Transcript Highlights:

• different contracts work.
• Year, however, different contracts work.
• We are about to put the MAP DP contract back.
• We are about to put the MAP DP contract back out to bid.
• The RFP typically goes out for a three-year contract.

Bills: HB205 , HB226 , HB234

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications, church magazines, Bible class materials, Sunday school materials, tax administration, indirect tax, state revenue, HB226, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, APRNs are forced to sign costly contracts just so they can practice.
• These are contracts that do nothing to improve access to care. So let me be clear.
• These contracts don't require a doctor to be in the room. OK?
• These contracts don't require a doctor to be in the room. OK?
• Because here's the truth: right now, APRNs are forced to sign costly contracts.

Bills: SB2 , SJR36 , SB2 , SB2 , SR29 , SB2

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> So, these uh are examples of contracts So, these uh are examples of contracts that<01:15:36.880>
• is full risk contracting.
• is full risk contracting.
• </c> commitment to to valuebased contracting. commitment to to valuebased contracting.
• </c> contracting and valuebased care. contracting and valuebased care.

Summary: The task force opened with a moment of silence for the Louisville UPS plane tragedy, approved the October 15 minutes, and reminded members to submit policy recommendations before the December 16 meeting, when the group will discuss its report to LRC. The first informational presentation, from the Department for Public Health, focused on youth vaping. Elizabeth Good and Julie Brooks cited a recent Surgeon General report warning that youth vaping can harm brain development, mental health, lungs, asthma, and hormones, and noted Kentucky survey data showing 8.7% of students reported daily vaping and 19.7% used vaping products in the prior 30 days. They described prevention and cessation resources including Catch My Breath, I Can End the Trend, Not on Tobacco, My Life, My Quit, Quitline services, and the Kentucky TRUST retailer education program, which trained 3,371 individuals in 2024 and distributed 253 Tobacco 21 toolkits. The next presentation came from Kentucky ABC on implementation of SB 100, which created the division of tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing. Commissioner Scotty Tracy and Jamar Carter said all retailers selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products must be licensed, regulations were filed October 31, 2025, and the online application portal is live. In response to questions about sales to minors, they said violations carry escalating fines for clerks and owners, with a fourth violation resulting in no license renewal for two years and unpaid fines also blocking renewal. They said complaints can be submitted through the portal, by phone, or on the ABC website, and enforcement investigates tips and may use underage compliance checks. The committee then heard from Kim McKenna Johnson of One Cross Community Health, who argued for a “deficiency-first” and holistic approach to care centered on nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation. She said her clinic serves more than 7,000 patients in Taylor and Marion counties and described a model that includes primary care, behavioral health, functional medicine, addiction recovery, and chronic care. She cited Kentucky health rankings, claimed nutritional deficiencies cost the state billions, and said many children are overprescribed while undernourished. She urged broader insurance coverage for nutritional testing and supplements, rural demonstration grants, and Medicaid pilots for clinically prescribed supplements. Members asked about testing costs, dietitian support, long-term cost savings, compliance, and whether medications are often used to prevent damage from noncompliance; the presenter said the lab tests are generally covered, supplements are the main cost barrier, and seeing lab results can improve family buy-in. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pretty large contract for the state. pretty large contract for the state.
• Why this is this current contract that the treasurer has today, the approximate $1.2 million contract
• Why this is this contract<01:52:48.239><c> current</c><01:52:48.639><c> contract</c><01:52:49.520><c>
• that</c><01:52:49.840><c> the</c> contract current contract that the contract current contract that
• Why that hadn't $2 million contract.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires a contract for the purchase of local ... questions questions questions okay<00:20:23.280>
• I understand that $250 is really small for a five-year contract.
• I understand that $250 is really small for a five-year contract.
• </c><00:24:31.520><c> that</c> I understand it is a 5year contract that I understand it is a 5year contract
• <00:25:22.000><c> for</c><00:25:22.360><c> five</c> contract for five contract for five years<00:25:24.279

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> do have live mainnet account contracts do have live mainnet account contracts as<01:23:54.520><c
• or Uh our smart contract is a single smart contract that works across the tokenized deposit as well
• So all the mint, burn, freeze, quarantine, all of that is one contract? >> One contract. >> Got it.
• </c> one contract? one contract? &gt;&gt; One<01:41:48.000><c> contract.
• </c> &gt;&gt; One contract. Got it. Got it. Got it. &gt;&gt; One contract. Got it. Got it. Got it.

