Video & Transcript Research : 'cigarettes'
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KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (3-12-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- One in 10 middle school students and one in five high school students use e-cigarettes.
- intentionally flashy, colorful, Flum-flavored products containing sometimes as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes
- Forty-three percent of 15- to 20-year-old e-cigarette users were illegally sold these products by a retail
- It is not by accident that we have a youth e-cigarette usage crisis.
- It makes cigarettes and vapes more like alcohol and puts them under the purview of ABC.
Keywords:
Call to Order 00:00
SB 100 Discussion 00:05
SB 100 Vote 06:42
SB 202 Discussion 08:35
SB 202 Vote 43:17
SB 17 Discussion 47:37
SB 17 Vote 48:08
SB 22 Discussion 49:22
SB 22 Vote 52:55
SB 133 Discussion 53:55
SB 133 Vote 55:15
SB 190 Discussion 56:00
SB 190 Vote 56:38
Adjournment 57:19, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 100, which would place cigarettes, vapes, and related nicotine products under the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) system, add enforcement tools against bad actors, and regulate nitrous oxide/laughing gas sales to those under 21. Supporters, including youth advocates Mallerie Jones and Griffin Kian Neth, argued the bill would reduce youth access to nicotine products through retail licensing, compliance checks, and escalating penalties. Higdon said the bill targets illegal sales rather than most retailers, and noted the measure also updates House Bill 11 from the prior year and raises the retail license fee from $250 to $500. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then passed the bill on a roll call vote, with members voting yes and no opposition recorded in the transcript.
The committee then considered Senate Bill 202, focused on cannabis-infused beverages. Senator Julie Raque Adams said the bill was intended to create common-sense public health guardrails for a rapidly growing product category sold in gas stations, liquor stores, and vape shops, and to address enforcement gaps. She explained the committee substitute would define cannabis-infused beverages at a 5-milligram limit per 12-ounce can, place enforcement under ABC while keeping CHFS manufacturing and testing rules in place, require a University of Kentucky report back to the General Assembly, allow existing higher-dose inventory to be sold through June 1, exempt festivals and fairs until January 1, 2026, and allow stores to obtain licenses to continue selling the product. The committee adopted the substitute and then heard testimony from hemp-industry representatives and a consumer.
Opponents of SB 202/SB 22, including Dee Taylor of the Kentucky Hemp Association, Cornbread Hemp co-founder Jim Higdon, Annie Rouse of Cannabuzz Barn, and consumer Nancy Roberts, argued the bill would hurt a legal Kentucky hemp industry, reduce consumer access, and force sales into liquor stores. They said the 100-milligram beverage referenced in debate is actually 10 servings with a resealable top, that hemp retailers educate customers, and that the industry already operates under 2024 regulations and needs better enforcement rather than new restrictions. Higdon and Rouse objected to the 5-milligram cap, the on-premise sales ban, the move to ABC enforcement, and the taxation approach, warning the bill could wipe out a large share of business and jobs. No final vote on SB 202 was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Press Conference: Senator Molly CookRegarding Senator Cook's legislative agenda and district priorities for the 89th Legislative Session. Mar 14th, 2025
Texas Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- transportation and infrastructure safety, housing affordability and renters' rights, protecting youth from e-cigarette
- actually got a package of five different bills that essentially brings these smoke shops and e-cigarettes
Summary:
Senator Molly Cook held a press event on the deadline to file bills for the 89th Legislative Session to introduce her first legislative package, which she said is guided by a “nurse-first” approach focused on public health and safety. She described six pillars for the agenda: access to health care, safe homes and infrastructure, a clean environment, opportunity through jobs and public education, belonging and connection, and healthy and fair systems. She said the package includes 93 bills, with more than 20 developed from constituent input or collaboration in Senate District 15.
Cook highlighted several measures, including SB 1312, which would bar electric service disconnections during extreme weather events; SB 1550, which would require hands-on CPR instruction in schools; SB 1764, which would set clearer rules for exiting a state takeover of a school district; SB 2725, the “Safe Streets Bill,” which would let cities lower residential speed limits to 20 mph without a costly study; SB 2723, which would repeal homosexual conduct as a criminal offense; and SB 2728, which would help new mothers use their Medicaid card to enroll newborns. She also noted bills on AED access, housing affordability and renters’ rights, youth e-cigarette exposure, hurricane preparedness, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ protections, women’s health, education accountability, and anti-corruption.
