Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:47:21.240><c> we</c> farmers to support our local industry we farmers to support our local industry
• </c><03:08:45.000><c> and</c> constituents across all Industries and constituents across all Industries
• Goodwill Industries of Hawaiʻi.
• Building Industry Association of Hawaiʻi.
• Hi, I am Rosean Frus, CEO with the Building Industry Association of Hawaiʻi.

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also prefers that approach, so we're happy to go in that direction
• control agency to send the pollution control agency to send notices<01:10:32.080><c> to</c><01:10:32.320
• Control agency also prefers Pollution Control agency also prefers that<01:10:36.480><c> approach</c>
• Chairman, and Senator Rest, I think I would consult with the Pollution Control Agency to see what their
• Control agency to see with the Pollution Control agency to see what<01:11:27.120><c> their</c><01:11

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• lot of heavy vehicles, you know, reduces the number of heavy trucks, which frankly have a lot of pollutants
• have</c><00:09:43.040><c> a</c><00:09:43.200><c> lot</c><00:09:43.279><c> of</c><00:09:43.440><c> pollutants
• ,</c><00:09:44.080><c> you</c> frankly uh have a lot of pollutants, you frankly uh have a lot of pollutants

Summary: The committee met in executive session on HB 25, the capital improvements appropriations bill. Representative Jack moved ought to pass and also offered Amendment 1455H. Discussion focused largely on several capital items and, in particular, a disputed freight rail public-private partnership. Representative Kazinski opposed the rail subsidy, arguing it favored connected private interests and reflected excessive spending, while Representatives Clutier and others defended the rail funding as a public-private partnership that supports rail maintenance, reduces truck traffic, protects roads and bridges, improves safety, and benefits the environment. Representative Jack explained that the amendment was intended to appropriate enough money to cover bids rather than a fixed purchase price. The committee then voted on Amendment 1455H, which passed 17-1. After that, the committee voted on HB 25A, the bill as amended, and it also passed 17-1. Representative Kazinski indicated he would vote no and was asked whether he wanted to write a minority report; he agreed to do so. The chair noted the bill could not go on the consent calendar and would need further discussion. After completing the bill, the chair announced the committee had one Senate bill expected later, with a due date of May 29, and said the committee would take next Tuesday off and schedule the Senate bill when convenient. Members also discussed an upcoming community college system lunch at the Lakes Region campus, thanked staff for their work on the bill, and noted the committee had brought HB 25 in about $10.5 million under the governor’s request.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:14.480><c> Now,</c> energy industry and data centers.
• Now, energy industry and data centers.
• </c><00:36:09.599><c> for</c> shape the citrus industry for shape the citrus industry for generations
• </c><06:34:09.200><c> So</c><06:34:09.440><c> by</c> industry overall. Mr. speaker.
• So by industry overall. Mr. speaker.

Bills: HB3351 , HB3095 , HB1450 , HB1716 , HB1764 , HB3395 , HB2384 , HB3357 , HB3339 , HB1469 , HB3343 , HB3382 , HR1043 , HR131 , HR183 , HR672 , HB2625 , HB2170 , SB201 , SB423

Keywords: small business, capital formation, financial regulation, Securities Exchange Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, ZIP Code, postal service, community designation, local governance, postal infrastructure, OFAC, Office of Foreign Assets Control, sanctions, licensing, investigators, private sector firms, nominal transactions, financial transactions, pilot program, FinCEN

Transcript Highlights:

• So an example of that is we received a $200 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant that's supporting
• Grant that's pollution reduction Grant that's supporting<00:19:57.080><c> climate</c><00:19:57.440><
• Paul, which is supporting affordable housing and light industrial space.
• Paul, which is supporting affordable housing and light industrial space.
• space so there's a a loan industrial space so there's a a loan that's<00:32:17.039><c> going</c><00:

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, it's polluting water supplies. Well, so that was my next question.
• is good business, and the state should take care of these types of vessels so we keep them from polluting
• recovery and so much else, we have to make sure that we're doing everything that we can to avoid pollutants
• And I just want to, I guess, emphasize the pollutants as well as I didn't mention that as much in my
• And I just want to, I guess, emphasize the pollutants as well as I didn't mention that as much in my

Bills: HB2668 , HB1735 , HB2131 , HB2199 , HB2463 , HB2598 , HB2619

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: relocation, wildlife, game farm, agriculture, environmental impact, animal welfare, force-feeding, birds, humane treatment, sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, derelict vessels, marine environment, coastal management, environmental protection, maritime economy, farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got strong industry, national laboratory, and academic partners.
• Industry is going to be interested, but you have to attract the industry to the state if it's not already
• What can we build and test and demonstrate, working with industry collaboratively, with industry?
• What can we build and test and demonstrate working with industry, collaboratively, with industry?
• How do you bring the industry together?

