Transcript Highlights:

• We have also kept them informed and are getting them up to speed on the significant major construction
• I'm not sure if a lawyer is the best person to answer financial and or construction questions.
• the project, we won't completely wrap up all of the construction costs.
• And now that they're getting part of their downtown back as the construction moves on, we have a way
• The USDA is fast-tracking the construction of sterile fly facilities, incorporating rounds of feedback

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we look at the last several years of construction within Texas...
• We've seen construction projects increase from 15 to 30 percent when inflation enters some statistics
• State and local government represent about half of the non-residential construction within Texas.
• It could also lead to managed construction risk and projects.
• We began construction on five communities, over 1,600 units, during COVID.

Bills: HB1453, HB1718, HB2043, HB2207, HB2798

Keywords: local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• construction general permit.
• Of course, our employees, our construction managers, are on site.
• 10,000 construction jobs. Are those permanent jobs?
• We should not be approving any data center construction. No new permits.
• I want to talk about water during construction.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• long uh particularly in the construction long uh particularly in the construction industry<01:45
• <01:45:49.719> industry workers in the construction industry workers in the construction industry
• And through the 90s, we had slightly lower construction numbers.
• <02:58:43.200> more interest rates makes construction more interest rates makes construction
• <04:18:12.479> and Waste Services construction and Waste Services construction and wholesale

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's close to 4900 units that are currently in construction, located across 19 different municipalities
• I'll mention a little bit later on called the uh the ZIP program, which is used to incentivize construction
• Um, we supported, um, almost 6000 local, uh, construction jobs and long-term jobs.
• So we need to encourage the developers, construction.
• , in the home construction, rental, you know, apartment construction field, have we noticed, do we have

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a 33-year construction lawyer and was in the first class of board-certified construction lawyers
• It's not objectionable to me as a construction lawyer.
• I'm a 33-year construction lawyer in the first class of board-certified construction lawyers back in
• It's not objectionable to me as a construction lawyer.
• This would devastate the entire construction industry. Thank you. Thank you. Jeff Sharkey.

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1730, a Live Local Act bill on affordable housing. The sponsor described it as a set of technical and policy adjustments to strengthen implementation, including changes to zoning, height, parking, moratoriums, attorney fees, and related land-use rules. An amendment by Senator Claudio was adopted, adding provisions such as a 10-story height limit near single-family neighborhoods, exclusions for certain protected areas, and changes to fee and use definitions. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 1674 on unrated bonds for Israel bonds, with a clarifying amendment adopted to make clear the bill applied only to Israel bonds. CS/SB 140 on charter schools was also approved after debate over parent-led conversion of public schools, municipal job-engine charter schools, and surplus school property; opponents warned about local control and impacts on teachers and communities, while the sponsor said the bill preserved district authority and created new school-choice and economic-development options. The committee also passed SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and CS/SB 954 on recovery residences, after strike-all amendments that addressed zoning, ADA concerns, bed caps, staffing ratios, and limits on operation in certain multifamily settings. Senators expressed support for expanding treatment housing but also raised neighborhood and staffing concerns. The committee then approved CS/SB 1714 on local housing assistance plans, which would allow SHIP funds for limited lot-rental assistance for mobile-home owners and require local plans to address mobile-home park closures. SB 658 on standardized construction lien release forms was reported favorably despite testimony from contractors and lawyers warning about possible effects on lien rights and the separate House proposal. The committee also reconsidered and then approved CS/SB 482 after a late-filed amendment addressing local government art fees and a key issue over defining “extraordinary circumstances,” with counties and cities saying more work remained. Finally, the committee passed SB 24 and CS/SB 4, both local claims bills, CS/SB 712 on synthetic turf and related construction rules, SB 952 repealing the emergency firearms/ammunition restriction, CS/SB 1164 allowing email notice delivery in landlord-tenant matters with opt-in safeguards, and SB 202 on municipal water and sewer rates, which drew extensive opposition from North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens officials over utility surcharges and revenue impacts. The meeting ended with SB 202 still under heavy questioning and testimony about the fairness and financial consequences of the surcharge structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This tilts the scales of justice in statutory construction against public and environmental protection
• This tilts the scales of justice in statutory construction against public and environmental protection
• are matter of statutory constructions are matter of the<00:20:01.440> law<00:20:01.919> of
• <00:20:36.360> that<00:20:36.520> any<00:20:36.960> remaining construction that
• any remaining construction that any remaining ambiguity<00:20:38.280> is<00:20:38.440> to

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 90 / Senate Bill 17, a birth-related measure backed by the Kentucky Birth Coalition. Sponsors said the bill had been worked on for several years and described changes including a transfer agreement, insurance requirements, proximity to a hospital, informed consent, and accreditation/medical director standards that helped win neutral or non-opposition from the Hospital Association. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote with unanimous support. The committee then heard Senate Bill 65, presented by Senator Steve West and Representative Derrick Lewis. They said the bill would make regulations found deficient through the committee review process null and void by statute, and would bar agencies from reissuing the same or similar language for up to a year. Supporters argued this was needed to hold agencies accountable because deficiency findings alone had not led to action. After questions about specific Medicaid behavioral health regulations and concerns about legislative overreach, the bill passed the committee on a roll call vote, with some members passing or explaining reservations. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 84, with a House committee substitute. Sponsors said the substitute was intended to strengthen the bill and reflect the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision by ending Chevron deference and requiring courts, not agencies, to interpret law. Opponents, including Audrey Ernsberger and Katherine Hargraves, argued the bill would intrude on the judiciary, violate separation of powers, and could harm public health, environmental, and workplace protections. Committee members also raised concerns about whether the bill told courts what standard to use; sponsors responded that agencies could still present persuasive arguments, but courts should not defer to them. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill then passed the committee on a roll call vote, with several members passing or expressing constitutional concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:46.520> of<00:37:46.720> those call for the construction of those call for the
• construction of those centers<00:37:48.040> uh<00:37:48.200> one<00:37:48.359> would
• If not this year, it will probably come next year, and that portion of construction may need, as we go
• It's going to cost us a lot of money to get this right and to construct and develop facilities that are
• It's going to cost us a lot of money to get this right and to construct and develop facilities that are

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:04 SB 02: 00:01:37 Discussion in Opposition to SB 02: 00:09:49 SB 84: 00:22:19 SB 111: 00:30:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception. Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty. The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.

Transcript Highlights:

• Garage, a small auto repair and towing shop, coincidentally located where this new bridge is to be constructed
• That property was taken as part of an eminent domain due to the construction of 495.
• I'm really pleased to be able to co-sponsor this bill to dedicate this particular bridge under construction
• pleased to be able to co-sponsor this bill to dedicate, you know, this particular bridge under construction
• for for this family. you know this particular bridge under construction for for this family i know mr

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing with House Chair Jim Arciero and Senate Co-Chair Brendan Crighton presiding. The committee heard testimony on two bills. The first, House Bill 4723, would designate a bridge in honor of the Ferreira Brothers. Christopher Pereira gave extensive family testimony describing the brothers’ World War II service, their postwar community work, and the family’s immigrant background. He said the bridge naming would be a fitting tribute, and noted support from the Chumsford Board of Selectmen. Representative Rodney Elliott also spoke in support as a co-sponsor, praising the family’s military and civic service. Representative Vanaugh Howard was called but did not testify due to technical issues. The second bill, House 4691, was described by Representative Steven Hawkins as a bipartisan effort with Representative Pease to address and commemorate the harms suffered by veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Hawkins said the measure recognizes the sacrifices of affected veterans and should be straightforward. No other testimony was offered on the bill, and no questions were raised by committee members. After hearing testimony on both bills, the committee took no recorded votes during the transcript. The hearing concluded with a motion to adjourn, a second, and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 338 sets up a construction training assistance fund by diverting a portion of the contractor
• that program in a public community junior college or in a public K-12 school system that has a construction-type
• that program in a public community junior college or in a public K-12 school system that has a construction-type
• that program in a public community junior college or in a public K-12 school system that has a construction-type
• that program in a public community junior college or in a public K-12 school system that has a construction-type

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 338, which would create a construction training assistance fund by diverting 2.75% of contractor tax revenue into grants administered by the Office of Workforce Development through Accelerate Mississippi. The grants would support construction-related programs at public community colleges and K-12 school systems to help expand training in a high-demand, high-wage sector. During questions, a senator noted the contractor tax is 3.5% and asked for the exact diversion amount before floor consideration. The committee then voted title sufficient do pass and reported the bill out. The committee next considered House Bill 898, which creates a sales tax diversion study committee to review concerns about whether sales tax diversions are being properly distributed, especially in cases where businesses may have listed the wrong address. An amendment offered by Senator Johnson added a representative of a destination marketing organization appointed by the lieutenant governor. The amendment was adopted. In discussion of HB 898, a senator asked whether the study would include county businesses such as Dollar General, and was told the committee would study municipalities only. After that clarification, the committee voted title sufficient do pass as amended and then voted to rise and report the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we're adding emergency shelter construction.
• Um, so we're adding emergency shelter construction.
• Um, so we're adding emergency shelter construction.
• Um so we're adding construction piece.
• We're emergency shelter construction.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• industry through workforce development and construction education and craft training.
• industry through workforce development, construction education, and craft training.
• reinvested back into the construction reinvested back into the construction industry<00:51:44.400
• and craft construction education and craft training<00:57:43.119> programs.
• Universities, as well as the Construction Education Foundation that was established pursuant to

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 8:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The hearing began with the State Board of Architecture’s budget presentation. The executive director described the board’s mission to regulate architecture, landscape architecture, and certified interior design to protect public health and safety. He highlighted the board’s consolidated structure, license totals, high reciprocity rate, recent rule changes to reduce barriers to practice, and a proposed FY 2027 budget of $368,123, which included a 5% staff salary increase and higher operating costs. He also noted a newly identified need to modernize the licensing system, estimated at at least $25,000, and asked that the board not be reduced below the requested level. A board member also praised the small staff’s responsiveness and effectiveness. The State Board of Public Accountancy then presented its budget and policy requests. The executive director said the board regulates CPAs and CPA firms, oversees the CPA exam process, and has about 3,600 active individual licensees and 800 firms. The board requested only a 3% compensation increase for staff, plus a special request to allow an audit supervisor to repay the cost of a Becker review course through payroll deduction as part of succession planning. She also described a board-approved waiver program that began January 1, eliminating application fees for CPA exam candidates and retakes; 42 candidates had used the waiver in the first two weeks. In response to questions, she said the board does not assist CPAs with IRS disputes, but it does investigate complaints from the IRS, SEC, PCAOB, or others. Finally, a representative presented for the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. She explained that the board regulates licensed counselors and psychotherapy providers, meets frequently, and has two staff members. The board’s main request was for additional investigative capacity: a full-time investigator and related funding, because complaints are currently handled by part-time investigators, contractors, and sometimes board members, which can require recusals from hearings. She said the state auditor had recently flagged complaint backlogs at regulatory agencies, supporting the request. The board also sought funding for a contractual administrative position, salary progressions, and a one-time technology increase to modify its new licensing system for the counseling compact and better search functions. Members questioned the board about its large cash balance, which was reported at about $860,000, and whether it should provide fee relief or other benefits to members; the presenter said the board would look into that and noted that revenues had increased significantly in recent years, partly due to out-of-state and telehealth-related licensing demand.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things that was in this account is a specific account for the construction of our penitentiary
• ,<00:13:08.720> these far as capital construction, these far as capital construction, these
• We did fund construction this year.
• Nothing in this subsection shall<00:34:21.839> be<00:34:22.000> constructed<00:34:22.480
• omnibus water bill construction omnibus water bill construction the<01:23:08.719> act<01:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• personal data rights, duties of controllers and processors, data protection impact assessments, construction
• Construction of duties on the next page, 4743, also largely reflects what passed in the Senate, with
• The State House will be facing construction in the summer.
• I think many of us in this room will feel that construction dollars and education dollars are two different
• I understand the necessity, but relative to school construction bonding from here forward, we really

