Transcript Highlights:

• In 2021, Washington's Department of Ecology found that over 400 million pounds of textiles were landfilled
• The reason I bring that up, though, is we think the experience of Ecology going through that rulemaking
• Department of Energy or the U.S. Department of War.
• Department of Energy or the U.S. Department of War.
• Department of Energy or the U.S. Department of War.

Bills: SB6271, SB6174

Keywords: mattress stewardship, producer responsibility, extended producer responsibility, EPR, mattress recycling, solid waste, landfill diversion, illegal dumping, recycling program, Department of Ecology, producer responsibility organization, PRO, renovator, retailer obligations, collection sites, bulk pickup, drop-off locations, waste management, environmental compliance, circular economy

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee held public hearings on two extended producer responsibility bills and then a work session on solar interconnection standards. On SB 6271, which would create a mattress stewardship program, the sponsor and supporters said mattresses are bulky, hard to dispose of, and often dumped illegally, while most of their materials can be recycled. Cities, counties, and a mattress recycler testified in support, citing landfill space, disposal costs, and job creation. Retail and hospitality groups and the mattress industry opposed the bill as drafted, saying Washington should align with existing programs in other states and avoid new burdens or a point-of-sale fee structure. The public hearing closed with 459 signed in pro and 172 con. The committee then heard SB 6174, a proposed substitute on textile producer responsibility. Supporters said textiles are a growing waste stream, thrift stores are overwhelmed, and a needs assessment is a necessary first step toward a future recycling and reuse program. Seattle Public Utilities, Zero Waste Washington, and a student testified in support. Retail, business, apparel, hospitality, and textile-reuse groups opposed the bill or the substitute, saying the proposal is still too broad, may impose costs on retailers and employers, and should wait for more stakeholder work and lessons from California’s program. The hearing closed with 1,253 signed in pro and 364 con. In the work session, staff and a PNNL presenter reviewed codes and standards for rooftop and portable solar systems connecting to homes, businesses, and the grid. The presentation explained how the National Electrical Code, UL certification standards, and IEEE interconnection standards work together, including newer UL standards for no-export systems and portable or plug-in solar devices. Committee members asked about safety, certification timing, and how Washington should treat emerging balcony solar products; the presenter said the standards framework already allows certified products, while newer devices are still moving through certification and code updates. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a long-retired career employee of the Game and Fish Department.
• We work very closely with the Department of Game and Fish and with the Wildlife Commission.
• the Department of Education rather than the Governor and the Secretary of Education on education priorities
• the Department of Education rather than the governor and the secretary.
• Department of Education rather than the Governor and the Secretary of Education on education priorities

Bills: SB104, SJR3, SM3

Keywords: wildlife commission, removal procedures, malfeasance, appointed officials, governance, education reform, public education, state board of education, superintendent, chartering authority, constitutional amendment, policy setting, insects, insect workshop, insect identification, ecology, monitoring, management, pollinators, pollination

Transcript Highlights:

• And my concern there is the Department of Game and Fish—I don't know... ...is the Department of Game
• the definition of wildlife, and the Department of Game and Fish has been changed to the Department of
• The Department of Game and... Madam Chair, therein lies a problem, I feel.
• The Department of Game and Fish issues licenses for hunting and that type of stuff.
• In my opinion, it should be the Department of Agriculture, who is well versed in that.

Bills: SB154, SB187, SB193, SM3

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• in the definition of wildlife, and the Department of Game and Fish has been changed to the Department
• The Department of Game and Fish issues licenses for hunting and that type of stuff.
• In my opinion, it should be the Department of Agriculture, who is well versed in that.
• The Department of Game and Fish issues licenses for hunting and that type of stuff.
• In my opinion, it should be the Department of Agriculture, who is well versed in that.

Bills: SB154, SB187, SB193, SM3

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Summary: The Senate Conservation Committee first took up Senate Memorial 3, presented by Senator O’Malley on behalf of Senator Bergman and a group of Rio Doso High School students and Wild Friends. The memorial asks state agencies to participate in a no-cost workshop on insect identification, ecology, monitoring, and management, and to help educate the public about insects. Students, conservation specialists, and an entomologist testified that insects are essential to pollination, ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity, while also noting declining insect populations and the need for more public understanding. Some senators raised concerns about the memorial’s wording, including whether it should be broadened from insects to arthropods and whether the Department of Agriculture, rather than Game and Fish, should be involved. The committee discussed timing and implementation, and the sponsor agreed to work on amendments. The memorial passed on a due pass motion by a vote of 8-0, with one excused. The committee then heard Senate Bill 154, which would require wildfire-related homeowners coverage to include flood damage caused by post-fire conditions for a five-year period. Senator Duhigg and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance argued the bill responds to the Ruidoso fires and subsequent flooding, noting that many homes were destroyed by mudslides and that flood insurance is often unavailable or inadequate. Supporters, including Ruidoso officials, affected residents, and attorneys, said the bill would help homeowners recover from cascading wildfire and flood losses. Opponents from the insurance industry and business groups warned the bill would be an outlier, could significantly raise premiums, and might reduce availability of homeowners insurance statewide. Committee members questioned how the mandate would work, whether it should be optional, and how costs would be allocated. The bill passed on a 5-4 vote. Finally, the committee briefly heard Senate Bill 187, which appropriates $202,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Finance Authority’s Water Project Fund for future water projects authorized by the legislature. The Finance Authority said the funding would help address a gap between available money and the 113 recommended projects, totaling about $522 million, including water conservation, flood prevention, storage, wastewater, and watershed projects. Members asked for more detail on the locations and types of projects, and the Finance Authority said it would provide the list from the companion authorization bill. The committee then moved the bill forward on a do pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this bill, the Department of Fish and Wildlife must designate an ungulate population as at risk.
• The proposed substitute also caps the annual consultation with the Department of Commerce at 40 hours
• The annual consultation with the Department of Commerce at 40 hours of staff time. Thank you.
• requirements required by either Ecology or Fish and Wildlife exceeds the cost of a typical mitigation
• The Department of Fish and Wildlife must transfer the increased penalty amounts to the University of

