Transcript Highlights:

• That's increasing on taxes. When you tried to tax RT, we got frisky.
• that are offered, which are usually just a few dollars above minimum wage.
• that are offered, which are usually just a few dollars above minimum wage.
• Most independent operators do not support an increase in the license cap.
• I also wanted to throw in my displeasure about the increase to six dispensaries.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis held a hearing on a package of cannabis bills focused on equity funding, delivery expansion, advertising restrictions, medical use, first responders, and ownership limits. Testimony strongly supported S. 87/H. 184 to direct a larger share of cannabis revenue into the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund and related equity programs, with speakers arguing the current funding is insufficient and that automatic transfers would better support businesses and communities harmed by the war on drugs. Several witnesses also backed H. 145/S. 89 to allow licensed cannabis delivery into municipalities that ban retail sales and to hotels, saying current rules unfairly limit social equity delivery operators and consumer access. There was also support for H. 176 on medical cannabis eligibility and S. 76 on cannabis use by first responders, while H. 177/H. 178 on new taxes drew opposition from several business owners who said the industry is already heavily burdened and overtaxed. A major point of debate was S. 94/H. 157, which would prohibit billboard advertising for non-prescription marijuana. Public health advocates, parents, and neuroscientists argued that cannabis billboards normalize use, are seen by youth, and are difficult to regulate effectively under the current 85% adult-audience standard. They urged a public health approach similar to tobacco restrictions. In contrast, several industry witnesses opposed further advertising limits, saying cannabis businesses already face strict marketing rules, billboards are privately owned, and additional restrictions would hurt small operators and raise First Amendment concerns. Some witnesses also criticized the proposed increase in ownership caps and consolidation provisions in the broader cannabis bill, warning they would favor large multistate companies over small and social equity businesses. Committee members asked questions about billboard ownership, enforcement of the current advertising rules, and the legal basis for restricting sign content. Witnesses and members also discussed the Cannabis Control Commission’s role, the difficulty of enforcing audience-composition standards, and whether delivery should be treated more like alcohol. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted.

Transcript Highlights:

• And over 25 years, they estimate it would take about $14 million in increased spending from the trust
• Under this bill, the plan 2 amount would be increased from $50 to $250, so that would align with how
• And this would also be increased annually at the discretion of the Department of Retirement Systems.
• Employers are already under increasing cost pressures.
• The result is patients facing increased. are not intended to provide primary care services.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Average wage in according to dollars?
• That's about a billion lost wages.
• Assistant Minority Leader Winter, apologies. there's a 2.4% increase in regulations there's a 2.4% increase
• And hurts employees and it hurts wages.
• </c> increasing rates. increasing rates.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> support people to get to living wage support people to get to living wage jobs<00:18:40.040><c>
• </c> Encourage folks to do that by increasing the benefit amount to encourage healthy foods.
• The cost of the waiver programs folks have received, there have been big rate increases.
• </c><00:55:22.200><c> Still</c><00:55:22.720><c> not</c> been big rate increases.
• Still not been big rate increases. Still not enough<00:55:23.160><c> providers.

