Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, for fiscal year 2026, there were 61,468 statewide incentives, and each of those had a value of
• Now, I do think it's important to understand that one student can earn one of those incentives in each
• So, each student has an opportunity; it could result in incentive funding of 1,823.72 for each of those
• And as noted for fiscal year 26, you know, if you multiply that high-quality incentive rate times four
• And I would also just like to throw in, remember that in fiscal year 26, there were statewide incentives

Keywords: 0:00:03 - Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:43 - Approval of October 14, 2025 and November 4, 2025 Minutes 0:01:15 - Acceptance of Office of Education Accountability Report: Analysis Of Student Discipline Data in Kentucky Schools 0:02:10 - Implementation Update on 26 RS HB 257 0:49:38 - Career and Technical Education in the Assessment and Accountability System 1:13:50 - Office of Education Accountability Annual Report 1:47:27 – Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Education Assessment & Accountability Review Subcommittee approved the minutes from its October 14 and November 4 meetings and also approved the Office of Education Accountability report analyzing student discipline data in Kentucky schools. The main presentation came from KDE Commissioner Dr. Robby Fletcher on implementation of House Bill 257, which he said has two major parts: selection of a statewide college entrance exam through a new procurement process, and development of locally designed indicators of quality for accountability. On the college exam, Fletcher explained that the state had to reopen procurement after Senate Bill 197, with the RFP released May 21, vendor questions handled through the Finance and Administration Cabinet, proposals due June 22, and scoring and review expected in July and August, with a vendor decision not likely until October. He emphasized that the exam is a norm-referenced college-readiness measure, not a test of Kentucky academic standards, which are assessed by the KSA. Members asked about the science requirement in statute, the possibility of multiple vendors or district choice, and whether the CLT could participate; Fletcher said vendors must address science in the RFP, multiple vendors could be possible, and any vendor could submit a proposal if it meets the rubric. He also noted that ACT and SAT differ in structure, that either can meet college-readiness benchmarks, and that there were no major complaints about the SAT during its first year of use. The second major topic was the locally developed indicators of quality under House Bill 257. Fletcher said these are intended to let districts measure themselves against their own goals rather than compare districts statewide, while still aligning with Kentucky standards. He described examples such as achievement, growth, student well-being, safety, fiscal responsibility, civics, internships, apprenticeships, project-based learning, and defenses of learning. He said districts may use local assessments such as MAP, STAR, and I-Ready alongside state data, and that local models should be developed with families, community members, and workforce partners. He added that KDE is providing technical assistance, has applied for a federal CGSA grant, and will use a one-time $15,000 cost offset for districts implementing local accountability models, with a superintendent webcast planned for August.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, that's where I was trying to make sure that there's not an incentive that I want to protect the
• incentive incentive that<00:48:43.080> I<00:48:43.160> want<00:48:43.359> to<00
• <00:48:51.080> for make sure there wasn't an incentive for make sure there wasn't an incentive
• He said he understands the argument about trying to create some sort of incentive, but that this will
• Representative Lee said he understands the argument about trying to create some sort of incentive, but

