Transcript Highlights:

• needs, transportation needs, and most importantly when they can actually implement.
• > needs,<00:20:35.600> transportation<00:20:36.400> needs, staffing needs, transportation
• needs, staffing needs, transportation needs, and<00:20:37.600> and<00:20:37.840> most<
• would they actually need to cover those? would they actually need to cover those?
• the staffing needs.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and first heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials on career and technical education funding. KDE explained that House Bill 499 created a CTE funding formula using 60% weighted full-time equivalent enrollment and 40% incentives, but House Bill 6’s budget language excluded area technology centers (ATCs) from that supplemental funding. KDE requested approval of an additional budget request of $14,789,352 in each fiscal year 2027 and 2028 to include ATCs in the formula and hold local districts harmless. Officials said ATCs serve students from 117 of Kentucky’s 171 districts and argued the change would reduce funding disparities and better reflect the return on investment from CTE programs, citing growth in dual credit and work-based learning participation. Members asked whether the issue would need to be revisited each budget cycle. KDE responded that the problem could be fixed by removing the notwithstanding language from the budget bill, which they said would allow ATCs to be included under the existing statute. Representative Klein supported the request, saying the current clause could lead to stagnation and that the committee should help the program continue to grow. No vote was taken on the CTE item during the portion of the meeting provided. The committee then heard a presentation from PreK for All on expanding preschool access in Kentucky. Advocates said the state’s preschool program has been funded since 1990 and currently serves about 14,200 children at roughly $84 million per year, but that many working families still fall into a coverage gap. They proposed expanding eligibility to 250% of the federal poverty line, which they said would add about 9,600 children at a cost of $40 million in year two, after a planning year. The proposal also included regulatory flexibility for classrooms and partnerships with private child care providers and nonprofits, with speakers emphasizing child care deserts in some counties and citing research that early learning improves kindergarten readiness and later outcomes. No action or vote was taken on the preschool proposal in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:15.200> need<00:23:15.440> to since a lot of things they need need to since
• assessing<00:48:00.640> really So our assessment is assessing really So our assessment is
• We don’t need to study it. We need to take action.
• Kids need education around that, and perhaps our educators need to be reminded about that and need to
• Kids need education around that, and perhaps our educators need to be reminded about that and need to

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 69, including a germane amendment about local school boards’ acceptance or rejection of gifts and donations and a non-germane amendment creating a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program for preschool children not yet in kindergarten. Rep. Cordelli said the early literacy proposal was a modified version of an earlier kindergarten readiness bill, would rely on gifts and donations rather than state appropriations, and would include reporting requirements. Members questioned the shift from a broader technology program to an online-only model, the lack of detailed evaluation metrics, how long children would use the program, and whether it was appropriate for very young children. Cordelli said the change was intended to avoid government dependence and still allow the program to be offered next school year. Several members raised concerns about the gift-acceptance language on the underlying bill, including whether school boards would need to vote on small donations, whether gifts could be handled in blocks or at regular meetings, and how anonymous donations would work under right-to-know laws. Rep. Han noted that some gift discussions might belong in non-public session under RSA 91-A, while Rep. Cornell said acceptance or rejection of gifts could be handled at regular meetings and suggested a dollar threshold could be added later. The New Hampshire School Boards Association said it was not taking a position but wanted clearer guardrails, policy guidance, and clarification on timing, anonymity, and public-meeting requirements. Supporters of the early childhood program, including Waterford.org, said the proposal would provide an evidence-based, adaptive online literacy program with family engagement for four- and five-year-olds, and that it could help close early learning gaps. Waterford said it could work collaboratively with school districts and IEP teams, and that it would provide devices and internet access for families who need them. Committee members pressed on how the program would interact with existing special education services and whether districts could use it as part of an IEP; the response was that it would be supplementary and not an approved special education service. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair indicated the committee would later executive the bills and try to get reports filed promptly.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:17:25.839> it needs and these highly varied needs, it needs and these highly varied needs
• to need be needing to education is going to need be needing to deal<00:30:04.320> with<00:30:04.960
• We need um we need we need benchmarks.
• We need um we need we need to<00:35:42.000> have<00:35:42.240> some<00:35:42.480> sense
• We need um we need to be institutions.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> So, what do we need?
• What do we need So, what do we need? What do we need from<00:37:13.920> you?
• The needs are going to vary.
• And where we see those signals, we know we need to dig in, do some more investigation, and further study
• something that's right for more study. something that's right for more study.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its July 30, 2025 meeting. Members then heard a presentation from Roger McCann of the Department for Community Based Services on Kentucky’s 2026-2027 Community Services Block Grant state plan. He explained that the federally funded grant, now about $12 million annually, is distributed through 23 local community action agencies that use flexible funds for locally identified needs such as housing, nutrition, transportation, Head Start, and domestic violence services. McCann said the plan is submitted every two years and that the agencies served about 264,000 Kentuckians and 130,000 families in 2024. Senator Meredith asked whether there was a central place to review local projects, and McCann said regular reports exist and could be shared with members. The committee then approved the CSBG state plan by roll call vote. After that, members received an update on Kentucky’s state-designated domestic violence shelter programs from Angela Yanelli of ZeroV, Mary Foley of Maryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and Elizabeth Martin of the Center for Women and Families. The presenters described ZeroV’s role as the statewide domestic violence coalition, its 15 member programs across all area development districts, and its contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide emergency shelter, supportive services, housing assistance, and batterers intervention programming. They emphasized that services are available 24/7 and are trauma-informed, with a strong focus on children and family support. The domestic violence providers reported high demand and rising costs. ZeroV said its network served more than 14,000 adults and children in fiscal year 2025, including nearly 900 children in shelter and more than 500 in outreach, while Maryman House reported operating at 90-92% capacity, with 53 households waiting for emergency shelter and 63 more waiting for intake. Maryman House also described an 8-unit transitional housing complex and plans for a 48-unit apartment complex if tax credit funding is approved. The Center for Women and Families highlighted school-readiness support for children, tutoring, counseling, and family services, including back-to-school supplies and rights information for homeless students. No additional votes or formal actions were taken during the domestic violence presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• First off, I need to apologize.
• You need to be fully staffed. You need to be engaged...
• Our request was to study what we needed to do because we believed as a district that we needed additional
• We looked at enrollment, and fast forward after that study, PSFA staff agreed that we did need additional
• No need for a second. No need for a second on the subcommittee. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do I need to gavel? Do I need to gavel you, Travis? Okay, so whenever you're ready, go ahead.
• So in terms of did that money have an impact, I think we need to do another study later on for both behavioral
• It came after the Two Errors Human Institute of Medicine study that showed that medical errors needed
• to be able to look at that and start assessing where these punitive damages need to be assessed.
• This was an interesting study where we trained providers to care for really high-needs Medicaid patients