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So... ...and then the semiconductor industry has their own level one up.
• So we look across the board at the entire industry and supply chain and what's needed.
• We've got strong industry, national laboratory, and academic partners.
• And so take the aluminum industry as an example, the surrogate for this story.
• What can we build and test and demonstrate, working with industry collaboratively with industry?

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the quality of questions from the group, followed by a series of technical presentations from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent nuclear regulatory changes tied to presidential executive orders, including NRC Part 53 for advanced reactors, the forthcoming Part 57 for very small reactors, and DOE updates to reactor authorization standards. He emphasized efforts to align DOE and NRC processes, use risk-informed and performance-based licensing, support reactor deployment for AI/data centers and national security, and use AI to speed communications and crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements. In response to questions, he said there was no plan to merge agencies, but rather to improve coordination and public outreach through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and reprocessing. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), why it is needed for advanced reactors, and DOE’s HALEU Availability Program and related investments in enrichment, transportation, deconversion, and supply chain development. He also covered spent fuel management, the possibility of centralized storage or a fuel-cycle campus, the Center for Used Fuel Research, and ongoing work on high-burnup cask testing and reprocessing technologies. Tolman described aqueous, pyrochemical, and fluoride-volatility reprocessing approaches, noting the advantages and waste characteristics of each, and said several companies are working with INL on these technologies. Ashley Shields presented INL’s AI and nuclear work, focusing on the Genesis initiative and the Prometheus effort to use AI to design, license, build, and operate reactors with far less human intervention. She described INL’s broad use of generative AI tools, the need to manage large volumes of legacy technical data, and applications in reactor design, materials discovery, autonomous laboratories, and digital twins. Shields said AI is being used to reduce the enormous documentation burden in nuclear licensing and to support autonomous or remotely operated reactor demonstrations, while stressing that humans remain in supervisory roles. In discussion, she addressed data security, model access, and the continued need for software engineers. The session then recessed briefly and resumed with Mitch Kerman beginning a presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• River Valley and advocates for federal investment to address public health crises caused by sewage pollution
• dedicated community leader, she serves on multiple boards, including the SCV Sheriff Foundation, Valley Industry
• dedicated community leader, she serves on multiple boards, including the SCV Sheriff Foundation, Valley Industry

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and suspended several rules and notices for floor business. The chamber approved the journals for March 9–12, 2026, and suspended Joint Rule 62(a) to allow a Budget Subcommittee on Education hearing on item 6120 with short notice. The body then took up third reading items, beginning with SCR 114 designating March 15–21 as National Surveyors’ Week. Senator Grove spoke in support, emphasizing the historical importance of surveyors and their role in infrastructure, land ownership, and economic development. The resolution passed unanimously, 40-0, and Grove introduced guest Christy Ashay, president of the California Land Surveyors Association. The Senate next considered SR 76 recognizing Women’s History Month and honoring 42 women from across California. Senator Menjivar led the resolution, highlighting women’s contributions and calling for continued policy work on equity, pay, and opportunity. Senators Richardson, Perez, Rubio, Wahab, and others spoke in support on behalf of the Black, LGBTQ+, Latino, Jewish, AAPI, and other caucuses, citing women’s historic and ongoing leadership and the need to address persistent inequality. The resolution was adopted unanimously, 40-0. After the vote, the Senate proceeded to a lengthy floor ceremony recognizing the Women of the Year honorees from each district, with brief biographies read into the record for community leaders, educators, public safety officials, veterans, advocates, business owners, and others. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of James Bernard Peth, offered by Senator Ashby in honor of the father of Senate Ethics Committee Chief Counsel Aaron Peth. The Senate announced it would recess and reconvene on March 19, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got strong industry, national laboratory, and academic partners.
• Industry is going to be interested, but you have to attract the industry to the state if it's not already
• And so take the aluminum industry as an example, the surrogate for this story.
• What can we build and test and demonstrate, working with industry collaboratively with industry?
• What can we build and test and demonstrate working with industry, collaboratively, with industry?