Keywords: Roll Call - 00:10 Discussion on SCR 61 – 01:46 Vote on SCR 61 – 11:33 Discussion on SR 18 – 12:30 Vote on SR 18 - 30:01 Discussion on Ky Residential Autism Services – 32:34 Questions & Comments – 56:56, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 61, sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Representative Matt Lockett. The resolution, as amended by committee substitute, would create a legislative task force tied to the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) framework to study Kentucky health policy, including Medicaid drug approvals, preventive and alternative therapies, holistic health education, oversight and transparency in health care, and research into integrative approaches. Supporters said the goal was to address chronic disease and reduce over-medication, while emphasizing the effort was not intended as an attack on agriculture or the pharmaceutical industry. The resolution received favorable expression and passed the committee 9-0. The committee then heard Senate Resolution 18 from Senator Neal, urging Kentucky to maximize participation in the federal SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program. Testimony from Jessica Klein of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy and Secretary Eric Friedlander explained that SNAP E&T provides job training, education, and support services for SNAP participants, and that the program is federally matched and does not require additional General Assembly funding in the normal course. Members discussed how the program works, whether it could create new state costs, and how it fits with efforts to connect food assistance, workforce development, and local agriculture. Questions also focused on whether SNAP spending can be steered toward healthier foods and farmers markets, including Kentucky’s Double Dollars program, which was described as helping participants buy produce, meat, and dairy at participating markets and some retailers. Several members expressed support for the workforce goals but asked for more information on fiscal impacts and purchasing data. Secretary Friedlander said the SNAP E&T funds are separate from nutrition benefits, and that the state match generally comes from employer, university, or workforce partner contributions rather than new state appropriations. Senator Herron explained her vote in favor by saying the program could help people gain education and employment and reduce reliance on SNAP over time. Senate Resolution 18 was then adopted by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1235 will increase compliance burdens, reduce bidder participation, and likely increase construction
• AB 1235 will increase compliance burdens, reduce bidder participation, and likely increase construction
• We can increase job placement, including more off-campus opportunities.
• This bill would also preserve all applicable prevailing wage and labor standards.
• learning programs, nor does it increase the funding for these existing programs.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If 10% do, then the increase would be something like 150%, and that increased usage would likely build
• </c><00:03:49.959><c> be</c> 10% do then the increase would be 10% do then the increase would be something
• ridership on Transit and by the increase ridership on Transit and by the way<00:04:26.280><c> increase
• So I think it’s going to be a net increase in the amount of folks using Transit and a net increase in
• </c> folks using Transit and a net increase folks using Transit and a net increase in<00:10:43.279><c

Bills: HF1367, HF2732, HF1897, HF1424, HF1383, HF2728, HF2863, HF1685, HF2929

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• In the last five years, California's child poverty rate has increased nearly threefold, jumping from
• If my spouse is not paying child support and I need help and I need to garnish wages and I need to do
• If my spouse is not paying child support and I need help and I need to garnish wages and I need to do
• need help and I need to garnish wages and I need to do things.
• In addition, $121 billion in wages and $83 billion in tax revenue would be generated from a modernized

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the cost of operation is only increasing.
• The last paragraph of this bill has it increasing with CPI, but even with the $3 increase and CPI, the
• Right, but it is going to increase annually.
• It could, you know, if there is an annual increase in inflation. Thank you.
• The wages at this time since 1989. So with that, I'll take any questions.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The operating account has some language on preserve or increase, or both, greenhouse gas sequestration
• It increases the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee assessed on commercial motor vehicles from
• It directs the RTA to award MATOC in accordance with apprenticeship, utilization, and prevailing wage
• House Bill 2722 increases the maximum weight of certain vehicles that are subject to a transportation
• Some people are concerned about an increase in fees.

Bills: HB2092, HB2114, HB2172, HB2251, HB2374, HB2410, HB2552, HB2588, HB2718, HB2722, HB2727

Keywords: passenger rail, transportation, committee, advisory, infrastructure, defective license plates, vehicle registration, Department of Licensing, state regulations, route jurisdiction, abandonment, local governance, climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Eight increases the Arizona vehicle theft task force appropriation... ...increases the Arizona Vehicle
• Nine increases the appropriated FTEs to DIFI by 9 FTEs.
• They increased them by $274 million.
• We will continue to fight for worthy wages for caregivers and for policies for higher wages for hardworking
• It would increase for ESA as well.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so energy demand is only going to increase.
• Not necessarily a wage, but still something.
• That's mostly wages that go to employees.
• employees don't get a 4% increase.
• Additionally, 80% report increased food sold in new communities, making food more affordable and increasing

Transcript Highlights:

• When parents lack a diploma, they often remain trapped in lower-wage work.
• Graduation rates, immediate wage gains, and a stronger workforce.
• They have not increased time in the classrooms, and it has not led to improved test scores.
• And then you do go to A&M, Senator King, and you get a whopping 400% increase.
• And the demand has significantly increased.

