Video & Transcript Research : 'emergency declaration'

Page 77 of 500
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Municipal and County Government (01/23/2026)

Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh we have no for a declared emergency.
  • Just unilaterally declare an emergency.
  • Um, in Roman 1A, it defines declared emergency.
  • think<02:43:19.439> there to declare an emergency, I think there to declare an emergency,
  • <02:43:22.960> to declaring the emergency and seeking to declaring the emergency and seeking
Keywords: 1189, house, all
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Public Safety REVISED Apr 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • I do declare the nominee to go forward to the floor. Thanks, Senator Guthrie. Thank you.
  • The nominee having received eight ayes and zero nays, I do declare the nominee to go to the full floor
  • I was a liaison for the emergency management for several years.
  • So what we do now with emergency management, the plan is if the disaster hits down there, we would go
  • I do Declare Mr. McCoy to go to the full vote of the Senate floor. Thank you, Senator Reinhart.
Bills: HB3045
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Day 49 (3-18-26)

Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:06:30.160> an<00:06:30.320> emergency,<00:06:31.600> and<00:06:31.720> House
  • <00:06:31.920> Bill declaring an emergency, and House Bill declaring an emergency, and House
  • Senate Resolution 173, a resolution declaring the Kentucky Senate's acknowledgement and recognition of
  • declaring the Kentucky Senate's<00:10:00.200> acknowledgement<00:10:01.040> and<00:10:
  • an emergency.
Keywords: 958, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (02/11/2025)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • c> if into the declared state of emergency if into the declared state of emergency if there's<05:
  • Doesn't that defeat declaring a state of emergency?
  • to declaring a state of emergency?
  • to declaring a state of emergency?
  • and<05:13:42.718> they declares an emergency drought and they declares an emergency drought
Keywords: 1189, house, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Feb 24th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 1011 by Blanco relates to emergency medical care facilities and their regulation under health
  • Senate Bill 1138 by Miles relates to municipal first responder policies for emergencies occurring at
  • Senate Bill 1144 by Blanco relates to the provision of shelter or care to a minor by an emergency shelter
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/09/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, this bill has an emergency clause.
  • It requires a two-thirds majority to enact the emergency.
  • The clause requires a two-thirds majority to enact the emergency. Members, please vote.
  • They're required a two-thirds majority to enact the emergency.
  • . the clerk is in such a They're required a two-thirds majority to enact the emergency.
Summary: The House convened, approved the prior journal, received gubernatorial communications, and then moved into an additional Committee of the Whole to consider Senate bills on two calendars. In that committee, members adopted floor and committee amendments and reported SB 1100, SB 1160, and SB 1178 out as amended. On the second calendar, the committee considered SB 1200, SB 1560, SB 1627, and SB 1723, adopting amendments on SB 1200, SB 1627, and SB 1723 and reporting all four measures out, while SB 1725 was retained on the calendar. The House then adopted the committee reports and sent the amended bills to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. The chamber then took up a long series of third-reading votes. Several bills passed with recorded votes and some member explanations focused on public safety, parental rights, school safety, health care, local control, property rights, and wildlife management. Among the measures that passed were SB 1013, SB 1015, SB 1046, SB 1094, SB 1095, SB 1124, SB 1186, SB 1214, SB 1275, SB 1280, SB 1315, SB 1318, SB 1205 on reconsideration, SB 1327, SB 1416, SB 1418, SB 1582, SB 1613, SB 1662, SB 1664, SB 1670, SB 1711, SB 1741, SB 1821, and several concurrent memorials. A number of bills failed, including SB 1052, SB 1170, SB 1457, SB 1074, SB 1540, SB 1649, and SB 1663. Debate on several bills drew pointed partisan and policy disagreements. Members opposing health-related bills argued they targeted LGBTQ people or medical decision-making, while supporters framed them as protecting children or bodily autonomy. On SB 1170, members said the bill contained a drafting error that would create extreme penalties and strain prison capacity. On SB 1280, supporters and opponents split over Mexican gray wolf management and federal conservation efforts. On SB 1199, the Salt River horse herd bill, members discussed herd management, heritage, property impacts, and a required emergency clause; it passed with the needed two-thirds majority. The House also adopted a group concurrence motion on numerous House bills and passed several House bills on final reading, including HB 2013, HB 2016, HB 2028, HB 2086, HB 2118, HB 2140, HB 2170, HB 2226, HB 2244, HB 2248, HB 2249, HB 2327, HB 2379, HB 2380, and others, forwarding them to the Governor.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Nov 3rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chief of the Department of Emergency Management.
