Transcript Highlights:

• We are a multi-state alliance that covers renewable energy development at the utility scale.
• They're, they're helping the utilities meet the Energy Transition Act, and I could go on and on, Madam
• They are paying for their utilities, they are paying for their groceries, they are.
• And I believe that the families need this money to Buy food for their family, pay their utility rates
• So, Madam Chair, House Bill 13 ensures New Mexico's utility customers receive reliable and affordable

Transcript Highlights:

• 50:13.040> a<02:50:13.359> difficult the utilities are having a difficult the utilities
• <02:51:55.200> focus this requirement ensures utilities focus this requirement ensures utilities
• Two, we have worked with big utility Two, we have worked with big utility companies<02:57:30.240
• So with that, I electric uh utilities.
• retail and wholesale uh utilities retail and wholesale uh utilities definitions<03:11:52.960>

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate came to order, established a quorum, and approved the journal. It then took up several introductions and resolutions, including House Bill 1139 on artificial intelligence in healthcare and House Bill 1263 on requirements for conversational AI services, both referred to the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. The chamber also moved out of order to consider resolutions and adopted Senate Joint Resolution 25, recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Colorado Mining Association and its role in Colorado’s history and economy. The resolution passed 34-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 1030, designating a portion of Colorado Highway 14 in Weld County as Mono and Matt Road in memory of Eduardo Mono Hernandez and Matthew Garcia. Supporters described the resolution as a tribute to the two Greeley Central High School student-athletes and to the community’s response after their 2014 deaths. The resolution passed 34-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. Later, the Senate considered a gubernatorial appointment to the Transportation Commission: Juan Marano of Aurora, to represent the Third Transportation District. The appointment was confirmed on a 19-16 vote. The chamber then took up the third-reading consent calendar and passed House Bill 1235 on medical assistance updates, House Bill 1299 on reducing regulatory burdens on local education providers, and Senate Bill 175 on workers’ compensation experience modification factors. House Bill 1235 passed 31-4, House Bill 1299 passed 35-0, and Senate Bill 175 passed without recorded opposition. On final passage, the Senate adopted a technical third-reading amendment to House Bill 113 on election law changes, then passed the bill 23-12 after debate over election-related vulnerabilities. It also passed House Bill 1346, allowing the Department of the Treasury to sell unsold insurance premium tax credits to non-insurance entities, by 23-12; House Bill 1252, updating state entities responsible for emergency response, by 33-2; House Bill 1010, increasing support for older adults in the workforce, by 23-12; and Senate Bill 177, concerning limited access to adjoining property for repairs, after extended debate in which Senator Kirkmeyer argued the measure infringed on private property rights and should be rejected.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this simply allows the Oklahoma Capital Improvement Authority to utilize $25 million from the
• It says a continuation of existing metric software program utilization.
• But I do know schools utilize it, not just for district consolidation.
• There's also the ability for them to do a number of shared services that they can utilize as fund for
• I don't know which schools, off the top of my head, are utilizing it, though.

Bills: HB4030, HB4031, HB4032, HB4033, HB4034, HB4035, HB4036, HB4037, HB4038, HB4039, HB4040, HB4041, HB4042, HB4043, HB4044, HB4045, HB4046, HB4047, HB4048, HB4049, HB4050, HB4051, HB4052, HB4053, HB4054, HB4056, HB4057, HB4065, HB4067, HB4071, HB4072, SB1144, SB1145, SB1146, SB1147, SB1148, SB1149, SB1156, SB1157, SB1158, SB1159, SB1161, SB1162, SB1163, SB1164, SB1165, SB1166, SB1167, SB1174, SB1175, SB1176

