Transcript Highlights:

• And these local news organizations provide reliable, community-specific information that reflects the
• And these local news organizations<00:58:57.920> provide<00:58:58.400> reliable, organizations
• provide reliable, organizations provide reliable, community-specific<00:59:00.240> information

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received several committee reports and appointment recommendations. Committees reported favorably on a number of bills and appointments, including local government, health and human services, transportation and energy, business/labor/technology, and judiciary items. The chamber also announced a change on the Senate Finance Committee, with Senator Adrian Benavidez appointed to replace Senator Julie Gonzales for the remainder of the session. A major floor item was House Bill 1136, creating the Pathways to Public Service Program in the Department of Personnel and Administration to identify coursework that could qualify students for entry-level state government jobs. Supporters said it would help attract young people to public service and fill state vacancies using existing resources; opponents argued it promoted government employment over private-sector careers and could expand government unnecessarily. After debate, the Senate adopted the bill on second reading, and the Committee of the Whole report later reflected that HB 1136 passed second reading and was ordered revised and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 1023 recognizing Latino/Latina Advocacy Day after reading it at length and hearing remarks in support of civic engagement and Latino participation in policymaking. In addition, the chamber concurred with House amendments to Senate Bill 74, which clarifies penalties and procedures related to excessive claims in public construction performance bond disputes; the bill then passed again on re-passage. Several other bills, including Senate Bill 63 and remaining calendar items, were laid over to later dates, and the Senate also considered and began processing consent-calendar gubernatorial appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Participating scientists found the data reliable, valuable, and highly effective across a broad range
• Participating scientists found the data reliable, valuable, and highly effective across a broad range
• The bill would require OMB to update their guidance to ensure Agencies use high-quality, reliable information
• Americans deserve to know that When Washington bureaucrats act, they are using reliable, high-quality

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fostering a culture rooted in integrity, excellence, and selfless service, one that serves as a reliable
• selfless service, one that serves<00:16:04.480> as<00:16:04.720> a<00:16:04.959> reliable
• ><00:16:05.440> partner<00:16:05.759> to<00:16:06.000> civilian serves as a reliable
• partner to civilian serves as a reliable partner to civilian leadership<00:16:07.040> and<00:

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's creature comforts, it's safety and reliability, or sorry, reliability, and it's safety.
• cabs and glass and we use automotive glass so it's heavy so it's creature comforts it's safety and reliability
• or sorry reliability and it's safety and so you're right we have made our vehicles heavier but i i would

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because it seems to me like if it was a third party, wouldn't it be a little bit more reliable and there
• <00:24:22.880> more wouldn't it be a little bit more wouldn't it be a little bit more reliable
• 23.919> wouldn't<00:24:24.320> be<00:24:24.480> as<00:24:24.720> less reliable
• and there wouldn't be as less reliable and there wouldn't be as less indication<00:24:26.000> of<

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Behavioral health education, innovation, and opportunities necessary to grow and sustain a reliable healthcare
• University System Vice Chancellor for Disaster and Emergency Services and chair of your Texas Energy Reliability
• providing a significant appropriation that may seed an endowment that would provide a permanent reliable
• An endowment of this kind would provide the technical colleges with the financial stability to reliably

Transcript Highlights:

• provide behavioral health education, innovation, and opportunities necessary to grow and sustain a reliable
• Disaster and Emergency Services, and chair of your Texas Energy Reliability Council, and chair... of
• providing a significant appropriation that may cede an endowment that would provide a permanent, reliable
• An endowment of this kind would provide the technical colleges with the financial stability to reliably

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Water Resources' water rights to the State Water Project until 2046, which will maintain water reliability
• In the meantime, we're responsible for ensuring clean, affordable, and reliable supplies to the vast

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• TO MAKE SURE THAT'S DONE IN A SAFE RELIABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER I RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY
• STRIKE A CAREFULLY BALANCED TO ENSURE UTILITIES HAVE ULTIMATELY WHAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• system with a large rate base is often the only way to pay for those improvements and ensure safe, reliable
• Having a reliable estimate of the time it will take for the commission to review a SIC application is

