Bills: SB198, SB179

Keywords: Alabama National Guard, National Guard legal services, legal assistance program, judge advocate, staff judge advocate, paralegal, military justice, military law, legal aid, preventive law, notary, notarial acts, Adjutant General, State Military Department, Office of General Counsel, Army Regulation 27-1, Army Regulation 27-3, Air Force Instruction 51-304, Air National Guard Instruction 51-504, Title 31

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the bill establishes reporting and enforcement standards so that the state can measure whether
• This is an important measure to ensure patients have access to the necessary resources to support their
• Would you like to vote in that measure? Yes. Thank you. Appreciate it.
• Representative Burns, again, we will be walking the measure going forward.
• Representative Burns, again, we will be walking the measure going forward.

Bills: SB313, SB296

Keywords: Delaware Health Fund, healthcare access, preventive care, tobacco settlement, public health initiatives, grant program

Summary: The House Health and Human Development Committee met and considered a series of health, human services, and related bills. The committee heard and advanced House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13, which standardizes hospital charity care and financial assistance statewide, and Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, which restructures the Delaware Health Fund grant process with a more formal, transparent competitive rubric. Both measures received supportive testimony from DHSS, the Delaware Healthcare Association, and the Delaware Nurses Association, and both were released by committee on roll-call votes. The committee also released Senate Bill 313 with Senate Amendment 1, which places a temporary moratorium on acquisitions of nonprofit acute care hospitals by for-profit entities and expands notice/review requirements for sales of hospital real estate; Senate Bill 340 with Senate Amendment 1, which requires long-term care facilities to carry specified liability insurance, with questions raised about the exemption for state-owned facilities; Senate Joint Resolution 20, which directs DHSS to study independent assessment tools for Medicaid home- and community-based services; and Senate Bill 341, which updates Delaware Health Information Network law and formally recognizes DIN as the state’s health data utility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some discussion on constitutional concerns, insurance coverage, and the rationale for the state exemption in SB 340. Later, the committee advanced Senate Bill 257, which requires new animal shelters to be licensed and inspected before operating and removes a prior exception for certain rescue organizations; and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 278 with House Amendment 1, which allows earlier pre-authorization for summer child care enrollment and lowers copays for half-day care. Public testimony on these measures came from animal welfare advocates, YMCA representatives, and other stakeholders, all largely in support. Each bill was released by committee, with several votes walked for absent members, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each little bubble there is a measure. Each measure is then ranked to the national numbers.
• And I think pick a measure, any measure, you're going to see most of them have wide variation.
• But again, I'm looking at those preventive service measures of breast cancer screening, cervical cancer
• They use sort of evidence-based measures of quality. Most of the measures come from CMS.
• Equally important is ensuring that preventive measures such as vaccination are available and affordable

