Transcript Highlights:

• Residential treatment centers provide around the clock supervision and care for children with serious

Bills: SB 2041, SB 1777, SB 1681, SB 2311

Keywords: child welfare, foster care, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, Family Code, conservatorship, placement selection, contract residential care, kinship care, relative placement, designated caregiver, best interest of the child, least restrictive setting, placement stability, child protective services, residential treatment, group home, family reunification, Texas foster system, residential care

Transcript Highlights:

• only states that the Florida Attorney General is the exclusive public official with authority to supervise

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met and considered five bills, all of which were reported favorably. The committee first heard SB 1168 by Senator Leek, which increases the penalty for unlawfully installing or using a tracking device or app on another person’s property when done in furtherance of a dangerous crime; an amendment broadened the bill to cover both furtherance of and commission of such crimes. The bill passed unanimously. The committee then approved SB 1286 by Senator Grall, clarifying that parents allowing children to engage in unsupervised activities like biking, walking, or playing outside does not by itself constitute child harm or neglect unless the conduct is reckless and endangers the child. That bill also passed without opposition. The committee next took up CS for SB 1198 by Senator DiCeglie, creating a new statute addressing fraudulent use of gift cards and setting penalties and guidelines for such conduct. Several organizations and businesses, including AARP, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Walgreens, and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 774 by Senator Wright, which requires clerks of court to electronically transmit certain involuntary mental health, substance abuse, and risk protection order paperwork to the county sheriff within six business hours after entry; the bill was presented in response to a fatal delay in serving an ex parte order in Volusia County. An amendment clarified the six-hour requirement applies to business hours, and the bill passed unanimously. Finally, the committee considered CS for SB 806 by Senator Yarbrough, which clarifies that the Florida Attorney General is the exclusive public official with standing to assert the rights of qualified beneficiaries in Florida charitable trusts. Senator Ruson raised concerns about whether the bill could limit out-of-state attorneys general and potentially affect litigation over trust distributions, but said he would support the bill while continuing discussions before Rules. The committee adopted the bill and it was reported favorably. Senator Simon later asked to be recorded in support of SB 1168 and SB 1286, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ARE TRYING TO PULL THROUGH IT AS SUPERVISES HIM A POLICY STANDPOINT YOU AS THE SENATE MAKES THE DETERMINATIONS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cleared the FBI, DOJ, and California's Child Abuse Central Index screen ...can begin working under supervision

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services met, adopted its committee rules, and then considered four items, including two consent bills. The chair opened with remarks about protecting California’s safety net and set limits on testimony. The committee rules were adopted by roll call, and the consent calendar later passed 5-0, with the remaining member’s vote added afterward for a 6-0 final tally on the rules and consent items. AB 276 by Assemblymember Bennett addressed delays in out-of-state child abuse registry background checks for children’s residential agency staff. Supporters, including the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and Casa Pacifica, said long clearance times were worsening staffing shortages and causing qualified applicants to leave, while the bill would allow provisional hiring only after DOJ, FBI, and California Child Abuse Central Index clearance and without unsupervised contact with children. There was no opposition, and the committee approved the bill 5-0, sending it to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. AB 319 by Assemblymember Jackson sought to improve services for foster youth with severe trauma by requiring counties to submit and update detailed plans to the Joint Interagency Resolution Team for providing effective therapeutic interventions in the least restrictive settings. A former foster youth testified in support, and a committee member noted the ongoing shortage of therapists serving foster youth. The bill was approved 5-0 as amended and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. After the consent calendar and remaining votes were completed, the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• is that I have nothing against these tools being used in the presence and maybe under the direct supervision
• c> direct and under the and maybe under the direct and under the and maybe under the direct supervision
• 36.360> a<03:15:36.400> therapist,<03:15:37.400> a<03:15:37.480> trained supervision
• of a therapist, a trained supervision of a therapist, a trained licensed<03:15:38.680> therapist.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• students can't commute on a daily basis, so we do have a dorm that is provided, with overnight supervision
• do have a dorm that is provided so we do have a dorm that is provided overnight<00:30:43.200> supervision
• overnight supervision 24/5. overnight supervision 24/5.

Bills: HF3599, HF3761, HF3523, HF3515, HF573

Keywords: water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, bond issuance, Becker, sewer improvements, sanitation, Hibbing, state bonds, infrastructure funding, capital investment, safety improvements, mobility, U.S. Highway 12, bonds, transportation funding, trails, Prior Lake, bond funding, recreational improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• When someone is released on parole, they have a case manager, they have supervision, they have people
• /c><00:43:08.720> they<00:43:08.960> have<00:43:09.040> a<00:43:09.200> supervision
• , a case manager, they have a supervision, a case manager, they have a supervision, they<00:43:10.079

Bills: SB2094

Keywords: toxic chemicals, environmental action levels, public notice, environmental safety, pollution control, Hawaii State Constitution, public participation, government transparency, environmental health, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2094, which would require state agencies monitoring environmental toxins and pollutants to establish environmental action levels and limit changes to those levels without meeting procedural requirements. The chair recommended passing the bill with amendments, including inserting estimated costs for a secure portal website and webinars into the committee report and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. The motion passed unanimously among those voting, with excused members noted. The committee then considered several other measures and adopted recommendations to pass them with amendments, generally adding technical and clarifying changes and setting a defective date of 2525. SB 2862 was amended to broaden the preamble, make additional appointees confirmable, clarify reporting requirements for gubernatorial appointees, and was held for further discussion. SB 2781 on lei production created a working group to review existing studies and conduct a statewide study of Hawaii’s floriculture industry. SB 3015 adopted California’s definition of PII, applied it to government agencies and political subdivisions, created a private cause of action, and required a compliance report. SB 3230 removed a categorical prohibition on certain third-party project management procurements while preserving state oversight responsibility, in line with procurement office requests. The joint GVO Health and Human Services agenda then focused on two related bills requiring universal changing accommodations in public restrooms. SB 2932 would apply to new state building construction beginning July 1, 2026, and testimony from disability advocates, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and others supported the measure while asking for language clarifying that the requirement applies only where technically feasible and, in some cases, only to state-managed buildings. SB 2268 was described as broader, extending beyond government buildings into the private sector and including a private right of action; witnesses supported the concept but raised implementation concerns, especially for smaller businesses, and requested the same technically infeasible language and other clarifications. Both bills were advanced with amendments, and the committee noted adoption of the recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• specified child-centered locations, including public swimming pools, and aligns enforcement and supervision
• Courts often permit youth to return home following individualized assessment, structured supervision,
• When kids are at parks, they're much more protected and supervised by adults.
• When kids are at parks, they're much more protected and supervised by adults.

Summary: The committee first considered CS/SB 1434 on infill redevelopment. A late-filed strike-all amendment narrowed eligibility to certain contaminated or brownfield properties in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, added adjacency and density/intensity limits, and excluded agricultural land, park land, land outside the urban growth boundary, and land near military installations. The amendment was adopted without opposition, and the bill was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote, with limited support and opposition noted in waived appearance forms. Members then took up CS/CS/SB 212 on sexual offenders and sexual predators. The strike-all added public swimming pools and related child-centered locations to residency and presence restrictions. Testimony was sharply divided: proponents argued the bill would help protect children and law enforcement, while opponents, including treatment experts and homelessness advocates, said there was no empirical evidence the restrictions reduce abuse and warned of retroactive punishment and increased homelessness. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 8-1. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after an amendment allowing certain enclaves adjacent to interstates to be developed for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential uses and clarifying exclusions for protected areas. Opponents argued it would weaken zoning and comprehensive plans, while supporters framed it as a property-rights measure; the bill was reported favorably 10-0. SB 554 on nonprofit corporations, a technical update to nonprofit law modeled on prior for-profit corporate revisions, also passed unanimously after supportive waived testimony. Later, the committee approved SB 1338 on charitable giving, which creates a donor remedy for endowment restrictions and limits state reporting burdens on certain regulated or exempt organizations; members discussed cy pres and the sponsor said further changes would be worked out later. CS/SB 532 on court fees was amended to let clerks retain all collections above revenue projections rather than half, with supporters saying clerks have been underfunded for years; it passed 10-0. The committee also favorably reported SB 218 on land use regulations, which restores normal land-use authority to counties not affected by recent hurricanes, and CS/SB 692 on cybersecurity standards and liability, which creates a presumption against liability for entities that comply with cybersecurity frameworks and reporting requirements; the cybersecurity bill drew concerns about retroactivity and the adequacy of compliance incentives but passed 9-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a supervising staff attorney at the A and thank you for allowing me to testify today.
• I'm a supervising<00:05:38.960> staff<00:05:39.199> attorney<00:05:39.520> at<00
• :05:39.680> the<00:05:40.240> A<00:05:40.400> and supervising staff attorney at
• the A and supervising staff attorney at the A and thank<00:05:40.800> you<00:05:40.880> for

Bills: SB2444, SB2446, SB2450, SB2453, SB2461, SB2457, SB2462, SB2313, SB2528, SB2532, SB2571, SB2678, SB2529

Keywords: real property, exemption, attachment, execution, consumer protection, financial security, inflation adjustment, head of family, senior citizens, Intermediate Court of Appeals, judges, Hawaii judiciary, court membership, legal system, presidential preference primary, elections, political parties, Hawaii voting, 2028 election, voting

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure. The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing. SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute. Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is so teachers and adults in charge of supervising the student are aware of the student's condition
• This is so teachers and adults in charge<00:05:50.240> of<00:05:50.440> supervising<00:
• 05:51.200> the<00:05:51.320> student<00:05:52.120> are charge of supervising the
• student are charge of supervising the student are aware<00:05:52.640> of<00:05:52.720> the

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We work jointly with the federal agencies and supervising state-chartered banks, as federal agencies
• federal and we work jointly with the federal agencies<01:29:09.840> and<01:29:10.080> supervising
• <01:29:10.639> state<01:29:10.960> chartered agencies and supervising state chartered
• agencies and supervising state chartered banks<01:29:12.480> as<01:29:12.800> federal<

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 8:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The hearing began with the State Board of Architecture’s budget presentation. The executive director described the board’s mission to regulate architecture, landscape architecture, and certified interior design to protect public health and safety. He highlighted the board’s consolidated structure, license totals, high reciprocity rate, recent rule changes to reduce barriers to practice, and a proposed FY 2027 budget of $368,123, which included a 5% staff salary increase and higher operating costs. He also noted a newly identified need to modernize the licensing system, estimated at at least $25,000, and asked that the board not be reduced below the requested level. A board member also praised the small staff’s responsiveness and effectiveness. The State Board of Public Accountancy then presented its budget and policy requests. The executive director said the board regulates CPAs and CPA firms, oversees the CPA exam process, and has about 3,600 active individual licensees and 800 firms. The board requested only a 3% compensation increase for staff, plus a special request to allow an audit supervisor to repay the cost of a Becker review course through payroll deduction as part of succession planning. She also described a board-approved waiver program that began January 1, eliminating application fees for CPA exam candidates and retakes; 42 candidates had used the waiver in the first two weeks. In response to questions, she said the board does not assist CPAs with IRS disputes, but it does investigate complaints from the IRS, SEC, PCAOB, or others. Finally, a representative presented for the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. She explained that the board regulates licensed counselors and psychotherapy providers, meets frequently, and has two staff members. The board’s main request was for additional investigative capacity: a full-time investigator and related funding, because complaints are currently handled by part-time investigators, contractors, and sometimes board members, which can require recusals from hearings. She said the state auditor had recently flagged complaint backlogs at regulatory agencies, supporting the request. The board also sought funding for a contractual administrative position, salary progressions, and a one-time technology increase to modify its new licensing system for the counseling compact and better search functions. Members questioned the board about its large cash balance, which was reported at about $860,000, and whether it should provide fee relief or other benefits to members; the presenter said the board would look into that and noted that revenues had increased significantly in recent years, partly due to out-of-state and telehealth-related licensing demand.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are adults with serious mental illness that need supervised and structured care.
• need<00:04:21.759> uh mental illness um that need uh mental illness um that need uh supervised
• <00:04:24.400> Um supervised and structured uh care.
• Um supervised and structured uh care.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services heard a presentation on Kentucky personal care homes from representatives of the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities, Management Systems of Kentucky, and Elder Care Partners. Witnesses described personal care homes as a lower-cost, 24/7 residential option for adults with serious mental illness who do not qualify for nursing home care but need structured support, medication assistance, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and supervision. They said the homes are regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, are not Medicaid-funded, and rely on a state supplementation rate of about $50.70 per day, which they argued no longer covers operating costs because of rising food, labor, insurance, and maintenance expenses. The presenters said the sector has shrunk significantly over time, citing a drop from 64 homes in 2002 to 34 today among the homes serving this population, with 30 closures over 23 years and two more closures since August. They argued that the closures have contributed to homelessness, hospital overcrowding, and longer stays in psychiatric hospitals, and they gave examples of residents who had spent many months in hospitals before stabilizing in a personal care home. One provider also described spending more than $800,000 on capital improvements after acquiring Kentucky facilities and said reimbursement is too low to sustain safe operations. They asked for an incremental reimbursement increase over two years and said they have also proposed an assisted-living model for people with mental illness. Members asked about staffing, reimbursement, and the number of people still needing placement. The presenters said there is no requirement for licensed or certified staff in these facilities, though some homes use medication technicians and occasional LPNs. They estimated they are currently serving about 2,000 residents and said they receive roughly 30 referrals for every one person admitted, with many referrals involving people whose needs exceed the personal care home level. Senator Meredith and Representative Fleming said any funding request would need documentation of savings and corresponding budget offsets, while Representative Duval expressed support and asked about possible staffing and program improvements. The witnesses also compared Kentucky’s flat-rate reimbursement to a more individualized reimbursement model in Minnesota, saying a needs-based system would better match staffing and reduce hospitalizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I can just summarize what those article 8 and article 5 provisions are: the community supervision
• it's what those article 8 and article 51 it's the<01:15:22.159> community<01:15:22.719> supervision
• <01:15:23.360> funding the community supervision funding the community supervision funding

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• is used to address that, and insurance companies pay a fee to the Insurance Department for that supervision
• department insurance department insurance department for<00:41:05.440> that<00:41:05.760> supervision
• for that supervision. for that supervision.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up several insurance-related bills. Senate Bill 47, concerning health insurance policies related to the birth of the mother, was moved ought to pass with no amendments and was approved on a 6-0 vote. Senate Bill 121, dealing with Medicare Advantage plan notice requirements, was amended to reduce the required notice from 120 days to 90 days and to remove a federal citation; the department said the change was to avoid conflict with federal notice rules. After discussion about the stress caused when carriers leave the Medicare Advantage market, the committee voted ought to pass as amended, 7-0. The committee then heard a detailed explanation of the continuing care retirement communities bill, described by the Insurance Department as a rewrite of a 1989 law to modernize oversight, require quarterly financial reporting as an early warning system, create a bill of rights for residents, and clarify issues such as entrance fees and removal of dangerous residents. A member recalled the bill’s original purpose as protecting solvency because residents pay substantial upfront fees. The bill was moved ought to pass and approved unanimously, 7-0. The final major discussion concerned a pooled risk organizations bill. Members debated whether oversight should remain with the Secretary of State or be moved to the Insurance Department. Supporters of moving it argued the issue is solvency, citing concerns about reserve levels, prior insolvencies, and the Insurance Department’s expertise. Opponents said the Secretary of State’s office had historically overseen the entities and that the bill would fundamentally change how they operate. A straw vote favored an amendment, but the committee ultimately voted to retain the bill for further work, with plans to revisit it later in the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these women were not under medical supervision.
• Women who take abortion pills without medical guidance supervision are at risk for severe complications
• any organization that helped fund her transport so that she could receive safe medical care. ...supervised
• Until recently, these pills were largely taken under medical supervision with strict dosage, meaning

Bills: HB229, HB229, HB3990, HB5082, HB5510

Keywords: HB 229, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county dues, county association, state association of counties, lobbying, lobbyist, public funds, taxpayer lawsuit, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Government Code Chapter 556, Local Government Code Section 89.002, legislative advocacy, municipal government, county government, city government, special district

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a definition of clinical supervision that we're adding that aligns things, and then it makes
• There's a definition of clinical supervision that we're adding that aligns things, and then it makes
• There's a definition of clinical supervision that we're adding that aligns things, and then it makes
• There's a definition of clinical supervision that we're adding that aligns things, and then it makes

Bills: HF1662, HF2115, HF2159, HF1095, HF2160

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• This allows parole agents to focus more closely on their supervision responsibilities.
• does track the amount of people that would have come to prison but are kind of subject to county supervision
• state does track the amount of people that would have come to prison but are subject to county supervision

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review May Revision proposals for several departments and emphasized that no votes would be taken that day. The Legislative Analyst’s Office opened with a warning that the state budget is balanced only through one-time resources and still has structural deficits, recommending that the Legislature avoid new ongoing spending and instead preserve reserves and other solutions. The Judicial Council then presented proposals for language access and interpreter services, appellate court security, a backfill to the state court facilities construction fund, and an extension of the lactation-room mandate; Finance supported the language access item with reporting language and supported keeping the court facilities backfill. Members raised concerns about judicial pay freezes, judge vacancies, and uneven judge allocations across counties, and also asked about the cost and completion of courthouse lactation rooms and remote-hearing infrastructure. The Board of State and Community Corrections items focused on $10 million one-time grants for missing and murdered Indigenous people and for a human trafficking vertical prosecution program. The LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether the Tribal Nations Grant Fund could support the MMIP work, while Finance said it preferred General Fund support and wanted more review before any fund swap. On the human trafficking grant, Finance said the need was clear based on reported cases and California’s share of hotline reports. Members strongly supported MMIP funding and discussed whether ongoing funding would be needed beyond the one-time proposal, while also debating whether BSEC or OES should administer the prosecution grants. The Department of Justice presented antitrust litigation funding, Medi-Cal fraud and elder abuse staffing, organized retail criminal enterprise case completion, and a continuous appropriation for the Victims of Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. The LAO raised concerns about the Unfair Competition Law Fund’s solvency and recommended rejecting that portion unless DOJ could show the fund could support it without General Fund repayment, and it opposed the continuous appropriation in favor of more legislative oversight. Finance said the fund would remain solvent under current projections and defended the continuous appropriation as necessary to pay victims promptly. Members also clarified that the Medi-Cal fraud unit targets providers, not beneficiaries, and asked about delays in restitution payments. A lengthy portion of the hearing covered CDCR’s May Revision package and the Boston Consulting Group cost-savings effort. CDCR described revised savings from workforce optimization, workers’ compensation, and procurement, but members repeatedly expressed frustration that the promised savings had fallen far short of earlier estimates. The LAO recommended deeper cuts to some parole positions, more detail on proposed eliminations and contract changes, and caution about counting unallocated future savings. CDCR also presented population projections showing continued declines and the LAO again urged the administration to close a prison to reduce ongoing costs. The committee also heard proposals on workers’ compensation, Corcoran honor housing, incarcerated firefighter pay, agricultural food purchasing requirements, menopause care, mental health receiver staffing, resource teams, crisis intervention teams, medical classification staffing, and AI note-taking in electronic health records, with the LAO generally recommending limited-term approvals and reporting requirements while Finance defended ongoing funding and said it was open to additional reporting language.

Transcript Highlights:

• though, if you don’t have an optometrist in any of those four counties, I assume they require some supervision
• Who’s going to supervise them? Correct.
• So there is such a huge need, and faculty is a challenge in terms of finding the right supervision.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard testimony and took up three main budget areas: the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), differentiated assistance and the statewide system of support, and universal school meals with kitchen infrastructure grants. Public commenters and agency witnesses generally supported continued or increased funding for ELOP, with several groups urging stabilization of Tier 2 rates, more support for older youth, and preservation of equity guardrails and local flexibility. On school meals and kitchen infrastructure, testimony broadly supported universal meals and additional kitchen funding, while the LAO questioned the need for a fourth round of kitchen grants and recommended rejecting it until clearer unmet-need data are available. For ELOP, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to provide $4.7 billion ongoing for the program and $62.4 million ongoing to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended instead fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579 and tying future changes to program requirements. CDE said the program is showing positive results in attendance and math, but data on enrollment patterns, TK participation, and some overlap with other programs are still being collected. Members raised concerns about possible double-funding with ACEs and 21st Century programs, the lack of site-specific data, and whether the current structure best targets students most in need; the issue was left open. For differentiated assistance, CCEE outlined the current statewide system of support and the Governor’s proposal to shift to universal and targeted assistance with a three-year cycle. Finance said the proposal would provide more stable county office funding, broaden universal supports, and give the State Board more flexibility to revise eligibility criteria; it also proposed $131.9 million ongoing for universal and targeted assistance. The LAO objected to changing the system before the State Board finalizes the new performance criteria and recommended revisiting the proposal later, while several members worried that a three-year entry window and broader board authority could weaken subgroup-based equity protections. The committee also discussed school meal funding, with Finance proposing $1.8 billion for universal meals and $100 million ongoing plus $100 million one-time for kitchen infrastructure, while CDE emphasized ongoing needs, deferred maintenance, and the importance of flexibility for innovative strategies such as food pantries. The committee held the issues open and invited additional public comment before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• networks, reimbursement of pre-licensed providers who provide mental health services under the supervision
• networks, reimbursement of pre-licensed providers who provide mental health services under the supervision
• networks, reimbursement of pre-licensed providers who provide mental health services under the supervision

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received a series of committee reports and appointments. Reports included favorable action on several bills from Finance, State Veterans and Military Affairs, and Business, Labor, and Technology, along with a recommendation to place some measures on the consent calendar. The chamber also moved through a long set of personal-privilege tributes and April Fools’ Day remarks recognizing Senate President James Coleman, the House, and various guests and organizations, with a few lighthearted fines announced for members participating in the joke tributes. On third reading, the Senate considered three consent-calendar House bills. House Bill 1024, concerning voluntary relinquishment of a child and extending the age from 72 hours to 30 days, passed 35-0. House Bill 1002, dealing with access to behavioral health providers and related licensing and network participation changes, passed 30-5 after several senators recorded no votes. House Bill 1023, clarifying a political party’s liability for certain accessibility requirements related to ballot access for persons with disabilities, passed 35-0. The Senate then took up House Bill 1259, an early childhood services measure affecting licensing exemptions, reimbursement, universal preschool funding, eligibility, reporting, and advisory bodies. A substantive third-reading amendment was adopted 35-0 after discussion about the bill’s treatment of 3-year-olds, and the bill then passed 32-3. House Bill 1058, providing protections for minors featured in digital content, passed 33-2. The chamber also granted, then withdrew, leave for the Joint Budget Committee to meet while the Senate was in session, and later moved into Committee of the Whole for second reading of House Bill 1120, a mobile-home taxation and delinquent property tax measure, where the Finance Committee report was adopted and an amendment was discussed to align legal-disability language and redemption-period provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just a real quick overview, the committee substitute defines supervision standards for student involvement
• Child welfare is already heavily regulated and supervised, and the additional exemption would not negatively
• Child welfare is already heavily regulated and supervised, and the additional exemption would not negatively

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00 Roll Call 00:02 HB 526 Discussion 01:12 HB 526 Vote 37:51 HB 424 Discussion 41:41 HB 424 Vote 44:40 HB 459 Discussion 45:57 HB 459 Vote 47:26 Adjournment 48:21, 958, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 526, while House Bill 254 was removed from the agenda at the sponsor’s request. HB 526 would make bar membership and dues voluntary for Kentucky attorneys, and the sponsor argued it protects constitutional rights, prevents compelled association, and would not stop the Kentucky Supreme Court or Kentucky Bar Association from offering services such as CLE, ethics support, and lawyer assistance programs. He also argued Kentucky lawyers should not be forced to fund speech or activities they may disagree with, and urged passage of the bill. Representatives of the Kentucky Bar Association, including its president and the chair of the Young Lawyers Division, opposed the bill. They said the KBA is an arm of the Supreme Court rather than a private association, and that mandatory dues support nonpolitical services such as free continuing legal education, legal research, the Kentucky Lawyers Assistance Program, ethics guidance, mentorship, disaster relief work, and the Legal Food Frenzy. They warned that changing to a voluntary system would reduce infrastructure, increase costs for lawyers, and potentially shift more regulatory and service burdens to the Supreme Court. Members questioned whether the bill would actually prevent the KBA from continuing its programs and asked about other states’ bar structures. The sponsor and supporters pointed to Indiana and other states with voluntary bar membership, while KBA witnesses said Kentucky’s current system is efficient and constitutional and that many services are not truly free but are funded through dues. The discussion became heated at points over whether KBA testimony itself constituted political speech, and the chair intervened to keep the meeting moving. The transcript ends during member questions, with no final vote on HB 526 shown.