Transcript Highlights:

• implementation of new payment review implementation of new payment review processes<00:21:16.080
• effect of the new prepayment review effect of the new prepayment review process,<00:27:06.799>
• In this paid if not for the review.
• federal funds supporting this program. federal funds supporting this program.
• So the in terms of the prepayment review So the in terms of the prepayment review process process

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've completed our first task, which was to review and summarize all of the programs, essentially a
• We also heard that programs are stood up not only by the team charged with administering the programs
• on an existing program or a new program altogether, and whether a program is working with existing recipients
• We saw that in some programs that were built on legacy programs that predated the CCA.
• program.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• estimate for the program.
• the program, really what's expected.
• estimate for the program.
• programs that are forecast of programs programs that are forecast of programs that<00:26:27.960>
• substantially complex or new programs substantially complex or new programs are<00:26:48.480>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the fiscal note process, prompted by concerns raised in a prior hearing about the fiscal note for the Paid Family and Medical Leave law. Chair Marty, Senator Pratt, and Senator Wiklund said the goal was not to revisit the bill itself but to strengthen understanding of fiscal note standards, the role of the Legislative Budget Office (LBO), and communication with agencies. They emphasized bipartisan concern that fiscal notes must be respected and that the process should be clearer going forward. Christian Larison of the LBO explained that the 2024 fiscal note issues stemmed from three main problems: choosing the proper baseline for a program that had not yet started, interpreting the seven-day qualifying event/waiting period, and determining whether DEED could adjust the first-year premium rate. He said the LBO, DEED, MMB, and House fiscal staff ultimately used the October 2023 actuarial analysis as the baseline because it was the most recent and likely most accurate estimate, but that choice meant the fiscal note did not show the difference from the 2023 enacted budget. He also described how DEED later interpreted the seven-day provision as a waiting period and how the premium-rate assumptions affected the fiscal impact. Larison outlined possible responses, including more assertive early communication from the LBO, providing more detailed analysis in unusual cases, and possibly creating a working group through the LBO Oversight Commission to consider new standards for substantial assumption changes, complex new programs, and third-party actuarial work. He also noted the LBO has authority to issue unapproved fiscal notes if standards are not met, though it has not used that authority. In questions, Senator Murphy asked about protecting the credibility of fiscal notes, and Larison said maintaining independence, objectivity, and consistent standards is central to the LBO’s role. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• EPA, is that the immunotoxicity reviews are waived at the U.S.
• California, and then the Department of Pesticide Regulation reviews it.
• We also have concerns around the review.
• We know these incentive programs work because the demand already exists.
• The legislator has invested in a voucher program, and those funds have been utilized.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not small programs.
• recovery programs and professionals. recovery programs and professionals.
• > 245F<00:43:15.920> programs and 245F programs and 245F programs would<00:43:17.640>
• Accountability and program integrity in medical assistance programs are important.
• interest in ensuring program integrity. interest in ensuring program integrity.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, which will expand state grant and loan programming for
• The MPCA site assessment program is a multi-faceted assessment program with priority given to sites with
• (DNR) and review funded projects annually.
• , including the Community Grants Program. the Community Grants Program.
• And to wrap up, the Advisory Council will help Review program structures and recipient eligibility and

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• General Funded Program, the Clean California Program.
• So, basically, what the administration is saying is this litter program, which is a brand new program
• with existing federal formula-based programs.
• I know you're not the one doing the project review, but the timing of the project review.
• Most appropriately, when the project review is done.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a federally funded program.
• yet when they come through this program.
• when they do their annual reviews.
• And is this something that's included in your scope of review?
• This concludes the reports for review on the committee's agenda.

Summary: The House and Senate Legislative Audit committee met to approve prior minutes and review four higher education audit reports. Staff first presented the University of Arkansas System report, which included three findings that had been certified and referred to the Governmental Bonding Board, the attorney general, and the appropriate prosecuting attorney: unauthorized purchases at UAPB totaling about $37,000, a fraud scheme involving falsified FAFSA/transcript records at East Arkansas Community College with about $66,000 in losses, and unallowable charges in the Veterans Upward Bound program at UA Fayetteville totaling $8,500, of which $6,700 was recovered. Committee members praised the institutions’ internal audit and management teams for identifying the issues and asked detailed questions about how the fraud was detected, especially the online student identity-theft scheme at EACC and the safeguards now being used to verify student identity and prevent similar cases. EACC officials explained that the fraudulent admissions involved online applicants using falsified transcripts and identity-theft tactics, that 39 suspicious students were identified, and that seven slipped through far enough to receive federal aid, resulting in a $2,500 reimbursement obligation to the university. They said the college now uses a cross-departmental student validity team, extensive red-flag protocols, direct outreach to high schools, ID verification, and other checks, and that the issue has been shared across the UA system and with other campuses. UA Fayetteville also clarified that no veterans were harmed by the Veterans Upward Bound finding; the program was closed and students were redirected to other veteran support programs in the state. The committee then deferred the Northwest Arkansas Community College report. Staff next summarized two additional reports, from Southeast Arkansas College and Southern Arkansas University Tech, which contained only financial statement misstatements corrected during audit fieldwork; SAU Tech also had a finding involving unauthorized withdrawals that the college discovered and recovered. With no further questions, the committee voted without objection to file the reviewed reports and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a motion to review. This item failed.
• The Review Subcommittee met on Tuesday and reviewed the methods of finance, one alternative delivery
• This would be the review report, Senator.
• I'm looking at the review report, Review Subcommittee F-12.
• Review report, Review Subcommittee F-12—where is what he's talking about? Senator Rice, can you?

