what we want to do is ask for the provider's qualifications.
• Sometimes tryouts and walk qualifications are even a safety issue.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a long agenda of agency rule changes, beginning with housekeeping on the order of business and then taking up rules from multiple state agencies. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s odometer disclosure rule allowing electronic signatures and disclosures, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and recreational parks, lead-based paint, counseling licensure, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental specialties and compacts, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, medical compacts, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these were described as technical updates, conformity with recent acts, federal standards, or compact participation, and nearly all were approved without objection after brief questions and, in many cases, no public comment. The committee also reviewed Department of Labor and Licensing rules on minimum wage/independent contractor standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements for ATV/LSV dealers, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting and retention programs. Testimony generally emphasized that the rules implemented recent legislation, updated fees or licensing standards, or streamlined existing processes. Members asked a few questions about fee structures, the rationale for regulating professional wrestling, and how the National Guard’s public-private partnership and incentive programs would work; the department said the recruiting incentives would be funded from existing appropriations and were intended to improve retention and force strength. These rules were also approved without objection. The most extensive discussion came on the Department of Education’s Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program rule. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify allowable expenses, and speed approval of core educational purchases. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting certain sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting phone purchases except for disability-related needs, setting a $1,000 threshold for additional review of technology purchases, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about safeguards, appeals, sports equipment, provider credentialing, rural vendor access, and whether the department would be flexible or overly restrictive. The department said it would review every request, provide written explanations for denials, allow appeals up to the State Board, and refer suspected fraud to prosecutors if necessary. After hearing from 13 members of the public, the committee continued to discuss the rule, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the EFA rule is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• qualifying if you are from a qualific qualifying if you are from a town<00:26:39.760> of<00:26
• So are you saying after the initial cost of what the judicial branch says, um, revising documents and
• What is the cost to the judicial system that has to have hearings back and forth for 6 months?
• <02:52:37.920> system your question to the judicial system your question to the judicial system
• Devastated by the fact that they've got no rent for up to six months and no judicial remedy?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Housing Committee opened with a public hearing on HB 196, which would repeal the Housing Champion program. Representative Matt Drew, the prime sponsor, argued the program is an unnecessary and poorly targeted subsidy, saying it rewards municipalities after projects are completed and may not be limited to new housing production. He questioned the transparency of the program, cited difficulty finding required annual reports, and noted a fiscal note suggesting the state could recover up to $3 million if obligations are terminated. Committee members and witnesses debated whether the program’s criteria amount to political favoritism or a standard grant process; supporters said the rubric is specific and that municipalities are evaluated against objective requirements. Representative Priest, Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire, and Karen Benfield of Stay Work Play New Hampshire all opposed repeal, saying the program encourages local zoning and regulatory changes, helps smaller communities participate, and supports housing supply and young people’s ability to stay in the state. The hearing on HB 196 was then closed. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1405, a bill establishing an affordable housing guarantee program within the Housing Finance Authority. Prime sponsor Representative Chris Muns said the bill would reduce lender risk by guaranteeing up to 80% of principal on qualifying loans for affordable housing, with a cap of $30 million per lender per year and $300 million outstanding at any time. He described the measure as a low-cost public-private partnership backed by the full faith and credit of the state, and said it was identical to a prior Senate bill that had received unanimous bipartisan committee support before dying later in the process. He framed the bill as one part of a broader housing package aimed at financing, infrastructure, workforce, zoning reform, and other housing-related issues. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal actions were opening and closing the public hearing on HB 196 and opening the public hearing on HB 1405, with testimony continuing on HB 1405 at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• qualifying if you are from a qualific qualifying if you are from a town<00:26:39.760> of<00:26
• So are you saying after the initial cost of what the judicial branch says, um, revising documents and
• <02:48:26.479> branch initial cost of what the judicial branch initial cost of what the judicial
• What is the cost to the judicial system that has to have hearings back and forth for 6 months?
• Fair for housing providers, fair for tenants, not put too much strain on our judicial system?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and jurisdiction of the qualifications and jurisdiction of the qualifications and jurisdiction of the
• attorney and three assistant district attorney and three assistant district attorneys for the 11th judicial
• municipal waterworks boards to provide waterworks boards to provide waterworks boards to provide qualifications
• and place limits on the qualifications and place limits on the qualifications and place limits on the
• , but you still have to qualifications, but you still have to qualifications, but you still have to turn

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] Welcome, everyone, to the House Committee on Judicial
• DHHL assuming responsibility, I think our comment is that there should be some standard qualifications
• DHHL assuming responsibility, I think our comment is that there should be some standard qualifications
• , we also prefer that there be assurances that they have the proper qualifications to carry out those
• , we also prefer that there be assurances that they have the proper qualifications to carry out those