Bills: SB5816, SB5838, SB5930, SB5960, SB5971, SB6075, SB6097, SB6104, SB6216, SB6233, SB6318, SJM8015

Keywords: juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, tribal representation, natural resources, board of natural resources, environmental policy, community involvement, irrigation districts, director contracts, beneficial interests, transparency, governance, ungulate populations, wildlife management, habitat restoration, conservation, sustainability

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard staff reports on a series of bills covering agricultural marketing, tribal representation on the Board of Natural Resources, irrigation district ethics, ungulate population management, a green fertilizer incentive program, agricultural mitigation and impact statements, conservation futures participation by tribes, timber sale efficiencies, wildlife penalty assessments, shellfish fees, and a joint memorial on federal wildfire response. Staff outlined fiscal notes and several proposed substitutes or amendments, including changes to tribal board representation, limits on the green fertilizer program, and revisions to the agriculture protection bill. During executive session, the committee adopted a proposed substitute for SB 5838 after rejecting amendments that would have required tribal board members to have forest-management experience or would have alternated representation between eastern and western Washington. The committee also adopted substitutes for SB 5971 and SB 6097, and advanced SB 5816, 5971, 6097, 6216, 6233, 6318, and SJM 8015. SB 5930, SB 5960, SB 6075, and SB 6104 were taken no action on. SB 6233 drew discussion about possible unintended consequences and the need for clearer definitions, while SB 6318 was supported as a way to avoid fees that could harm shellfish growers. Several members explained their votes, particularly on SB 5838, where concerns were raised about conflicts of interest and the need for relevant forestry expertise on the Board of Natural Resources. On SB 6233, supporters said the bill updated penalty amounts tied to endangered species enforcement, while opponents wanted more specificity. The committee concluded that all listed executive-session items had been either moved forward or dropped, and the meeting adjourned after the board signing process.

Transcript Highlights:

• The seller or lessor of the vehicle remits the fee to the Department of Licensing, which deposits fee
• State Department of Health.
• Senate Bill 6151 makes changes to where fees are deposited for two different Department of Ecology programs
• My name is Carrie Sessions, and I work as the Director of Governmental Relations of the Department of
• For the Department of Labor and Industries, $385,000...

Bills: HB2689, SB5832, SB5922, SB5944, SB5988, SB6151

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Ecology to promulgate new rules for SEPA, and that provision has been removed.
• of this bill is it moved this study and the workload that Department of Ecology would do into the Safer
• As background, the Department of Ecology administers a cap-and-invest program, which is a market-based
• And the Department of Ecology is requesting $318,000 to commence with the beginnings of this report for
• Department of Ecology to explore the potential for an increased use of green materials or recycled content

Bills: SB6346, SB6347, SB6147, SB6246, SB5940, SB5882, SB6223, SJR8206, SB5762, SB5828

Keywords: millionaires tax, wealth tax, income tax, state revenue, tax reform, Washington estate tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, death tax, probate, decedent, gross estate, taxable estate, exclusion amount, tax rate, estate planning, heirs, beneficiaries, RCW 83.100, Department of Revenue