Keywords: education funding, budget appropriations, public schools, teachers' retirement, early childhood education, aeronautics, infrastructure, funding, sustainability, Oklahoma, mining, operator fees, coal production, noncoal mining, department of mines, revenue, state budget, budgetary reform, financial legislation, fiscal accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• The state holds approximately 11% of its funds in cash or cash equivalents, which are utilized to fund
• The state holds approximately 11% of its funds in cash or cash equivalents, which are utilized to fund
• the Legacy Fund to reduce House Bill 1176 utilizes funds from the Legacy Fund to reduce the local tax
• Has there been much discussion regarding utilizing artificial intelligence?
• So that's part of the challenge as well as when we're going to utilize AI.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Leadership Division of the Budget Section approved the prior meeting minutes and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s interim work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has reviewed state cash, investments, and liquidity across agencies and concluded the state’s overall mix of long-term and short-term assets is appropriate, with about $35 billion in total liquid assets and investments and roughly 89% in longer-term investments. He highlighted process improvements already underway, including replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work, and said the board sees opportunities to improve forecasting, automation, and statewide coordination. Members asked about whether the CD change would increase returns, how the Legacy Fund transfer for the homestead tax relief bill affected earnings, and whether more state cash could be consolidated or better managed through BND; Sickler and BND staff said those issues are being studied and may lead to legislation for the 2027 session. Representative Nathan Toman then updated the committee on the Task Force on Government Efficiency. He said the group has focused less on cutting dollars and more on defining metrics and asking how the legislature knows whether programs are working. The task force is pushing a standard set of questions for new or expanding programs—who is affected, expected outcomes, alternatives, how success will be measured, and full funding—and OMB has agreed to require those answers in future budget requests. Members discussed possible use of dashboards, program evaluators, AI tools, and possible rule or statutory changes to require performance measurement. Toman said the task force will continue meeting with agencies such as the courts, university system, auditor, HHS, Commerce, and ITD to identify workflow bottlenecks and potential efficiencies. Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota gave a workforce update, reporting that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5% and labor force participation is about 68.7%, both well above national performance. He described Job Service’s 15 workforce programs, including H-2A housing inspections for foreign agricultural workers, the job placement partnership program with DOCR, WOTC, and other federal and state workforce efforts. Davis said the agency served more than 11,000 individuals in 2025, operates nine workforce centers, and tracks outcomes through quarterly and annual reporting. In response to questions, he said job openings data reflect only positions in the system and may understate actual hiring needs, that child care and other assistance programs could be better tied to employment outcomes, and that the DOCR partnership has shown strong results with lower recidivism and higher earnings. He also said the H-2A inspection workload is growing quickly and additional staffing or less frequent federal inspection requirements could help. Allen Knutson then presented S&P Global’s updated revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the prior month’s outlook, improving the state’s near-term revenue picture, though the economy remains volatile and agriculture is facing weaker commodity prices. Based on the updated forecast, total major tax revenues for the current biennium are projected to be about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and the next biennium could be about $500 million higher, though that estimate is preliminary and may change. He also walked through an alternate oil-price scenario showing significantly higher oil and gas collections and a larger Strategic Investment Fund balance if prices remain elevated. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about tribal allocation changes in the alternative scenario; Knutson said additional updates are possible through OMB and future forecast cycles.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, yeah, utilities all across the country are being caught in this pinch between being flat, and now
• If I operated my utility like that...
• If I operated my utility like that when I was in business, I'd have been kicking horse crap down the
• We also utilize a tool called Forescout.
• In the 2023 general session, the legislature passed SB 288, which created the utility bill assistance

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For Albuquerque, Bernalillo Water Utility Authority, you're put through the same process.
• I had the bill this year on utility readiness to bring the PRC to something less than six months.
• Utility companies had what we all called the obligation to serve.
• said, "I'm going to need 100 megawatts to run my utility plant," and the utility company figured out
• It's not clear utility companies are going to be able to do that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Ranking Member Duncan, I haven't had any other conversations with the investor-owned utilities
• But, Any other conversations with the investor-owned utilities specifically about it, but no concerns
• We've expanded current statute to cover for significant projects, both for utility and non-utility developed
• We've expanded current statute to cover four significant projects, both for utility and non-utility development
• And so being able to utilize the area in a positive way, I think, is what needs to happen. to utilize

Bills: HB248, HB309, HB332, SB48

Keywords: general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools

Transcript Highlights:

• We are research arm, like I said, is an asset for people to utilize.
• make sure that we are preventing presenting the expertise that we have as a statewide entity and utilizing
• White Florida's good place to visit to live and then sharing with veterans resources that they can utilize
• surrounding areas of the impact to make sure we can get time stand footage and photos for them to utilize
• We get the information on a regular basis and were able to utilize that some better than others because