Bills: HF2136, HF4195, HF4548, HF4432, HF4174, HF3024, HF4389, HF3773

Keywords: youth intervention, grants, community support, early intervention services, nonprofit, Minnesota human services, forecast adjustment, budget forecast, appropriations, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Health Care Access Fund, general fund, behavioral health, housing support, General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, MFIP, DWP, child care assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• >> They're paid, and we provide an incentive as well, and so they're already in that position and they're
• paid by the center, but we provide extra incentives to help along the way.
• >> They're paid and we provide an incentive >> They're paid and we provide an incentive
• <01:18:39.679> to<01:18:40.000> help but we provide extra incentives to help but we
• provide extra incentives to help along<01:18:40.560> the<01:18:40.800> way.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:07 Chair Comments 00:00:36 Approval of Minutes 00:04:01 Volunteers of America 00:04:21 Soil and Water Conservation/Energy and Environment Cabinet 00:14:52 Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy/Justice & Public Safety Cabinet 00:21:05 Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:26:01 Early Childhood Advisory Council 00:45:18, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met to review how tobacco settlement dollars are being used and to press recipients for detailed information on total funding, administrative versus program spending, and measurable outcomes. The chair emphasized that the committee was not there for general program overviews, but to assess return on investment and whether each program should continue to receive tobacco settlement support. The committee approved the minutes from its December 22, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from several agencies and organizations. Volunteers of America Mid-States described its southeastern Kentucky restorative justice program, which uses an evidence-based New Zealand model for juvenile cases in nine counties. The group reported tobacco settlement funding of $516,000 in FY24 and $233,500 in FY25, representing about 17% and then about 5% of the program budget, respectively. It said the funding helped expand the program from 13 cases in 2021 to 180 youth served, and cited an independent evaluation showing recidivism of 24.5% compared with 40.4% in AOC data, along with a cost of a little under $20 per day versus detention and other placements. Some members questioned whether the program fit the tobacco settlement funding categories and suggested it might be better supported through other justice-related funding sources. The Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Conservation explained that tobacco funds support $1 million in direct aid to conservation districts and $2 million in cost-share projects for farmers, with 5% of the cost-share appropriation allowed for administration, or about $100,000 in FY26. Officials said the direct-aid line was moved into tobacco funding in 2019, reducing money available for farmer cost-share, and described a multi-year project approval and reallocation process. Senator Webb asked for a more specific breakdown of the $850,000 direct-aid amount, and the cabinet said it would provide that information. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reported that in FY24 it expended just under $30 million across tobacco funds, general funds, restricted funds, and a one-time federal grant, with less than 2% used for administration. Officials said most tobacco settlement money goes to Kentucky ASAP local boards in all 120 counties, supporting prevention, treatment, and some law enforcement work. The Department of Agriculture then began its presentation, describing strategic investments, loan programs, county funding, administrative costs, and a reported return of about $2.30 for every dollar spent, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The point in doing that is right now there's a big incentive for the researcher to make sure any real
• incentive incentive to<00:50:01.520> the<00:50:01.839> faculty<00:50:02.319> members
• So it rewards the inventor and provides them with the incentive. And, Mr.
• So it rewards the inventor and provides them with the incentive. And, Mr.
• So it rewards the inventor and provides them with the incentive. And, Mr.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But often it's also proposed as an incentive, as a way of showing support for the economic impact that
• But often it's also proposed as an incentive, as a way of showing support for the economic impact that
• as a um a way of um as an incentive as a um a way of showing<01:26:45.600> um<01:26:46.480>
• So think about these tax incentives as if they don't get done, we're going to end up losing these events
• So think about these tax incentives as if they don't get done, we're going to end up losing these events

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• payments for the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act, or ...” everyday motans.
• of incentive payments for the<00:10:48.320> sustainable<00:10:48.880> forest<00:10:49.200
• Sustainable Forest Incentive Act — uh, it's $5 million and 2627, 11 million and 2829. Mr.
• Sustainable forest incentive<01:17:37.560> act.
• Uh it's 5 million and incentive act.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The last thing that I wanted to comment on is the intended incentives, and I understand and appreciate
• Furthermore, we have an incentive problem.
• That is why it is virtually impossible to create an effective financial incentive for water conservation
• Furthermore, we have an incentive Furthermore, we have an incentive problem. problem. problem.
• for water conservation through incentive for water conservation through the<00:52:31.560> water

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HR1 modifies and terminates many of the federal energy credits and incentives.
• Uh the remaining uh 15 incentives.
• <00:42:43.359> for<00:42:43.680> charitable an incentive for charitable an incentive
• So, uh, I don't know what the incentive would be to do that, but certainly, you know, they are required
• So, uh, I don't know what the incentive would be to do that, but certainly, you know, they are required

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have an incentive that if you complete your program, you can reduce your time, earn credits, and that's
• Let's invest in incentives, which is a best practice. voluntary. And I want to give an voluntary.
• <00:46:43.280> have<00:46:43.520> incentive<00:46:44.079> that<00:46:44.240>
• if<00:46:44.400> you incentive have incentive that if you incentive have incentive that if
• let's invest incentives which is a<00:46:55.280> best<00:46:55.520> practice.