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda by a 15-9 roll call vote, after several senators objected that the main tax bill had not been public long enough and that the fiscal note had just been released. The hearing then focused on Senate Bill 6346, described by staff as a 9.9% tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million household deduction, with additional charitable deductions, credits for certain taxes, and related changes to the working families tax credit, a grooming and hygiene sales tax exemption, a larger small business B&O credit, and early repeal of the high-grossing business B&O surcharge. Staff said the proposal would raise about $3.5 billion annually once fully implemented, with most revenue going to the general fund and 5% to a public defense stabilization account for counties. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor, anti-poverty, health care, education, and local government advocates, argued the bill would make the tax code more progressive, help fund schools, health care, child care, public defense, and other services, and provide relief through the working families tax credit and lower taxes on working people. Several individuals who would be subject to the tax also testified in support, saying they were willing to pay more to support public services and community investment. Opponents, including business groups, builders, hospitality, rental housing, medical, and taxpayer advocates, warned the bill would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, hurt housing production and small businesses, create cash-flow problems, and potentially drive people and investment out of Washington. Committee members asked questions about the bill’s treatment of pass-through entities, student athletes, nonresidents, capital gains, and whether the measure would eventually expand beyond high earners. Some witnesses and senators also raised constitutional concerns and argued the bill conflicts with Initiative 2111 and the state constitution’s tax provisions. Others noted the bill’s public defense funding and asked for broader or different distribution formulas, including possible support for cities and higher education. No final action on Senate Bill 6346 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee was still hearing testimony when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• As background, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, or WSDA, samples, tests, and enforces
• So that the Department of Agriculture can tell us the weights and measures and figure out how to fairly
• Department of Commerce.
• team at the Department of Commerce and the weights and measures team at the Department of Agriculture
• the weatherization unit within the State Energy Office at the Department of Commerce.

Bills: SB6269, SB6223, SB5982, SB6050, SB5965, SB5975, SB6010, SB5984, SB6076, SB5652

Keywords: motor fuel, fuel quality act, RCW 19.112, alternative fuel, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol blend, alcohol fuel, diesel fuel, nonhazardous motor fuel, biofuels, clean fuels, transportation fuels, Washington fuel standards, fuel labeling, fuel blending, petroleum products, natural gas vehicles, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on SB 6269, which would update Washington’s Motor Fuel Quality Act by broadening the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous fuels and electricity used to propel vehicles, and by removing the separate definition of alternative fuel. Staff and testifiers from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and Douglas County PUD said the change would give WSDA authority to inspect and test hydrogen fueling stations and other newer fuel types, with no fiscal impact expected. The bill was well supported in testimony, and the hearing closed without questions. The committee then heard SB 6223, which would authorize community-scale weatherization projects under the low-income weatherization program. The bill would let Commerce fund projects serving multiple dwelling units in the same area, prioritize low-income households, and adopt rules to implement the program. Supporters from community action, clean energy, Commerce, and environmental groups said the bill would help scale weatherization, improve health and safety, reduce energy costs, and better reach rural, mobile home, and disadvantaged communities; Commerce noted a fiscal impact tied to rulemaking and administration. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It adopted proposed substitutes and gave due pass recommendations to SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 5965, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652, sending most to Rules and SB 5652 to Ways and Means. On SB 5965, amendment C2 was adopted while C1 and C3 failed. On SB 6010, amendments E1 and E2 failed. On SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652, the committee approved the proposed substitutes and reported the bills out subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Veterans Affairs 17 KR1030 with staff suggested amendment.
• the Department of Insurance in the Department of Insurance in accordance<00:02:28.560><c> with</c><00
• the</c><00:28:57.679><c> US</c> by the Department of Education of the US by the Department of Education
• Lesie Hoffman, deputy commissioner for the Department of Medicaid.
• </c><00:48:10.400><c> of</c> commissioner for the Department of commissioner for the Department of Medicaid

Keywords: 0:22 – Roll Call 0:30 – Approval of minutes 1:04 – Department of Veterans Affairs 2:06 – Board of Pharmacy 3:20 – Board of Optometric Examiners 39:26 – Board of Nursing 40:07 – Board of Emergency Medical Services 41:52 – Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources 44:36 – Transportation Cabinet: Department of Vehicle Registration 45:36 – Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control 47:00 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services: Department for Medicaid Services 49:59 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services: Department for Community-Based Services, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee approved the minutes from the previous meeting and then took up several regulations. The first was a Department of Veterans Affairs regulation, with a staff amendment, to allow nurse practitioners to apply for the Veterans Affairs nurse loan repayment program year-round and to make technical drafting changes. The committee heard from the Office of Kentucky Veteran Centers, then adopted the staff amendment and approved the regulation without objection. The main item of the meeting was the Board of Optometric Examiners’ proposed amendment to 201 KAR 5:010, which would allow applicants to use the Optometry Examining Board of Canada written exam in place of part one of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam for licensure. The board said the change would improve access to care, provide an additional pathway for Canadian-trained candidates, and still require applicants to pass the remaining national board parts. Opponents, including NBEO officials, ARBO, Pearson VUE, and several optometrists, argued the Canadian exam is not equivalent, does not test the same biomedical science content, is not validated for U.S. scope of practice, and raises concerns about test security, transparency, and portability across states. They urged the committee to find the amendment deficient or vote no. Committee members questioned both sides about prior communication with the board, whether Kentucky would be the first state to adopt such a change, the rationale for the proposal, and the cost difference between the exams. Supporters said the board had received some written comments and one phone call, and that the proposal was driven by access concerns and the presence of Canadian students. Opponents said they had not had direct discussions with the Kentucky board before the hearing. No final vote on the optometry regulation is reflected in the transcript excerpt, but the committee heard extensive testimony and rebuttal before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• The order of things. But first up on the agenda, we have the Department of Medicaid Services.
• </c><01:51:58.560><c> of</c> um from members um for the Department of um from members um for the Department
• </c> department of law regulation. department of law regulation.
• </c><01:56:18.080><c> We</c> department of law. Is there a motion? We department of law.
• </c> Department of Corrections 501 K6420 Department of Corrections 501 K6420 Emergency<02:01:42.800><

