Video & Transcript : 'backlog of repairs' :

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KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on State Government.(1-29-26)

State Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, welcome to our first meeting of the year of the House State Government Committee.
  • Uh, and I will do that. of course first to to uh see some of our of course first to to uh see some of
  • </c> of service. of service.
  • </c> of the idea. of the idea.
  • </c> terms of my opinion uh the merits of terms of my opinion uh the merits of that.<00:32:36.480><c>
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • of exactly the sort of is an example of exactly the sort of communication<00:03:45.080><c> that's</c
  • You have to kind of everybody's got to be sort of at the end of their rope.
  • > this</c> but the sort of beautiful part of this but the sort of beautiful part of this waiver,<00:20
  • </c><00:20:27.280><c> So</c> of the out of the community. So of the out of the community.
  • </c> of their rope. of their rope.
Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum present, approved the minutes without objection, and then reviewed a series of administrative regulations from multiple agencies. Most of the regulations received staff-suggested amendments and were approved without objection, including fish and wildlife rules on fishing limits and deer hunting on local government property, veterinary board changes to responsible party and veterinary manager requirements, election procedures for safe-at-home voters, attorney general regulatory relief rules, emergency gasoline tax pricing, public pensions updates, controller fraud-prevention policies, physical therapy licensure and English proficiency standards, school nutrition and fee-waiver rules, public health conference procedures, and Medicaid waiver regulations. Several agencies briefly identified themselves and answered procedural questions, but most items drew no substantive opposition. The Board of Veterinary Examiners regulation included an agency amendment that removed a proposed limit on the number of facilities a veterinary manager could oversee. The Department of Education regulations updated fee waiver and meal program procedures, while the Department of Public Health regulation clarified notification and conference-request procedures. The Department of Revenue and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority items were largely technical or conforming changes, including a special-needs trust definition added for consistency with Senate Bill 85. The most extensive discussion involved the Department for Medicaid Services’ 1915C child waiver regulations. Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified in opposition to the waiver’s lack of participant-directed services, arguing that consumer-driven services such as respite and community living support are required and especially important in rural areas and for higher-acuity children. Cabinet representatives responded that the waiver is intended to provide wraparound services to keep children in homes and communities, that it has CMS approval, and that the program is limited to 100 slots with about 21 participants already enrolled. Members did not move a deficiency motion, and the chair indicated the regulations would continue through the process. The meeting adjourned after setting the next meeting for Tuesday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Chamber Meeting Feb 4th, 2026

New Mexico House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • and employs tens of thousands of New Mexico residents, including employees of the University of New
  • and employees tens of thousands of New Mexico residents, including employees of the University of New
  • How many of you, by a show of hands, how many of you are UNM grads? Okay, so quite a few of us.
  • of the officers of the House.
  • of the state for projects to replace or repair public infrastructure damaged by flooding or debris flows
Summary: The House convened with quorum, offered an invocation and pledges, and then moved through a series of memorials, recognitions, and announcements. House Memorial 49, declaring February 4, 2026 UNM Day, was taken from the Speaker’s table, explained, and debated at length. Members from both parties and several guests praised the University of New Mexico for its role in education, health care, research, public service, and workforce development, with special recognition of President Garnett Stokes, interim provost Barbara Rodriguez, and Health Sciences leaders and students. The memorial highlighted UNM’s enrollment, degrees awarded, scholarship support, patent activity, and the UNM Hospital and Health Sciences Center. It passed 70-0. House Memorial 48, declaring February 4, 2026 Valencia County Day, was also brought forward and passed unanimously. Supporters described Valencia County’s history, culture, economic growth, and traditions, including the annual matanza, Route 66 heritage, and major employers and development projects. Members from the county and local officials were recognized, and the memorial emphasized both historic communities and current business and infrastructure expansion. House Memorial 50, declaring Lincoln County Day, was introduced by title and placed on the Speaker’s table, but not taken up for final passage during this segment. The chamber also recognized the Artesia Bulldogs football team for winning another state championship, Del Norte High School’s class of 1966 on its 60th anniversary, and a number of guests tied to nursing, education, and local community service. Several members used announcements to highlight nurses, school programs, and local events, including a Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus invitation and a reminder that the day was the final day to file bills with the clerk. The session closed with continued announcements and guest introductions, reflecting a day focused heavily on community recognition and celebratory memorials rather than substantive legislation beyond the memorial votes.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Legislative Session Day 15 (1-28-26)

