Transcript Highlights:

• seasonal reliability assessment and then seasonal risk assessments at the beginning of the summer and
• and then seasonal reliability assessment and then seasonal risk<00:36:48.240> assessments<00:
• And our risk assessment, MRO's risk assessment, does show three clear realities.
• And our risk assessment, MRO's risk assessment, does show three clear realities.
• able to make that assessment. able to make that assessment.

Bills: HF3296, HF3802

Keywords: energy conservation, data centers, electric sales, energy optimization, utility regulations, energy regulation, certificate of need, renewable energy, power production, energy efficiency, Minnesota statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We conducted this assessment over the period of time.
• As of recently, we handed in the final assessment results.
• The assessment consisted of several components.
• However, to do an assessment like this...
• That's all called out in the assessment.

Summary: The subcommittee heard a lengthy presentation on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ I-Connect system, based on an ILAB assessment of the platform’s performance and requirements. ILAB said the system provides useful centralized records, reporting, compliance support, and audit trails, but users described it as cumbersome, outdated, and inefficient, with excessive manual entry, weak navigation, limited notifications, no mobile app, poor printing/export options, and performance issues. ILAB also said the original 2013-era requirements were too high-level and that only a portion of the requirements could be verified, with some features de-scoped or never implemented. Their recommendations included better integration with electronic health record systems, improved performance monitoring, electronic signatures, OCR, and more modern export and verification tools. Public testimony from providers and advocates echoed those concerns. A support coordination provider said the system is nicknamed “I Disconnect,” described problems with EVV/GPS sign-ins, lengthy support plans, lack of a phone app, and possible HIPAA concerns. Another advocate said the system should have preserved family access to records and criticized the need for providers to use workarounds and additional software. APD staff said the agency has spent about $19.7 million through FY 2023-24, has regular build updates under the current contract with WellSky, and uses an internal help desk and vendor ticketing process to triage bugs versus enhancement requests. They said some issues are handled case-by-case, critical tickets have SLAs, and the agency is working on interoperability and other requested improvements. Members questioned whether the system should be fixed or replaced, whether the original contract and SaaS arrangement were sufficient, and whether the state received value for the money spent. APD said the system went live in phases and that all functionality was in place by June 2024, while ILAB and members noted significant technical debt and unresolved gaps. The committee also discussed record retention, provider access to records after a consumer changes providers, and whether federal funding or compliance could be affected. The meeting ended with broader budget remarks emphasizing completion over expansion, stronger upfront planning for technology projects, and more accountability before funding new systems or major enhancements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Indirect cost assessment CRS 2 G.
• Indirect cost assessment.
• Indirect cost assessment.
• Indirect cost assessment: $56,675.
• indirect cost assessment indirect cost assessment 572,135,31172135 311<05:27:54.638> A67.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior journal, and heard several brief recognitions before moving to business. Members welcomed foster care advocates for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Girl Scouts visiting the Capitol, and participants in Black Maternal Health Week, with remarks emphasizing foster youth voice, leadership development, and the need for culturally competent maternal health care and doula/midwife support. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1026, honoring former Governor Roy Romer and designating a portion of I-25 as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway. Supporters highlighted Romer’s long public service, his work on education and infrastructure, and his role in major state projects. A proposed amendment to strike the word “memorial” was withdrawn, the House suspended the rules to allow Romer to speak from the well, and Romer offered remarks about legislative collegiality and the importance of democracy and listening to opposing views. House Joint Resolution 1026 was adopted on a 60-0 vote, with four excused and one absent. After a brief recess, the House returned to special orders and resumed reading House Bill 1410 at length, continuing through extensive appropriations language for the Department of Human Services, including child welfare, youth services, Medicaid-related transfers, SNAP and benefits administration, and other funding line items. No final action on House Bill 1410 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• assessment.
• Now we are 12 years later, and the assessments went down back in 2016, but we still are being assessed
• Um, if the assessment had been based on 10% of gross utility revenues, the assessment would have been
• collected as part of the assessment collected as part of the assessment invoices<02:50:52.200>
• accounted for in the utility assessment accounted for in the utility assessment uh<05:18:52.840>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on top of a previous assessment.
• on top of a previous assessment.
• on top of a previous assessment.
• on top of a previous assessment.
• on top of a previous assessment.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• they're assessed is pretty high. they're assessed is pretty high.
• uh establishing special assessment uh establishing special assessment districts<04:36:15.199>
• that dealt with special assessment that dealt with special assessment districts<04:36:31.439>
• this special assessment district idea. this special assessment district idea.
• So, if you have that district<04:58:05.360> assessment, district assessment, district assessment

