Transcript Highlights:

• PERS 2, your retirement age is 65 and 5.
• For PERS, it's age 53 with 20 years of service.
• There is an age when the physical risk is There is an age when the physical risk is impossible for a
• The normal retirement age of 65 and early retirement age of 55 is the same for both plans.
• of service credit after age 44.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The grooming process starts young, and we need to equip kids in age-appropriate ways at a young age.
• I just had a clarification on the age. So it says past the age of 25 if they were already enrolled.
• ever in care at any age.
• So there is an age limit for homeless students; 25 is the upper age limit for that.
• After the age of 25, I'm sorry? Correct.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1159, which would expand and modernize student data privacy protections, extend similar protections to higher education students, and create limited enforcement mechanisms. The author and supporters argued that ed tech now collects far more sensitive information than students and families realize, including health, location, and identity-related data, and said the bill is needed to address AI, subpoenas, data theft, and misuse. Some higher education and bookstore interests raised concerns about definitions and preserving ordinary student communications, but committee members generally supported the bill and emphasized protecting sensitive information; the bill was moved on a due pass motion to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection Committee and placed on call. The committee also heard AB 1171, which would protect and stabilize the Part-Time Community College Faculty Health Insurance Program by keeping funds dedicated to that purpose and requiring districts to begin negotiations by 2030. The author and supporters said part-time faculty often lack employer-sponsored coverage despite teaching most community college courses, while opponents from the Community College League and administrators argued the measure was premature because participation is growing and the Legislature should retain budget flexibility. Several senators discussed the tension between budget discretion and honoring the state’s commitment to faculty health care; the bill was moved on a due pass motion to Senate Appropriations and placed on call. AB 1581 followed, proposing changes to improve identification and reporting of Native American students in CalPADS through tribal affiliation data. Supporters said current systems severely undercount Native students and that better data would improve resources and accountability, while members raised implementation questions about multi-tribal identities and consultation with tribes. The bill was moved to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee then heard AB 1665, requiring mental health training for school sports coaches. The author and a psychiatrist witness said coaches are trusted adults who already receive training on physical safety and should also be trained to recognize mental health warning signs and connect students to help. Support came from school, health, and sports organizations, with no opposition, and the bill was moved to Appropriations and placed on call. Finally, AB 1766 was heard, expanding human trafficking prevention education from grades 7-12 to K-12 and adding content on online exploitation, grooming, and digital abuse. The author, a survivor witness, and a foundation representative described the need for earlier, age-appropriate prevention education and stronger staff awareness; supporters included educators, school districts, and industry groups, with no opposition. Senators praised the testimony and the bill’s focus on prevention, and a motion was made to move it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as Senator Swisinski said, you know, Ruby Bridges and him are the same age.
• </c> Ruby Bridges and him are the same age. Ruby Bridges and him are the same age.
• Of of and I happened to ask a couple of them that were like my age, is everybody on board?
• They're the mechanics and the mill workers and the secretaries and the custodians and all the people
• They're the mechanics<00:48:46.319><c> and</c><00:48:46.559><c> the</c><00:48:46.720><c> mill</c><00:

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> addressing what the AG addressing what the AG raised<00:52:36.880><c> as</c><00:52:37.080><c> potential
• </c><00:53:43.720><c> but</c> replace existing notice mechanisms but replace existing notice mechanisms
• We'll be adopting AG<01:06:12.359><c> amendments</c><01:06:12.880><c> also</c><01:06:13.200><c> to</c
• ><01:06:13.400><c> add</c><01:06:13.760><c> a</c><01:06:13.840><c> savings</c> AG amendments also to
• add a savings AG amendments also to add a savings clause<01:06:14.640><c> confirming</c><01:06:15.480