Bills: SB5877, SB5967

Keywords: anesthesiology, medical personnel, surcharges, licensing, healthcare regulations, preventive services, state authority, healthcare access, insurance coverage, public health, 904, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee opened its 2026 session with a work session on access, quality, and affordability. Health Care Authority officials Michelle Needham and Ross Florey, joined later by Washington Health Alliance medical director Dr. Drew Oliva, reviewed the Health Care Cost Transparency Board’s work and data. They said Washington has reduced its uninsured rate from 15% to 5%, but health care spending growth remains above the benchmark, with 2023 spending growth at 6.2% versus a 3.2% target. They identified major cost drivers such as prescription drugs, hospital outpatient care, and professional services, and said 2026 priorities include market oversight/transparency, slowing spending growth, and increasing primary care. Dr. Oliva added that quality measures remain mostly below the 90th percentile, primary care attachment is weak, hospital pricing varies widely, and behavioral health data remain a blind spot. Senators asked about links between cost and quality, primary care recommendations, ambulance costs, and medical homes. The presenters also discussed federal changes affecting Medicaid and exchange coverage and said the committee’s recent legislation on reference-based pricing, APCD transparency, and planning/data collection would help future work. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5877, a technical fix to extend the $70 Physician Health Program surcharge to certified anesthesiologist assistants so they can participate in the Washington Physicians Health Program and related resources. Committee staff and the prime sponsor said the bill corrects a statutory gap after CAA licensure was created in 2024. Testimony from the Washington Medical Commission, the Washington Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, and the Washington Physicians Health Program supported the bill as a consistency and workforce-support measure. The bill drew 12 pro and 2 con sign-ins, and no vote was taken in the transcript. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5967, which would preserve access to preventive services by allowing the Department of Health to issue immunization recommendations based on multiple expert sources and by maintaining state insurance coverage for preventive services tied to federal recommendations as of June 30, 2025, with authority for OIC rulemaking to keep coverage at least as favorable to enrollees. Governor Ferguson’s office, Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, and Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham testified in support, saying the bill does not create new vaccine mandates but protects existing no-cost coverage and gives Washington flexibility if federal vaccine guidance becomes unstable. Supporters included physicians and pediatricians who described vaccine-preventable deaths, rising measles and pertussis concerns, and the importance of stable, science-based guidance and universal vaccine access. Opponents argued the bill politicizes vaccines, expands state discretion without enough transparency or fiscal detail, and should instead end mandates; they also raised concerns about conflicts of interest in medical organizations. The hearing continued with additional supportive testimony from family physicians and pediatric specialists emphasizing prevention, access, and evidence-based recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh so I I oppose this measure. The away. Uh so I I oppose this measure.
• </c> testify on this measure? testify on this measure?
• </c> testify on this measure? testify on this measure?
• </c> we respectfully oppose the measure. we respectfully oppose the measure.
• </c> wishing to testify on this measure? wishing to testify on this measure?

Bills: HB1546

Keywords: Medicaid, health insurance, healthcare access, insurance subsidies, pilot program, affordable care, preventive services, low-income, community engagement, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• local funds to support a UBI program and tightens up language related to the program requirements to prevent

Keywords: Senate Committee, local government, SB2183, SB2046, committee substitute, legislative measures

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Committee on Local Government was characterized by the passage of several significant bills, including SB2183, SB2046, SB434, and others with recommendations for further consideration. Discussions involved voting on committee substitutes and the implications of various legislative measures. Senator Paxton and other members provided insights and moved bills forward with emphatic support, leading to their successful passing out of committee. Importantly, the bills addressed various local government concerns, showcasing the committee's focus on practical legislative solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Preventive Services Task Force.
• Preventative Health Services Task Force. However, U.S. Preventative Health Services Task Force.
• Much of that is done through preventive health visits.
• I was able to educate her and her neighbors and to bring 75 kids in to prevent pertussis and other vaccine-preventable
• They save lives and prevent family tragedies.

Bills: HB1496, HB2182, HB2196, HB2242

Keywords: patients' rights, healthcare information, medical confidentiality, health data security, healthcare access, abortion, medications, reproductive health, access, healthcare, PANDA, PANS, treatment access, mental health, legislation, preventive services, state authority, definitions clarification, public health, 904