Bills: HB1769

Keywords: criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails. Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The incentive funding remains important for two reasons.
• The<00:35:34.079> incentive<00:35:34.800> funding The incentive funding The incentive funding
• The child care incentive fund is a good common-sense solution.
• care incentive fund is a good common<00:37:39.359> sense<00:37:39.760> solution.
• Without that incentive, we likely would not have retained her.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, if you think about the incentives to fill more prescriptions right now, if a pharmacist sits down
• Um if you if you think about<01:14:14.159> the<01:14:14.480> incentives<01:14:15.280>
• > to<01:14:15.520> fill<01:14:15.760> more about the incentives to fill more about
• to do that financially uh incentive to do that financially uh because<01:14:26.080> we<01:14:
• to prevent the chronic much incentive to prevent the chronic illness.<01:15:00.560> Um<01:15:

Keywords: 1. Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00 2. Approval of Minutes – 00:01:32 3. Getting to Know the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky – 00:02:26 4. Healthy Kids Clinic – 00:26:58 5. Pharmacy Payment Parity – 00:56:36 6. Ibogaine – 01:17:37 7. Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 01:53:05 8. Adjournment – 01:53:19, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes and recognized Eric Clark for his service, noting this may be his last meeting before he leaves state government. The main presentation was from Allison Adams, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, who described the organization’s history, nonpartisan mission, and focus on health equity, prevention, and upstream policy solutions. She said Kentucky’s poor rankings in chronic disease, preventable hospitalizations, and life expectancy show the need to shift resources toward prevention and community-driven strategies rather than relying mainly on treatment after people become sick. Adams emphasized leading health indicators, arguing that lawmakers should track actionable measures such as quit attempts and smoke-free policies instead of only lagging indicators like disease rates and mortality. In response to questions, she said accountability should be shared across communities and systems, with possible incentives and disincentives tied to outcomes, and she supported creating a public data utility or dashboard, ideally with university partners, to help legislators and communities monitor progress. She also cited examples of accountable health community models and said Kentucky could adapt similar approaches. The committee then heard from Meade County Schools Superintendent Mark Martin and district health coordinator Karen Kotche about the Healthy Kids Clinic partnership with Cumberland Health. They described a seven-year effort that led to full implementation in the district, which now has a nurse in every school and a nurse practitioner, allowing services such as sports physicals and other clinic functions to be provided on campus. They said the program has been a strong investment for students and the community and began explaining how the district built the partnership after earlier efforts and delays, including the pandemic.

Transcript Highlights:

• This next set of slides really covers our proposal around considering altering the literacy incentive
• and 29 just give you an overview of the READ Act literacy aid, as well as the READ Act literacy incentive
• <00:13:58.079> aid altering the literacy incentive aid altering the literacy incentive aid
• aid which I just um literacy incentive aid which I just covered.<00:15:00.240> Now,<00:15:00.560
• If districts did not spend all of their allocations, they would need to be used for teacher incentive

Bills: HF2430, HF2433

Keywords: education finance, teacher training, Read Act, state aid, school funding, education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It builds on a commitment by creating an incentive program to help farmers improve nitrogen efficiency
• > be<00:54:56.960> part<00:54:57.200> of<00:54:57.359> another incentive
• to actually be part of another incentive to actually be part of another program<00:54:58.160> where
• So, we think that $5,000 would provide good incentive, cover those costs to get the facility certified
• good incentive uh cover those<01:08:23.839> costs<01:08:24.159> to<01:08:24.400> get

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, literacy incentive aid, paraprofessional paid orientation, and then full service community schools
• Moving to line 54, literacy incentive aid: this item receives $81.641 million in fiscal years 2024 and
• You'll note that literacy incentive aid is underlined, and Miss Beckle has underlined those programs
• uh this literacy incentive Aid uh this item<01:02:43.279> receives<01:02:44.079> 81.
• line You'll note that literacy incentive line You'll note that literacy incentive Aid<01:03:09.200

