[♪♪] >> Renee: WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" FROM DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE AS THOUSANDS ARE HERE FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES ANNUAL SUMMIT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

FOR A HALF A CENTURY, THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATORS OR NCSL AS IT'S CALLED FOR SHORT HAS PROVIDED RESEARCH TO THE STATES AND PUBLIC POLICY TOPICS, LOBBIED WASHINGTON ON BEHALF OF THE STATES AND CONVENED MEETINGS TO CONNECT LEGISLATORS AND STAFF ACROSS THE NATION.

THIS YEAR'S BIG SUMMIT IS BEING HELD IN THE DERBY CITY WHERE THOUSANDS ARE EXPECTED TO LEARN ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CYBERSECURITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CHILDCARE, EDUCATION AND MORE.

I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF NCSL RHODE ISLAND DEMOCRAT BRIAN PATRICK KENNEDY TO LEARN MORE.

>> TALK TO US FOR A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES WHAT IS IT AND WHAT IS IT GOING TO DO WHILE YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE FOR A FEW DAYS?

>> NCSL, WE ARE STARTING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR.

THAT IS THE FIRST THING.

>> Renee: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> AND IT'S AN EXCITING TIME BECAUSE 50 YEARS AGO THE FIRST MEETING WAS HELD IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO IN ORDER TO CREATE THIS ORGANIZATION.

AND AS THE NAME SAYS, WE REPRESENT STATE LEGISLATURES IN ALL 50 STATES AS WELL AS THE FIVE U.S.

TERRITORIES.

SO AS PRESIDENT, I REPRESENT 7386 STATE LEGISLATORS THAT EXIST IN ALL 50 STATES AND THE TERRITORIES.

BUT WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, IS WE ALSO REPRESENT, BECAUSE AS LEGISLATORS WE COULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE WITHOUT STAFF.

IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT ALSO HAS A STAFF CHAIR, A STAFF VICE-CHAIR AND MEDIA STAFF CHAIR.

AND THEY REPRESENT THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF THAT SERVE US IN ALL OF OUR SPECIFIC STATES AND TERRITORIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY REPRESENT 30,000 STAFF PEOPLE.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT AS AN ORGANIZATION, OUR ULTIMATE GOAL WHEN WE GET TOGETHER AT A SUMMIT, IT'S NUMBER ONE IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY, AGAIN WHEN WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE ARE A BIPARTISAN ORGANIZATION.

AS SUCH, WE HAVE FOUR LEGISLATORS WHO SERVE IN OUR LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE A VICE-PRESIDENT, A PRESIDENT ELECT, A PRESIDENT AND A PRESIDENT EMERITUS.

AND THERE'S TWO REPUBLICANS AND TWO DEMOCRATS.

AND WE ALWAYS MAINTAIN THAT BALANCE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE BIPARTISAN.

WE WANT TO REPRESENT ALL LEGISLATORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND AS SUCH, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US.

WHEN WE GATHER HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR LEGISLATORS PARTICULARLY ENJOY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH OUR EXHIBIT HALL.

BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF ISSUES THAT PERCOLATE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WE LIKE TO REFER TO OUR STATES AS THE LABORATORIES OF DEMOCRACY.

BECAUSE SO LITTLE GETS DONE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

CONGRESS IS INCAPABLE OF NOT ONLY TALKING TO EACH OTHER, BUT BEING ABLE TO EVEN GET ANYTHING TO PASS.

WHEREAS WHEN WE GET TOGETHER, WE ON A SUNDAY, WE HAVE OUR PRECONFERENCES TAKING PLACE.

ON A SUNDAY, YOU WOULD SEE THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING AS A TASK FORCE TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES WITHIN THE STATES AND THEN VISITING CHURCHILL DOWNS.

WE HAVE AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CYBERSECURITY TASK FORCE THAT IS MEETING.

WE HAVE A STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION TASK FORCE.

BECAUSE JUST ABOUT EVERYONE OF OUR STATES HAS SOME TYPE OF SALES TAX AND WE HELP TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE STATES.

WE ALSO HAVE A MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS TASK FORCE THAT IS MEETING.

AND A HEALTH INNOVATIONS TASK FORCE.

ONCE WE GET PAST SUNDAY, STARTING ON MONDAY, WE HAVE STANDING COMMITTEES.

AND WE HAVE 11 STANDING COMMITTEES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MEETING.

AND EVERYONE OF THOSE STANDING COMMITTEES HAS A CHAIR, ACTUALLY CO-CHAIRS, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN.

WE AGAIN, WANT TO MAINTAIN BALANCE AND VICE-CHAIRS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND STAFF, STAFF CHAIR, STAFF VICE-CHAIR.

WE WANT TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE IN THIS PROCESS.

AND FOR US, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR STATES.

>> Renee: AND FOR THESE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN THAT MANY PEOPLE POINT TO WASHINGTON AND TALK ABOUT THE DIVISIVE NATURE OF THE POLITICS AND STATE LEGISLATURES GET THAT RAP AS WELL, WHAT TOPICS WILL BE DISCUSSED HERE ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY THAT GET THE CORE OF VOTER CONFIDENCE OR WHETHER THAT'S ELECTION SECURITY OR OVERALL CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE INVOLVED IN CIVIC LIFE?

>> SO, THE FIRST THING OUR OPENING SESSION THAT WE HAVE ON MONDAY IS GOING TO BE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSUES.

AND SO MANY ISSUES REVOLVE AROUND A.I.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

AND THAT AFFECTS EVERYTHING FROM BANKING TO INSURANCE TO FINANCIAL SERVICES TO ELECTION ISSUES.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING THING.

IN FACT, FOR THE CONFERENCE WE HAVE NO LESS THAN EIGHT SESSIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED THROUGHOUT BETWEEN MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSUES.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO KEEP US VERY, VERY OCCUPIED.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN ELECTIONS AND REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE MEETING.

AND ONCE, AGAIN, THEY ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE SECURITY OF ELECTIONS GOING FORWARD.

WE TRY TO BE AS ON TOP OF EMERGENTS ISSUES AS POSSIBLE AS A CONFERENCE.

MANY TIMES WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS OUTREACH TO OUR MEMBERS AND FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT THEY BELIEVE AFFECT THEIR STATE, MAYBE SOMETHING GOING ON WITHIN THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT.

BUT WE TRY TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION FROM THEM SO THAT WHATEVER WE SETUP AS AN AGENDA WILL KEEP THEM ACTIVE AND INTERESTED.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WHICH WE ARE DOING, WE HAVE AN NCSL APP WHICH LISTS ALL OF OUR SESSIONS AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE BROADCASTING AT LEAST EIGHT OF OUR GENERAL SESSIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.

SO THIS WAY, LEGISLATORS WHO COULD NOT MAKE THIS PARTICULAR MEETING WILL STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TUNE IN AND SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

>> Renee: THERE'S STAR POWER THAT HEADLINE SOME OF THE SESSIONS.

KELLYANNE CONWAY, STUPIDITY IS IN THE TITLE.

>> IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING OUR CLOSING SESSION BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE HERE SO THAT THEY WILL THEN SHOW UP FOR THE CLOSING NIGHT RECEPTION AT CHURCHILL DOWNS.

AND KELLYANNE CONWAY IS GOING TO BE HERE WITH DONNA BRAZILE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY INTERESTING SESSION.

LAST YEAR WE WERE IN INDIANAPOLIS FOR THE SUMMIT AND WE HAD PEYTON MANNING.