Committee: House Labor

Summary: The House Committee on Labor met on February 19, 2026, and heard a series of bills largely focused on public employment, staffing, and professional licensing. Early measures included HB 2276 and HB 2472, both relating to Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries, which were supported by trust fund representatives and received no opposition or questions. The committee also heard HB 1714 HD1 on housing, where the Hawaii Public Housing Authority testified with comments and the Deputy Attorney General raised concerns about the scope of autonomy, civil service, collective bargaining, and a possible separation-of-powers issue involving legislative approval of long-term contracts. The committee then considered several personnel and civil service bills. HB 2325 HD1, relating to civil service exempt positions at DLNR, drew support from DLNR and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, but HGEA opposed it and urged the department to seek other recruitment and retention solutions while keeping employees in civil service. HB 1541, relating to Department of Health positions, was supported by DOH on the grounds that the positions serve vulnerable populations and require specialized expertise, while HGEA opposed. HB 2140 HD1, relating to essential permanent positions, received support from OPSD, HGEA, and the Chamber of Commerce, with written comments from the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. HB 2315 HD1, relating to state employment benefits, was strongly supported by DOH, UPW, and HGEA as a recruitment and retention incentive; members questioned the pilot program, and DOH explained it would allow employees to cash out vacation leave earlier than current policy allows. The committee also heard HB 2295 on government contracting, with DOE support not present and IBEW 1186 in opposition. HB 1720, relating to professional engineers, drew strong support from the City and County of Honolulu’s planning department, which argued the bill would help with affordable housing review and only affect eligibility to sit for the licensure exam, but strong opposition from engineering industry and licensing board representatives, who warned it would lower licensing standards and harm reciprocity; members questioned both sides about plan review experience and licensure requirements. HB 2367, relating to employment earnings and pay transparency, received strong support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, AAUW, the Commission on the Status of Women, and others, who said transparency helps small businesses and retention, while written opposition came from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and NFIB. Finally, HB 1935, relating to personal information, drew comments from the Attorney General and the Campaign Spending Commission about implementation burdens and disclosure requirements, with UPW supporting the home-address redaction portion but opposing the broader disclosure process; additional written testimony was noted from OIP, the League of Women Voters, Public Press Law Center, HGEA, and DCCA.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in a modern age, so electronic record-keeping is pretty standard now.
• Of those, not all of them are going to give birth, or because of age...
• Of those, not all of them are going to give birth, or because of age, we anticipate that only about 40%
• Industry and the National Electrical Contractors Association, representing thousands of electrical and mechanical
• Apprenticeship is the ideal mechanism to fill these vacancies and increase labor law enforcement.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• If the person is not on the premises, by leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion
• detainer notices must be served either by personal delivery, leaving a copy with a person of suitable age
• Should we pursue some type of financing mechanism, something that allows us to bond against, to put in
• backed by insurance through a warranty company, and then civil lawsuits are still available if these mechanisms
• Stack flats are especially important because they provide that single-floor living for seniors aging

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related bills. Representative Connors testified on two notice-service bills: HB 2452, which would change manufactured/mobile home rent increase notices so they are served like other MHLTA notices rather than by certified mail, and HB 2664, which would remove certified-mail requirements for unlawful detainer and related notices. Connors said the current certified-mail rules are causing notices to go unclaimed and creating unnecessary costs for housing providers, while staff explained the bills would allow service by regular mail in the same manner as other notices. Public testimony on both bills was generally supportive, emphasizing reduced cost and better delivery, though one witness on HB 2452 urged allowing electronic notice options as well. The committee also heard SHB 2269, which clarifies that middle housing in limited areas of more intensive rural development may be served by either a public sewer system or a large on-site sewage system in rural counties, while non-rural counties would still require public sewer service. The sponsor and supporters said the bill resolves ambiguity created by prior legislation and gives county planners more flexibility; questions focused on what kinds of systems and uses would qualify. EHB 1687 was heard next and would expand the housing cooperation law to allow cities and counties to assist social housing public development authorities. Representative Reed and supporters said the bill would give Seattle and potentially other jurisdictions a tool to support permanently public, mixed-income housing with land, infrastructure, and other assistance. In executive session, the committee adopted a due-pass recommendation for EHB 1345 after Senator Gaynor withdrew an amendment that would have removed water-withdrawal and metering requirements for detached ADUs outside urban growth areas. The committee also adopted a striking amendment and moved ESHB 1500 and EHB 1501 forward, both with updated timelines and clarifications related to common-interest-community resale certificates and owner inquiries. Amendments to ESHB 1974 on land bank authorities were rejected, including proposals to remove private negotiation and tax preferences, and the bill was sent to Ways and Means. Finally, SHB 2288 on scissors stairs was advanced without amendment. Later, the committee heard HB 2304, which would expand the 2-10 warranty option to certain four-story stacked-flat condominium projects; testimony from builders, housing advocates, and the Office of Insurance Commissioner supported it as a way to reduce liability costs and increase condo supply. The committee also took testimony on EHB 1687 and HB 2664, and then closed the hearing on SHB 2452 after hearing support from housing providers for easing manufactured-home rent notice service requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eric died at the age of 40 years old of occupational heart disease.
• Eric died at the age of 40 years old of occupational heart disease.
• The AG enforcement and civil penalties add disproportionate risk to our stores.
• There's no age limitation. There's no age limitation. And I'm asking, what are we doing here?
• age 21 plus and banning 7-OH.