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1496, which would cap charges for electronically stored medical records at $50 for certain recipients, including patients, their representatives, attorneys, and some advocates, while changing attorney-fee language to apply to a prevailing patient. The sponsor and supporters said current law allows excessive per-page charges that can run into thousands of dollars and create barriers to justice, especially when patients need records for legal claims or disability-related matters. Opponents, including hospitals, home care providers, and records vendors, argued that third-party record requests are labor-intensive, privacy-sensitive, and often involve decades of records, and that a $50 cap would not cover costs and could burden smaller providers. The bill remained under public hearing with testimony continuing when the transcript ended. House Bill 2182 would change how the Department of Corrections handles a stockpile of mifepristone and misoprostol by removing the requirement that the medications be sold at cost plus a $5 fee, allowing payment to be optional, directing DOC to coordinate with the Department of Health, and broadening the language to cover the full spectrum of reproductive care. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, the governor’s office, DOH, the Women’s Commission, clinicians, and abortion-rights advocates, said the bill would help Washington distribute existing stockpiled medication before expiration and reduce barriers to abortion and miscarriage care, especially given federal litigation and access challenges. Opponents objected on moral, fiscal, and legal grounds, arguing the state should not facilitate abortion drugs or shift costs to taxpayers. Public testimony on the bill was then closed. House Bill 2196 would require fully insured private health plans to cover IVIG for PANS and PANDAS under specified conditions, beginning with plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and would bar denials based on prior treatment, age, out-of-state care when unavailable in Washington, or coverage limits inconsistent with treatment guidelines. The sponsor and families testified that children with these conditions are often misdiagnosed, suffer severe symptoms, and can improve dramatically with IVIG after other treatments fail; physicians said the therapy can be life-changing and is already covered by Medicaid. Health plan representatives opposed the mandate, warning that IVIG is expensive and that new benefit requirements add to already rising premiums. Public testimony was closed after hearing from both sides. House Bill 2242 would shift immunization recommendations and related preventive-service coverage from federal entities to the Washington Department of Health, while preserving no-cost coverage for preventive services and vaccines in state-regulated plans and updating the date used for coverage standards. Supporters included the governor, insurance commissioner, DOH, public health officials, pediatricians, family physicians, and health plans, who said the bill would preserve access to vaccines and other preventive care amid federal instability, maintain transparency, and protect coverage for services such as screenings and immunizations. They emphasized rising vaccine-preventable diseases and said the bill does not create new vaccine mandates. A question from a legislator about implications for schools and daycares was answered by staff and the governor’s office, who said existing school vaccine rules and opt-outs would not change. Public testimony on HB 2242 was then closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• kind of program the Climate Commitment Act was intended to support, one that significantly and measurably
• reduces emissions in hard-to-abate sectors while... ...to support, one that significantly and measurably

Bills: SB5919, SB5816

Keywords: fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the goal of the bill is to prevent that from being a loophole that can be exploited.
• on that bill was set aside and the public hearing on HB 2606 was opened, concerning performance measures
• Performance measures, duties, and reporting requirements for the Office of Privacy and Data Protection
• This bill supports performance measures that capture improvements in agency practices, training, and
• So we are looking at an idea where... ...measures. It's the customer who pays the bill.

Bills: HB2426, HB2606

Keywords: pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is a tool we're going to use to measure progress against the plan as we go.
• Another key provision is consumer choice, and another factor of preventing steering.
• Another practice is it prohibits fee controls and steering, prevents shops from charging inflated or
• The proposed changes to And prevent steering by large multinational corporations.
• Restricting those same tools for independent repairs does not prevent fraud.

Bills: SB5871, SB5919

Keywords: motor vehicle, glass repair, insurance claims, consumer protection, regulations, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, 904, all