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next measure is SB 500 SD2 HD1, relating to electric utilities. this room later today. Okay.
• On behalf of the Senate, utilities.
• Next bill is Senate Bill 1500, relating to electric utilities.
• Next bill is Senate Bill 1500, relating to electric utilities.
• We're convening on Senate Bill 1500, relating to electric utilities.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee considered several conference measures on April 25, 2025, mostly waiting on FIN or Ways and Means releases before taking action. SB 25 on eviction mediation was agreed to and passed with amendments, with members voting aye except for one no vote recorded from Representative Pirk and several excused members. SB 1367 on installment loans was also taken up later in the meeting; a revised conference draft was noted to include a five-year timeframe, a $1 convenience fee, and a corrected effective date, and it passed unanimously among those voting. Other measures were repeatedly rolled to later times in Room 224 or 225 because releases were still pending, including SB 1044 on property insurance stabilization, SB 1220 on a renewable gas tariff, SB 500 on electric utilities, HB 1370 on liquor tax/draft beer definitions, HB 939 on alcohol/liquor tax changes, HB 1052 on the universal service program, and SB 1500 on electric utilities. When SB 1220 and SB 500 were eventually heard, both were described as creating or adjusting utility-related processes and both passed with amendments. HB 1370 also passed with amendments after the committee noted it would redefine draft beer for liquor tax purposes. SB 1044 drew the most detailed discussion: the conferees described major funding provisions, including a $30 million reimbursable general obligation bond appropriation for the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, a $20 million reimbursable GO bond appropriation to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for a condominium loan program, and a $5 million appropriation for GAP reserves, along with 36-month assessment periods and a temporary recording fee up to $44. The bill passed with amendments. HB 1052 on the universal service program was described as allowing the Public Utilities Commission to use program funds to provide free telecommunications access for individuals with print disabilities, with a $150,000 cap, and it also passed with a conference draft.

Transcript Highlights:

• But when we first heard this bill, Senator, it had a lot to do with some utility provisions.
• So just for clarification, those utility provisions like electronically detectable utilities, the utility
• owner damages for failure or refusal to timely relocate those utilities.
• ...and the payment for who would relocate the utilities and things like that.
• House Bill 11, a bill to be entitled an act relating to municipal water and sewer utility rates.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and moments of silence, including tributes related to the FSU campus shooting, Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, John Thrasher, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and visiting student and community groups. The chamber then moved into special order bills and adopted a resolution honoring Coach Abdur-Rahim. A number of measures were taken up and passed, including child care and early learning provider regulation updates, false reporting/swatting penalties, health care billing and collection protections, hazardous walking conditions for schoolchildren, young adult housing support for foster and homeless students, the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, trust fund interest rules for IOTA accounts, transportation-related changes, public records exemptions for AHCA investigators, JQC employees, and appellate court clerks, municipal water and sewer utility rates in Miami-Dade, motor vehicle offenses involving obscured plates and impersonating law enforcement, trespass at large-scale ticketed events, refund of patient overpayments, stem cell therapy standards, insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives, pre-arranged transportation services, and the Uniform Commercial Code update for digital assets. Several bills were amended before passage, often by substituting House companions and adopting late-filed amendments. The transportation bill was significantly revised to remove speed-limit increases and utility-related provisions while adding beach equipment removal, flood-wake enforcement, expectant mother parking permits, and local regulation of micromobility devices; it passed 37-0. The trust fund interest bill drew the most debate, with supporters arguing it right-sized a volatile funding stream for legal aid and opponents warning it would sharply reduce support for legal aid organizations; it passed 28-10. The municipal water and sewer rate bill also prompted extended debate over fairness, fiscal impact, and accusations of racism, but passed 36-2. Public records exemption bills for AHCA investigators, JQC employees, and appellate clerks passed with varying margins, with supporters emphasizing safety and anti-doxing protections. One bill on cardiac emergencies and another on education were temporarily postponed. Most measures were adopted by wide margins, often unanimously, after brief sponsor explanations and little or no debate. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the late USF coach Amir Abdur-Rahim and recognized several visiting groups in the gallery. After completing the day’s special order calendar, the Senate recessed for lunch until 1:30 p.m. or on call of the President.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, in growing instances, citizens have utilized a chapter or cities have utilized a chapter
• Right now the state of Texas is utilizing how much water on an acre-foot basis.
• But One of the proposals is utilizing- groundwater from another state or states, and transporting it-
• , if possible and technologically available, the utilization of brown. water and processed water.
• Senator, I'm assuming you're aware that historical... to utilize businesses or hub statutes.