In response to questions, Cook emphasized that the smoke-shop and e-cigarette bills were prompted by constituents concerned about a vape shop near an elementary school and would restrict advertising near schools and other sensitive locations, keep minors out of shops, and limit proximity to schools. She also explained that the speed-limit bill would remove the need for a costly study before cities lower residential speeds, while still requiring signage and public notice. The event ended with Cook thanking her staff and saying she looked forward to continuing the work in Austin.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- The carcinogens in tobacco products come from the tobacco in the cigarettes.
- smoking, where we taxed... ...as we've done in the state of Arizona with smoking, where we taxed cigarettes
- We've seen cigarette usage go down in Arizona to below the national average as a result of that disincentive
- And it really tackles higher fines that are needed that I was astounded that these also apply to cigarettes
Summary:
The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and then moved through a lengthy third-reading calendar. Early bills included SB 1135 on workers’ compensation, which passed 49-4, and SB 1127 on family offenses, which failed 5-50 after Rep. Gress said he supported the policy but voted no to allow reconsideration. SB 1133 on nominating procedures passed 32-23 without the emergency clause, and SB 1136 on workers’ compensation passed 54-1. Members then debated several health-related and regulatory measures, including SB 1145 on behavioral health behavior analysis, SB 1165 on health insurance coverage for breast exams, SB 1175 on child welfare, SB 1184 on condominiums and planned communities, SB 1205 on municipal regulations, SB 1210 on private post-secondary education institutions, and SB 1233 on state agencies, with mixed votes and several floor explanations focused on costs, insurance mandates, and public health benefits.
The chamber also considered SB 1243 on court-ordered treatment, where supporters framed it as protecting vulnerable people and opponents warned about guardianship abuse and indefinite confinement; it passed 50-7. SB 1246 on condominium and planned community notices passed unanimously, while SB 1253 on Safe Haven providers passed 57-0. SB 1259 on campaign-related address confidentiality drew extensive debate about candidate safety, threats, and residency rules, and passed 43-14. Additional measures passed included SB 1271 on municipal authority, SB 1286 on veterinarians, SB 1292 on the public safety personnel retirement system, SB 1366 creating a towing and impound advisory committee, SB 1446, SB 1497 on school insurance, SB 1561 and SB 1564 on health care institutions, and several final-read House bills.
On final reading, the House concurred in amendments to several bills and passed HB 2082, HB 296 on WIFA, HB 2557 on patient records, HB 2749 on reclassifying certain felony convictions to misdemeanors under strict conditions, and HB 4001 on nicotine products and youth access. HB 4001 drew the most extended debate, with supporters emphasizing youth protection, stronger penalties for sales to minors, and anti-vaping enforcement, while opponents criticized the bill as regulatory overreach or insufficiently focused on taxation and education. The House also adopted a motion to request the Senate return SB 1456 for reconsideration, heard a memorial resolution honoring James Hong Shee, and received remarks and a proclamation on National Gun Violence Awareness Day before recessing.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 27, 2026 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- At this point when it comes to the FDA, they meet the definition of cigarettes.
- For me, I'm going to interpret it which means they can be taxed the same as cigarettes.
- We have serious challenges when it comes to cigarettes.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Apr 9th, 2025
Ways and Means General Fund
Transcript Highlights:
- It was dealing with cigarettes. And I think I'm... cigarettes. And I think I'm...
- This doesn't have anything to do with the new cigarettes and that, you know, the ones that are not quite
Keywords:
firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (04/24/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- they're prohibited from smoking on the premises, because that's always a fear of somebody with a cigarette
- that they fall asleep with the cigarette in their hand.
- that they fall asleep with the cigarette in their hand.