Kentucky House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Next order of business, the approval of the journal. >> Mr.
  • Next order of business, the second reading of bills. There being no need.
  • Next order of business, report of committees. >> Clerk, please report.
  • c> the</c><00:07:53.039><c> orders</c><00:07:53.280><c> of</c> Next order of business, the orders of
  • </c> memory of a dear friend to many of us. memory of a dear friend to many of us. uh<00:21:31.200><c
Summary: The House convened with prayer and the pledge, recorded 96 members present, excused absences, and approved the journal from January 27, 2026. The Senate clerk announced passage of Senate Bills 17 and 181 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced a number of bills on health insurance, judiciary, local government, and transportation topics, including measures on pharmacist reimbursements, hearing aid coverage, feeding and eating disorders, grooming a minor, local government liability, water fluoridation, cigar bars, chickens on residential property, highway pavement markings, motor vehicle titles, and pedestrian issues; all favorable reports were treated as first readings and placed on the calendar. The House then took up and passed House Bill 320 on human trafficking, with the sponsor explaining it would equalize penalties for promoting human trafficking with those for trafficking itself and increase the penalty when the victim is under 18. A member asked whether the bill included additional funding for cyber enforcement; the sponsor replied it was not an appropriation and would not require new funding, though prior budgets had increased support for anti-trafficking efforts. The House adopted a title amendment changing the bill’s title to combating human trafficking. The chamber also passed House Bill 366, which clarifies that materials portraying a sexual performance by a minor include computer-generated images and requires 85% service of the sentence before probation or parole; the sponsor said it was supported by law enforcement and prosecutors. House Bill 389 on reading and writing in schools also passed as amended by House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said it would require annual updates to the state dyslexia toolkit, expand professional development and coaching, require local school boards to develop processes for universal screening and diagnostic tools, and add dyslexia instruction to teacher preparation programs; the substitute added conformity with IDEA and revised the instructional language. Members spoke in support of early dyslexia detection and one member noted the bill updated prior legislation associated with former Rep. Bam Carney. House Bill 56, an omnibus Department of Agriculture bill, then passed; it addressed amusement ride inspections, grain warehousing penalties, egg handler licensing renewal timing, exemptions for small producers, and repealed obsolete tobacco and egg marketing board provisions. All three bills passed by roll call with 95 or 94 votes in favor and none opposed, and clinchers were applied. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings and events, including a suits-and-sneakers day and cancer-related breakfast, caucus meetings, and committee meetings. New bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on local occupational license fees, early learning and child care, tuition waivers, an adult workforce diploma pilot, motor vehicle usage tax, contract procurement, Fish and Wildlife Resources, adoption, veterans’ benefits, Cabinet for Health and Family Services operations, organ donation safety, hate crimes, prescription drugs, and resolutions on the Kentucky-Japan partnership and veterans’ benefits accreditation. The clerk also reported a petition of impeachment filed against Judge Julie Goodman. The House then referred a group of bills to committees, reported floor amendments for House Bills 321 and 416, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Education K-16 (Part I) May 15th, 2025

Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:
  • of House Bill 2.
  • Some of that is just the stress of the cost of gaining that certification.
  • That's an example of where the rest of the money lies. Permanent teacher pay, billions of dollars.
  • of our number one priorities, being good fiduciaries of the taxpayer dollar, one of my concerns that
  • of teachers.
Bills: HB2
Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee met to consider HB 2, the major school finance bill, with the chair explaining that the committee substitute would provide about $8 billion in new public education funding. The bill was described as including permanent teacher compensation increases, expanded teacher incentive allotment funding, support for early literacy and numeracy, teacher certification and residency pathways, special education funding, career and technical education, school safety dollars, and facilities support for charter schools. The committee adopted the committee substitute without objection after roll was called and a quorum was present. Members questioned the bill’s structure, especially the balance between across-the-board teacher pay and the teacher incentive allotment, the treatment of uncertified teachers, and differences in requirements between traditional public schools and charter schools. Senator Menendez and Senator West raised concerns about equity, charter-school parity, facilities funding, inflation, and whether the bill should include more support for fine arts and extracurricular programs. The chair responded that the bill was designed to direct most new money to traditional public schools while also preserving flexibility and that charter-school and public-school alignment would need further work. Invited witnesses Dr. Imelda De La Rosa and Val Acri testified in support of the bill, emphasizing that the Teacher Incentive Allotment helps recruit and retain teachers in rural districts and supports mentorship and certification pathways. Public witnesses also supported the bill but urged more funding for fine arts, local flexibility, and full restoration of House-proposed funding levels. Dr. Josh Jones supported year-long teacher residencies, Dr. Philip Morgan asked for more local control and restoration of fine arts funding, Rich Saina supported the bill but warned about hold-harmless reductions, and Dr. Greg Poole supported the bill while asking for flexibility for high-performing districts that already pay high salaries. After the invited testimony and some public testimony, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair so members could attend the Senate floor.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Education K-16 (Part II) May 15th, 2025

Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's just one of a number of things.
  • a lack of transportation, because of underfunding.
  • I think one of the interesting things is one of the best parts of the bill is the full funding of pre-K
  • us are not many of us need every bit of that new funding to close str many of us are not many of us
  • I'm the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for The Arc of Texas, and I'm here today in support of
Bills: HB2
Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee Apr 9th, 2025

Constitution, Campaigns and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • of state.
  • out of.
  • Another issue is that they were taking the information of minors in the state of Alabama.
  • We were not allowed to have a list of registered voters in the state of Alabama.
  • So, one of the reasons for the exchange of data is when people... ... the exchange of data is when people
Bills: HB479, HB480
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Feb 24th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • So over 90% of the time, they're waived. And most of these are handled after the fact.
  • If you were convicted of that, you get a sentence of five days to six months.
  • They're short of people now.
  • House Bill 4272 is the Certificate of Titling of Vessels Act.
  • two hours of domestic violence training for judges every two years. ...of two hours of domestic violence
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Feb 24th, 2026

Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • If you were convicted of that, you get a sentence of five days to six months.
  • If you were convicted of that, you get a sentence of five days to six months.
  • They're short of people now.
  • It's been going on for eight years that I know of. Thank you for all of the questions.
  • Chair, and members of the committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and members of the committee.
Summary: The committee heard a long series of House bills, mostly on criminal justice, public safety, transportation, and administrative procedures. Measures included lowering school-zone speed issues on certain highways (HB 2979), allowing DMV staff to accept physical proof of insurance (HB 2980), barring people convicted of pedophilia from adopting children (HB 2936), allowing lawful weapon carry on boats (HB 2937), and restricting fire departments from hiring people required to register as sex offenders (HB 382). Other bills addressed warrant fee increases for counties (HB 3262), making strangulation in domestic violence cases an 85% crime (HB 3264), creating offenses for reckless driving tied to racing and collisions (HB 3266), criminalizing knowingly making or displaying fictitious license plates (HB 3268), and allowing electronic arrest warrants (HB 3269). The committee also advanced bills on Open Meetings Act enforcement, OCC port-of-entry arrest authority, expanding protections for municipal officials and notaries, creating vessel titling, and modernizing vehicle inspection/title procedures. Several members raised questions about costs, enforcement authority, and whether new penalties would shift burdens to consumers or local governments. For example, HB 3262 drew concern about passing warrant-fee costs to the public, and HB 3268 prompted questions about existing law and the need for a new felony for fake tags. The OCC port-of-entry bill generated extended discussion about whether a regulatory agency should have arrest authority, with supporters arguing it would free up Highway Patrol and sheriff resources and opponents questioning the expansion of quasi-law-enforcement powers. Other bills were presented as request bills from agencies or constituents, including the Attorney General, Oklahoma City police, the Bomb Squad, the Corporation Commission, and local residents. The committee also approved a number of bills with little or no opposition, including a domestic violence strangulation measure, a bill on Open Meetings Act remedies, a bill allowing sentence modification requests by district attorneys, and a bill requiring domestic violence incident reports and judicial training. Later, the committee considered additional public safety and criminal procedure bills such as making firearm theft a felony, increasing the damage threshold for police response in property-damage crashes, and requiring the state to pay expert witness costs in capital appeals. Most measures were reported out do pass, with several unanimous votes and a few split votes, including HB 3262 and the OCC port-of-entry bill. The meeting ended after laying over a few bills and adjourning.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> second year of the housing task force. second year of the housing task force.
  • </c> did a lot of work consolidating all of did a lot of work consolidating all of this<00:01:47.680>
  • </c> of those areas is uh made impractical. of those areas is uh made impractical.
  • Thank you both for the very interesting meetings full of lots of great information.
  • > out of this uh out of the out of this out of this uh out of the out of this com<00:23:11.120><c> uh
Summary: The Housing Task Force met to approve its September and October minutes and then consider its final report, which was described as an overview of the second year of the task force’s work and included 14 recommendations for future legislative action. Members thanked the co-chairs and staff for compiling the report and noted that it had been posted publicly. Several members emphasized that housing problems affect both urban and rural areas across Kentucky and that the report should help guide next steps in the General Assembly. Members offered a range of comments on the recommendations. One representative urged stronger language on the state’s role and cautioned against moratoriums on building-code reforms that could discourage sustainable practices or raise long-term utility costs, while also suggesting more down payment assistance. Others highlighted the need for local flexibility in housing policy, support for rehabilitation tax credits, and continued use or expansion of affordable housing credits and direct support for construction, infrastructure, revolving loan funds, and low-income housing tax credits. Another member suggested adding clearer “right to rebuild” language so homeowners could rebuild after a fire if the home meets current code. The co-chairs summarized the task force’s main takeaways as two broad issues: regulatory delays and the need for more financial incentives. Members also discussed zoning, permitting delays, and the importance of moving permits more quickly so development can proceed without unnecessary holdups. After a motion and second, the committee approved the report as amended by the added “right to rebuild” language, and agreed to submit it to LRC, the Senate President, and the Speaker for approval before adjournment.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Healthcare Committee Mar 5th, 2025

