Transcript Highlights:

• <05:11:36.160> license permit approximately 120 CDL license permit approximately 120 CDL license
• Even as amended, grandfathering in current CDL holders, the fundamental issue remains: our system is
• CDL skills tests are already conducted entirely in English, and that's not optional.
• We are in the middle of a CDL driver shortage, and that's not theoretical.
• And fourth, let's talk about what it actually takes to become a CDL driver.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will be used for overtime and associated fringe costs for CDL coordinators, auditing costs and training
• , three vehicles for CDL coordinators, audit travel, a semi truck for Class A CDL examiner training,

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• people into skilled training using the community college or doing short-term trainings like welding and CDLs
• <00:18:12.480> and trainings like welding and CDLs and trainings like welding and CDLs and
• some of our colleagues are also using it to provide those sort of specific trainings and things like CDL
• /c><00:20:41.200> and<00:20:41.440> things<00:20:41.520> like<00:20:41.760> CDL
• specific trainings and things like CDL specific trainings and things like CDL and<00:20:42.400><

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:58 Putting Young Kentuckians to Work: First Year Update 00:04:06 Kentucky Talent Attraction Initiative 00:21:59 Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership 00:57:15, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the October minutes, and heard first a progress report on the state-funded “Putting Young Kentuckians to Work” initiative. Workforce leaders from Cumberland Workforce Development Board and Kentucky Works said the HB 1 funding has allowed them to contract with all 10 workforce boards and build new pipelines with high schools, area technology centers, school districts, and community and technical colleges. They reported an end-of-year goal of 3,600 job placements, with 218 placements reported as of October 2025 and enrollment numbers continuing to rise. Testimony emphasized that the program is aimed at disconnected youth and high school seniors, that federal WIOA funds are too limited to support this work alone, and that the flexible state funding has enabled short-term training and placements in fields such as welding, CDL, and CNA. Members asked about barriers to implementation, wage levels, and services for students with disabilities; presenters said the main challenge was building school relationships and that wage growth should improve as students gain more skills and credentials. The committee then received an update on the Kentucky Talent Attraction Initiative. Representatives from Greater Louisville Inc. and Commerce Lexington explained that the General Assembly previously provided $250,000 for a consultant to develop a statewide talent attraction and retention strategy, and that more than 13 organizations across the state support the effort. Development Counsellors International described its research process, including statewide stakeholder engagement, and said the goal is to create a Kentucky talent value proposition that combines job opportunities with quality-of-place messaging. They reported that Kentucky faces a shrinking labor force and a projected national worker shortfall, while internal research found 47% of working-age respondents could consider leaving the state within two years because they are not confident in career opportunities. At the same time, they said 96% of surveyed higher education students would stay if offered a full-time job, and 72% of employers expect to expand staffing in the next two years. The presenters said they are moving from research into messaging and an action plan, and that the strategy should be customized and measurable rather than one-size-fits-all.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cabinet to promulgate ordinary and emergency regulations to increase the number of days for a restricted CDL
• c><00:23:05.800> for<00:23:05.960> a<00:23:06.000> restricted<00:23:06.680> CDL
• the number of days for a restricted CDL the number of days for a restricted CDL license<00:23:08.120