- Right. a fear of somebody that with a cigarette a fear of somebody that with a cigarette that<01:09:11.040
- that they fall asleep with the cigarette that they fall asleep with the cigarette in<01:09:13.040
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 94, which would prohibit municipal amendments to the state building code and move New Hampshire toward a more uniform statewide code. Senator McConi and several supporters, including the Josiah Barlo Center for Public Policy, the State Fire Marshal, the Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association, argued that local variations create confusion, raise housing costs, and make compliance harder for builders operating in multiple towns. The Fire Marshal said the goal is a single state building and fire code with only limited administrative amendments at the local level, not technical changes, and noted that municipalities could still seek exceptions through the Building Code Review Board if needed. The chair explained that a similar House bill was already moving forward with fire code and administrative amendment language, and members agreed that retaining SB 94 would avoid conflicting bills. The committee then voted to retain SB 94 by roll call, 13-0, with no minority report.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 30, which would designate the Virginia opossum as New Hampshire’s state marsupial. Senator Fenton presented the bill as a light-hearted measure inspired by Chesterfield School fourth graders, who had submitted written testimony and supported the idea. Members discussed the bill in a humorous but mostly supportive way, with one member objecting that it trivialized the legislature, while others said it could help engage students in the legislative process. The committee voted ought to pass on SB 30, 11-2, and agreed to place it on consent with no minority report.
Later, the committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 95, concerning youth camp cabins and state fire/building codes. Senator McConi said the bill would exempt new residential cabins in youth recreation camps from sprinkler requirements and allow them to omit electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems, while requiring any such systems that are present to comply with state code. He said the measure was intended to resolve recurring interpretation problems that have caused expense and uncertainty for camp owners, and he praised work with the Fire Marshal’s office to reach a workable compromise. Representative Schmidt asked about cabin sizes and whether larger cabins with multiple occupants would still be safe; the senator explained that camps typically use counselors, drills, and supervision, and that the people behind him could answer more detailed questions. The transcript cuts off before the hearing concludes or any vote is taken on SB 95.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (02/10/2026)
Environment and Agriculture
Transcript Highlights:
- And vapes and e-cigarettes ... household hazardous waste EPR law.
- Cigarettes and cigars and pipe tobacco are not in that same sense.
- It's in the electronic cigarettes.
- than tobacco and in a cigar or cigarette than tobacco and in a cigar or cigarette in<04:01:46.000
- It's it's in the electronic cigarettes.
Summary:
The Environmental Policy Subcommittee took up HB 1621, which would require a baseline environmental impact study before development of certain manufacturing and storage facilities. Members said the concept had merit, but they could not resolve major drafting and implementation issues, including how to define covered facilities, what the study would require, and how enforcement would work at the municipal or county level. Several members expressed concern about unintended consequences and said the proposal was not ready; the subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL), and the full committee later adopted that recommendation on a 16-0 roll call vote, placing the bill on consent.
The committee then discussed HB 1053, involving electronically submitted pesticide use reports. Representative Comtois presented an amendment creating a department database and protecting confidential information, but said she still needed to check whether it was germane and to review administrative issues with the Department of Agriculture. After hearing from David Russo of the Division of Pesticide Control, the committee agreed to continue work on the amendment and took no action that day.
The committee also reviewed HB 1186 on egg labeling and producer exemptions. Representative Comtois offered an amendment exempting small producers from most requirements except labeling, but Commissioner Sean Jasper asked for more time to review the impact and suggested the state might not need the existing egg law at all if federal USDA rules already cover the field. Members agreed to hold action until the following week. Finally, the committee began discussion of HB 1780 on penalties for violations involving seeds, plants, and nursery stock, focusing on labeling rules and germination-date requirements; testimony from industry and department representatives indicated they were working toward a compromise that would allow multiple relabelings, add production dates, and set a 36-month sale limit, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 03/26/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- I would argue that having your firearm on you at all times is like a cigarette.
- And you couldn't be more wrong when you talked about cigarettes versus weaponry.
- And you couldn't be more wrong when you talked about cigarettes versus weaponry.
- And you couldn't be more wrong when you talked about cigarettes versus weaponry.
- And you couldn't be more wrong when you talked about cigarettes versus weaponry.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Just like cigarettes, we've Thanks to Senator Huffman's good work, we've limited the fact that you have
- to be 21 to buy cigarettes.
- We regulate alcohol, we regulate cigarettes, we regulate spray paints and some cold People under 21 just
- There's even a black market for cigarettes that get around taxes. I mean, going that long time.
Keywords:
hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA/AGR Joint Public Hearing - Tue Feb 4, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- a pack of the equivalent of a cigarette a pack of cigarettes<01:14:20.199>
and <01:14:20.480>< - My brother started with cigarettes and went on to marijuana and eventually died on...