Bills: SB5379 , SB6106 , SB6147 , SB6180 , SB5927 , SB6287

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Transcript Highlights:

• Correctional Oversight Office and transforming legislative intent into a functional accountability mechanism
• This is just the shell, so it really only impacts my client if, at a later date, we figure out a mechanism
• , and so there could be a mechanism where they can assign the rights.
• Show our ages around here.
• But it gives us the funding mechanism. You’ll all see the study.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several appropriations and policy bills, beginning with HB 263, which would appropriate $1.5 million to fund the Independent Correctional Oversight Office. Representative Blackman argued the office is needed to address serious problems in the Department of Corrections, including lawsuits, staffing shortages, injuries, and safety concerns, and said he was open to shifting existing dollars to cover the cost. A supportive witness from Justice Action Network said the funding would make the oversight office operational and is a small investment compared with the department’s overall budget. The bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 17-1 vote. The committee then considered HB 2993, as amended, which would let the Department of Public Safety spend money on legal services independent of the Attorney General and move $5 million from the Consumer Protection/Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund. Speaker Montenegro said the bill was intended to support law enforcement and shift resources toward frontline public safety work. The amendment changed the destination of the $5 million from the Peace Officers Training Fund to GITEM, and the bill passed 11-7. HB 2271 followed, dealing with firefighter cancer insurance reimbursement and rate deviations for insurers. Witnesses described it as a technical, unfinished consensus measure meant to bring fire districts into the existing cancer reimbursement structure without changing claim handling for firefighters. Members repeatedly noted more work was needed, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation on a 16-1-1 vote. HB 2416 appropriated $20 million to DPS for local border support, including law enforcement positions, prosecution and detention costs, and equipment. Sheriffs and the Arizona Sheriffs Association testified in support, saying the funding has been used for drug interdiction, fentanyl seizures, and joint task forces, while opponents argued the money should go elsewhere. The bill passed 11-6-1. HB 2692, a procurement bill, would create or revise rules for construction delivery methods, including one-step competition and progressive design-build for federally funded public infrastructure projects. Construction and procurement stakeholders said it was a long-negotiated consensus measure, while some members worried about taxpayer risk and wanted more information; it passed 10-7-1. The committee also amended and passed HB 2478, which creates the Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes and funds it with Classroom Site Fund dollars to study K-12 accountability, standards, graduation requirements, early childhood education, and a possible trade pathways diploma. Supporters said Arizona needs a broader conversation about student outcomes and school accountability, while opponents questioned the funding source and whether the work should instead be done by existing education agencies. The amended bill passed 11-7. Finally, HB 4044 was introduced to create a Public Safety Parity Fund for DPS and Corrections salaries using proceeds from forfeited digital assets and interest from the Budget Stabilization Fund; the sponsor and a troopers association witness said it would help address long-standing pay parity and vacancy problems, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• correctional oversight office and transforming legislative intent into a functional accountability mechanism
• So there could be a mechanism where they could assign the rights...
• And there's fire districts underneath, and so there could be a mechanism where they can assign the rights
• Show our ages around here.
• But it gives us the funding mechanism. You'll all see the study.

