Transcript Highlights:

• Representative King answered a lot of mine, but I did want to clarify when you look at advertising in
• Representative King answered a lot of mine, but I did want to clarify when you look at advertising in
• Representative King answered a lot of mine, but I did want to clarify when you look at advertising in
• Representative King answered a lot of mine, but I did want to clarify when you look at advertising in
• Representative King answered a lot of mine, but I did want to clarify when you look at advertising in

Keywords: Reuploaded to restore full meeting 00:13 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:14 Approval of Minutes 01:40 Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet 27:44 Department of Parks 59:23 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its second Budget Review on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. Members then heard a presentation from the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Tourism on the 1% tourism marketing fund. Witnesses explained that the fund supports statewide tourism promotion, advertising, research, regional marketing, and matching grants to local tourism commissions, and that it cannot be used for capital construction. They reported that the General Assembly and governor increased appropriations in the 2024 session, adding $3 million in FY25 and $7 million in FY26, and set aside funding for the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority, the National Quilt Museum, and the Southern Kentucky Tourism Initiative. Tourism officials emphasized that Kentucky tourism is a major economic driver, citing 2023 figures of $13.8 billion in economic impact, 79.3 million visitors, $9.7 billion in direct spending, more than 95,000 jobs supported, and nearly $1 billion in state and local tax revenue. They said the department now uses targeted digital and over-the-top advertising in selected domestic and international markets, with 62% of media placements digital and 80% of the budget spent out of state. Members asked about market selection, how the department measures return on investment, and what attracts visitors from places such as Dallas, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.; officials said research shows a mix of family visits, outdoor recreation, and varied Kentucky offerings, and that 81% of overnight visitors are repeat visitors. They also discussed the potential impact of tariffs and trade tensions on bourbon-related tourism and international visitation, especially from Canada, and officials said they were monitoring the situation with U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA. The committee then heard from Kentucky State Parks officials on capital projects funded through HJR 76, HJR 56, and House Bill 6. They said they are providing quarterly project reports and have been meeting regularly with the Finance Cabinet’s engineering and contract staff. The presentation focused on campground utilities, broadband, and structural upgrades, including $40 million for campground improvements across the park system, with completed bathhouse renovations at Barren River and Nolin Lake and additional projects underway or in planning. Officials said the work is based on camper survey feedback, such as requests for better Wi-Fi, sewer and electric upgrades, frost-free spigots, and improved site layouts, and noted that the My Old Kentucky Home campground project is under construction and expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• morning, gentlemen, and it's nice to see you all again, and I'm so happy that another colleague of mine
• :07:02.919> another<00:07:03.440> colleague<00:07:03.879> of<00:07:04.080> mine
• so happy that another colleague of mine so happy that another colleague of mine has<00:07:05.080
• Yes, not mine. I just wanted a question, a compliment. I just wanted to say to Mr.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee held an orientation meeting focused on introducing members, outlining committee norms, and hearing an overview from the Department of Transportation. Chair David Mills emphasized the committee’s long-standing bipartisan working style, asked members to share contact information for short-notice scheduling, and noted that the committee would need to complete as much work as possible before the building is vacated later in the year. Members introduced themselves and described backgrounds in engineering, construction, planning, local government, military service, education, and business. Several members highlighted prior service on planning boards, school boards, zoning boards, or in transportation-related fields as relevant to the committee’s work. Members repeatedly described the committee as collegial and nonpartisan, with most bills going to the consent calendar. The chair also noted that the committee’s work centers on state infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways, and buildings. Representative Cluder, the ranking member, and others echoed that the committee is effective because it talks issues through and resolves disagreements collaboratively. One member mentioned a recent trip that reinforced the importance of infrastructure resilience after storms and rebuilding efforts in other states. Department of Transportation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer David Rodrig, gave a detailed organizational and operational overview. They described DOT’s structure, mission of “transportation excellence,” and major responsibilities across highways, bridges, rail, transit, aeronautics, maintenance, and administration. Rodrig reported 1,651 permanent positions and 404 vacancies, 2,160 state bridges with 115 on the Red List, 4,600 centerline miles of roadway, 25 public airports, 11 transit systems, and 194 active state-owned rail lines. He also outlined FY 2024 spending, project development activity, highway maintenance operations, fleet and fuel systems, and the distinction between the highway fund and DOT’s budget, including the role of federal funds and the turnpike enterprise fund. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this orientation meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I'd be happy to do that, and I will discuss it with mine.
• <00:47:46.000> Um, discuss it with mine. Um, discuss it with mine.
• Um, yeah, of course there are people whose experiences differ from mine.
• <04:18:39.279> Um whose experiences differ from mine.
• Um whose experiences differ from mine.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, there are some special guests of mine in the chamber today that I would help you would help me welcome
• And we had a historian there who detailed and recorded the Coline mine massacre of recorded the Coline
• mine massacre of 1927, which happened the same year as Lello, but is frequently overlooked.
• I've been particularly close to one in mine that operates along the Kfax corridor and tries to serve
• I think mine might be higher, but I haven't actually... I'm not sure.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this legislation, and I very much look forward to voting aye on this today. ...those counties like mine
• A friend of mine named Kyle, probably about a year or two ago, he had his parents, both of his parents
• <00:50:34.840> A<00:50:34.920> friend<00:50:35.200> of<00:50:35.320> mine
• A friend of mine importance of this.
• A friend of mine named<00:50:36.080> Kyle, named Kyle, named Kyle, uh<00:50:38.000> probably