AND HE WAS VERY, VERY ENTERTAINING.

BUT I THINK KELLYANNE AND DONNA BRAZILE ARE GOING TO BE EQUALLY ENTERTAINING.

AND GOING TO PROVIDE SOME VERY PROVOCATIVE THINGS AS WELL AS FUNNY THINGS.

>> Renee: AND TO HAVE THEM SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE CONVENTIONS, THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION THEIR INSIGHTS WILL BE APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE KENNEDY, Mr. PRESIDENT FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US AND GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THIS.

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE BACK HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Renee: FOR LOUISVILLE TO BECOME THE HOST CITY FOR THE ANNUAL SUMMIT THAT DRAWS IN THOUSANDS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONALLY, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN KENTUCKY MADE THEIR BEST CASE.

REPUBLICANS HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE AND SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS TALKED WITH ME HOW THEY SEALED THE DEAL FOR LOUISVILLE TO HOST THIS YEAR'S SUMMIT.

THE PROJECTED ECONOMIC IMPACT AND HOW THE CONFERENCE OFTEN INFORMS PUBLIC POLICY IDEAS AND DIRECTION FOR FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

PRESIDENT STIVERS, SPEAKER OSBORNE THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> IT IS.

>> Renee: TELL US HOW LOUISVILLE BECAME THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY HOST OF THE NCSL?

>> FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR SALES PITCH AS ANY OTHER CITY WOULD DO.

NEXT YEAR I THINK IT'S IN BOSTON.

WE HAD IT THIS YEAR AND WE GOT A GOOD TRACK RECORD.

SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS GOT POSITIONED ON THE BOARD TO MAKE THE SALES PITCH AND IT COMES DOWN THE SPEAKER AND MYSELF WITH OTHERS CLOSING THE DEAL.

>> Renee: YEAH.

YOU ARE THE CLOSER, MR. SPEAKER?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M THE CLOSER BUT I MOVED A FEW INCHES.

THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF CITIES THAT ARE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THIS TYPE OF CONVENTION.

AND IT'S NOT THAT LOUISVILLE IS A HUGE CITY AND THE LARGER CITIES AND MORE HOTEL ROOMS AND MORE CONVENTION SPACE BUT TO HAVE THIS MANY HOTEL ROOMS CAN TAKE US TO THE CONVENTION SPACE WE HAD IT HERE IN 2010, IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF NEW HOTELS THAT HAVE COME ON-LINE.

$200 MILLION EXPANSION AND RENOVATION THIS FACILITY CERTAINLY ALL WENT INTO THAT PITCH.

BUT BEING ABLE TO GET ALL OF THAT TOGETHER WAS A COMPELLING PITCH FOR NCSL.

>> Renee: THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THIS EVENTS IN THE DERBY CITY.

>> HUGE.

AND I DON'T THINK YOU WILL EVER KNOW THE RESIDUAL IMPACT.

THERE'S 12,000 ROOM NIGHTINGS WITH $2 MILLION IN HOTEL ROOMS ALONE.

AND 4.5 MILLION IN DIRECT IMPACT THAT THEY CITED.

BUT I THINK THE OVERALL IMPACT IS GOES WELL BEYOND THAT.

ANYTIME YOU GET A BIG CONVENTION IN LOUISVILLE, IT CERTAINLY HAS A BIG IMPACT.

THIS IS A CONVENTION OF DIAGNOSE MAKERS.

5,000 PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAT AND CORPORATE LEADERS THAT ARE PART OF THE CONFERENCE AS WELL.

THAT WILL TAKE THEIR STORIES HOME.

AND THEY ARE SAID THEY ARE DECISION MAKERS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN THIS BACK AROUND ON US AND EXPONENTIAL NUMBERS.

>> Renee: THE LEGISLATURE DID PITCH IN SOME TO HELP WITH THE CONFERENCE $1 MILLION?

>> YES, AND WE RAISED MORE THAN THAT FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS.

>> Renee: WOW.

>> RIGHT AT $2 MILLION.

ABOUT THAT.

>> Renee: WHAT YOU HOPE TO LEARN FROM THE CONFERENCE?

YOU HAD THE SLC CONFERENCE, WHAT SETS NCSL APART?

>> WELL, IT DOES TWO THINGS.

IT REALLY FOCUSES ON LEGISLATIVE SEMINARS THAT YOU COME IN AND PICK UP SAY WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN MARYLAND.

MARYLAND HAS A BILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL IN THE BUDGET.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT MARYLAND IS DOING.

AND YOU ALSO HEAR GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STORIES.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT SEMINARS.

AND THE OTHER FUNCTION BECAUSE NCSL IS ON LEGISLATURES, IS STAFF.

THEY DO A HUGE STAFF COMPONENT.

WHEN YOU SEE US READING THE RULES A LOT OF THESE HAVE BEEN VICE-PRESIDENTED BY THE 50 STATES -- DEVELOPED BY THE 50 STATES OVER 50 YEARS HOW YOU PROCEED AND HOW YOU HAVE A DEFAULT DOCUMENT MASON'S MANUAL WHICH IS NOT ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE NCSL OVER YEARS TO SAY YOU DEVELOP YOUR OWN RULES WITH THE DEFAULT DOCUMENT BEING MASON'S MANUAL.

OUR STAFF TRAINS.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT INTERCONNECT BETWEEN STAFF AND LEGISLATORS AND IN-BETWEEN THE STATINGS.

>> Renee: THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM SEVERAL WE'VE TALKED TO CYBERSECURITY AND EDUCATION, THE STAPLE ISSUES.

BUT WE KNOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REPRESENTATIVE JOSH BRAY HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND PART OF ONE OF THE SESSIONS ON THAT?

>> HE IS.

IN THE OPENING SESSION TOMORROW MORNING WILL BE FOCUSED ON A.I.

RELATIVE NEW DEVELOPMENTS HOW WE MANAGE WHAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

YES, WE HAVE ROBERT AND I APPOINTED A TASK FORCE TO WORK THROUGH THE INTERIM TO DEAL WITH THAT BEING LED BY JOSH BRAY ON OUR SIDE.

AND IT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

BUT TO FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT ROBERT SAID, SLC AND ALEC THEY ARE BOTH GREAT CONFERENCES THEY BRING A LOT OF DISTINCT PROPERTIES TO THEM.

NCSL IS DIFFERENT IT BRINGS PEOPLE FROM EVERY POLITICAL PERSUASION FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY AND A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL LEADERS WILL BE HERE.

I KNOW THERE IS A DELEGATION FROM TAIWAN AND ONE FROM IRELAND, ONE FROM CANADA.

SO IT REALLY DOES BRING PERSPECTIVES THAT WE DONTSD'S GET TO SEE OFTEN.

AND DEVELOPING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOPING THOSE CONTACTS, IT REALLY IS A HUGE BENEFIT AS WE WORK THROUGH PROBLEMS AND THAT WE DEAL WITH EVERYDAY.

>> Renee: WE KNOW WE ARE A FEW MONTHS FROM THE TWOIF LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT HAS WAYS TO GO BUT WHAT ARE YOU HOPING YOU LEARN DURING THIS CONFERENCE THAT INFORM POLICY DIRECTION FOR 2025.

>> YOU HIT ON ONE, A.I.

AND YOU ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM OTHERS I LOVE TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGETS BUT YOU WILL HEAR FROM OTHER STATES WHAT THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE.

AND NATURALLY WE GET INTO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS.