Keywords: 0:00 – Meeting start/roll call 0:10 - Roll call/approval of minutes 1:43 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Department for Medicaid Services 27:40 - Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control 55:54 - Board of Veterinary Examiners 1:33:15 - Testimony in support of 804 KAR 13:010E, 020E, 030E and 040E. 1:49:04 - Education Professional Standards Board 1:49:58 - Attorney General, Office of Regulatory Relief 1:52:18 - Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) 1:54:28 - Board of Nursing 1:56:44 - Board of Occupational Therapy 1:57:37 - Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy 1:58:58 - Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources 1:59:50 - Economic Development Finance Authority 2:01:34 - Department of Corrections 2:02:37 - Department of Juvenile Justice 2:04:02 - Department for Employment Services, Unemployment Insurance 2:04:57 - Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Department for Public Health, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up Department for Medicaid Services regulations 907 KAR 23:010 and related rules. DMS explained that one regulation would establish a beneficiary advisory council and another would remove language barring coverage of GLP-1 drugs for obesity-related use. The department said coverage would still be limited by prior authorization and clinical criteria, with use tied to underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, and that the pharmacy and therapeutics committee would help set the detailed standards. Members discussed the potential health benefits, but several raised concerns about cost, timing, and whether the legislature and the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board should review the policy first. DMS said the drugs are already on the formulary, that current Medicaid users with diabetes are already covered, and that the fiscal impact was estimated using current utilization, rebates, and expected savings; the department also said it would only cover the drugs if subject to rebates. The committee then voted 5-1 to find 907 KAR 23:010 deficient. The committee next considered several emergency regulations from the Public Protection Cabinet’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control implementing SB 100. The rules covered tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product licensing, including the application form, denial standards, and transitional licensing. ABC counsel said the department had received about 5,500 applications and issued nearly 5,000 licenses, with additional provisional licenses issued to avoid interruption in sales after the law’s effective date. He said some applications remained pending because inspections and photographs revealed possible unauthorized nicotine vapor products, and the department was seeking documentation before approval. A staff amendment was adopted without objection before the ABC presentation continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Department of Fish and Wildlife Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources<00:36:14.680><c> 301</
• </c><00:58:20.799><c> of</c> administered by the Department of administered by the Department of Criminal
• </c><00:59:21.680><c> of</c> you transportation cabinet Department of you transportation cabinet Department
• </c><01:04:14.319><c> of</c> regulation thank you you Department of regulation thank you you Department
• </c><01:04:47.279><c> of</c> specialist with the Department of specialist with the Department of workplace

Keywords: 0:01– Meeting start/roll call 0:34 – Approval of minutes 0:48 – Welcome of new committee members 1:34 – Council on Postsecondary Education 25:17 – Teachers’ Retirement System 27:00 – Kentucky Public Pension Authority 29:04 – Board of Veterinary Examiners 31:40 – Board of Nursing 34:01 – Board of Emergency Medical Services 36:15 – Fish & Wildlife Resources 40:34 – Department of Corrections 56:00 – Department of State Police 58:05 – Department of Criminal Justice Training 59:22 – Transportation Cabinet 1:00:18 – Department of Education 1:01:23 – Department of Employment Services 1:04:17 – Department of Workplace Standards 1:05:25 – Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction 1:06:59 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Dept. for Public Health (Sanitation) 1:13:50 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Dept. for Public Health (Trauma System) 1:17:46 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Dept. for Public Health (Radon) 1:18:30 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Dept. for Medicaid Services 1:19:15 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Dept. of Aging Services 1:20:36 – Other Business/Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and welcomed new members before taking up Council on Postsecondary Education regulations 13 KAR 2:120 and 13 KAR 2:130. The regulations, as amended by staff and agency amendments, update public university and KCTCS performance funding models to conform to 2024 Senate Bill 191 and the performance funding work group’s recommendations. Changes discussed included replacing the underrepresented minority metric with an underrepresented students metric defined as first-generation students, adding an adult learner metric, increasing the low-income degree premium, adjusting small-school and nonresident credit-hour weights, revising data aging and progression metrics, and adding STEM+H criteria in 13 KAR 2:120. Travis Pal of the Council on Postsecondary Education explained that the changes reflect the work group’s three-year review process and that the work group ultimately voted to define underrepresented students as first-generation students and to apply half-weighting between research and comprehensive universities for the new metric. Michael Frasier of the Kentucky Student Rights Coalition and Eastern Kentucky University student government opposed 13 KAR 2:120, arguing that the regulation improperly applies weights where the statute does not clearly authorize them and that the funding changes disadvantage comprehensive universities and vulnerable students. He asked the committee to find the regulation deficient or, alternatively, recommend legislative clarification and a revised fiscal analysis. Pal responded that weighting has been part of the model since 2017, that CPE was following the statute and work group recommendations, and that the model could be changed by future legislation. Members asked about the timing of the broader performance funding review, and Pal said the full model is reviewed every three years, with the next work group cycle beginning in 2026. No motion to find the regulation deficient was made, and the committee allowed the regulations to proceed to the committee of jurisdiction. The committee then approved a staff amendment to Teachers’ Retirement System regulations 102 KAR 1:195 and 102 KAR 1:340, which require annual reporting of accumulated sick leave, leave policies, and salary schedules to TRS and make technical changes to the final average salary calculation and related definitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Department<00:10:24.880><c> of</c><00:10:25.040><c> Fish</c><00:10:25.200><c> and</c><00:10:
• 25.440><c> Wildlife</c> &gt;&gt; Department of Fish and Wildlife &gt;&gt; Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Thank you. >> Department of Education 702 KAR 6:065, 704 KAR 4:010, 803 KAR 3:030, 805 KAR 5:050, and
• >> Corey Nichols, Department of Legal Services at the Department of Education. >> I'm Julian Tacket,
• Department of Workplace Standards 803 KAR 2:181, emergency; 2:241, emergency; 2:250, emergency; 2:260

Keywords: :54 – Board of Pharmacy 2:00 – Board of Social Work 3:44 – Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy 4:43 – Board of Registration for Professional Geologists 7:27 – Board of Imaging and Radiation Therapy 8:33 – Board of Emergency Medical Services 10:38 – Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources 17:37 – Transportation Cabinet 18:37 – Department of Education 25:00 – Department of Workplace Standards 27:06 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then reviewed a series of agency regulations, most of which had staff-suggested amendments. The Board of Pharmacy regulation on remote prescription processing was amended to make grammatical and KRS Chapter 13A compliance corrections, and the Board of Social Work regulation on continuing education, telehealth training, waivers, and related fees was deferred at the agency’s request. The Occupational Therapy Compact rule update and the Professional Geologists fee increase regulation both received staff amendments and were approved, with the geologists’ board explaining the increases were driven by rising oversight costs and declining revenue. The committee also reviewed emergency regulations from the Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, the Board of Emergency Medical Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and the Department of Workplace Standards. The EMS package covered licensing classifications, compliance audits, ambulance service rules, and electronic forms; the Transportation Cabinet’s emergency rule established procedures for street-legal special purpose vehicles; and Workplace Standards’ emergency rules updated Kentucky requirements to align with federal standards and House Bill 398, including shortening the discrimination complaint filing deadline from 120 days to 30 days and adjusting appeal procedures. Staff amendments were approved where offered, and members asked several clarifying questions about the rationale and effect of the workplace and EMS changes. The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources explained rules on aircraft and drone use in taking wildlife and on reciprocal hunting and fishing agreements with neighboring states. The agency said the drone restriction was intended to align with federal law and address hunter complaints, while the reciprocal agreement rule was a cleanup of older agreements that had lapsed or been overlooked; the committee deferred the wildlife regulation 301 KAR 2:031 at the agency’s request. The Department of Education also presented multiple KHSAA-related and standards updates, including academic eligibility, sports timing, health and physical education standards, and career studies/financial literacy standards; staff amendments were approved, and members questioned the athletic forms and the designation of KHSAA as the state’s athletic agent. Finally, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented emergency regulations to support a pediatric teaching hospital expansion and related certificate-of-need changes, which the agency said were aimed at improving pediatric and neonatal access to care; staff amendments were approved, and the committee concluded by setting its next meeting for October 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education, Department of Education 701 K5055 with staff suggested amendment.
• Todd Allen, deputy commissioner, general counsel, Kentucky Department of Education and State Board of
• </c><00:04:57.360><c> of</c><00:04:57.520><c> Education</c><00:04:58.000><c> and</c> Kentucky Department
• of Education and Kentucky Department of Education and State<00:04:58.400><c> Board</c><00:04:58.639>
• Staying in Public Protection Cabinet, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 804 KAR 4:415, with staff

