Transcript Highlights:

• In that case, we need to have something like the North Star Promise to allow Minnesotans to be competitive
• In that case, we need to have something like the North Star Promise to allow Minnesotans to be competitive
• In that case, we need to have something like the North Star Promise to allow Minnesotans to be competitive
• In that case, we need to have something like the North Star Promise to allow Minnesotans to be competitive
• this has completely changed competitive this has completely changed the<01:47:49.920> P<01:47

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a competitive project application process.
• was lifted again we had a competitive was lifted again we had a competitive project<01:28:50.679
• again competitive process 17 applications<01:29:14.280> were<01:29:14.800> received<01
• Funding, so it wasn't a competitive process.
• manner to the apply in a competitive manner to the Department<01:55:06.040> of<01:55:06.480><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee Division II met with the New Hampshire Department of Education to review school nutrition programs and related funding. Department staff Melissa White and Kelly Rambo walked through a packet covering the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Community Eligibility (CEP), After School Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program, explaining that these are federally funded USDA programs, with some state supplemental funding in certain areas. They also reviewed reimbursement rates for lunch, breakfast, child/adult care, and summer meals, noting that summer rates follow calendar-year timing while most others follow the state fiscal year. Members asked several questions about how the funding works, especially the difference between federal reimbursements and the state match. Staff explained that the state lunch line in the budget is a fixed match amount tied to federal participation, while breakfast funding is broken out by meal type and reimbursement category. They also discussed why FY 2022 federal spending was much higher during COVID, when USDA covered meals at the free rate for all students, and why FY 2023 and FY 2024 dropped as normal income-eligibility rules returned. A committee member also asked about the “severe need lunch” two-cent rate, and staff said they did not know USDA’s formula. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on summer meals and the distinction between the Summer Food Service Program and Summer EBT. Staff explained that SFSP provides meals at approved sites, which can be open or closed sites, while Summer EBT is a separate DHHS-operated benefit program that provides funds to families. They said some schools or sites may not qualify under USDA rules, but eligible children can often use another nearby open site, and the department posts an interactive map and phone line to help families find locations. The committee also discussed the Community Eligibility Provision. Staff said New Hampshire currently has three CEP schools, that the eligibility threshold had recently been lowered from 40% to 25% identified students, and that the program allows participating schools to offer free meals to all students while the local district covers the non-federal share. Members asked whether any districts in the 25% to 40% range had joined; staff said no. The department offered to provide the eligibility report in Excel and noted that the CEP intent is to reduce application burden, though the lower threshold can make the local cost share harder for some districts to absorb.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we funded that in 2023, we had the grants listed as competitive grants.
• We want to remove the competitive requirement for tribal nations so that removes the burden for tribes
• had the grants listed as competitive had the grants listed as competitive grants<00:58:41.000>
• grants we want to remove the competitive grants we want to remove the competitive requirement<00
• in response to a request for competitive in response to a request for proposal<00:58:54.960> we

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations. The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less. The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed. The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• efficient uh in your or more competitive efficient uh in your or more competitive in<00:05:21.600
• The second one of course is competitive.
• So, one competitive industry, too.
• <00:37:15.119> to and they allow for competition to and they allow for competition to proceed
• <01:01:03.359> they're you know to be competitive they're you know to be competitive they're

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not restrict competition and ensures fair competition, and simply clarifies the law already
• And then competition, as far as that guy down the road who—our particular individual, our constituent
• It keeps us competitive with other states.

