Transcript Highlights:

• on on these<00:23:46.400><c> typesc><00:23:46.600><c> ofc><00:23:46.760><c> goodsc><00:23:47.039
• <c> thatc><02:29:44.800><c> thec><02:29:44.960><c> typesc><02:29:45.240><c> ofc><02:29:45.439
• c><02:32:05.120><c> thec><02:32:05.279><c> differentc><02:32:05.640><c> typesc> really illustrates
• allc><02:32:52.680><c> differentc><02:32:53.000><c> typesc><02:32:53.240><c> ofc><02:32:53.439
• <c> transientc><02:54:44.200><c> typec><02:54:44.399><c> usesc><02:54:44.800><c> wherec> for

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• toc><00:04:55.800><c> bec><00:04:56.120><c> somec><00:04:56.479><c> typec><00:04:56.759><c>
• c><00:53:56.920><c> dependsc><00:53:57.200><c> onc><00:53:57.319><c> thec><00:53:57.480><c> type
• c><00:53:57.640><c> ofc> again it depends on the type of again it depends on the type of fireworks
• 02:16:40.960><c> thec><02:16:41.080><c> typec><02:16:41.240><c> ofc><02:16:41.359><c> moneyc>
• ><c> somec><02:32:16.520><c> typesc><02:32:16.760><c> ofc><02:32:16.960><c> mobilec> does utilize

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony first from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson outlined short-term goals to reduce overcrowding, improve living and working conditions, fill vacancies, expand mental health services, and update the correctional master plan. He said the department is still dealing with severe overcrowding at facilities such as OCCC and HCCC, with 947 people at OCCC against a design capacity of 628, and noted 938 inmates are currently housed on the mainland because of temporary repairs at Halawa. He also reported progress on staffing, saying the correctional officer vacancy rate has dropped from 34.3% to 24% through expanded recruitment. The department’s major budget request was $30 million for planning and design for a new Old Triple C project, along with other requests for re-entry services, identification documents, security systems, radios, sink-toilet modules, and trauma-informed care. Members asked about the timing and scope of the OCCC project, courtroom space in new facilities, and the department’s plan to use the funding to improve re-entry and reduce recidivism. The committee then heard from the Department of Law Enforcement on a wide range of priorities. The department described requests to expand agricultural crime enforcement, traffic enforcement, illegal fireworks enforcement, and facilities such as a police building at the DKI airport, a state training center, and new police facilities in central and Leeward Oahu. It also discussed a major IT request for a statewide law enforcement and critical infrastructure notification platform, plus funding for grants management, the Wahiawa Civic Center and court complex, the prescription monitoring program, narcotics enforcement operations, and the narcotics lab. A significant portion of the discussion focused on a proposed traffic enforcement program for commercial vehicle inspections, speeding, and DUI enforcement, which the department said would be funded with federal dollars and would operate concurrently with county police. Committee members questioned whether the effort duplicated county jurisdiction and how the program would be trained and staffed. Members also pressed the department on salary disparities for deputy sheriffs and related vacancies, and the department said the administration was working on a supplemental agreement and placeholder funding to address the issue. Additional discussion covered agricultural crime staffing, the Silver Alert program, and expansion of the forensic lab to handle explosives, firearms, and related evidence. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting moved from the corrections presentation to the law enforcement budget review with questions and answers throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• > ofc><00:51:48.800><c> whatc><00:51:49.040><c> typec><00:51:49.359><c> ofc><00:51:50.079><c>
• 58:47.280><c> typec><00:58:47.520><c> ofc><00:58:47.760><c> universalc><00:58:48.400><c> prek
• /c><01:58:20.560><c> doc> types of things.
• c><02:01:36.960><c> beingc> types of services.
• c><02:06:06.639><c> Whatc><02:06:06.880><c> typec> not a certified uh educator?