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to conduct a needs assessment: What is the true need of this workforce in New Mexico?
• There is a need.
• But it needs to be fed data, and that data needs to be accurate.
• More and more people are becoming interested in this because we need energy, and we need it in a hurry
• There needs to be a rulemaking.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're just looking to move that to an interim study. Questions? That to an interim study.
• Just for clarification, sure, there is opposition to this study.
• To the interim study, there's no one—no, for it can be studied, but yes.
• We would have to do a greater in-depth study.
• Your study is passed. Thank you.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first approved special expenses incurred by the committee, then took up interim study proposals. The first, ISP 2025-069 by Representative Perry, would move collection of sales tax on motor vehicles from the current registration-based process to the point of sale at dealerships. Representative Eaton presented the proposal, and members questioned DFA about fiscal impact, dealer implementation costs, verification and audit issues, and whether the change would shift burdens to dealers or consumers. DFA said the overall tax amount would not change, but system programming and timing changes would be needed, and dealers would likely face process changes and possibly added costs. Despite concerns from some members and references to opposition from auto dealers, the committee voted to send the proposal to research and passed the ISP. The committee then considered ISP 2025-071, based on House Bill 1636 from the 2025 session, which would phase out Arkansas’s soda excise tax over five years if revenue triggers in the Medicaid Trust Fund were met. Representative Ray explained that the bill had passed committee but failed on the House floor in the prior session, and members discussed the tax’s annual revenue, its dedication to the Medicaid Trust Fund, and whether the proposal would replace lost revenue. Questions were also raised about who controls distributions from the trust fund and whether the legislature has oversight. DFA said it would follow up with DHS on the mechanics and provide additional information. The committee then voted to adopt the interim study proposal, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• needs of the<00:02:58.080> stadium.
• I won't review the capital needs, but members, the summary is it's estimated that we need about $293
• I won't review the capital needs, but members, the summary is it's estimated that we need about $293
• The final one, if needed, is Mr.
• the final one if needed is Mr. Slavin, the final one if needed is Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Students' needs addressing holistic students' needs both through academic behavior and wellness in a
• We really do need to explicitly teach those foundational skills, but that's not all we need.
• We need to develop academic language, we need to build language awareness, we need to provide visual
• What, what it's gonna take to be able to assess what their children needs to learn.
• We just, we need more people.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the uncertainty of our future for steam supply, we need to immediately commence a study.
• , the uncertainty of our future for steam supply, we need to immediately commence a study.
• to immediately commence a study.
• But we need actions.
• But it directs that the study needs to be performed by a neutral party.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to get some wins here. We need to get some successes.
• But I do think we need to get the assessment, you know, in sooner rather than later.
• But I do think we need to get the assessment, you know, in sooner rather than later.
• There's been studies over the years that have identified the need for these efforts at the state level
• , and then new studies under Getting Out the Facts 3 have also highlighted the need for these types of