Bills: SJR 12, SCR 39, SB 7, SB 8, SB 27, SB 29, SB 125, SB 241, SB 371, SB 396, SB 406, SB 464, SB 568, SB 578, SB 608, SB 617, SB 660, SB 689, SB 693, SB 707, SB 731, SB 732, SB 763, SB 779, SB 836, SB 854, SB 857, SB 875, SB 878, SB 879, SB 906, SB 920, SB 921, SB 922, SB 942, SB 965, SB 985, SB 996, SB 1029, SB 1035, SB 1036, SB 1059, SB 1084, SB 1098, SB 1101, SB 1185, SB 1188, SB 1321, SB 1332, SB 1366, SB 1388, SB 1396, SB 1453, SB 1484, SB 1494, SB 1536, SB 1563, SB 1596, SB 1610, SB 1619, SB 1737, SB 1738, SB 1741, SB 1816, SB 1822, SB 1841, SB 1939, SB 2155, SB 2188, SB 2230

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: In this meeting, significant discussions revolved around the passage and modification of various Senate Bills, including SB1388, which pertains to family support services under the Health and Human Services Commission. Senator Kolkhorst advocated for the bill, emphasizing its focus on pro-life, family-centered care. The committee passed the bill after thorough examination, showcasing a collaborative effort among the members to ensure its alignment with successful past initiatives. In another session, Senator Hughes presented SB942, aimed at retroactive child support linked to prenatal care, which sparked a constructive dialogue reflecting bipartisan support for maternal and child welfare.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and you also, you're an enterprise agency in the sense that you have the public utility tax.
• > Okay. >> So it's an assessment on the public utility assessment.
• Is any of have the public utility tax.
• It's a it's public utility assessment.
• revenues of all the public utilities. revenues of all the public utilities.

Bills: SF0082

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it depends on following these folks who are high utilizers as a bounce between cell block, hospital
• as a bounce between cell high utilizers as a bounce between cell block<00:13:49.040> Hospital
• because of this language about utilizing because of this language about utilizing bus<00:38:28.839
• At that point, it's clear that he's not really utilizing the bus services.
• <00:53:39.640> of consistently low utilization of consistently low utilization of contracted

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The hearing began with HB 1113, which would create an intensive mobile team pilot program in the Department of Health for chronically houseless individuals with serious brain disorders such as schizophrenia. The Department of Health Adult Mental Health Division strongly supported the bill, and written support was also submitted by several health and harm-reduction organizations. Members asked about the program’s size and coordination with existing services; the testifier said the team would use a low-caseload, 24/7 mobile model, coordinate with police, ERs, hospitals, housing, dual-diagnosis treatment, and other case-management resources, and continue serving participants even if they cycle through jail or hospital. The committee amended the bill to change the participant language from a maximum of 40 to “at least 40,” blanked out the appropriations section, deferred the effective date to July 1, 3000, and then adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments by unanimous vote in both committees. The next measure, HB 1140, would appropriate funds for DLNR to clean up homeless encampments on department lands. DLNR testified in support, saying it conducts about 22 to 24 cleanups per year and the bill would help it address homelessness statewide. Members asked whether the funds would be used to sweep people out of areas; DLNR said its practice is to give notice, allow time to leave, and then clean up what remains, with storage procedures for personal property. The department also said people still present are told to move to the county area across the road. DLNR confirmed the bill is not in the governor’s budget, though it is in the governor’s legislative package. The committee then heard HB 1486, which would make it disorderly conduct to remain or loiter within 20 feet of a bus stop without intent to use bus services. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that criminal enforcement is not the right tool, could lead to arrests of people who are simply tired or unhoused, and could create a cycle of repeated low-level cases and constitutional issues around questioning and intent. HPD supported the bill, saying officers would generally try to get people to move first, but could also use field questioning, citations, or arrests depending on the circumstances; HPD said such incidents can be documented and later used in ACT or other mental-health interventions. A private resident testified in support, describing bus stops near her home as occupied overnight and burdening nearby residents and small businesses. Written support came from the City and County of Honolulu Mayor’s Office, and one individual opposed the bill. Members also asked about neighbor-island impacts, property handling, and whether the bill could help connect people to services; HPD said it had not consulted other counties and would follow up. Finally, the committee began hearing HB 877, which would prohibit encampments within 100 feet of the property line of a K-12 public or private school or school facility. DLNR stood on its written testimony, and the Department of the Attorney General raised concerns that the bill did not specify how violators would be removed, what would happen to property or the encampment, or whether the buffer zone applies only to public spaces. The AG suggested making violations petty misdemeanors and adding clearer definitions and due-process guidance. Members asked whether charter schools are included and whether private-property situations within the buffer zone should be clarified; the AG said public schools include charter schools and indicated the bill may need more specificity about private property and trespass situations.