  • Nim Kidd, Division of Emergency Management.
  • The second one is the emergency medical task force program.
  • Uh, call when needed light contracts when, uh, the governor declares an emergency, you, you will be able
  • And communication during emergencies and reliability.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Nov 3rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Nim Kidd, Chief of the Department of Emergency Management. Wes Moorhead, Deputy.
  • The Texas Division of Emergency Management. Honored to be here with you again.
  • So thanks sir, Nim Kidd, Division of Emergency Management.
  • The second one is the Emergency Medical Task Force program.
  • need to light contracts when the governor declares an emergency, you will be. be able to get your hands
Keywords: 1184, house, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • declaration due to weather.
  • Local declarations of emergency were issued by both the city and the county. and so Kentucky waters stands
  • component of that new program emergency component of that new program it's<00:18:56.840> for<
  • declaration due to weather.
  • Local declarations of emergency were issued by both the city and the county.
Summary: The committee first handled informational reports on several bond and lease matters, including school district and board of education debt-service items, upcoming revenue bond issues in Henderson and Jessamine counties, and three advertised lease-space requests for state agencies. Members also reviewed prior lease transactions that had not been approved in November and December; the Finance and Administration Cabinet later canceled and rebid the Harlan County lease and moved ahead with the Perry County lease modification. Additional information items included a Kentucky Communications Network Authority quarterly capital projects report and Eastern Kentucky University asset preservation revisions. The committee then heard from Deputy State Budget Director Janice Thomas on four action items. She reported a $2.85 million USDA-funded renovation at Kentucky State University’s Betty White Building, a $294,000 increase for the Kentucky School for the Deaf’s Middleton Hall renovation, and a $6.1 million restricted-funds scope increase for the KCTCS Science Building Expansion in Elizabethtown. Members asked about how often the statutory 15% increase authority is used for school dormitory and cottage projects and about the competitiveness of construction bids; Thomas said bids are typically competitive but recent estimates have been difficult because of higher material and equipment costs. The committee approved the three action items unanimously and also received a no-action report on a $3.918 million Corrections project to repair and replace the KCIW kitchen drain line. Next, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented seven loans and grants, all of which the committee approved unanimously. The package included sewer and water projects for Frankfort, Sturgis, Scottsville, Morganfield, Western Pulaski County Water District, and Springfield, plus an emergency $5.487 million Kentucky Waters grant for Eddyville after a catastrophic sewer plant failure and weather-related emergency declarations. The projects covered wastewater interceptor and treatment upgrades, sewer collection rehabilitation, water transmission main installation, and planning/design work, with loan terms ranging from five to 30 years and interest rates from 0.5% to 2.25%. Finally, the committee considered a $38.4 million Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit issuance for a 322-unit multifamily rental project in Jefferson County. A member asked how the committee participates in the transaction, and staff explained that it is a conduit issuance and not state debt. The committee then moved to approve the issuance.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • an emergency, but not really explaining what that emergency is.
  • What is the emergency?