THOSE TYPES OF ASSEMBLY MARCHS WILL BE HERE AND IT WON'T BE AS DAVID SAID IT WON'T JUST BE THE UNITED STATES, I THINK VIRTUALLY SIX OR SEVEN OF OUR TERRITORIES ARE HERE.

AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY OVER 15 OR 16 NATIONS THAT WILL BE REPRESENTED HERE.

YOU CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE.

AND MEET WITH THEM MAYBE NOT IN A SEMINAR.

BUT THOSE ARE THE HOT TOPICS AND YOU GET INTO THE SECOND TIER THINGS BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ISSUES THAT WILL BE IN THESE VARIOUS SEMINARS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

>> Renee: ONE OF THE MANY BECAUSE THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THESE SESSIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME, URBAN AND RURAL DIVIDE.

OR HOW TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AND THIS SHOULD BE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS.

SPEAKER OSBORNE WHAT DO YOU HOPE -- AND PARTICULARLY BRIDGING THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE.

>> WELL, AND THIS IS YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS OFTENTIMES MORE DIVISIVE THAN THE PARTISAN DIVIDE.

BUT THIS IS A HUGE EXPLOSION OF THAT, HUGE EXAMPLE OF THAT.

NOT JUST THE URBAN-RURAL BUT THE DIVIDE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE HEARTLAND AND THE COAST.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO BE GOOD FRIENDS WITH SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES FROM OREGON AND WASHINGTON STATE.

AND BOSTON.

AND THAT BRINGS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

AND SO I THINK IF WE CAN START BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, THEN IT DOES START TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO SEE THAT URBAN AND RURAL WITHIN THE SAME STATE IS A MUCH SMALLER BRIDGE FOR US TO GET.

BUT WE GET CAUGHT UP IN IT ONCE IN A WHILE.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE.

I RAN THROUGH A LAUNDRY LIST, DOES LOUISVILLE HAVE A HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM?

YEAH.

SO DOES EASTERN KENTUCKY.

DO THEY HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROBLEM?

YEAH, SO DOES EASTERN KENTUCKY.

DO WE HAVE A WORKFORCE PROBLEM?

YES, SO DOES LOUISVILLE.

WHEN YOU START SITTING THERE THERE'S DIFFERENT DYNAMICS TO EACH ONE BUT THEY ARE SIMILAR UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME TYPE OF SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD WORK ONE PLACE OR ANOTHER.

OR SOME COLLABORATION THAT MAY TAKE PLACE HERE THAT MAY HELP STERNS KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: I THINK A LOT ABOUT TAXES.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LOTS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON PROGRAMS IN WHICH YOU WERE APPEARING AND OTHER WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING FOR THE STATE AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING AND THE TACKLING OF OUR TAX CODE AND THE STRUCTURE TO DWINDZLE THAT DOWN.

BUT I THINK AT LEAST ONE OF YOU EXPRESSED GETTING TO ZERO IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS FEASIBLE.

AM I MISCHARACTERIZING THAT?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK HE WAS THE ONE THAT SAID IT BUT HE DON'T THINK HE SAID IT WASN'T FEASIBLE HE SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT.

>> IT WAS MISS CHARACTERIZED.

THANK YOU.

IT DOES BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT AS OUR EXPENSES WHETHER IT BE MEDICAID EXPENSES, INCREASING PENSION COSTS, THOSE THINGS ARE ACCELERATING AT EXPONENTIAL RATES RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE AT BEING ABLE TO MANAGE OUR COST SIDE OF OUR BUDGET.

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GROWING OUR REVENUES.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING IN THE COMING YEARS STARTING IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, IS A COST ELEMENT THAT IS REALLY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO MANAGE.

BECAUSE OF MANDATED EXPENSES.

SO I DO THINK IT BECOMES MUCH MORE DIFFICULT ONCE WE GET WE ARE GOING TO HIT THE TRIGGER I'M CONFIDENT TO GET US TO 3.5, I THINK THERE IS A SHOT WE WILL GET TO 3 IN 26.

ONCE WE GET BEYOND THAT IT DOES GET TO BE A HEAVIER LIFT.

AND THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE GET ANTI.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLICK ALONG WE HAD TWO CUTS IN A ROW AND TOOK A PAUSE I THINK WE'LL GET TWO CUTS IN A ROW AGAIN.

AND WE'LL START DRAGGING WHEN PEOPLE GET ANTSY AND IT'S GOING TO PROMPT MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT DO WE WANT TO GET THEIR FASTER THAN A NATURAL GROWTH?

DO WE WANT TO PAUSE AND SEE IF THERE'S A MIXTURE WE FEED HAD TO KEEP.

BUT DO WE WANT TO STAY THE COURSE ON THE EXISTING PLAN WE HAVE.

AND GET THERE EVENTUALLY.

>> Renee: I JUST TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD IN A COMMITTEE LAST WEEK FROM COUNTY JAILERS AND JUDGE EXECUTIVES WHO WERE SAYING WE NEED MORE MONEY.

AND HOUSING AND STATE PRISONERS AND WE'RE DOING THESE THINGS AND OUR COST OF OUR EXPENSES IS GOING UP AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S MORE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT HAVE ACCELERATED OR HEIGHTENED PENALTIES, SHALL WE SAY.

AND THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE BURDEN ON THE COUNTY JAILS WHEN WE THINK OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS YOU ARE HAVING HOW DOES THAT JIVE WITH WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND ADDRESSING HERE AND EVEN NOT?

>> LET ME -- I WANT TO GO BACK.

DAVID MADE GOOD POINTS HOW WE'VE HIT BY TIERING DOWN AND ONE OF THE CRITICISMS WE GOT WAS YOU ARE GOING TO WINDUP LIKE KANSAS.

WHERE DID WE LEARN NOT TO BE LIKE KANSAS?

AT NCSL WE LISTENED TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THEIR BUDGETS AND THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION GROWTH AND EXPENDITURES.

>> Renee: THEY DIDN'T HAVE TRIGGERS.

>> AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TRIGGERS.

WE HAD TRIGGERS THAT GOT THERE.

WE HAVE DONE WELL IN NOT GOING INTO DEFICIT SITUATIONS BECAUSE YOU LEARN A LOT FROM THESE SITUATIONS.

NOW, YOU HAD TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND IMPACT OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE.

I WILL USE A FOR INSTANCE HERE ONE OF THE THINGS EVERYBODY SAYS NEEDS TO BE DONE IN LOUISVILLE IS THIS HOMELESSNESS ISSUE AND THE CAMPUS WE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY IN THAT.

WE MAY SPEND MONEY AND IT MAY COST THEM MORE BUT THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THIS A MORE ATTRACTIVE CITY FOR BUSINESSES, TOURISM AND PEOPLE TO LOCATE.

THERE'S GIVES AND TAKES ON EVERYTHING.

>> Renee: AND FOR THOSE HOMELESS ADVOCATES WHO DON'T NECESSARILY CARE FOR THAT APPROACH AND WOULD WANT MORE HUMANITY IN THOSE TYPES OF POLICIES WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> WELL, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY THIS YEAR.

C3 CAMPUS HERE IN LOUISVILLE THEY ARE MARKING OVER $22 MILLION OF STATE MONIES WITH WHAT LOUISVILLE IS DOING.

IN LEXINGTON, I THINK IT'S CALLED THE TRANSYLVANIA PROJECT.

WE PUT $10 MILLION THERE ON TOP OF WHAT THE BANKERS RAISED TO DO THAT WITH PURCHASE OF THE TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY PROPERTY.