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 0:00:04 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:57 United Way of Southern Kentucky –0:04:30 Preschool Education – 0:36:46 School Safety Updates – 1:01:41 Kentucky Association of School Superintendents – 1:41:47 Educational Cooperatives – 1:55:18 Adjournment – 2:07:37, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened its sixth meeting of the 2025 Interim Joint Committee on Education, confirmed a quorum, recorded attendance votes, and approved the minutes. Chair Lewis reminded presenters to keep remarks brief because of the full agenda and limited time. The first presentation was from United Way of Southern Kentucky, with Anne Puckett, Craig Browning, and Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton introducing a regional early childhood initiative. The presenters argued that kindergarten readiness and early childhood support are critical to later academic and life outcomes. They cited research and statistics about brain development in the first five years, the effects of unprepared kindergarten entry, and links between low literacy, school discipline, dropout rates, and incarceration. They said their region’s readiness scores fell during COVID and after a tornado, and that the most effective response was in-home parent education to help families support children from birth to age five. They described the model as voluntary, community-based, and not requiring new buildings, and said similar programs have been successful in Missouri. The group said it had already raised more than $1 million in private donations and committed three years of funding for four additional staff, expanding service in Allen, Logan, and Warren counties. They requested $600,000 per year for the next two-year budget cycle to add 12 more educators, serve about 360 families and 660 additional children, and build evidence for a possible statewide model. Members generally expressed support for the concept, with Representative Tipton and Representative Jackson discussing a prior home-based preschool pilot and the importance of starting early. Representative Calloway questioned whether increased family chaos and government involvement justified the approach; presenters responded that the program uses community educators, not a government-run organization, and is aimed at helping overwhelmed families. Representative Stalker asked about eligibility and early intervention, and presenters said the program serves children from birth to age five and can help identify needs early enough to connect families with services such as First Steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• :39.920><c> selling,c><00:31:40.360><c> thec><00:31:40.520><c> typec><00:31:40.840><c> orc> much
• :56.760><c> orc><01:42:57.040><c> otherc><01:42:57.360><c> powerc><01:42:58.080><c> typec> large-scale
• > typesc><01:47:36.800><c> ofc><01:47:36.960><c> waterc><01:47:37.240><c> usagec> fundamentally
• ><c> typec><02:17:42.880><c> ofc> themselves as a different type of themselves as a different type
• ><c> floorc><02:19:03.519><c> forc><02:19:03.800><c> thisc><02:19:04.120><c> typec><02:19:04.440

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:01:25.360><c> Uhc><00:01:26.159><c> itc><00:01:26.479><c> isc><00:01:26.640><c> likely<
• ><c> ifc><00:01:34.400><c> youc><00:01:34.560><c> allc><00:01:34.799><c> wantc><00:01:34.960>
• c><00:01:50.159><c> mec><00:01:50.320><c> notc><00:01:50.960><c> notc><00:01:51.280><c> toc
• is young um and they have had individual is young um and they have had some<00:04:18.239><c> typec>
• c><00:04:19.519><c> wasc> some type of felony charge that was some type of felony charge that was

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:10 HB 448 Discussion 00:02:32 HB 448 Vote 05:05:56 Adjournment 00:07:17, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Local Government convened with a quorum present and announced that its next meeting would likely be moved from the usual Tuesday morning time to Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. because of President’s Day. Although two bills were listed, House Bill 495 was not heard at the sponsor’s request, leaving House Bill 448 as the only measure considered. Representative Hampton presented House Bill 448, which would align Kentucky law with federal background check requirements for people seeking federal employment or federal contract work. Testimony from Hampton and supporting witnesses explained that the bill would allow Kentucky criminal history information, including some juvenile records when relevant, to be shared with federal agencies for background checks, and that the information would remain with the federal agency. Representative Works asked about the inclusion of juvenile records and safeguards on their use; the sponsor responded that the records can be relevant when an applicant’s juvenile case history overlaps with the background check and that the information would not be shared beyond the federal agency. The chair noted the bill was similar to a measure that passed the House the previous year by a wide margin. With no one signed up to speak for or against the bill, the committee voted on House Bill 448 and reported it favorably for passage on the House floor. The roll call showed support from most members present, with a few passes and absences. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um uh obviously there is a um uh<00:03:38.480><c> cessationc><00:03:39.200><c> typec><00:03:39.599
• type effect of raising uh uh cessation type effect of raising uh tobacco<00:03:42.319><c> taxc><00
• c><00:14:18.240><c> izationc><00:14:18.880><c> typec><00:14:19.199><c> effectc> it has more of
• a uh ization type effect it has more of a uh ization type effect if<00:14:20.480><c> ifc><00:14:20.880
• ><c> typec> associated with creating a new tax type associated with creating a new tax type in<03:19