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on January 21, 2025, for its first hearing of the session and began with organizational business. Members and staff introduced themselves, described their districts and backgrounds, and the chair reviewed committee procedures, including how to request bill hearings, amendment deadlines, and handout deadlines. The committee also heard introductions from nonpartisan and partisan staff, including House Research and House Fiscal Analysis personnel who will support the committee’s work this session. The main substantive item was an overview presentation on the state budget and education finance process. Staff explained how Minnesota’s general fund is forecast twice a year, how the committee should read the budget documents and aid/levy tracking sheets, and how the current biennium compares with the upcoming budget window. They described the November forecast, noted that the committee will later receive the February forecast, and outlined the committee’s role in reviewing K-12 state aid spending, school district revenue, and property tax impacts. Staff walked through the aid appropriation summary spreadsheet and explained its columns, including end-of-session spending, fiscal year 2024-25 actuals and estimates, and the 2026-27 and 2028-29 planning horizons. They emphasized that many education programs are forecast-driven and can change with enrollment and other data. The presentation also summarized the state’s overall revenue mix and spending priorities, noting that K-12 education is the largest general fund category and that state aid makes up the majority of school revenue. No bills were heard and no votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• questions that led to some of these findings, but there seems to be financial disincentives and incentives
• On the flip side, on the UC side or the CSUs, potentially there’s incentives or disincentives on which
• corruption, if you will, within the system and a brokenness that actually is coming from the financial incentives
• I mean, a lot of the disconnect actually provides the same financial incentives to both parties.
• Yeah, we did ask a lot of questions about the different incentives at play.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The original promise in 16C was an incentive... ...far beyond walking or biking ability.
• The original promise in 16C was an incentive for cities and towns to regionalize, recognizing the compounding
• But if we reimburse—if the state reimbursed 100 percent—then wouldn't there be no incentive whatsoever
• Like, there's no incentive for them to cut any corners because they know they have control of the market
• Decades ago, as one incentive to regionalize school districts, we were promised full reimbursement for

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused primarily on H. 517/S. 314, a bill to provide a sustainable future for rural schools, and H. 697, a bill to require full funding of regional school transportation. Witnesses from rural districts, school committees, superintendents, students, and local officials described chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, high fixed costs, special education and transportation burdens, and the loss of programs, staff, and extracurriculars. Several speakers argued that rural aid should be funded at $60 million annually and made non-discretionary, while others emphasized that transportation reimbursement for regional districts has repeatedly fallen short of the state’s promise and is driving budget crises and overrides. A number of students testified in support of rural aid, describing cuts to classes, counselors, and activities, and the impact on their schools and communities. Committee members also discussed whether transportation policy should be revisited to address underlying cost drivers, including bus bidding practices and whether regional districts should have more flexibility in transportation requirements. The committee also heard H. 515, concerning Hancock Elementary School and a school choice-related exemption from a state requirement that has created a large financial burden for the district. Hancock’s superintendent and Rep. John Barrett explained that a decades-old regulation, recently enforced by DESE, would require Hancock to pay tuition for choice-in students through high school graduation even though the district only serves pre-K through grade 6 and sends its own students elsewhere for middle and high school. They said the rule creates a significant per-student shortfall and has forced Hancock to opt out of school choice. Committee members asked for clarification about how the arrangement works and how the costs fall on Hancock. Additional testimony supported related transportation bills for non-regional districts, especially Plymouth/Carver and North Middlesex, describing high and rising bus costs, special education and McKinney-Vento transportation expenses, and the strain on local budgets. Speakers repeatedly said that state reimbursement has not matched actual costs and that communities are being forced to choose between transportation and classroom services. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing; the committee simply received testimony and closed the hearing on the bills discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• certain Both structural and then also geographic in nature as certain jurisdictions continue to throw incentives
• 2319, which is a bill that seeks to create a standalone $100 million credit for a post-production incentive
• We want to leverage all state opportunities as incentives for cultural and creative development.
• so we have a lot of statewide initiatives such as the Strong Workforce Grant Program and other CT incentive
• there's other states and other countries that recognize those clusters, like the post-production tax incentives