Summary: The committee met under its new name, the Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee, and began with a work session on state economic development policy. Andrea Chartock of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s economic development functions, including small business finance, export assistance, business recruitment, industry sector development, and support for rural and historically marginalized communities. She said Commerce is developing a statewide economic development strategy, with annual review and periodic updates, and emphasized stakeholder input, data analysis, and regional and sector-specific planning. Senators asked about the timing of reviews, stakeholder involvement, foreign trade offices, tariffs, and the effect of taxes and the Keep Washington Working program on competitiveness. Commerce officials said international offices remain valuable but funding is uncertain, and that Washington’s tax and regulatory environment matters to business location decisions. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5919, which would encourage fire districts and insurers to collaborate on voluntary wildfire mitigation best practices for agricultural activities, including defensible space, fire breaks, and equipment storage. Senator Schessler said the bill is intended to reduce harvest-time fire risk through optional insurance incentives for farmers and rural property owners. Public testimony from a fire chief and a fire protection district representative supported the bill, citing standing grain fires and the need for practical, voluntary prevention measures. The committee also received a report from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner on the wildfire mitigation and resilience work group created by prior legislation. The report recommended science-based property mitigation standards, stronger community resilience funding, better data sharing, improved consumer transparency about wildfire risk and nonrenewals, and a possible voluntary grant program for home retrofits; the work group did not reach full consensus on a single statewide mitigation standard. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 5871 on motor vehicle glass claims and auto glass fraud. The bill would prohibit assignment of benefits in property and casualty policies, set duties and restrictions for motor vehicle glass repair shops, require clearer estimates and invoices, and bar steering or inducements tied to insurance claims. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner and SafeLite supported the bill as a consumer protection and anti-fraud measure, saying it would improve transparency, reduce litigation, and address unsafe or deceptive practices around ADAS recalibration. Independent glass shop owners and the Independent Glass Association opposed the bill as written, arguing it would strengthen large vertically integrated companies, restrict consumer choice and marketing, and impose new burdens on small businesses unless amended to address steering and insurer conflicts of interest. The committee took no final vote on the bills during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• the most significant criminal and delinquent conduct and incentivizes schools to implement safety measures
• of a juvenile record creates obstacles and barriers, which have long-term negative impacts like preventing
• Focusing on measures that are restorative and developmentally appropriate to address the needs of students

Bills: H3895, H5157

Keywords: career education, technical training, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, pilot program, youth education, school safety, education, mental health, children, security measures, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we're moving on to our next measure.<00:21:03.200><c> HB1678</c> measure. HB1678 measure.
• >> Seeing none, we'll move on to the next measure.
• I'm available comment on this measure.
• </c> on on this measure. Thank you so much. on on this measure. Thank you so much.
• </c> deferring this measure. deferring this measure.

Bills: HB1697, HB1678, HB1679, HB2282, HB1940, HB1671, HB1481, HB2015, HB2207, HB2486

Keywords: natural hair braiding, registration, Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Act, public health, sanitation, cumulative voting, associations, unit owners, board of directors, elections, Hawaii Revised Statutes, condominium, association meetings, electronic voting, proxy voting, mail voting, insurance, premium increase, policy cancellation, licensing

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1697, which would exempt natural hair braiders from licensing requirements under certain conditions. The DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology said it recognizes braiding as within the scope of cosmetology practice but warned that a broad exemption could create consumer protection gaps, especially around sanitation training, tool use, and enforcement. Supporters from the Institute for Justice and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued the current licensing regime is overly burdensome and unrelated to braiding, citing the 1,250-hour training requirement, high tuition costs, barriers for low-income entrepreneurs, and the fact that many other states already exempt braiders. Committee members asked whether a standalone sanitation course or similar training could address the board’s concerns, and the board said it would bring that idea back for discussion. The committee also noted 16 written testimonies in support and 2 in opposition. The committee then took up HB 1678, relating to condominium and planned community association elections using cumulative voting. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, said the bill would clarify that cumulative voting applies to all candidates, including write-ins, and would help resolve confusion in association elections. One testifier urged the committee to remove proxy voting, calling it an abuse of power in some associations, while another asked whether cumulative voting and proxies could be manipulated to stack votes. In response, the parliamentarian explained that cumulative voting and proxy voting are different, that proxies simply allow someone to vote on another’s behalf, and that existing deadlines and counting procedures reduce opportunities for abuse. Testimony also emphasized that electronic or mail voting can be secure and efficient, and that the bill would make the process clearer and more democratic. Finally, the committee heard testimony on HB 1679, which would clarify an association board’s authority over electronic meetings, electronic voting, voting without a meeting, and mail voting without a meeting. Supporters said the measure would clean up statutory language, make electronic voting optional, and fix problems created by a 2024 change that made written-consent timing rules difficult to use for association actions. They also said the bill would clarify that proxies are only used at meetings, not for actions taken without a meeting. One opponent argued the bill needs further amendment because electronic voting is not well defined and could be abused, and questioned the neutrality of parliamentarians testifying on condominium bills. No votes were taken on any of the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As background relating to the proposed ballot measure filing process, if any legal voter...
• The bill before you would require a sponsor of a proposed ballot measure to include...
• It is rare for a measure to fail a random sample check.
• When wealthy individuals drive ballot measures and pay... truthful information.
• I've worked on several statewide ballot measures, including 940, 1639, and 1491.