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum with 95 members present, excused absent members, and suspended the rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber also received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 33, 37, and 56 and requested concurrence, and it approved the journal from February 27, 2026. The House then considered several bills. House Bill 648, relating to motor vehicle dealers, was explained as closing loopholes in warranty compensation for class 7 and 8 heavy-duty truck dealers; it passed 94-0. House Bill 299, relating to machine gun conversion devices or “Glock switches,” was amended by House Committee Substitute 1, described as mirroring existing federal law so local law enforcement can enforce it; it passed 65-25, with one member explaining support as a constitutional gun restriction. House Bill 282, “Troy’s Law,” relating to vehicle lights for tow trucks, was amended to allow green flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights for wreckers and was presented as a safety measure honoring tow operators killed or injured on highways; it passed unanimously. House Bill 658, relating to limited commercial driver’s licenses for agricultural businesses, was amended with clarifying language and passed 93-0. House Bill 519, relating to a voluntary notation on driver’s licenses or IDs for people with communication disorders, was described as a non-stigmatizing safety tool for first responders and passed 92-0. House Bill 246, “Keion’s Law,” requiring animal control officers to receive training to identify and report child abuse and neglect, was amended to address county liability concerns and passed 85-0 after testimony about child maltreatment data and the link between animal abuse and child abuse. After the bills, the House took up additional business, including moving House Bills 619 and 651 from Appropriations and Revenue for second reading. The chamber also adopted Citation 52 recognizing the Model Laboratory School Personal Finance Team for winning a state competition, and Citation 51 honoring the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children and Children’s Advocacy Week. Members announced committee meetings, an Americans for Prosperity Kentucky reception, and a Women’s History Month recognition highlighting Martha Layne Collins as Kentucky’s first and only female governor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cabinet to promulgate ordinary and emergency regulations to increase the number of days for a restricted CDL
• c><00:04:10.640> for<00:04:10.879> a<00:04:11.040> restricted<00:04:11.599> CDL
• number of days for a restricted CDL number of days for a restricted CDL license<00:04:13.120>

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:15 HB 658 Discussion: 03:40 HB 658 Roll Call Vote: 04:50 HB 142 Discussion: 06:30 HB 142 Roll Call Vote: 22:45 HB 571 Discussion: 24:25 HB 571 Roll Call Vote: 29:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 658, which would require the Transportation Cabinet to adopt regulations extending the allowable period for a restricted CDL license from 180 to 210 days within a 12-month period for agriculture businesses. Rep. Felicia Rabourn presented the bill with support from Todd Griffin of the Kentucky Retail Federation and Agra Business Association. The committee quickly moved to a vote, and the bill passed with favorable expression. Members indicated it would move forward similarly on the House floor. The committee then considered House Bill 142, a deer-management bill sponsored by Rep. Pollock and amended by committee substitute. Pollock said the bill is intended to help farmers and landowners more quickly obtain destruction tags and address overpopulated deer, especially does, after describing crop losses, vehicle collisions, and deer carcasses seen along roadways. Members from farming districts strongly supported the measure, saying deer damage is costly and widespread and that the bill would reduce paperwork by allowing landowners to obtain tags without having to route everything through each landlord. Questions focused on how Fish and Wildlife would determine overpopulated zones and how the damage-verification process would work; Pollock said the department retains discretion and must inspect damage within 15 days. The committee adopted the sub and passed the bill with favorable expression. Finally, Rep. Kim Holloway presented House Bill 571, which would require Transportation Cabinet light fixtures to be fully shielded to reduce light pollution affecting agriculture. She said light trespass can disrupt crop photoperiodism, pollination, and yields, and noted the economic importance of Kentucky agriculture. Members asked whether the bill applies only to Transportation Cabinet lights and how complaints would be handled; Holloway said it applies to state transportation lights and includes a process for landowners to request shielding, with a 30-day compliance period and a construction/maintenance exemption of up to 180 days. The committee approved the committee substitute and continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our CDL program has produced many qualified drivers in a variety of local driving careers, including
• Our career and technical education program, construction, and CDL are consistently full.
• I will say also that a lot of our students, particularly in our CDL program, are from these local municipalities
• So not only are we good at producing those CDL drivers, but also our college costs are factored into
• And just for perspective in terms of return on investment, if we graduate one CDL driver to one of the

