Transcript Highlights:

• Things for you based on patterns. Let me say one more thing.
• These are now baseline skills, not specialized ones.
• enrolled students based on their attendance.
• This is based off 15,722 support units. How many students would that be?
• This would be based off the same amount they're projecting now, so 310,000.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1227, a measure directing the State Board of Education to develop a statewide framework for generative AI in K-12 schools and requiring local districts to adopt AI policies. Senator Cook said the bill is meant to promote human oversight, local control, transparency, parent awareness, and teacher support, while not mandating AI use or collecting student data. Committee members asked about facial recognition, privacy, parental opt-out, and age-appropriate instruction; Cook and several witnesses said the bill does not authorize facial recognition or new student data collection and leaves implementation details to the state board and local districts. Supportive testimony came from the Workforce Development Council, Idaho Education Technology Association, St. Luke’s/Idaho Technology Council, an entrepreneurship educator, and Idaho PTA. Witnesses said AI literacy is becoming a baseline workforce skill, schools need guidance on appropriate use, and the bill’s privacy and vendor-disclosure provisions are important. Several also supported introducing AI concepts early, while emphasizing that younger students would learn what AI is rather than necessarily use it. The committee moved SB 1227 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, and the motion carried. The committee then received a courtesy budget briefing from Joint Finance Appropriation Committee members and LSO analysts on the state budget, with emphasis on public school support, higher education, and overall revenue conditions. Analysts said the governor’s FY 2027 budget relies on one-time funds and proposed reductions, including cuts tied to Idaho Digital Learning Academy, virtual school transportation, and supplemental learning funds, while public school enrollment has declined over the last three years. Higher education testimony covered university rescissions, enrollment-weighted adjustments, and health education programs, including added GME slots to address physician shortages. Members also discussed structural budget balance, tax conformity, Medicaid growth, and the need for more information on policy-driven budget impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, this is another complicated shell game of this ACA 20.
• provider or provide bonuses or incentives for referring a client to a lien-based provider.
• We're referring a client to a lien-based provider, or provide bonuses or incentives.
• We're referring a client to a lien-based provider.
• Finally, it prohibits attorneys from ...for referring a client to a lien-based provider.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then handled a series of procedural motions to re-refer bills, suspend rules, and remove items from the consent calendar. The chamber also heard guest introductions recognizing family milestones, a youth leadership program from Assembly District 13, a delegation of Japanese business leaders, and a Michoacan delegation. Later, members adopted several resolutions and consent items, including California Craft Beer Week, the Freedom Flag as a 9/11 remembrance symbol, Probation Services Week, and California Wildfire Week, along with other consent-calendar measures. The main floor debate centered on SB 417, a $10 billion housing bond for the ballot, with supporters emphasizing the state’s housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and funding for multifamily housing, supportive housing, homeownership, farmworker housing, student housing, tribal housing, infrastructure, and preservation of existing affordable units. Opponents criticized the proposal as adding debt without enough reform and objected to the use of veterans in the measure’s messaging. The Assembly passed SB 417 on urgency and on the measure, 54-7, and sent it to the Senate. Members then adopted ACA 20, which would expand and modernize the state Rainy Day Fund by increasing its cap and changing deposit rules; it passed 54-8 and was transmitted to the Senate. The Assembly also approved SB 623, a transportation-related bill addressing rideshare safety and medical lien practices. Supporters said it would curb abusive billing, restrict attorney conflicts and kickbacks, require stronger background checks for TNC drivers, and allow women riders and drivers to request women-only matches. The measure passed unanimously, 67-0. Later, the House adopted ACA 21, which removes ACA 13 from the November ballot, by 62-0, and ACA 22, which amends a ballot measure affecting taxation and local fiscal resources, by 64-0. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of Dr. Dorothy Viola Calvin, followed by announcements, recesses, and final adjournment until the next scheduled floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Defense Support Commission funding represents a $2 million base recurring amount.
• Our military bases need that airspace for our really critical national security initiatives.
• Five million of that is their base.
• This program represents a direct investment in a more skilled and educated workforce.
• And so based on your answer, you all are still there? Yes, ma'am.