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the April 6 and May 4 minutes, with minor corrections noted to the May minutes. The main presentation came from JD of Link Network, introduced by Dan Cohen, who described Link’s work with crypto.com and other market participants on tokenized money market funds and real-time settlement for institutional clients. JD gave a detailed history of his earlier work developing the Arca U.S. Treasury Fund and ArCoin, emphasizing that the project was built within existing SEC and 1940 Act frameworks and was intended to use blockchain technology for a traditional asset rather than create a crypto product. He said the effort involved years of discussions with the SEC, multiple custodians, and partners such as U.S. Bank, T-Zero Securities, and Tassat, and that the model eventually led to Link’s settlement system. He highlighted concerns that shaped the design, including regulatory compliance, privacy for institutional users, and the need to bridge traditional banking hours with 24/7 digital asset markets. The presentation also described Link’s features, including segregated and bankruptcy-remote fund structures, tokenized deposit and treasury fund settlement, and “yield in transit,” which allows interest to accrue and be distributed daily down to a two-second block. JD said the platform is being expanded for use cases such as exchange liquidity, cross-border capital movement, off-exchange collateral, stablecoin bridging, treasury management, and peer-to-peer settlement. He closed by posing policy questions for the commission about the use cases for stablecoins versus tokenized money market funds in New Hampshire and whether the state could issue or administer a security-based program with appropriate compliance controls.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tribal contract schools are left out of safe school aid.
• </c> safe school aid. safe school aid. tribal<00:01:41.840><c> contract</c><00:01:42.320><c> schools<
• schools left out of safe tribal contract schools left out of safe school<00:01:45.680><c> aid.
• bill would make safe school revenue available to charter schools, non-public schools, and tribal contract
• </c> tribal contract schools. tribal contract schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• There would be over an entire year for school districts to adjust how they structure those contracts.
• And so the current contracts that would even be in effect during the 26, 27 school year would not be
• if they extend the contract that costs money and there's no money in your bill if they carve it if we
• So in the inset, how do you believe that this will then affect contract negotiations?
• It depends on how their contracts are structured, how many days they're currently going, and so some

Bills: HB3622 , HB3621 , HB3151 , HB3882 , HB3661 , HB4273 , HB3644 , HB3706 , HB3708 , HB2021 , HB3986 , HB3972

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with HB 3622 and HB 3621, both related to census and state data functions. HB 3622, as amended, removed direct appropriation language and would let Department of Commerce staff carry out census-related duties such as updating local census addresses and upgrading technology. HB 3621 would recreate the State Data Center at the Legislative Service Bureau to coordinate census-related programs across agencies such as Commerce, Tax, and others; both bills received unanimous or near-unanimous support and were reported out due pass. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on HB 3151, which would redefine instructional days so that only time students are actually in the classroom counts toward the instructional minimum, excluding professional development and parent-teacher conference time. The author argued the bill would close Oklahoma’s instructional-time gap and improve outcomes, while members raised concerns about funding, teacher pay, contract negotiations, and how districts would absorb the change. After debate, the bill passed 19-7. The committee also advanced HB 3706, which sets minimum elementary math instruction standards and expands math screening requirements, and HB 3708, which would allow private schools to use scholarship-granting organization funds for capital improvements to increase instructional capacity; both drew questions about funding, scheduling, and the scope of the programs but were reported out due pass. Other measures approved included HB 3661, extending a sunset on a timber equipment tax provision; HB 3882, creating a revolving fund for ODOT’s lake access and industrial access grants; HB 4273, extending a tax credit to certain aerospace engineers at an ARM 1 higher education institution; HB 3644, tied to medical training and best practices after a fatal misdiagnosis; HB 2021, creating a DHS grant program for out-of-school programming, with discussion centered on whether it would effectively favor Boys and Girls Clubs and exclude other providers; HB 3986, extending a sunset; and HB 3972, cleanup language related to the Comanche County prison purchase. Most bills passed with strong support, and the meeting adjourned after the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the 50s in class one property assessment, 2359 adult incarceration contractor, 2361 employers contracts
• , school district gubernate 381, school districts development, 2385 school district's employment contract
• . 2460 business property theft, 2461 employment search rent, 2462 covered contracts, 2463 misclassification
• insurance bona fide, 2697 expired opioid antagonist, 2698 rental assistance study committee, 2699 contracts
• public works. 2698 rental assistance study committee, 2699 contracts public works, 2700 technology display

