Transcript Highlights:

• is Valentina Stone, and I'm an audit is Valentina Stone, and I'm an audit director<00:02:17.400>
• visits during our audit period. visits during our audit period.
• grant audit findings. grant audit findings.
• audit investigation into the matter. audit investigation into the matter.
• um and BHS while performing the audit. um and BHS while performing the audit.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We conducted this audit as a part of our regular cycle of audits of the constitutional officers, which
• of part of our regular cycle of audits of part of our regular cycle of audits of the<00:02:11.039
• > of<00:03:04.760> our findings uh the the audit scope of our findings uh the the audit
• So you can find the audit or the finding on page 23 of the audit report.
• financial audit division and these performance audits, and that those are the standards.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• All three groups support the audits.
• certified CPAs to complete the audit certified CPAs to complete the audit work<00:04:04.400>
• smaller cities are subject to audit smaller cities are subject to audit requirements<00:04:15.920
• to perform an audit more stringently. to perform an audit more stringently.
• <00:22:18.960> I about the audit burdens they had. I about the audit burdens they had.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:54 Roll Call 00:01:17 SB 192 Discussion 00:03:31 SB 192 Vote 00:05:41 SB 312 Discussion 00:07:17 SB 312 Vote 00:09:56 SB 27 Discussion 00:11:27 SB 27 Vote 00:15:51 SB 149 Discussion 00:16:55 SB 149 Vote 00:19:35 SB 133 Discussion 00:21:17 SB 133 Vote 00:23:41 SJR 62 Discussion 00:25:04 SJR 62 Vote 00:27:28 SJR 75 Discussion 00:28:31 SJR 75 Vote 00:31:56 Adjournment 00:34:30, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We last audited overtime in 2016.
• Beyond, who was the audit director on this audit. five agencies also made up a majority of five agencies
• <00:01:32.880> Thank the audit director on this audit.
• Thank the audit director on this audit. Thank you. you. you. >> Thank<00:01:34.880> you.
• And we during our audit scope.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, that would also be a financial audit division audit.
• Um, the financial audits that we conduct each year are performance audits.
• audit division audit.<00:25:15.200> That<00:25:15.360> would<00:25:15.520> be<00
• >> And Auditor Randall um financial audits >> And Auditor Randall um financial audits
• recommend to the full audit commission. recommend to the full audit commission.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Audit Commission Evaluation Subcommittee met on October 6, 2025, to choose additional program evaluation topics for the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Deputy Legislative Auditor Jody Mson Rodriguez explained that the commission had previously selected seven topics from an initial list of 11, with background papers already prepared on five of those items, and that the subcommittee was now being asked to select five more topics for background papers before narrowing the full set to four recommendations later in the fall or early spring. Members discussed several possible topics, especially emergency medical services, non-emergency medical transportation, MinnesotaCare eligibility, child care assistance, medical assistance fraud prevention, and U.S. Bank Stadium. David Kersner of OLA said emergency medical services and non-emergency medical transportation are distinct programs, and noted the EMS topic was evaluated in 2022 while non-emergency medical transportation had not been reviewed since 2011. Auditor Judy Randall said MinnesotaCare eligibility, child care assistance, and medical assistance fraud prevention are better suited to OLA’s financial audit division or special review unit rather than program evaluation, and that financial audits and special reviews do not require Legislative Audit Commission nomination. On process, Mson Rodriguez said the subcommittee had already met its minimum required selections under the commission’s policy and was free to choose additional topics. The discussion also covered whether to broaden the stadium topic beyond U.S. Bank Stadium; staff said the U.S. Bank financing structure alone would be a major undertaking, but they could help craft a future topic focused on maintenance across multiple facilities. No final vote or motion was taken in the portion of the meeting provided, and the chair indicated the committee would continue nominations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we're moving on to HCR 172, uh, related to procurement and audits.
• An audit would also unfavorable results.
• Moving on to HCR 172 related to an audit for DHRD.
• Moving on to HCR 172 related to an audit Moving on to HCR 172 related to an audit um um um for<00:48:
• requesting an audit requesting an audit to<00:48:50.359> conduct<00:48:50.680> a<00

Bills: HCR92, HCR46, HCR172, HCR147, HCR112, HCR100, HR84, HR42, HR139, HR104, HR92

Keywords: automated external defibrillator, AED, cardiac arrest, state buildings, health education, public health, lifeguards, first responders, public safety, ocean safety, emergency response, Hawaii, workers' compensation, auditor, procurement audit, compliance, Department of Human Resources Development, transparency, accountability, medical care