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with 98 members present, declared a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received Senate concurrence requests on Senate Bills 263, 281, and 324. The chamber then moved through second readings and committee reports on a range of measures, including education, agriculture, banking and insurance, judiciary, licensing, and task force resolutions. Among the reported bills were measures on KEES scholarships for non-certified schools, a residential safe room rebate program, dual credit scholarships, impeding a first responder, motor vehicles, tallow-based cosmetic products, animal health emergencies, mortgage loan income limits, deferred deposit fees, child protection, Attorney General operations, corrections operations, school leadership, school transportation, advanced mathematics coursework, and task forces on charitable gaming and early childhood education governance. The House passed House Bill 642, a Teachers' Retirement System housekeeping bill, after adopting House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said the bill updates survivor benefit documentation, raises the daily earnings limit for retired members returning to work from $170 to $200, removes an unused early-return provision, reinstates a pension waiver program, clarifies benefit tier calculations using an earlier participation date in another state system, and allows a parent member to manage payments for a disabled child without a court order. Members asked about substitute teaching limits, retirement penalties, budget impact, and a removed provision involving index funds; the sponsor said he would follow up on the day limits and stated he did not believe the bill would add to unfunded liability. The bill passed 96-0. The House also passed House Bill 780 on recording commissioner’s deeds, after adopting a floor amendment that removed fines and penalties. The bill allows a city to petition circuit court if a deed is not recorded within 30 business days, and the court may compel filing and award costs and attorney’s fees. Members discussed whether the bill effectively created a lawsuit-based enforcement mechanism rather than a fine, and supporters said it would help local governments identify responsible property owners and address code enforcement and public safety issues. The bill passed 96-0. House Bill 541, concerning peace officers, also passed after a committee substitute; the sponsor said it cleans up Kentucky Law Enforcement Council procedures, strengthens certification standards, clarifies revocation language, and reflects input from law enforcement groups. It passed 95-0. House Bill 195, the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, passed after a committee substitute and floor amendment. The substitute added Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension alongside UK Cooperative Extension, and the floor amendment changed the pilot’s implementation date to January 1, 2027 and adjusted the program’s term timing. Supporters said the bill would expand urban agriculture education, connect youth to food systems and career pathways, and help students in urban counties learn practical agricultural skills; it passed 97-0. The House then took up House Bill 794 on financial exploitation, which expands protections to all adults age 65 and older, adds felony penalties for knowingly, wantonly, or recklessly exploiting those adults, allows the attorney general to seek extradition from another state, and requires investment advisers to complete three hours of continuing education on financial exploitation. Members cited real-world scam experiences and urged stronger penalties, but the bill passed 96-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is not meant to be a beat-up on DEED bill, but it's been a long frustration of mine that
• that uh we struggle frustration of mine that uh we struggle to<00:45:36.480> get<00:45:36.560
• jobs won't automatically reach communities of color or women in the trades unless businesses like mine
• And by supporting this bill, it will help me and businesses like mine. Thank you.
• And by supporting this bill, it will help me and businesses like mine. Thank you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> They do mine support. >> Uh, if they're supporting an industrial operation, they would be industrial
• <00:39:55.920> reclamation royalties, abandoned mine reclamation royalties, abandoned mine
• 00:40:08.000> fees<00:40:08.320> like<00:40:08.480> abandoned<00:40:08.960> mine
• federal fees like abandoned mine federal fees like abandoned mine reclamation<00:40:09.760> and
• So depending on, you know, where the plant is in relation to the mine that it's buying coal from could

