Transcript Highlights:

• The bill does not create any new liabilities for the newspaper or television station so long as it does
• The bill does not create any new liabilities for the newspaper or television station so long as it does
• So I guess I look at it as kind of some context behind why we're providing a strict liability defense
• First of all, I don't believe that there should be strict liability for a former phosphate mine just
• First of all, I don't believe that there should be strict liability for a former phosphate mine just

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and considered several bills. SB 106 on exploitation of vulnerable adults would allow service of process on scammers through the same nontraditional communication methods they use; it passed 8-0. CS/SB 280 on candidate qualification would create an enforceable party-affiliation requirement and a private right of action to disqualify noncompliant candidates; it passed unanimously. CS/SB 948 on flood disclosures was amended to extend disclosure requirements to residential leases, condo developer leases, and mobile homes, with tenant remedies if disclosures are not provided and flooding causes major losses; it passed 8-0. The committee also advanced CS/SB 498 on IOTA interest rates after a lengthy debate over legal aid funding and bank regulation. Supporters argued the bill would restore sustainability and fairness to the program by setting alternative interest-rate benchmarks, while opponents said it would cut funding for civil legal aid and that banks participate voluntarily. After testimony from legal aid leaders and bankers, the bill passed 7-2. SB 774, requiring clerks to electronically transmit certain mental health, substance abuse, and risk protection orders to sheriffs within six hours, was presented in response to a fatal Volusia County incident and passed 11-0. CS/SB 752 on defamation and online publication was amended to require removal from a website rather than the internet, then passed 8-2 after testimony from the media, a private attorney, and supporters who said it would help people harmed by false online reports. The committee also heard SB 832 on former phosphate mining lands, which would create a narrow defense against strict liability claims if notice and gamma radiation survey requirements are met. The bill was amended to clarify notice provisions and received support from industry and technical witnesses describing radiation surveys and reclamation practices. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on SB 832, so no committee action on that bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• accountability to what we do, and with that, then with a license program that allows us to carry liability
• accountability to what we do, and with that, then with a license program that allows us to carry liability
• accountability to what we do, and with that, then with a license program that allows us to carry liability
• license program that allows us to with a license program that allows us to carry<00:10:00.800> liability
• insurance which we think carry liability insurance which we think was<00:10:02.519> very<00:10

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:30 Introduction of New Members 00:53 SB 69 Discussion 01:24, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture met for its first session and took up Senate Bill 69, as amended by a committee substitute. The substitute was adopted by motion and vote, and the chair noted that a fiscal note had been requested but not yet received, so the bill would proceed and the fiscal note would be trailed. The bill concerns equine dental care and related chiropractic services, creating a licensing and regulatory framework for equine dental providers and allied animal health practitioners. Senator Robin Webb, the bill sponsor, said the substitute made technical corrections requested by the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and the chiropractors association. She described the measure as a compromise intended to clarify scopes of practice, establish a credentialing/licensing board, and provide a legal pathway for people who have long provided equine dental services, especially in rural areas where veterinary access can be limited. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability, allow providers to obtain liability insurance, and preserve referrals to veterinarians for issues outside the defined scope. Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and Board of Veterinary Examiners representatives said the bill was developed through a working group, modeled in part on Texas, and would include continuing education, grievance procedures, and due process protections. Justin Tallup, an equine dental provider, testified in favor, saying the bill would not change day-to-day practice but would legalize and formalize it. He said the scope would be limited to floating and balancing molars and incisors and removing caps and wolf teeth, with anything beyond that referred to veterinarians. He also said certification requires formal training, case submissions, testing, and annual continuing education. Senator Deneen asked about sedation, and witnesses said sedatives would still be prescribed and dispensed by a veterinarian under a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship, with the owner administering them. Michelle Shane of the Board of Veterinary Examiners said the board supported the bill’s disciplinary framework and would defer to federal law on controlled substances. Dr. William Rainbow, a veterinarian, testified against the bill, arguing that equine dentistry is veterinary medicine and that the proposal would allow undertrained practitioners to work without sufficient standards, including a grandfathering provision. He said practitioners should have training comparable to licensed veterinary technicians and warned that the bill could leave horses vulnerable to poor care. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion of the meeting provided, but the chair indicated time was running short and that a vote would be needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Examples of legitimate, eligible farm businesses are inclusive of limited liability corporations, so
• of Consumer Affairs, as outlined by the Hawaii Revised Statutes, chapter 428, the Uniform Limited Liability
• Examples of legitimate, eligible farm businesses are inclusive of limited liability corporations, so
• of Consumer Affairs, as outlined by the Hawaii Revised Statutes, chapter 428, the Uniform Limited Liability
• Examples of legitimate, eligible farm businesses are inclusive of limited liability corporations, so

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee heard five bills on January 24, 2025. SB 1 would phase out disposable air filters and require reusable air filters by 2030; testimony was limited, with one supporter urging clearer definitions of fiberglass and paper and several opponents listed, and the committee later deferred the bill indefinitely for lack of support testimony. SB 13 would create an aquaculture investment tax credit beginning in 2026; state agencies and several industry groups supported it, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about loose definitions, internal inconsistencies, and blanks that made the bill hard to estimate or vet. The committee passed SB 13 with amendments and technical changes, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2015 as stated on the record. SB 177 would shift aquatic livestock import and movement permitting to the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Division, require a risk-based assessment and biocontainment standards, and seek a $1 million appropriation for research and staffing. The Department of Agriculture said the bill would help expand aquaculture while managing risks to native species; aquaculture and farm groups supported it, while Animal Rights Hawaii was listed in opposition. The committee passed SB 177 with amendments, blanking the appropriation for committee report consideration, and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. SB 184 would raise the beverage container deposit and refund from 5 cents to 10 cents. Supporters said the higher deposit could improve recycling and environmental outcomes, while opponents, including the Tax Foundation, cited fraud concerns, the program’s existing fund balance, and practical challenges in redemption; the Department of Human Services also noted potential impacts on blind vendors. The committee took the bill up but deferred decision-making until Monday, January 27, 2025, at 10:01 p.m. in Room 224. The committee also heard SB 250, which would increase the income tax credit for interisland transportation costs for agricultural products. Agricultural and industry witnesses supported the bill as a way to offset rising shipping costs and preserve access to markets, while the Tax Foundation preferred direct appropriations over tax credits and objected to missing bill details. The committee passed SB 250 with amendments from the Department of Agriculture and deferred its effective date to July 1, 2050. Separately, a joint hearing on SB 240, the Right to Farm bill, drew mixed testimony: the Department of Agriculture supported further study and raised concerns about the bill’s fragmented approach, while farm, cattle, and other industry witnesses split between support for protecting customary Native Hawaiian subsistence farming and opposition to excluding CAFOs and certain business structures. No vote was taken on SB 240 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• what would happen you in about liability what would happen you in the<05:04:38.080> event<05:
• So, you know, and there is no state liability.
• So, you know, and there is no state liability.
• State liability where there is liability State liability where there is liability in<06:04:36.040
• public schools is to absolve liability public schools is to absolve liability and<06:08:32.840><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first addressed House Bill 415, which would remove the requirement that schools provide menstrual products. Members supporting an ITL said the mandate was unfunded, had been in place since 2019, and was already working without complaints from districts. Other members opposed the bill, arguing menstrual products are essential and that the requirement helps students, especially those with fewer resources. The committee voted ITL on HB 415 by a roll call of 17 yeas, 0 nays. The committee then took up House Bill 388, concerning public reports on special education. Supporters of ITL said they agreed with the goal of transparency but were concerned about student privacy, especially in small districts, and thought the bill’s information requests went too far. They noted that related issues could potentially be addressed in another bill, HB 557. The committee voted ITL on HB 388, 17-0. House Bill 730, which would require schools and some colleges to provide information on adoption, was also moved ITL. The sponsor said adoption is personally important to him but that the bill was not the right vehicle and involved entities such as colleges and the Attorney General unnecessarily; he said related ideas might be folded into other bills later. The committee agreed and voted ITL, 17-0. The committee then discussed House Bill 671, a preschool/early literacy proposal involving a statewide nonprofit digital program, likely Waterford. Members raised questions about who would be covered, data privacy, prior use of federal ESSER funds, whether the program had measurable results, and whether the bill’s nonprofit requirement was too restrictive. Department of Education witness Melissa White said the state had spent $400,000 in FY22 and $600,000 in FY23 on a Waterford contract using ARP ESSER funds, but she did not have participant counts and said the department could not measure literacy gains for that population. She also said the bill’s funding level would likely require an RFP and that, if enacted as written, the program would probably still be Waterford-based. The discussion continued without a final vote in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• it does maintain some local discretion related to rates, minimum maximum standards, minimum tax liability
• it does maintain some local discretion related to rates, minimum maximum standards, minimum tax liability
• it does maintain some local discretion related to rates, minimum maximum standards, minimum tax liability
• it does maintain some local discretion related to rates, minimum maximum standards, minimum tax liability
• it does maintain some local discretion related to rates, minimum maximum standards, minimum tax liability

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:13 Roll Call 00:00:24 Approval of Minutes from September Meeting 00:02:10 Presentation of Special Purpose Governmental Entities Report 00:03:19 Presentation of Kentucky League of Cities Legislative Platform for the Upcoming 2026 Session of the General Assembly 00:15:37 Discussion of Centralized Collection of Net Profits and Occupational License Taxes 00:37:05 Adjournment 00:55:53, 958, all

Summary: The committee received reports on special purpose governmental entities from the Department for Local Government and the Fire Commission. DLG staff described SPGEs as limited-jurisdiction political subdivisions and reviewed the department’s registry, reporting portal, compliance monitoring, and planned system upgrades such as a two-way message center, automated noncompliance notices, and tracking for new entities and board expirations. They reported that, as of October 10, 2025, 69% of SPGEs were active and discussed compliance data by cycle, fiscal year, and district type. The Fire Commission reported that fire department mergers have reduced the number of departments by 16 since last year, largely because of volunteer staffing shortages, while financial disclosure compliance had risen to 94%. The commission also noted 509 compliance reviews, 19 in-house inquiries, seven referrals to outside agencies, and one recent federal prison sentence in a theft case. Members asked whether DLG advises SPGEs on tax rates; staff said it only performs calculations and the entities set their own rates. Questions to the Fire Commission focused on whether department reductions meant station closures; officials explained that most changes were mergers that keep physical buildings in place while combining personnel and finances to meet minimum staffing requirements. They said the trend is spread across the state but is especially pronounced in rural areas. The Kentucky League of Cities then presented its 2026 legislative agenda. Its priorities included modernizing city revenue options, increasing equity in road funding, fixing tax increment financing issues, addressing transient room tax collection from web-based platforms, strengthening emergency response coordination, clarifying massage parlor regulation preemption, correcting unintended consequences of House Bill 606, improving newspaper publication rules, and modernizing procurement statutes. KLC also said it supports allowing all cities to collect restaurant tax revenue, wants cities to receive a larger share of road funds and EV-related revenues, and seeks state collection and remittance of any future local sales tax to comply with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Members asked about best-value bidding, road-fund equity, Airbnb tax litigation, EV prevalence, and disaster funding applications; KLC said cities currently must accept the lowest bid, the road split should better reflect city street costs, the Airbnb tax case remains pending, EV data by locality has not been studied, and allowing cities to apply directly for disaster funds would reduce reliance on county officials. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the September meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• would be, as well as septic system regulation; Chapter 115B, this is the Environmental Response and Liability
• would be, as well as septic system regulation; Chapter 115B, this is the Environmental Response and Liability
• would be, as well as septic system regulation; Chapter 115B, this is the Environmental Response and Liability
• this is the Environmental<00:15:07.240> response<00:15:07.560> and<00:15:07.759> liability
• <00:15:08.480> act Environmental response and liability act Environmental response and liability

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an organizational hearing of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. Members and staff introduced themselves, with several legislators noting their backgrounds in farming, mining, water management, and outdoor recreation, and the chair reviewed draft committee rules emphasizing decorum, quorum, timely starts, and submitting bill hearing requests to the committee administrator. The committee also heard from nonpartisan staff and caucus staff who will support the committee this session. House Research and House Fiscal staff then provided an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the major agencies and programs it oversees. The presentation covered the Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Quality Board, Board of Water and Soil Resources, Metropolitan Council regional parks and water resources, Conservation Corps of Minnesota, Minnesota Zoological Board, Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Staff summarized the main statutory chapters and subject areas under each, including wildlife, state lands, mining, water use, air and water permitting, environmental review, wetlands, drainage, and natural resources funding. The finance portion explained the committee’s appropriation types and major funding sources, including direct, statutory, and open appropriations. Staff highlighted the general fund, bonding, the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Game and Fish Fund, and the Heritage Enhancement Account, along with how those dollars are typically used for parks and trails, habitat, land acquisition, flood and drainage projects, and agency operations. Members also discussed whether DNR and BWSR responsibilities in overlapping water statutes can conflict; staff said responsibilities are generally clear in statute, though conflicts can occur and are usually resolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here asking that the liability, or actual amount, be removed from the current bill.
• I'm here asking that the the liability I'm here asking that the the liability or<01:07:06.680>
• And for deferred member liabilities, there's not a present value calculation used.
• And for deferred member liabilities, there's not a present value calculation used.
• , but once a member separates liabilities, but once a member separates from<01:24:05.920> active

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:05.040> So,<00:35:06.240> I forced to assume liability on.
• So, I forced to assume liability on.
• <00:57:12.400> So projected liability for that year.
• So projected liability for that year.
• The total PHIP liability in the ETF is, I think, $210 million.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this potentially increase liability now for a coach or for a school in the event that they don't
• It doesn't create any additional liability for anyone.
• does this potentially increase liability does this potentially increase liability now<01:15:17.560
• and what we see is our already liability and what we see is our coaches<01:15:33.360> who<01:
• doesn't create any additional liability doesn't create any additional liability for<01:16:03.639

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, a proposal tied to the Southern Regional Education Board’s crisis recovery network. Senator West and Dr. Puit explained that, for an additional $10,000 in dues, Kentucky would help create a network of 40 trained counselors in each of the 16 Southern states to provide post-crisis stabilization and psychological first aid after events such as the Marshall County shooting. They emphasized that the effort would be complementary to local and state response, would run through the school district, would not replace therapeutic services, and would allow districts to coordinate parent notifications and other protocols as usual. Members asked about parent involvement and whether pastoral counselors could participate; the presenters said local districts would remain in charge and that pastors could be included if properly credentialed. The committee then voted, and SCR 43 passed with the expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee next took up Senate Bill 207, the School of Innovation Act, with a committee substitute. Senator West described the bill as creating an optional path for districts to contract with an outside education service provider for a three-year school-of-innovation model, aimed at turning around low-performing schools or supporting other schools that want to innovate. He said the model would preserve core district functions such as transportation, facilities, and SEEK funding, while allowing waivers from certain statutes and regulations inside the school building. The committee substitute also added a high-quality instructional materials component, creating a vendor-supported repository of vetted instructional materials that KDE would still control, with testing data used to evaluate whether the materials were improving outcomes. Members questioned how the proposal differed from existing district-of-innovation law and what safeguards would exist for students. Senator West said the bill would repeal the unused district-of-innovation framework and replace it with a clearer process and guardrails, including KDE oversight, attendance rules, and authority to shut down a school arrangement for financial malfeasance. He also said the model could work with local partners, including superintendents’ associations, and could be used by magnet or other schools, not only low-performing ones. The discussion also touched on whether the bill would allow more flexibility in choosing third-party providers and whether it could support longer-term recovery and even philanthropy in schools. The transcript ends during the discussion of SB 207, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides with respect to a limitation of liability for aerospace entities.
• House Bill 1098, members, the purpose of this legislation is a narrowly tailored limitation of liability
• House Bill 1098, members, the purpose of this legislation is a narrowly tailored limitation of liability

Summary: The House Civil Law Committee met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several bills and resolutions. It reported favorably without objection Senate Bill 466, which bars foreign adversaries from using expropriation authority in Louisiana and creates a narrow expropriation category for very large aerospace/LED projects of at least 20,000 contiguous acres with no residential structures. The committee also reported favorably House Bill 986, requiring child support payments from persons convicted of vehicular homicide for the benefit of a child who lost a parent. The committee then considered two constitutional amendments by Senator Morris. Senate Bill 123 would allow judges to be removed for cause by a majority vote of the legislature and certification by the governor; it was amended to change the ballot language to refer to removal for malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence, and was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 5 yeas and 1 nay, with Representative Carter voting no. Senate Bill 97 would require prosecutorial consent for a defendant to waive a jury trial, except in capital cases; after adopting Amendment Set 5277 to clarify the capital-case exception, the committee heard opposition from Chris Alexander of the Louisiana Citizens Advocacy Group and then reported the measure favorably by a 5-1 vote, again with Representative Carter voting no. The committee also heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 35, which urges the Louisiana State Law Institute to study remote online notarization for authentic acts. Testimony in support came from the Louisiana Bankers Association, which argued the study is needed because of declining notary availability, especially in rural areas, and noted similar practices in other civil law jurisdictions. SCR 35 was reported favorably without objection. Finally, House Bill 1098, by Chairman McFarland, was reported favorably without objection; it provides a limited liability framework for FAA-licensed aerospace flight entities operating in Louisiana. House Bill 375 was voluntarily deferred, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3454 by Tony Tinderholt relating to the liability of vehicle storage facility operators for money
• HB 3455 by Matt Schaefer relates to the main requirements and liability for experimental drugs and devices
• HB 3521 by David Spiller relating to the automobile liability insurance requirements for Transportation

