Transcript Highlights:

• affirmed that, as a matter of practice, family courts across the state already rarely impose fines, fees
• The federal Department of Justice has confirmed that eliminating the unjust imposition of fines and fees
• affirmed that, as a matter of practice, family courts across the state already rarely impose fines, fees
• The federal Department of Justice has confirmed that eliminating the unjust imposition of fines and fees
• this very same policies and examining this very same instance.<01:23:06.159> So<01:23:06.320>

Bills: HB2117, HB2155, HB1832, HB1601, HB2297, HB2397, HB1893, HB2533, HB1890, HB2004, HB1810, HB2323, HB1691, HB1671, HB2619, HB1481, HB2314, HB2319, HB2214, HB2488, HB2009, HB2007, HB1964, HB2218, HB1535, HB1977, HB2054, HB2046, HB146, HB2094, HB2181, HB2515, HB2444, HB2385, HB1724, HB1733, HB2416, HB2001, HB1603, HB1753, HB2140, HB1962, HB1963, HB2096, HB1959, HB1960, HB2293, HB2288, HB1752, HB1573, HB469, HB2091, HB1851, HB1688, HB1696, HB2417, HB2375, HB2333, HB2152, HB1881, HB2395, HB1721, HB1921, HB1730, HB1697, HB1824, HB2282, HB2078, HB2321, HB2279, HB1522, HB2097, HB2433, HB2106, HB2274, HB2452, HB1764, HB2438, HB1860, HB2604, HB2118, HB2017, HB2216, HB1934, HB2454, HB2427, HB2207, HB1840, HB1644, HB1645, HB1946, HB1648, HB2324, HB1509, HB1514, HB1515, HB2164, HB2165, HB2283, HB2386

Keywords: arts education, data mapping, task force, creative economy, cultural preservation, workforce development, geographic information systems, agriculture, data collection, statistical program, sustainable practices, Hawaii, aquaculture, biosecurity, food security, sustainable seafood, regulatory framework, interagency coordination, environmental stewardship, invasive species

Bills: HB145, HR1, HB80, SB29, SB37, HB206, SB193, SB58, SB64, HB153, HB195, HB234, HB248, HB255, HB279, HB287, HB292, HB303, HB309, HB371, SB30, SB35, SB40, SB43, SB48, SB96, SB143, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM29, HM43, HM59, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County, public accountability, government oversight, impeachment power, children and vulnerable persons, public funds

Transcript Highlights:

• Gross receipts greater than $500,000 require examination by a certified public accountant at least once
• More than $275,000 More than $275,000 but less than $500,000 have to have their accounts examined by
• Municipalities meeting these criteria are subject to enhanced examination procedures at least once every
• So, statute requires that we make sure those audits get done, does not require that we examine those
• Wyoming, they were charged a $20 fee per drug at that time. So the legislature increased that.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Without burdensome fees and redundancy.
• Impact fees, I think we've heard some of these on this list already today, but impact fees.
• Impact fees, especially those around traffic impact fees specifically, can make costs rise dramatically
• Impact fee waivers: I mentioned already waiving impact fees in Mountlake Terrace for child care facilities
• And those who develop now pay a late-comer fee for those improvements.

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• But because it was federally funded, there is no licensing fee.
• That is the optometric examiners That is the optometric examiners reggg<01:43:00.880> and
• She's our executive director of this board of examiners.
• of Examiners and Optometry. of Examiners and Optometry. >> Good<01:45:52.320> morning.
• Board of Examiners and Optometry. Board of Examiners and Optometry.