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:31:39.600><c> Soc> types of instructional methodology.
• ><c> lotc><00:59:03.119><c> ofc><00:59:03.760><c> thisc><00:59:04.000><c> typec><00:59:04.240
• c><01:09:18.239><c> orc><01:09:18.480><c> standardsc><01:09:19.120><c> theyc> the 20 type 25
• ,c><01:34:32.560><c> music,c> type teachers.
• ><c> typec><01:42:02.000><c> ofc><01:42:02.159><c> stuffc><01:42:02.480><c> wrapsc> of that,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Oversight Committee met to review statewide education improvement and assessment issues under RSA 193-C:8-a, with the chair focusing on curriculum frameworks, academic standards, and resource elements tied to the state’s adequate education statutes. The chair walked through the statutory relationship between minimum standards for public school approval, academic standards, and local control of curriculum, noting that New Hampshire law requires curriculum frameworks to guide what students should know and be able to do while leaving districts flexibility in instruction. He also raised concerns that some subject areas appear to have current frameworks or standards while others do not, and suggested the committee may need to consider an amendment creating a curriculum frameworks and academic standards coordinator at the Department of Education. Nate Green, director of the Division of Education Analytics and Resources, explained that the terms “academic standards” and “curriculum frameworks” have evolved over time and are often used interchangeably, but can mean different things depending on the subject area. He said the state’s more prescriptive standards largely developed after No Child Left Behind, especially in math, ELA, and science, while older or less-tested subjects such as arts, physical education, and health often retained looser framework-style documents. Green outlined one possible approach of standardizing terminology, but also said New Hampshire could instead define curriculum frameworks separately as a combination of standards, curriculum, and instructional approaches. He emphasized that state standards must support statewide consistency and assessment, while local districts retain control over how they teach. Committee members discussed how these distinctions affect different grade levels and subjects, using examples from math and science to show that minimum standards are broad while academic standards are more specific and grade-level based. Green described how science standards are organized by physical science, life science, and earth/space science across grade bands, while math standards are more directly tied to individual grades. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported during this portion of the meeting; the discussion remained informational and exploratory as members considered whether statutory language or departmental organization should be updated.

Transcript Highlights:

• overweight without some other type<00:07:59.599><c> ofc><00:08:00.240><c> uhc><00:08:00.400><c>
• ><c> thisc><00:10:37.920><c> typec><00:10:38.079><c> ofc> truly benefited um from this type of
• 56:34.960><c> anc><00:56:35.119><c> applicantc><00:56:35.520><c> toc> type and require an applicant
• ><c> severalc><01:44:11.040><c> statesc> type of legislation in several states type of legislation
• <01:48:50.800><c> typec><01:48:51.760><c> typec><01:48:52.080><c> regulationsc><01:48:53.440><c