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and heard an extended discussion with Spirit Lake tribal leaders and program directors about government-to-government relations with the state. Chairwoman Street and others outlined a number of concerns and requests, including taxation of tribal and trust lands, state school support for non-beneficiary students, homelessness services, Indian-managed health care, gaming/e-tabs, the Feather Alert system, industrial farming near waterways, tourism and cultural issues, and the need for more consistent tribal consultation. Committee members responded that many of these issues had previously been passed along without direct action, and several members emphasized the committee’s role in education, communication, and preparing possible legislation or resolutions for the next session. Tribal representatives also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to help legislators better understand tribal jurisdiction and billing issues. A major portion of the meeting focused on Spirit Lake Fish and Wildlife concerns, especially jurisdictional “gray areas” around hunting and fishing on the reservation, recognition of tribal licenses, and the boundary of the reservation around Spirit Lake/Devils Lake. Tribal officials said they wanted a co-stewardship agreement or MOU with the state to clarify jurisdiction, improve cooperation, and address invasive species and aquatic nuisance species. Committee members discussed whether to draft legislation or a resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and they asked for further input from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at a future meeting. The committee also discussed county involvement in land status changes and trust land issues, with Spirit Lake leaders describing a past Benson County resolution that tried to block fee-to-trust transfers and saying it was later rescinded. The committee then heard from Benson County tax equalization director Randy Thompson, who explained how the county values land and handles tax-exempt, inundated, and fee-to-trust parcels. Members asked about the impact of tax-exempt lands on county services and discussed prior legislation that helped counties with large tax-exempt bases. The committee also received a presentation from Dr. Steven Smith of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, including support for non-beneficiary students and workforce training. Members asked about expanding tribal college education into correctional settings, and Smith said the idea was worth exploring through the tribal college system. Finally, HHS interim medical services director Christoph Framing presented remotely on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion, explaining current state funding mechanisms for inpatient and residential behavioral health services and the bill draft directing HHS to pursue a waiver for IMD payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• plow truck, and we do have incentives to help make sure of that, to help incentivize people who have CDL
• plow truck, and we do have incentives to help make sure of that, to help incentivize people who have CDL
• plow truck, and we do have incentives to help make sure of that, to help incentivize people who have CDL
• plow truck, and we do have incentives to help make sure of that, to help incentivize people who have CDL
• plow truck, and we do have incentives to help make sure of that, to help incentivize people who have CDL

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee held an orientation meeting focused on introducing members, outlining committee norms, and hearing an overview from the Department of Transportation. Chair David Mills emphasized the committee’s long-standing bipartisan working style, asked members to share contact information for short-notice scheduling, and noted that the committee would need to complete as much work as possible before the building is vacated later in the year. Members introduced themselves and described backgrounds in engineering, construction, planning, local government, military service, education, and business. Several members highlighted prior service on planning boards, school boards, zoning boards, or in transportation-related fields as relevant to the committee’s work. Members repeatedly described the committee as collegial and nonpartisan, with most bills going to the consent calendar. The chair also noted that the committee’s work centers on state infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways, and buildings. Representative Cluder, the ranking member, and others echoed that the committee is effective because it talks issues through and resolves disagreements collaboratively. One member mentioned a recent trip that reinforced the importance of infrastructure resilience after storms and rebuilding efforts in other states. Department of Transportation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer David Rodrig, gave a detailed organizational and operational overview. They described DOT’s structure, mission of “transportation excellence,” and major responsibilities across highways, bridges, rail, transit, aeronautics, maintenance, and administration. Rodrig reported 1,651 permanent positions and 404 vacancies, 2,160 state bridges with 115 on the Red List, 4,600 centerline miles of roadway, 25 public airports, 11 transit systems, and 194 active state-owned rail lines. He also outlined FY 2024 spending, project development activity, highway maintenance operations, fleet and fuel systems, and the distinction between the highway fund and DOT’s budget, including the role of federal funds and the turnpike enterprise fund. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this orientation meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• How many CDLs? I think you talked about the commercial driver's licenses.
• How many CDLs? I think you talked about the commercial driver's licenses.
• help us offer critical training to people in greater Minnesota in fields like our highly successful CDL
• Thank you for your time, and I welcome any questions. highly successful CDL program which has highly
• successful CDL program which has become<01:40:06.719> so<01:40:06.960> well<01:40:07.199