Keywords: 0:16 – CALL TO ORDER 0:20 – ROLL CALL 0:56 – ELECTION OF CO-CHAIRS 1:54 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2:10 – OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 3:28 – PERSONNEL BOARD 4:30 – EDUCATION AND LABOR CABINET, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 5:18 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, OFFICE OF CLAIMS & APPEALS 12:03 – PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET, DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL 12:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR MEDICAID SERVICES 14:54 – CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES 31:44 – NEXT MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT/ADJOURNMENT, 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met to reorganize its leadership for the new term, renewing Representative Derek Lewis as House co-chair and Senator Steven West as Senate co-chair. The committee then approved the minutes and moved through a series of agency regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection. Among the regulations reviewed were an Attorney General rule changing how a commission reviews and distributes funds and how grant reporting is handled; Personnel Board changes abolishing and renaming certain job classifications and adjusting probationary periods; an Education and Labor Cabinet rule removing references to local board of education members; several Public Protection Cabinet rules covering Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation procedures; an Alcoholic Beverage Control rule on direct-to-consumer shipping forms; and a Medicaid Services emergency regulation establishing the Kentucky Trauma Hospital Rate Improvement Program for rural hospitals serving many Medicaid patients. The committee also heard that the Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation regulations included both staff and, in one case, an agency amendment, which were approved. The most extended discussion came on the Department for Community Based Services’ regulation increasing per diem rates for private child-placing therapeutic foster care levels 2 and 3. Committee members questioned the estimated $10 million biennial cost, the source of the funding, and why the cabinet had not yet filed regulations implementing Senate Bill 151 on kinship care. DCBS staff said the rate increase was discretionary and intended to address placement crises for children with high needs, while acknowledging they could not personally explain the budget decisions. A kinship caregiver testified in support of the rate increase but urged the cabinet to also implement SB 151 and expand support for kinship families. The committee expressed frustration over the lack of SB 151 implementation but stated the rate increase itself was appropriate and allowed the regulation to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, with me I also, of course, have Commissioner Randy White with the Department of Juvenile Justice.
• Um, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is comprised of six departments.
• Um, and actually Commissioner White is going to talk through the critical needs of the Department of
• Um the Department of joining me up here.
• Next we've got the Department of Public Advocacy. Damon, if you want to make your way up.

Keywords: Opening and Roll Call 00:28 Public safety Cabinet 01:09 Juvenile justice MH Facility: 04:30 Department of Corrections Repair and Replacement: 10:29 Department of Criminal Justice Flat Track 19:05 KSP : 27:02 Department of Public Advocacy : 37:35, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard capital project requests from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for fiscal years 2026-28. The cabinet described its large statewide footprint and said its facilities face significant deferred maintenance, with the governor’s budget proposing full funding for maintenance pool requests, including an additional $60 million for the Department of Corrections’ maintenance pool and cash funding through investment income. Officials said the projects were based on facility assessments and were presented as necessary public safety investments rather than wish-list items. For the Department of Juvenile Justice, the main requests were $35 million for a high-acuity mental health treatment facility and $45 million each for two new female detention facilities. Officials said the mental health facility would fill a gap for youth needing psychiatric care, while the female facilities were needed to support a regional detention model and address overcrowding; they noted the current female population has grown by 50% since July 2024. Members asked about locations, and staff said they were considering western Kentucky abandoned mine land and available land in Fayette and Jefferson counties, with current female placements in Boyd County and Warren County. For the Department of Corrections, officials requested funding for critical mechanical, electrical, plumbing, roof, and structural repairs, including $15.78 million for Kentucky State Penitentiary utilities infrastructure and additional funding for North Point Training Center projects. They also highlighted two re-entry initiatives: a KCTCS partnership for a re-entry campus at North Point and the East Kentucky Applied Manufacturing Institute at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, both aimed at reducing recidivism through intensive training and job preparation. Members asked about the KCTCS re-entry model, and DOC explained it would be a more immersive, campus-style program than current prison-based vocational classes. The Department of Criminal Justice Training discussed projects at its Richmond campus and the planned Western Kentucky Training Center, including a replacement flat track and campus access road at Richmond and added training features in Madisonville. Officials said the Richmond changes were needed because EKU construction had removed the existing flat track and would affect access, while the Western Kentucky project would expand training capacity and reduce travel for law enforcement agencies. The Kentucky State Police then outlined the final phase of the statewide emergency radio system replacement, estimated at about $17.5 million, and said the system is being built in geographic phases; members asked how long completion would take, and staff estimated roughly four years after funding, assuming no major inflation spikes. No votes were taken, and the meeting remained informational with member questions and staff responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:46.520><c> of</c> and valuable to have the Department of and valuable to have the Department
• </c><00:51:20.680><c> of</c> Director again, Department of Director again, Department of Corrections<
• </c><00:51:27.280><c> of</c> Director of the Department of Director of the Department of Corrections<
• ><c> Defense</c> engage with the US Department of Defense engage with the US Department of Defense and
• </c> testimony already Department of Health. testimony already Department of Health.

Bills: SCR180

Keywords: wildfire, fire hazard, Lahaina, West Maui, Maui wildfire, vegetation management, fuel reduction, defensible space, fuel breaks, invasive grasses, emergency access, evacuation route, fire lane, state lands, public safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal, community risk reduction, hazard mitigation, brush clearance, wildland-urban interface