- My brother started with cigarettes and then marijuana and eventually O.D.'d on heroin.
- But bottom line, it started with cigarettes, right?
- But bottom line, it started with cigarettes, right?
Summary:
The House Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture and Food Systems heard testimony and began decision-making on HB 1246, which would establish the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within DCCA to regulate cannabis. Chair Tarnas described the bill as divisive and noted the hearing had received 95 testimonies in support, 135 in opposition, and 11 comments. Members were told the office would be administratively attached to DCCA, and the department emphasized it would not direct day-to-day operations. DCCA also raised concerns about banking access due to federal law, while the Department of Agriculture supported a one-plant, one-agency approach and noted its current authority over cannabis plant importation and movement.
Several agencies and advocates supported the bill with cautions or requested amendments. The Department of Health said it appreciated the bill’s public health protections but remained concerned about increased adult-use access, youth mental health, pregnancy-related risks, and effects on developing brains; it requested a 12-month delayed effective date. The Attorney General’s office said legalization should include safeguards, recommended a longer implementation timeline and seed funding, and flagged issues in the bill involving impaired driving, open-container language, and penalties for under-21 possession. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill but objected to new driving and possession offenses, saying existing law already covers impaired driving. Doctors for Drug Policy Reform supported the measure, citing regulation of intoxicating cannabinoids, testing, childproof packaging, and public education as public-health benefits.
Opponents focused on youth access, public safety, and the bill’s broader social effects. The Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill over access and diversion concerns, and the City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor strongly opposed legalization, citing higher-potency cannabis, youth harms, psychiatric risks, and increased poison-center calls. The Hawaiʻi Substance Abuse Coalition argued legalization should wait until prevention programs are in place and funded first, while the Hawaiʻi Family Forum and Hawaiian Republican Women also opposed the measure, citing concerns about youth exposure, added bureaucracy, and taxpayer costs. The Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi questioned the purpose of the proposed cannabis taxes, asking why cannabis should be taxed heavily if legalization is intended. The hearing continued with additional testimony after a brief audio issue for one testifier.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-12 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- How many steps could I take to count cigarette butts?
- cigarette butts. cigarette butts.
- cigarette butts? cigarette butts?
- and how [clears throat] many cigarette and how [clears throat] many cigarette butts<00:47:34.280
- <00:47:49.200>
butts think I'd rather count cigarette butts think I'd rather count cigarette
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- We're the lowest-cost state in the Northeast as far as the cost per pack of cigarettes.
- <03:23:23.120>
and <03:23:23.359>it flat fee per pack of cigarettes and it flat fee - Even with this adjustment, cigarettes.
- As my colleague said, HB 1596 changes the per-pack fee on a package of cigarettes for the first time
- but applying this cola to cigarettes but applying this cola to cigarettes allows<03:34:26.319>
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- But for now, tobacco revenue is down mainly because regular cigarette smoking is down.
- Liquor sales also are down, and some of that could be due to the same sort of thing where e-cigarettes
- But for now, tobacco revenue is down mainly because regular cigarette smoking is down.
- But for now, tobacco revenue is down mainly because regular cigarette smoking is down.
- But for now, tobacco revenue is down mainly because regular cigarette smoking is down.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I'll just" keep drinking a lot of gin and tonics at the end of the day and smoke a pack of cigarettes
- And so she smoked a pack of cigarettes and drank a gin and tonic or two or three each day.
- So this was the late 50s; she continued to drink the gin and tonic. and smoked the cigarettes until she
Keywords:
hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- This is important because it is the toxic smoke from cigarettes that is most responsible for smoking-related
- would be creating an accurate definition for heated tobacco products that distinguish them from cigarettes
- percentage of individuals who use this product, who are former smokers, tend not to go back to smoking cigarettes
Summary:
The committee began by postponing SB 1742 on condos until the following week, then took up SB 1298 on building construction. Senator Simon said the bill would require continued education for long-licensed building professionals, clarify interagency sharing of building officials, limit residential inspectors to one- and two-family homes, revive a paid internship for residential planning examiners, modernize permit signatures, and clarify contractor responsibility when work changes hands. The bill drew supportive waivers and was reported favorably.