Bills: S0048

Keywords: housing, accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, local government, zoning regulations, military families, density bonus, homeownership, property taxes, 999, senate, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard the Governor’s proposed FY 2026-27 budget for the TED silo and presentations from Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, the State Guard, State, Transportation, and Emergency Management. The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, including $18.3 billion for TED agencies, with major allocations for FDOT, Commerce, emergency management, tourism, military affairs, and state operations. Agency heads emphasized priorities such as housing and disaster recovery, workforce and rural infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, defense support, tourism marketing, aerospace and spaceport investment, election audits, historic preservation, road and bridge maintenance, aviation safety, and emergency preparedness systems. Members asked several questions about the use and effectiveness of funding. Visit Florida officials said the public-private match is essential and that they exceeded the required match last year. Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles discussed trooper pay, vehicle replacement, aviation support, and transparency tools such as vehicle camera systems, with senators praising the department’s recruitment efforts. Military Affairs and the State Guard described readiness, recruiting, facility construction, and support for domestic missions, including hurricane response and perimeter security at the Everglades detention site; questions focused on deployment tempo, staffing, and costs. The Department of State explained funding for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and said its arts grant changes were intended to standardize scoring rather than cut programs. Transportation highlighted a $15.4 billion total budget, major work program funding, safety initiatives, seaport and aviation investments, and the elimination of Florida Rail Enterprise funding due to reduced documentary stamp revenues. The committee also heard and passed CS/SB 48 by Senator Gates, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units on a voluntary basis, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs are allowed by right without separate hearings. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and several industry and business groups supported the bill, citing the need for long-term rental housing for workers. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Employers are also challenged with finding skilled workers.
• revitalization, stable housing markets, and community-based economic development.
• Dorchester Bay is the only Boston-based CDC that is also a CDFI.
• And based on that, based on maybe a week or a month or whatever timeline, they can offer me an immediate
• There’s a little bit of a difference when you’re talking about jobs that need that skill set.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The base salary for a district judge has been the same, and there, there was an additional, uh, small
• As we mentioned, the Judicial Compensation Commission is requesting a 30% salary increase to the base
• So that, uh, is based on, um.
• What do you need to so that you don't have to turn away any cases based on capacity?
• to a cloud-based solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• U so based on the uh represent Salvi.
• Thank right skill sets for the board. Thank you. you. you.
• These funds were base price of a home.
• I I would to me it was the game.
• </c> effectively statutoily have to um based effectively statutoily have to um based on<01:37:37.280>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on Senate Bill 25, which would allow state-chartered credit unions to compensate board members if the membership approves it. Prime sponsor Senator Dan Innis said the bill is enabling only, intended to help credit unions recruit and retain qualified directors and align New Hampshire with other states that already allow such compensation. Credit union representatives from the Cooperative Credit Union Association and St. Mary’s Bank supported the bill, saying board service has become more complex because of cybersecurity, asset-liability management, and other regulatory demands, and that compensation could be modest and take forms such as meeting fees or educational reimbursement. In response to committee questions, they said compensation would be set by the membership, disclosed in advance, and subject to bylaws and internal policies; they also noted that board members must be credit union members and that voting procedures vary by institution, with some using mailed ballots rather than proxy voting. Members raised questions about why credit union boards were historically excluded, what kinds of compensation were contemplated, whether there would be a cap, and how voting and confidentiality would work. Testimony explained that the historical rationale was the nonprofit, volunteer mission of credit unions, but witnesses argued that the modern environment and competition for talent justify a change. They also said the bill would not mandate compensation and would not create a salary structure comparable to banks, but would allow members to approve modest compensation or reimbursements. After no further testimony, the chair closed the public hearing on Senate Bill 25. The committee then opened a public hearing on Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Senator Howard Pearl, concerning the definition of deposits in land sales and escrowed accounts. Pearl said the bill would clarify that buyer funds for upgrades and luxury items in new-home construction are not treated as refundable deposits that must be held in escrow, arguing that the current Attorney General interpretation raises builder costs, increases home prices, and can limit buyer choices. He said the proposal would allow those upgrade funds to be paid directly to builders for construction, with signed disclosures making clear that the buyer requested the items and bears the risk if financing falls through. The hearing on Senate Bill 26 had just begun when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• careers in the fire service and the skilled trades.
• careers in the fire service and the skilled trades.
• And this is another avenue for people to have all of the skills they need.
• It has to do with the... ...skill and ability to do the job.
• Maybe more appropriate based on the facts presented at trial.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Both Scenarios 3 and 4 have the same base toll rates post-completion as pre-completion.
• Both Scenarios 3 and 4 have the same base toll rates post-completion as pre-completion.
• So the base toll rates for passenger cars... ...the same base toll rates post-completion as pre-completion
• I'm not an engineer, so my math skills are not that close. But those are the numbers.
• And the end game of maintaining our overall schedule objectives.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Interstate 5 Bridge met remotely with Washington legislative members to receive updates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, including environmental review, cost and funding, tolling, and procurement for construction. Program staff said the final supplemental environmental impact statement was published in April 2026, with a federal record of decision expected in early summer. They described the recommended design as a single-level fixed-span bridge, centered I-5 alignment, C Street ramps, one auxiliary lane in each direction, and dispersed park-and-ride parking. Members raised concerns about transparency, the closed chat function, and the decision not to include two auxiliary lanes; staff said the one-lane option was recommended through consultation with partner agencies and analysis, but the final decision would come with the record of decision. Staff also said the diversion analysis projected less than 3% traffic diversion to I-205 in 2045, though members from Oregon and Washington expressed concern about impacts to their communities and asked for more detail on mitigation and decision-making. The committee also reviewed a major cost update. Staff said the full five-mile program is now estimated at $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with a likely cost of $14.4 billion, up from a 2022 estimate of $5 billion to $7.5 billion, citing inflation, schedule delays, scope changes, and more detailed risk modeling. They said the first funded phase has been reduced to a $5.68 billion package focused on the Columbia River bridge replacement, connections to I-5, Hayden Island and SR-14, bridge demolition, tolling infrastructure, and advancing light rail design. Funding for that phase was described as $5.69 billion, including $2.1 billion federal funds, $1 billion from each state, and $1.5 billion in projected toll revenue. Members asked what would happen if costs rise further; staff said the estimate includes substantial contingency, the project will use progressive design-build to manage risk, and the team will continue updating the finance plan annually. A separate tolling and traffic-revenue presentation explained that four toll scenarios were analyzed using regional travel demand modeling, a toll diversion model, and a post-processing review. All scenarios assume pre-completion tolling beginning July 1, 2028, a 50% low-income discount for eligible users, and exemptions for tribal preemptions, emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and organized militia. Staff said the low-income discount would affect about 4% to 6% of annual transactions and reduce annual revenues by roughly 2% to 3%. They said Scenario 2 was used for the financial analysis and is sufficient to support the $1.5 billion toll contribution in the funded phase. Members asked about toll collection costs, revenue impacts of the discount, and how the scenarios differed; staff said collection costs are expected to be in line with other WSDOT toll facilities, but exact costs are not yet set because toll rates are not final. Finally, WSDOT staff outlined procurement and delivery steps for construction. They said WSDOT will be the lead contracting agency, using progressive design-build, with a request for qualifications targeted for early July 2026, a request for proposals in October, contractor selection in April 2027, construction starting in 2028, and tolling beginning in 2028. Staff said the approach is intended to consolidate scope, reduce interface risk, and allow transparent negotiation with an independent cost estimator, while preserving an off-ramp if a fair price cannot be reached. Members asked for more detail on timing, cost allocation, and the share of the first phase funded by tolls; staff estimated tolls account for about 26% of the first phase cost.