Keywords: 00:00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:02:17 - Approval of June 18, 2025 Minutes 00:02:33 - Introductions and Discussion on Priorities 00:07:27 - Health Data Discussion-KY Health Information Exchange (KHIE) 00:34:02 - Health Data Discussion-Public Health Data 01:19:24 - Health Data Discussion-Other Health Data Platforms 01:42:40 - Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations (Except 201 KAR 005:010) 01:44:48 - Discussion of Optometry Regulation 201 KAR 005:010 02:25:29 - Hearing on Unified Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Application for FFY 2026 - 2027 Funds 02:33:40 - Administrative Regulation 201 KAR 005:010 Vote Clarification 02:34:03 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Health Services met to approve the June 18 minutes and hear introductory remarks from new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Family Services Dr. Steven Stack and new Department for Public Health Commissioner Dr. John Langfeld. Both described their backgrounds and emphasized a shared focus on using health data to improve quality, coordination, and outcomes across Kentucky. They highlighted the Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHI) as a central tool for connecting hospitals, labs, providers, public health systems, Medicaid, and other state and federal data sources, and said the system supports notifications, immunization records, surveillance, and care coordination. They also outlined priorities such as continued investment in KHI, stronger interoperability, privacy protections, and expanded analytic capacity to turn data into action. Committee members then asked about COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and informed consent, particularly for pregnant women and children. Dr. Stack said informed consent should come through a licensed health care provider, that Kentucky did not mandate the COVID vaccine, and that the evidence still supports vaccination for high-risk groups, including pregnant women, citing professional medical guidance. A follow-up exchange focused on concerns about past vaccine policies and the need for patients to receive full information before making decisions. Senator Heron asked how KIPRC/KIPR could be used to address firearm injuries. Dr. Langfeld said the key opportunity is to make data more real-time and usable for day-to-day response, while Dr. Stack said the department would continue its long-standing partnership with KIPRC and noted his view that gun violence is a public health emergency. He added, however, that because firearms are a deeply divided issue, the Department for Public Health’s current role is mainly to make data available for authorized research rather than to take a broader policy role. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the removal of the reduced fee for the removal of the reduced fee option.<00:45:42.000> The
• <00:48:34.000> or<00:48:34.240> court need for legal fees or court need for legal fees
• Our last fee increase was in 2007.
• We are also asking for a fee increase for marriage license certificates to $20, up from the current fee
• We are also asking for a fee increase for marriage license certificates to $20, up from the current fee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the eight criteria that we typically apply to the state park units that are under consideration for fees
• So we have 10 collecting now and five that are under examination.
• as the exhibit, where we've already had the board designate which state parks will be applicable to fees
• sessions ago, in Act 194, SLH 21, you guys did approve that the landlord could, in fact, adjust our fees
• And again, Act 194, you know, allows us to do, Which fees will apply where, and yes, the fees are already

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees considered several Senate bills and one House bill across multiple decision-making segments, with testimony focused mainly on SB 903, SB 439, SB 938, and HB 1440. For SB 903, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the measure and emphasized that the Public Lands Trust Working Group should complete its scope of work before baseline settlement discussions. The committees then adopted chair-recommended technical amendments to SB 903, including blanking the appropriation and changing the effective date to June 30, 2059, and the measure was adopted with members voting aye or excused. A later agenda included many bills that were mostly advanced with technical amendments, effective-date changes, or recommittals to Ways and Means. Among them, SB 934 and SB 935 were recommitted; SB 65, SB 328, SB 465, SB 576, and several others were passed with amendments that often blanked appropriations or changed dates; SB 329, SB 448, SB 744, SB 1023, SB 1269, SB 1361, SB 1381, SB 1491, SB 1530, and SB 1547 were passed unamended; SB 828, SB 1220, and SB 1487 were deferred. The committee also adopted amendments on bills such as SB 125, SB 558, SB 789, SB 997, SB 1234, SB 1388, and SB 1543, generally to clarify definitions, narrow scope, or add effective-date or governance language. For SB 439, the Division of State Parks testified that it already performs the fee studies and park-designation work contemplated by the bill, but supported the measure overall; OHA, the Care for ʻĀina Now Coalition, and other supporters testified in favor, while two individuals opposed it. The committees adopted SB 439 with LRB technical amendments. SB 938 received only departmental comments from the Department of Taxation and was passed unamended. HB 1440, which drew support from the State Ombudsman, the Legislative Reference Bureau, the State Auditor, and the Ethics Commission, was also passed unamended. In each decision-making segment, the committees voted to adopt the chair’s recommendations and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Military, National Guard, or Reserve Unit in Arizona from admission fees for all Arizona national parks
• Madam Witt, members, Senate Bill 1023 establishes the standards for optometrists to conduct eye examinations
• according to community standards of care, with a recommended examination interval of one year.
• transfers the licensure and regulation of behavior analysts from the Arizona Board of Psychologists Examiners