AND WE PUT 10 OR $12 MILLION MORE ON TOP OF THE RURAL HOUSING.

IT TAKES TIME.

YOU CAN'T GO OUT THERE AND JUST BUILD EVERYONE A HOUSE THEY'RE SUPPLY CHAINS AND WORKFORCE.

BUT WE PUT SIGNIFICANT MONEY INTO WHAT I THINK YOU WOULD DEFINE AS A MECHANISM OF HUMANITY.

>> Renee: WELL, THE HOUSING TASK FORCE THAT JUST MET, I THINK IT WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BROUGHT UP THAT POINT.

ONE OF THE BUILDERS SAID WE KNTS' FIND ENOUGH WORKERS TO HELP US BUILD.

THE PROBLEMS SOMETIMES SEEM LIKE THEY ARE ONE WAY BUT WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN IT'S MORE DIMENSIONAL THAN THAT AND POLICY CAN'T ANSWER SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

>> ULTIMATELY, POLICY HAS TO ANSWER THOSE THINGS.

BUT YOU CAN'T ATTACK IT IN A VACUUM.

IT IS NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM.

AS ROBERT SAID, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADDRESSING THE HUMANITY THE HOMELESS CRISIS, NOT AVAILING THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN HOME BUILDING SITUATIONS NOT AVAILING THEM OF THE TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT LACKS HUMANITY.

NOT GIVING THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED BACK IN SOCIETY IN THE WORKFORCE TO HAVE STABLE EMPLOYMENT, TO HAVE STABLE HOUSING.

THOSE ARE WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT GO MUCH BROADER THAN SIMPLY ENFORCING A HOMELESS LAW.

AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET WE PASSED THIS YEAR YOU WILL SEE WE INTENDED TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS FROM EVERY ANGLE.

AND I THINK THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THAT ISSUE THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED BY IT EITHER BEING TOO HARSH OR NOT HARSH ENOUGH OR TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT NOT ENOUGH GOVERNMENT.

WE TRIED TO FIND THAT BALANCE THAT WOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE MORE HOLISTICALLY.

AND ALSO THAT HELPS BRING DOWN COSTS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COST OF INCARCERATION, CERTAINLY WE'VE MANAGED OUR COSTS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

WE'VE TRIED TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MANAGE THEIRS AS WELL.

BUT ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE BRING DOWN JAIL COSTS IS TO REDUCE INCARCERATION RATES.

SO TO DO THINGS TO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE RECIDIVISM, THAT PROVIDE EXIT SERVICES FOR INMATES, GIVING THEM CAREERS TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN THEY GET OUT OF INCARCERATION, CERTAINLY ALL OF THOSE THINGS KIND OF LOOK UPSTREAM FROM THE ACTUAL COST OF THE PROBLEM ITSELF.

>> Renee: AND SPEAKING IN TERMS OF HOMELESSNESS, THERE IS STILL A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.

IT'S NOT JUST THOSE UNHOUSED IT'S THOSE WHO WOULD SAY I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

I PLAYED BY THE RULES YET I STILL CANNOT AFFORD TO GET INTO MY STARTER HOME OR CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS BECAUSE I'M TAKING CARE OF ELDERLY PARENTS.

IT IS A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HOPING LAWMAKERS WILL ADDRESS.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN ADDRESS BUT WE KNTS' ADDRESS A 6.75% INTEREST RATE WHEN YOU GO OUT AND BORROW TO BUY OR BUILD A HOME.

WE CAN'T SIT THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR GROCERIES ARE GOING TO BE $100 A BASKET THIS YEAR AND THEY WILL BE $100 NEXT YEAR.

IT'S GONE FROM $100 TO $130 ON THE TYPICAL WEEK GROCERY BASKET.

WE CAN DO SOME THINGS, BUT WE CAN'T ALL THE ECONOMIC DYNAMICS FLOAT INTO THIS.

AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THIS ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY.

SOME PEOPLE CLAIM THEY DRINK DIET MOUNTAIN DEW AND SOME PEOPLE ARE FROM APPALACHIA.

I'M FROM APPALACHIA.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'M PROUD OF AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL GET IT, BUT WE PUT $4 MILLION TO TRY TO DRAWDOWN A FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WOULD DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS, CHILDCARE, JOB SKILLS AND TRAINING.

LOOK AT THE 31,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED FROM THE WORKFORCE.

WE MIGHT NOT GET IT BUT WE SURE PUT UP OUR MONEY WE PUT YOU HAVE 4 MILLION AND THEY RAISED 2.5 MILLION.

AND JOE CRAFT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL IN THIS BECAUSE HE COMMITTED PERSONAL MONIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT ON BOTH SIDES.

BOTH THE LEGISLATION SIDE FROM THERE AND HUMANITARIAN SIDE BECAUSE WE KNOW THE IMPEDIMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

>> Renee: SPEAKING OF LIKE IN UP COMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH AN ELECTION AND THAT ANSWER ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN DEW WE WILL LEAVE THAT Dr. .

>> DIET MOUNTAIN DEW.

>> IT IS NOT A BUDGET YEAR 30 DAYS WHAT DO YOU HOPE I KNOW IT'S FAR OFF THAT YOU GET TACKLED OR CLEAN UP FROM THE PREVIOUS SESSION?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT TO TRY TO TAKE AT LEAST SOME INITIAL STEPS.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE A.I.

TASK FORCE WE PUT TOGETHER IS GOING TO COME WITH RECOMMENDATIONS I'M HOPING THAT WILL GET US STARTED ON THE TRACK OF REGULATING AND OVERSEES THE EFFECTS WE WILL BE FACED WITH ON A.I.

SOME WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF MONIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING DRAWDOWN.

SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE WORKING EXTREMELY WELL.

AND SOME ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL, FRANKLY.

LET'S CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY THOSE THINGS SO WE DO KNOW WHERE MONEYS ARE MORE EFFECTIVELY SPENT.

ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE ADDITIONAL PROGRESS ON THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC THAT WE HAVE CLEARLY WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING ADDITIONAL THINGS ON CHILDCARE OPPORTUNITIES.

AGAIN ALL THOSE THINGS FOCUSING ON SO MUCH ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE KNOW THAT THE CHILDCARE IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE INCREMENTAL STRIDES ON THOSE.

AND THAT IS MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT AS LONG AS I CAN.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO REOPEN THE BUDGET.

AND UNTIL WE DO.

BUT THAT IS OUR PLAN.

SO 30 DAYS.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN GOOD THE LAST SEVERAL SESSIONS OF DEALING APPROPRIATELY WITH THE SHORT SESSION AND THAT IS TO DO SMALLER MEASURES NOT MAJOR POLICY REFORM.

NOT MAKING MAJOR BUDGET STATEMENTS IN THE SHORT SESSION.

I HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT.

>> Renee: ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD?

>> DAVID RUNS DOWN A LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HIT THE TRIGGERS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THE ACT OF DROPPING STATE INCOME TAX AGAIN.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STRONG BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND, WE EARMARKED A LOT OF STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN ROADS, IN SCHOOLS, IN WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WORKING WITH THE TWO AREAS THAT GOT HIT HARD BY TORNADOES AND FLOODS.

ALL THROUGH THIS, WITH LARGE TARGETED EXPENDITURES, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT BUDGET IS WORKING.

BECAUSE ONE, IF I WERE TO GIVE YOU A MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW, YOU KNTS' GET A HOUSE BUILT IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS.

YOU GOT TO BUY THE LAND.

YOU HAVE IT TO DO THE DESIGN YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE MATERIALS.

