Transcript Highlights:

• I filed the proper paperwork with the clerk, and it does not affect the outcome. >> Thank you, Senator
• And I have the proper paperwork. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, sir. >> Senator from Boone 20. >> What
• And I have the proper paperwork. >> Thank you, sir. >> Senator from Callaway. >> Thank you, sir. >> Senator
• And I have<00:42:05.280> the<00:42:05.359> proper<00:42:05.599> paperwork.
• have the proper paperwork. have the proper paperwork.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, roll call, and approval of the prior journal. The chamber received House messages listing several House bills passed by the House and introduced new Senate measures, including SB 172 on utility fuel adjustment, SB 173 on Medicaid state plan oversight, and several resolutions. The Senate then took up SB 2, which would limit school administrator pay raises so they do not exceed the average percentage raise given to classroom teachers in the same district. Supporters said the bill promotes fairness, transparency, teacher retention, and classroom priorities; it passed 38-0. The Senate next considered SB 4 on school leadership. The bill creates a five-year principal leadership development pathway, including KDE-led training for new principals, a mentorship program, a gap year with continuing education options, expanded use of an existing Truist/Kentucky Chamber Foundation leadership program, and a final year of approved high-level leadership training providers. A committee substitute changed the Chamber reference to the Kentucky Chamber Foundation. Senators speaking in favor emphasized the need for intentional leadership development and noted the bill builds on existing successful training partnerships. One senator suggested clarifying the term "new principal" to "first-time principal" to avoid redundancy. The bill passed 38-0 as amended. The Senate also passed SB 71, as amended by committee substitute, which requires ongoing financial training for local school board members. The substitute clarified the training-hour language after consultation with the Kentucky School Boards Association. The sponsor said the measure supports board members with updated school finance knowledge so they can better serve with superintendents and ask informed questions. After passage, the chamber adopted a title amendment for SB 71. The Senate then recessed for committee meetings, received a committee report assigning bills and resolutions to standing committees or the floor, and heard several announcements and co-sponsorship requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• just seems to me that whatever this program is, it's getting bogged down in more administration and paperwork
• just seems to me that whatever this program is, it's getting bogged down in more administration and paperwork
• 44.960> more<00:20:45.680> administration<00:20:46.640> and<00:20:47.000> paperwork
• in more administration and paperwork in more administration and paperwork than<00:20:48.000>

Keywords: Public Property - Room 409, 26 February, 2026; 11:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several public property bills and reported each one out after brief discussion. HB 1041, authorizing the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and maintain a levee system along the Yazoo River, was explained as a flood-control measure and passed without questions. HB 1520, which would allow the Department of Archives and History to convey about 23 acres associated with the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty back to the tribe, was also reported out. HB 1732, concerning sale of DPS property in the Lauderdale County/Meridian area, was amended so proceeds from any sale or lease would go to the state general fund, then passed as amended. HB 1731, the ABC warehouse bill in Gluckstadt, drew the most discussion. Members clarified that the bill concerns the old warehouse and not current ABC operations. Two amendments were adopted: one corrected a reference to the Department of Finance and Administration and directed proceeds from the sale to defray Department of Revenue costs tied to the new warehouse, and another specified the property recipient as the Madison County Economic Development Authority rather than a generic entity. After questions about whether sale proceeds should instead return to the general fund and whether the language properly covered warehouse debt, the committee voted to report the bill out as amended. The committee then discussed HB 1716, a Mississippi Main Street revitalization grant bill. Supporters said the bill expands eligible recipients to include Main Street network associate communities and business improvement districts, requires only local cash matches, bars state funds from being used for the match, shifts administration to MDA, and caps administrative costs at 2 percent. Members also reviewed how the bill was intended to address a backlog of grant applicants and the governor’s concerns about prior administration of the program. After questions about the grant list, funding process, and the 2 percent cap, the committee voted to report HB 1716 out, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Meanwhile, criminals keep getting guns off the street with zero paperwork required.
• When an incident occurs in the field, the supervisor that responds has all the paperwork.
• It's... ...occurs in the field, the supervisor that responds has all the paperwork.
• So it's not too difficult to have the paperwork.
• When they respond to an incident, they're able to share that paperwork with the responding officers.