Bills: SB1798, SB1835, SB1319, SB2942, SB2928, SB784, SB1049

Keywords: higher education, tuition rates, financial support, immigration status, Texas law, SB 1835, resident tuition, nonresident students, scholarship students, public higher education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Education Code Section 54.213, tuition waiver, in-state tuition, out-of-state students, higher education finance, enrollment cap, capacity limit, workforce development area, nonimmigrant visa

Transcript Highlights:

• 41.760><c> you</c><00:09:41.920><c> provide</c><00:09:42.240><c> us</c><00:09:42.600><c> any</c> increases
• So, can you provide us any increases.
• I am strongly in favor of nurses being paid wages that are fair, that they deserve to earn for the work
• um wages that are fair that are that um wages that are fair that are that they<00:46:39.280><c> deserve
• </c> themselves for these wages. themselves for these wages.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered multiple gubernatorial nominations, beginning with several appointments to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board. Testimony on the Hurricane Relief Fund nominees was overwhelmingly in support from the DCCA Insurance Division, Hawaii Insurance Council, Hawaii Insurers Council, the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, and various individuals and industry representatives. Nominees Michael Naka, Marie White, Raina Miamoto, Leslie Door, Edward Hike, and Gwen McDonald were discussed, with Miamoto and Hike offering brief remarks about the need to address hurricane insurance affordability, condo coverage, and the importance of attracting reinsurers. The committee spent substantial time questioning Hike about the fund’s strategy, including whether to keep eligibility broad in the first phase to move quickly into the reinsurance market, how much capital would be available, and whether later policy refinements such as owner-occupancy requirements could be added after an initial rollout. Hike said the fund intended to start with broad parameters to secure reinsurance and then consider more targeted changes later, and he indicated further responses to prior committee questions would be submitted later that day. No votes were taken during the excerpted discussion. The committee then moved to other nominations. Terresa Hernandez was considered for the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic, with support from the board, and she said chiropractic had been a passion for her for seven years. Terrence Aratani was considered for the Board of Nursing, with support from the Board of Nursing, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and others. During questioning, a senator raised concerns from constituents about a 2019 grant-related controversy involving a proposed resiliency hub project; Aratani responded that his organization had partnered on a grant-in-aid proposal, later withdrew when the project scope changed substantially, and said no money was transferred to the other group. Cheryl Schultz Hansen was also considered for the Board of Nursing and described her long nursing and teaching background, while a senator asked about alleged pressure on nurses to participate in employee give-back campaigns at Hawaii Pacific Health and the University of Hawaii; Hansen said the campaigns were voluntary and she was unaware of harassment, though she acknowledged managers may feel pressure to encourage participation. The excerpt ends before any final committee actions or votes on these nominations are announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not like an election campaign where the candidates wage their campaigns and the one with the most
• Only for the purposes of breaking labor unions that were trying to build in some of our lowest wage markets
• He fought for fairness and justice, including pay increases, worker protections, and retirement benefits
• Union rights, family security, wages, and benefits.
• Sometime they got over 600% of decent wages and benefits from the collective bargaining agreement.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to find ways to protect gig flexibility while increasing worker access to portable benefits like
• Poll after poll shows the overwhelming majority of Americans want to increase the absurdly low $7.25
• an hour minimum wage to a living wage.

Transcript Highlights:

• And these fees ensure that new development rather than existing taxpayers cover the cost of that increased
• and City B decide that they're not going to collect that fee, cities D, E, F, et cetera, have to increase
• The cost is their wages. I'm covering their wages.
• I'm covering their wages while they go to training, but more importantly, I'm covering overtime costs
• When enforcement activity increases at that scale, structured custodial coordination becomes even more