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we did ask for a proposed amendment to add the Hawaii Construction Building Trades Executive Director
• That would cover about 16 unions there, just because this would directly impact the construction industry
• So, we did ask for a proposed amendment to add the Hawaii Construction Building Trades Executive Director
• That would cover about 16 unions there, just because this would directly impact the construction industry
• impact the construction industry. impact the construction industry.

Bills: SCR48

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, 910, house, all

Summary: The Housing Committee met on SCR 48, which declares that affordable housing credits are perpetual and remain valid until redeemed, and asks counties to recognize them without expiration dates. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with speakers saying the resolution clarifies the intent of the 2024 act and provides clear parameters for the credits. No one testified in opposition or offered questions. The committee then took up SCR 48 for decision-making and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the resolution as is. The measure passed with one member voting with reservations. The chair noted this was the committee’s final hearing of the year and thanked advocates, stakeholders, staff, and IT support before adjourning. The transcript also included portions of the Transportation Committee and a joint Transportation/Housing hearing. Transportation advanced SCR 31 on school bus driver licensing and workforce improvements, SCR 132 urging Honolulu to prioritize the rail extension, SCR 145 on studying a demerit point system, and SCR 110 SD 1 on evaluating state-owned logistics facilities for housing projects. SCR 110 drew support from labor groups, with a request to add labor representation to the working group. The committees adopted recommendations on those measures, including SCR 110 with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why don't we start with Representative Griffitts with Cs for HB 405, commercial construction projects
• One of the areas where we seek to make things more affordable is with construction.
• Oftentimes increased of construction comes from things in the regulatory process that result in confusion
• Few reduction, one private providers or use on a commercial construction project.
• Yeah members, the regulatory burden construction is unbelievable.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city first developed the downtown tax in 1986 to fund varied development, construction, and maintenance
• The city first developed the downtown tax in 1986 to fund varied development, construction, and maintenance
• Number one, we repay the state for the city's portion of the construction bonds, which I believe happened
• <00:04:07.480> maintenance development construction maintenance development construction maintenance
• On top of the city's original construction and ongoing capital and operating obligations, which are not

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• types of projects that we would be using funding for would include community multipurpose center construction
• Roads and drainage improvements, fire stations, local volunteer fire stations, park construction and
• Our projects are in dire need of construction of a dam that we just knew we acquired from the Game and
• two funding cycles that are parallel: one is for design and planning, and then another is for construction
• Representative McQueen is coming in. planning and design and then another that is for construction.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On my way here with my fellow colleagues, we were driving through the construction that's taken place
• We administer these by providing professional civil engineering services, surveying, and construction
• So it was the first roundabout constructed on US 97 and McDonald Road. So there's an image of that.
• Right now they're constructing the third roundabout on US 97 out of seven roundabouts that are planned
• So in addition to, the original eight, three more have been approved by tribal council for construction

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction. The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions. The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• you grab go back to original construct you grab go back to original construct of<00:30:55.640>
• or uh private partnership construction or uh private partnership for<00:52:08.920> construction
• for construction uh as as well. for construction uh as as well.
• construction program is barracks. construction program is barracks.
• buildings, our property, and construct buildings, our property, and construct or<02:56:46.840>

Keywords: 1189, house, all