  • I know it has to be done, but if you declare an emergency and we're just doing it anyway, beyond the
  • So, but I need to go back and look at that emergency declaration and the issue of a homeowner saying,
  • So, but I need to go back and look at that emergency declaration and that, the issue of a homeowner saying
Keywords: 965, house, all
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered H.C.R. 89 by Representative Charles Owen, which directs the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to study, with the Louisiana State Museum and the World War II Museum, the feasibility of a museum and trail dedicated to the Louisiana Maneuvers. Owen described the historical significance of the maneuvers and said the proposal would mainly involve markers and a modest museum. The committee moved the resolution favorably to the floor without objection. Members then debated H.R. 179 by Representative Marcel, which would create a study of neighborhood crime prevention and security districts and their effectiveness in reducing crime. Several members raised concerns about the number of study groups and the breadth of a statewide review, while others supported gathering data on crime trends, cameras, and district performance. Marcel said the study was intended to collect information, not mandate changes, and the resolution was moved favorably to the floor. The committee next took up S.B. 228 and S.B. 268 by Senator Duplessis, both related to replacing lead and copper water service lines. S.B. 228 was a constitutional amendment allowing public funds to be used on private property for replacement of lead-based and copper pipes, and S.B. 268 set out the process for municipalities or parishes to implement the program, including notice to homeowners and an inventory/testing process. Members questioned homeowner rights, the seven-day notice period, emergency entry language, contracting, and whether the work would fully address hazards inside homes; Rainwater said the program was narrowly tailored, federally funded through the EPA and LDH, and intended to replace lines from the main to the shutoff valve. Both measures were moved favorably as amended. Finally, the committee approved S.B. 283 by Senator Barrow, creating the Boulevard at Harding Area Special District in Baton Rouge to encourage development in a food desert near Southern University, and moved H.R. 225 by Representative Eccles, which urges study of parish-wide solid waste, debris removal, and disaster resilience services in Ouachita Parish. H.R. 223 by Representative Walters, urging Shreveport to partner on the Southern Soul City Initiative, was also moved favorably. The chair noted it was likely the committee’s last meeting of the session, and members and staff were thanked for their work.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Local Government (Part I) Apr 7th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • In many developments, control of the board remains with the developer or a declarant long after most
  • The declarant control period is the most important period for our members.
  • I was a college-degree-holding case manager providing emergency...
  • It's for temporary emergencies. It really provides a springboard for economic mobility for folks.
  • We're the state association for emergency services districts. We are for the bill.
Summary: The committee heard several bills dealing with local government authority, homeowners associations, hospital district policing, school AED inspections, special district annexation, public contracting penalties, and guaranteed income programs. Senate Bill 2073 by Sen. Zaffirini would clarify that appraisal districts may finance purchases, leases, or construction of real property for appraisal offices without prior approval from taxing units; it was supported by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and left pending. Senate Bill 1935 by Sen. Hinojosa would increase homeowner control of property owners association boards, require more transparency, limit fines and assessment increases, and require accessible meeting locations; HOA and builder representatives opposed it, arguing it would hinder maintenance and make dues harder to manage, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 434 by Sen. Miles would authorize Harris County Hospital District police officers, was supported by Harris Health, and was left pending. Senate Bill 1177 by Sen. Alvarado, as substituted, would require school AED inspections during fire inspections and reporting to school leadership; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1214 by Sen. Perry would update Concho County Hospital District law to align with current procurement and notice rules; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1965 by Sen. Middleton, for Sen. King, would tighten notice and proximity rules for special district annexations; district witnesses warned the bill could interfere with service to noncontiguous tracts, and the bill was left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 2046 by Sen. Bettencourt, which would increase criminal penalties for county purchasing act violations involving unauthorized separate or sequential purchases to evade competitive bidding, and create a tiered penalty structure based on contract amount. Former Harris County DA Kim Ogg, Deputy Attorney General Josh Reno, and James Quintero supported the bill, citing recent Harris County bid-rigging cases and arguing the current Class C misdemeanor penalty is too weak to deter misconduct; some members questioned whether the proposed thresholds were too low and whether stronger oversight, rather than higher penalties alone, would be more effective. The bill was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 2010 by Sen. Bettencourt would bar counties and other political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs and address constitutional gift-clause concerns. Testimony split sharply: Ogg and Quintero argued such programs are unconstitutional, can be used for political data collection, and should not be funded with public money, while Paige Terry Barry defended the bill as protecting taxpayers and discouraging dependency. Senators also debated whether the state can restrict use of federal grant funds and whether local governments should be allowed to run such programs; the bill was left pending.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's no qualifiers for local emergency management directors, there's no requirement for emergency
  • I've worked in emergency management and emergency communications for more than 35 years.
  • I've worked in emergency management and emergency communications for more than 35 years.
  • Third, retaining and clarifying the authority to declare a local state of emergency is necessary so municipal
  • I'm a retired emergency physician.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a public hearing on a wide range of bills affecting law enforcement, corrections, fire services, emergency management, telecommunicators, and sex offender policy. Testimony strongly focused on proposals to restore an education incentive for Massachusetts State Police troopers hired after the Quinn Bill was repealed, with State Police Association witnesses arguing the current system creates unfair pay disparities, hurts recruitment and retention, and leaves newer troopers earning less than some supervisors with the same or less education. They urged favorable reports on H. 2651, S. 1759, and S. 1783. A separate witness also supported H. 2627, a sheriff’s pay-parity bill, while suggesting amendments to avoid distinctions between correction officers and jail officers and warning that the proposal should not be viewed as a funding issue alone. The committee also heard testimony on public safety and oversight bills. A rape survivor testified in support of S. 1663, arguing that municipal fire or police personnel convicted of sex offenses should not remain in positions of public trust. Senator Miranda testified in support of S. 1723, S. 1724, and S. 1727, which would create correctional officer training/accountability standards, a correctional inspector general, and privileged communication with legislators for incarcerated people; he said the bills respond to misconduct and lack of independent oversight in the Department of Correction. In contrast, the Fire Chiefs Association and Professional Fire Fighters opposed H. 2572/S. 1668/S. 1740 on emergency management, saying the bill was developed without enough collaboration, lacked local-control safeguards, and could undermine incident command and local decision-making during disasters. Several panels supported other public safety measures. The Fire Chiefs Association and PFFM backed S. 1641 and S. 1744 to create a Massachusetts Public Safety Building Authority to help fund fire station and municipal public safety building projects, and supported S. 1647 to implement the Walsh-Kennedy Commission recommendations on hot works and welding safety, including tougher penalties and training requirements. Witnesses also supported H. 2664/S. 1736 to create a hoisting machinery regulations board, saying current licensing standards for heavy equipment are too minimal. Another panel backed H. 2663/S. 1761 to classify 911 telecommunicators as first responders, citing stress, burnout, and the expanding role of dispatchers. Finally, an attorney from CPCS testified in opposition to S. 1752, warning that expanded sex offender residency restrictions would likely increase homelessness, make supervision harder, and raise constitutional concerns based on prior court rulings.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, September 9, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <03:11:20.640> Declare continue the national emergency.
  • Declare continue the national emergency.
  • The national emergency with respect to Ethiopia, declared in Executive Order 14046 of September 17, 2021
  • Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency, declare Executive
  • ,<03:12:49.279> declare continue the national emergency, declare continue the national emergency
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee Aug 1st, 2025

Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • They did very well during the public health emergency.
  • This declaration in that case detailed the potential harm caused by the freezing of the funds to New
  • The second case in which the Secretary executed a declaration was New Mexico versus Elon Musk, Doge,
  • The fourth case involving the Secretary of Education and the declaration was New York versus the U.S.
  • The Secretary's declaration verified that the Public Education Department (PED).
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Apr 8th, 2025 at 01:00 pm

North Dakota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 2232 is declared passed.
  • Senate Bill 2216 is declared passed. Senate Bill 2216 is declared passed.
  • Senate Bill 2245 is declared passed. Senate Bill 2245 is declared passed.
  • an emergency.
  • Senate Bill 233 is declared passed and the emergency clause carries.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. The chamber received notice that the governor had signed several bills, and the Speaker appointed conference committees after the Senate failed to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2180 and 2330. The House also approved several sixth-order amendments without objection before moving into reconsideration and final action on House Bill 1300, which concerns legislative term limits. After procedural motions to reconsider and undo concurrence, the House voted to do not concur on HB 1300, sending it back to the chair’s lap for further negotiation. A major portion of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 2232, which changes mandatory reporting rules for prenatal exposure to controlled substances and alcohol. Supporters said the bill is intended to keep pregnant women in prenatal care by removing an automatic CPS report if a woman tests positive but enters and stays on a treatment plan; opponents argued it weakens protections for unborn children and creates vague standards for mandated reporters. The House passed the bill 57-36. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 2280 unanimously, establishing timelines and standards for prior authorization in health insurance, and passed Senate Bill 2186, which creates a civil remedy for interference with court-ordered parenting time, a child custody review task force, and related reporting requirements. The House then took up Senate Bill 2239, an apprenticeship grant program with a $1.1 million appropriation, but rejected it 14-79 after the committee said the program lacked a clear administrative home. Senate Bill 2241, creating a framework for public charter schools, generated extensive debate over school choice, local control, funding, staffing, and rural impacts; supporters emphasized flexibility and community-driven options, while opponents warned about diversion of funds and weak guardrails. The bill passed 64-29. The House also passed Senate Bill 2024, the Department of Environmental Quality budget, after discussion about federal funding uncertainty; Senate Bill 2374, updating property insurance laws and market rules; Senate Bill 2216, creating a waterfowl habitat restoration stamp; Senate Bill 2245, allowing certain duck and goose hunting from anchored floating craft; and Senate Bill 233, establishing a distressed ambulance services process, which drew questions about how affected districts and neighboring services would be involved.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • SB 192 closes a gap in our state statute by making emergency licensure automatic when the governor declares
  • an emergency. >> [clears throat] It modernizes our emergency statutes as 22 other states have already
  • to healthc care I'm sorry emergency to healthc care I'm sorry emergency healthc<00:01:37.680>
  • 03:03.519> declares<00:03:04.000> an<00:03:04.239> emergency.
  • the governor declares an emergency. the governor declares an emergency.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committees heard testimony on several public safety and emergency-related measures. SB 3192, on emergency healthcare license waivers, drew support from nursing and healthcare advocates who said automatic emergency licensure during a governor-declared emergency would help avoid delays in bringing qualified clinicians to disaster areas, citing the Lahaina wildfire response. The committee reported 13 supportive testimonies, none in opposition, and one comment. It later recommended passage of SB 3192 with technical non-substantive amendments and a defective effective date, and the recommendation was adopted by vote. SB 2121, requiring ASL interpretation and visible picture-in-picture display during official emergency announcements, received supportive testimony from the Disability and Communications Access Board and the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters. DAP demonstrated why captions alone are not sufficient and why an interpreter on screen improves effective communication. Broadcasters supported the bill’s intent but raised practical concerns about implementation and staffing, suggesting amendments. SB 3239, which would appropriate funds to HMA for bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency, was supported by legal aid and immigrant-rights advocates who emphasized the need for language access during disasters and noted the large LEP population in Hawaii. After discussion, the chair proposed folding the sign-language and multilingual access concepts into SB 21109, a broader emergency preparedness communications bill, and the committee deferred SB 2121 and SB 3239. The committee also heard SB 2645 on fire prevention and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire marshal supported the bill’s provisions to modernize the office, create cross-certified assistant fire marshals, shift inspections to a risk-based schedule, establish the state fire code as the baseline, and create a special fund, but DLNR opposed the section changing the marshal selection process from a council-based appointment to gubernatorial appointment. The chair ultimately recommended passage of the proposed SD2 with blank appropriation amounts and committee-report concerns, and the recommendation was adopted. The committee then passed SB 21109 with amendments, incorporating the deferred sign-language and language-access ideas into the broader emergency communications framework. It also later took up measures from the prior day’s agenda, passing SB 2882, SB 3191, and SB 2339 with amendments, including changes to the state buildings, water safety/drowning prevention, and building code council measures.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

General Government Apr 7th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

General Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Anybody wish to change your declaration? The vote is 6 to nothing.
  • Anybody wish to change their vote, declare the vote.
  • Anybody wish to change their vote, please declare the vote. A vote of 8 to 0.
  • Anybody wishes to change their vote, declare the vote.
  • Declare the vote. With a vote of 6 to 1, we'll report this one out as a due pass.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jul 17th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Yet they remain the first line of defense in any emergency.
  • providers seeking agreements with toll agencies in order to waive toll fees while responding to an emergency
  • Assembly Bill 642 by Assembly Member Muratsuchi, an act relating to emergencies and declaring the urgency
  • by Assembly Member Wicks, an act relating to state claims and making an appropriation therefor, declaring
  • Senate Bill 611 by Senator Richardson and others, an act relating to land use and declaring the urgency
Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved procedural motions including suspension of rules for same-day action on certain bills and removal of several measures from the consent calendar. Members also introduced guests and interns from their districts and offices. The chamber then moved through a large number of second- and third-reading items, with many bills deemed read and amendments deemed adopted, and several items passed or retained on file without debate. On the floor, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 104, a budget measure making technical and conforming changes to the 2025 Budget Act and extending loan repayment terms for two Imperial County hospitals, and to AB 138, which ratified additional collective bargaining agreements and related addenda. Members also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 1114 on private ambulance toll fee waivers, AB 642 on emergencies, AB 1051 on state highways, AB 1533 appropriating funds for state claims, SB 611 on housing and land-use litigation delays, SB 251 appropriating funds to pay claims against the state, and AB 1459 on hazardous materials regulatory programs. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; SB 611 and the claims bills were presented as urgency measures and passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The consent calendar was adopted after ABs and SBs on the remaining list were approved, and the Assembly also re-referred SB 104 and SB 138 to the Budget Committee and moved SB 773 to the inactive file. The session concluded with adjournment-in-memory tributes for James Raymond Bell, a juvenile justice reform advocate, and Gail Yolanda McGowan, followed by notice of committee meetings and an announcement that the House would stand in summer recess and reconvene on August 18, 2025, at 1 p.m.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Public Safety REVISED Feb 10th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • I do declare the bill to have passed. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, members.
  • Senate Bill 1612 by Hayte having received five aye's and I do declare the bill to have passed.
  • They need to give information quickly because there's an emergency.
  • There's an emergency with their pension fund.
  • I do declare the bill to have passed. Thank you, senators. Thank you, Vice Chair Hamilton.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture. (2-10-26)

Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:03:38.720> and<00:03:38.959> manage<00:03:39.440> emergency to declare and
  • manage emergency to declare and manage emergency situations<00:03:41.040> affecting<00:03:41.599
  • an animal emergency in the middle of a regular emergency.
  • Just allow the commissioner of agriculture to declare an animal emergency in the middle of a regular
  • emergency.
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 155 by Senator Carpenter, which would give the commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the state veterinarian, authority to declare and manage emergency situations affecting livestock, poultry, and other domesticated animals. The sponsor said the bill is intended to speed response to outbreaks, severe weather, and other urgent threats to animal welfare by reducing bureaucratic delays, while still working with the governor in major situations. Senator Webb praised the Department of Agriculture’s emergency response work, and the bill was advanced on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 45 from Senator Webb, a repeat bill aimed at protecting agritourism and working-animal activities from local ordinances that could be used to restrict events such as rodeos, carriage rides, dog agility, and similar operations. Webb and supporter Mindy Patterson of the Cavalry Group argued the bill is meant to prevent local governments from using ordinances to shut down legitimate animal-related businesses and to protect local economies and property rights, not to shield animal abuse. Webb said he was willing to work with local officials and legal counsel on wording. Opposition came from Lisa Krumman of the Kentucky Animal Care and Control Association and Campbell County animal services, who said the bill was not consulted on with animal control officers and could broadly exempt working-animal or agritourism activities from local animal welfare ordinances and inspections. She argued the language could create an “undue burden” challenge to county standards for food, water, space, medical care, and inspections, especially for commercial animal establishments such as breeding facilities and petting zoos. Committee members questioned both sides about the bill’s scope, and Webb said he believed existing public health, safety, zoning, and police-power language would preserve local authority, but no vote was taken on SB 45 in the portion provided.