Bills: SCR53, HB259, HB267, HB478, HB548, HB555, HB617, HB670, HB672, HB797, HB848, HB917, HB921, HB1096, HB1103, HB1166, HB1195, HB1230

Keywords: payable-on-death accounts, transfer-on-death accounts, estate planning, beneficiary designations, Louisiana law, task force, inheritance, nonprobate transfers, excavation, demolition, infrastructure repair, BEAD Program, utility damage, construction coordination, contact point, home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas the team achieved extraordinary competitive success, producing six individual state champions
• , And whereas the team achieved extraordinary competitive success, producing six individual state champions
• And whereas, in addition to their competitive success, the team earned academic all-state honors, placing
• And whereas over the course of the state competition, student competitors participated in multiple preliminary

Bills: HB2894, HB3418, HB3415, HB3413, HB3414, HB3416, HB3417, HB3419, HB3420, HB1739, HB1752, HB1979, HB2941, HB2992, HB3075, HB3086, HB3177, HB3269, HB3278, HB3279, HB3497, HB3644, HB4432, HB3720, HB3849, HB3882, HB3919, HB3941, HB4118, HB4141, HB4268, HB4342, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434

Keywords: HB2894, Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act, rural jobs, rural investment, tax credit, capital investment tax credit, state tax credits, economic development, rural fund, rural investor, qualified investment, eligible business, Department of Commerce, rural business, investment certification, tax liability, credit cap, workforce development, small business finance, rural development

Summary: The Senate began with ceremonial recognitions for several student groups and community visitors, including Carl Albert High School’s boys and girls swim teams, the Lady Titans basketball team, and the Choctaw High School speech and debate team. Senators and coaches highlighted the teams’ state championships, academic achievements, and perseverance, and the chamber also welcomed visiting groups from Aline, Owasso, and Tulsa County. After the presentations, the Senate returned to general order and took up a series of House bills. Among the measures considered, House Bill 3720 expanded the Local Food Freedom Act by raising the gross annual sales threshold for local food establishments from under $75,000 to $250,000; it passed 39-4. House Bill 3849 updated the Oklahoma mentoring children of incarcerated parents program and passed 42-1. House Bill 3882 created a revolving fund for industrial and lake access improvement projects and passed 33-9, then also passed the emergency clause 39-4. House Bill 3919 reduced county free fair association boards from nine members to five to address quorum problems and passed 45-0. House Bill 3941 codified a pay raise for a court secretary and passed 45-0, including its emergency clause. House Bill 4118 updated the family caregiver tax credit and passed 44-1. House Bill 4141 removed the sunset on the statewide sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator position and passed 45-0. The chamber also debated several policy bills more extensively. House Bill 4268 created a growth-based teacher compensation program using Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Funds and restored a $5,000 stipend for national board-certified teachers; it passed 45-0 and its emergency clause also passed 45-0. House Bill 4342 allowed prior instances of domestic violence or abuse to be admitted as propensity evidence in court, with supporters saying it would help interrupt the cycle of abuse and opponents raising due process concerns; it passed after debate. House Bill 4428 required public pension plans to base proxy voting decisions solely on financial considerations, and House Bill 4429 required proxy advisors to disclose when recommendations were not based on financial analysis; both passed after debate, 35-8 and 37-7 respectively. Two Rule 7-9 motions to pull House Bills 4422 and 4423 from committee and place them on general order failed by recorded vote. The Senate then announced Denim Day for domestic violence and sexual assault awareness, noted a few final reminders, and adjourned until April 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I think it'll help us make Kentucky a more attractive and competitive state, trying to keep some
• attractive<00:08:16.639> and Kentucky a more attractive and Kentucky a more attractive and competitive
• 08:18.160> to<00:08:18.319> keep<00:08:18.479> some<00:08:18.639> of competitive
• state trying to keep some of competitive state trying to keep some of our<00:08:18.960> best<