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Member assessments.
• Assessments, yeah. 500 million or so we can assess companies, basically the companies that write in Texas
• And on the member assessment, so the twin member insurer assessments, those—Chairman Schwartner talked
• Member assessments, $500 million. Also, we can assess companies.
• But on the member assessments, so the insurer, TWIA member insurer assessments, Chairman Schwartz Cortner

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Giving Minnesota Choices assessments, getting Minnesota Choices assessments completed, is one of the
• Giving Minnesota Choices assessments, getting Minnesota Choices assessments completed, is one of the
• use sorder comprehensive assessment use sorder comprehensive assessment requirements<02:15:12.840
• Um, anyway, so that was the assessment. Minnesota is required to have an assessment.
• with a little another less assessment with a little another less assessment and<02:24:04.279>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we use assessment fees, which is what's on your screen.
• Does every hospital pay an assessment fee?
• So the hospital assessment fees totaled $119 million in state fiscal year 25.
• And then the state share of that total payment is what the assessment fee is.
• And so they get very irritated that they have to pay an assessment without getting a benefit of the assessment

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Department of Human Services hospital payments in Arkansas Medicaid, with DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks presenting first, followed by Arkansas Hospital Association Executive Vice President Jody Ann Tritt and a brief comment from Arkansas Children’s. DHS outlined the main hospital payment streams: fee-for-service per diem payments, upper payment limit (UPL) supplemental payments, cost settlements, and smaller payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked for plain-language explanations of cost settlements, why per diem rates vary by hospital type, and why UPL applies to private hospitals. DHS said cost settlements and UPL are mechanisms to help offset Medicaid underpayment, with SFY 2025 hospital payments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars and no general revenue used for supplemental payments beyond the state share funded through hospital assessments and related financing structures. Committee members focused heavily on whether Arkansas hospitals are adequately reimbursed and why rural hospitals struggle. Tritt explained that critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals operate under different federal and state rules, and said lower per diem rates for some facilities help with cash flow and later cost settlement adjustments. She said Arkansas hospitals are under financial strain, citing a negative patient services margin statewide and noting that Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers all contribute to the problem. She also said the association had just authorized a statewide survey of hospital finances and costs, which she expected would take about a year to complete. A major theme was commercial insurance reimbursement. Tritt argued Arkansas hospitals are paid far less than hospitals in neighboring states even though premiums are similar, and said administrative burdens, prior authorizations, and denials add to the problem. She said hospitals receive about 52 to 53 cents on the dollar for Medicaid costs without UPL and about 78 cents with UPL, still below cost. Members also discussed Medicare wage index issues, Medicare Advantage, and whether hospitals could use technology or alternative arrangements to improve finances. No votes were taken on the hospital presentation. At the end of the meeting, DHS provided a brief update on Living Choices and assisted living reimbursement. Officials said one assisted living facility, Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, with nine waiver clients being transitioned to other settings. DHS said the current cost reporting period was underway and that a new rate study could be ready for review before the end of the fiscal year if reports were submitted on time. Members also asked about the broader waiver plan, and DHS said the next waiver iteration would likely be brought back to the committee in the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if that youth would need to be placed somewhere, even when we're assessing if they're at home with
• And then we've also looked, created a human trafficking identification assessment.
• And then we've also looked, created a human trafficking identification assessment.
• So we did add a five-question assessment.
• They also began incorporating placement assessment data into its new information system.

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs received three presentations and took no bill votes. The Department of Children and Families gave an extensive update on human trafficking prevention and services, describing Florida’s statutory framework, hotline and investigation data, placement options such as safe houses and safe foster homes, new adult safe house certification rules, expanded screening tools for vulnerable adults, and prevention efforts including youth-led outreach and training. Members asked about whether current funding is sufficient, how DCF addresses grooming and re-victimization in residential settings, and how long youth typically remain in safe-house placements; DCF said funding is only one part of the support system, that families and youth receive prevention resources even when allegations are not substantiated, and that placement length varies by child. OPPAGA then presented its 2024 annual report on commercial sexual exploitation of children. The report found that verified CSE victims slightly declined in 2023, with Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Escambia among the highest-prevalence counties. Most verified victims were community youth rather than children already in care, though dependent youth had higher rates of prior maltreatment. OPPAGA also reported continued concerns about limited placement capacity, especially for less restrictive Tier 1 safe houses, and service gaps such as the need for survivor mentors. Its recommendations focused on expanding placement options, improving data collection, and strengthening collaboration to support survivor mentors. Finally, DCF presented the Step into Success pilot program for current and former foster youth ages 16 to 26. The program combines workforce education, professional development, and paid internships with mentor support; the first cohort launched in 2024 with 15 participants, all of whom secured placements, and the department reported strong satisfaction and early outcomes. Committee members asked about scalability, costs, and whether the model could be moved beyond DCF-run operations into community-based providers. DCF said the program was designed to be scalable, currently costs about $500,000 annually for the pilot, and could be expanded statewide with additional funding and partner support. The committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• help ease the MnChoices assessment help ease the MnChoices assessment backlog. backlog. backlog.
• <00:19:57.600> that for conducting assessments that for conducting assessments that determine
• conduct conduct those assessments. conduct conduct those assessments.
• team at DHS to help conduct assessments team at DHS to help conduct assessments in<00:20:45.840>
• So, one key assessment process.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:56:42.839> not<00:56:43.839> best assessment not best assessment not best practice<
• The Program for International Student Assessment, which assesses student outcomes based upon countries
• <01:14:04.800> which international student assessment which international student assessment
• student so requiring that the assessment student so requiring that the assessment be<01:41:38.800
• able to have the proper assessment able to have the proper assessment I<01:48:23.639> want

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 627, which concerns Department of Education school safety funding and staffing. DOE said the bill would restore two positions and related funding that had been removed from the governor’s budget: a targeted violence prevention and threat assessment program manager and a security technology manager. DOE described ongoing work on school vulnerability assessments, fire suppression measures, security camera research, panic buttons, and active shooter prevention training. Testifiers from DOE, the Department of Law Enforcement, fire services, HSTA, and an individual witness all supported the bill, with the individual citing a past school shooting experience as a reason to increase school resource officers and safety measures. Members asked about the positions’ duties, how the request differed from existing security funding, and the status of active shooter training; DOE said it would provide more information on training statistics. The committee then took up HB 249, relating to Executive Office on Early Learning family child interaction learning programs. The Early Learning Board, EOEL, Commit to Kids, Early Childhood Action Strategies, Partners in Development Foundation, and others testified in support. EOEL said it currently spends about $800,000 annually on FCI program contracts and supports expanding state funding for FCIL programs, including infant and early childhood mental health, if the appropriation covers the broader scope. Testifiers emphasized that FCIL programs are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and help families and children, with one provider sharing a long-term example of a parent and child benefiting from the program. Members asked how many programs are supported, whether FCIL exists on all islands, and whether the request was in the governor’s budget; EOEL said the expansion was requested by the office but not included in the governor’s budget. HB 429, concerning pre-K expansion, drew broad support from the Lieutenant Governor, EOEL, HSTA, and community groups. Supporters said the Ready Keiki initiative has already opened more than 50 classrooms and would add another 50 over the next two years, including Hawaiian immersion classrooms. EOEL said it currently administers 72 public pre-K classrooms across 74 campuses and that the bill’s funding was included in the governor’s budget request. Testimony stressed kindergarten readiness, affordability for working families, equity across islands, and inclusion classrooms. Members asked about national quality benchmarks, with EOEL stating Hawaii meets 10 of 10 benchmarks and that only five states had done so at the time referenced. The Lieutenant Governor also described construction and delivery efforts, including refurbishing existing classrooms, modular options, possible use of state buildings, and even collaboration with libraries to expand child care access. Finally, the committee heard HB 439 on J-1 teacher licensure. DOE supported the bill, while the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposed it, arguing licensure standards are not place-based and should remain rigorous and uniform for all educators. The Attorney General’s office offered technical comments, including replacing “educators” with “teacher” and clarifying the bill’s language on issuance and renewal conditions. Several organizations and individuals testified in support, including school, cultural, business, and educator groups. One witness, a teacher from the Philippines, said J-1 educators are highly qualified and described the rigor of teacher preparation in the Philippines. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The penalties you collect nowhere near match what the penalties will be assessed. That goes on.
• The penalties you collect nowhere near match what the penalties will be assessed against the district
• Under today's law, as you'll see on the handout in a moment, you can assess a penalty of $10,000 per
• The state assesses a penalty of $5,000 a day for violations of the use of the state's water.
• The state assesses a penalty of $5,000 a day for violations of the use of the state.

Bills: HB4530, HB4931, HB5559, HB5560

Keywords: water rights, Texas Water Trust, water bank, environmental conservation, water quality, instream flows, aquifer, water injection, Edwards Aquifer, environmental regulation, groundwater, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water conservation, drought, utility regulation, water use restrictions, Public Utility Commission, civil penalties, drought contingency, environmental protection

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources met with a quorum present and first took up several pending bills for reconsideration and committee substitute adoption. House Bill 2692, relating to codification and clarification of local laws concerning the San Antonio River Authority, was reported favorably to the full House and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars by an 11-0 vote. House Bills 1407, 1520, 1535, 2970, 4153, 291, 3663, and 3915 were also reconsidered or laid out as pending business, with committee substitutes adopted where needed and each bill reported favorably, generally by unanimous vote, to the full House and then to Calendars or Calendars/Calendars-related referral as applicable. The committee then heard House Bill 4530, which would expand the Texas Water Trust framework to include groundwater rights, require Texas Water Development Board review and approval of groundwater dedications, and notify local groundwater districts when groundwater rights are placed in the trust. The bill’s author and witnesses from the Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and Chispa Texas supported the measure as a conservation tool and a way to create a clear process for voluntary donations; a Texas Water Development Board witness testified neutrally. The bill was left pending. House Bill 4931, relating to an aquifer storage and recovery project in Medina County, drew support from the author, the Medina County judge, and a regional water alliance witness, who described severe stress on the Edwards Aquifer, low levels at Medina Lake, and the need for a local water-supply tool. The bill was left pending. House Bill 5559, which would clarify enforcement of drought contingency plans for investor-owned water utilities and involve the PUC in model plan development, received support from groundwater district representatives but also concerns from water company and utility witnesses about enforcement authority, approval procedures, and potential conflicts with existing obligations to provide continuous service; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. House Bill 5560, which would raise the maximum civil penalty for certain groundwater conservation district enforcement actions from $10,000 to $25,000 per violation, prompted debate over whether current law is already sufficient; supporters said the higher cap would better deter overpumping, while opponents argued existing penalties are already severe. That bill was also left pending, and the committee adjourned subject to call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Josh Elliott said the department shall assess whoever it is they assess.
• clear that the department shall assess clear that the department shall assess whoever<00:33:31.200
• That is, and then with an assessment after the... assessment in accordance with RSA 365:37.
• an assessment an assessment<00:36:06.480> under Uh, was there—who?
• > with assessment in accordance with assessment in accordance with RSA<00:37:11.160> 365