Transcript Highlights:

• period or frequency for rebidding these concession contracts.
• . in the solicitation, evaluation, and award of concession contracts.
• In this case, if there is any, the contract with the café currently involved...
• negotiation to meet state contracting, risk management, and NDIT requirements.
• Is that a contract that we have, or is it done individually? That was actually moved.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Summary: The task force met with a quorum and first reviewed a memorandum summarizing a survey of state agencies on possible statute revisions. Levi reported that 20 agencies submitted 70 proposals, with about 33 potentially becoming agency pre-file bills. Common themes included procurement, concessions, architect/engineering services, liability limits, and IT-related efficiencies. Members asked about sharing the survey results more broadly and about cross-agency coordination, especially with higher education and ITD-related issues. OMB then presented three topics from its survey responses: concessions, pre-qualification of architects/engineers/construction managers/land surveyors, and publication of legal notices. OMB said the current concessions law is too rigid because it requires award to the highest responsible bidder and does not fit newer concession models, and it suggested a best-value approach, a higher threshold, and standardized templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB said the law is fragmented across several statutes and should be consolidated and expanded for broader use. On legal notices, OMB described the current rate-setting and publication process, noted rising costs and shrinking newspaper availability, and proposed a collaborative effort to modernize notice delivery, improve accessibility, and explore online options. The task force discussed how to move these ideas forward, and a motion passed directing OMB to implement its suggestions and report back at the next meeting. The University of North Dakota then presented several proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND recommended raising the threshold for treating routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements as construction, arguing that the current $250,000 threshold forces unnecessary architect/engineer involvement and adds cost. It also proposed changes to bid advertisement language to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement criteria, a higher direct-hire threshold for design services, and an increase in the legislative approval threshold for privately funded projects. Members discussed the need for data, risk and complexity considerations, and collaboration with counsel and industry groups. A motion passed directing Levi and counsel to work with UND on bill drafts based on its proposals for a future meeting. DPI followed with a shorter presentation on credentialing and statutory cleanup. It suggested reviewing the department’s 23 credential categories for relevance, and said DPI and the Education Standards and Practices Board have discussed transferring some credentialing authority to ESPB. DPI also recommended removing outdated school safety patrol language, cleaning up waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so districts are not burdened by obsolete reporting mandates. Members agreed the screening itself should remain in place, while the reporting requirement could be reconsidered. The committee then recessed until the afternoon session.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:48.799><c> without</c> a capital events with contract without a capital events with contract
• </c> value of capital advancement contracts value of capital advancement contracts that<00:29:04.960>
• we shareff for advancement contracts we shareff for Testimony<00:29:12.200><c> Department</c><00:29:
• and so we in our advancement contract and so we in our testimony<00:29:36.440><c> uh</c><00:29:36.559
• HB 1157 relating to capital advancement contracts. I'm going to defer this measure.