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 626, which would require cities to collect county development impact fees for facilities such as courthouses and jails. Rep. Alfieri said the bill was intended to prevent cities from opting out of collecting fees the legislature already authorized, and county officials and the Idaho Association of Counties testified in support, describing lost revenue and growth-related infrastructure costs. The Association of Idaho Cities and a private attorney opposed the bill, arguing cities are separate sovereigns, the measure could be unconstitutional, and the issue should be handled through intergovernmental agreements rather than a mandate. After debate over fairness and constitutionality, a motion to hold the bill in committee failed and the committee voted to send HB 626 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 749, an annexation-related measure. Rep. Ehardt described the bill as a collaborative fix to problems faced by property owners, including large costs tied to forced annexation and utility hookups. The Hammonds testified about annexation expenses and uncertainty affecting their property, and the committee moved HB 749 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 659, which would require local and county law enforcement agencies to apply for 287(g) agreements with ICE and to explain any inability to do so. Rep. Hawkins said the bill was meant to help law enforcement cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and emphasized that it focused on jail-based models and applications for agreements. Supporters argued it would improve public safety and accountability, while sheriffs, police leaders, cities, and other opponents raised concerns about costs, staffing, state sovereignty, existing cooperation with ICE, publication of sensitive information, and possible conflicts with current law. Testimony continued from both sides, but no final committee action on HB 659 was shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it gives them significant increases.
• That cost of living living increase.
• I'll never increase right now is 1%.
• </c> service increase from 15,000 to $20,000. service increase from 15,000 to $20,000.
• wage wage replacement.<01:40:37.760><c> Workers</c><01:40:38.159><c> who</c><01:40:38.760><c> qualify

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, President Biden kept President Trump's tariffs on China and increased them in a handful
• Would you take to address increased prices caused by these tariffs?
• So what I want to know is, what will you do, if confirmed, to combat that increase in price caused by
• Trade Representative for small businesses to call to help navigate increased prices from tariffs.
• Wages do, but we can do what we can to make sure it's broad-based growth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of those increases for the executive are due to increased grants, increased lease costs, and just
• The increases overall are intended to cover audit expenses as well as a 100,000 increase in the base
• All of these programs are roughly equivalent and include over 35,000 in increases to support increased
• increase.
• And finally, both recommendations increase funding within the other cost category to support increased

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It increases penalties from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
• So I think the mean average wage was $60,120.
• I understand in Miami-Dade, twice the mean wage would be roughly $130,000.
• But the mean wage for the state would have been $120,000.
• It is not to increase the ability of a roofer to do anything more.

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft systems. The bill increases penalties for flying drones over critical infrastructure, prohibits drones equipped with weapons or explosives, creates a first-degree felony for drones carrying a weapon of mass destruction, and includes a law enforcement exception. A lay-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo warning against the use of force to shoot down drones was debated but failed, and the bill was then reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SB 846 addressing notary public fraud in immigration-related services, SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions for school transportation, SB 922 on employment agreements including non-compete and garden leave provisions, and SB 1820 on motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer relations, covering performance measures, retaliation, and franchise termination standards. Several bills focused on education, health care, and disability issues. SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, would require disability history and awareness instruction across grade levels; it drew emotional testimony from the bill sponsor, family members, and supporters, and was reported favorably. SB 998 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to certify deaths and file death certificates in hospice settings under physician protocol, and SB 1412 would modernize home health agency rules by expanding administrative flexibility and contract service use; both passed. SB 1736 would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced several regulatory and court-related measures. SB 1650 expands Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including allowing designation based on conduct in a single case and extending the look-back period, while SB 1652 creates a public records exemption for certain stricken non-criminal court filings; both were approved. SB 1076 on roofing contractors was amended to require continuing education for roof-to-wall connections and then passed, and SB 1078 on fire prevention was amended with stakeholder-agreed language before being reported favorably. SB 1080 on local government land regulations, after multiple amendments and significant debate over agricultural enclaves and local control, was also approved. Other major measures included SB 818 on utility relocation, which creates a relocation fund funded by a portion of communications services tax revenue and was supported by multiple industry and local-government groups after a compromise amendment; SB 868 on social media use by minors, which would require a decryption mechanism for law enforcement access under subpoena and prohibit disappearing messages for minors, remained under discussion as the transcript ended. The committee also heard SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers against the City of Gainesville, and reported it favorably after testimony that the city would pay the settlement amount.