IT'S SYSTEMIC ON EFFORT WE'VE DONE TO MAKE SURE THE CITIES, COUNTIES AND STATE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE THE MONIES WE PUT OUT THERE ARE BEING USED IN A WAY.

SOME OF THEM MAY NOT GET OUT THE DOOR BECAUSE OF CAPACITY.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AT AND ALL THE TIME FOCUSING ON WE'RE MAKING THE INVESTMENT AND DOING IT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF CUTTING EVERYBODY'S TAXES.

>> Renee: THANK YOU Mr. PRESIDENT, Mr. SPEAKER.

ALWAYS GOOD SPEAKING WITH YOU I'M SURE WE WILL DO IT AGAIN, SOON.

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUSE DISCUSS CHAIR CHERLYNN STEVENSON SPOKE WITH US YESTERDAY HOW THE MINORITY PARTY LEVERAGES LESSONS LEARNED AT NCSL TO HELP THEM FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE SUPER MAJORITY.

I ALSO ASKED HER ABOUT THE RENTS DISCOVER SURROUNDING HOUSE DEMOCRAT DANIEL GROSSBURG WHO IS FACING INVESTIGATIONS FOR INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON THANK YOU FOR DROPPING BY.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> OF COURSE THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: ON THE HEELS OF FANCY FARM WE TALKED ON A SUNDAY, YOU HAD DRIVEN IN THE NIGHT BEFORE.

YOU LOOKED BRIGHT EYED.

>> THANKS IT'S ALL A PHENOMENA SAID.

FACADE.

>> Renee: TALK TO US ABOUT WHY NCSL IS SO IMPORTANT IT'S NOT JUST THE CONFERENCE THAT IS HAPPENING HERE, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT THE ORGANIZATION SHARES WITH POLICYMAKERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?

>> YES, ABSOLUTEDLY.

THEY ARE A WONDERFUL RESOURCE TO US AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THERE IS A NONPARTISAN BEING THAT CAN SUPPLY RESEARCH AND IDEAS FOR BILLS AND ALTHOUGH KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S SO GREAT FOR THE DIFFERENT STATES TO COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR STATE.

AND IF SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING SUCCESSFULLY BUT ALSO AS PEOPLE ARE DOING THINGS AND THEY FIND PITFALLS IT'S A GREAT CHANCE FOR THEM TO SAY WE WOULDN'T DO THIS AGAIN BUT WE THINK THIS WOULD BE A BETTER IDEA SO WE CAN COME TOGETHER, SHARE IDEAS, TALK ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT.

COMPARE WAYS THAT STATES ARE STRUGGLING.

COMPARE WAYS THAT STATES ARE FINDING SUCCESSES.

AND SO THEY ARE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

OUTSIDE OF THE CONFERENCE WHICH THE CONFERENCE IS AMAZING.

OUTSIDE OF THE CONFERENCE THEY ARE A AVAILABLE RESOURCE TO ALL OF US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> Renee: AND THEY ARE BIPARTISAN AND WE'VE MENTIONED THAT A FEW TIMES.

BUT I DO THINK ABOUT WHERE THE DEMOCRATS STAND KNEW MERRICK CALI AND HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WHILE AT A CONFERENCE AND HOW CAN YOU BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS BACK AT THE STATE HOUSE TO SAY LET US BE PARTNERS WITH YOU AND HERE'S OUR IDEAS HOW TO DEAL WITH TAXES AND GAS TAX OR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE THAT IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING OBVIOUSLY.

THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU BUILD ACROSS THE AISLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BUT I THINK KNOWING THAT SOME OF YOUR IDEAS AND THE POINTS THAT YOU WANT TO GET ACROSS CAN BE BACKED UP BY SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WERE SHARED HERE.

SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT IS SHARED HERE.

IT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY TO BE LIKE, LOOK, THIS IS WORKING FOR THESE OTHER PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT NCSL, PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE CAME TOGETHER AND THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

SO IT'S CAN BE A GOOD LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK AT IT AND BE DATA-DRIVEN, BASE STRATEGIC AND BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> Renee: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST OF LEARNING WHATEVER POLICIES?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> A.I.

IS ON THE SCHEDULE A LOT.

I WAS HAVING MY COFFEE THIS MORNING I WAS BROWSING THROUGH THE APP WHICH IS SO VENTS AND LOOKING AND THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A.I.

EACH DAY I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING POP-UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT'S TOUCHING ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT WE DO RIGHT NOW FROM OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CAMPAIGNS.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE HEADING INTO CAMPAIGN SEASON AND THAT CAN BE A WORRY.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS.

AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAD HERE AROUND THAT.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION INNOVATIONS WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THAT.

BUT, AGAIN, I JUST LOVE THE CAMARADERIE OF GETTING TO MIX AND MINGLE.

AS YOU COME OVER AND OVER YOU MAKE FRIENDS FROM OTHER STATES.

AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO SEE THEM, CATCH UP WITH THEM, TALK ABOUT WHAT BILLS THEY ARE WORKING ON AND WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IN THE STATE AND HOW WE MIGHT IMPLEMENT THAT HERE.

THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE GET HERE, BUT ALSO THE COLLABORATION WE CAN HAVE WITH OTHER STATES AND POLICYMAKERS IS IMPORTANT.

>> Renee: I KNOW WE'RE SEVERAL MONTHS OUT BEFORE THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT, WHAT WAS DONE AND WHAT WAS LEFT UNDONE FROM 2024 SESSION WHAT ARE IDEAS THAT YOU THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD BE PUSHING FOR THIS IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK THE A.I.

CONVERSATION NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE DID SEE LEGISLATION ABOUT THAT BUT NOTHING MADE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

OBVIOUSLY EDUCATION IS A BIG THING.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT, TOO.

ON THE BALLOT HERE IN KENTUCKY, IN NOVEMBER THE SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW I THINK THAT CAN A MAJOR IMPACT WHAT WE TALK ABOUT NEXT YEAR.

DEI IS ALSO A BIG QUESTION STILL YET FOR HIGHER-ED.

I THINK WITHIN OUR STATE, I THINK WE'LL SEE THAT POP-UP AGAIN.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE HAD ALL OF THIS EXTRA FUNDING THAT HAS COME IN A LOT STILL FROM THE COVID DOLLARS WE HAD A ROBUST BUDGET.

AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS CLEAN UP THAT WE HAVE TO DO FROM TIME TO TIME.

AND THE SHORT SESSION IS OFTEN KNOWN AS THE CLEANUP SESSION.

SO JUST LOOKING AT THE THINGS WE NEED TO TWEAK WHAT WAS JUST IMPLEMENTED THIS MONTH OR LAST MONTH IN JULY, SEE HOW THAT'S GOING.

OBVIOUSLY THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA WILL BE LAUNCHED.

SO WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT CLOSELY.

YOU KNOW, BUT, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND THE PATH WE'VE BEEN ON.

I'M ANXIOUS TO GET OUR HANDS DIRTY AND DO GREAT THINGS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> Renee: TO MAKE A TOUGH PIVOT I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO ASK YOU ABOUT AN INCIDENT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUE, LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL GROSSBURG WHO WAS FACING SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO MISCONDUCT AND ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT INAPPROPRIATE, I THINK IS WHAT WE'VE HEARD.

AND YOU HAVE GONE YOUR CAUCUS HAS GONE AS FAR TO SUSPEND HIM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, THOUGH?

WHAT PRIVILEGES OR RIGHTS ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM TEMPORARILY.