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also have the consumptive use associated with solution mining and the evaporation ponds.
• activities such as dewatering of mines. activity and has been developed only as activity and has been
• oil well separator systems or mining oil well separator systems or mining activities<01:33:16.080
• Wyoming are high enough that it makes economic sense, about 100 milligrams per liter, to actually mine
• to um obviously uh oil and gas to mining to um obviously uh ranching<03:08:24.240> and<03:08:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:02.440> I<00:07:02.480> had reflects a bunch of mine, too.
• I had reflects a bunch of mine, too.
• Uh, it includes the same language as was brought... mine and then we can move to member mine and then
• So that's a personal part of mine.
• Uh, the other pieces with the mine.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know mine has.
• I know mine has.
• I know mine has.
• The policies you shape have real lasting effects on farm families like mine.
• I ask that you continue to like mine.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill greenlights more drilling and mining that will spoil water supplies used for irrigation and
• 00:08:54.399> more<00:08:54.640> drilling<00:08:54.959> and<00:08:55.200> mining
• greenlights more drilling and mining greenlights more drilling and mining that<00:08:55.680>
• But all that is at risk if sulfide or copper mining is allowed in the watershed of the Boundary Waters
• But all that is at risk if sulfide or copper mining is allowed in the watershed of the Boundary Waters

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is<00:26:38.159> a<00:26:38.400> concern<00:26:38.640> of<00:26:38.799> mine
• <00:26:39.039> So,<00:26:39.200> I different um is a concern of mine.
• So, I different um is a concern of mine.
• She is a constituent of mine and has a compelling story about losing her son Devon, but she has taken
• And then we see a former student of mine is one of your Senate pages here.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jobs like mine have been providing for families for generations.
• asking that there be a just transition to that future, one that takes workers like me and locals like mine

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy held a hearing on grid transmission and distribution, green financing, environmental justice, renewable portfolio standards, and clean energy workforce policy. Testimony on H. 352/S. 2268 focused on eliminating or scaling back the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, with Green Energy Consumers Alliance arguing it costs ratepayers about $30 million annually and largely subsidizes fossil-fuel combined heat and power, biodiesel blending, and woody biomass. Committee members raised concerns that a full repeal could affect heat pumps and solar thermal projects that currently receive APS credits, and the witness acknowledged those technologies are the strongest part of the program but said Mass Save would be a better home for them. Renew Northeast supported H. 3497 on renewable portfolio standard review and clean energy procurements, but urged an indexed renewable energy credit model like New York’s rather than an attribute-only arrangement, arguing it would reduce financing risk and consumer costs. Vote Solar and Senator Liz Miranda testified in support of H. 3540/S. 2303 on clean energy equity, saying environmental justice communities and renters receive too few benefits from clean energy spending and need stronger tracking, tenant protections, and measurable benefit allocation. Miranda described long-standing environmental harms in Roxbury and called for data and accountability to ensure benefits reach environmental justice communities. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 3475/S. 2276 on just transition and clean energy workforce standards. Labor representatives from the pile drivers, building trades, electrical contractors, SEIU, United Steelworkers, the AFL-CIO, and Climate Jobs Massachusetts Action backed the bill, emphasizing prevailing wage, project labor agreements, apprenticeship requirements, workforce transition plans, and protections for gas workers and other fossil-fuel employees as the state shifts to clean energy. They argued the bill would create family-sustaining jobs, support training, and prevent workers from being left behind during the transition. The hearing concluded after all sign-ups were heard, and the committee voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fondon's bill did not, mine had it.
• Mine had it.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on May 6, 2026, with five members present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 750, a “click-to-cancel” consumer protection bill requiring subscription cancellations to be as easy as sign-up and to be available through the same method used to subscribe. An amendment was adopted, testimony included support from labor and consumer advocates and opposition from some business groups, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 414, which was narrowed to cap interest on medical debt at 3%. After reconsidering and replacing prior amendments, the committee adopted the new amendment set and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 799, concerning inspection licensing for elevators, escalators, and boilers, was presented by the State Fire Marshal and reported favorably with little discussion. The longest discussion centered on HB 953, a major plumbing workforce and licensing reform bill. The bill was amended substantially: the original proposal to move plumbing oversight to the Contractors Board was removed, the plumbing board remained in place, apprenticeship and journeyman/master plumber hour requirements were revised, penalties and reporting requirements were added, and language was included to support workforce development and reentry training. The committee heard both support and opposition, including clarification from the State Plumbing Board that it already has an appeals process through the courts, and HB 953 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, HB 220, the “PROTECT Act,” was heard to require covered online platforms to maintain a clear and usable mechanism for reporting child sexual abuse material and exploitation. An amendment was adopted to account for platforms that require registration to access content, testimony was supportive, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 952 was deferred, and HB 827, a related plumbing workforce bill, was amended to align more closely with HB 953 but then failed a motion to defer by roll call vote, allowing it to remain pending. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• County Sheriff's Office began as a small frontier agency tasked with bringing order to rapidly growing mining
• County Sheriff's Office began as a small frontier agency tasked with bringing order to rapidly growing mining