Transcript Highlights:

• This proposal provides an increase to DCF's base appropriation to maintain current services.
• This leaves a base of $2 million in the program.
• But the purpose is indeed to ensure that there is an electronic method that is less easy to game the
• But the purpose is indeed to ensure that there is an electronic method that is less easy to game the
• But the purpose is indeed to ensure that there is an electronic method that is less easy to game the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Defense Support Commission funding represents a $2 million base, recurring base.
• Our military bases need that airspace for our really critical national security initiatives.
• Our military bases need that airspace for our really critical national security initiatives.
• Five million of that is their base.
• This program represents a direct investment in a more skilled and educated workforce.

Bills: S0048

Keywords: housing, accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, local government, zoning regulations, military families, density bonus, homeownership, property taxes

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard presentations on the Governor’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and then considered one bill, CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, with transportation and economic development receiving about $18 billion statewide and $601 million in general revenue. Agency heads then presented priorities for Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, State, Transportation, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard, emphasizing workforce development, housing, tourism marketing, aviation and space infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, emergency preparedness, and military readiness. In the Commerce presentation, Secretary Kelly highlighted funding for housing programs, the Hometown Heroes program, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, rural infrastructure and workforce grants, Reconnect and Florida WINS systems, law enforcement and firefighter recruitment bonuses, defense support, Visit Florida, Space Florida, and SelectFlorida. Senators asked about Visit Florida’s private match requirements and whether the agency fully leveraged prior appropriations; Visit Florida’s CEO said the match was met and exceeded, though it is difficult but important. The Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles presentation focused on trooper pay, pursuit vehicles, aviation assets, and enterprise data systems, with questions about immigration enforcement and body cameras. Military Affairs requested funding for readiness centers, training facilities, education and health benefits for Guardsmen, and maintenance of existing armories; members discussed Guard deployments, staffing levels, and a proposed firing range project. The Department of State requested funds for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and defended its arts grant process and rule changes. Transportation’s budget emphasized a $14.3 billion work program, road and bridge maintenance, aviation and aerospace, safety initiatives, and seaport investments, while Emergency Management requested funding for preparedness, flood mitigation, WebEOC, grants management, and alert systems; senators also asked about the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility. For CS/SB 48, Senator Gates explained that the bill would require local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs would be allowed by right without a separate hearing. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, saying ADUs could help provide long-term housing for service workers. After questions about local government and HOA authority, the committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 48 favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we are very skilled trades.
• But I also think that improving the education of Wyoming citizens for workforce skills and knowledge
• What we find is that, just kind of two points to understand the name of the game is that our retention
• So I think this not having that continuous enrollment requirement is going to be a game changer.
• </c><00:41:12.960><c> is</c><00:41:13.200><c> that</c><00:41:13.440><c> our</c> the name of the game

Bills: HB0023, HB0024, HB0025

Keywords: extracurricular activities, public school participation, enrollment, Wyoming, student access, charter schools, application process, authorizers, public hearing, community support, scholarship, education, eligibility, continuous enrollment, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and up to volunteer and serve their communities, while participants gain professional and technical skills
• This commission really dovetails This commission really dovetails with the skills and education needed
• It really dovetails the volunteerism and helps folks with the skills that they need to then continue
• This commission really dovetail. with the skills and education needed for success.
• This commission really deftails the volunteerism, really helps folks with the skills that they need to

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development met in executive session and first approved House Bill 2896 by a vote of 11 ayes, 1 no, and 1 present. The bill was described as giving the governor and staff more flexibility in appointing qualified members to university boards of governors. The committee then heard House Bill 3279, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields, which would move the Community Service Commission from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Shields said the move would better align the commission’s AmeriCorps and volunteer-service work with education, workforce training, financial aid, apprenticeships, and job-placement resources already housed in DHEWD. Rep. Mansur, Rep. Hein, and Rep. Wilson voiced support, emphasizing the program’s value in building workforce pipelines and community ties, while DHEWD witness Leah Strid also testified in favor and said the change would help connect participants to education and employment opportunities. Members asked about the commission’s budget, funding, and staffing; witnesses said the program is primarily federally funded, with seven FTEs, and that they would follow up with additional details. No opposition testimony was offered. The chair indicated the committee would try to executive the bill later, but due to notice issues, House Bill 3279 was not voted on at this meeting and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That has been game changing.
• know and based on what the tribal folks know.
• know and based on what the tribal folks know.
• This is actually based on internal calculations that we use based on our current design of our facility
• Based on what we've seen, if we're going to address...

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, this is another complicated shell game of this ACA 20.
• provider, or provide bonuses or incentives for referring a client to a lien-based provider.
• We're referring a client to a lien-based provider, or provide bonuses or incentives.
• We're referring a client to a lien-based provider.
• Finally, it prohibits attorneys from For referring a client to a lien-based provider.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it skilled labor? Is it degreed labor? What does that look like?
• There's different classifications based on population size and urban boundaries.
• There's still some base infrastructure that could be used.
• There's still some base infrastructure that could be used.
• And we need skilled labor.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee heard an overview from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the state’s transportation work program, with emphasis on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, major roadway projects, workforce needs, seaports, airports, spaceport infrastructure, and the role of MPOs/TPOs in planning. He said the $4 billion general revenue investment in Moving Florida Forward has been leveraged into a roughly $7 billion-plus program, with 20 projects underway and about 70% of the initiative expected to be under construction by year’s end. He highlighted I-4 as the centerpiece, describing a new procurement approach, phased delivery, and added lanes intended to provide congestion relief during construction. He also discussed a projected 38% growth in transportation workforce needs and proposed a Florida Transportation Academy and a research institute to support training and innovation. Tiffany King of the Florida Airports Council said Florida’s 128 public-use airports have about $5.7 billion in unfunded projects through 2029, and stressed that airport priorities include not only terminals and passenger capacity but also safety, security, gates, and environmental work. Michael Rubin of the Florida Ports Council said Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports now have a $195.9 billion economic impact, support about 1.2 million jobs, and generate $7.4 billion in state and local taxes; he noted that ports still have about $4 billion in project needs, including dredging and intermodal connections. Jeff Sheffield of the North Florida TPO described the value of regional, community-based planning and said his four-county TPO has helped align local priorities with FDOT funding. Members asked about whether the state is planning for advanced air mobility and “flying cars,” whether Moving Florida Forward bypassed MPOs, how long major projects take, cost escalation, regionalization of MPOs, port governance, airport governance, and the contractor qualification system. FDOT and the witnesses said the state is working on policy and planning for advanced air mobility, that Moving Florida Forward did not bypass MPOs because the projects were already locally prioritized, and that the main delay is funding rather than the planning process. They said long-range plans are updated regularly and can be amended when priorities change, and that regional MPO structures can improve coordination. The committee took no formal vote; the meeting concluded after questions and comments, including discussion of workforce training opportunities for incarcerated individuals and a motion to adjourn by the ranking member.