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Arts held an informational hearing on California’s first sector-specific creative economy strategic plan, “California’s Future Is Creative,” developed under AB 127 and related legislation. Chair Allen framed the plan as a response to California’s large but vulnerable creative economy, citing workforce losses, federal funding headwinds, and the need to support artists, cultural organizations, public media, museums, cultural districts, and film/TV production. He also highlighted budget asks including support for California Humanities, museums, public media, cultural districts, a post-production incentive proposal (AB 2319), and funding to implement the strategic plan. California Arts Council Director Danielle Brazel, Institute for the Future’s Rachel Hatch, CDE’s Allison Frenzel, and CWDB’s Michael Weoff described the planning process, which included a 30-plus-member work group, interagency coordination, and a phased approach from framework development to implementation and evaluation. They identified major forces shaping the sector over the next decade, including AI, climate disruption, affordability, access to capital, and social cohesion, and outlined six action areas: workforce preparation, business stabilization, cultural identity/tourism, cross-sector incentives, ROI/data tracking, and state capacity/infrastructure. Members and panelists repeatedly emphasized that the plan must be resourced and integrated across agencies rather than left siloed. A second panel of practitioners and advocates focused on workforce pathways and local implementation. Ricarlo Handy described the Handy Foundation’s registered apprenticeship pipeline into film and TV jobs and argued that current data systems undercount gig, 1099, and LLC-based creative work. Joanna Reynolds discussed Arts for LA’s Creative Jobs Collective, which aims to create 10,000 living-wage creative jobs in Los Angeles County by 2030, while Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez urged embedding artists in health, aging, and behavioral health systems as community problem-solvers. Roxanne Messina Kaptur spoke about the need to normalize arts careers and expand residency and school-based models. Senator Rubio, who joined later, shared her own arts and teaching background, supported arts access in schools and small theaters, and raised concerns about AI, asking how schools and educators can adapt. In the final panel, Rebecca Ratzkin reported on 26 statewide town halls with more than 1,100 attendees, which confirmed support for the plan but also highlighted needs for better information access, new financial models, stronger definitions and data, and more partnerships. Julie Baker of California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates urged sustained public funding, saying the plan is actionable only if the Legislature and administration provide resources, including increased California Arts Council funding and support for implementation. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with calls for continued legislative and cross-agency collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• look to see if there was other funding we could make available, and we did identify a consolidation incentive
• We did say that the Consolidation Incentive Fund, with change of the rules, the $5.9 million that's sitting
• Any amount above that is where we could look at our consolidation incentive funding.
• Any amount above that is where we could look at our consolidation incentive funding and see if we can
• Well, that's where we're saying we could use the consolidation incentive funding.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first handled agenda management for items referred over from Joint Budget, suspending the rules to add Senate Bill 77 and later correcting an error so Senate Bill 4 could be considered instead of the initially misidentified House Bill. Members were given time to review the referred bills before votes were taken. Several other items were passed over or delayed to allow review, and the chair repeatedly noted that some measures would be taken up later in the agenda. The committee then heard a series of special language amendments and agency-related items. Representative Dalby explained a clarification to Senate Bill 31 to ensure district court installment payment plans are capped at $7.50 rather than being combined with prior $10 fees. Representative Bentley presented an amendment to Senate Bill 36 requiring the Department of Agriculture to notify local officials before certain land-purchase grants, but the amendment failed after concerns that it created a new process and could affect transactions. Bentley also proposed an amendment to Senate Bill 20 to remove Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s exemption from a hospital fee settlement; members questioned the fiscal effects on other hospitals, and the motion failed for lack of a second. Representative Pilkington’s amendments on pharmacy refills using artificial intelligence and on quarry permit notice to mayors were both not adopted, the first for lack of a second and the second for lack of a motion. The committee adopted several other amendments and heard agency testimony on fiscal effects. Senator Tucker’s amendment to Senate Bill 575, which moved certain justice-system fee revenues from special revenue to general revenue while holding agency funding harmless, was adopted after questions about revenue stability. Representative Beatty’s amendment to House Bill 1022, clarifying ADFA positions and reporting, was also adopted. Senator Johnson’s amendment to protect SNAP eligibility for participants in faith-based treatment and recovery programs was adopted, while his proposal to withhold pay from city directors absent more than 90 days was rejected. His cleanup amendment to apply majority-vote requirements to all municipal forms of government was adopted. Later, Representative Wardlaw’s amendment to allow municipalities to participate in cooperative purchasing agreements was adopted after discussion about local vendor access. The final major item discussed was Representative Mayberry and Senator Crowell’s amendment to House Bill 1007, which would increase funding for Arkansas’s ABC early childhood programs, open additional slots, and raise reimbursement rates. Supporters said the measure would help reduce waiting lists and improve kindergarten readiness; opponents argued it would divert dollars from public education funding. After debate, the amendment failed. The committee then began hearing Senator Irvin’s amendment to House Bill 107 concerning funding and operational rules for newly formed isolated school districts, with Department of Education staff explaining the proposed 90% foundation funding approach and discussing whether existing districts had sufficient funds to absorb the changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the incremental cost for us to create that function, but it also includes, you know, benefits and incentive
• Representative Kempenich: Yeah, and you probably, on the incentive, is this part of where the bonus or
• So to clarify, Scott, this is base salary, incentive comp, the loaded burden rate for software and tech
• Client fund impact, incentive fees, savings, and excess...
• Client fund impact, incentive fees, savings, and excess return.

Keywords: 908, all