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the availability of presentation materials, then moved into a series of technical briefings from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent federal and DOE efforts to streamline nuclear regulation for advanced reactors, including NRC Part 53 and upcoming Part 57 rulemaking, DOE authorization updates, crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements, and use of AI to speed licensing communications and document review. He emphasized that the goal is to align safety standards for advanced technologies, reduce rework for developers, and support deployment for commercial, defense, and research uses. In response to questions, he said there is no current plan to merge agencies, but there is more information-sharing and embedded NRC staff at DOE facilities; he also noted public outreach is supported through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, covering uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and recycling. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), DOE’s HALEU Availability Program, and the need to expand domestic enrichment, deconversion, and transportation capacity to support advanced reactors and the 2050 nuclear growth goal. He also reviewed used fuel management, including on-site storage at operating and shutdown reactors, the Center for Used Fuel Research at INL, a high-burnup research cask project, and the long-term repository question, which he said is ultimately political as well as technical. He outlined reprocessing approaches—aqueous/Purex, pyrochemical, and fluoride volatility—describing INL’s work on electrochemical processing of EBR-II fuel and noting industry interest from several companies in recycling technologies. Ashley Shields presented on AI for nuclear applications, describing INL’s use of generative AI, high-performance computing, and digital-twin tools to accelerate reactor design, licensing, operations, and materials development. She highlighted the Prometheus effort to pursue highly automated reactor design and operation, the large documentation burden for reactor licensing, and ongoing work on autonomous control, remote operation, and AI-assisted materials qualification through the Vulcan challenge and related data platforms. In questions, she said AI tools are used under data-governance and security controls, with different models chosen for different tasks, and argued that software engineers and human oversight remain necessary. The session ended with a brief recess announcement and a transition to a later presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• our 2,400 miles of state forest roads that provide the groundwork, or the network, for our forest industry
• our 2,400 miles of state forest roads that provide the groundwork, or the network, for our forest industry
• projects, and local partners set that all up and then they target the work to identify the most pollution
• projects, and local partners set that all up and then they target the work to identify the most pollution
• projects, and local partners set that all up and then they target the work to identify the most pollution

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And it also creates particulate air pollution at the local site.
• And it also creates particulate air pollution at the local site.
• So, the industry was growing.
• um industry by nine people.
• So um the industry was growing. It Okay. So um the industry was growing.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• That represents industry best practices and understanding everything that's been learned from implementations
• That represents industry best practices and understanding everything that's been learned from implementations
• We're defending our environment from the impacts of climate change and the harms of pollution, ...our
• environment from the impacts of climate change and the harms of pollution, protecting access to health
• , so that instead of, you know, physical illegal gambling dens, we're looking at an entire industry that's

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS SUBCOMMITTEE OVERSEES INCLUDING ELECTRIC AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES.
• THE DATA CENTER INDUSTRY IS COMMITTED TO PAYING THIS FULL COST OF SERVICE FOR ELECTRICITY USED.
• ANOTHER AREA THE DATA CENTER INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN HIS LOAD FORECASTING.
• CAN BRING TO THE AREA AND HAVE THE INDUSTRY CONTINUE TO USE RESOURCES. >> Chair: EXCELLENT.
• HOW DO WE RELATE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think one problem is: how do we prevent pollution that we then have to pay for?
• And we've had, you know, some industries leave, which pushed the cost to consumers.
• No other industrial customers are held to this standard. These aren't incentives.
• That's reasonable if applied to other similar industrial and commercial campuses.
• I particularly hear some of the concerns of the trucking industry.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and authorize additional funding to support renewable natural gas projects by reducing interconnection costs. Supporters said high interconnection costs and the current tax treatment are major barriers to methane reduction projects; opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, raised ratepayer cost concerns and objected to rate-basing and additional public funding. The author said amended language would remove the rate-basing provisions and instead urge the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Community Impact Mitigation Program for the Diablo Canyon plant through 2030 to continue funding local emergency preparedness, fire protection, public safety, and school district costs. The County of San Luis Obispo and labor groups supported the bill, while TURN opposed it as a statewide ratepayer subsidy that could be funded from existing PG&E revenues instead of higher rates. Members discussed the bill in the context of the 2022 Diablo Canyon extension deal and the possibility of a future longer extension. SB 1215 by Senator Cortese would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing and evaluate progress, with amendments aimed at affordability and limiting system upgrade costs. Supporters said renters are largely locked out of home charging and that prior utility programs proved cost-effective; no opposition testified. SB 1359 by Senator Stern would require more deliberate CPUC review before major gas system investments, emphasizing electrification and non-pipeline alternatives. Gas utilities and several industry groups opposed it, arguing it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and change the regulatory compact. The committee also heard SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Senator Gonzalez, which would establish a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Water agencies, environmental groups, and local governments supported the measure, while one member expressed concern that it lacked a funding source and could not overcome Proposition 218 limits; the bill was moved to Appropriations and the roll was left open. Finally, SB 1098 by Senator Perez would restrict the use of long-running memorandum and balancing accounts by investor-owned utilities, require exceptional circumstances for new accounts, and add sunset and cost-sharing requirements. Consumer advocates and large energy users supported tighter oversight, while the utilities and business groups opposed the bill as too rigid and potentially harmful to flexibility for wildfire, emergency, and safety-related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some schools are using this for hospitals, industrial parks, housing...
• Some schools are using this for hospitals, industrial parks, housing development—sell the land, sell
• And schools are making the value proposition to private industry: come build on our vacant land that
• There's a huge industrial park... ...of doing these long-term leases.
• There's a huge industrial park on school district property, just one lease payment, no property taxes