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't need any distractions.
• Clarifies that if a special needs person is the caregiver of a non-special-needs person, they can both
• If there's more that we need to do, I'm happy to.
• And this study fits directly within that mission.
• This study fits directly within that mission.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met and first took up CS/HB 567, a broad transportation bill by Rep. McFarland. The bill, as explained, covered a range of transportation policy changes including higher speed limits, local regulation of e-bikes and e-scooters, parking accommodations for pregnant women, advance land acquisition for DOT projects, changes to FDOT contracting, elevation of roads in capacity projects, MPO quality metrics, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. Two amendments were adopted: one added a prohibition on driving too fast through flooded roads and creating excessive wake, and another updated language to allow for future technology in traffic management systems. The strike-all removed several items from the original bill, including utility-right-of-way language, private-public-use airport funding, and an electric vehicle tax redirect, and added MDX board changes. The bill then passed favorably on a recorded vote. The committee next considered CS/HB 1535, also by Rep. McFarland, a lengthy hurricane recovery and preparedness measure. It requires local governments to post storm-preparedness and recovery information online, expands special needs shelter information, mandates emergency management training, improves debris removal planning, and adds provisions for fiscally constrained counties. It also addresses shelter access, rebuilding rules, permitting timelines and fees after storms, homestead rebuilding limits, and election flexibility after disasters, including a process for supervisors of elections to request emergency changes through the Secretary of State. Members asked several questions about local rebuilding ordinances, election “super sites,” and the request/approval process. The bill drew support from several groups, including disability advocates, builders, waste and recycling interests, crane owners, and restaurant and lodging representatives, and it passed favorably. The committee then heard CS/HB 561 and CS/HB 563 from Rep. Cobb on manufacturing. HB 561 would elevate a chief manufacturing officer within the Department of Commerce, create a voluntary Florida manufacturing promotional campaign, and require biennial reporting on manufacturing efforts; an amendment removed the grant portion of the program, and the bill passed favorably with support from industry groups. HB 563 established an annual fee, capped at $100, for participants in the voluntary manufacturing promotional campaign and also passed favorably. Finally, Rep. Spencer presented HB 827, which directs a statewide study on the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on Florida’s workforce, to be updated every three years and developed with business, academic, and local input; it too passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned with notice that the subcommittee would meet again the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Algebra 1 and Grade 10 ELA assessment.
• their assessment calendars, but requires districts to note state versus district assessments.
• Do we not agree that our high school students need sleep and need health issues? And yes, we do.
• what time their high schools need to start.
• I don't know why a kid needs to be up at the...

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and observed a moment of silence for Senator Geraldine Thompson. The committee first took up CS/SB 102, a bill by Senator Gates directing the Department of Education to develop a workforce credential program for students with autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified curriculum, in coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Supporters said the bill would help autistic students gain job skills and workplace safety credentials, while an opponent argued the bill should clearly make participation voluntary, expand to other exceptional student groups, include funding, and add stronger accountability. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 166, the Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools bill by Senator Simon. The bill would reduce or remove several state mandates and give districts more flexibility on testing, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, audits, facilities planning, emergency make-up days, federal fund use, and public VPK oversight. Senators asked about the impact on student proficiency, teacher evaluations, and the transfer of public VPK oversight to districts; Simon said the tests would remain but count as 30 percent of the grade, districts would retain flexibility in evaluation measures, and only public VPK would shift to districts. Public testimony was largely supportive, with some speakers praising reduced testing and local control, while one senator cautioned that Florida still has a math proficiency problem. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 296 by Senator Bradley, which would repeal the 2023 statewide mandate requiring later middle and high school start times and return the decision to local districts, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation and consider later start times. Supporters argued the mandate created transportation, staffing, and scheduling problems and that local control was more practical, while opponents emphasized sleep science and the benefits of later start times for teens. Several senators discussed the tension between research and district resources, and the bill sponsor said the measure preserves the conversation about sleep while allowing local scheduling decisions. CS/SB 296 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with our CSBG funding, by federal statute, we're required to do needs assessments.
• Our last needs assessment was in 2023.
• Our last needs assessment was in 2023, and we had over 3,200 respondents.
• We are, candidly, getting ready to launch our 2026 needs assessment in just a matter of... ...days.
• As the rule stands now, the group recognizes the need to develop a clear process to assess and monitor