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style review of two packets of bills, with staff reading summaries and members briefly explaining several measures. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, ambulance service regulation, short-term rental rules, tourism improvement areas, manufactured home installer licensure, CPR/AED training in schools, veterans’ park fee exemptions, and multiple child welfare and family-court bills. Several Senate bills were also reviewed, including optometry standards, behavior analyst licensure transfer, virtual mental health hearings, and assisted-living residency rules. Members speaking for bills emphasized themes such as supporting aging in place, improving rural ambulance access and reporting, protecting children in DCS cases, preventing poverty alone from being treated as neglect, and expanding access to health screenings and services. Other sponsors described measures to help veterans, strengthen school safety, and create local funding or improvement mechanisms for tourism and child care. Some bills were described as technical or administrative changes, such as post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien procedures, and local government contract posting requirements. No formal votes were taken in the transcript excerpt, but many bills were noted as being on the consent calendar or third-read consent calendar, while a few had been removed from consent or were not yet on a calendar. The meeting concluded after the final bill on the second packet, HB 4025, was summarized as creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refinery feasibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• What kind of fees are they put on it? Currently, we refer to Office of Debt Recovery.
• I don't know what the Attorney General's fees are.
• Reinstatement fees: up to 30 days, $75; 31 to 90 days, $150; over 90 days, $300.
• They have to pay collection fees and 15% from ODR.
• And it effectively prohibits the use of the imposed fees on small aircraft.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met with five members present and approved the May 14, 2026 minutes. The committee first considered HCR 32, which urges the Port of New Orleans to secure backup motors for the aging St. Claude Avenue Bridge; members discussed the bridge’s importance, the relatively low cost of the motor, and the traffic and emergency-response impacts of repeated breakdowns. HCR 32 was reported favorably. HCR 68, a request to Congress for funding to remove unusable bridges along Highway 90 as part of reconnecting the corridor toward New Orleans East, was also reported favorably after brief discussion about federal representatives and coordination with DOTD. House Bill 582 was deferred without objection. The committee then took up HB 762, which clarifies that the Office of Motor Vehicles may, rather than must, refer certain delinquent reinstatement-fee debts to the Office of Debt Recovery or other collection channels. Testimony from OMV and the bill author emphasized that the measure was intended to clean up prior language and preserve OMV discretion, while senators raised concerns about political influence, collection practices, and the impact of fees and debt on drivers. HB 762 was reported favorably. HB 730, concerning automatic dependent surveillance broadcast devices on aircraft, was amended to limit its application to aircraft over 2,500 pounds and to prohibit the use of the imposed fees on smaller aircraft. Supporters said the bill restores the original safety purpose of the devices and prevents their use for fee collection; the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also reported favorably on HCR 53, which creates a study committee on oversized vehicle permits and their parish-level impacts, and HCR 60, which urges DOTD to pursue the DRIVE initiative to study and improve safety on the I-12 corridor. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2600 by Middleton, relating to a fee charged by a school district for the transportation
• Senate Bill 2,600 by Middleton, relaying to a fee charged by school district for the transportation of
• Senate Bill 2705 by Hagenbuch, relating to fees for the issuance of certain specialty license plates,
• Senate Bill 2730 by Cook, relating to the preliminary examination of a person transported to a general
• Senate Bill 2800 by Hughes relating to imposition of a fee for oil and gas waste that is not produced

Bills: SJR12, SCR39, SB27, SB29, SB241, SB406, SB414, SB464, SB568, SB578, SB609, SB660, SB689, SB693, SB785, SB857, SB879, SB921, SB922, SB955, SB985, SB993, SB996, SB1008, SB1035, SB1036, SB1059, SB1098, SB1120, SB1122, SB1147, SB1188, SB1197, SB1209, SB1227, SB1245, SB1267, SB1307, SB1321, SB1332, SB1386, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1494, SB1536, SB1537, SB1596, SB1610, SB1664, SB1741, SB1814, SB1822, SB1841, SB1948, SB2065, SB2155, SB2188, SB2230, SB2406, SB2407

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with senators highlighting the university’s growth, medical school, research expansion, and role in serving South Texas. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 368 honoring outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, with numerous senators praising his long public career, leadership in higher education, and statewide impact. Senate Resolution 361 recognizing Texas HBCU Day and Senate Resolution 362 recognizing Denton County Days at the Capitol were also adopted, along with other routine recognitions and gubernatorial appointments being read into the record. The Senate then took up several bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to shorten vacancy posting requirements, allow bilingual certification candidates to retake only failed test sections, give teachers more flexibility with paid leave, clarify classroom removal procedures, and ensure parents are informed of appeal rights. The bill passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a parent’s right to direct a child’s education, was also brought up and passed to engrossment after a contested suspension vote. The Senate next passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, which would require reporting of foreign funding at public universities, bar gifts from adversarial governments, and require training and reporting systems to prevent foreign influence and intellectual property theft in higher education. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the so-called “Dexit” bill, was debated at length for its corporate governance changes, including codifying the business judgment rule and altering internal corporate litigation and records rules; it passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed by a 30-1 vote. Senate Bill 857, allowing law enforcement discretion to tow vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed after discussion of towing abuses during flooding and disaster conditions. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536, requiring dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, passed with broad support, and Senate Bill 922, addressing delayed electronic disclosure of sensitive medical test results so physicians can discuss them first, was taken up and passed to engrossment as the chamber continued through its calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• My questions: One of them is, is it common at this point for uh shops to charge a fee for a rescue?
• My questions: One of them is, is it common at this point for uh shops to charge a fee for a rescue?
• And secondly, charge a fee for a rescue?
• Zelhoffer: Um, there is no fee allowed involved in that.
• Representative Krishaw. fee allowed involved in that. fee allowed involved in that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Boards and Commissions, Board of Veterinary Examiners, 201 KAR 16:767.
• >> I'm Carmen Iacrino, outside counsel for the Board of Veterinary Examiners. >> I'm Michelle Shane,
• ,<00:06:39.480> and<00:06:39.680> revise annual registration fee, and revise annual
• registration fee, and revise incorporated<00:06:40.800> material.
• Update language regarding fees records.