Keywords: 0:00 – Meeting start/roll call 0:10 - Roll call/approval of minutes 1:43 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Department for Medicaid Services 27:40 - Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control 55:54 - Board of Veterinary Examiners 1:33:15 - Testimony in support of 804 KAR 13:010E, 020E, 030E and 040E. 1:49:04 - Education Professional Standards Board 1:49:58 - Attorney General, Office of Regulatory Relief 1:52:18 - Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) 1:54:28 - Board of Nursing 1:56:44 - Board of Occupational Therapy 1:57:37 - Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy 1:58:58 - Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources 1:59:50 - Economic Development Finance Authority 2:01:34 - Department of Corrections 2:02:37 - Department of Juvenile Justice 2:04:02 - Department for Employment Services, Unemployment Insurance 2:04:57 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Department for Public Health, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up Department for Medicaid Services regulations 907 KAR 23:010 and related rules. DMS explained that one regulation would establish a beneficiary advisory council and another would remove language barring coverage of GLP-1 drugs for obesity-related use. The department said coverage would still be limited by prior authorization and clinical criteria, with use tied to underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, and that the pharmacy and therapeutics committee would help set the detailed standards. Members discussed the potential health benefits, but several raised concerns about cost, timing, and whether the legislature and the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board should review the policy first. DMS said the drugs are already on the formulary, that current Medicaid users with diabetes are already covered, and that the fiscal impact was estimated using current utilization, rebates, and expected savings; the department also said it would only cover the drugs if subject to rebates. The committee then voted 5-1 to find 907 KAR 23:010 deficient. The committee next considered several emergency regulations from the Public Protection Cabinet’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control implementing SB 100. The rules covered tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing, including the application form, denial standards, and transitional licensing. ABC counsel said the department had received about 5,500 applications and issued nearly 5,000 licenses, with additional provisional licenses issued to avoid interruption in sales after the law’s effective date. He said some applications remained pending because inspections and photographs revealed possible unauthorized nicotine vapor products, and the department was seeking documentation before approval. A staff amendment was adopted without objection before the ABC presentation continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• cities do not allow for<00:07:22.240><c> thisc><00:07:22.400><c> typec><00:07:22.560><c> ofc><
• 10:43.320><c> restrictingc><01:10:43.960><c> otherc><01:10:44.239><c> typesc><01:10:44.480><c>
• thesec><01:19:08.760><c> typesc><01:19:08.960><c> ofc><01:19:09.159><c> actionsc><01:19:09.880
• c><01:36:07.760><c> whichc><01:36:08.080><c> oftenc><01:36:08.400><c> doc> types of structures
• ><c> thatc><01:37:29.639><c> anyc><01:37:29.960><c> typec><01:37:30.119><c> ofc> encourage that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention heard informational presentations from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on the state of housing in Minnesota. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state has a severe housing shortage, with demand outpacing supply since the 2007-09 housing crash, and argued that Minnesota is nearly 100,000 units short of a healthy market. He said new homes are increasingly unaffordable, citing a median new single-family price above $530,000 and declining affordability in the Twin Cities metro, and he urged lawmakers to remove exclusionary zoning and other regulatory barriers that he said make starter homes and smaller-lot housing difficult or illegal to build in many growing cities. He also highlighted the group’s Housing for Heroes projects, including transitional housing for veterans and other crisis housing projects around the state. Members asked Foster about starter-home examples and his view that the committee’s top priority should be reforming residential development approvals. He said most new housing is negotiated through planned unit developments rather than built under base zoning, which he argued adds cost and reduces supply. The committee then heard from Elizabeth Wael of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, who said housing challenges outside the metro are different but equally serious. She said many Greater Minnesota cities face a lack of developers, inadequate infrastructure such as roads and utilities, and gaps in the housing continuum, especially starter workforce housing and senior housing. She thanked the committee for 2023 housing funding and said cities are contributing their own resources, updating zoning, reducing parking requirements, allowing ADUs, and partnering with developers and nonprofits. Wael also urged faster rollout of the Greater Minnesota infrastructure grant program and said the state should consider changes to the housing tax credit and housing TIF rules to make them easier to use. In response, senators said they shared frustration with the slow implementation of the infrastructure program and emphasized the need for state investment and locally tailored zoning reforms. No bills were heard and no votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on stakeholder testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:25:33.120><c> thatc><00:25:33.360><c> wec><00:25:33.679><c> alsoc> the types of investigations
• <00:52:05.119><c> traditionalc><00:52:05.760><c> licensingc><00:52:06.400><c> typec> more of a
• ><c> bothc><01:08:39.040><c> programc><01:08:39.440><c> typesc><01:08:40.000><c> havec> we've
• ><c> eachc><01:11:48.480><c> ofc><01:11:48.640><c> thesec><01:11:48.880><c> typesc> to ensure
• c><01:40:54.560><c> typesc><01:40:55.199><c> dependingc><01:40:55.520><c> onc><01:40:55.679><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> yourc><00:20:49.440><c> ownc><00:20:49.600><c> typec><00:20:49.840><c> ofc><00:20:50.000
• ,c><00:34:30.800><c> whatc><00:34:31.040><c> typec><00:34:31.200><c> ofc> they're taking medication
• type of priority regardless of the type of organization<00:58:37.760><c> thatc><00:58:38.000><c> serves
• <01:00:05.440><c> typesc><01:00:05.680><c> ofc><01:00:05.839><c> schools.
• c><01:00:06.720><c> Therec><01:00:06.960><c> arec><01:00:07.200><c> areasc> more types of schools