Bills: SB 384, SB 503, SB 565, SB 616, SB 740

Keywords: hunting license, fishing license, donation, operation game thief fund, wildlife conservation, livestock, electronic registry, marks and brands, Texas Animal Health Commission, animal identification, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water and Agriculture and Rural Affairs convened under the leadership of Chairman Kelly Hancock, who opened the meeting with a prayer in remembrance of Chairman Perry, who was absent due to a personal loss. The session focused on the discussions surrounding SB384, which aims to support the longstanding initiative known as Operation Game Thief. Senator Flores presented the bill, emphasizing its essential role in the fight against poaching through public support. The operation has a successful track record of convictions but is currently dependent on donations and merchandise sales for funding. The committee aimed to vote on multiple bills during this session, contingent on achieving a quorum. Notably, discussions also revolved around fiscal notes on two bills that were set aside for later consideration, indicating the committee's intention to carefully manage their legislative decisions. The meeting showcased a productive atmosphere, with committee members actively engaged in the review and potential advancement of key legislative measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has to do with fact checkers or media reliability and bias monitors.
• Section 150 prohibits state agencies from contracting with any organization who employ media reliability
• The term media reliability and bias monitor means any contractor whose primary principal function is
• Thank you for that description of what fact checkers do, or media bias monitors, media reliability and
• ...media reliability and bias monitors. But why do we have to ban them in our budget? Sure, Hooper.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has to do with fact checkers or media reliability and bias monitors.
• Section 150 prohibits state agencies from contracting with any organization who employ media reliability
• The term media reliability and bias monitor means any contractor whose primary principal function is
• Thank you for that description of what fact checkers do, or media bias monitors, media reliability and
• Media reliability and bias monitors, but why do we, why does we have to ban them in our budget?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ensuring that Californians can reach emergency services reliably remains one of the highest priorities
• And four, it will ensure a modern, reliable system for the greater Los Angeles region prior to the 2028
• And four, it will ensure a modern, reliable system for the greater Los Angeles region prior to the 28
• with the regional design will reduce the additional tax burden on families and expedite the most reliable
• The state has already invested that $450 million in four fully redundant, resilient, and reliable emergency

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we can all agree that student attendance is one of the most reliable indicators of long-term
• I think we can all agree that student attendance is one of the most reliable indicators of long-term
• :56.799> most student attendance is one of the most student attendance is one of the most reliable
• indicators<00:32:58.399> of<00:32:58.640> long-term<00:32:59.279> student reliable
• indicators of long-term student reliable indicators of long-term student success.<00:33:00.320> So

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:26 Report of Committees 05:13 Orders of the Day/ HB 6 06:22 HB 480 14:13 HB 562 17:55 HB 136 25:53 HB 257 29:47 HB 490 35:54 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 40:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 52:44 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 53:49 ConC/Rules Report 57:12 Floor Amendments 58:49 Adjournment 58:59, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 96 members present, excused absent members, and approved the journal from February 13, 2026. The Senate also transmitted Senate Bills 72 and 110 for concurrence. Committee reports advanced several bills, including measures on deputy coroner training, local jail booking procedures, local business tax collection, peace officers, Kentucky National Guard benefits, and first responder mental health. The chamber then considered House Bill 6 on child care. The sponsor described it as the product of extensive stakeholder collaboration aimed at improving affordability, quality, access, and data in child care, including changes to the low-income subsidy program, employee child care assistance, Kentucky All-Stars, micro-centers, and a military child care pilot program in House Committee Substitute 1. The substitute was adopted, and the bill passed 84-11 with one abstention after supportive remarks from members emphasizing workforce needs, family support, and military families. House Bill 480, relating to state contracts, was explained as requiring clearer contract terms for appropriated funds, partial payment protections, a 1% penalty for late payment, and semiannual reporting on whether cabinets are paying bills on time. A member noted a planned amendment to limit the bill to state-funded appropriations, but the bill passed 96-0. House Bill 562, relating to alternative high school diplomas, would create a Kentucky alternative diploma for certain students with disabilities and require the Education and Labor Cabinet to maintain employer information for graduates; members spoke in strong support of the bill’s workforce and dignity goals, and it passed 96-0. House Bill 136, relating to campaign finance, was amended to remove a $15,000 cap and allow campaign funds to pay for reasonable security costs for candidates; the sponsor cited rising threats to elected officials, and the bill passed 97-0. The transcript ends as the House moved on to House Bill 257.

Transcript Highlights:

• background and political belief in Minnesota and across the country who will lose access to safe, reliable
• community partner, listening to our customers and understanding their needs and providing a safe and reliable
• their needs and providing a<00:29:02.880> safe<00:29:03.039> and<00:29:03.360> reliable
• ><00:29:03.840> environment<00:29:04.320> for<00:29:04.559> them a safe and reliable
• environment for them a safe and reliable environment for them to<00:29:04.880> shop.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm currently a director over network reliability at Hawaiian Telcom.
• currently a director uh over director currently a director uh over director Network<00:31:25.760> reliability
• <00:31:26.559> at<00:31:26.799> Hawaiian<00:31:27.200> Telcom Network reliability
• at Hawaiian Telcom Network reliability at Hawaiian Telcom uh<00:31:28.480> I<00:31:28.559>
• Yeah, reliability is foremost on my mind, yes, and the redundancy, as the PR people have talked about

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard and discussed three nominations to the 911 Board: Matthew Kurara (Governor’s Message 505), Re Mahuna (Governor’s Message 614), and Rebecca Liberman/Weberman (Governor’s Message 661). Kurara, a Honolulu Police Department communications captain, said he would bring PSAP and dispatch experience to the board, with a focus on Next Generation 911, better coordination among PSAPs, and recruiting and retaining telecommunicators. Mahuna, a longtime Hawaiʻi Police Department officer and current board member, emphasized his emergency-response experience during disasters on the Big Island and his support for improving communication through Next Generation 911, including the new joint call center on Hawaiʻi Island. Liberman, the board’s VoIP representative and a Charter/Spectrum government affairs director, said she was continuing her second term and would keep working on legislative and government issues, including the statutory change removing “enhanced” from the board’s name to better support Next Gen efforts. Members asked each nominee about rural coverage, redundancy, training, broadband, radio-system limitations, and how Next Generation 911 would affect service in places like Puna and other rural areas. The nominees generally said the system is designed with redundancy so service would revert to backup systems if new technology fails, and that the main challenges in rural areas are often broader communications or radio issues rather than 911 itself. Kurara and Mahuna both said each PSAP currently handles much of its own training, though there is interest in more standardization and national best practices. Liberman explained that VoIP calls generally work over the internet and may benefit from Next Gen, but that location/address issues for some internet-based calling services may still need further review. The committee also discussed public education about text-to-911, the use of technologies such as FirstNet, and whether the E911 special fund ceiling needed to be raised again. Mahuna said he did not see a current need to raise the ceiling further. Written testimony was received in support of all three nominees, including support from public officials, law enforcement, county agencies, and private individuals. No opposition testimony was noted, and the chair said decisions would be made later with the other nominees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our electric reliability is essential, from attracting new businesses to keeping the lights on when we
• has allowed our office to hire staff, work with experts, and, most importantly, protect energy reliability
• and most importantly<00:34:52.960> protect<00:34:53.800> energy<00:34:54.320> reliability
• importantly protect energy reliability importantly protect energy reliability for<00:34:55.359><

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:19 Auditor of Public Accounts 00:01:07 Office of Secretary of State 00:10:22 Kentucky State Treasury 00:17:51 Office of Attorney General 00:28:50, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its first meeting and heard budget-related presentations from the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Secretary of State, with the Treasurer beginning a presentation at the end of the transcript. Auditor Allison Ball reviewed her office’s 2024 and early 2025 work, including hundreds of county and state audits, several special examinations, and ongoing reviews such as the kinship care funding issue, the Kentucky Department of Education audit, and the Jefferson County Public Schools audit. She said her office is focused on waste, fraud, abuse, and legal compliance, and asked the committee to consider future budget changes, including aligning her appropriation with restricted funding and restoring a stronger performance-audit function. She also highlighted audits that exposed serious problems, including the Department of Juvenile Justice review, and said those reports are intended to serve as models for other entities to avoid similar failures. Secretary of State Michael Adams said his office is self-sustaining through fees and does not need tax dollars, but asked for greater access to its own revenues and more flexibility in using them. He highlighted the Safe at Home address confidentiality program, saying recent changes expanded protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and that the program has grown rapidly while remaining funded by offender fines. Adams also urged lawmakers to again adjust county election funding for inflation, noting the current per-voter and per-precinct amounts were set decades ago. In questioning, Representative Hart asked whether the Safe at Home program was self-funding; Adams replied that it covers only about 10% of its operating cost and said the best solution would be to let the office use more of the revenue it already collects rather than rely on tax dollars. Treasurer Martin Medcafe, introduced with staff member Russell Weber, praised the General Assembly’s fiscal discipline and described the Treasury’s work in managing state funds. He reported strong results from the Unclaimed Property Fund, saying the office returned $35.5 million to Kentuckians in its first year and $3.8 million in the first month of the current year, and said the State Investments Commission generated $682 million in returns last year. He also highlighted financial literacy efforts through the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission and said the Treasury is helping manage opioid settlement funds, which are now earning up to $200,000 per month through investment. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• see that in Miami-Dade County, for sure, where a lot of property owners are constantly looking for reliable
• Sales tax revenue fluctuates with... ...are far less reliable.
• library is their... ...those on fixed incomes or in rural communities, the library is their only reliable
• Property taxes are the most reliable foundation for that formula.
• Property taxes are the most reliable foundation for that formula.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes by lowering assessment caps on non-homestead property, expanding homestead exemptions over time, and allowing local governments to increase exemptions further. The sponsor argued the measure would provide broad property tax relief while requiring revenues to be directed to core services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resource projects, with a trust fund intended to help local governments transition. Senators raised concerns about the lack of a fiscal score, the effect on counties, cities, school districts, and special districts, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. Several amendments were debated. Senator Polsky’s amendment to explicitly authorize user fees and non-ad valorem assessments to offset lost property tax revenue failed. Senator Avila’s amendment broadening permissible uses of ad valorem revenue to include county constitutional officers and other expenditures approved by local governing bodies was adopted after debate over whether the bill would otherwise underfund essential functions. Senator Smith’s sunset amendment, which would have made the constitutional changes expire after five years, failed. Senator Smith’s amendment to allow tourism development tax revenue to support public safety and education also failed. Senator Graal’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund language was adopted, with supporters arguing the Constitution should not promise an unfunded account. Additional late-file amendments were considered. Senator Berman’s proposal to change the ballot title to more neutrally describe the measure as affecting property taxes and local community service reductions failed. Senator Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal was adopted, preserving school taxes. Senator Smith’s amendment narrowing the non-homestead assessment cap reduction to small businesses only failed. The committee then returned to the bill as amended and continued questioning the sponsor about eligibility, fiscal impacts, and whether the proposal could lead to local governments offsetting lost revenue through special assessments or other charges.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a person we don't have on staff at the moment to put in a reliable electronic fee system at our
• That's a person we don't have on staff at the moment to put in a reliable electronic fee system at our
• That's a person we don't have on staff at the moment to put in a reliable electronic fee system at our
• That's a person we don't have on staff at the moment to put in a reliable electronic fee system at our
• moment uh to put in um a reliable moment uh to put in um a reliable electronic<01:13:59.760>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on SB 63, a bill described by Senator Tim Lang and other supporters as a technical correction to the rooms and meals tax distribution formula. Lang said the bill would clarify that the Division of Travel and Tourism’s 3.15% promotional allocation is taken from gross rooms-and-meals revenue before the 30% municipal reimbursement fund is calculated, which he argued restores the intended 2009/2021 structure and avoids an unintended loss to tourism marketing. Committee members raised questions about whether the bill actually changes section one or instead addresses DRA’s interpretation, and whether the measure could be affected by the budget process or HB 2. Jessica Keeler of Ski New Hampshire testified in strong support, saying the bill would preserve the promotional budget formula that had been in place since 2009 and that the 2019 revision effectively reduced the promotional allocation by placing the municipal share first. She said tourism promotion has helped increase visitation, revenues, and jobs, and warned that without a fix, the joint promotional program and other tourism efforts could be cut in future budgets. She also said the bill would not change the current year’s tourism budget but would matter for future cycles. Mike Summers of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association also supported SB 63, calling it a correction to the 2021 changes and arguing that state tourism marketing is essential because small businesses cannot reach distant markets on their own. He said the industry has benefited from state promotion, especially after COVID, but is now facing softer occupancy rates, lower Canadian visitation, and financial strain from debt and operating costs. Summers said the industry cannot make up for major tourism budget cuts on its own and urged maintaining or increasing travel and tourism funding. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Access User Group's recommendations and develop a modern access system with improved functionality, reliability
• system with improved access system with improved functionability functionability functionability reliability
• > and<00:18:15.039> security<00:18:16.039> this<00:18:16.200> one-time reliability
• and security this one-time reliability and security this one-time funding<00:18:17.400> would
• To ensure that the public, private, and sealed data remains secure and reliable as cybercrime becomes

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee met to approve the January 16 minutes and then heard a budget presentation from State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba on behalf of the Minnesota judicial branch. Shorba described the courts’ structure, mission, and workload, noting 322 judges, about 2,800 staff, roughly 1 million district court filings annually, and a current budget of about $479 million. He emphasized the branch’s constitutional obligation to provide fair and timely access to justice and said the courts are funded almost entirely through legislative appropriations. He also highlighted recent accomplishments made possible by prior legislative funding, including eliminating the pandemic felony and gross misdemeanor backlog, expanding remote and hybrid hearings, improving courtroom technology, sustaining treatment courts, and increasing pay for interpreters and psychological examiners. Shorba outlined the judicial branch’s 2026–27 budget request, which he said totals a 12% increase over the starting biennial base. Major requests included $77.3 million in 2026–27 and $104 million in 2028–29 for a 6% judicial salary increase and related compensation costs; $5.1 million in 2026–27 and $1.76 million in 2028–29 for digital accessibility compliance with new federal ADA rules; $4 million in 2026–27 and $800,000 in 2028–29 to modernize justice partner access to court records; $7.2 million in 2026–27 to raise pay for contract psychological examiners; and $18 million in 2026–27 to increase juror pay from $20 to $100 per day and align mileage rates with federal rates. He also discussed ongoing funding needs for interpreter services, jury costs, cybersecurity, and other statutorily required court services, saying temporary funding provided in the prior session will expire and that permanent support is needed. Members asked questions about treatment courts, employee bargaining, and mental health competency issues. Representative Eric requested more detail on funding for newly launched and existing treatment courts, and Shorba said many treatment courts begin with federal grants before transitioning to state support after about three years. He confirmed the judicial branch negotiates its own employee contracts rather than the executive branch doing so, and said the branch has three unions plus many unrepresented employees. On mental health and competency, Shorba said the branch is focused on obtaining timely psychological evaluations and is not responsible for treatment services themselves, but acknowledged a shortage of examiners and treatment beds and said a related competency board would be testifying the following week. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adoption of the minutes.