Bills: HJR4209, HB2260, HB2259

Keywords: redistricting, congressional representation, census, state law, legislative boundaries, ballot measures, petitioners, signature gatherers, voting rights, election integrity, initiative process, referendum, signature gathering, ballot measure, citizen actions, support demonstration, 904, all

Summary: The committee heard three measures related to Washington’s initiative and redistricting processes. House Bill 2260 would require petition circulators to sign and date the declaration on each petition sheet, provide their address and county, and would require the Secretary of State to verify that a signer’s residence address matches voter registration records before counting a signature. House Joint Resolution 4209 would amend the state constitution to allow the legislature, by simple majority, to modify congressional districts mid-decade if another state adopts a new congressional map absent a court order. House Bill 2259 would require 1,000 registered-voter signatures before an initiative or referendum filing proceeds and would prohibit paying circulators per signature, with civil penalties and a private right of action for violations. Supporters of HB 2260 and HB 2259 argued the bills would improve accountability, transparency, and integrity in the initiative process, citing concerns about fraud, misinformation, duplicate signatures, and the need for better records and verification. Opponents said the measures would burden or chill direct democracy, especially for rural residents and smaller campaigns, and argued existing verification systems already work well. On HJR 4209, the prime sponsor and supporters said Washington should respond to mid-decade partisan redistricting in other states to avoid one-sided disadvantage, while opponents said Washington’s bipartisan commission system is superior and should not be weakened in reaction to other states. Several witnesses and the Secretary of State testified against HB 2259 and HB 2260, warning that the new requirements would slow the process, create barriers, and potentially disenfranchise eligible voters or circulators. The Secretary of State said the office already has effective verification procedures and suggested higher fees, better technology, or stronger penalties for fraud instead of new restrictions. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the chair suspended and reopened hearings to move between the three bills and took public testimony on each.

Bills: SB19

Keywords: SB19, prostate cancer, prostate cancer screening, PSA test, digital rectal exam, preventive screening, health insurance mandate, no cost sharing, copay, deductible, coinsurance, high-risk men, African American men, men over 50, men over 40, family history, genetic marker, health benefit plan, insurer coverage, Alabama insurance code

Bills: HB0015, HB0017, HB0019

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:01:57.840><c> Singh</c><00:01:58.479><c> here</c><00:01:58.719><c> to</c><00:01:58.960><c> prevent
• </c> Um uh represent Singh here to prevent Um uh represent Singh here to prevent House<00:02:00.159><
• So the definition that you guys are working on stands to prevent future conflict and create a trusting
• So the definition that you guys are working on stands to prevent future conflict and create a trusting

Bills: HB0015, HB0017, HB0019

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• associated with serving these large loads, as well as adding important guardrails within Section 6 to prevent
• or the large load would... large loads, as well as adding important guardrails within Section 6 to prevent
• would like to see more of a partnership and incentivization than penalties and punitive types of measures
• in commercial advertising, and only when the information is factual, uncontroversial, and meant to prevent
• labels required under this proposed law and the underlying enforcement mechanism, we think, will prevent

Bills: HB2338, HB2367, HB2426, HB2606

Keywords: weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, sustainability, environment, coal-fired plant, preferential treatment, energy policy, electric generation, regulatory reform, pollution control, efficiency, appeals process, environmental regulation, hearing board, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 2523 concerning the Community Reinvestment Program, and House Bill 2606 concerning performance measures
• So just want to prevent double-dipping and would ask for support on this amendment.
• The next bill we will consider moving is House Bill 2606 concerning performance measures, duties, and
• reporting requirements for the Office of Privacy and Data Protection. ...measures, duties, and reporting