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will be used for overtime and associated fringe costs for CDL coordinators, auditing costs, and training
• , three vehicles for CDL coordinators, audit travel, a semi truck for Class A CDL examiner training,

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of budget, appropriation, transfer, and contract items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests for several agencies, including the Auditor of State, Department of Education, and Labor and Licensing; ARPA return requests from Workforce Services; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests for State Police and Agriculture; restricted reserve transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic stimulus; a Commerce reallocation of positions and spending authority; cash fund, budget classification, overtime, and pay plan requests; and 17 methods of finance items for universities and other agencies. Most items were approved without objection after brief explanations from staff and agencies. Several items drew questions and were held or discussed further. A Department of Human Services discretionary grant package for the RSVP program was held over after Senator Irvin raised concerns about whether the grants were an effective use of state general revenue and asked for more information on administration costs and program operations. In the contracts section, Representative Richardson questioned a DHS sole-source contract with EMS Link for document management software and a DHS contract with Presidio; the EMS Link item was held for additional answers, while the Presidio item was clarified as not sole-source and was allowed to proceed. Members also asked for more information on a Department of Education mental health referral contract with Care Solace, which officials said is a statewide concierge/referral service connecting students to Arkansas providers and telehealth options. The committee also reviewed monthly reports, including the Medicaid Trust Fund. DHS and DFA officials said the fund was currently sufficient to finish the fiscal year, though it was being drawn down and would likely require a $100 million transfer from restricted reserves in FY27, with another $100 million set aside in the governor’s budget as a backstop. Members discussed the need to define a minimum reserve level and to better account for ongoing Medicaid costs in the budget. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I was interviewing people, it didn't require a CDL license, which we do have CDL training for, but
• it didn't require a CDL.

Transcript Highlights:

• that commercial motor vehicle drivers in Florida must be lawfully present in the U.S., hold a valid CDL
• that commercial motor vehicle drivers in Florida must be lawfully present in the U.S., hold a valid CDL

Summary: The Fiscal Policy Committee met and first adopted a late-filed amendment to SB 774, which expands enhanced workers’ compensation coverage to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental or nervous injuries. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and others, and was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 770 on forensic services for certain defendants, which would allow the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to consolidate secure forensic services for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed after incompetency findings. Members then considered several public safety, family, and workforce bills. CS/SB 86, which declares unauthorized aliens operating commercial vehicles an imminent safety hazard and imposes vehicle impoundment and a $50,000 penalty on motor carriers, was reported favorably after questions about impound procedures and cargo handling; one speaker opposed it. SB 1594, protecting veterans’ benefits for foster youth so the funds are reserved for postsecondary education, training, and after-care services, was reported favorably with supportive testimony from a former DCF attorney. CS/SB 760, creating a new offense for willful violations of no-contact pretrial release conditions in violent crime cases, was reported favorably despite criminal defense attorneys’ concerns about a provision allowing warrantless arrests without officer observation. The committee also approved a complete rewrite of the nonprofit corporations chapter in SB 554, a sickle cell continuing education bill (SB 844) after extensive emotional testimony from patients, advocates, and family members, and SB 1022 adding two children’s initiative programs in Bay County and Broward County. CS/SB 1246 broadened the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to include health science education programs and related workforce needs and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1230 restricting use and sale of certain firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS, and CS/CS/SB 128 directing DEP to mark Red Harris Spoil Island; both passed with favorable votes. Several senators later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific tabs, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• we are in a position where we are finally making headway on this big backlog of Class D licenses and CDL
• we are in a position where we are finally making headway on this big backlog of Class D licenses and CDL
• we are in a position where we are finally making headway on this big backlog of Class D licenses and CDL
• on recent transactions, disability applications, legacy system errors and corrections from MNLARS, CDL
• errors and Corrections from minars CDL errors and Corrections from minars CDL Ser<01:15:12.560><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• parked uh because they've determined that person should not be driving in the state of Wyoming with a CDL
• Um, obviously we have then different conditions on our CDL than what other states would.
• <01:06:25.680> than different conditions on our CDL than different conditions on our CDL than
• that this is certainly in the interest of public safety and trying to make sure that we don't have CDL
• that this is certainly in the interest of public safety and trying to make sure that we don't have CDL

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you'll see that orange highlight below in AR dollars, a small increase to CDL truck driver training
• So that $1 million increase to CDL truck driver training has doubled the rate of Service.
• We're now at 900 class A CDL drivers because of a $1 million investment.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the services, or programs rather, that we offer now include heavy equipment operation and CDL
• We have a really great CDL program in Roswell, where they actually are... able to drive the actual truck
• I would really, Madam Chair, like to see people do CDL with every piece of equipment because there's

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm a CDL driver for 33 years. I don't like what they did to those big companies.
• <00:37:24.160> And<00:37:24.320> I'm<00:37:24.480> a<00:37:24.640> CDL
• And I'm a CDL going to watch over them.
• And I'm a CDL driver<00:37:25.599> for<00:37:25.920> 33<00:37:26.400> years.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These are folks that really know the child care industry and are helping people get their CDL license
• I think when I was introducing the bill I said that participants get a CDL.
• the bill I said that participants<01:35:35.040> get<01:35:35.199> a<01:35:35.360> CDL
• I meant a CDA but participants get a CDL I meant a CDA but I<01:35:37.639> think<01:35:37.880
• who are doing that work and maybe get their wages up somewhat to be closer to as if they did have a CDL

Bills: HF2582, HF2266, HF2518, HF2039, HF1941

Keywords: child care, grants, appropriation, workforce development, families, YWCA Minneapolis, job training, child development, economic assistance, WomenVenture, economic development, entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs, business training, financial support, youth programs, funding, employment, Minnesota, American Indian

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill authorizes the department to do some scheduling only for CDL testing, and we think that's very
• The bill authorizes the department to do some scheduling only for CDL testing, and we think that's very
• Chair, in your bill on the Senate side, we appreciate the extension of the CDL training period from 6
• Chair, in your bill on the Senate side, we appreciate the extension of the CDL training period from 6
• Chair, in your bill on the Senate side, we appreciate the extension of the CDL training period from 6

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This course equips students with the skills needed to earn a highly sought-after CDL driving certification
• This course equips students with the skills needed to earn a highly sought-after CDL driving certification
• highly skills needed to earn a highly skills needed to earn a highly sought-after<00:24:23.799> CDL
• <00:24:24.799> driving sought-after CDL driving sought-after CDL driving certification<00:
• those holes within workforce or the supply chain, when we're talking about the meat cutters or also the CDL

Bills: HF1439, HF1004, HF498, HF1326

Keywords: HF1439, Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation, Carts to Careers, workforce development fund, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, grocery industry, food industry, food retail, retail workforce, job training, career pathways, scholarships, certifications, workforce pipeline, one-time appropriation, industry training, labor shortage, youth employment, apprenticeship

Transcript Highlights:

• It also protects students and businesses by guarding CDL schools and...
• You have students who are looking to go to a CDL school.
• It's aimed at stopping discrimination in the CDL training market. It will promote competition.

Bills: SB1521, SB372, SB1232, SB1307, SB1338, SB1390, SB1451, SB1463, SB1558, SB1567, SB1595, SB1621, SB1734, SB1749, SB1827, SB1833, SB1991, SB1992, SB63, SB2063, SB2180, SB1198, SB80

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, generative AI, chatbot, conversational AI, companion AI, AI companion, virtual companion, chatbot regulation, minor safety, child online safety, parental controls, content moderation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, crisis intervention, mental health claims, romantic AI, emotional dependence, app store