Transcript Highlights:

• response and performance to the audit response and performance to the audit from<00:04:51.600>
• <00:04:57.759> uh And uh that performance audit uh And uh that performance audit uh recognized
• Uh to particular uh audit uh issues.
• I do have two audits to report on.
• I'm the director of audits for the LBA. And with me is Jay Henry, performance audit supervisor.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened by approving the September 5, 2025 minutes, with one member asking that future minutes use honorifics such as Mr. or Ms. The agenda was then adjusted so Police Standards and Training could present first. Director John Skipa reported on the 2019 performance audit, saying 12 of 16 findings were fully resolved and the remaining items were substantially or partially resolved. He highlighted work on a job task analysis to update curriculum and develop a more realistic physical aptitude test, including possible replacement of the long-used Cooper test and a shift away from mandatory baton training toward electronic weapons training. He said stakeholder work groups would meet in October and November, with a goal of completing the work by the first quarter of 2026. On the strategic planning and performance measurement finding, Skipa said the agency had relied on the 2019 audit and the LEAC report as guides while also implementing a digital records system. He acknowledged that a formal forward-looking strategic plan with the council had not yet been completed, but said he and the council chair wanted to do so, possibly through a retreat-style planning session. Members asked how many LEAC recommendations had been fully implemented; Skipa said he did not know the exact number but believed nearly all of the 22 items assigned to his agency were complete. On the administrative rules finding, he said a part-time former director had been brought back to help revise outdated rules, the council subcommittee had finished its work, and proposed changes would be sent to the full council, then to stakeholders and the public, with a public hearing expected and implementation targeted for 2026. For the Corrections Advisory Committee finding, Skipa said the committee had been reconvened in 2020 and 2021 but had limited usefulness because the statutorily named members were mostly high-level administrators rather than line supervisors or newer corrections staff. He said some positions later went unfilled because of budget and staffing issues, and the committee had not been called back, but he was open to either informal adjustments or possible legislative changes to make the committee more useful. Committee members suggested that the statute may need to be amended to allow more appropriate designees or supervisors to participate. After Police Standards and Training concluded, the committee moved on to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, where the executive director said he would focus on the partially resolved items in the dental examiner audit and the National Path audit, noting that many changes were tied to recent statutory revisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• or audits.
• audits.
• Was it a forensic audit?
• Okay, it was a process audit.
• And your process audit, you audited internally or was it someone outside the school district?

Bills: HB1540, HB3837, HB5571, SB370, SB2425

Keywords: government review, Texas Sunset Act, regulatory oversight, agencies, sunset provisions, autonomous vehicles, regulation, safety, criminal offense, Autonomous Vehicle Commission, registration, regulations, Level 4 automation, Level 5 automation, self-driving technology, traffic laws, permit system, collision reporting, safety standards, Automated Vehicle Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the LBA Audit Division.
• of the mental health workforce audit.
• And uh I think it was five boards who were part of the audit of the mental health workforce audit.
• Um, and then the audits there. And now. Um, and then the audits there.
• ,<01:06:46.079> but to the audit, response of the audit, but to the audit, response of the

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the Legislative Budget Assistant audit of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s response to 12 findings, especially those tied to mental health workforce licensure. The executive director said 10 findings were substantially resolved, one fully resolved, and one partially resolved, with most issues tied to ongoing rulemaking. He explained that the office regulates 61 professions, has limited rules-drafting staff, and is working through a long rulemaking process while also adapting to frequent statutory changes. The committee discussed the first finding on license portability/endorsement, which the director said was the office’s highest priority and had been implemented through universal recognition rules adopted in 2023. Members asked detailed questions about how the office reviews other states’ licensing standards, whether it evaluates jurisdictions case-by-case or maintains a database, and how many jurisdictions qualify for endorsement in various professions. The director said the office initially reviewed all states and professions at once, now maintains and updates a list of substantially similar jurisdictions, and sometimes evaluates narrower jurisdictions such as counties, cities, or foreign countries. He noted that some professions, like nursing, have broad reciprocity, while others, including some mental health-related fields, vary widely and may have only a limited number of qualifying jurisdictions. He also said the office is exploring whether AI could help with research and tracking, though not with final verification. The committee then turned to expedited licensure processing. The director said the office now handles examination, review, and issuance or denial based on board-set criteria, rather than requiring every board to review every application, which has sped up processing. He said delays still occur with criminal background checks and FBI fingerprint processing because of paper forms, federal involvement, and back-and-forth with the Department of Safety when releases are incomplete or incorrect. Members raised concerns about broader state process bottlenecks and asked whether legislation could help streamline the system. A legislator said he was already working on related background-check language for another agency and believed the current draft may satisfy FBI requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Audits are essential, and had the audits been done as required, when required, we never would have gotten
• Audits are essential, and had the audits been done as required, when required, we never would have gotten
• to SAU that do not turn in the audits to SAU that do not turn in the audits until<00:49:07.920><
• five,<00:50:43.520> eight submitting audits three, five, eight submitting audits three, five
• Um and it and it conduct an audit.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :10.319> that this audit this examination that this audit this examination that information<00
• auditing, but we've started that work. auditing, but we've started that work.
• <00:05:23.759> So part in our formal audit process. So part in our formal audit process.
• audit in case you wanted to dig deeper. audit in case you wanted to dig deeper.
• pertinent for the audit? pertinent for the audit?

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:07 Attendance Roll Call: 00:13 Approval of Minutes: 02:28 2025 RS SB 9: TRS Leave Audit Requirements & Process: 03:05 2025 RS SB 10: Overview of Enacted Legislation & Discussion: 28:38 Adjournment: 42:13, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, a quorum was confirmed, and the minutes were approved. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 9, which concerns TRS sick leave audit requirements and process. Auditor Allison Ball’s staff said the audit is an information-gathering review of how teacher sick leave is accumulated, current balances, how many employers use the sick leave function, and the policies and procedures governing sick leave. Members discussed how unused sick leave affects retirement calculations, the distinction between the state’s financial responsibility and school districts’ responsibility, and whether the audit would also examine related leave categories such as personal leave, annual leave, and leave of absence. Committee members emphasized that Senate Bill 9 was intended to add accountability and standardize reporting, including preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave. Several members asked for clarification on how sick leave is factored into retirement benefits. Witnesses and members explained that, under the system described, accumulated sick leave can be converted into retirement credit based on a teacher’s daily rate and then multiplied by a percentage, with the school district often bearing the cost. Members also noted nuances in the law, including different accumulation limits by hire date and tier, and that the audit may help the public better understand why some educators retire relatively young. The auditor’s office said it is still early in the process, has met with TRS leadership, and will report back once the audit progresses. The committee also asked whether maternity leave would be included; the auditor’s office said it was not specifically mandated but could be examined if the body requests it. The committee then received an overview of Senate Bill 10 from KPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Rebecca Atkins. They explained that the bill enhances retiree health insurance benefits for certain CRS members who are non-Medicare participants and meet specified career thresholds, with different rules for hazardous and non-hazardous service. They described the benefit as $40 per month per year of service for non-hazardous service and $50 per month per year for hazardous service, both inflated annually, and clarified that these amounts are not cumulative with prior benefit formulas. Members asked about the interaction between the new amounts and existing benefits, and the presenters explained that the bill also changes current employee health insurance contribution rates effective July 1, 2026, with different impacts by tier and hazardous status. The committee discussed the need for clear communication to affected employees and reviewed example calculations showing how the new contribution structure would work.

Transcript Highlights:

• If anybody has seen the audited statements, I believe they are included in some of the materials today
• He said the audited statements are included in some of the materials today and that the health care entity
• From the med school opening, we focused on the accreditation costs, promotional materials, and recruitment
• From the med school opening, we focused on the accreditation costs, promotional materials, and recruitment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• but clearly what we learned was it needed a very serious investment, and we knew it anyway from the audit
• but clearly what we learned was it needed a very serious investment, and we knew it anyway from the audit
• happened was what we never figured on was interest rates just went through the roof, and the cost of materials
• <00:49:35.520> the<00:49:35.680> cost<00:49:35.960> of<00:49:36.119> materials
• <00:49:36.559> because roof and the cost of materials because roof and the cost of materials

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have access to all that material.
• We have access to all that<02:18:47.439> material.
• And we have shared from that material.
• Five years of audited reports? Of audited reports from the Claremont school district.
• Five years of audited reports? Of audited reports from the Claremont school district.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So things like increased audits and standardized forms and compliance and staff training, I'm all in
• are times when the Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, collects sensitive genetic material
• This bill establishes that DFPS and any contracted laboratories must destroy the genetic material once
• are times when the Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, collects sensitive genetic material
• This bill establishes that DFPS may not collect this material from a child unless they are granted permission