Members then considered SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation platforms. A delete-everything amendment was adopted to target bots and unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations, while preserving direct restaurant-platform relationships and requiring consumer contact information when reservations are made through noncontractual platforms. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Booking Holdings supported the measure, and CS/SB 940 was reported favorably. SB 638 on home inspectors also passed after the sponsor explained it would raise education requirements from 120 to 200 hours, add instruction on building code, wind mitigation, four-point and insurance inspections, and require $300,000 in errors-and-omissions coverage; it was reported favorably.
The committee next approved SB 960 on elevator accessibility, allowing additional shorter support rails while keeping the existing 42-inch rail requirement. SB 196 on foods containing vaccines or vaccine materials was amended to address mRNA language and cosmetics safety standards, with the committee adopting amendments and then reporting the bill favorably. SB 1418 on heated tobacco products was amended to clarify the definition of heated tobacco products and exclude other forms such as hookah; it also passed favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of board and commission appointees.
Finally, SB 1262 on construction contracting was amended to add contractor continuing-education topics, strengthen penalties for unlicensed activity, create a standardized disciplinary reporting system, and require timely refunds and project completion standards; it was reported favorably with support from the Florida Home Builders Association. SB 1304 on solar facilities was then approved after extensive testimony from rural county commissioners and local officials who argued that utility-scale solar on agricultural land has grown without sufficient local oversight and that decommissioning rules are needed to protect farmland and communities. The bill would repeal the current by-right treatment of solar facilities on ag land and authorize counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances; it was reported favorably after a technical amendment.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (02/10/2026)
Environment and Agriculture
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, and vapes and e-cigarettes...
- >
and <03:59:12.800>pipe Cigarettes and cigars and and pipe Cigarettes and cigars and and - It's not in the electronic cigarettes.
- than tobacco and in a cigar or cigarette than tobacco and in a cigar or cigarette in<04:01:46.000
- It's it's in the electronic cigarettes.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Health Service (2-18-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- That's why we continue to see declines in the use of products like e-cigarettes among youth, young people
- Every day I see students in my community using nicotine products, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches.
- That's why we continue to see declines in the use of products like e-cigarettes among youth, young people
- Every day I see students in my community using nicotine products, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches. high
- address the youth nicotine use crisis by joining a multi-state lawsuit against Juul for marketing e-cigarettes
Summary:
The Health Services Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Steven Stack, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program. He said Kentucky received about $213 million in federal funding, among the highest awards nationally, after a fast application and negotiation process. He emphasized that the grant is time-limited, must be used for the specific goals in the state’s application, and cannot be treated as a general bailout or replacement for existing funding. He also noted the state will use a website, ruralhealthplan.ky.gov, to share the full application, award terms, and future opportunities.
Dr. Stack outlined five focus areas: maternal health and prenatal/early childhood supports; EMS and trauma response workforce and transfer capacity; behavioral health crisis care through the EMPATH model and mobile crisis services; oral health access through more hygienists, telehealth, and hub-and-spoke models; and rural community hubs for chronic disease prevention and innovation, including food-as-medicine and healthier lifestyle interventions. He stressed that the program is meant to be transformative, not duplicative, and that it cannot pay clinician salaries, fund new construction, replace EMR systems broadly, or duplicate billable services. He said the state will work with community partners, hospitals, universities, and others, including the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, to begin implementation.
Members responded positively overall. Senator Berg praised the award and the goal of integrating care across the state, but raised concerns about access to prenatal care and about possible future changes to water fluoridation, warning both could harm children and rural families. The chair and other members thanked Dr. Stack for the update and congratulated him on the award. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel and Public Retirement (7-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- As long as people buy cigarettes, we'll keep getting stuff in, but that is diminishing over time.
- As long as people<00:34:52.879>
buy <00:34:53.119>cigarettes, <00:34:53.599>we'll <00:36:03.599>- ><00:34:53.760>
keep people buy cigarettes, we'll keep people buy cigarettes, we'll keep getting- , cigarette sales, depending on different decisions that you all can make here around new alternatives
usage In terms of options, if cigarette usage is going down, in terms of other - ><00:34:53.760>
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:15
Office of the Secretary of State 00:01:59
Office of the Attorney General 00:12:40
Department of Agriculture 00:22:44, 958, all
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement heard presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Agriculture. Secretary of State Michael Adams said his office had no major new budget or authority requests, but he updated members on voter-roll maintenance, ongoing litigation over a law preventing voting in multiple states, the Safe at Home program for domestic violence survivors, human trafficking outreach, reduced spending, and new anti-fraud measures for business registrations and electronic service of process.