Bills: HB2063 , HB2271 , HB2416 , HB2478 , HB2593 , HB2692 , HB2813 , HB2992 , HB2993 , HB4044

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, firefighters, insurance rates, workers' compensation, firefighter cancer reimbursement, rate deviations, cost analysis, premiums, border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, immigration, education reform, K-12

Transcript Highlights:

• mission is to support the promotion and development of Kentucky tourism, arts, and heritage as a mechanism
• c><00:02:42.599><c> Heritage</c><00:02:43.440><c> as</c><00:02:43.560><c> a</c><00:02:43.760><c> mechanism
• </c> Tourism Arts and Heritage as a mechanism Tourism Arts and Heritage as a mechanism to<00:02:44.480
• Kentucky tourism serves as a mechanism for driving economic growth in communities within all 120 counties
• Kentucky Tourism serves as a mechanism Kentucky Tourism serves as a mechanism for<00:03:04.159><c> driving

Summary: The committee met for its second Budget Review on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Members then heard a presentation from the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Tourism on the 1% tourism marketing fund. Witnesses explained that the fund supports statewide tourism promotion, advertising, research, regional marketing, and matching grants to local tourism commissions, and that it cannot be used for capital construction. They reported that the General Assembly and governor increased appropriations in the 2024 session, adding $3 million in FY25 and $7 million in FY26, and set aside funding for the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority, the National Quilt Museum, and the Southern Kentucky Tourism Initiative. Tourism officials emphasized that Kentucky tourism is a major economic driver, citing 2023 figures of $13.8 billion in economic impact, 79.3 million visitors, $9.7 billion in direct spending, more than 95,000 jobs supported, and nearly $1 billion in state and local tax revenue. They said the department now uses targeted digital and over-the-top advertising in selected domestic and international markets, with 62% of media placements digital and 80% of the budget spent out of state. Members asked about market selection, how the department measures return on investment, and what attracts visitors from places such as Dallas, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.; officials said research shows a mix of family visits, outdoor recreation, and varied Kentucky offerings, and that 81% of overnight visitors are repeat visitors. They also discussed the potential impact of tariffs and trade tensions on bourbon-related tourism and international visitation, especially from Canada, and officials said they were monitoring the situation with U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA. The committee then heard from Kentucky State Parks officials on capital projects funded through HJR 76, HJR 56, and House Bill 6. They said they are providing quarterly project reports and have been meeting regularly with the Finance Cabinet’s engineering and contract staff. The presentation focused on campground utilities, broadband, and structural upgrades, including $40 million for campground improvements across the park system, with completed bathhouse renovations at Barren River and Nolin Lake and additional projects underway or in planning. Officials said the work is based on camper survey feedback, such as requests for better Wi-Fi, sewer and electric upgrades, frost-free spigots, and improved site layouts, and noted that the My Old Kentucky Home campground project is under construction and expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently in law, there's no mechanism to recall warrants, only to issue them.
• It gives you suggestions on the age and the weight and all of that. No, we don't have that.
• That's not in this bill, no age and weight. It's not in the bill.
• So we do need a mechanism.
• So we do need a mechanism.

