Transcript Highlights:

• Holly said up here, work zone safety, safety, whether it's a highway patrolman on the side of the road
• Holly said up here, work zone what Mr.
• Holly said up here, work zone safety,<00:45:12.000> safety,<00:45:12.480> whether<00:45
• <00:45:24.120> zone nationally is to improve work zone nationally is to improve work zone
• Um, so we have 15, uh, which is statutory working safety zones.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee opened by taking roll for the Joint Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee and noting that 20 topics had been submitted for discussion, including one late addition. Members were asked to number the topics for reference, and the chair explained that each presenter should give a brief overview before the committee returned to the dais for questions and possible ranking or action. No votes were taken during the portion provided. The first topic was a request from the Associated General Contractors of Wyoming to have TRIP, a third-party transportation research organization, present a report on Wyoming’s highway system. The report is intended to identify transportation needs and 25 priority projects, and the committee generally supported hearing the report and methodology directly from TRIP. The next topic combined two similar railroad safety proposals. Representative Chestek described a bill addressing train length, wayside detectors, and track inspections, citing the East Palestine derailment and concerns about reduced inspection frequency. Committee members raised questions about federal preemption and enforcement authority; Chestek said states can be more protective of safety where federal rules leave gaps, and WYDOT said it would need additional expertise and staffing to administer such a program. No public testimony was offered on the railroad topic. The committee then heard two proposals from the Wyoming Military Department. One would study Tricare subsidies for mental health providers by comparing Tricare reimbursement rates with other insurers, gathering de-identified data on eligible members and provider participation, and then returning to the committee with findings before any legislative recommendation. Members discussed whether the issue might fit better in Labor, Health, and Social Services, but the military department said it believed the committee had a strong connection to the topic. The second military topic would study Service Group Life Insurance for state active duty, comparing state and federal death benefits for Guard members to identify any shortfalls. The committee also briefly discussed a VSO program review raised by Representative Neff, focusing on the number of veterans service officers and retention, but no action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• My husband worked for 14 firefighter.
• So, with that said, I would ask work on.
• <01:11:26.159> or they have the necessary zoning or they have the necessary zoning or subdivision
• <01:15:10.960> or potentially also had no zoning or potentially also had no zoning or subdivision
• Um but I of work that was done in S325.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• zoning zoning decisions<01:08:10.640> that<01:08:10.920> starts<01:08:11.480> with<
• As a parent, our life's work is our children.
• Joe but it's not working for every child Joe but it's not working for every child I<01:10:55.760>
• legislature<01:10:57.960> has I applaud the work the legislature has I applaud the work
• you look forward to working with all of you look forward to working with all of you on<01:11:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when we rolled right into um working when we rolled right into um working groups<00:07:05.440>
• And I'm very happy about the work up.
• There's great work that was done by Representative Bakeberg and Representative Ker who worked really
• on on work again for um their work on on work bringing<00:32:26.080> that<00:32:26.320> to
• Um it's a classic um working on it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working on that application.
• Um, we work again work with industry and in those areas we make sure that we are limiting the volumes
• So you're seeing two agencies really work a lot together, um, in working with, with industry a lot.
• work on that stuff together?
• That work? OK. Welcome.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know we have work to do.
• We have been working towards this.
• USDA had been working on.
• We need to establish work groups to get really the work done, right?
• Are strategic zones decisive?

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working on that application.
• Gave you a lot of work to do in the interim, and you've faithfully performed that work by.
• So you're seeing two agencies really work a lot together and working with TCEQ. industry a lot.
• We're happy to work with you. Thank you.
• I think there's a lot of work there. front.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , you know, work zones.
• How do you work together?
• A lot of work is actually being done on that project.
• We have our own IT employees that are doing parts of this work.
• It'll say a bunch of different stuff, obviously a lot of work to work through with our executive colleagues

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• failure of a dam and so we've worked failure of a dam and so we've worked with<00:03:53.200>
• find themselves in the inundation zone find themselves in the inundation zone if<00:04:28.560>
• ><00:09:18.480> uh significant project. a lot of work uh significant project. a lot of work uh
• to when you're doing this kind of work to when you're doing this kind of work is<00:09:31.839>
• I'm not sure how that's going to work I'm not sure how that's going to work out,<00:14:02.880>