Bills: HB2523, HB2606, HB2684, HJM4012

Keywords: community reinvestment, housing, local funding, urban development, economic revitalization, data protection, privacy, performance measures, reporting requirements, office of privacy, social disadvantage, business certification, state guidelines, economic equity, minority-owned businesses, combat veterans, support, military service, injury compensation, veteran affairs

Summary: The House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Committee met on February 3 to take executive action on House Bill 2523, concerning the Community Reinvestment Program, and House Bill 2606, concerning performance measures and reporting for the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, and then held public hearings on House Bill 2684 and House Joint Memorial 4012. Staff briefed a proposed substitute for HB 2523 that would change how Community Reinvestment Account funds are distributed, expand Commerce’s reporting and tribal consultation duties, add Office of Equity and WSIPP responsibilities, and require more detailed plan updates and oversight. During executive session, the committee adopted Amendment 285 to require the community reinvestment plan to be updated every five years instead of every 10, but rejected amendments that would have barred recipients from other state down payment programs, restricted grants to officers and family members, required an independent third-party audit, or expanded the WSIPP study. The proposed substitute HB 2523 then passed out of committee on an 8-5 vote. HB 2606, which responds to a JLARC audit by streamlining overlapping duties among the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, the state broadband office, and the Office of Equity, was moved out of committee with a unanimous do pass recommendation. Members described it as a modest but useful efficiency measure, and the vote was 13-0. The committee then heard HB 2684, which would create rebuttable presumptions that people in 10 specified groups are socially disadvantaged for purposes of OMWBE certification. Supporters, including Middle Eastern and North African business owners, argued the bill would correct exclusion of MENA-owned firms from certification and contracting opportunities; opponents argued it would entrench identity-based classifications and raise constitutional concerns. OMWBE testified that the bill would be workable and that social disadvantage is only one factor in certification. The committee also heard HJM 4012, which asks Congress to bring the Major Richard Starr Act to a floor vote to allow combat-injured service members who retire before 20 years of service to receive both retirement pay and disability compensation. Veterans advocates strongly supported the memorial, and the committee closed the hearing without taking final action on either public-hearing item, noting both would be considered again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we have some legislative measures from the 2025 session that were maybe talked about or voted
• :41.840><c> have</c><00:02:42.080><c> some</c><00:02:42.720><c> legislative</c><00:02:43.440><c> measures
• </c> up, we have some legislative measures up, we have some legislative measures from<00:02:44.160><c
• There's definitely been a lot of discussion on these housing measures.
• Is there anything now that prevents an industry from locating a landfill if it's not included in the