Bills: HB163, HB216, HB721, HB2035, HB2038, HB3057, HB3153, HB3233, HB3595, HB3801, HB3812, HB4076, HB4129, HB4377, HB4535, HB4666, HB4730, HB4743, HB4903, HB5149, HB5155, HB1534

Keywords: epinephrine, healthcare, emergency response, administration, medical policy, health care, itemized billing, patient rights, provider regulations, Texas Health and Safety Code, cost disclosure, insurance, benefit plan, administrators, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions, parental notice, mental health, medical licensing

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, then established a quorum with five members present. Members heard and left pending several House bills, including HB 4743 on allowing hospitals to license mobile stroke units under a hospital license, HB 4129 on earlier DFPS enforcement tools for single-source continuum contractors in community-based foster care, HB 4903 creating a Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to coordinate child care regulations across state agencies, HB 3812 revising the gold card/prior authorization process for physicians, HB 4535 requiring written informed consent before COVID-19 vaccination and a standardized state information sheet, and HB 4666 reducing the frequency of some HHSC reports to the legislature. The chair also noted HB 35 would be voted on later after a subcommittee back was received, and that a large number of bills would be heard the next day. Most of the testimony focused on HB 4535 and HB 4730. On HB 4535, supporters argued the bill would strengthen informed consent for COVID vaccination by requiring written consent and clearer state-level information about risks, manufacturer liability protections, and adverse-event reporting; opponents, including a pediatrician and medical groups, said existing federal and state informed-consent materials already cover these topics and warned the bill could create duplicative paperwork and penalties. On HB 3812, the Texas Medical Association supported changes that would extend the gold-card evaluation period to one year, raise transparency, and make prior authorization exemptions easier to administer, while health plans said they were neutral and viewed the bill as a balance between reducing burden and preventing fraud or unsafe care. HB 4730 drew extensive testimony from adoption professionals, birth mothers, adoptive parents, and child welfare advocates. The bill would require DFPS to create a relinquishment form, train child-placing agency staff, and extend the minimum waiting period for voluntary relinquishment from 48 hours to seven days. Supporters of the current law argued the 48-hour period aligns with hospital discharge, allows informed decisions, and helps birth parents and adoptive families begin healing and bonding without pushing children into foster care or creating legal and Medicaid complications. The author said the bill would be revised and that the seven-day provision was a work in progress. No votes were taken on the bills during the meeting; each bill was left pending after public testimony closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can y'all speak to what you were doing on the county level to increase oversight and auditing in these
• I should have my materials. Thank you. I should have my materials. I should have my materials.
• You should have received some materials about the impact of the housing authority tax exemptions on water

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several bills dealing with local government authority, homeowners associations, hospital district policing, school AED inspections, special district annexation, public contracting penalties, and guaranteed income programs. Senate Bill 2073 by Sen. Zaffirini would clarify that appraisal districts may finance purchases, leases, or construction of real property for appraisal offices without prior approval from taxing units; it was supported by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and left pending. Senate Bill 1935 by Sen. Hinojosa would increase homeowner control of property owners association boards, require more transparency, limit fines and assessment increases, and require accessible meeting locations; HOA and builder representatives opposed it, arguing it would hinder maintenance and make dues harder to manage, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 434 by Sen. Miles would authorize Harris County Hospital District police officers, was supported by Harris Health, and was left pending. Senate Bill 1177 by Sen. Alvarado, as substituted, would require school AED inspections during fire inspections and reporting to school leadership; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1214 by Sen. Perry would update Concho County Hospital District law to align with current procurement and notice rules; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1965 by Sen. Middleton, for Sen. King, would tighten notice and proximity rules for special district annexations; district witnesses warned the bill could interfere with service to noncontiguous tracts, and the bill was left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 2046 by Sen. Bettencourt, which would increase criminal penalties for county purchasing act violations involving unauthorized separate or sequential purchases to evade competitive bidding, and create a tiered penalty structure based on contract amount. Former Harris County DA Kim Ogg, Deputy Attorney General Josh Reno, and James Quintero supported the bill, citing recent Harris County bid-rigging cases and arguing the current Class C misdemeanor penalty is too weak to deter misconduct; some members questioned whether the proposed thresholds were too low and whether stronger oversight, rather than higher penalties alone, would be more effective. The bill was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 2010 by Sen. Bettencourt would bar counties and other political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs and address constitutional gift-clause concerns. Testimony split sharply: Ogg and Quintero argued such programs are unconstitutional, can be used for political data collection, and should not be funded with public money, while Paige Terry Barry defended the bill as protecting taxpayers and discouraging dependency. Senators also debated whether the state can restrict use of federal grant funds and whether local governments should be allowed to run such programs; the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moreover, the state auditor is required to audit higher, higher eds compliance and the UT system will
• Highlighted in your materials are some recent grants totaling tens of millions of dollars that have been
• it's $290 for the fall and spring, and $180 for the summer, what that means is all of those course materials
• is, is a great boon for both the students and for the faculty to be able to have access to those materials
• created, that has been instrumental in driving interdisciplinary research like hypersonic space materials