Transcript Highlights:

• under this bill. >> So, not utility.
• Water would be considered utility >> water?
• There are other counties that utilize this.
• However, we were all that utilize this.
• <00:40:07.359> to redirected to our county to utilize to redirected to our county to utilize

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 5, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 127 members present, heard a prayer, and then recognized 2025 Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools and the Maryland Municipal League on its 90th anniversary. The Blue Ribbon resolution named Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Diamond Elementary School, Little Flower School, Meyersville Elementary School, St. Louis School, Stoneleigh Elementary School, and Wilson Whims Elementary School, with principals introduced from the gallery. The MML resolution honored the league’s service to Maryland’s cities and towns and invited members to meet municipal officials after the floor session. The clerk also noted a second printing of the 2026 rule book due to a table-of-contents error. The chamber then took up House Bill 80, the Residential Leases Fee Disclosures bill. Floor debate focused on what fees must be disclosed, what counts as a utility versus a fee, whether the bill applies to oral leases, and how the measure applies to landlords with four or more units. Supporters said the bill is intended to ensure tenants know all upfront fees before signing and to create a clear enforcement pathway; opponents raised concerns about penalties, affordability, and the burden on landlords. The bill passed on third reading by a vote of 95-34. The House next considered House Bill 153, which requires air conditioning in newly constructed residential rental units and units undergoing specified substantial renovations, with the standard that habitable spaces be kept at 80 degrees or lower. Members asked whether window units would satisfy the requirement, how the bill interacts with older buildings and ongoing renovations, whether it applies retroactively, how enforcement would work, and whether it references federal refrigerant rules; the sponsor said it does not require central air and is prospective only. Supporters argued it reflects existing practice in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and clarifies habitability standards, while opponents cited costs and concerns about older homes. The transcript ends during debate on this bill, before a final vote is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:39:35.360> relocation that in the the the utility relocation that in the the the utility
• And funded to to move these utilities.
• House Bill 1901, appropriation, Public Utility Staff.
• appropriation, Public Utility Staff. appropriation, Public Utility Staff.
• House Bill 1901 is the Public Utilities Staff. House Bill 1901 is the Public Utilities Staff.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 12 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber also recognized several guests and groups, including the doctor of the day, visitors from Quebec, the Sumrall High School boys soccer team, Starkville public safety officials, and the Hattiesburg High School choral arts program. A resolution honoring the long-standing partnership between Quebec and Mississippi was read and adopted, and Ms. Nathalie Rivard of Quebec addressed the Senate about historical ties and economic cooperation between Quebec and Mississippi. The Senate then moved through a series of procedural actions on the calendar, including multiple motions to table reconsideration on medical cannabis and ARPA-related bills, and several motions to not concur and invite conference on workforce and budget measures. Among those were Senate Bill 2294, the Mississippi Future Innovators Act, Senate Bill 2288 on workforce training, Senate Bill 2401 on workforce development, Senate Bill 2189 on budget transfers, Senate Bill 2895 on ARPA funds, and Senate Bill 2917 on appropriations transfers. These motions were adopted, sending the measures to conference or otherwise advancing them as noted. A major portion of the meeting focused on appropriations bills. House Bill 1935, the Education Department appropriation, was explained in detail and adopted after a strike-all amendment; the bill includes funding for the student formula, teacher and assistant pay raises, special education supplements, school attendance officers, testing contracts, early learning coaches, and CTE instructor raises, with offsets from reduced or eliminated line items such as school safety platforms and certain vendor programs. The Senate also adopted strike-all amendments and passed House Bills 1936 and 1937 for Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Library Commission, and then moved on to House Bill 1933 for the Bureau of Building. The Senate recessed until 2:30 p.m. and announced an appropriations meeting shortly after recess, while leadership noted that many supplemental appropriations bills would be considered later with attention to whether they contained reverse repealers and would go to conference or final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• funding focused on campground utility funding focused on campground utility broadband<01:09:49.279
• Utility improvements. Our utility improvements total $20 million.
• <01:15:29.040> Our<01:15:29.360> you<01:15:29.920> utility Utility improvements
• Our you utility Utility improvements.
• The utility renovated or replaced.