>> TEMPORARILY HE IS SUSPENDED FROM THE CAUCUS WHICH MEANS HE WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OUR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS.

IT MEANS HE WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OUR CAUCUS MEETINGS.

THERE WILL STILL BE SOME OBVIOUSLY SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO HIM FROM THE LRC AND THE CAUCUS OFFICE.

HOWEVER WE BELIEVE IT'S BEST HE TAKE A STEP BACK RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE INVESTIGATIONSES CAN CONCLUDE.

WE VOTED ON THAT AS A CAUCUS.

AND OUR CAUCUS ASKED THAT WE FILE AN ETHICS COMPLAINTS AND THAT HAS BEEN DONE.

PENDING THE RESULTING OF THAT INVESTIGATION, AT THAT POINT WE'LL DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AS A CONFERENCE.

>> Renee: IF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WERE TO BEGIN IN JANUARY AND THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE STILL ONGOING DOES THAT AFFECT HIS VOTING STATUS OR ANYTHING AS A MEMBER?

>> IT WILL INTERNALLY WITHIN THE CAUCUS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR NOT AT ALL.

>> Renee: NOT HIS ABILITY TO VOTE ON MEASURES HE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

HE IS STILL.

>> Renee: REPRESENTING A DISTRICT.

>> YES, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY JUST NOT IN OUR CAUCUS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

WHILE THE MAIN PURPOSE OF NCSL TO TO HELP LAWMAKERS AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF IN THEIR PUBLIC POLICY WORK, LEGISLATIVE AGENTS FOR LOBBYISTS ALSO BENEFIT FROM POLICY GUIDES AND SUMMITS LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LOUISVILLE.

I SPOKE WITH BOB BABBAGE AND AMY WICKLIFFE ABOUT THE VALUE OF NCSL TO THEM.

>> AMY WICKLIFFE, BOB BABBAGE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE IN THE DERBY CITY ON THE HEELS OF FANCY FARM.

FIRST OF ALL TALK TO US ABOUT THE VALUE OF NCSL PARTICULARLY FOR KNOWS NOT JUST LAWMAKERS AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF?

>> IT'S VERY VALUABLE FOR ASSOCIATIONS FOR INTEREST GROUPS FOR ISSUE DEVELOPMENT IN STATES AND ACROSS THE NATION AROUND THE WORLD.

THESE CONFERENCES HAVE A TERRIFIC VALUE FOR THE MEMBERS FOR SURE.

BECAUSE FROM THEIR CURIOSITY AND INTEREST AND HISTORY AND PROFESSIONS, THEY FIND OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER STATES DOING SIMILAR KINDS OF WORK TO MAKE THEIR STATE BETTER AND IT IS A CONSTANT PROCESS OF IMPROVEMENT.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IS THE BYWORD.

WE HAVE SO MANY LAWS INTRODUCED SO MANY TIMES EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE STEADILY CHANGING THINGS.

AND SOME OF THOSE IDEAS ORIGINATE OR GET PERFECTED IN CONFERENCES LIKE THIS.

>> Renee: HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE OR ALEC OR THE OTHER CONFERENCES THAT HAVE THE SIMILAR PURPOSE AND MISSION?

>> THEY ARE ALL SIMILAR BUT FOR THIS ONE THE NCSL HAS BEEN A LARGER CONFERENCE.

YOU HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL 50 STATES MOST OF OUR TERRITORIES.

YOU ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 10 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

IT IS A LARGER SCOPE AS WELL.

BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THAT CONNECTING AND COLLABORATING.

AND SO I THINK YOU HAVE VARYING VIEWPOINTS ON DIFFERENT ISSUES.

ONE THING ABOUT NCSL THAT IS HELPFUL, A REMINDER WE ARE NOT THE ONLY STATE GRAPPLING WITH HOUSING, ENERGY, AGRICULTURE, A.I.

SO IT'S HELPFUL TO CONNECT AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER POLICYMAKERS OTHER TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER STATES TO KNOW WHAT'S WORKED AND WHAT HASN'T SO THAT WE CAN START TO REFINE THOSE POLICIES THAT ARE PRESENTED IN KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU THINK IT HELPS SHAPE THE PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSIONS THAT WE COULD HAVE COME THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA THERE ARE NUMEROUS SESSIONS ON A.I.

WE HAVE AN A.I.

TASK FORCE CHAIRED BY JOSH BRADY AND BLEDSOE.

BLEDSOE IS PRESENTING ON A PANEL ABOUT ANCIENT AND ELECTIONS HERE.

THE MORE SHARING THAT WE CAN DO HERE THAT HELPINGS US BE ABLE TO SHAPE WHAT THE POLICIES MAY LOOK LIKE.

>> .

>> Renee: A.I.

WHEN I TALKED TO SPEAKER PRO-TEM BRIAN PATRICK KENNEDY ABOUT THIS HE IS LIKE THERE IS A LASER FOCUS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CYBERSECURITY AND VOTER CONFIDENCE TYPES OF ISSUES.

WHAT REALLY INTERESTS YOU?

AND YOU THINK CAN HELP SET THE PACE FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ARE PERMANENT EVERY YEAR, YOU ARE UPGRADING YOUR THINKING, LOOKING FOR ANGLES TO APPROVE AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES.

MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE.

MAKE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT EASIER.

A YEAR AGO IN JULY, CHAIRMAN PRATT ASKED ME FOR AN IDEA FOR A COMMITTEE PITCHED A.I.

BROUGHT IN AND EXPERT AND HAD AN EXPERT ON THE SCREEN, AND I WAS SHOCKED, REALLY, BY THE DEPTH OF INTELLIGENCE AND AWARENESS THAT URBAN, RURAL, MALE, FEMALE, HAD IN THAT COMMITTEE AND THE SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR QUESTIONS.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A LEARNING SESSION THEY READ ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME IT COMES UP EVERYWHERE.

THAT SAY PERMANENT ISSUE.

IT'S MATURED IN A YEAR WHERE STATES ARE SAYING WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING HOW DO WE HAVE A FRAME WOKE TO GET THE BEST FROM IT.

AND THERE'S PANIC ON ONE PART AND OPTIMISM ON ANOTHER.

THAT IS A WHOLE NEW LIKE THE EMERGENCE OF THE INTERNET AND THE EARLY TO MID-90s THIS IS A DIFFERENT ERA FOR TECHNOLOGY.

WITH A LOT TO LEARN AND A LOT TO DO.

I REMEMBER GOING TO ALEC, THE MORE CONSERVATIVE MEETING, SLC AND GOVERNORS HAVE REGIONAL MEETINGS, AND PARTY MEETINGS, AND SOMETIMES TAXPAYERS SAY WHY ALL ALL THE MEETINGS.

WE WENT TO ONE IN SAN FRANCISCO.

MILLION TON FREEMAN WAS THE SPEAKER.

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE TO SPEND LUNCH WITH MILLION MILTON FREEMAN.

THAT IS WHERE BRIAN GOT IDEAS ABOUT THE CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES FOR THE ECONOMY AND WAS WOWED BY THE GUY.

OTHER CELEBRITIES THERE.

WE WERE SITTING AT LUNCH WITH THE VICE-CHAIR GLOBALLY FOR A LEADING BIOSCIENCE COMPANY.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU RUN INTO.

THEY ARE EXPERTS ON EVERYTHING HERE.

AND EVERYBODY YOU TALK TO HAS AN EXPERTISE AND WANTS TO KNOW MORE AND DO BETTER AND IT'S ONE THING TO BE CONNECTED AND LINKED IN THAT IS GREAT.