Bills: HR72 , HR73 , HR74 , HR75 , HR76 , HR77 , HR78 , HR79 , HR80 , HR81 , HR82 , HR83 , HCR36 , HCR37 , HCR38 , HCR39 , HCR40 , HCR41 , HB368 , HB433 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1019 , HB1020 , HB1021 , HB1022 , HB1023 , HB1024 , HB1025 , HB1026 , HB1027 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1030 , HB1031 , HB1032 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1035 , HB1036 , HB1037 , HB1038 , HB1039 , HB1040 , HB1041 , HB1042 , HB1043 , HB1044 , HB1045 , HB1046 , HB1047 , HB1048 , HB1049 , HB1050 , HB1051 , HB1052 , HB1053 , HB1054 , HB1055 , HB1056 , HB1057 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1060 , HB1061 , HB1062 , HB1063 , HB1064 , HB1065 , HB1066 , HB1067 , HB1068 , HB1069 , HB1070 , HB1071 , HB1072 , HB1073 , HB1074 , HB1075 , HB1076 , HB1077 , HB1078 , HB1079 , HB1080 , HB1081 , HB1082 , HB1083 , HB1084 , HR70 , HR71 , HCR35 , HB31 , HB326 , HB1013 , HB1014 , HB1015 , HB1016 , SB192 , SB196 , SB198 , SB203 , SB204 , SB214 , SB216 , SB257 , SB291 , SB383 , HB13 , HB23 , HB25 , HB32 , HB41 , HB42 , HB90 , HB120 , HB121 , HB122 , HB127 , HB138 , HB139 , HB141 , HB179 , HB187 , HB213 , HB247 , HB286 , HB332 , HB344 , HB357 , HB367 , HB370 , HB462 , HB505 , HB527 , HB537 , HB605 , HB680 , HB681 , HB725 , HB780 , HB782 , HB847 , HB892 , HB911 , HB916 , HB1012 , HR15 , HR20 , HCR14 , HB53 , HB57 , HB64 , HB102 , HB106 , HB111 , HB137 , HB152 , HB155 , HB177 , HB238 , HB256 , HB258 , HB337 , HB359 , HB363 , HB386 , HB434 , HB546 , HB557 , HB584 , HB661 , HB697 , HB726 , HB727 , HB747 , HB756 , HB758 , HB759 , HB765 , HB767 , HB825 , HB858 , HB930 , HB941 , HB957 , HB964 , HB58 , HB69 , HB93 , HB166 , HB199 , HB201 , HB202 , HB218 , HB223 , HB224 , HB231 , HB235 , HB246 , HB338 , HB349 , HB352 , HB379 , HB405 , HB429 , HB535 , HB547 , HB577 , HB588 , HB626 , HB636 , HB652 , HB653 , HB669 , HB688 , HB691 , HB721 , HB738 , HB806 , HB851 , HB857 , HB861 , HB889 , HB904 , HB907 , HB908 , HB929 , HB1009 , HB868 , HB119 , HB140 , HB739 , HB842 , HB875 , HB919 , HB61 , HB185 , HB233 , HB613 , HB848 , HB52 , HB228 , HB289 , HB735 , HB796 , HB722 , HB284 , HB301 , HB827 , HB953 , HB901 , HB9 , HB46 , HB193 , HB400 , HB436 , HB468 , HB570 , HB582 , HB733 , HB746 , HB923 , HB952

Summary: The House met on March 26, 2026, established a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a large number of introductions, resolutions, and committee reports. The chamber recognized Women of the Storm on its 20th anniversary, honored Saint-Amant FFA for winning a national coastal restoration championship, and later recognized Elevate Louisiana. The House also received Senate bills on topics including freshwater fishing limits, bridge preservation, emergency medical services, ambulance reimbursement, eye care coverage, and other matters, and introduced numerous House resolutions and bills covering education, ethics, transportation, elections, public records, criminal law, and appropriations. Several measures were referred to committees or were allowed to lie over, while some resolutions were adopted without objection. The House then considered and passed a series of bills, many by wide margins. Criminal justice and public safety measures included HB 53, adding illegal gambling as a RICO predicate offense; HB 57, allowing courts to consider criminal histories when issuing temporary restraining orders; HB 64, authorizing magistrates to recall arrest warrants; HB 102, creating second-degree cruelty to the elderly and persons with infirmities; HB 106, requiring written parental consent before melatonin is administered to children; HB 137, strengthening penalties and school notification procedures for terroristic threats against schools; HB 152, updating controlled dangerous substances schedules; HB 155, restricting drone use near the Capitol; HB 177, allowing retired court reporters to return on contract; and HB 727, allowing burning of certain untreated construction lumber and wood mats. Members also approved HB 11, adding associate degrees to sentence-diminution eligibility, and HB 726, increasing penalties for abandoning vessels, with discussion noting the need for future funding to remove derelict boats. Education and workforce-related bills also advanced, including HB 238, easing ethics restrictions so former school board members who are certified teachers or school psychologists can return to work sooner; HB 256, clarifying mandatory reporter training for school employees; HB 363, allowing virtual-school students to participate in extracurricular activities and athletics at their resident public school; HB 386, allowing locally authorized charter schools to operate as their own LEA under local rules; HB 434, giving superintendents more authority over probationary school bus employees; HB 557, defining long-term care pharmacies; and HB 584, ending the practice of giving foster children trash bags for belongings and providing proper luggage instead. The House also passed HB 661, expanding nepotism exceptions for certain lower-paid school positions such as paraprofessionals, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers, and HB 697, recreating the Department of Environmental Quality through 2030. Most bills passed unanimously or with strong bipartisan support, though HB 137 on school threats drew significant debate over parental liability and juvenile intervention before passing 71-26.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, Senator, you said under the age of 30? Mr.
• But with all due respect, we know that our population is aging every year.
• We know that our population is aging every year. Thank you, Mr. President.
• issues and mechanical costs.
• So if you want to look in the mirror every morning... ...and mechanical costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, aging asset risk. Least-cost build-out strategies. Next, asset risk.
• So we have an aging system out there when it comes to wastewater, $203 million.
• for that investment to do a mechanical treatment plant, they'd raise rates.
• You know, I think there's just a lot of aging infrastructure out there.
• This is aging infrastructure that's beyond its 50-year life.