Summary: The Assembly Public Safety Committee met to consider several bills, with six measures approved on consent, including bills on background checks, female offender prison facilities, a juvenile justice hunger survey, protective orders and firearms, a youth offender camp pilot, and peace officer behavioral health training. AB 710 and AB 848 were pulled by the authors. The committee also took up AB 458, AB 394, AB 1094, AB 1092, and AB 1036, with extensive testimony on each. AB 458, by Assembly Member Stephanie, would require state agencies purchasing firearms, ammunition, or accessories to vet vendors for compliance with firearms laws and procurement standards. Supporters, including Brady and the California Police Chiefs Association, said taxpayer funds should not go to dealers with serious violations; opponents argued the bill added burdens and vague standards. The committee approved the bill as amended and sent it to Appropriations. AB 394, by Assembly Member Wilson, would expand protections for transit workers and riders by broadening enhanced battery penalties, clarifying who may seek temporary restraining orders in the transit context, and making those orders system-wide. Transit agencies, labor groups, and law enforcement supported the bill, while public defender and civil liberties groups raised concerns about vagueness, duration, and impacts on access to transit. The committee passed AB 394 to Judiciary as amended. AB 1094, by Assembly Member Baines, would raise the minimum parole eligibility term for child torture convictions involving a child under 14 in the perpetrator’s care or custody from seven years to 20 years. Prosecutors, sheriffs, and police groups supported the bill, citing the severity of the abuse and the need to protect child victims; opponents argued the parole system already screens for risk and that harsher sentences do not improve public safety. The committee approved the bill as amended to Appropriations. AB 1092, by Assembly Member Castillo, would extend concealed carry weapon license renewals from two years to four years; supporters said it would reduce costs and administrative burdens, while the chair and others opposed it as unnecessary. The committee ultimately voted the bill down. AB 1036, by Assembly Member Schultz, would expand post-conviction discovery access for people convicted of felonies with sentences of one year or more, including Brady materials and jury selection notes. Innocence organizations and defense groups supported it, while district attorneys opposed the broader discovery obligations; the committee passed it to Appropriations as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• He explained that candidates for state office file their paperwork with the Secretary of State, while
• Um, you know, I think that the paperwork is very self-explanatory, and if somebody can’t fill out the
• paperwork correctly, I think we probably need to question their, as a litmus test, if they should be
• Um, you know, I think that the paperwork is very self-explanatory, and if somebody can’t fill out the
• paperwork correctly, I think we probably need to question their, as a litmus test, if they should be

Keywords: Consideration of HB 684 02:30 Consideration of HB 699 19:10, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs met with a quorum and considered two election-related bills. The committee first took up House Bill 684, sponsored by Representative Jennifer Decker, and adopted a committee substitute. Decker described the bill as a “continuous improvement” measure developed with election officials, clerks, legislators, and citizens. She walked through provisions addressing precinct officer staffing in vote centers, notice to school districts when schools are used as voting centers, absentee ballot replacement when a ballot is not received, retention and disposal timelines for election-related video surveillance, permanent voting assistance certifications, write-in candidate deadlines and posting restrictions, candidate filing details, witness requirements, public posting of candidate information, felony voting language, and school district closure rules for voting locations. Members discussed the school-related provision, the handling of mail-in ballots, and a committee-substitute change removing credit cards and debit cards as acceptable voter ID. Supportive comments emphasized election integrity and the collaborative drafting process. The committee then voted to report HB 684 favorably. The committee next considered House Bill 699, sponsored by Representative DJ Johnson, which would add a pre-certification verification process for candidate filings. Johnson said the bill was intended to prevent ineligible candidates from appearing on the ballot by requiring election officials to verify that a candidate’s residence is in the correct jurisdiction and, in partisan races, that the candidate is registered with the party sought, with appeals going to circuit court. He argued the current system relies on costly legal challenges after filing errors occur. During discussion, Representative Hancock voted no, saying the bill would create an unnecessary administrative burden and that filing paperwork should remain a basic responsibility of candidates, while other members voted yes. The committee ultimately reported HB 699 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So someone would submit something, it would come back: "You don't have the right paperwork."
• to get help, whether it's from the state or the federal government, if you have to fill out more paperwork
• Others talked a little bit about the paperwork and the accounting of permitting substantial damage.
• by the end of this meeting, we figure out what we're going to do to help you find out where that paperwork
• federal level that is being administered by the state level, which requires the local level to do paperwork