Keywords: • 0:00 - Roll Call • 0:19 - Approval of June 2026 meeting minutes • 0:36 - Fish & Wildlife (301 KAR 1:201 and 301 KAR 2:178) • 1:35 - Board of Veterinary Examiners (201 KAR 16:767) • 4:10 - State Board of Elections (31 KAR 4:240 Emergency) • 4:50 - Office of the Attorney General, Regulatory Relief (40 KAR 12:300, 12:610, 12:400, 12:420 and 12:600) • 7:03 - Department of Revenue (103 KAR 43:341 Emergency) • 8:05 - Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (105 KAR 1:001 and 1:440) • 9:19 - Finance and Administration Cabinet, Office of the Controller (200 KAR 38:080) • 10:10 - Board of Physical Therapy (201 KAR 22:010 and 22:070) • 11:06 - Kentucky Department of Education (702 KAR 3:220 and 6:110) • 12:43 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Public Health (902 KAR 1:400) • 13:47 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services (907 KAR 2:720 and 2:725) • 28:11 - Next meeting and adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum present, approved the minutes without objection, and then reviewed a series of administrative regulations from multiple agencies. Most of the regulations received staff-suggested amendments and were approved without objection, including fish and wildlife rules on fishing limits and deer hunting on local government property, veterinary board changes to responsible party and veterinary manager requirements, election procedures for safe-at-home voters, attorney general regulatory relief rules, emergency gasoline tax pricing, public pensions updates, controller fraud-prevention policies, physical therapy licensure and English proficiency standards, school nutrition and fee-waiver rules, public health conference procedures, and Medicaid waiver regulations. Several agencies briefly identified themselves and answered procedural questions, but most items drew no substantive opposition. The Board of Veterinary Examiners regulation included an agency amendment that removed a proposed limit on the number of facilities a veterinary manager could oversee. The Department of Education regulations updated fee waiver and meal program procedures, while the Department of Public Health regulation clarified notification and conference-request procedures. The Department of Revenue and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority items were largely technical or conforming changes, including a special-needs trust definition added for consistency with Senate Bill 85. The most extensive discussion involved the Department for Medicaid Services’ 1915C child waiver regulations. Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified in opposition to the waiver’s lack of participant-directed services, arguing that consumer-driven services such as respite and community living support are required and especially important in rural areas and for higher-acuity children. Cabinet representatives responded that the waiver is intended to provide wraparound services to keep children in homes and communities, that it has CMS approval, and that the program is limited to 100 slots with about 21 participants already enrolled. Members did not move a deficiency motion, and the chair indicated the regulations would continue through the process. The meeting adjourned after setting the next meeting for Tuesday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a sample of 14 solar projects that we would like to examine in detail.
• That is on slide eight, the sample of the 14 projects that we want to examine in detail.
• and then financial security for system upgrades in which fees are refundable?
• When you look at study fees, that is the fee that is required for the Ercot to do the work that they
• We left it up to the PUC to change how to interconnect the fees and try to equalize the burden.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• board and relating to medical examiners board and relating to medical examiners board and nursing board
• the your your county an option to do the your your county an option to do the same to increase the fee
• the the uh same to increase the fee the the uh same to increase the fee the the uh building fees to
• establish the academy building fees to establish the academy building fees to establish the academy within
• and with that I polygraphed examinations and with that I polygraphed examinations and with that I would

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And cross-examination, deposition, and cross-examination in trial where they have to defend their bill
• He says his fees are $33,000. His assistant surgeon's fee is $15,000.
• What do you do when you set your fees?
• Recover their attorney fees.
• How do you set your fees?