Committee: Joint Water Topics Overview Committee

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and heard updates from Department of Water Resources Director Reese Haas and Lieutenant Governor/State Water Commission Chair Michelle Strinden on statewide water funding, major projects, and two legislative studies requested in House Bill 1020. Haas reviewed the status of the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, noting NAWS construction is expected to move water by fall and Southwest’s Hebron-Rugby expansion phase one is in final design with bids expected next month. He also summarized the department’s budget outlook, including Resources Trust Fund and Water Project Stabilization Fund balances, the effect of oil price volatility and stripper well exemptions on revenues, and the status of project buckets, carryover, lines of credit, regionalization, bid trends, and administrative/process updates. Committee members asked about project prioritization, municipal funding demand, maintenance expectations, replacement versus deferred maintenance, and whether the 2025 session may have underfunded municipal water supply needs. Haas said the commission uses the same high/medium/low prioritization process across all buckets, reviews maintenance plans as part of policy, and is seeing strong demand in the municipal bucket. He also explained that the department’s 14-year projection is based on the next seven legislative sessions and that the state faces a projected $1.3 billion shortfall over that period if all planned projects are funded under current assumptions. Deloitte then presented draft findings from the cost-share policy study and the governance/finance study. For cost share, Deloitte said the model shows a roughly $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years and about $1.8 billion through 2031 under current policy, and offered seven options including tighter eligibility for replacement projects, state funding caps for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, a priority-based cost-share scale, timing shifts, use of existing lines of credit, and delayed reimbursement timing. For governance, Deloitte outlined draft options for Southwest, NAWS, and Red River ranging from maintaining current structures with stronger planning to transferring ownership or adding formal oversight, and recommended broader use of performance metrics, long-term financial planning, and clearer decision trees. No votes or formal actions were taken; the commission discussed the scenarios and the studies will return in revised form later in the spring.

Transcript Highlights:

• Low- and middle-income Kentuckians don't benefit from this mechanism at all.
• </c><01:32:16.239><c> They</c><01:32:16.560><c> don't</c> from this mechanism at all.
• They don't from this mechanism at all.
• He was taken far too soon at the young age of six.
• He was taken far too soon at the young age of six.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications. The Senate reported passage of Senate Bills 52 and 124, and several House committees reported favorable action on bills including HB 1, HB 2, HB 94, HB 246, HB 282, HB 299, HB 307, HB 519, HB 613, and HB 648. Most of those measures were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar; HB 1 and HB 307 were sent to the Rules Committee after having had two previous readings. The House then recessed briefly before returning to the orders of the day. The chamber took up HB 568, relating to public adjusters. The sponsor explained that the bill would prohibit new public adjuster licenses, allow current licensees to renew, impose conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, set a 5% fee cap, and bar public adjusters from negotiating claims, citing consumer protection concerns and legal opinions about the practice of law. After debate and a brief explanation of vote from a member citing local storm-related abuses, the House voted on roll call and passed HB 568 with one nay vote. The House then considered HB 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program. Supporters said it would allow private donations to scholarship-granting organizations to benefit Kentucky students without using state general funds, and argued it could help public, private, and homeschool families with education-related expenses. Opponents criticized the speed of the process, warned it could open the door to vouchers and charters, and argued it would mainly benefit wealthier donors while public schools remain underfunded. Members also questioned the bill’s waiver of 11th Amendment immunity and received explanations that the waiver was limited to federal-court jurisdiction over the federal program and would not create individual liability for state actors. A motion to table the bill failed with 19 votes in favor, and debate continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• 13 to 24, but actually there is no age limit since there is no identity or age verification...
• actually there is no age limit since there is no identity or age verification process. ...but actually
• there is no age limit since there is no identity or age verification process.
• This is a mechanism.
• This is a mechanism. is so important, we ask them to do certain things.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• It progresses with age and makes it more difficult to recover from surgeries and procedures, as well
• He's a retired fire department captain, and right now, in his 70s—my age—he's putting me to shame.
• And right now, in his 70s, my age, he's putting me to shame.
• As he looks toward their future, he sees the regular expenses. ...and 10 years of age.
• Today my children are ages 26, 19, and 18. My wife and I are trying our best for them.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on May 7, chaired by Senators Mike Brady and Dan Ryan, and heard testimony on a wide range of retirement and benefits bills for public employees and their families. Several bills focused on line-of-duty death or disability benefits for police and firefighters, including Senate Bill 1831 for Joanne Sanji, widow of Rutland Detective John Sanji, whose COVID-19 death was described by family, counsel, and the police chief as a line-of-duty death already recognized by local, state, and federal memorials. Similar support was offered for bills involving the surviving spouse of a State Police officer injured in the line of duty, a Springfield officer injured by a hammer attack during a mental health call, and a bill for a former police officer seeking an increased disability retirement due to PTSD after a traumatic incident. Testimony repeatedly emphasized that these cases had been recognized locally or had already moved through prior sessions, but legislative action was still needed to secure benefits. The committee also heard multiple firefighter-related retirement bills. Representatives and union advocates supported a bill for retired Attleboro Fire Captain Walter Gerton, arguing that an audit and recalculation improperly reduced his pension after retirement and that the correction was requested by the local retirement board. Another bill sought disability retirement for former Westfield firefighter Greg Heath, who testified that Parkinson’s disease has made daily life and family care increasingly difficult; supporters cited studies linking firefighting exposures to Parkinson’s and said the city, retirement board, and local officials backed the measure. The committee also heard testimony for retired Quincy Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Bithrow, who described a Parkinson’s diagnosis following years of exposure at major toxic fires, including the Home Depot and MWRA incidents, and for a related Quincy bill that would treat his retirement as line-of-duty for survivor protection. Additional bills included a proposal to provide flags to next of kin of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, a bill to resolve employer contribution obligations for the Neshoba Associated Boards of Health in the state retirement system, and several individual retirement or service-credit measures. These included a bill for former State Police gang unit officer David Patterson, a school nurse seeking additional credible service credit for a temporary staffing emergency, and a former Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy seeking an increased disability retirement after a violent inmate assault left him with lasting injuries. Testimony generally came from the affected individuals, family members, municipal officials, retirement boards, and public safety unions, with most speakers urging favorable action and noting that many of the bills had already passed one chamber or had been filed in prior sessions. At the end of the hearing, the committee took no recorded votes on the bills and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ag, I guess. Ag? Can we get Ag to the table, please? You're on number 32, Senator Johnson?
• Are you with the Department of Ag sitting with them? She with you? Okay.
• Any other questions for Ag? All right, I guess y'all are excused.
• Jay Hill, Division Director for Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health, DHS.
• This amends a contract for on-call mechanical, plumbing, and engineering services.

Committee: All JBC-PEER REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill moves the age to be charged for second degree murder from 14 to 15.
• There's been a lot of misinformation that I'm lowering the age here. It is not.
• It allows for youth that receive an adult sentence to receive services from CYFD until age 21.
• I would have liked to have raised the age to 16.
• There were some who my co-sponsor wanted to lower the age to 14.