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of House bills across health, commerce, education, elections, government, and veterans issues, with many measures described as consent-calendar items. In health and human services, members discussed updates to radiology technology standards, a tribal Medicaid waiver bill, an emergency medicine study committee, fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements, a physician assistant licensure compact, dementia care telemonitoring funding, and SNAP error-rate reduction and eligibility oversight. Sponsors generally framed these bills as technical updates, workforce or access improvements, cost savings, or support for families and vulnerable populations, while some bills drew brief questions about implementation or opposition. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendor licensing, earned wage access services, CPA certification, cash acceptance by retail businesses, unmanned aircraft regulation, timeshare salesperson licensing, social credit score restrictions for lending, and a ban on state assistance to the International Criminal Court. Sponsors emphasized reduced regulation, consumer protections, transparency, and state sovereignty. The committee also considered tax and retirement-related measures, including conformity with the Internal Revenue Code, ASRS technical changes, and a 529 plan update that also addressed Roth IRA rollovers. Education and school governance bills focused heavily on school district oversight and transparency. Members discussed patriotic youth group presentations in schools, school board term limits and mandatory training, bond-advisor requirements, restrictions on school districts buying operating charter or private schools to affect funding formulas, conflicts of interest on the School Facilities Oversight Board, public meeting and travel disclosure rules, limits on long-term school property leases, job-order contracting caps, and a computer science proficiency seal. Sponsors repeatedly argued these bills would improve accountability, prevent misuse of public funds, and increase public access to school board decisions. The meeting also included elections, veterans, government, and other administrative measures. These included changes to sample-ballot mailing deadlines, a requirement that courts ask about veteran status at first appearance, a veterans awareness study, broader military leave protections, SAVE database verification for voter registration and licensing, U.S.-sourced election equipment requirements, Electoral College affirmation, justice court due-process protections, library trustee reporting deadlines, adult protective services reporting cleanup, and procurement transparency. No final floor votes were taken in the excerpt, and most items were presented for questions or moved through consent with brief sponsor explanations and occasional opposition noted in committee testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eight of our 10 largest users are in our agricultural-based industries.
• Like many rural communities, our geography both supports the agricultural industry, which is vital to
• based industries of these 10<00:25:07.000><c> uh</c><00:25:07.159><c> large</c><00:25:07.679><c> of<
• Our largest commercial and industrial property are tax exempt, which creates an issue.
• </c> largest commercial and industrial largest commercial and industrial property<01:11:55.400><c> are

Bills: HF458 , HF459 , HF461 , HF449 , HF450 , HF965 , HF1280 , HF612 , HF615 , HF616 , HF622 , HF650 , HF651 , HF1045 , HF972 , HF851 , HF644 , HF1050

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF458, Henderson, water treatment facility, drinking water, municipal water, public infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, bonding bill, Public Facilities Authority, water distribution system, well connection, local government grant, Minnesota capital budget, HF459, Carver levee, City of Carver, levee restoration, flood control, flood mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• And where there are fewer new businesses entering an industry, there's obviously less competition, less
• And as you study the changes in restrictions affecting different industries over time, you can see that
• those numbers do predict things like how the industry grows over time.
• And it was a significant change from what was going on in the industry, and this is why I'm bringing
• So this is not something where we would say, oh, this is about industry and business.