Transcript Highlights:

• >> 42 [laughter] The reduction that Justin is going to have is about 30%; the reduction Jesse would have
• The reduction that Justin is going to have is about 30%; the reduction Jesse would have under this state
• <01:16:48.000> You're early retirement reductions. You're early retirement reductions.
• So, I will be weighing that heavily going forward. a reduction because I only had 19 years a reduction
• took a reduction in my volunteer took a reduction in my volunteer pension. pension. pension.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would actually allow other law enforcement institutions to also rely on third parties for paperwork
• So the impetus of the bill is to take some of the paperwork burden off of actual police officers. ...
• is to take some of the paperwork burden off of actual police officers so that we free up our limited

Bills: SB348, SB444, SB485

Keywords: motor vehicles, enforcement, administrative support, law enforcement, private service provider, regulatory compliance, expropriation, public purpose, property rights, compensation, city governance, St. George, insurance premium tax, city of St. George, municipal authority, local taxation, East Baton Rouge Parish, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would actually allow other law enforcement institutions to also rely on third parties for paperwork
• So the impetus of the bill is to take some of the paperwork burden off of actual police officers.
• The impetus of the bill is to take some of the paperwork burden off of actual police officers so that

Summary: The Municipal Program of Cultural Affairs Committee met with a quorum and took up three Senate bills by Senator Edmonds, all related to the new City of St. George. The first bill, SB 348, would allow a local enforcement agency to contract with third-party vendors for administrative support in motor vehicle liability enforcement, such as plate processing, insurance verification, and notices, while making clear the vendors would not have police powers. Members raised concerns that the bill as drafted appeared statewide rather than local to St. George, and discussed how to limit it properly. After debate, the committee adopted amendments to narrow SB 348 to cities incorporated after October 1, 2019 and to sunset the authority on July 31, 2028, with the understanding that St. George could return later with a properly advertised local bill. The bill then received favorable action. The committee then considered SB 485, which transfers authority to levy and collect the insurance premium tax within St. George to the city beginning January 1, 2027; it was reported favorably without objection. Finally, the committee heard SB 444, which gives St. George expropriation authority for public infrastructure projects such as roads, drainage, flood protection, water, sewer, and utilities, using procedures similar to other Louisiana municipalities and DOTD. Members asked about the process and confirmed it was standard municipal authority and not related to private industry. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and members and a reminder that this was the committee’s last meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• All this does is create more paperwork.
• All this does is create more paperwork.
• town and county have to track paperwork town and county have to track paperwork of<02:22:01.120>
• All this does is create more<02:22:16.560> paperwork. more paperwork. more paperwork.
• <02:22:32.319> because we want to create more paperwork because we want to create more paperwork

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and for pharmacies that of paperwork and for pharmacies that call<00:26:51.679> for<00:26:52.559
• And I wanted to agree with Representative Huitt that there are mountains of paperwork that physicians
• <00:33:52.559> that uh mountains of paperwork that uh mountains of paperwork that physicians
• , whether it's with mountain of paperwork, whether it's with OSHA,<00:34:29.359> uh<00:34:29.520
• and regulations that did of paperwork and regulations that did not<00:35:55.040> exist<00:35:

Bills: HF2779, HF1645, HF1885, HF1289, HF1534, HF2707, HF1675, HF3046

Keywords: health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration, horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, health care ownership, corporate practice, health care regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• many provisions of interest to the city of Minneapolis in these bills, such as MSA funding and reductions
• We oppose a three-and-a-half-year delay in implementing reductions in greenhouse gases and vehicle miles
• <00:36:47.520> We<00:36:47.839> need miles traveled reduction goals.
• We need miles traveled reduction goals.
• <00:43:25.280> Fast Fast forward to 2024, in the paperwork trying to justify the current Blue