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• This materials include pornographic or age inappropriate content.
• It's drawing a line between what is age appropriate and allowing educators based upon what we have in
• we can and have been extent responsibility to differentiate between what is appropriate based upon age
• I think there are already mechanisms in place.
• It is an issue of what is age appropriate.

Committee: House Education & Employment Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It also creates an appropriate mechanism in case a municipality gets a...
• Therefore, there is no penalty mechanism present in state law.
• I'm saying that under your hypothetical, the AG would not just jump in. There is a process.
• If there is no other bill that passes, there will be no other authority related to the AG.
• A self-attestation of a person's income, residency, citizenship, age.

Bills: SJR37 , SJR57 , SB7 , SB8 , SB16 , SB108 , SB125 , SB207 , SB318 , SB371 , SB379 , SB396 , SB406 , SB503 , SB533 , SB565 , SB578 , SB599 , SB686 , SB689 , SB707 , SB763 , SB854 , SB857 , SB875 , SB878 , SB920 , SB924 , SB961 , SB965 , SB985 , SB988 , SB1021 , SB1024 , SB1026 , SB1038 , SB1059 , SB1185 , SB1202 , SB1207 , SB1252 , SB1330 , SB1396 , SB1484 , SB1527 , SB1535 , SB1596 , SB1619 , SB1697 , SB1737 , SB1741 , SB1841 , SJR36 , SJR12 , SJR57 , SJR37 , SCR22 , SCR12 , SB565 , SB765 , SB62 , SB666 , SB707 , SB888 , SB687 , SB847 , SB1248 , SB504 , SB857 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB1497 , SB1498 , SB241 , SB304 , SB621 , SB1023 , SB1024 , SB686 , SB371 , SB204 , SB609 , SB670 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1539 , SB447 , SB875 , SB406 , SB985 , SB965 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB1215 , SB1302 , SB856 , SB583 , SB673 , SB681 , SB1172 , SB1252 , SB608 , SB955 , SB957 , SB988 , SB1021 , SB1120 , SB251 , SB541 , SB379 , SB1737 , SB266 , SB1415 , SB1527 , SB125 , SB599 , SB1330 , SB53 , SB1352 , SB785 , SB472 , SB1450 , SB1502 , SB1566 , SB414 , SB1062 , SB961 , SB1038 , SB578 , SB711 , SB746 , SB942 , SB1404 , SB1448 , SB1738 , SB108 , SB8 , SB318 , SB507 , SB533 , SB689 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1355 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596 , SB1403 , SB763 , SB667 , SB1059 , SB617 , SB1567 , SB503 , SB16 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1470 , SB264 , SB924 , SB1029 , SB1185 , SB1202 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1569 , SB1697 , SB1376 , SB1228 , SB519 , SB878 , SB1350 , SB462 , SB1535 , SB827 , SB1585 , SB207 , SB1207 , SB1619 , SB1396 , SB920 , SB1484 , SB1273 , SB1741 , SB7 , SB927 , SB1227 , SB1229 , SB1353 , SB1366 , SB1464 , SB1709 , SB1729 , SB1733 , SB1744 , SB1772 , SB1816 , SB1841 , SB2188 , SB1147 , SB879 , SB1008 , SJR81 , SJR50 , SCR39 , SB1536 , SB2016 , SB1453 , SB1173 , SB1163 , SB996 , SB27 , SB568 , SB1370 , SB1321 , SB1101 , SB906 , SB860 , SB1563 , SB993 , SB693 , SB1610 , SB1537 , SB836 , SB1332 , SB1307 , SB963 , SB493 , SB922 , SB984 , SB1084 , SB619 , SB1098 , SB1122 , SB455 , SB522 , SB1057 , SB1239 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1259 , SB1341 , SB1664 , SB1877 , SB464 , SB1277 , SB32 , SB732 , SB660 , SB731 , SB921 , SB268 , SB1822 , SB1188 , SB1939 , SB1589 , SB397 , SB1388 , SB2230 , SB1058 , SB1036 , SB1267 , SB2112 , SB1930 , SB532 , SB1035 , SB2155 , SB508 , SB29 , SB292 , SB291 , SB901 , SB1333 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB964 , SB779 , SB1378 , SB2312 , SB1719