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Licensing and Occupations Committee met with a quorum and heard several licensing and regulatory bills. House Bill 565, presented by Rep. Myron Dossett with support from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Paducah Fire Department, would clarify and broaden the authority of “fire protection officials” so local fire officials, along with the state fire marshal, can enforce final orders and seek court enforcement locally. The sponsor described it as cleanup language to streamline fire code enforcement and improve efficiency. The bill passed unanimously. The committee then considered House Bill 776, a modernization of Kentucky’s Dental Practice Act, presented by Rep. Derek Lewis and Jeff Allen of the Kentucky Board of Dentistry, with Rep. Chad Hall also speaking in support. The bill updates definitions and board authority, revises licensure and renewal provisions, clarifies supervision and training rules for hygienists and assistants, updates telehealth standards, and preserves dentists’ authority over diagnosis and treatment planning. Members also discussed a provision allowing the board to use excess licensing funds for a scholarship to attract dentists to Kentucky. After questions about Medicaid access and a promised amendment removing certain ownership-related provisions, the bill passed unanimously. House Bill 657, presented by Rep. Stephanie Deetsz and Michelle Sanborn of the Children’s Alliance, would give five licensing boards the statutory authority needed to obtain FBI fingerprinting/ORI numbers for interstate compact compliance. The boards named were counseling, speech-language pathology and audiology, occupational therapy, social work, and psychology. Supporters said the bill simply updates Kentucky law to match current FBI fingerprint language. It passed unanimously. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 273, presented by Rep. Mike Klein and the Kentucky Board of Barbering. A committee substitute was adopted first. The bill reduces barber training hours from 1,500 to 1,200, allows 10-hour school days, shortens out-of-state licensure experience requirements from three years to one year, and makes other cleanup changes, including moving board compensation to regulation. Supporters said it would reduce barriers to entry and help address workforce shortages. The amended bill passed unanimously, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the bid that we received was a very competitive bid, and we feel very good about that.
• <00:14:12.880> was<00:14:13.760> a<00:14:14.000> very<00:14:14.160> competitive
• <00:14:14.560> bid<00:14:14.800> and was much was a very competitive bid and was much
• was a very competitive bid and and<00:14:15.279> we<00:14:15.440> feel<00:14:15.600>

Keywords: 0:00– Meeting start/roll call 0:39 – Approval of minutes 1:11 – Council on Postsecondary Education 3:06 - State Board of Elections 5:33 - Office of the Attorney General; Office of Regulatory Relief 7:02 - Board of Examiners of Psychology 16:38 - Energy and Environment Cabinet; Department for Environmental Protection 17:37 - Education and Labor Cabinet - Department of Education 19:14 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met for its January meeting, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and welcomed the new regulations compiler. The first item was a repealer from the Council on Postsecondary Education, 13 KAR 2:111, which was explained as necessary because Senate Bill 77 from the 2025 session removed the regulatory authority for advanced practice doctoral degree programs at comprehensive universities. No questions were raised, and the repealer moved forward without objection. The subcommittee then reviewed a large package of State Board of Elections regulations with staff-suggested amendments. The package would update definitions and election procedures, require e-poll books to be ready before polls open, change the standard and timeline for removing an election officer, add oversight by a State Board appointee on election days, recognize the Kentucky party, require voter registration records to be added to electronic voter records, require ballots to fit all races and questions on a single sheet, adjust precinct consolidation petition deadlines, and update incorporated forms and identification references. The package was approved without objection. The Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Regulatory Relief also presented multiple regulations with staff amendments, covering funeral planning declarations, cemetery companies, pre-need cemetery merchandise and funeral/burial contract sellers, and crematory contract sellers. These changes were described as adding specificity, streamlining forms and reporting, and bringing the regulations into compliance with KRS Chapter 13A; they were approved without objection. The Board of Examiners of Psychology presented several regulations, including compact rules, grace-period extensions, and significant fee increases for applications, renewals, reinstatements, exam retakes, and reciprocity. Board representatives said the increases were needed because many fees had not been raised since 2002, the board was operating at a deficit, and legal and administrative costs had risen sharply after the termination of state legal services. Members expressed concern about the size of the increases, but the chair said he would not hold the matter up and would raise the issue with the committee of jurisdiction. The subcommittee also approved staff amendments for the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s air quality regulations and the Education and Labor Cabinet’s education regulations, which updated nontraditional instruction procedures, waiver requests, instruction topics, superintendent assessment requirements, and academic standards. The meeting ended with the next meeting scheduled for February 9 at 1 p.m., and the agenda was adjourned without further objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• about 1.6 million dollars of shift in our budget request to allow us to what we think we need to be competitive
• So incredibly critical because there's stiff competition from the private sector for these roles.
• positions and the labor market, as you can expect for those skill sets we require is extremely competitive
• But our vacancies and programs that are difficult like it where it's very competitive, very expensive