Keywords: 00:02 EEC – State-Owned Dams 21:07 EEC – Grid Resilience Grant Funds 37:24 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations from the Department for Environmental Protection and the Office of Energy Policy on Kentucky’s state-owned dam repair program and the electric grid resilience program. Commissioner Tony Hatton explained how state dams are defined and classified under Kentucky law, the criteria used to prioritize repairs or decommissioning, and the status of several projects funded in the last biennium. He said the department is using a design-bid-build process, with major work planned or underway at Willisburg Lake, Big Bone Lick State Park Dam, Clemens Lake Dam, Marion County Sportsman’s Dam, Chinoa Lake Creek/Canning Creek Dam, and Lake Malone, and that $0.5 million is reserved for routine repairs. He also described the timeline and cost pressures, noting that construction seasons and bid uncertainty can affect schedules and estimates. Members asked several questions about whether the estimates were current, how accurate the bids tend to be, why the process takes so long, and whether it would be better to fund design separately before construction. Hatton said the estimates are the best current engineering estimates, that costs often stay within about 10% but can vary, and that the overall process is usually closer to two years than four, though delays can occur. He also said all of the allocated dam funds must be available before bids can be let. The committee discussed whether design work can become stale if construction is delayed. Kenya Stump then updated the committee on Kentucky’s electric grid resilience program under federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding. She said Kentucky has received years one through three of the five-year program and has allocated funds to state park electric systems and municipal utilities, with years four and five not yet received. She identified Ken Lake State Park and Kentucky Dam Village as the two state park projects in progress, and Owensboro, Princeton, Williamstown, and Hopkinsville as the municipal projects selected through a competitive process. She said the projects are under contract or in final negotiations, with municipal construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and finish by the end of 2026, and explained that the work includes line, pole, transformer, meter, and outage-management upgrades. Members asked about the relationship between this program and prior park appropriations, the timing of agreements with Parks, and whether the park systems could eventually be transferred to the local electric cooperative; Stump said the park agreements are imminent and that the upgrades are intended to bring the systems up to code so the cooperative can maintain them. No votes were taken, and the chair adjourned the committee until the following Wednesday, with a possible time change to avoid a scheduling conflict.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bog in our universities will be working together on this.
• We have our own time zone.
• well as session and focusing on lessons learned about what work and what did not work and they're waiting
• We have for now grown boys. 3 who work in the business and one.
• And then 3rd and very important is working with working by building stronger connections between the

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Florida Building Code works.
• Work in this space as a state.
• It works.
• It works.
• They've worked hard.

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard a series of presentations focused on mitigation, flood and wind resilience, and insurance discounts. Kevin Guthrie of the Florida Division of Emergency Management outlined several funding streams for mitigation, including federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program dollars, BRIC grants, flood mitigation assistance, and the state hurricane loss mitigation program. He emphasized the new Elevate Florida initiative, which will use about $400 million initially to elevate or reconstruct flood-prone homes, starting with National Flood Insurance Program properties and severe repetitive-loss homes, with no current per-home cap. Guthrie said the state will contract directly with licensed vendors and aims to reduce future flood losses, lower insurance costs, and keep properties on the tax rolls rather than relying on buyouts. Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski described Florida’s windstorm mitigation discount program, explaining that the 1802 inspection form is used to assess a home’s overall “envelope” and determine statutory discounts. He said the office is updating the program based on a new wind loss study, with likely changes including greater recognition of roof types such as metal roofs and possible territorial risk adjustments. He also said the Legislature now requires the office to revisit the study every five years. Stephen Fielder of the Department of Financial Services reported on My Safe Florida Home, noting that the program offers inspections and grants for roof and opening protections, has completed more than 100,000 inspections, and has reimbursed hundreds of millions of dollars. He said the department has validated its discount calculations with insurers and that the program is intended to help homeowners reduce premiums through verified mitigation work. Michael Newman of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety said Florida’s building code is nationally leading and that post-Ian surveys found no wind-driven structural damage in buildings built after adoption of the code. He argued that mitigation should be treated as a system, not isolated upgrades, and suggested adding Fortified designation to the state’s mitigation form to better document verified resilience improvements. Bill Truex, a county commissioner and builder, stressed the need to educate homeowners about floodproofing and roof choices, citing examples where flood panels prevented damage and noting that asphalt shingles often do not last as long in Florida as their marketing suggests. In panel discussion, senators asked about program eligibility, outreach to elderly and digitally challenged residents, contractor vetting, roof-life disclosures, and whether flood insurance should be more broadly required. Officials said outreach will include call centers and in-person assistance, and several participants urged better consumer disclosure and more data-driven guidance on roof and mitigation choices.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody got together quickly and worked with Rep. Tant in the trenches that week.
• appreciate the opportunity and thank Representative Kendall and Representative Tant for their good work
• I was pleased and honored to work with Representative Kendall on this bill.
• Maggard: The bill prohibits cities and counties from adding to the wetland buffer zone set by DEP in
• That's the ideal buffer zone.

Transcript Highlights:

• Critics say a convention would just become another partisan war zone, but that's not how this works.
• Convention would just become another partisan war zone. But that's not how this works.
• Now this relic from the past rises to negate that work.
• Nearly one million factory workers work overnight, yet cannot make ends meet.
• Nearly 1 million factory workers work overnight, yet cannot make ends meet.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs was opened by Chair Joe McGonagle and Vice Chair Senator Mike Rush, who noted that Chair John Velis was deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard. The chairs explained the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, live streaming, and filing deadlines, and said the committee would hear 11 House bills and eight Senate bills dealing with federal and overseas issues. Much of the hearing centered on competing resolutions about Article 5 constitutional conventions, along with related resolutions on D.C. statehood, child labor, Citizens United, and Cambodia. Supporters of H. 4692 and S. 284, a joint resolution to rescind all prior Massachusetts Article 5 convention applications, argued that old resolutions from the 1930s and 1970s could be used to count Massachusetts toward the 34-state threshold for calling a federal constitutional convention. Testifiers from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, Reproductive Equity Now, labor groups, and others warned that a convention would have no clear rules, could not be reliably limited to specific topics, and could put civil rights, reproductive rights, labor protections, and other constitutional protections at risk. Several speakers also cited a recent federal lawsuit and said the safest course was to remove outdated applications from the books. A large opposing panel testified in support of H. 3888, a resolution calling for a Convention of States to propose amendments limiting federal power, imposing fiscal restraints, and establishing term limits. Supporters argued that Article 5 provides a lawful way to address federal overreach, debt, and congressional stagnation, and said the process would be limited by state applications and ratification by 38 states. Some committee members and witnesses raised concerns about a runaway convention, broad language in the resolution, and whether Congress could or should set rules for such a convention. Representative Gentile also testified in support of several related resolutions on overturning Citizens United, D.C. statehood, and the child labor amendment, while Representative Howard and Representative Tongue supported a Cambodia resolution condemning political oppression and urging free and fair elections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , places to put it's a gun-free zone, places to put it's a gun-free zone, that's<00:20:06.960>
• them might work, some of them might not. them might work, some of them might not.
• <01:43:36.320> study modifies the priority for work study modifies the priority for work study
• <01:43:37.760> study programs and allocation of work study programs and allocation of work
• and needs um i.e. the work study um and needs um i.e. the work study um provisions<01:52:29.280>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and I'm out of the TWIA zone, and I'm in the non-TWIA zone, but it's just across the street.
• live and work on the Texas coast have been working together with the insurance industry to develop a
• Eligible and work for a group policy or would it not? How would that functionally work?
• And it does work.
• The flip side of that is that the contractor doing the work has to be certified in doing the work in

Bills: HB778, HB 1266, HB1576, HB2213, HB2517, HB2518, HB2841, HB3306, HB3320, HB3388, HB3508, HB3520, HB3689

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• works for the County of Maui. works for the County of Maui.
• to work. to work. >> Thanks. >> Thanks. >> Thanks.
• your work, John, and and thank you. your work, John, and and thank you.
• or chair of the working group. or chair of the working group.
• >> I guess, yeah, I guess I think, uh, working in—I have worked, like, in college, I worked in the planning

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, with our work include the bridge.
• These are all places where MAPE members work, and where their safety, sanitation, and ability to work
• over the years that you've been working over the years that you've been working on<00:32:25.240>
• and zoning.
• building permit and zoning. building permit and zoning.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to have people come in and get work done when we can't tell them when.
• Planning and zoning is a really good way to do that.
• Other things that we saw: opportunity zones.
• I know they've been working hard on trying to get that straightened out.
• People have learned to work the system.

Transcript Highlights:

• and have a place to work from.
• and have a place to work from.
• Every day in my work of housing stabilization services, I see families on the brink: parents working
• um workers who can live where working um workers who can live where their<00:56:20.520> work<
• basically in how the spreadsheet works basically in how the spreadsheet works for<01:09:41.640><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• costs and a limited amount of land zone costs and a limited amount of land zone for<00:39:33.400
• of complaints they're having and to work of complaints they're having and to work it<00:45:16.280
• I do both plaintiffs and defense work, and I have done some work for Dr.
• what we want to do is collaborativ work what we want to do is collaborativ work with<00:48:37.599
• accompaniment—this is hard work.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee met on February 12 and heard several bills. HB 97, relating to travel insurance, drew only brief testimony: the Insurance Division stood on written testimony, one industry witness supported the bill and requested a minor amendment, and no one else testified or asked questions. HB 226, relating to window tinting, received support from the Department of Transportation, while the Honolulu Police Department offered comments on the proposed amendments, asking for clearer language on what it means to roll windows down, when the requirement applies, how it handles bad weather, and what sanctions would apply for noncompliance. No further testimony was offered on that measure. The committee also heard HB 1179, relating to rural emergency hospitals. The Department of Human Services stood on written testimony, and Maui Health Systems strongly supported the bill, saying it would help critical access hospitals better serve kūpuna and provide long-term care beds. There were no questions or additional testimony. HB 420, relating to remedies and the contractor repair act, generated extensive and sharply divided testimony. Opponents, including attorneys representing homeowners and AARP Hawaii, argued the bill was anti-consumer, would weaken homeowners’ ability to recover for construction defects, and would shift costs and risk to consumers. Supporters, including builders, realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, and D.R. Horton Hawaii, said the bill would create a more balanced and efficient process, reduce unnecessary litigation, and help builders address legitimate defects more quickly. Testimony on HB 420 focused heavily on whether the contractor repair process and class actions help or hinder repairs. Opponents said the bill would delay or limit homeowner recovery, especially for life and safety defects, while supporters said current class-action litigation can prevent direct communication with homeowners and slow repairs. Committee members asked questions about when communication with homeowners stops and whether repairs could be made before a class is certified. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.