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not study all school district splits. There is a threshold of value that we study.
• Next is our appraisal district ratio study.
• what the value study is as they begin to appraise.
• I don't need to. OK, no. OK, great.
• For evaluation Studies at all or the findings.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's my thought that this bill isn't needed.
• I think we need a study that is up to date because of recent advances in autonomous buses and vans.
• all existing studies on comparing these two, and then they would do a study unique to the Phoenix metro
• that would be needed.
• study this idea in a robust way.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, journal approval, and multiple guest introductions, including a pastor, ACLU of Arizona lobby day participants, an architecture advocacy group, a doctor recognized for sleep apnea and dementia care work, and former Senator Frank Antinori. Senator Ortiz also read a proclamation declaring March as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month in Arizona, citing the health and public safety impacts of obstructive sleep apnea and disparities in diagnosis and treatment. The chamber then handled calendar and procedural business, including House messages, committee assignments, and a series of third-reading votes. Several bills passed on party-line or near party-line votes, including SB 1011 on county medical examiners, SB 1017 on health professionals, SB 1170 on drug offenses, SB 1173 on health care institutions, SB 1234 on juvenile court, SB 1275 on criminal diversion programs, SB 1332 on a feasibility study for light rail expansion, SB 1544 on probation, SB 1557 on health professionals, and SB 1585 on sex offender monitoring. Members offered explanations of vote on several measures, with opponents raising concerns about mandatory minimums, juvenile court changes, transit delays, and the need for broader criminal justice or transportation studies. The Senate also considered SCR 1022, a proposed constitutional amendment to change legislative member districts and expand the House. Supporters argued it would improve representation and reduce campaign pressures, while opponents said the idea should first be studied more thoroughly. The resolution passed 16-10. Additional transportation-related bills, including SB 1273 and SB 1274, also passed on reconsideration. The session ended with committee announcements for the next day and adjournment until Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Something our state desperately needs. need in most every part of our state and need in most every part
• questions if needed. questions if needed.
• meet current need partners are needed to meet current need for<01:08:52.159> case<01:08:52.480
• care of their needs.
• their needs, take care of their needs. their needs, take care of their needs.

Bills: HF3738, HF2295, HF3520, HF3666

Keywords: pediatric care, hospital discharge, home care, healthcare accessibility, nursing services, family support, mental health, crisis services, Dakota County, mobile crisis response, public safety, treatment services, rehabilitation, behavioral health fund, client eligibility, home and community-based services, case management, waiver services, county services, disability advocacy

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're just looking to move that to an interim study. Questions? That to an interim study?
• There is opposition to it, but not to the study.
• To the interim study, there's no one—no, for it can be studied, but yes.
• We would have to do a greater in-depth study.
• Congratulations, your study is passed. Thank you.

Summary: The committee met to approve special expenses and then considered two interim study proposals. ISP 2025-069, by Representative Perry and presented by Representative Eaton, would move vehicle sales tax collection from the current registration-based process to the point of sale. Members asked about the current 60-day registration period, the fiscal and administrative impact on DFA, the burden on dealerships, verification and audit issues, and whether the change could affect tax collection or vehicle pricing. DFA said it was neutral on the proposal, noted programming and process changes would be needed, and said the total tax collected would not change, though timing would. The committee approved the ISP and sent it on for research. The committee then took up ISP 2025-071, based on House Bill 1636 from the 2025 session, which would phase out the state soda excise tax over five years if Medicaid trust fund revenue triggers are met. Representative Ray said the bill was intended to continue discussion after the underlying bill failed on the House floor. Members asked about the tax’s annual revenue, its dedication to the Medicaid Trust Fund, and whether the revenue would be replaced. Ray estimated the tax brings in roughly $40 million to $50 million annually and said the proposal did not replace that revenue. DFA was asked to explain how withdrawals from the trust fund are authorized and whether the legislature has oversight, and said it would provide that information later. The committee then adopted the interim study proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know the needs. We need other people to see that, right? That's going to cost a lot of money.
• We need to show the priority of this. Minnesota is the need.
• <00:20:26.000> so all in the same boat we have a need so all in the same boat we have a need
• program to get paid for that assessment program to get paid for that assessment uh<00:29:39.120>
• and responsive to our community's needs and responsive to our community's needs thank thank thank

Keywords: 1187, senate, all