Transcript Highlights:

• determination a person has to have to even get in the water on those days, much less actually win the competition
• :11.959> the those days much less actually win the those days much less actually win the competition
• 14.199> know<00:14:14.399> Madam<00:14:14.639> speaker<00:14:15.079> the competition
• you know Madam speaker the competition you know Madam speaker the NorthShore<00:14:15.560> is

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we have a pot for competitive projects, and that would be for water and sewer and roads and bridges
• have a<00:12:49.920> pot<00:12:50.240> for<00:12:50.800> uh<00:12:50.959> competitive
• <00:12:51.440> projects<00:12:51.839> and a pot for uh competitive projects and a pot
• for uh competitive projects and that<00:12:52.160> would<00:12:52.320> be<00:12:52.399

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unnecessary and unneeded tax. been recognized for our pro-business policies, low taxes, and economic competitiveness
• Texas's competitive tax rating, y'all, we don't want Texas. us to be hurt in any way when it comes to
• our competitive ranking.
• And when it hurts, our tax competitiveness ranking As a state, you're talking about hurting businesses

Bills: HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392, HB195, HB 13, HB143, HB135, HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: constitutional amendment, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, equipment exemption, machinery, local government finance, school district revenue, county taxes, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax relief, commercial property, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• commemoration events to be available for all of the communities, but the fact is that the resulting competitive
• Money under this paragraph must be distributed through a competitive grant process.
• say for the record that the situation that played out with the Historical Society-administered competitive
• increases grants for FFA members, from designing banners to participating in music and talent competitions

Bills: HF2411, HF2471, HF1440, HF1393, HF1631, HF1259, HF280, HF1281, HF1459

Keywords: cultural heritage, funding, White Earth Nation, tribal community, construction, Delano, sesquicentennial, community events, fall of Saigon, Saigon anniversary, Vietnam War commemoration, Vietnamese Minnesotans, Cambodian Minnesotans, Lao Minnesotans, Southeast Asian refugees, Asian American heritage, cultural heritage fund, Minnesota Humanities Center, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, equity funding

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't have true competition.
• What this does in an important way is actually help create more competition, because I see this... ..
• So two of those aspects seek to allow more competition and actually create more competition in the healthcare

Bills: HB139, HB1818, HB1942, HB1959, HB2221, HB2254, HB2563, HB2067, HB2275, HB3211, HB139

Keywords: HB 1818, Texas Insurance Code, Texas Department of Insurance, commissioner of insurance, health maintenance organization, HMO, insurer, utilization review, preauthorization, prior authorization, medical necessity review, health care services, medical care, insurance regulation, insurance examination, regulatory oversight, confidential records, public information exception, Chapter 843, Chapter 1301

Transcript Highlights:

• MY BROTHER'S INVOLVEMENT BEGAN WITH A FEW COMPETITIVE EVENTS AND I QUICKLY FOLLOWED SUIT.
• HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OVER THE YEARS LED ME TO BECOME A STATE CHAMPION IN THE GREEK SPEAKING COMPETITION
• WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS THAN EVER PARTICIPATING IN COMPETITIVE EVENTS AND EXPERIENTIAL PROJECTS THAT WE
• YOU CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN HIGHLY REGULATED AND COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY WITHOUT TAKING PUBLIC SAFETY VERY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As HR professionals, we know that attracting and retaining talent takes more than just competitive pay
• Employers need meaningful benefits that support their workforce and help them remain competitive in California
• Employers need meaningful benefits that support their workforce and help them remain competitive in California's
• strengthening talent pipelines, and ensuring that California and the United States remain globally competitive