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. On HB 211 relating to stream maintenance, DLNR supported the intent but requested amendments to clarify that responsibility for removing abandoned property rests with the entity that has jurisdiction or ownership of the stream, and asked for appropriations to help cover cleanup costs. Members discussed existing county authority to clean streams and then seek reimbursement from private owners, and the City and County of Honolulu’s written testimony was noted as arguing the bill conflicts with a federal court stipulation requiring notice and storage of personal property before disposal. On HB 502 relating to land use, OPSD and the Land Use Commission supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the short timeline and the need for rule changes, with OPSD recommending a more permanent county plan-based district boundary amendment process instead of a temporary one. The Department of Agriculture asked counties to make concurrent revisions to ordinances and rules affecting agricultural land partitioning. Testimony also noted the bill is aimed at legacy agricultural subdivisions and would require Land Use Commission rulemaking. On HB 510 relating to declaration of water shortage and emergency, DLNR and the Board of Water Supply strongly supported the measure, saying it would give CWRM a more timely tool to respond to emergencies outside designated water management areas and would require rulemaking, permit classifications, and criteria for declaring shortages. In response to opposition concerns from the Land Use Research Foundation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, DLNR said the rulemaking process would allow public input and that permit classifications could help balance agricultural and other water uses. On HB 511 relating to public lands, DLNR, the Department of Agriculture, and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported removing the survey requirement before setting aside public lands between state agencies, saying it would speed Act 90 transfers and save time and money, though one testifier cautioned against misuse of agricultural lands. No votes were taken during the excerpted portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I kind of wanted to ask some questions about the process, maybe how you—so what qualifications or
• It's our top priority to serve all the folks, so to answer your question about qualifications, again,
• But I kind of wanted to ask some questions about the process, maybe how you—so what qualifications or
• It's our top priority to serve all the folks, so to answer your question about qualifications, again,
• It's our top priority to serve all the folks, so to answer your question about qualifications, again,

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum and heard two bills, a confirmation, and two agency presentations. SB 48 by Senator Gates would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead exemption for the owner-occupied portion, limit parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum leases, extend density bonuses for military-family housing, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call. SB 34 by Senator Sharief would expand the Historic Cemetery Program, particularly to help historic African-American cemeteries preserve and maintain themselves by allowing sale of excess vacant land only if proceeds are used for long-term upkeep; it also passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors by unanimous vote. In addition, the Department of Commerce presented on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida, describing more than $4.3 billion in HUD disaster recovery funds since 2017, housing repair and replacement efforts that have completed more than 5,200 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects across the state. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and clawbacks from a prior vendor; Commerce said it had ended the earlier vendor relationship, imposed about $3.6 million in financial consequences, and now uses stronger oversight and competitive procurement for contractors. The Division of Emergency Management then presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds used. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is intended to reduce repetitive flood losses, keep homeowners in their communities, and serve as a national model; he reported more than 12,000 applications, about 1,500 prioritized for review, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about assistance for seniors who cannot meet the 25% match, the wait-list process, contractor selection, and the mix of project types, and Guthrie said contractors were selected through competitive procurement and that most projects are elevations, though some may become reconstructions or acquisitions depending on inspection results. The committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Therefore, they would need to meet the qualifications for a mortgage loan.
• And meet the qualifications set by this profession.
• Concerns have arisen regarding the qualifications and background of individuals serving on these boards
• oversight boards across Texas by ensuring members meet a basic standard of legal and ethical qualifications
• We thought you had some judgment on what the qualifications should be for someone. ...to be on these

Bills: SB250, SB375, SB536, SB845, SB1633, SB1944, SB1957, SB2081, SB2137, SB2262, SB2299, SB2419, SB2452, SB2522, SB2549, SB2594, SB2605, SB2631, SB2639, SB2675, SB3029, SJR60, HB22, HB1392, HB2525, HB22

Keywords: municipal annexation, railroad, adjacent areas, local government, property rights, healthcare provider, Harris County Hospital District, hospital funding, healthcare services, public health program, home loans, nurses, veterans, public servants, Texas Heroes program, low-interest loans, social workers, housing assistance, SB 1633, Texas Tax Code

Transcript Highlights:

• the<00:11:33.920> right um who may not have the right um who may not have the right qualifications
• , qualifications, qualifications, social<00:11:37.000> security<00:11:37.240> number,<00
• So, he kind of has a buffer there between the administration and some qualification periods.
• <00:27:05.200> some administration and and and some administration and and and some qualification
• qualification periods. qualification periods.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:36 HB 732 Discussion: 02:00 HB 732 Vote: 20:55 SB 343 Discussion: 23:39 SB 343 Vote: 28:54 SB 129 Discussion: 30:30 SB 129 Vote: 32:27, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you think that there should be a qualification that health officers have some background in public
• Do you think that there should be a qualification that health officers have some background in public
• qualifications? Not to my knowledge. All qualifications? Not to my knowledge.
• Uh, and it's, I mean, it's not only was I surprised at the lack of qualifications that are required,
• Only the qualifications that are required, but just the authority that they have.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They could be qualifications, schedule, the quality, or performance-based criteria that we use in the
• We felt that we needed a certain type of contractor with qualifications.
• The other one we do is we do a lot of pre-qualification, which is a component of best value.
• We talked about useful for pre-qualifications of their workforce or their leadership.
• know the project manager qualifications know the project manager qualifications but<01:15:18.880

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You referred to the provision that says the commissioner must consider the qualifications.
• Yes, must consider... ...the qualifications, right? Yes, sir.
• So can you help me understand what you think are the qualifications that an appraiser and an umpire should
• So it would be someone with experience and qualifications to do that, handling and writing estimates,

Bills: HB345, HB721, HB2580, SB815, HB3057, HB4603, HB3233, SB495, HB3863, HB3914, HB4570, HB5099, HB5173, SB458

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• termination of a parent-child relationship, and permanent guardianship if the evidence meets certain qualifications
• termination of a parent-child relationship, and permanent guardianship if the evidence meets certain qualifications
• the court must order a professional supervisor in any parenting time proceeding and outlines the qualification
• the court must order a professional supervisor in any parenting time proceeding and outlines the qualification
• Spills on the 30 consent calendar. and outlines the qualification and training requirements for supervisors

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style review of two packets of bills, with staff reading summaries and members briefly explaining several measures. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, ambulance service regulation, short-term rental rules, tourism improvement areas, manufactured home installer licensure, CPR/AED training in schools, veterans’ park fee exemptions, and multiple child welfare and family-court bills. Several Senate bills were also reviewed, including optometry standards, behavior analyst licensure transfer, virtual mental health hearings, and assisted-living residency rules. Members speaking for bills emphasized themes such as supporting aging in place, improving rural ambulance access and reporting, protecting children in DCS cases, preventing poverty alone from being treated as neglect, and expanding access to health screenings and services. Other sponsors described measures to help veterans, strengthen school safety, and create local funding or improvement mechanisms for tourism and child care. Some bills were described as technical or administrative changes, such as post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien procedures, and local government contract posting requirements. No formal votes were taken in the transcript excerpt, but many bills were noted as being on the consent calendar or third-read consent calendar, while a few had been removed from consent or were not yet on a calendar. The meeting concluded after the final bill on the second packet, HB 4025, was summarized as creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refinery feasibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for NMDOT projects, we have what's called pre-qual, and our pre-qualification program does just that
• So we have a pre-qual and a pre-qualification program.
• We utilize what's called pre-qualification, and through that process, we look at a lot of things, including
• So it'll go into a formula, and it'll spill out what's called a pre-qualification factor.
• Depending on the pre-qualification… Qualification score of each contractor, the bids could change the

Transcript Highlights:

• We are also asking to reduce the grant qualifications from 2.0 to 1.5 FTE.
• 30.560> grant We are also asking to reduce the grant We are also asking to reduce the grant qualifications
• <00:02:35.320> The qualifications from 2.0 to 1.5 FTE.
• The qualifications from 2.0 to 1.5 FTE.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You're referring to the provision that says the commissioner must consider the qualifications?
• Albert Betts: Yeah, must consider the qualifications, right? Representative Morgan: Yes sir.
• So, can you help me understand what you think are qualifications that an appraiser and an umpire should
• So it'd be someone with experience and qualifications to do that, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• told me this, and like Jamie and Chris, I want to ask you more of a broader question in terms of qualifications
• Uh, do you see any other qualifications that need to be implemented based on your research and understanding
• <00:09:36.080> of question in terms of qualifications of question in terms of qualifications
• Uh, do you see any other qualifications<00:09:39.120> that<00:09:39.360> need<00:09:39.519
• > to<00:09:39.680> be<00:09:40.080> uh qualifications that need to be uh qualifications