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> And then, um, along the lines of the liability for schools here, um, adding in a section stating
• for schools here um adding in liability for schools here um adding in a<02:08:45.760> a<02:08
• I'm not a doctor, so I can't speak to it, but they are aware of the liability, the high liability in
• I'm not a doctor, so I can't speak to it, but they are aware of the liability, the high liability in
• I'm not a doctor, so I can't speak to it, but they are aware of the liability, the high liability in

Keywords: 9:00am HB 155 9:30am HB 1102 10:30am HB 1109 11:00am HB 1356 11:30am HB 1469 1:00pm HB 1323 2:00pm HB 1376, 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with unanimous committee approval of amendment 2026-2021S to HB 2. Senator Lang explained the amendment corrected a drafting error so that $2.5 million in state funds, matched with federal money for a total of $5 million, could be spent during the biennium rather than lapse at the end of the fiscal year. The money is intended to stabilize Medicaid per diem rates for county nursing homes, and members agreed without objection to adopt the amendment and continue working from the bill as amended by the Senate. The committee then discussed HB 155 and a proposed amendment, 2026-201H, dealing with the business enterprise tax. The House side described the proposal as a compromise that would raise the filing threshold from $250,000 to $375,000 and create a trigger that would reduce the BET rate by 0.05% for each $100 million in combined business tax surplus, down to a floor of 0.25%. Senate members opposed lowering the rate at this time, arguing that tax relief should focus on the filing threshold, which they said would remove filing burdens for about 3,500 small businesses, and that rate cuts should be considered in a budget cycle rather than an off-year. Concerns were raised that one-time revenues, such as tax amnesty receipts or federal repatriation-related surpluses, could unintentionally trigger reductions. Representative Sweeney later offered a revised approach by moving the effective date of the trigger mechanism to January 1, 2028, and said he was also willing to carve out tax amnesty revenues or adjust the effective date to avoid using one-time funds. The Senate remained unwilling to agree to a rate reduction, though it expressed openness to raising the filing threshold further. The committee ultimately did not resolve the business tax issue and recessed to continue discussions at a later time. The final item discussed was HB 1102, concerning an increase in the research and development tax credit paired with changes to state park fees. House members supported the R&D credit increase but opposed tying it to higher park fees, citing concerns about tourism, especially at border parks, and noting that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources had said it did not need the increase. Senate members defended the park fee changes as a fairness issue, arguing that New Hampshire residents should pay less than out-of-state visitors and that the department had not raised rates in many years. No vote was taken on this item during the discussion captured here.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, is that controllers liability.
• for the tax liability of another.
• You know, it doesn't change the liability issues.
• The business is liable liability issues.
• Next measure, House Bill 2578 relating to due process for establishing personal liability for tax.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and ground rules from Chair David Tarnas, including a request for two-minute testimony limits, clear speaking, Zoom etiquette, and respectful conduct. The first measure taken up was HB 2062, relating to gun violence prevention, which would appropriate funds for enforcement of gun violence protective orders and for public awareness campaigns. Judiciary submitted written testimony recommending technical changes to clarify that it does not enforce laws and instead should be funded for personnel to process temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders; the Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill and said it is well positioned to conduct public education. Support also came from county and advocacy witnesses, including Moms Demand Action, Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, HGEA, and a retired police officer, while opposition testimony argued the measure raises due process and Fifth Amendment concerns and that education, not enforcement, should be the focus. The chair noted 37 testimonies in support, 103 in opposition, and three comments; no vote was taken in the portion provided. Testimony on HB 2062 emphasized both public safety and constitutional concerns. Supporters described the bill as a way to increase awareness of an existing legal tool, prevent suicides and shootings, and help law enforcement and the public understand gun violence protective orders. Opponents, including gun owners and firearms groups, argued that red flag laws can be abused, lack due process, and should not be expanded through state funding. A county neighborhood safety witness suggested an amendment to allow public, private, and nonprofit consultants to assist with training and implementation. Members asked a few questions, but the agencies with written testimony were not present, so the chair referred members to their submissions. The committee then moved to HB 2061, relating to firearms, which appropriates money for the state gun buyback program and requires at least two buyback events in each county. Written support was noted from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaii County Council, the County of Kauai Prosecuting Attorney, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, with the latter emphasizing that buybacks are voluntary prevention tools that can reduce risk before crises escalate. Opposition came from the Mid-Pacific Pistol League, SDM Training Group/Bows and Bullets, and others; one witness argued buybacks are ineffective, costly, and can be vulnerable to misuse or black-market diversion, and suggested a year-round surrender option instead. The committee heard additional support from a retired police officer and from a gun violence survivor with Students Demand Action, but no final action or vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• liability not for current current current employees<00:41:55.680> as<00:41:55.839> I<00
• But this bill imposes strict liability, an easier standard to meet than previously in the law.
• <01:43:34.440> law particularly the strict liability law particularly the strict liability
• Um, so as I understand, we already have strict liability for death resulting cases, right?
• <02:12:10.559> for risking litigation and liability for risking litigation and liability for