Bills: HF3653, HF2717, HF3451, HF3857

Keywords: education finance, safe schools revenue, school safety, charter schools, funding, safe schools, school security, school levy, pupil units, safe schools aid, cooperative units, intermediate school district, school resource officer, peace officer liaison, sheriff liaison, drug abuse prevention, gang resistance education, violence prevention, suicide prevention, mental health services

Summary: The committee first adopted the March 3rd minutes by voice vote after Representative Lee moved them and there was no discussion. Members then reviewed hearing rules on decorum, safety, and participation before taking testimony from Dr. James Densley and Dr. Jillian Peterson of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University. The presenters summarized research on mass shootings and K-12 school shootings, drawing on a database of homicides in school settings from 2000 to 2025 and a smaller set of 15 K-12 mass shooting cases. They said school shooters are usually insiders, most often current or former students, and typically young males. They described common patterns including a noticeable crisis before attacks, perpetrators viewing the shooting as a final act, studying prior shooters online, and “leakage” in which most tell someone in advance. They also emphasized that many perpetrators use unsecured firearms from family members and argued that prevention should combine reporting systems, behavioral threat assessment, counseling, mentoring, secure storage, and other layered interventions rather than rely on a single solution. The presenters also discussed broader violence trends in the Twin Cities, saying much school violence is spillover from community violence and that pandemic-era disruptions and weakened trust in institutions contributed to serious violence. They cited a national survey finding that exposure to gun violence is associated with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and fear of public spaces, especially among young people. During member questions, Representative Wam asked for clarification on the data set and the rural/small-town share of the survey sample.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> thec><00:42:25.599><c> typesc><00:42:25.800><c> ofc><00:42:26.000><c> thingsc><00:42:26.280
• ><c> thatc> are the types of things that are the types of things that the<00:42:28.040><c> fourth
• 01:07:19.119><c> typesc><01:07:19.359><c> ofc> are calculated what the um what types of are calculated
• typesc><01:32:04.119><c> ofc> training the training for the types of training the training for the
• ><c> typec><01:53:41.760><c> 3c> where state law about busing or type 3 where state law about busing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools. Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026. In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> typec><00:02:50.360><c> ofc><00:02:51.080><c> thec><00:02:51.280><c> threec><00:02:51.599
• ><c> bandedc><00:02:52.440><c> littlec> the only type of the three banded little the only type of
• c> types of new attractions and types of new attractions and destinations<00:19:57.760><c> arec><
• ><c> samec><00:57:58.240><c> typec><00:57:58.400><c> ofc><00:57:58.599><c> technicalc><00:57:
• c><00:59:25.760><c> forc><00:59:26.160><c> thisc><00:59:26.359><c> typec><00:59:26.640><c> of