Transcript Highlights:

• system to a service intensity-based system.
• It's based on last year data, if you put the new pieces in play.
• What is your support based on?
• on. absolutely nothing They're adjusted based on political considerations and not based on sound research
• A resource campus is inspired by Ace in Dallas, $15,000 on top of base pay.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• The shared address is based on street address.
• It was not evidence-based.
• Based services.
• Those people who are gaming the system, They're going to find something else to do to game the system
• We are analyzing how many people fall into that broad-based categorical eligibility category that, based

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But mostly wage rates are based on skills.
• But mostly wage rates are based<00:20:54.960><c> on</c><00:20:55.200><c> skills.
• on skills.
• So the more we're based on skills.
• Games<01:24:01.280><c> are</c>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:58 Putting Young Kentuckians to Work: First Year Update 00:04:06 Kentucky Talent Attraction Initiative 00:21:59 Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership 00:57:15, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the October minutes, and heard first a progress report on the state-funded “Putting Young Kentuckians to Work” initiative. Workforce leaders from Cumberland Workforce Development Board and Kentucky Works said the HB 1 funding has allowed them to contract with all 10 workforce boards and build new pipelines with high schools, area technology centers, school districts, and community and technical colleges. They reported an end-of-year goal of 3,600 job placements, with 218 placements reported as of October 2025 and enrollment numbers continuing to rise. Testimony emphasized that the program is aimed at disconnected youth and high school seniors, that federal WIOA funds are too limited to support this work alone, and that the flexible state funding has enabled short-term training and placements in fields such as welding, CDL, and CNA. Members asked about barriers to implementation, wage levels, and services for students with disabilities; presenters said the main challenge was building school relationships and that wage growth should improve as students gain more skills and credentials. The committee then received an update on the Kentucky Talent Attraction Initiative. Representatives from Greater Louisville Inc. and Commerce Lexington explained that the General Assembly previously provided $250,000 for a consultant to develop a statewide talent attraction and retention strategy, and that more than 13 organizations across the state support the effort. Development Counsellors International described its research process, including statewide stakeholder engagement, and said the goal is to create a Kentucky talent value proposition that combines job opportunities with quality-of-place messaging. They reported that Kentucky faces a shrinking labor force and a projected national worker shortfall, while internal research found 47% of working-age respondents could consider leaving the state within two years because they are not confident in career opportunities. At the same time, they said 96% of surveyed higher education students would stay if offered a full-time job, and 72% of employers expect to expand staffing in the next two years. The presenters said they are moving from research into messaging and an action plan, and that the strategy should be customized and measurable rather than one-size-fits-all.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is work-based learning, which is also managed under the Department of Education.
• It's moving in the right direction, away from center-based employment, and towards community-based employment
• There's still a number of individuals that rely on center-based employers.
• So when we say that center-based employment can't still happen, that's a choice.
• Yes, we need to teach people employment skills.

Transcript Highlights:

• actually send the younger kids back for a refresher course so that they can hone in on those swimming skills
• I wanted to meet these children and families and equip them with the skills that they needed to live
• Will the clinical practice be based on the critical understanding of scientific education, evidence and
• Respectfully, based on data driven research in decades of clinical experience, we do not believe that
• Us not a nurse practitioner that has unsupervised, we believe in team based care.