WHEN WE COME BACK YOU LINK IN HERE IT IS A PERMANENT CONVERSATION YOU CAN HAVE THAT IS WHAT IS EXCITING.

>> Renee: IS NCSL IT IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

AND EVEN THE STRUCTURE OF HOW THE GOVERNANCE OF NCSL IS PARTY EQUAL.

SO THAT A LOT OF VALUE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT IS.

THAT'S RIGHT I THINK ESPECIALLY EVEN THOUGH IN KENTUCKY WE ARE SUPER MAJORITIES REPUBLICANS I THINK YOU FIND IN LEADERSHIP WITH SPEAKER OSBORNE AND STIVERS FINDING THE ISSUES THEY CAN WORK ACROSS THE AISLE ON THEM IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

THE ISSUES DISCUSSED THE GREAT THING ABOUT NCSL KENTUCKY GETS TO LEARN FROM OTHER STATES AND SHOWCASE WHAT WE'VE LED ON.

THE CHAIRWOMAN IS SPEAKING ON CHILDCARE ISSUES LEADING ON FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF ISSUES THAT CROSS PARTY LINES THOSE ARE NOT PARTISAN ISSUES.

KENTUCKY HAS A LOT OF GOOD EXAMPLES WE ARE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT HOW KENTUCKY HAS BEEN A LEADER AND HOPEFULLY THE STATES WILL TAKE THOSE TO THEIR STATES.

>> HUGE PRESIDENT STIVERS AND SPEAKER OSBORNE WE HAVE 6,000 ROOMS BOOKED IN LOUISVILLE THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF CURIOSITY AND THE INTEREST.

TONIGHT WE WILL BE PEOPLE FROM TENNESSEE.

FROM GEORGIA, FROM TEXAS AND HAWAII AT DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

CASUAL CONVERSATIONS AND, YET, WE ARE ALL TRYING TO LEARN SOMETHING AND GET MORE PROGRESS FOR ISSUES AND ADVANCEMENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE STATES WE LOVE.

KENTUCKY IS ON A ROLL IN MANY WAYS TO HAVE PEOPLE HERE TO SEE IT IS GREAT.

AND THEY COME FROM HORSES [INAUDIBLE] THAT HAS TO BE PART OF IT.

ALSO PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR BETTER WAYS.

THERE IS A SESSION ON THE GAS TAX.

EVERYBODY IN THE NATION HOW DO WE PAY FOR ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE?

SO THAT'S NOT R AND D, THAT IS GIVE ME AN EDGE, GIVE ME A NEW WAY TO FINANCE THIS FIVE OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> Renee: THERE ARE SKEPTICS THEY HEAR THIS IS A NICE PLUSH VACATION FOR LAWMAKERS.

YOU WANT TO REBUT THAT?

>> YOU ARE WORKING EVERYONE IS WORKING.

IT WILL BE A BUSY IT IS A COMPRESSED SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE DAYS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE ON-LINE, YOU CAN BE IN A DIFFERENT POLICY TRACK EVERY 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.

>> Renee: THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SESSIONS.

>> YOU HAVE TO PICK A TRACK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT.

WHILE THERE ARE SOME FUN THINGS THAT PEOPLE GET TO DO AND THAT IS PART OF THE BENEFIT OF BEING THE HOST COMMITTEE THIS HAS A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE WHICH FILTERINGS DOWN TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HOPE PEOPLE WILL GET A TASTE OF LOUISVILLE AND THINK I WANT TO GO BACK TO KENTUCKY AND SEE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT KENTUCKY HAS TO OFFER.

AND THAT IS A GREAT BENEFIT EVERY TIME WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HOST A CONFERENCE PEOPLE SAY WOW I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS SUCH A GREAT STATE.

HOPEFULLY THOSE ARE THE LASTING BENEFITS OF CONFERENCES LIKE THIS.

>> THERE SHOULDN'T BE THESE MEETINGS DONTSZ'S KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE PAY OUR LEGISLATORS RIDICULOUSLY LOW AMOUNTS.

WE SHOULD BE PAYING THEM THREE TIMES MORE.

TO COME TO A CONFERENCE IS NOT A GREAT BIG PERK.

THE PARTS THEY GO AWAY WITH IS THE INTELLECTUAL PART.

THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY GAIN.

AND EVERY OTHER PROFESSION DOES THIS, BANKERS, CPA'S, INSURANCE PEOPLE, DOCTORS, NURSES EVERYBODY MEETS WHY?

CONTINUING EDUCATION.

UPGRADE YOUR THINKING.

UPGRADE YOUR RESULTS.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

>> Renee: SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY WE HOPE THERE'S TRACKS HOW TO WEDGE THE PARTISAN DIVIDE, ADDRESSING HYPER PARTISANSHIP AND HOW YOU CAN BE MORE COLLABORATIVE AND NOT BE CONCERNED WHETHER THE D OR THE R GETS THE CREDIT.

ARE THOSE ITEMS ON THAT AGENDA?

>> THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE ONE THAT FITS INTO THAT IN THE LITTLE BIT I'M INTERESTED IN HOW ARE WE GOING TO STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN KENTUCKY IS THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF FOCUSING ON THAT.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES REMAIN AS STRONG AS THE URBAN CENTERS.

BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY GREW UP AND KNOW THEIR TEACHER WHERE THEY KNOW THEIR BANKER THEY KNOW THAT COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT POLICIES THAT ARE SET DON'T DRIVE PEOPLE OUT OF THOSE RURAL COMMUNITIES WE ARE INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITIES TO KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME AND WHEN WE TALK POLITICS WE TALK ABOUT THAT RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE.

SO I THINK THE CONVERSATION ABOUT STRENGTHENING RURAL COMMUNITIES CAN PLAY INTO THAT POLITICAL DYNAMIC AS WELL.

>> THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE IS WORLDWIDE.

YOU HEAR IT IN EVERY COUNTRY.

IF THE THREE OF US SAT DOWN THE FIRST QUESTION ARE YOU A RADICAL ARE YOU CRAZY?

NO.

IT WOULD BE HOW CAN YOU HELP ME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

GOT ANY ANSWERS?

YOU ALL FIGURED ANYTHING OUT?

WE THINK THIS SESSION WHAT QUESTIONS DO WE ASK AND GET THE MOST OUT OF IT.

OTHER EXPERTS IN THE ROOM.

EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM.

CONFERENCE OF STATE GOVERNMENTS HOST MIXED GROUPS MANY PEOPLE THE SENIOR FELLOW YEARS AGO IN PUBLIC POLICY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE WE HAD EXPERTS PEOPLE WERE PUMPING EACH OTHER FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP TO GET TO SOLUTIONS.

SO THAT'S THE GOOD OF ALL THIS.

AND WHY IT'S NOT PARTISAN SHADED IT'S I NEED A GOOD IDEA.

I NEED AN ANSWER.

I HAVE TO GO HOME WITH AN ANSWER.

PEOPLE WANT RESULTS IN THIS AREA AND THIS AREA AND THIS AREA.

SO THROW ME SOMETHING I CAN USE.

>> Renee: GOOD WORDS TO END ON.

THANK YOU BOB BABBAGE AND THANK YOU AMY WICKLIFFE.

THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR OF NCSL MICK BULLOCK HELPS ORGANIZE THE SUMMIT AND SHARED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IT'S EXPECTED TO HAVE IN LOUISVILLE AND THE MARQUEE PUNISHED DITS AND SPEAKERS IT DRAWS.