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is mine. Do not look at my weight. But... As we all know, we all have a California ID.
• This is mine. Do not look at my weight. But please observe the pink dot.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then dispensed with reading the journal and moved through a large number of procedural items, including deeming 102 second-reading items read and amendments adopted. The body also approved several floor motions, including suspending rules for guest access and committee noticing, moving AB 2595 to second reading, and sending ACR 110 to the inactive file. Numerous local officials and community representatives were introduced from cities including South Pasadena, Isparia, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Palmdale, Holtville, and Lindsay. On the floor file, several measures were taken up and passed. AB 1673 by Hadwick, allowing county fish and game commissions more flexibility to use certain funds for wildlife conflict prevention, passed 62-0. ACR 143 by Pacheco, proclaiming April 19-25 as California Cities Week, was adopted with 65 co-authors added. AB 1982 by Lowenthal, removing sunsets from existing anti-drink-spiking requirements for certain establishments, passed 68-0. ACR 158 by Solache, recognizing April 2026 as Donate Life Month, was adopted with 74 co-authors added after testimony about organ donation and transplant needs. AB 1908 by McKinnor, authorizing counties to establish victim compensation funds for survivors of abuse involving public agencies, passed 71-0. AB 2052 by Stephanie, aimed at ensuring continuity for vulnerable victims in criminal cases by allowing the same prosecutor to remain on a case, passed 62-0. ACR 178 by Flora, recognizing April 21 as National Rendering Day, was also adopted with 69 co-authors added. The second-day consent calendar and remaining listed items were then approved, with all votes recorded at 69-0 and no items removed. The Assembly also heard an adjournment in memory from Assembly Member Haney for Mary Dallas Armstrong of San Francisco, followed by announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session. The House adjourned until Monday, April 27, at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are students from your communities as well as mine, but thank you for being here and congratulations
• These are students from your communities as well as mine, but thank you for being here and congratulations

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the absence of the HUB program, small businesses like mine are kept out of the competitive bidding
• In the absence of the HUB program, small businesses like mine are kept out of the competitive bidding

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would help families like mine protect children from lifelong trauma.
• When the system gets it wrong, families like mine are left trying to reverse harm that should never have

Transcript Highlights:

• We also mine that information for stories, insights, good and bad facts that we can integrate into our
• We mined them. We categorized them. We were ready for trial. Then a settlement happened.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight met with a quorum present and heard an update from Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler on the work of the Office of Public Counsel. Trierweiler described the office’s role in representing Florida utility customers in rate cases and related proceedings, including investor-owned electric, water, and wastewater matters. He emphasized the office’s use of depositions, expert witnesses, customer correspondence, and service hearings to challenge unsupported utility costs while seeking outcomes that are “fair, just, reasonable, and affordable.” A major focus of the presentation was the office’s work on large utility dockets, especially the Florida Power & Light rate case, as well as other recent cases involving Duke, TECO, Sunshine, and St. Joe. Trierweiler said the office had settled some cases but not others, had two appeals pending, and had filed motions for reconsideration where required. He also discussed storm cost recovery, affordability concerns, and the new challenge of data center tariffs and related energy and water demands. He said the office brought in new experts on affordability and data centers and was trying to get ahead of those issues through workshops and settlement efforts. Members asked questions about how customer input is gathered, how the office evaluates a fair profit for utilities, the role of settlements and counterproposals, and the impact of data centers on energy and water use. Trierweiler said customer voices come in through hearings and correspondence, that utilities are entitled to a fair return but not imprudent costs, and that the office is concerned about data center growth and its resource demands. No votes were taken, and the committee concluded its agenda and adjourned.