Summary: The committee opened by noting it was likely its last hearing of the 2026 session, then took up several resolutions. SCR 54, on appointing a hydrogen fire safety expert and training on hydrogen-related protocols, and SCR 59, on allowing certain health care professionals to practice without a license during a state of emergency, drew no testimony. Members discussed SCR 59 as a response to past emergencies and the need for pre-approved, updated registries of professionals who could be deployed quickly in emergencies. SCR 62 SD1, which asks the 911 Board to form a working group with the disability community to address access issues in emergency and 911 responses, received testimony from disability advocates and the 911 Board. Testifiers said the measure should ensure an integrated system with EMS infrastructure, real-time access for dispatchers and field personnel, and public education about the system; they also noted that Smart911 is no longer being used on Oahu and Maui and that a statewide, integrated approach is needed. Members agreed to work the suggested language into the resolution. SCR 179, urging Maui County to enforce fire code provisions on brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation clearing, and emergency access, was noted as having no testimony but continuing to raise important issues. SCR 74, calling for an audit of no-bid contracts issued under emergency proclamations from 2020 through 2025, drew strong support from a late testifier who tied the measure to emergency procurement concerns after the Lahaina wildfire and COVID-era contracting. The witness argued that procurement rules should not be waived in ways that compromise safety, and described concerns about unlicensed contractors and construction problems in a state housing project. Members asked about the scope of the audit and whether it would interfere with criminal investigations; the witness said the audit should cover a broad range of contracts, including nonprofit contracts, and should not be limited to the wildfire period. The committee also heard SCR 28 SD1 on creating a Hawaii Vietnam Veterans Medal, with support from the Department of Defense and veterans advocates, who said the resolution is intended to do the groundwork for a future appropriation and to determine eligibility and distribution procedures. Finally, SCR 60 SD1, requesting updates on the “Breaking Cycles” rehabilitation and restorative justice study, received support from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, and reform advocates. The department asked that reporting be annual rather than quarterly because of the complexity of the OCCC project, and supporters said the measure would promote transparency and help ensure the study’s recommendations are implemented. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...of military benefits.
• This amendment adds an information-sharing provision so the Department of Revenue can share limited tax
• information with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of State.
• It shifts verification and registration from the Department of Veterans Affairs and creates a verification
• We've done a lot of good things in this committee, and we've passed a lot of bills that help all of our

Bills: S1182, S1594

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, business incentives, tax exemptions, economic development, veteran benefits, minor clients, financial assistance, education services, Department of Children and Families, Department of Health

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, beginning in 2028, an EITE facility must submit an assessment to the Department of Ecology every
• The first thing is the bill includes language that permits the Department of Ecology to explore The first
• thing is the bill includes language that permits the Department of Ecology to explore the potential
• But if they're waiting for the Department of Health, the Department of Licensing, or L&I, they can't
• Department of Health has reached out to some, and potentially even many of these, but not all of them

Bills: SB5420, SB5877, SB5868, SB5109, SB5832, SB5922, SB5944, SB5988, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, service members, uniformed services, National Guard, reservists, active duty, qualifying discharge, veterans preference, hiring preference, public employment, state benefits, license renewal, professional licensing, retirement service credit, pension, public retirement system, Washington RCW, military leave, reemployment rights

Transcript Highlights:

• We with the department of corrections.
• </c> Department of Corrections has used Department of Corrections has used halfway<00:08:48.720><c> houses
• </c><00:14:36.720><c> of</c> that includes the department of that includes the department of corrections
• </c> the Department of Corrections requires. the Department of Corrections requires.
• </c> Department of Criminal Justice Training. Department of Criminal Justice Training.

Keywords: Call to Order 00:17 Department of Corrections 01:35 Community Transitional Services 06:47 Administrative Office of the Courts 23:06 Department of Criminal Justice Training/ KSP 45:49 Adjournment 59:14, 958, all

Summary: The Public Safety and Judiciary Committee met without a quorum, so approval of the January 3, January 20, and February 3 minutes was postponed. The committee then heard an update from the Department of Corrections on halfway house and Recovery Kentucky funding and operations. Deputy Commissioner Hillary Daily said DOC contracts for up to 1,752 halfway house beds and 780 Recovery Kentucky beds, with 16 halfway houses and 13 Recovery Kentucky centers statewide. She reported 6,329 admissions in fiscal year 2025, average daily populations of 1,041 in halfway houses and 494 in Recovery Kentucky, and explained that Recovery Kentucky placements are more restrictive, generally excluding violent and sex offenders, while halfway houses serve probationers, parolees, and sex offenders who need treatment. She also described programming such as MRT, parenting, adult basic education, and trauma-focused services, and said some facilities offer supervised visitation. Daily said no new funding request was included in the current budget, though DOC has sought rate increases in prior cycles. Community Transitional Services director Barbara Stum also testified in support of halfway houses as re-entry and substance abuse treatment centers. She said CTS primarily serves men coming out of prison or returning to prison who need treatment, and that halfway houses provide security, accountability, treatment, employment support, and help with home placement. Stum said the state moved substance abuse treatment into the community in 2010 to avoid sending people back to prison for treatment, and argued halfway houses are the least expensive form of incarceration. She cited daily rates of $33.61 for CTS beds and DOC figures of $37.33 to $44.33 per day, compared with higher prison and jail costs, and said reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation since the last increase in 2019. She said staffing and supplies are the main pressure points, with counselor pay below market rates, and noted two counselor vacancies. A former resident, Michael Bird, testified that CTS helped him recover and re-enter the community successfully. The committee also received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of the video arraignment/video conferencing system. AOC officials Zach Ramsey and Charles Buyers said the system is now fully implemented in all courtrooms and is used for video arraignments and other Zoom-based court proceedings. Buyers described the pandemic-era transition from older, inconsistent equipment to improvised laptop/webcam setups, then to a more integrated vendor-supported system with touchscreen controls and a judicial support specialist position for training and operation. He said 324 courtrooms are already up to the current standard, with 128 remaining on an older bundle, and that there are no technical barriers to continued use. AOC said it is seeking $3.8 million in recurring annual funding to keep the systems upgraded and current, and plans to upgrade 46 systems in fiscal year 2026 across 15 counties.