Healthcare

Transcript Highlights:
  • But that's what all the doctors that take care of... ...what all the doctors that take care of women
  • Neither one of them had any signs or symptoms of postpartum depression, but the way they answered the
  • So, of course, she came and got him. So, of course, she came and got him.
  • This bill is brought on behalf of the state board of chiropractic examiners.
  • So, most of those are again new sections that start around page 69 of the bill.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Feb 11th, 2026

Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
  • . ...of military benefits.
  • information with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of State.
  • We've done a lot of good things in this committee, and we've passed a lot of bills that help all of our
  • So I think we've done a lot of good work here and made a lot of good things happen.
Bills: S1182, S1594
Summary: The Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and took up two bills. SB 1594, by Senator Gates, would change how veterans’ benefits received on behalf of foster youth are handled so the funds are not used to offset foster care costs, but instead are preserved for post-secondary education or aftercare services when the youth leaves foster care. The bill drew one supportive appearance from Victoria Zep of Family Support Services, had no debate, and was reported favorably by a unanimous roll call vote. Senator Sharief later asked to be recorded as a yes vote on the bill. The committee then considered SB 1182, by Senator Jones, which creates the Florida Veterans and Military Spouses Business Development Act to provide fee relief and tax incentives for veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses. The committee adopted Jones’s strike-all amendment, which added information-sharing and verification provisions, refined the tax exemptions, and broadened eligibility for fee waivers and sales tax relief. After no questions or debate, the amended bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote. The committee also held a confirmation hearing for three appointees—Matthew Bacchano, Tim Thomas, and Belinda Kaiser—and recommended confirmation on all three in one vote. The meeting concluded with several members offering remarks praising Chair Wright’s long service and leadership on veterans’ issues, followed by adjournment.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • We're losing thousands of acres a day, um, of our farmland.
  • We're losing thousands of acres a day, um, of our farmland.
  • of Kentucky.
  • </c><00:15:17.440><c> of</c><00:15:18.079><c> pumps,</c> regardless of the number of of of pumps, regardless
  • of the number of of of pumps, I<00:15:18.639><c> guess,</c><00:15:18.800><c> or</c><00:15:19.600><c>
Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard a budget presentation from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Department representatives Brandon Reid, Lee Macintosh, and Mark Bolan outlined the agency’s funding mix and requested support for several priorities in House Bill 500, including continuation of existing items, county fair grants, and an additional $5 million for the new economic development fund. They also discussed a capital request to replace two aging scale trucks, noting the vehicles are from 2002 and 2006 and have become unreliable and expensive to repair. The department emphasized several additional needs: funding to begin regulating and inspecting electric vehicle charging stations through the weights and measures division, retention and recruitment funding after losing 108 employees over three years, and a request to pay off tobacco-related debt service so more money can flow through the tobacco formula. They also cited House Bill 417, filed by Speaker Osborne, as supporting farmland preservation, saying the agency has a program ready but needs funding to implement it. Officials said the farm-to-food-banks and rural mental health items in the budget were acceptable as reduced by the tobacco formula. Members asked questions about pump inspection fees and staffing losses. The department said the inspection fee is $100 per station, not per pump, and that the same fee applies even to larger stations. On retention and recruitment, officials said the cost of turnover is significant but they did not have a dollar estimate. No votes were taken beyond the motion to approve the minutes, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.