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• typec><00:28:41.840><c> ofc> this type of this type of >> Okay,<00:28:42.320><c> good.
• c><01:08:47.279><c> Soc><01:08:47.520><c> Ic><01:08:47.759><c> knowc> that same type of situation
• <01:11:41.840><c> ofc><01:11:42.000><c> thec><01:11:42.239><c> differentc><01:11:42.400><c> types
• types of there are sure of the different types of there are different<01:11:43.840><c> typesc><01:
• c><02:19:25.599><c> Umc><02:19:25.840><c> butc><02:19:26.000><c> itc> for that type of development

Bills: HB1721, HB1714, HB1718, HB1732, HB1740, HB1777, HB1842, HB1919, HB1701, HB1923, HB1741, HB1734, HB1739

Keywords: housing, expedited permits, insurance, indemnification, construction, affordable housing, executive compensation, Hawaii housing finance, legislative approval, low-income housing, moderate-income housing, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, TOD, county powers, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, HHFDC, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DHHL, affordable housing credits

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> typec><00:56:40.799><c> ofc><00:56:41.319><c> pre-servicec> um is that type of pre-service
• all different types<01:13:37.760><c> ofc><01:13:37.920><c> schoolingc><01:13:38.400><c> wec><01
• :13:38.520><c> knowc><01:13:38.679><c> thatc><01:13:38.840><c> evenc> types of schooling we know
• ><01:46:08.280><c> booksc><01:46:09.280><c> umc><01:46:09.480><c> anyc><01:46:09.719><c> type
• c><01:46:09.840><c> ofc> relied on audio books um any type of relied on audio books um any type of

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 627, which concerns Department of Education school safety funding and staffing. DOE said the bill would restore two positions and related funding that had been removed from the governor’s budget: a targeted violence prevention and threat assessment program manager and a security technology manager. DOE described ongoing work on school vulnerability assessments, fire suppression measures, security camera research, panic buttons, and active shooter prevention training. Testifiers from DOE, the Department of Law Enforcement, fire services, HSTA, and an individual witness all supported the bill, with the individual citing a past school shooting experience as a reason to increase school resource officers and safety measures. Members asked about the positions’ duties, how the request differed from existing security funding, and the status of active shooter training; DOE said it would provide more information on training statistics. The committee then took up HB 249, relating to Executive Office on Early Learning family child interaction learning programs. The Early Learning Board, EOEL, Commit to Kids, Early Childhood Action Strategies, Partners in Development Foundation, and others testified in support. EOEL said it currently spends about $800,000 annually on FCI program contracts and supports expanding state funding for FCIL programs, including infant and early childhood mental health, if the appropriation covers the broader scope. Testifiers emphasized that FCIL programs are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and help families and children, with one provider sharing a long-term example of a parent and child benefiting from the program. Members asked how many programs are supported, whether FCIL exists on all islands, and whether the request was in the governor’s budget; EOEL said the expansion was requested by the office but not included in the governor’s budget. HB 429, concerning pre-K expansion, drew broad support from the Lieutenant Governor, EOEL, HSTA, and community groups. Supporters said the Ready Keiki initiative has already opened more than 50 classrooms and would add another 50 over the next two years, including Hawaiian immersion classrooms. EOEL said it currently administers 72 public pre-K classrooms across 74 campuses and that the bill’s funding was included in the governor’s budget request. Testimony stressed kindergarten readiness, affordability for working families, equity across islands, and inclusion classrooms. Members asked about national quality benchmarks, with EOEL stating Hawaii meets 10 of 10 benchmarks and that only five states had done so at the time referenced. The Lieutenant Governor also described construction and delivery efforts, including refurbishing existing classrooms, modular options, possible use of state buildings, and even collaboration with libraries to expand child care access. Finally, the committee heard HB 439 on J-1 teacher licensure. DOE supported the bill, while the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposed it, arguing licensure standards are not place-based and should remain rigorous and uniform for all educators. The Attorney General’s office offered technical comments, including replacing “educators” with “teacher” and clarifying the bill’s language on issuance and renewal conditions. Several organizations and individuals testified in support, including school, cultural, business, and educator groups. One witness, a teacher from the Philippines, said J-1 educators are highly qualified and described the rigor of teacher preparation in the Philippines. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• allc><00:20:21.280><c> thec><00:20:21.520><c> otherc><00:20:22.160><c> typesc><00:20:22.559>
• <c> ofc> encompasses all the other types of encompasses all the other types of learning<00:20:23.440
• c><00:20:54.159><c> typesc><00:20:54.559><c> ofc><00:20:55.280><c> umc> addition to this types
• c> other types of things. other types of things.
• c> is some type of improvement from this is some type of improvement from this year<01:05:32.160><c