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znJMQmmrdmY, 2026-06-21T07:17:07+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Reupload to restore meeting parts lost due to technical issues 0:00 – Meeting start/roll call 0:29 – Approval of minutes 0:45 – Council on Postsecondary Education 2:31 – Board of Elections 56:16 – Office of the Attorney General 58:54 – Kentucky Public Pension Authority 1:01:07 – Board of Licensure for Occupational Therapy 1:02:01 – Office of Homeland Security 1:04:35 – Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources 1:08:06 – Justice and Public Safety Cabinet: Department of Corrections 1:09:55 – Education and Labor Cabinet: Board of Education & Department for Technical Education 1:12:20 – Education and Labor Cabinet: Department of Workers’ Claims 1:13:05 – Public Protection Cabinet: Department of Financial Institutions 1:15:38 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services: Department for Aging and Independent Living 1:17:26 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services: Office of the Secretary, Medical Cannabis Program 1:29:00 – Announcement of August meeting and adjournment, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• Any questions for the Department of EMS?
• Seeing none, please call next regulation. >> Thank you. >> Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of
• </c><00:07:05.000><c> of</c><00:07:05.120><c> Professional</c> the Department of Professional the Department
• </c> for the Department of EMS? for the Department of EMS?
• Department for Medicaid Services, Department for Medicaid Services, Division<00:23:39.880><c> of</c>

Keywords: 0:06 - Roll Call 0:30 - Approval of Minutes 0:45 - OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 2:08 - FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION CABINET - OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER 2:55 - BOARD OF DENTISTRY 5:30 - BOARD OF OPHTHALMIC DISPENSERS 7:30 - BOARD OF NURSING 8:32 - BOARD OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 9:30 - EDUCATION AND LABOR CABINET - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPPORT SERVICES 15:35 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH 18:44 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, HEALTH SERVICES AND FACILITIES 23:39 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR MEDICAID SERVICES 1:01:46 - CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, OFFICE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS 1:03:46 - Next meeting/adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up a series of administrative regulations from several agencies. Early items included Attorney General consumer protection rules on removal sales, health spas, liquidation sales, and nonresident sellers of visual aid glasses; Finance and Administration Controller rules on clearinghouse validation and fraud prevention; and Board of Dentistry rules updating exam requirements, controlled substance prescribing, training for neuromodulators and dermal fillers, infection control, sedation/anesthesia continuing education, and required education on pediatric abusive head trauma and controlled substance ingestion prevention. The committee also approved staff amendments on these items, generally to conform to KRS Chapter 13A, and members asked a brief question about the dentistry controlled-substances changes, which was answered as an alignment with statute. The committee next approved regulations for the Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers, Board of Nursing, and Board of Emergency Medical Services. The ophthalmic dispensers package would revise meeting and recordkeeping language, raise renewal fees, set reinstatement and apprentice-license rules, add complaint and hearing procedures, and repeal a duplicative regulation. The nursing regulations would streamline approval of training programs and require notice and documentation of site visits and deficiencies. EMS rules would create five EMS medical director certifications, set expiration and renewal requirements, require publication of disciplinary sanctions, and exempt currently approved directors before October 1, 2026. Staff amendments were adopted without objection on each set. The Education and Labor Cabinet’s school transportation regulation drew extended discussion. The agency explained the changes were intended to implement Senate Bill 46 and update references affected by later legislation, including an oral amendment to delete a subsection reference tied to KRS 160.380. The committee adopted both the agency and oral amendments without objection after brief questions about the scope of the bill changes and van transportation for students. The committee then heard a lengthy package from the Department for Public Health on WIC and related nutrition program regulations, including updates to infant and child certification periods, documentation requirements, vendor criteria, sanctions, hearing procedures, and high-risk vendor standards. Staff amendments were adopted without objection. Finally, the committee considered the Inspector General’s regulation for freestanding birthing centers, which included both staff and agency amendments. The agency changes would require two neonatal resuscitation program-certified staff, set rules for medical director vacancies and appeals, revise facility and staffing terminology, adjust transfer-agreement requirements, and allow waivers when agreements cannot be secured. Mary Katherine DeLodder of the Kentucky Birth Coalition testified in support, saying the parties had worked through concerns and were ready to move forward. The committee then moved on to Medicaid’s 1915C child waiver regulations, where staff amendments were adopted, but Lucy Heskins of Kentucky Protection and Advocacy testified against the package because it did not include person-directed services, which she said are required by Kentucky law and important for families using the waiver.