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires a sunset advisory commission to conduct a full forensic audit audit of the TEA's charter
• That makes it unclear whether Sunset is to conduct one audit of TEA or multiple audits of TEA as well
• or audits.
• audits.
• Was it a forensic audit?

Transcript Highlights:

• tempting just to throw on the word audit tempting just to throw on the word audit and<00:03:05.560
• external audit.
• You know, if internal audit structure.
• , but is different than an external audit, but is different than an external audit.<00:04:58.160>
• You know, so we'll let you know audit.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: State Auditor Julie Blaha discussed fraud in Minnesota, emphasizing that recent attention on fraud during COVID-19 should be separated from broader, ongoing fraud risks. She explained that the Office of the State Auditor oversees about $60 billion in local government activity, including school districts, cities, townships, counties, special districts, and port authorities, and works both to prevent fraud through audits and to investigate cases when they arise. Blaha said the biggest current challenge is workforce shortages in accounting and accountability fields, which makes it harder to provide oversight even as public demand for accountability increases. She urged legislators to involve her office early when drafting bills so the right oversight tool can be matched to the risk, rather than simply adding an audit requirement by default. She also said a proposed Office of the Inspector General would be a useful accountability discussion, but stressed that internal audit structures are often more effective than relying only on external audits. Blaha said the public plays a major role in detecting fraud because tips are the most common way fraud, waste, and abuse are uncovered. She encouraged public employees and local officials to report concerns, especially around unusual spending or misuse of purchasing cards, and noted that reporting can be confidential and is often required for certain public employees. In her closing remarks, she warned that COVID-era fraud often involved private-sector actors and said outsourcing government work requires careful risk analysis and added oversight. The segment ended with a reminder that allegations of state government fraud can be submitted to the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor online, by phone, or by mail.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the role of Proposition 123. construction materials, labor shortages, construction materials,
• We have audits on single departments where hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud are known to have
• We have we have audits on single cuts.
• We have we have audits on single departments<02:56:38.319> where<02:56:39.120> hundreds
• and oversight uh to there for auditing and oversight uh to ensure<04:10:01.120> proper<04:10:

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House opened with the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Members then approved the journal of April 8, 2026, and heard several introductions and tributes, including recognition of Home Education Day in Colorado, a welcome to Sigma Lambda Gamma members, and a reminder about an education luncheon. The chamber then recessed briefly before moving into second reading and floor consideration of bills. The main substantive debate centered on House Bill 1357, which phases out the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation (TREP) program. Supporters said the program serves a relatively small number of students, costs more per student than community college alternatives, and should be wound down so limited state education dollars can go to core services and the school finance formula. Opponents argued the state had promised the program to students who planned their education around it, including some who turned down scholarships, and said the change would harm future teachers and should have been treated as a pause rather than an end. The House adopted an appropriations amendment (L003), withdrew a proposed substitute amendment (L005), and then passed HB 1357 as amended. The House also passed House Bill 1358, which reduces the appropriation for the Colorado Academic Accelerator Grant Program by $5.2 million in general fund. The sponsor described it as a grant program supporting community learning centers and math/STEM enrichment, but said funding will end after the following fiscal year and the program must step down so families can seek other services. The bill was adopted without further opposition. Finally, the House considered House Bill 1359, which redirects certain revenue from public school land natural resource removals to the state public school fund rather than the permanent fund, with projected transfers of $25 million in FY 2025-26 and $45 million in FY 2026-27. Supporters said the measure is needed to help balance the budget. An opponent raised concerns about impacts on a constituent ranch lease tied to a proposed green energy project, but the sponsor clarified the bill applies only to royalties and leases on state-owned public school lands. The House then adopted HB 1359.