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation heard a 10 a.m. agenda covering a range of transportation, liability, harbor, and bicycle-related bills. Testimony was mixed on several measures: HB 263, which would exempt full-time college students from vehicle weight tax, drew opposition from the Department of Transportation and others; HB 135, authorizing general obligation bonds to purchase property on the North Shore of Oʻahu, had support; HB 860, granting immunity to the state or county for repairs on roads with disputed jurisdiction, drew support from DOT, DLNR, and the City and County of Honolulu but opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice; and HB 996, which would abolish joint and several liability for government entities in highway-related civil actions, also drew strong opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice and support from the Attorney General’s office and DOT. The committee also heard HB 1167, an emergency appropriation for motor carrier enforcement, and HB 1259, which would remove the need for an engineering study before reducing speed limits within 10 mph of the current limit; both had support from DOT and related groups. HB 1156 and HB 960, both related to harbor financing and capital advancement contracts, were supported by DOT, with DOT explaining that higher bond and contract ceilings were needed because project costs have increased since the limits were set decades ago. HB 142, exempting certain nonprofit community-based transportation providers from motor carrier regulation, and HB 914, creating a water carrier inflationary cost index mechanism and allowing PUC exemptions, also received support from multiple stakeholders, with the Consumer Advocacy Division noting that the inflationary adjustment issue was already active in a rate case. The committee also took testimony on several electric bicycle and micromobility bills. HB 486 would restrict where electric bicycles may operate, prohibit unsafe operation and removal of speed-limiting devices, and fund a safety education campaign; it drew opposition from the Hawaii Bicycling League and several individuals, with one supporter. HB 435 would redefine and classify electric bicycles, raise the minimum operating age, and add registration and use rules; it was supported by DOT and the Hawaii Bicycling League, with one individual opposing. HB 958 would regulate motorized bicycles and electric micromobility devices, require helmets for minors, and fund a coordinated education campaign; it drew support from the City and County of Honolulu, Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, and the Hawaii Bicycling League, but opposition from Moped Doctors and others, who argued the bill could harm the moped industry and that more study was needed. After testimony, the committee recessed and then reconvened for decision-making. In decision-making, the committee deferred HB 263 and HB 996. It passed HB 135, HB 860, HB 1167, HB 1259, HB 1156, and HB 960 with amendments, generally adopting HD1 versions, making technical changes, and setting effective dates to July 1, 3000 for the amended measures. The chair explained that HB 263 was deferred because a blanket tax exemption for one class could create inequities and a tax credit might be a better approach. HB 996 was deferred because the chair said the state’s long-standing policy of ensuring safe roads and maintaining accountability for highway design and maintenance remained important. For HB 960, the chair said the current contract caps were too low for modern harbor projects and that higher limits would improve flexibility and efficiency. The committee also noted Representative Cochran was excused for the remaining votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But that would be for us to contract with an HR person, a contract HR person.
• we keep on contract in case we need them, such as retired federal magistrate Judge Alan Torgerson.
• We keep former federal judges on contract for hearing officer services. We don't often need them.
• The contracts we set up at the beginning of each fiscal year.
• We have those former judges on contract if we need them. Thank you. Any other questions?

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Or is it that we're not contracting well?
• I mean, it's an evergreen contract many times.
• IT contracts. Who's problem is that? IT contracting is a challenge for many state agencies.
• HHSC contracts with TWC to do it, and TWC contracts with the local workforce development boards to do
• I like to say tension sometimes between those awarding the contracts and those auditing the contracts

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission convened for the 2026-27 review cycle, established a quorum, approved its review schedule and the January 15, 2025 meeting minutes, and heard introductory remarks from members and staff. Chair Kolkhorst and Vice Chair Hall emphasized the commission’s role in reviewing state agencies for efficiency, accountability, and transparency. Sunset staff then gave an overview of the process and noted that 16 agencies and entities are under review this cycle, representing about a third of the state budget. The main staff presentation focused on the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC), and the Purchasing from People with Disabilities Program. Sunset staff said TWC needs stronger oversight of local workforce development boards, better coordination and communication with those boards, and improved IT and data systems. Other recommendations included transferring TWC’s career schools and colleges regulatory program to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, improving vocational rehabilitation integration and structure, strengthening child care fraud oversight and unemployment insurance fraud penalties, improving child care subsidy data and communication with DFPS, continuing TWC for 12 years, and retaining the Purchasing from People with Disabilities Program while removing its separate sunset date. Staff also recommended continuing TWIC for 12 years while removing outdated functions. Members questioned staff extensively about local board performance, IT failures, fraud recovery, child care oversight, and SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T). Several members argued that IT contractors and agencies should be held more accountable, and that real-time data and stronger enforcement tools are needed. Staff said TWC’s current systems and processes limit effective oversight, that child care fraud investigations are inconsistent across the 28 boards, and that the unemployment insurance fraud penalty is lower than in other states. They also said SNAP E&T participation is hampered by low standards, limited funding, and structural inefficiencies between HHSC, TWC, and local boards. TWC leadership and TWIC leadership generally agreed with the staff report and said they were already working on many of the recommendations. TWC officials said the agency has grown significantly since its last review and acknowledged problems with IT modernization, board communication, and some oversight processes. TWIC officials supported continuing the council and said its role as the neutral state workforce board is important under federal law, while agreeing to eliminate outdated functions and update procedures. No final substantive action was taken on the agency recommendations during this portion of the meeting beyond the earlier approvals of the schedule and minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• period or frequency for rebidding these concession contracts.
• . in the solicitation, evaluation, and award of concession contracts.
• In this case, if there is any, the contract with the café currently involved— If there is any, the contract
• negotiation to meet state contracting, risk management, and NDIT requirements.
• Is that a contract that we have, or is it done individually? That was actually moved.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• He explained that when health insurance companies contract with providers, they may contract for an allowable
• they had negotiated for the average amount, which might be $1,000, that would be more than the contracted
• He said they wanted to make sure insurance companies are not paying more than what their contracted amount
• with providers they may contract for an allowable amount of $800 if someone were to go into their health
• That would be more than what the contracted amount is for the insurance company.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• prevention contracts.
• prevention contracts.
• prevention contracts.
• prevention contracts.
• What that represents, it says right there, is 38 contracts that are prevention contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our contract is a flow-down contract.
• Our contracts, I'm assuming that's what you're wanting is.
• Our our contracts. I'm assuming that's what you're wanting is.
• You contract.
• And obviously, we have to be low to get the contract. We get the contract when we do go to work.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:56:29.480><c> with</c> charter school they can contract with charter school they can contract
• Some schools have taken it upon themselves to combine the contract and the MOU.
• </c> deliver we develop separate contracts deliver we develop separate contracts that<01:19:47.840><c
• </c><01:20:43.080><c> and</c> themselves to combine the contract and themselves to combine the contract
• These are all really basic questions that need to be answered for any contract.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the widow of Detective John Sanji of the Rutland Police Department, who died after contracting COVID
• I am the widow of Detective John Sanji of the Rutland Police Department, who died after contracting COVID
• the virus, and he has determined to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that he did contract the
• Now, while it is impossible to pinpoint the moment that someone contracts the virus, I'll remind you
• The evidence is solid that Detective Sanji contracted the disease while working, and as such has...