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The liability was $20 billion in 2020.
• And PERS liability is about $26 billion.
• $20<00:11:07.280> billion The the liability was $20 billion The the liability was $20 billion
• percentage of the net pension liability percentage of the net pension liability and<00:15:37.720
• the unfunded liability system. the unfunded liability system.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 7 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation from Reverend Chip Stevens of First Baptist Church in Jackson, and recited the pledge of allegiance. The body then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles, and received several guest introductions, including the president of Mississippi University for Women, the physician of the day, and the session’s pages. The main item of business was Senate Bill 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act. Senator Sparks explained that the bill would provide a $500 million infusion to the PERS accumulated employers account on July 1, 2026, followed by $50 million annually for 10 years, with backup funding from unobligated general funds if needed. He said the measure was intended to help address the system’s roughly $26 billion liability and to support both state employees and local government employers, noting that the state had already taken other steps to strengthen PERS. The bill was advanced to engrossed status, read for the third time, and placed on the calendar for final passage. Senator Norwood asked whether the funding would help local governments, and Senator Sparks said it would, because the liability is shared by all employers in the system and affects local balance sheets and bond ratings. Senator Bryan then spoke at length in opposition to the broader direction of retirement policy, criticizing the committee process, the fragmentation of retirement legislation, and what he described as incentives for privatization and unfair treatment of new hires. He said he would still vote for the bill because it sends money into the system, but argued that the state should focus retirement benefits on older retirees and avoid further benefit expansions. Senator Sparks responded that the bill was a necessary cash infusion to honor commitments to employees, stabilize the system, and avoid insolvency, and said more PERS legislation would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $1 million in liability insurance, $1 million in occupational accident insurance to protect drivers
• This bill does not alter our $1 million liability coverage, which addresses accidents where a driver
• you'll see that the largest percentage of what you pay to insurance for your automobile is for your liability
• In that situation, tragic as it was, of course, that's auto liability.
• And we carry $1 million in auto liability nationwide. It doesn't matter to the state.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the amendments in order where it is on page 26, any person filing a complaint shall be immune from liability
• effect on people actually bringing a complaint because now they're not, uh, they don't have any liability
• So gentle lady in reading the bill right quick, I look at it and I see that there's hardly any liabilities
• Speaker and gentlemen, um, the liabilities are minimal because they are, um, donated prescription drugs
• Prescription drugs pursuant to this section shall be immune from civil or criminal, criminal liabilities

Transcript Highlights:

• may have answered some of the questions, but I guess my biggest concern is let's talk about the liability
• I didn't get a chance to talk about the liability issue of this and then the bill summer, it does talk
• about the school district, then employees being released from liability.
• And so in your close cents out, like you to talk about liability issue.
• But please talk about the liability issue in your close any other debate. >> Senator Calatayud, you're

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We talk about strict liability in terms of civil litigation, but in this case, it would be strict liability
• that if you... ... would be strict liability that if you had those pieces or parts of pieces to create
• first aid or help to individuals affected by an emergency or disaster, they are shielded from civil liability
• individuals who are part of a Community Emergency Response Team previously had protection from civil liability

Bills: SB 26, SJR 36, SB 26, SB 616, SB 565, SB 384, SB 28, SR 109, SR 122, SR 126, SR 130, SR 136, SR 137, SR 141, SR 142, SCR 20

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the only industry I can think of that can cause foreseeable harm and have no liability for it
• Unlike brick-and-mortar businesses, which can face significant liability for those foreseeable harms
• Unlike brick-and-mortar businesses, which can face significant liability for those foreseeable harms
• And the response those parents received was, 'We have no liability here because of Section 230.'
• And the response to those parents received was, we have no liability here because of Section 230.

Keywords: 988, house, all