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The new program builds upon the successes of the limited-term General Funded program, the Clean California
• Program.
• So basically what the administration is saying is this litter program that is a brand-new program with
• I know you're not the one doing the project review, but the timing of the project review seems totally
• the federal review are going to be.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on transportation agency budget proposals and did not take any votes. The first major discussion focused on the Motor Vehicle Account shortfall and a proposed one-time $166 million transfer from the Air Pollution Control Fund and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to offset California Air Resources Board mobile source costs. Department of Finance and the LAO described the account’s long-running structural deficit, driven largely by employee compensation growth and REAL ID-related workload, while members criticized the use of Proposition 4, GGRF, and other one-time or redirected funds as backfills and urged a longer-term solution that addresses both revenues and expenditures. The committee then heard Caltrans’ request for $25 million in General Fund support to create a Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Program. Caltrans said the program would build on the prior Clean California effort by funding local litter and graffiti cleanup, community engagement, and workforce pathways for vulnerable populations. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that local litter abatement is not a core state responsibility and that one-time funding is unlikely to solve persistent local cleanup needs. Several members echoed those concerns, while public commenters split between support for the cleanup/employment model and calls to instead restore funding to the Active Transportation Program and transit operations. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requested that California administratively recognize Tahoe’s federally designated population figure for state formula-based transportation funding, which would raise the population count used in formulas from 40,000 to 145,000. The agency said the change would not request new money but would better align state formulas with federal law and support a shared regional funding framework; members appeared generally supportive, though they noted the need to phase in the change to reduce impacts on other regions. The final presentation was on High-Speed Rail. The LAO reviewed the authority’s project update report, noting that it did not fully meet statutory requirements and that key details are still pending in a supplemental report expected later in the summer. The LAO said the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment still shows an estimated roughly $7 billion funding gap, with no specific plan to close it, and highlighted risks from federal review, inflation, and uncertain GGRF revenues. High-Speed Rail Authority staff said they are conducting a bottom-up review of scope, schedule, ridership, and costs, expect to provide updated information by late summer, and are exploring public-private partnerships and other financing strategies. Members stressed that no further funding commitments should be made until the updated analysis is available.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a program where if you have diabetes, this is a program that can help you make.
• That is a program where if you have diabetes, this is a program that can help you manage those costs.
• We also have a program that is designed for high-risk individuals, which is a prevention program.
• in this program.
• Again, a unique program.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to consider contract number 25 reviewed to consider contract number 25 reviewed without without
• <00:32:45.679> without the contract review without the contract review without objection<00
• <00:53:16.160> without consider the contracts review without consider the contracts review
• participants in this particular program participants in this particular program or<01:10:28.760>
• <01:43:43.040> isn't left unfunded if the program isn't left unfunded if the program isn't

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• be new programs, burgeoning programs.
• But also they have another program dealing with welding, which is a great need program.
• program.
• Program.
• and programs like open door, the apprenticeship programs and they keep going.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• helps to offset the cost of the program helps to offset the cost of the program to<00:53:04.000>
• of energy, who administers the program.
• of energy, who administers the program.
• to change these programs going forward.
• <01:48:50.320> the retention of Consultants to review the retention of Consultants to review