Bills: HB1559, HB2012, HB2297, HB2122, HB2345, HB2398, HB2534, HB2621

Keywords: telecommunication devices, student use, public schools, student engagement, educational outcomes, confiscation policy, mental health, statewide policy, community literacy, education, Title I funding, reading proficiency, underserved communities, family engagement, tutoring, literacy support, adult education, community education, literacy programs, workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:30:40.640><c> thesec><00:30:40.919><c> isolatedc><00:30:41.519><c> typec><00:30:41.679>
• <00:42:23.520><c> havec><00:42:23.720><c> thatc><00:42:23.920><c> typec><00:42:24.119><c> ofc
• ><00:42:24.240><c> ac><00:42:24.640><c> requirementc><00:42:25.640><c> Drc> you have that type
• 11.320><c> differentc><01:14:11.719><c> typesc><01:14:12.080><c> ofc><01:14:12.360><c> responses
• types of responses so one we<01:14:13.760><c> havec><01:14:14.000><c> statec><01:14:14.960><c> um

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:01.399><c> uhc><00:02:01.560><c> committeec><00:02:02.159><c> herec><00:02:02.600><c> onc
• consider having the committee to please consider having some<00:04:45.520><c> typec><00:04:45.840>
• 47.560><c> soc><00:04:47.759><c> wec> some type of funding available um so we some type of funding
• for any and see if they have an appetite for any type<00:05:13.600><c> ofc><00:05:13.759><c> funding
• c><00:05:14.240><c> asc> type of funding as type of funding as well<00:05:15.960><c> thankc> Representative

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee work session of the Education Policy and Administration Committee focused on House Bill 131 and House Bill 781, which were described as nearly identical bills addressing student cell phone use in schools. Members noted that HB 781 is an early bill and therefore needed committee action by Wednesday, while HB 131 did not face that deadline. The chair and members discussed the bills’ shared goal of requiring school boards to develop and adopt policies on student personal device use, with debate over whether the state should set minimum standards or leave more to local control. A major topic was funding. One member urged the committee to avoid creating an unfunded mandate and asked for some funding support, while others argued it was too early to commit money and that the committee should first establish the policy framework. The governor’s proposed funding was discussed, including a $1 million figure in the budget and a separate $250,000 amount referenced in the bill, but several members said the money would likely be insufficient to cover all students or pouch systems statewide. The committee also reviewed a handout reflecting proposed budget language that would require school boards to adopt policies on personal device use during the school day, with schoolwide implementation and exceptions for medical disability or language proficiency needs, and a DOE-administered grant program. Members spent considerable time on drafting details, especially deadlines and exceptions. They debated whether the bills should require school boards to “develop,” “adopt,” or also “implement” policies, and whether the effective date of the act should also serve as the deadline for school boards. They also discussed whether exceptions for classroom instructional use should be mandatory or merely encouraged, and whether the bills should explicitly include or exclude charter schools. Additional proposed exceptions included IEPs, 504 plans, English learners, and medical needs such as glucose sensors or insulin pumps, with some members suggesting medical issues be certified by a physician. No final vote or formal action was taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• U that these<00:20:47.440><c> arec><00:20:47.600><c> thec><00:20:47.679><c> typec><00:20:47.840
• 00:26:57.360><c> immunec><00:26:57.760><c> fromc><00:26:58.000><c> anyc><00:26:58.240><c> type<
• /c><00:26:58.400><c> ofc> will be uh uh immune from any type of will be uh uh immune from any type
• /c><00:36:06.240><c> anyc><00:36:06.640><c> typec><00:36:06.960><c> ofc> Call.
• c><00:48:51.599><c> Uhc> type of liability protection. Uh type of liability protection.