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its second regular hearing of the 2025-26 session and announced that, under reinstated suspense-file rules, every bill on the agenda would be referred to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee first heard AB 53, which would create a state income tax exemption of up to $20,000 for military retirees and certain survivor benefits. Supporters, including veterans’ groups, military retirees, and local officials, argued California is the only state taxing military retirement pay in full and that the exemption would help retain veterans and their families. Committee members voiced strong support, but the bill was sent to suspense. The committee then heard several wildfire-related tax relief bills. AB 429 would exempt certain wildfire settlement payments from gross income for victims of fires from 2020 through 2026; the author and a Greenville fire victim described the burden of taxing settlement funds, and rural county and forestry groups supported the measure. AB 97 proposed similar relief for Bobcat Fire settlement payments, and AB 389 would create a personal income tax credit for home-hardening expenses in high fire-risk areas, with Cal Fire and realtor representatives supporting the bill as a way to reduce future losses. Each of these measures drew no formal opposition in the hearing and was referred to suspense. AB 386 would create a tax credit for employers that help full-time employees repay student loans, up to $3,000 per employee per year. Supporters said it would help recruit and retain workers and reduce student debt burdens, while the California Tax Reform Association opposed the bill because it lacked allocation criteria and would reduce General Fund and education revenues. Committee members expressed interest but asked for clearer eligibility standards, and the bill was sent to suspense. AB 490 would allow a deduction for interest paid on qualified personal vehicle loans; the author framed it as relief for families dependent on cars, but opposition again came from the tax reform group, which argued the deduction would mainly benefit higher-income taxpayers. The bill also went to suspense. The committee also heard AB 547, which would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 for IVF and other fertility-treatment expenses. The author and a witness who described a long and costly IVF journey said the credit would help families afford treatment and support parenthood; members responded sympathetically and asked why the proposal was structured as a tax credit rather than a health coverage mandate. Finally, AB 330 would extend the prepaid mobile telephony services collection act through 2031, preserving an 80-cent surcharge that supports 911 and local government revenues; local government representatives and cities supported the extension, and it too was referred to suspense. The hearing ended with the committee adjourning after all measures were held for suspense-file consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We protect and ensure the fair treatment of consumers, and TDI ensures fair competition in the insurance
• industry to foster a competitive market. oversee the administration of the Texas Workers' Compensation
• law says that a rate is inadequate. if it is insufficient to sustain projected losses or lessens competition
• um, you know, uh, be profitable, obviously, which we have to make them profitable, we don't have competition

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Special Olympics is committed to the mission of providing year-round sports training and athletic competition
• Texas serves over 60 thousand athletes, has over 26 athletic disciplines, has over 230 annual competitions
• almost 7,300 volunteers from across the state. sport you like, Special Olympics probably has a competition
• Spiller Relating to the Amount of Expenditure Made by Certain Political Subdivisions for Which a Competitive

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This also enhances economic competitive competitiveness and supports the supply chain.
• But a lot of it is very competitive.
• The larger transportation projects, whether they be state funded or federal funded are competitive.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AS FAR AS THE COMPETITIVE RANKED THAT'S A SCORE THAT LOOKS AT HOW REGIONS THAT COMPARE OURSELVES FOR
• RESERVE FUNDINGS WHERE WE FUND OUR LABORATORY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR CTE FUNDING AS WELL AS COMPETITIVE
• IN THE NUMBER OF CERTIFICATIONS HAS DRIVEN THE FOCUS AND PROVIDED THE STUDENTS I BELIEVE WITH A COMPETITIVE
• AS I WRAP UP TODAY I HOPE I HIGHLIGHT HOW ESSENTIAL YOUR SUPPORT IS FOR MAINTAINING A COMPETITIVE AND

Keywords: 999, senate, all