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:02 Bills for Consideration: 26RS HB 383: 1:03 26RS HB 469: 6:32 26RS HB 586: 14:46 26RS HB 621: 19:58 Adjournment: 28:32, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education met and first considered House Bill 383, which concerns military-connected students with IEPs and 504 plans. The sponsor explained that the bill, as amended by a committee substitute and then a committee amendment, is intended to emphasize Kentucky’s priority for military children and to have their existing or new plans adopted within 30 days of arrival to the greatest extent possible, while documenting cases where that is not possible. Members spoke in support, including references to military families who would benefit. The committee adopted the substitute and amendment and then passed HB 383 favorably to the House floor with the committee substitute attached. The committee next heard House Bill 469, which would require school board candidates to undergo a background check and can test before appearing on the ballot. The sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns about school board access to children and school buildings, and that the cost would be paid by the candidate. Members asked about the criteria for disqualification and the open records exemption; the sponsor said the background check would use existing pass-fail criteria and the records exemption would protect candidates from embarrassment if they failed. The committee passed HB 469 favorably with the committee substitute attached. House Bill 586 was then considered, clarifying that sunscreen is not a medication in schools. The sponsor and a student advocate testified that some districts treat sunscreen as an over-the-counter medication, limiting student use without a provider order, and argued the bill would help prevent sunburn and skin cancer by allowing students to use sunscreen more freely. Members praised the advocacy and asked about the medication issue; the sponsor said the concern came from dermatology stakeholders. The committee passed HB 586 favorably to the House floor. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 621, which would move special education caseload and class-size limits from regulation into statute. The sponsor said the bill responds to proposed Department of Education changes that worried special education teachers, would slightly increase class-size maximums when a paraprofessional is present, and would not affect waiver procedures, preschool caseloads, or speech-language pathologist caseloads. Members asked about the rationale and supporting data for the limits; the sponsor said there are no federal guidelines and the bill was meant to preserve current regulatory numbers. The committee passed HB 621 favorably to the House floor, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• they did qualification requirements they did screen<03:05:50.399> over<03:05:50.680> 25,000
• So what we did was instead of verifying the minimum qualifications upon application, we verified it on
• <04:12:11.399> is<04:12:11.560> the verify minimum qualifications is the verify minimum
• qualifications is the delay<04:12:12.479> in<04:12:12.640> the<04:12:13.159> uction
• Services funded through that grant include the talk story, clinical case management, judicial hearing

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:05.119> So<00:37:05.599> their<00:37:06.160> qualifications are statutory
• So their qualifications are statutory.
• So their qualifications for<00:37:07.280> licensing<00:37:08.000> examinations.
• c> through<00:37:46.160> their<00:37:47.040> um<00:37:47.440> board, qualifications
• through their um board, qualifications through their um board, the<00:37:48.079> NAAB,<00:37:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Northern Kentucky building industry representatives Brian Miller and Matt Mains on housing affordability and construction workforce issues. They argued that regulatory and code requirements add significant cost to new homes, citing an estimate of nearly $94,000 per home nationally and $15,000 to $20,000 per home in Boone County over the past decade. They recommended reforms to building code adoption, architectural design mandates, permit fees and delays, and setback/land dedication rules, saying these changes could reduce costs by $25,000 to $35,000 per home without affecting public safety. They also discussed workforce training efforts through the Enzwe Building Institute, dual-credit programs, apprenticeship incentives, and workforce grants, saying these efforts have helped hold wage growth below regional trends and improve housing affordability. Committee members asked about the breakdown of regulatory costs, the effect of energy codes, and ways to speed up permitting. The presenters said the costs were roughly split among federal, state, and local requirements, with local regulations adding about $25,000 to $35,000 and some energy-code changes adding about $19,000 per home. They said faster plan review, coordination with the Kentucky Division of Water, and addressing municipal staffing shortages could cut 30 to 45 days from approvals. Members also discussed the difficulty of building starter homes under about $350,000 and the need for more missing-middle housing, with the presenters saying such homes are hard to produce without sacrificing quality. The committee then took up Representative Kim Moer and Dr. Dale Bertram’s discussion of marriage and family therapist licensing and healthcare workforce data reporting. They explained that the bill would allow Kentucky to recognize out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet licensure requirements, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the national exam, in order to reduce barriers and address provider shortages, especially in rural areas. They also described a separate workforce data reporting section that would require licensure boards to collect consistent information on where licensees practice and whether they are actively seeing patients, including through telehealth, so the state can better understand its healthcare workforce. Members supported the portability idea, noted that some qualified applicants are currently working in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and asked whether the data collection could be handled administratively; the sponsors said the bill would create consistency across boards. The committee also briefly discussed occupational board updates and the need for stronger communication between legislators and licensing boards, including architecture licensure issues and efforts to recruit more professionals.