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if I was the guide, the master guide, I'd be making the apprentice do all the paperwork.
• I'm not sure if our folders of paperwork that's in there gets carried along to the new location.
• That's all that's in my drawer is my paperwork folder. Um, and I would assume that they take it.
• I'm not sure if our folders of paperwork I'm not sure if our folders of paperwork that's<03:26:17.200
• Um, and I drawer is my paperwork folder.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So some of the priorities for the administration, the first one is our greenhouse gas reduction plan.
• The first one is our greenhouse gas reduction plan.
• <02:12:24.679> to so some of these other reductions to so some of these other reductions to
• Yeah, the difficulty for that one is we've not seen a reduction in homeless, and we've not seen a reduction
• that one is we've not seen a reduction that one is we've not seen a reduction in<02:29:02.240>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• of a guardian or someone to guide them through a discharge, there is no one to do the discharge paperwork
• someone because they're ready to leave, but there is literally no one there to help them with the paperwork
• space in the mornings at lunchtime and at the end of the day so the abusers could hand in their fake paperwork
• Once again, presumptions prevail. in their fake paperwork and take him home.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing on a broad slate of disability-related bills. Topics included creating a permanent Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Board (H. 231/S. 134), establishing a system for compensating guardians who serve incapacitated, unbefriended individuals through MassHealth (H. 253/S. 154), expanding Nikki’s Law to require MassHealth day habilitation programs to use the abuse registry (S. 165 and related bills), modernizing and streamlining the Disabled Persons Protection Commission’s statute and procedures (H. 243/S. 139), updating the definition of developmental disability to align more closely with federal law and include people such as those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (H. 276/S. 150), removing outdated and offensive terminology from the General Laws (H. 232/S. 137), and an autism education reform bill (H. 286). Several bills had no sign-ups, and the committee also noted related measures on cueing and prompting in PCA programs (H. 277/S. 157).

Transcript Highlights:

• The result that we see on the paperwork that is given to the public water system or to the purveyor is
• that the national standard would not cover include requirements specific to filling out certain paperwork
• Complete the paperwork and make it more efficient for the TCEQ to approve these licensures.
• Communication between the individual that's licensed to the national standard and completing paperwork

Bills: HB5208, SB863, SB1243, SB1624, SB1965, SB2660, SB2702, SB2885

Keywords: water filtration, public drinking water, health and safety, well maintenance, water quality, Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, public utility agency, dissolution, local government, regulatory framework, municipal authority, Texas Water Bank, Texas Water Trust, water rights, water banking, instream flow

Transcript Highlights:

• c> program<01:18:12.320> is If it does, we're looking at nearly $125 million more in reductions
• <01:18:57.920> to<01:18:58.159> funding million more in reductions to funding million
• more in reductions to funding per<01:18:58.800> year.
• Okay, you would all be impressed with all the paperwork that's piling up up here with the Senate finishing
• that's piling up up here with paperwork that's piling up up here with the<03:21:35.359> Senate

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of Veterans Affairs stands ready to assist school district staff as needed in verifying discharge paperwork
• of Veterans Affairs stands ready to assist school district staff as needed in verifying discharge paperwork
• of Veterans Affairs stands ready to assist school district staff as needed in verifying discharge paperwork
• 17.920> in<00:36:18.040> verifying<00:36:18.520> discharge<00:36:18.960> paperwork
• needed in verifying discharge paperwork. needed in verifying discharge paperwork.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard an introductory presentation from Sam Daily of Believe It Canine Service Partners, a nonprofit that trains service dogs free of charge for disabled veterans. Daily described the organization’s work with veterans, including placements with MACV and a service dog at Veteran Village in Eagan, and said the group has placed 80 teams so far. Senator Howe asked whether the organization had pursued Support Our Troops grants, and Daily said it had received two SOS grants. The first bill taken up was Senate File 4172, as amended, which would expand eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to honorably discharged reservists, National Guard members, and Air National Guard members, and would allow some honor guard use for eligible people. Senator Howe said the bill corrects an inequity for Guard and reserve members who served honorably but are not currently eligible. Glenn Pence testified in support, saying the bill recognizes National Guard service and should allow those veterans to be buried with others they served alongside. MDVA’s David Swantek supported the concept but warned that expanded eligibility would increase demand, especially at Little Falls, and could shorten its projected capacity timeline from about 48 years to about 30 years. The committee adopted the A1 amendment and then laid the bill over for inclusion in the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance Omnibus Bill. The committee then heard Senate File 4026, which sets standards for MDVA competitive grants and adds accountability and residency requirements. Senator Koran said the bill would help the department review grants and ensure funds serve Minnesota veterans and families. MDVA chief of staff Dave Belfi supported the bill, saying it reflects agency feedback, aligns with existing residency rules, and does not affect CVSO, VSO, or Support Our Troops grants. The A1 amendment was adopted, and the bill was laid over for inclusion in the omnibus bill. Next, Senate File 4807 was heard, a bill to update pay for National Guard soldiers and airmen called to state active duty. MDVA and National Guard officials said the bill would simplify statute language and raise the minimum base pay for lower ranks to the E5 level, with future adjustments tied to federal pay tables. Senator Kunesh asked about funding, and staff explained the cost would come through an open general-fund emergency appropriation, estimated at about $30,000 annually but varying with activations. The committee adopted amendments to incorporate SF 4172 and SF 4026 into SF 4807, made technical corrections, and then recommended SF 4807, as amended, to pass and be referred to the full committee. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3603, which would create a program allowing school districts to issue high school diplomas to Minnesota veterans who left school to serve during the Korean conflict or Vietnam War. Senator Rasmussen said the bill recognizes veterans who interrupted their education for service. MDVA’s John Kelly supported the bill, noting it reflects input from MDVA and the Department of Education and that similar programs exist in other states. The committee voted to recommend the bill to pass and refer it to the full committee. The meeting also began discussion of Senate File 4560, which would formalize the Commander's Task Force, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the US um there's been a 99% in the US um there's been a 99% reduction<02:20:25.439> in<02:
• B infections reduction in hepatitis B infections because<02:20:27.439> of<02:20:28.160> uh
• Chan had said the VA's paperwork, and also they should have been discussed with the pediatrician who
• the VA's um paperwork and also they<03:13:45.439> should<03:13:45.600> have<03:13:45.760
• or whatever to people to find paperwork or whatever to people to find out<03:16:27.359> if<03