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 16 from the DHS policy bill adds a written functional assessment to the duties of a children's
• This expands the professionals who may conduct a substance use disorder comprehensive assessment.
• This is just a revisor instruction to update comprehensive assessment terminology.
• crisis assessment crisis assessment services<00:15:05.600> and<00:15:06.040> um<00
• comprehensive assessment comprehensive assessment terminology<00:15:14.560> that<00:15:14.639

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 22 also from House assessment.
• crisis intervention or crisis assessment crisis intervention or crisis assessment services.<00:15
• update comprehensive assessment update comprehensive assessment terminology.<00:16:01.040> That
• disorder treatment assessment disorder treatment assessment requirements.<00:18:58.160> Section
• , significant as a men choices assessment, significant as a men choices assessment, um<01:04:08.960

Bills: HF2115, HF2276, HF1644, HF99, HF2068, HF2707, HF2704, HF2406, HF1674, HF1579

Keywords: human services, aging services, disability services, behavioral health, long-term care, nursing home, nursing facility, assisted living, waiver services, medical assistance, Medicaid, case mix reimbursement, PDPM, RUG, direct care and treatment, developmental disabilities, day services, positive support, guardian, conservator

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. properly place and assess and and kind properly place and assess and and kind of<00:12:59.639
• assessment or participating alongside an RN in a comprehensive assessment.
• <01:35:33.400> a comprehensive assessments a comprehensive assessments a comprehensive<01:
• conduct these assessments prior to could conduct these assessments prior to Al<01:37:35.560> lure
• assessment and perform any assessment assessment and perform any assessment upon<01:37:54.320>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:35.160> the uh come they come in and assess the uh come they come in and assess the
• assess your roof. assess your roof.
• system of assessment that we created. system of assessment that we created.
• different types of assessments.
• how I feel about assessments. how I feel about assessments.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 562, which would create a home damage mitigation and resilience grant program aimed at helping homeowners make property improvements that could reduce insurance costs and non-renewals. Commissioner DJ Bettencourt of the New Hampshire Insurance Department explained that the program is modeled in part on Alabama’s safer homes program, but tailored for New Hampshire hazards such as floods, microbursts, heavy snow, ice, and falling trees. He said the grants would be limited to primary residences, subject to a means test, capped at $10,000, and intended to help homeowners make targeted improvements such as roof fortification or tree removal that could improve underwriting outcomes and lead to premium discounts. Bettencourt said the program would not use state taxpayer funds and would instead rely on philanthropic donations, possible federal or regional housing-bank funding, and other outside sources. He said the department would not need new staff, and that a current position could be reconfigured to help administer the program part-time. Committee members asked about the funding language, the meaning of “loans” in the bill, whether there were any other states using a similar no-state-funds model, and how many homeowners could be helped. Bettencourt said Rhode Island and Connecticut were moving forward in a similar way, and that the number of beneficiaries would depend on how much money is raised. Members also questioned how the grant program would actually lower premiums, whether savings would apply only to participants or more broadly, and how the IBHS evaluation process would work. Bettencourt and department staff said the direct benefit would be to the homeowner whose property is improved, though neighbors could also benefit in some cases. They explained that IBHS is a building-safety organization that certifies contractors and inspectors and that its standards can qualify homes for insurer discounts. Questions were also raised about confidentiality provisions, first-come-first-served grant awards, rollover of unused applications, and possible tax treatment of donations. The sponsor said those details would be addressed through rulemaking or existing tax rules, and no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You heard Commissioner Jacobson mention a third-party security assessment.
• It's been a number of years since the last security assessment has taken place.
• In addition to that third-party assessment and our own internal review, there have been discussions and
• > capital<00:13:52.079> security external assessment for capital security external assessment
• We may have party security assessment. We may have that<00:20:50.640> available.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Executive function is assessed through a two to five minute assessment done on a tablet, but it's done
• Next week, we'll release the RFP for a new developmental assessment.
• What are you assessing? Why are you assessing executive function in a child at that age?
• The tool itself, the assessment, I think is for children from two to six years old.
• I already alluded to the needs assessment, which is based on community needs.