Keywords: Discussion of SB 126 (2025 RS) 00:05:13 Discussion of HB 16 (2025 RS) 00:15:40 Kentucky Department of Parks – Overview 01:05:06, 958, all

Summary: The committee met jointly for State Government, State and Local Government, and Elections and Constitutional Amendments, approved the minutes from the September 23 meeting, and then took up discussion of Senate Bill 126, a proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the governor’s pardon power. Senator Chris McDaniel said the measure was prompted by concerns over pardons issued in 2019 and would bar pardons for 60 days before a gubernatorial election through the swearing-in of a new governor, leaving the power otherwise intact. Members who spoke generally supported the proposal as a way to increase accountability, and McDaniel said he intended to place it on the 2026 ballot. No vote was taken on the bill during the discussion. The committee then moved to House Bill 16 on water fluoridation. Representative Hart and Senator Greg Elkins said the bill would remove Kentucky’s fluoridation mandate and give local water districts the choice to add fluoride or not. They emphasized that the revised draft also adds immunity language to protect districts from civil litigation regardless of their decision. Dr. Jack Call, a Louisville dentist, presented against fluoridation, arguing that the main dental benefit is topical rather than from drinking water and citing studies and reports he said linked fluoride exposure to reduced IQ in children and other health concerns. Cindy Batson, a nurse and parent, also supported the bill and said she had testified on the issue for years. During questions, Senator Rollins raised concerns about fluoride being an industrial byproduct and described fluoridation as forced medication. The discussion remained focused on the bill’s local-control and immunity provisions, with sponsors saying they were not trying to relitigate the broader science but wanted to remove the mandate. The transcript ends while questions and testimony on HB 16 were still underway, and no final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The utility relocations.
• Our utility people are working hard, you know, with utility companies trying to schedule, but again,
• you know, they're just the utility people's staff, you know, getting out there to relocate utilities.
• regulations. the utility relocations. regulations. the utility relocations.
• , you Our utility people are working hard, you know,<00:34:16.879> with<00:34:17.200> utility

Keywords: This meeting was recovered from a back up copy and uploaded after the original meeting took place., 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on the FY 2025 road fund. Officials reported road fund revenues came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but were down about $11 million from FY 2024, largely because a motor fuels tax rate reduction took effect at the start of FY 2025. Motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and the cabinet said the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus, which the budget bill directs to state highway construction. Members also discussed how the motor fuels decline affects formula distributions to cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads, with officials saying about $122.8 million had been planned for revenue sharing but was not distributed because receipts were lower than forecast. Members asked about broader revenue trends, including fuel efficiency, electric vehicles, and the removal of a hybrid fee. Cabinet officials said improved fuel efficiency and CAFE standards reduce gasoline consumption and therefore fuel tax receipts, while EVs and plug-in hybrids are subject to a user fee. They also said toll revenues from the Louisville bridges are covering bills and commitments, though they did not have detailed figures at hand. On project delivery, officials said delays are often caused by right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the highway plan, and that much of the work happens behind the scenes before construction begins. The committee also reviewed the cabinet’s cash management approach, which was adopted after 2000 to avoid setting aside full project costs all at once and to keep the road fund cash balance above a required minimum. Officials said the balance typically rises in winter and falls in summer as project bills come due, and that the current balance was about $166 million. They also reported that project awards for the year were nearing $998 million and expected to exceed last year’s total. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a direct cost when they utilize services.
• <01:01:37.079> and<01:01:37.200> you go out and see the utilization and you go out
• case Medicare appears to use the utilize case Medicare appears to use the utilize Services<01:03
• they utilize they utilize Services<01:03:29.520> the<01:03:29.680> commercial<01:03
• For utilization of our own money, which is that federal dollar is ours as well.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But do we have any data to help us understand the utilization and the incremental cost associated with
• the utilization of the additional benefit?
• We're sharing the risk with them, utilizing their national expertise, their ability to enact proper utilization
• enact proper utilization enact proper utilization management<02:04:36.040> and<02:04:36.159
• <02:11:28.559> as being looked at is um medical utility as being looked at is um medical utility