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• relationship between providers and patients deserves a meaningful review.
• applies to all utilization review. applies to all utilization review.
• In practice, these tools are often used to support human reviewers.
• They are used to apply reviewers.
• They are not streamline those reviews.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee, did everybody get a chance to review the minutes of our last meeting?
• The committee reviewed several practical clarifications and revisions to the documents.
• The committee reviewed alternative options that may be taken after a complaint is received.
• Chairman, yourself, by a directive to review the federal rural health transformation program and to recommend
• And then there's grow-your-own programs. So we'll be able to start grow-your-own programs.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: Legislative Management met with a quorum, approved the July 11, 2025 minutes, and then considered recommendations from the Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee. Beth Dittes explained proposed special session rule changes, which largely mirror prior special session rules and are intended to speed floor action. The changes would allow faster second readings and transmission between chambers, replace regular standing committees with two joint committees for the special session—Joint Appropriations and Joint Policy—and limit bill introduction methods. The package also included delayed-effective-date changes for the next regular session, such as moving the agency and Supreme Court prefile deadline earlier and advancing several resolution deadlines. Liz Fordall then reviewed revisions to the legislative workplace harassment policy, including clarified definitions, longer intake and review deadlines, an option for informal resolution before a review panel, and clearer disclosure rules. The committee adopted the report and forwarded the rules and policy changes. The committee also approved tentative first-day special session agendas for both chambers, with a Speaker-requested revision to allow time to swear in new House members. Megan Gordon outlined the schedule: early Rules Committee meetings, morning floor sessions, a joint session for the governor’s State of the State, then meetings of the joint appropriations and policy committees, with optional later floor and committee time. Members discussed how the joint committees would handle bills and confirmed the process would mirror the prior special session. The agendas were adopted. Chairman Bekkedahl then reported for the Rural Health Transformation Committee, which had completed its work and recommended five bill drafts for the special session: a Presidential Physical Fitness Test requirement for schools, a nutrition component for physician continuing education, joining a physician assistant licensure compact, expanding pharmacist scope for lab testing and prescribing, and a two-year appropriations bill to cover the program through the next regular session. He explained the federal rural health transformation grant, the state’s application, funding restrictions, and the need to keep the bills aligned with CMS requirements to avoid funding reductions or clawbacks. DHS officials said the department would measure outcomes through required metrics, use templates for awards, and set up an Office of Health Transformation to track long-term impacts. The committee adopted the rural health report and forwarded the bills. Finally, members discussed special-session logistics. Legislative staff said employment committees would approve a limited number of staff, Legislative Management would serve as the delayed-bills committee, and a letter would be sent to legislators explaining the process and a suggested Friday noon drafting deadline for bills to be considered at the January 20 meeting. The committee also discussed how many bills might be introduced and how to assign the rural health bills to the House or Senate for origin. No formal vote was taken on those logistics, and the meeting adjourned with plans to reconvene on January 20.

Transcript Highlights:

• of some of those programs.
• In 2020, with the implementation of all of those programs, but especially the COVID recovery programs
• So we are looking again, our program... Programs touch a number of different areas in the state.
• The Local Solar Access Program, which you'll review the rules on shortly, That's one of the key programs
• . and commercial development programs, and go over a little briefing about the program itself to the

Transcript Highlights:

• Equally across every provider in this program.
• Is there any objection to reviewing items F1 through 3, or no objections that items have been reviewed
• Seeing no questions, is there any objection to reviewing item G1?
• The Medicaid program will try to function with the current— Best of our ability, the Medicaid program
• Through a process, we adjusted them to be part of the new program, or we ended programs or whatever we

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, and then worked through a series of appropriation and transfer requests. In Section B, it approved a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing. In Section C, it approved two Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support Arkansas BEAD broadband grants, including an extra help position. Members questioned the broadband awards, provider amendments, buildout timelines, accountability, and the status of unawarded locations; the broadband director said no provider had requested speed changes, awards would be monitored with milestone-based payments, and remaining locations would be addressed later as federal guidance is received. The committee also approved transfers in Section D, including $458,000 for the Department of Correction, $25 million for Department of Education programs such as declining enrollment and teacher incentive funding, and $229,000 for Shared Administrative Services project management support. In Section E, the committee considered a $4.7 million budget stabilization trust fund loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization, cybersecurity, and governance tools. Members pressed agency officials on repayment, cost savings, and whether the loan would simply roll over existing costs; officials said repayment would come through agency rates over a five-year period and that the new payment would be lower than the current loan being retired. The committee voted to give favorable advice to the Governor on the loan request. In Section F, the committee reviewed cash fund requests for wage and hour claims, unclaimed property, and a heritage grant; in Section G, it reviewed a $1.1 million federal grant to expand college and career coaching in rural districts; in Section H, it reviewed pay plan and performance fund requests totaling millions across multiple agencies; and in Section I, it reviewed budget manual formatting changes. The latter part of the meeting focused on reports, especially the Medicaid trust fund. DHS and DFA officials reported the fund balance had declined from prior years and was down to about $394 million after seven months, with further decline expected by year-end. Senators and representatives asked about the appropriate reserve level, the impact of pending Medicaid rules and legislation, FMAP changes, and whether additional funding would be needed in the upcoming budget. Officials said projections are updated regularly, more than 10 rule packages remain pending with CMS, and the governor and legislative leaders will discuss additional capital needs during budget development. Members also discussed the importance of balancing Medicaid spending with new federal funding and maintaining flexibility for critical areas such as labor and delivery. The committee then adjourned without further action on the reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• You were talking about states doing pilot programs. We do pilot programs.
• to NRC review?
• to NRC review?
• That's how Ohio funds a lot of their program.
• And lastly, program evaluation.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For those granted second-look review, the board sets the terms and conditions for release.
• This is just an opportunity for review and not a given.
• AB 91 just opens the door to a fair review, not a free pass.
• AB 91 just opens the door to a fair review, not a free pass.
• So there are early reviews for parole eligibility for those under 18 who committed a crime.

Keywords: 909, all