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:05 Roll Call 00:00:12 Discussion of Legislative Measures 00:03:12 Discussion of Housing and Land Use 00:21:58 Discussion of Short Term Rental Policies 01:03:17 Adjournment 01:15:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its June 4, 2025 meeting and then heard a series of presentations focused largely on housing and land-use policy. Senator Robbie Mills and Representative Josh Bray discussed two 2025 housing measures: Senate Bill 50, which would create residential infrastructure development districts to help local governments finance infrastructure for new housing developments through special assessments and local debt, and House Bill 7, which would let local governments identify development areas and rebate new property tax revenue to developers as an incentive for housing growth. They said Kentucky faces a statewide housing shortage of roughly 210,000 units, projected to grow if building patterns do not change, and argued that regulatory relief and financing tools are needed to increase supply. Representative Rebecca Rymer presented House Bill 371, which would require local permitting when an industry’s residual waste landfill is located in a different county from the industry itself. She said current law lets such landfills bypass local review, leaving host counties with no say despite road impacts and other local burdens. She said the bill would preserve the existing exemption when the landfill and industry are co-located, and noted support from KLC and KO. Representative Steve Doan also described House Bill 806, a statewide backyard chicken bill that would allow domesticated hens, prohibit roosters, set a minimum of six hens that local governments could not go below, and preserve local authority over setbacks, sanitation, maintenance standards, and egg sales. He said it would override outright local bans but not HOA restrictions, and cited a current Northern Kentucky dispute and ADA litigation as reasons for the proposal. The committee then heard a broader discussion on housing and land use from Charlie Gardner of the Mercatus Center and Nolan Gray of California YIMBY and the Bluegrass Institute. They outlined categories of land-use regulation, described the recent growth of state-level housing reforms nationwide, and cited examples such as ADU legalization, smaller lot sizes, reduced parking minimums, streamlined permitting, and single-stair or other building-code reforms. They argued that housing shortages are a statewide concern, that localities often have incentives to block growth, and that state intervention can reduce costs and uncertainty without compromising health and safety. Members asked about the housing shortage estimate, the effect of red tape on safety and local authority, and how state reforms could be phased in; the presenters said reforms often include lead time, can be targeted to larger jurisdictions, and should focus on reducing time and cost while maintaining basic standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• What do you see that coming, and what would then prevent... ...coming, and what would then prevent a
• Because, you know, what's to prevent that?

Bills: HB45, HB79, SB79

Keywords: Medicaid, colorectal cancer, screening tests, noninvasive tests, preventive care, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights

Transcript Highlights:

• over 40 years old, or around 40 years old, but it's the compensating tax rate, which keeps up the measurement
• compensating tax rate uh which keeps up compensating tax rate uh which keeps up the<01:10:36.880><c> measurement
• 37.360><c> of</c><01:10:37.920><c> uh</c><01:10:38.320><c> having</c><01:10:38.719><c> city</c> the measurement
• of uh having city the measurement of uh having city governments<01:10:39.520><c> collect</c><01:10:39.920

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:11 Discussion of County Clerks’ Land Records Update 00:02:42 Discussion of Area Development Districts 00:22:48 Discussion of Legislative Measures 00:50:09 Discussion of Local Taxing Sources 01:02:33 Adjournment 01:29:16, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up an update from the Kentucky County Clerks Association on the transition to electronic recording and land records modernization. Testimony explained that legislation from the 2021 task force created funding and deadlines for counties to provide online search portals and complete a 30-year property record search, with a later move to a 60-year standard. Speakers said the money has been awarded to counties, but much of the work is still in progress because records must be scanned, indexed, and manually verified. They said only a handful of counties are fully compliant with electronic recording so far, while many are still working through staffing and vendor issues. They also noted that the 60-year standard may ultimately be easier and more efficient to complete than the 30-year standard, and that compliance is expected to improve by next summer. The clerks’ representatives also raised related issues, including deed fraud, the county document storage fee, and KDLA digitization grants. They said online recording can make deed fraud easier to attempt, so they expect to seek legislation next session to address it. They described an existing notification service available in many counties that alerts property owners when a document is recorded, which can help detect suspicious activity quickly. They also said the storage fee and separate county account structure has generally worked well, but that two recent KDLA grant cycles have not released money for clerks, limiting support for digitization work. Another topic was whether, once records are fully digitized and verified, some permanent records should remain publicly accessible or be moved to a safer archive under KDLA control. Members asked about the balance in the KDLA fund, what the General Assembly could do to help lagging counties, and how much of the $25 million modernization funding had been spent. Witnesses said they did not have the current fund balance but would try to get it, that the main obstacle now appears to be staffing rather than additional money, and that the funds have been awarded but not fully expended because work is still ongoing. They emphasized that counties are helping one another and asked members to alert association leadership if any county is struggling. The committee then heard a presentation from Dan London, executive director of the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, who described area development districts as regional staff extensions and technical resources for cities and counties, and highlighted their role in coordinating regional services and partnerships across county lines.