Video & Transcript Research : 'Senate Concurrent Resolution 22'

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NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Buck. Senator Cruz-Crawford. Senator Donate. Senator Dondero-Loop. Here. Senator Rogich.
  • Senator Titus. Here. Senator Donate. Senator Dondero-Loop. Here. Senator Rogich. Senator Titus.
  • I see Senator Titus leaning in. Go right ahead, Senator.
  • Senator Robin Titus: Thank you. Thank you, Senator Titus. Senator Cruz-Crawford.
  • Okay, we have opposition, Senator Buck, Senator Titus, and Senator Rogich.
Bills: SB175, SB277, SB374, SB400
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government (3-4-26)

State & Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Well, we're going to go out of order here and do Senate Joint Resolution 62.
  • So, uh, I'm Senator Mayden, Senate District 29, and this is really a pretty direct, simple resolution
  • Senate Joint Resolution 62 passes with favorable expression, and we expect it to do so on the floor.
  • Senate<00:13:26.080> Joint<00:13:26.360> Resolution<00:13:27.000> 62<00:13:
  • 27.680> passes<00:13:28.160> with Senate Joint Resolution 62 passes with Senate Joint Resolution
Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first considered Senate Bill 133, which would raise audit and reporting thresholds for certain special purpose governmental entities and allow entities with two consecutive clean audits to move to a less frequent audit cycle. Sponsor Matt Nunn said the bill was intended to reduce audit burdens and costs without reducing transparency, and the committee substitute was adopted. The bill passed the committee 8-0 with favorable expression. The committee then took up Senate Bill 226, sponsored by Senator Greg Elkins, which would allow funeral directors to take up to a 15% administrative fee once a pre-need funeral contract is fully funded. Elkins and a representative of the Funeral Directors Association explained that the bill applies to trust-funded pre-need burial contracts and does not affect insurance-funded arrangements. The bill passed 8-0 with favorable expression. Senate Joint Resolution 62 was next, a resolution by Senator Mayden asking the Division of Water to provide clearer guidance to local governments on cleaning out creeks and waterways, especially in light of flooding and debris concerns in Eastern Kentucky. The resolution passed with favorable expression, 8-0. The committee also approved Senate Bill 261, sponsored by President Stivers, which addresses ownership, responsibility, and maintenance authority for swinging bridges in Eastern Kentucky and would allow cities and counties to spend money on their upkeep; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed 9-0. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 262, also sponsored by President Stivers, which would allow constitutional amendments to be presented on the ballot by question rather than full text. Stivers argued this would make amendments more understandable and noted prior Kentucky constitutional changes had been made by ballot question. One senator explained a no vote, saying the bill did not clearly define who would determine a fair and accurate summary. The bill passed 7-1 with favorable expression and the committee adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Rocky Adams, Senator Chambers Armstrong, Senator Elkins. Senator Elkins, here.
  • Senator Haron, Senator Maiden, here. There's not a time.
  • Senator Maize Bledsoe, Senator McDaniel, Senator Mills, here. Senator Rawlings, here.
  • Um Senator Herren and Senator times.
  • ,<00:22:02.480> but<00:22:02.720> that<00:22:02.960> group<00:22:03.120>
Summary: The committee first took up two fire commission regulatory amendments. Bruce Roberts, director of the Fire Commission, explained that one amendment updates financial disclosure reporting rules to align with changes to KRS 95A.55, including revised definitions, reporting requirements, and moving compliance reviews from every four years to an annual basis. The second amendment changes the deadline for fire departments to submit state aid documentation from July 31 to September and adds flexibility for departments affected by natural disasters by allowing a waiver process for missing, lost, or damaged documents. The committee approved the agency amendment by motion, second, and voice vote with no opposition. The main policy discussion centered on a proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for people convicted of felonies after they complete their sentence and probation/parole. Senators Hickden and Herren said the proposal would restore only voting rights, not citizenship or the right to run for office, and would still exclude certain offenses such as treason, bribery in an election, sex offenses, violent offenses, and offenses against a child. They argued that Kentucky is one of only three states without automatic restoration, that the current governor’s executive order is temporary, and that the issue should be settled by constitutional amendment. Members asked about the relationship to expungement, costs, and whether election-related crimes should be included among the exceptions; the sponsors said expungement is separate and that they were open to refining the language. Several members voiced support, and the sponsors said they hoped to continue working on the proposal before the next session. The committee also discussed a practical issue involving schools used as polling places and conflicts with KDE testing days. The chair raised the possibility of adjusting testing schedules or using NI days at affected schools, while members noted that county clerks already have authority to use tax-funded buildings for elections and that schools have long been used because of ADA accessibility. Some members suggested a simpler fix would be to prevent KDE testing dates from overlapping with election dates, rather than changing NI-day rules or limiting clerks’ authority. The committee then approved the minutes and adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • and the Senate and get this<00:18:46.280> all<00:18:46.400> the<00:18:46.480> way
  • :00.600> with<00:22:00.799> apaa<00:22:01.400> Kentucky<00:22:02.360> Steven<
  • > with<00:22:03.200> the<00:22:03.240> Kentucky<00:22:03.600> Board<00:22
  • :04.240> therapy<00:22:05.120> okay<00:22:05.440> now<00:22:05.640> I'll<
  • 00:22:05.880> proceed Representative Amy Neighbors: Okay, now I'll proceed.
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 6, sponsored by Rep. Wade Williams, which would require administrative regulations with a major economic impact of $500,000 or more over two years to go through the legislature. Williams argued the bill would rein in regulatory overreach, improve transparency, and still allow emergency regulations. Several members raised concerns about executive-branch authority and the role of subject-matter experts, while others supported the bill as a way to improve communication and legislative oversight. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to the House floor. The committee then considered House Bill 87, sponsored by Rep. Emily Callaway, with a committee substitute adopted first. The bill is aimed at reducing barriers for people with felony records who are seeking occupational licenses, while preserving existing public hiring practices for cities and counties. Callaway said the changes were mostly technical and intended to make the process more transparent, with no fiscal impact. The committee approved the bill, and it passed with the committee substitute. House Bill 255, sponsored by Rep. Amy Neighbors, also passed with a committee substitute. The measure updates and modernizes the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy statutes, which sponsors said have not been substantially revised since 1958. Supporters said the bill clarifies outdated language, defines terms more clearly, and better reflects current practice, including physical therapist assistants. The chairman noted the long effort to update the practice act and praised the work of the stakeholders involved. Finally, House Bill 437, sponsored by Rep. Tony Hampton, was presented as a cleanup bill for alcohol beverage control law. It would limit state and local ABC administrators and investigators from making arrests unless they are POP certified, while leaving their other authority intact. Hampton and supporting witnesses said the change would align the statute with other law enforcement certification requirements and help keep civilian administrators from being put in harm’s way. The transcript ends during discussion of this bill, with no final vote shown.