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I remember it had to do with nomination paperwork.
• I remember it had to do with nomination paperwork.
• <01:38:57.679> that papers, uh, nomination paperwork. that papers, uh, nomination paperwork
• <01:39:27.520> They<01:39:27.760> found paperwork. the paper papers.
• They found paperwork. the paper papers.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am not one to create a lot more paperwork, and if we have methods going forward, I want to try and
• I am not one to create a lot more<00:33:00.240> paperwork<00:33:01.120> and<00:33:01.360
• and if we have methods more paperwork and if we have methods going<00:33:03.039> forward<00:33
• And so, again, rather than creating more paperwork, what I want to do is get this thing done, and we
• And so, again, rather than creating more paperwork, what I want to do is get this thing done, and we

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Triple C committee heard SB 2799, relating to the Kalopa settlement. Testimony was largely supportive, with several individuals and homestead organizations urging passage and asking that Hawaiian Homes Commission, HHCA beneficiaries, and community representatives be included in transition planning. The Department of Health opposed the added reporting requirement as unnecessary and argued its role is limited to patient care, while committee members pushed back and emphasized the need for broader community input and landowner participation, especially from DHHL and DLNR. The chair recommended passage of SB 2799 unamended, with a committee report noting that the required May report should include the interagency transition working group timeline, proposed budget, and proposed procedures. The recommendation was adopted unanimously by the committees present. The joint agenda also took up SB 2887, which would expand the important agricultural land qualified agricultural tax credit to include Hawaiian homelands used for subsistence or agricultural/pastoral purposes and broaden eligible costs to include orchard or fruit-bearing crops and clearing former sugar and pineapple lands. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the concept but requested amendments; the Department of Taxation and Department of Agriculture provided comments and information on administration and existing claims. The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent but argued the bill should create a new tax credit in Chapter 235 rather than fold DHHL lands into the existing IAL credit. After discussion, the chair recommended passage with the Hawaii Farm Bureau’s amendments and technical changes, and both committees adopted that recommendation. The Hawaiian Affairs committee then acted on several bills. SB 1406, SB 521, and SB 1654 were deferred indefinitely because the chair said related work was already underway and the committee wanted to avoid duplicative paperwork. SB 3247, relating to Mona Ala/Royal Mausoleum, was amended to convert the proposal into a Royal Mausoleum Working Group with periodic reporting and stakeholder input, and it passed with amendments. SB 112, SB 131, and SB 2443 were advanced with amendments that primarily deferred effective dates to keep the measures moving while discussions continue. The committee also noted that some measures were being deferred or reshaped to align with ongoing administrative or companion-bill processes, and the amended recommendations were adopted by the members present.