<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1HFFFf_0wFh0gKm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1HFFFf_0wFh0gKm00" width="1280" height="818" ></figure>Lawmakers continued efforts to prepare for the upcoming session as eight legislative committees and task forces met to hear from stakeholders on issues ranging from the potential to establish a veterinary medicine school to how artificial intelligence can be used in education. Another way I am preparing for session is my legislative survey. This document includes basic information about the session and questions about how you as a constituent feel about the issues we may be considering and will mail in November. If you would like to receive a copy by mail or email, please reach out to me at 1-800-372-7181 or by emailing amy.neighbors@kylegislature.gov.Now, for a brief summary of the week’s interim joint committee (IJC), task force, and statutory committee meetings:Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force: Lawmakers met with stakeholders invested in Kentucky’s workforce to discuss ways to improve retention rates across the state. The task force heard from Economic Leadership about the ‘Talent Wars’ and the increasing competition for skilled and motivated workers. Members also heard from the Greater LEX Talent Campaign on how to bring those skilled workers to Kentucky and how best to encourage them to stay. Live in Lou! testified about promoting Kentucky as an attractive place to start or advance a career. Lawmakers also heard from Kentucky State AFL-CIO and the Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council about the need for more access to vocational and trade schools across Kentucky. Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee: Legislators reviewed several administrative regulations and discussed two in-depth. One administrative regulation that discussed related to adding educational licensing requirements for behavioral health associates. The administrative regulation that garnered the most discussion concerned the air emissions fee. The proposed amendment to the current administrative regulation would remove the fee exemption for certain types of emissions/pollutants. Distillers use certain fire suppression systems that emit regulated chemicals, meaning they would be subject to an emissions fee, even though the systems are only regularly used for annual testing. The regulation was deferred until next month’s meeting to give the parties involved an opportunity to come to a compromise.Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee: Lawmakers heard from the Office of Educational Accountability (OEA). OEA presented an overview of their School District Governance Models and Interventions Report, which compares Kentucky’s school district structure to structures across the nation. Members also approved OEA’s 2025 Study Agenda.IJC on Agriculture: Members received updates from the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center. Its mission is to enhance Kentucky’s agricultural capital through industry collaboration, field demonstrations, and training sessions. The Murray State Hutson School of Agriculture shared an update on their upcoming School of Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Sciences building along with what opportunities they provide their students. Lastly, the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Authority presented a fiscal report and additional information for members to review, including the Statewide Agriculture Water Quality Plan.IJC on Appropriations and Revenue: Legislators met to receive an update on tax expenditures, the current process for the position compression study by the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, and to discuss the structure of fire departments. Presenters from the cabinet recommended a tiered approach to address compression. They believe that their approach is the best way to address the employee compression issue by capturing those years that they didn’t receive an annual increment. The committee also heard from local fire departments. Presenters proposed an initiative to increase the fire district tax rate. The current rate hasn’t increased since 1944, when most fire departments in the Commonwealth were volunteer-based.IJC on Education: Members discussed assessment and accountability data, artificial intelligence, and educator placement services in the state. The Kentucky Department of Education presented data from the assessment and accountability datasets released to the public on October 3 of this year. The Southern Regional Education Board presented on the organization’s AI Commission. This commission, comprised of 68 members, is investigating the role of Artificial Intelligence in K-12 and postsecondary education. Finally, the Kentucky Department of Education discussed vacancy data for employment across school districts.IJC on Judiciary: Lawmakers met to discuss uniform law proposals and Medicaid for the incarcerated, as well as to receive an update on guardianship law. Presenters discussed five different types of uniform law proposals: the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act, Uniform Directed Trust Act, Uniform Trust Decanting Act, Uniform Electronic Wills Act, and Kentucky Qualified Dispositions Trust Act. Committee members heard from three different departments on Kentucky’s opportunity to improve health care for incarcerated individuals and juvenile offenders. Finally, members discussed guardianship and conservatorship.IJC on Natural Resources and Energy: Members received an update from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority regarding a new program lawmakers created earlier this year to provide relief to financially struggling water and wastewater systems. The committee also discussed the issues facing the state’s electric cooperatives and a report from the Public Service Commission on another legislative measure aimed at speeding up the delivery of broadband to Kentuckians in underserved and unserved areas.As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at amy.neighbors@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.(Laura Leigh Goins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Media Relations – House Majority Leadership)</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Representative Neighbors Legislative Update: Week In Review – Workforce, Education, And Fire Districts

Lawmakers continued efforts to prepare for the upcoming session as eight legislative committees and task forces met to hear from stakeholders on issues ranging from the potential to establish a veterinary medicine school to how artificial intelligence can be used in education. Another way I am preparing for session is my legislative survey. This document includes basic information about the session and questions about how you as a constituent feel about the issues we may be considering and will mail in November. If you would like to receive a copy by mail or email, please reach out to me at 1-800-372-7181 or by emailing amy.neighbors@kylegislature.gov.