Keywords: Discussion of SB 126 (2025 RS) 00:05:13 Discussion of HB 16 (2025 RS) 00:15:40 Kentucky Department of Parks – Overview 01:05:06, 958, all

Summary: The committee met jointly for State Government, State and Local Government, and Elections and Constitutional Amendments, approved the minutes from the September 23 meeting, and then took up discussion of Senate Bill 126, a proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the governor’s pardon power. Senator Chris McDaniel said the measure was prompted by concerns over pardons issued in 2019 and would bar pardons for 60 days before a gubernatorial election through the swearing-in of a new governor, leaving the power otherwise intact. Members who spoke generally supported the proposal as a way to increase accountability, and McDaniel said he intended to place it on the 2026 ballot. No vote was taken on the bill during the discussion. The committee then moved to House Bill 16 on water fluoridation. Representative Hart and Senator Greg Elkins said the bill would remove Kentucky’s fluoridation mandate and give local water districts the choice to add fluoride or not. They emphasized that the revised draft also adds immunity language to protect districts from civil litigation regardless of their decision. Dr. Jack Call, a Louisville dentist, presented against fluoridation, arguing that the main dental benefit is topical rather than from drinking water and citing studies and reports he said linked fluoride exposure to reduced IQ in children and other health concerns. Cindy Batson, a nurse and parent, also supported the bill and said she had testified on the issue for years. During questions, Senator Rollins raised concerns about fluoride being an industrial byproduct and described fluoridation as forced medication. The discussion remained focused on the bill’s local-control and immunity provisions, with sponsors saying they were not trying to relitigate the broader science but wanted to remove the mandate. The transcript ends while questions and testimony on HB 16 were still underway, and no final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:52:33.200><c> offc><00:52:33.320><c> thec> provider type.
• thec><00:57:33.960><c> service,c><00:57:34.320><c> thec><00:57:34.440><c> typec><00:57:34.640
• ><c> ofc> receiving the service, the type of receiving the service, the type of service<00:57:35.040
• ><01:35:31.240><c> outc><01:35:31.440><c> thisc><01:35:31.640><c> typec><01:35:31.880><c> ofc
• c> really vet out this type of stuff. really vet out this type of stuff.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on March 2 and approved the February 23 minutes after a quorum was reached. The main presentation was from the Department of Human Services on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), a federally required Medicaid benefit that helps Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees get to medically necessary appointments. DHS said the program served more than 250,000 people in 2025 at a cost of $127 million, with participation up about 14% over five years, and described the seven transportation modes, provider enrollment requirements, STS certification, background checks, prior authorization rules, and planned transitions to a single administrator for parts of the program in 2026 and 2027. DHS officials emphasized fraud prevention efforts, saying NEMT is one of the agency’s high-risk Medicaid services. They described enhanced prepayment review, provider revalidation and site visits, removal of inactive providers, and a provider moratorium in metro counties. Inspector General James Clark said the governor’s anti-fraud proposal would add pre-enrollment risk assessments, more staffing and technology, and electronic visit verification. He also noted that about 80% of NEMT spending is in managed care and that managed care organizations have their own compliance and special investigations units. Committee members raised concerns about fraud, oversight, and privatization. Chair Robbins questioned DHS about the absence of the commissioner and the program’s use of brokers, citing past concerns and asking about the vendor MTM’s history; DHS said the RFP for the new broker had closed and the vendor selection was still underway. Representative Pinto questioned why oversight is outsourced to managed care organizations and suggested bringing more oversight back in house. MTM representative Phil Stahlberger defended the company’s record, said the Missouri dispute was about contract terms from about 15 years ago, and said MTM currently works in Minnesota counties and many other states, with on-site reviews, trip verification, and complaint review processes. No further votes or final actions on the NEMT policy were taken in the portion provided.