Members then discussed Adams’ remarks, especially his criticism of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. One senator objected that the organization should not be shut out of the legislative process, citing First Amendment concerns. Adams responded that he was not seeking to ban anyone from speaking, but wanted lawmakers to remember the harm he believes the group’s litigation does to election integrity and bipartisan reform. Representative Jackson praised Adams and his staff for their work.
Deputy Attorney General Rob Duncan outlined the office’s work, including criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, body armor grants, administrative hearings, domestic violence and violent crime initiatives, election security, child support services, and the new Office of Data Privacy. He said the child support program transition from CHFS had created budget shortfalls and that the office would seek additional funding next session. In response to questions from Representative Lockett, Duncan said he did not yet have exact cost figures but expected funding needs and noted barriers related to personnel, budgeting, and integration. The committee also heard from Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, who highlighted the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy’s 25th anniversary, the new Office of Economic Development, and the role of Miss Kentucky in promoting agriculture. He said the department would seek recruitment and retention funding, possible staffing for EV station inspections, and continued support to make the agriculture economic development fund permanent.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Health Service (3-11-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- The next day, I had no cravings, no withdrawal, no desire to smoke a cigarette, and no thoughts of wanting
- desire<00:27:26.720>
to <00:27:26.880>smoke <00:27:27.120>a <00:27:27.360>cigarette - Um, you didn't mention smoking in your list of addictions, but then you mentioned not wanting cigarettes
- > Is<00:31:38.000>
smoking <00:31:38.320>on <00:31:38.559>your wanting cigarettes - Is smoking on your wanting cigarettes.
Summary:
The committee first reviewed preferred administrative regulations and, hearing no concerns, considered them reviewed. It then took up House Bill 388, described as a Casper cleanup bill. The sponsor said it would exempt charitable health care providers from e-prescribing requirements, allow Casper data sharing with certain federal entities, update references to hydrocodone’s schedule status, clean up drafting errors, and clarify practitioner registration with Casper. The bill passed 9-0 and was then approved for consent.
Next, House Bill 134 was presented as a follow-up to a prior study on shortages of sexual assault nurse examiners and SANE-ready hospitals. The sponsor and a representative from the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs said the bill would create a statewide SANE coordinator. The committee adopted a substitute, then passed the bill unanimously and sent it to consent. Senate Bill 147 was then heard as an administrative update to vital records, modernizing certified-copy requests, adjusting fees, and requiring the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to send the annual death report to the State Board of Elections by July 1 each year. It passed unanimously and was also moved to consent.
House Bill 280, a Kentucky Board of Nursing cleanup bill, would let the board investigate out-of-state nurses applying for Kentucky licenses, clarify licensing language, and update school rescue medication provisions, including inhalers, nebulizers, glucagon, Solu-Cortef, and nasal epinephrine. A committee substitute narrowed the bill to glucagon updates, and one senator asked whether the bill also covered child care centers; the sponsor said it addressed school medications only but was open to further discussion. The bill passed 10-0 and was reported favorably.
Finally, Senate Bill 77 drew extended testimony. The sponsor and supporters argued that ibogaine research and treatment could help address addiction, PTSD, and depression, citing studies, personal recovery stories, and a proposed public-private partnership funded through opioid settlement money. The committee substitute removed the bill’s appropriation request and emergency clause, and members asked questions about whether PTSD is an addiction, whether smoking was included, whether the bill was authorizing research rather than funding, and how the treatment works. The sponsor said the substitute was only creating a structure for research, not appropriating money, and supporters described ibogaine as a one-time, medically supervised treatment. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Senate Bill 77 is shown.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (04/14/2026)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- So, that's just about every place sells cigarettes even if... Yes, sir. Thank you. penalties.
- So, that It's just about every place<00:35:28.040>
sells <00:35:28.240>cigarettes <00:35 - place sells cigarettes even if Yeah. place sells cigarettes even if Yeah.
- um, Chair, if I could ask a question then, um, so the liquor commission licenses places to sell cigarettes