Bills: SB 30, SB 517, SB 1313, SB 1314, SB 1316, SB 1541, SB 1698, SB 1845, SB 1860, SB 2420, SB 2429

Keywords: gambling, criminal offenses, penalties, defense, electronic devices, tobacco advertising, youth protection, public health, criminal offense, retailer regulation, e-cigarettes, nicotine products, health, public safety, regulation, advertising restrictions, health and safety, elections, election audit, county elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss several critical pieces of legislation including SB30 and SB38. Senator Betancourt introduced a committee substitute for SB38 which underwent a smooth adoption process, moving it favorably toward the Senate. The meeting featured a mix of invited testimonies where both proponents and opponents took the floor. One notable highlight included a testimony from Melissa Casey, who criticized the current legal state as prone to fraud and detrimental to both insurers and the public at large, contending that it inflated insurance costs across the board. The discussions delved deeply into the implications of the bills on judicial processes and potential insurance ramifications, with spirited debates surrounding issues of non-economic damages and jury rights. The atmosphere remained engaged as committee members heard varied perspectives on the bills, showcasing a robust democratic process. The meeting underscored the importance of public testimony in shaping legislation, ensuring that multiple voices were considered as the committee pressed on towards making decisions that affect the legal landscape of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so how we have covered the waste cost is actually on a fee very...
• How we have covered the waste cost is actually on a fee that's paid, you know, per unit of electricity
• That's Benton-Arnett also said the fee was turned off.
• So the fee stopped, but the lawsuits continued.
• So I make those comments not having examined it from a practical standpoint.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing Committee, when we're examining Housing Committee, when we're examining potentially<00:20
• This section allows the board to impose a late fee to a ballot question political committee or fund that
• section allows the board to impose<00:32:27.040> a<00:32:27.080> late<00:32:27.360> fee
• <00:32:27.640> a<00:32:27.720> ballot<00:32:28.120> question impose a late fee
• to a ballot question impose a late fee to a ballot question political<00:32:29.000> committee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of vehicle liability security to provide for a decrease in reinstatement fees.
• It's the same bill as last time, but there is a fee on this.
• So with all of the amendments that were added in the House, there is a fee.
• and deputy state examiner.
• This bill just allows them to raise the fee by $3.50. I see no questions.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Optometric Examiners. Optometric Examiners.
• So were there any other licensed professions in the state that waived examination fees during the COVID
• EKU pays legal fees up to its insurance deductible.
• EKU pays legal fees up to its insurance deductible.
• the these fees are are going to go up. the these fees are are going to go up.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the April 13 minutes and then turned to a large agenda of contracts. Chairman Douglas said there were 52 contracts totaling about $369.3 million, and noted that most vendors were registered with the Secretary of State except for item 118 on the routine personal services green list and item 19 involving Morehead State University and Kentucky State University. The committee voted to defer item 118 to the June 26 meeting and later also deferred the Kentucky State University contract on the deferred list to the June 26 meeting. The main discussion centered on a deferred personal services contract for the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, involving outside legal counsel. Senator Meredith raised concerns about KRS 320 and whether the board had authority to hire outside counsel when the statute says the Attorney General shall provide legal services to the board. Dr. Mary Beth Morris, the board president, and Christopher Thacker of the Attorney General’s office testified after being sworn in. Thacker explained that the statute and related law allow both Attorney General assistance and independent counsel, and argued that outside counsel is appropriate for day-to-day legal work because it avoids conflicts, especially on open records issues, regulatory advice, and disciplinary hearings. Senator Meredith said he agreed with approving the contract but questioned how the board had reached this point and whether the current statutes reflect modern practice. He raised concerns about transparency and accountability, referencing a prior advisory opinion involving the board’s handling of exam requirements during COVID and saying the board should have consulted the Attorney General before acting. Thacker responded that the Attorney General’s office serves the Commonwealth as a whole, not as counsel to one board, and that the board’s use of outside counsel is a reasonable and economical arrangement. The exchange ended with Meredith suggesting that broader legislative action may be needed to clarify reporting relationships and oversight for the board.

Transcript Highlights:

• It deals with records and disclosure of said records and medical examiners and dissemination of rules
• It removes the ability of COAs and HOAs to charge the disclosure packet fee to a purchaser.
• a report on the enforcement and collection of monetary obligations, including restitution, fines, fees
• It continues the Department of Economic Security, the Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, and the
• Radijack to the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board, Stephanie Lynn Teskey to the Arizona

Keywords: 1182, all