Summary: The Special Committee on Regulatory Reform met as a study hearing with a quorum present but no plans to take votes. Chair Mark Wright opened by noting a draft resolution on regulatory reform and introducing Patrick McLaughlin of the Hoover Institution and Pacific Legal Foundation, who was invited to discuss his research on state regulatory accumulation and reform. McLaughlin described his method of measuring regulation through counts of binding terms like “shall” and “must,” and said Louisiana ranks among the most regulated states, with about 183,000 restrictions and faster-than-average growth in its regulatory stock. He argued that regulatory accumulation slows GDP growth, raises consumer prices, and disproportionately burdens small businesses and low-income households. McLaughlin pointed to reform models in British Columbia, Idaho, and Virginia, saying those states reduced regulations through centralized oversight, periodic review, simplified benefit-cost analysis, transparency tools, and AI-assisted comparison of rules across states. He said Virginia’s regulatory management office helped cut requirements and guidance, reduce licensing delays, and lower homebuilding costs, while similar reforms in Louisiana could produce significant economic gains. Committee members asked about the reliability of the research, the distinction between necessary and duplicative rules, the role of federal mandates, and how AI could help identify outdated or “gold-plated” regulations. McLaughlin said AI should assist human reviewers, not replace them, and emphasized that agencies need a process for reviewing old rules, not just issuing new ones. Members also discussed Louisiana’s own reform efforts, including LaDOGE, permit streamlining, and prior legislation creating public hearings and committee review of regulations. Chair Wright said he had filed a broader bill this session and was working with the administration on next steps. Representative Walters requested supporting data and examples from other states, and other members asked for practical comparisons, including how regulations affect housing, occupational licensing, and small businesses. The hearing ended without any votes or formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• What industry will tend a dollar here.
• :04:31.199><c> in</c><00:04:31.280><c> the</c> industrialized hog production in the industrialized hog
• </c> What's happening in the meat industry What's happening in the meat industry now<00:37:35.920><c>
• That's what most corn industrial cows are fed in Bakersfield, California.
• That's what most corn industrial cows are fed in Bakersfield, California.

Bills: HF3718

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• 14.480><c> address</c> The statute directs EEC to be the lead agency for these hazardous substance pollutants
• :12.800><c> Uh</c> Fluoride has now been banned in Utah and in Florida, and it's essentially an industrial
• I don't know that fluoride is on the hazardous pollutant list.
• know that fluoride is on<00:51:33.119><c> the</c><00:51:33.280><c> hazardous</c><00:51:33.839><c> pollutant
• </c><00:51:35.359><c> Um,</c> on the hazardous pollutant list. Um, on the hazardous pollutant list.

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met for its first meeting of the year, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior year’s minutes, and welcomed new co-chairs and members. The board reviewed the capital planning timeline and a list of agencies that submitted plans but would not testify. Members were reminded to keep presentations brief because of a packed agenda. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented first, outlining priorities centered on public safety, infrastructure preservation, and preventive maintenance. Its requests included a $21 million maintenance pool, phase two funding for a new state public health laboratory, construction of an 18-bed children’s psychiatric hospital, and several projects at Western State Hospital and Western State Nursing Facility, including HVAC work, cooling tower repair or replacement, and chiller plant repiping. Additional projects covered elevator upgrades at Hazlewood and phased cottage renovations at Oakwood. Board members asked about vacant buildings, the cost per bed for the youth psychiatric facility, and the relationship between the CHFS youth facility and a separate DJJ facility; CHFS said the youth facility would serve DCBS-involved youth and be separate from the DJJ project. The Kentucky Department of Education then described its state-operated facilities, including the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and the FFA leadership training center. Its priorities included additional funding for the FFA classroom and activity building, a rewrite of the SEEK education finance application system, renovation and repair of the FFA swimming pool, electrical upgrades, campus education enhancements, safety and security work, door and window replacements, and HVAC maintenance. Members asked about student outcomes, the size and cost of the swimming pool project, and construction cost assumptions; KDE said it tracks student outcomes through special education staff and that current estimates reflect higher post-COVID construction costs. The Education and Labor Cabinet began its presentation with 12 priority projects, including a state labor exchange system, renovation of the McDow Vocational Rehabilitation Center, and a new adult education and family literacy management information system. The cabinet said the labor exchange would connect job seekers and employers at no cost, while the McDow renovation was needed because the 30-year-old facility faces safety and code concerns. The cabinet planned to continue through the remaining priorities and answer questions at the end of its presentation.