>> MICK BULLOCK GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Renee: YOU ARE THE LEG MAN BEHIND THIS WHOLE THING.

YOU HAVE BEEN THE ONES WHO HELPED US BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS CONFERENCE TO STATE-WIDE AUDIENCE AND SOME OF THE THINGS SO WE APPRECIATE YOU FIRST, THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE LIKE VIEWERS STILL WHAT IS NCSL?

GIVE US A PRIMER?

>> WHAT IS NCSL NOT?

TRUSTLY SPEAKING NCSL IS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR LEGISLATORS AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF.

WE'RE BIPARTISAN.

SO OR NONPARTISAN.

WE REPRESENT MORE THAN 7300 STATE LEGISLATORS AND 37,000 LEGISLATIVE STAFF.

WE ARE THE ONLY ASSOCIATION THAT DOES THAT.

JUST LIKE YOU'RE PROBABLY A MEMBER OF THE KENTUCKY PRESS ASSOCIATION.

THINK OF NEWS THAT SENSE WHERE WE ARE THEIR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION IF YOU ARE A LEGISLATOR OR A STAFFER.

WE PROVIDE AMPLE AMOUNTS OF RESEARCH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OF COURSE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT THE SUMMIT IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT OTHER MEMBER BENEFITS THAT ARE PROVIDED THERE.

>> Renee: WE'RE SO GLAD THAT LOUISVILLE WAS SELECTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE.

>> Renee: IT'S COMPETITIVE AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND HOUSE SPEAKER TOLD US IN THE PITCH THEY MADE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

TALK ABOUT OVERALL THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THIS CITY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF ROOMS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS AND MAYBE BUY CLOTHES IF THE LUGGAGE DID NOT GET HERE.

>> THE LUGGAGE IS STILL A THING.

I WANT TO SAY THIS ABOUT LOUISVILLE.

WE WERE HERE IN 2010.

AND WE REALLY LISTENING TO WHAT OUR MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY WHEN THEY ARE FILLING OUT THAT QUESTIONNAIRE LIKE DID YOU ENJOY THE SUMMIT?

WHAT MADE YOU ENJOY THE SUMMIT.

AND OVERWHELMINGLY, THE ATTENDEES HERE BACK IN 2010 SAID WE LOVED THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE LOVED THE FOOD.

WE LOVED THE PEOPLE.

WE LOVED POLICY COVERED AT THE SUMMIT.

SO WE FAST FORWARD A COUPLE YEARS NOW, AND LOUISVILLE WAS A NO-BRAINER.

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY HERE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

FANTASTIC JOB OF BRINGING THIS UP TO SPEED HERE.

BECAUSE WITH NCSL BECAUSE IT IS A LARGE MEETING FOR THIS YEAR WE HAVE 5300 ATTENDEES COMING FROM FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL.

SO WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN THERE'S 20 CITIES THAT CAN HOST AN NCSL LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT.

THIS IS ALL ON TOP OF WE HAVE OVER 10,000 HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS THAT ARE BOOKED IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA.

IN FACT SOME OF OUR SPILLOVER ROOMS RIGHT NOW ARE AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE STILL TRYING TO FIND A ROOM.

ON TOP OF THAT, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BRINGING NCSL HERE IS $4.8 MILLION.

>> Renee: AND SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT MIGHT BE AN UNDER ESTIMATION.

>> IT PROBABLY IS.

THAT IS YOUR DIRECT RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE PROPER IF YOU PLEASE.

THAT IS YOUR CONVENTION SPACE, THAT IS THE HOTEL ROOMS.

BUT WHEN YOU START GOING BEYOND THAT, I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE TODAY THEY SAID THE SUMMIT ENDS ON WEDNESDAY BUT I'M NOT GOING HOME UNTIL SUNDAY.

SO THEY ARE STAYING OVER.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR ATTENDEES DOING THAT, YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A GREAT CITY THAT IS HOSTING THE LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT.

>> Renee: AND THEY MAY NOT WANT TO DO IT EVERY YEAR.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> Renee: YOU WILL TAKE IT 10 OR 15 YEARS.

>> THAT'S IT.

YEP.

>> Renee: WELL, YOU HAVE PRETTY ACE SPEAKERS COMING.

ONE EXAMPLE, KELLYANNE CONWAY AND DONNA BRAZILE THAT IS ONE THAT I WILL MISS.

>> BRING THE STATES TOGETHER.

>> Renee: HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

>> THAT WAS AGAIN, WHERE WE ALL THE TIME WITH NCSL'S MISSION OF TRYING TO WORK FROM THE MIDDLE, IF YOU PLEASE, AND KELLYANNE CONWAY AND DONNA BRAZILE IF YOU'VE EVER SPOKE TO THEM THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND WHEN I'VE HEARD THEM SPEAK I CAME AWAY SHOCKED BECAUSE THEY DO TRY TO WORK IN THE MIDDLE AND WORK WITH BOTH PARTIES.

AND DONNA AND KELLYANNE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND THEY WILL TALK ABOUT POLITICS.

BUT THEM COMING HERE SPEAKS TO THE TRUE NATURE OF NCSL AND THE BIPARTISAN WORK WE DO.

WE CAN STILL WE MAY BE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE AISLE IF YOU PLEASE, BUT THERE IS A COMMONALITY AND THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ON WEDNESDAY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THE PARTISAN BREAKFASTS THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC BREAKFASTS AND THE NUMEROUS POLICY SESSIONS THAT IS HAPPENING I COUNTED UP EARLIER WE HAVE MORE THAN EIGHT SESSIONS ON A.I.

WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IS A HUGE ISSUE.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE AT NCSL HERE AT THE SUMMIT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND WE'RE COVERING A LOT OF THOSE TOPICS YOU THINK ANYTHING WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, HIGHER EDUCATION, YOU NAME IT WE'RE TALKING THAT CRYPTO CURRENCY.

ALL OF THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS MORE THAN 100 DIFFERENT SESSIONS BETWEEN MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY THAT IS HAPPENING HERE AT THE LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT.

>> Renee: FOR RELATIVELY NEW LAWMAKER ARE THERE SESSIONS PROPER GOVERNANCE?

UNDERSTANDING PROTOCOL?

HOW TO BE A GOOD EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR?

>> YES.

SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

WE HAVE ACTUAL TRACKS THAT YOU CAN GO IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LABEL IT.

AND YOU CAN PICK A PARTICULAR TRACK AND ACTUALLY GO TO THOSE PARTICULAR SESSIONS.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVE NUMEROUS SESSIONS ON GOVERNANCE AND HOW TO AGAIN, WORK FROM THE MIDDLE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE SESSIONS.

AND, AGAIN, IT SPEAKS TO THE VOLUME OF BEING ABLE TO HOST IT HERE IN LOUISVILLE WE WERE ABLE TO ATTRACT A LOT OF GREAT SPEAKERS THAT WILL HELP CARRY THAT MESSAGE.

>> Renee: CONGRATULATIONS.

BEFORE IT STARTS IT'S ALREADY A SUCCESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES SUMMIT IN LOUISVILLE.

WE WILL BE BACK IN THE LEXINGTON STUDIO NEXT WEEK FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND WE ALSO WANT YOU TO TUNE IN EACH WEEKNIGHT ON KENTUCKY EDITION AS WE HIGHLIGHT ACTION FROM THE NCLS CONFERENCE RIGHT HERE ON KET.

FOR KET, I'M RENEE SHAW.

AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON.

[♪♪]