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division III held an informational hearing on Medicaid, Medicare, Choices for Independence, and related financing, while postponing nursing facility financing and the county cap discussion to a later date. DHHS officials Ann Landry, Jonathan Ballard, and Medicaid Director Henry Litman provided an overview of Medicaid’s role, noting it is a federal-state partnership with state-specific eligibility and benefits, and emphasizing that Medicaid is a major funding and programmatic support for other DHHS initiatives. They also distinguished Medicaid from Medicare and explained that Medicaid funding is not the same as grant funding, though some providers may also receive federal grants through other channels. The presentation focused on New Hampshire’s relatively small Medicaid program and why it differs from national averages. Officials said about 184,000 residents are covered, roughly one in seven Granite Staters compared with one in five nationally, and attributed the difference largely to the state’s higher per-capita income and older population. They highlighted that about 65% of Medicaid-enrolled adults in New Hampshire are working, that only 22% of births are covered by Medicaid versus 42% nationally, and that the state’s uninsured rate is lower than the national rate. Members asked about covered services, income limits, federal matching rates, and the names of optional eligibility groups; staff explained that New Hampshire offers the optional groups discussed, with matching rates varying by category, including 90% for Granite Advantage and certain other groups, and 65% for children above the required level. A substantial portion of the hearing covered eligibility rules and recent policy changes. Officials reviewed the history of Medicaid, including HCBS waivers, the CFI program, Katie Beckett, the Olmstead decision, the ACA, and the end of continuous enrollment after the public health emergency. They also discussed the 2023 legislative expansion of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months and child eligibility changes. In response to questions, DHHS said it is tracking utilization and costs for the postpartum expansion and reported that many maternal deaths occur after the prior 60-day coverage period, often involving substance use disorder or suicide; they said the longer coverage is intended to improve access to treatment and prevention. The committee also walked through household-income examples, clarified that Medicaid eligibility is based on household income and categorical rules, and confirmed that Granite Advantage ends at 138% of the federal poverty level unless another categorical basis applies. No votes were taken, and the hearing remained informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> Mississippi<01:37:05.199> are The public utilities of Mississippi are The public utilities
• <01:47:05.119> so invest utilities so invest utilities so >> all<01:47:07.600> right
• We have Jeff the public utility staff.
• <01:57:44.639> Now, attractive to the utilities. Now, attractive to the utilities.
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Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 21 January, 2026: 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks present its FY27 budget request and discuss accomplishments from prior appropriations. The commissioner highlighted improved conservation officer retention after salary increases, continued training and wellness efforts, upgrades to state parks and cabins, expansion of tiny homes, fisheries stocking and youth fishing programs, ongoing chronic wasting disease testing, and the Museum of Natural Science’s recent accreditation. The agency said it wants to maintain parks and facilities so they do not deteriorate again, and it emphasized tourism and public access benefits. Budget staff then outlined the request: $21.7 million in general funds, including increases for state parks, the museum, law enforcement, and chronic wasting disease; $23.2 million in state support capital and education funds; and $86.99 million in special funds authority. Major capital requests included $18.8 million for state parks projects at several parks, $1.25 million for law enforcement facilities, $2 million for Lake Lamar Bruce improvements, and $1.125 million for mobile teaching vans. Members asked for more detail on general fund increases, proof that law enforcement salary enhancements reached field agents, more information on the tiny home program and its return on investment, the source of motor vehicle funds, and a breakdown of requested pins and vacancies. The committee also questioned the agency about chronic wasting disease, with the department saying the $400,000 request supports testing and research and that live testing is not yet reliable. Members raised concerns about prioritization of lake and park maintenance, especially Lake Claude Bennett, and whether the agency is too reactive rather than proactive in addressing deteriorating facilities. The department said funding limitations and federal restrictions on certain lake dollars drive its priorities, and that it focuses on the most-used parks and lakes. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.