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on May 7, chaired by Senators Mike Brady and Dan Ryan, and heard testimony on a wide range of retirement and benefits bills for public employees and their families. Several bills focused on line-of-duty death or disability benefits for police and firefighters, including Senate Bill 1831 for Joanne Sanji, widow of Rutland Detective John Sanji, whose COVID-19 death was described by family, counsel, and the police chief as a line-of-duty death already recognized by local, state, and federal memorials. Similar support was offered for bills involving the surviving spouse of a State Police officer injured in the line of duty, a Springfield officer injured by a hammer attack during a mental health call, and a bill for a former police officer seeking an increased disability retirement due to PTSD after a traumatic incident. Testimony repeatedly emphasized that these cases had been recognized locally or had already moved through prior sessions, but legislative action was still needed to secure benefits. The committee also heard multiple firefighter-related retirement bills. Representatives and union advocates supported a bill for retired Attleboro Fire Captain Walter Gerton, arguing that an audit and recalculation improperly reduced his pension after retirement and that the correction was requested by the local retirement board. Another bill sought disability retirement for former Westfield firefighter Greg Heath, who testified that Parkinson’s disease has made daily life and family care increasingly difficult; supporters cited studies linking firefighting exposures to Parkinson’s and said the city, retirement board, and local officials backed the measure. The committee also heard testimony for retired Quincy Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Bithrow, who described a Parkinson’s diagnosis following years of exposure at major toxic fires, including the Home Depot and MWRA incidents, and for a related Quincy bill that would treat his retirement as line-of-duty for survivor protection. Additional bills included a proposal to provide flags to next of kin of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, a bill to resolve employer contribution obligations for the Neshoba Associated Boards of Health in the state retirement system, and several individual retirement or service-credit measures. These included a bill for former State Police gang unit officer David Patterson, a school nurse seeking additional credible service credit for a temporary staffing emergency, and a former Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy seeking an increased disability retirement after a violent inmate assault left him with lasting injuries. Testimony generally came from the affected individuals, family members, municipal officials, retirement boards, and public safety unions, with most speakers urging favorable action and noting that many of the bills had already passed one chamber or had been filed in prior sessions. At the end of the hearing, the committee took no recorded votes on the bills and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or do the colleges or the tribes contract for these funds to go to their tribal colleges?
• It's not a grant or a contract that has to be done with the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• This really cuts down on the processing time for contracts.
• . single construction contract that they have.
• Get these master contracts in place, so we're not procuring every single project.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs