Transcript Highlights:

• We did receive five public comments.
• Were there any public comments on this rule? We received no public comments. Okay. Thank you.
• Accountancy.
• Yes, I'm Tim Montgomery, the director of the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy with the Department
• Accountancy.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a series of agency rules and related requests. The Department of Corrections and Post-Prison Transfer Board reported quarterly updates and had no questions, so both were filed. The Department of Commerce sought repeal of rules tied to the minority and women-owned business enterprise programs and the Consolidated Incentives Act, explaining the rules were repealed by implication or duplicative of statute; all were reviewed and approved. The Insurance Department presented a new rule implementing Act 426 of 2025 for online marketplace guarantee providers, using Airbnb-style host damage protection as an example, and it was approved. The Department of Education updated the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program rule to reflect statutory payment amounts for milestones and diplomas, and it was approved. DFA presented a rule creating a reporting method for the Arkansas rice beer and sake excise tax credit; members asked about verification of Arkansas rice use, and the rule was approved. DHS presented a SNAP rule implementing federal changes to work requirements and energy assistance counting, including raising the able-bodied adult without dependents age limit to 64 and removing some exemptions; it was approved after questions about terminology and waiver-related issues. The committee also approved DHS Medicaid rules allowing rehab hospitals to bill for psychiatric units and exempting Arkansas from the federal recovery audit contractor requirement, citing other program integrity measures already in place. The State Board of Public Accountancy, under Labor and Licensing, presented rules implementing Act 428 of 2025, including a new CPA licensure pathway with a bachelor’s degree plus two years’ experience, substantial equivalency for out-of-state CPAs, and removal of the government not-for-profit accounting requirement; despite some negative comments, both rules were approved. The committee then granted the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from certain reporting requirements, and approved its request to retain all 18 Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation rules under Act 781 review. Remaining outstanding 2023-session rulemaking and monthly updates were noted in packets with no questions, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, as I said, we will have public comment.
• The board has held the four public hearings, and we heard extensive public comment.
• approve the plan at a public board meeting.
• We want to hold these facilities more accountable.
• We take all of the very specifics into account.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on DTSC’s implementation of SB 158 reforms, including enforcement, community engagement, fiscal stability, the hazardous waste management plan, permitting backlogs, and the Safer Consumer Products Program. Director Katie Butler said DTSC is now more transparent and proactive, citing stronger enforcement actions, an online inspections map, community open houses, the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, wildfire hazardous waste removal in Los Angeles, and progress on cleanup and permit decisions. She said the department is fiscally stable after fee changes, has released a draft hazardous waste management plan, and is revising it in response to public and board comments, including removing a proposal to send certain contaminated soil to municipal landfills. Board Chair Andrew Rakestraw described the board’s oversight role on fees, transparency, appeals, and performance metrics, and said the board is working toward revised metrics, a revised plan, and future fee votes. Members pressed DTSC on several issues. Senator Blakespear raised extended producer responsibility programs and asked how DTSC could reduce the cost and complexity of launching them; Butler said enforcement and partnerships with local authorities are essential, and Rakestraw suggested closer coordination with CalRecycle. Chair Connolly asked about wildfire cleanup, fee stability, Safer Consumer Products progress, and permit lengths; Butler said residential fire cleanup is largely complete, the fee system is now stable, the consumer products program has many technical projects underway and is expected to reach more listings over time, and some permits are set for five years to hold facilities accountable sooner. Senator Menjivar questioned how DTSC balances hazardous waste capacity with community impacts from facilities with violation histories, and Butler said permits are reviewed through engineering controls, health risk assessments, public comment, and, where needed, stricter conditions. Senator Reyes emphasized the need for stronger protections for overburdened communities and asked about landfill leachate and goal-setting in the hazardous waste plan; Butler said DTSC is using its hazardous waste authority where municipal landfill leachate shows hazardous characteristics and is looking at broader statewide responses. Panelists from the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance and Earthjustice offered contrasting views. CCEB’s Don Krepke supported SB 158’s reforms but urged risk-based decision-making, broader use of alternative management standards, alignment with federal and other state hazardous waste classifications, less duplication across agencies, and caution about added costs from permitting and cumulative impacts rules; he also warned that the generation-and-handling fee remains structurally weak and suggested more General Fund support for statewide planning work. Earthjustice’s Angela Johnson-Mazares argued DTSC remains too slow and too cautious, saying communities continue to face delayed permits, weak enforcement, and ongoing harm, and that the agency should prioritize source reduction, strong permit protections, and more decisive action to prevent emissions and protect frontline communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• I began my teaching career in Boston Public Schools before moving to Lexington Public Schools.
• I believe deeply in the power of public education, which includes traditional public schools I taught
• We need our traditional public schools, our Voc-Tech public schools, and our charter public schools.
• The accountability provisions that were a driving factor in improving public education in Massachusetts
• Worcester Public Schools were the first to set one up, and recently the Sudbury Public Schools in my

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees. Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists. Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's not someone designated to take over the account and you die, how does the account close or
• That's easy when there are no campaign funds left in these accounts.
• If you want to make it a public record, you could just say it's a public record, and if you want it modified
• It's always been considered to be a public record.
• It is already a public record, and this bill says that you cannot alter the public record.

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections heard and voted on several election- and campaign-related bills. SB 1006 would raise the threshold for itemizing in-state individual contributions on committee campaign finance reports from $100 to $200 and require aggregate reporting of smaller contributions; it passed 4-3. SB 1029 would treat a candidate committee as intending to terminate upon the candidate’s death and allow designated individuals to serve as treasurer and close out the account; a Town of Queen Creek representative testified in support, describing difficulties after the deaths of two council members, and the bill passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1038 would require county election officials to transmit the cast vote record to the Secretary of State and prohibit alteration of that record except as otherwise allowed by law. Testimony and debate focused on whether the CVR is already a public record and whether the bill was needed to prevent counties from changing release practices; it passed 4-3. SB 1237 would add county recorders and the chair and ranking members of the House and Senate election committees to the list of officials the Secretary of State must consult when prescribing the Elections Procedures Manual. The Arizona Association of Counties and Pinal County Recorder Dana Lewis supported the bill as a way to ensure recorder input and reduce litigation; it passed 4-3. SB 1057 would require vendors providing ballot paper fraud countermeasures to meet specified ISO certifications and include at least three listed security features. Members discussed the standards and whether the bill needed further safeguards, with one member noting possible floor amendments and another objecting that ISO is an international standard; it passed 4-3. Several other bills were held, including measures at the sponsor’s request and the remaining items on the agenda, and the committee adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• public safety officers to meet the needs of our community.
• accountable.
• It's available to the public.
• motion is due pass to Public Safety.
• Who operate accounts that post about or criticize ICE.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• We've always agreed with these principles for the transparency and accountability of public funds.
• Page five summarizes significant accounting policies used by the accounting firm in developing the audit
• Page five summarizes significant accounting policies used by the accounting firm in developing the audit
• Page six continues that summary of significant accounting policies.
• He went on to become a certified public accountant and held positions including partner and senior vice

Transcript Highlights:

• The third is accounting.
• Six of them are public funding, three of them are private.
• a public school system and those students are entitled to attend a public school in their community.
• How are these funds accounted for?
• That's accountability.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And the measurement of financial solvency, the other accounting term you used, was statutory accounting
• I'm a certified public accountant, and I can tell you that in my world that term has absolutely no meaning
• the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants?
• SB 1026 strengthens public safety and accountability in three ways.
• SB 878 is about accountability.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• , and uphold a promise to the public. ...that assure consumer confidence, offer accountability, and uphold
• Just on the WEA account.
• the WEA account.
• Just on the WEA account.
• the WEA account.

Bills: HB2286 , HB2324 , HB2363 , HB2098

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: social work, licensure, alternative routes, education requirements, professional regulation, tuition waivers, veterans, education, children of veterans, higher education, military families, music therapy, temporary exemptions, healthcare, therapy practice, funding, tuition, financial aid, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> input-based accountability system. input-based accountability system.
• It's only about if we are giving public funds, we want accountability.
• It's only about accountability.<03:35:37.200><c> Correct.</c> accountability.
• , we want giving public funds, we want accountability.
• . accountability. accountability.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• They are essential to public health.
• Six had public reprimands, and nine had public letters of reprimand.
• safety, the public.
• Input from individuals responsible for public safety, the public, or the victim or their families.
• Non-public general acute care hospitals, non-public acute psychiatric hospitals, non-public psychiatric

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1377, a bill on medical exemptions for school immunizations. The author and supporters said the measure was a narrow reform to restore physician discretion and reduce what they described as chilling effects from audits and license discipline; opponents from pediatric, medical, public health, and school groups argued the current system already works, protects against fraudulent exemptions, and should not be weakened. Committee members debated the data, the number of exemptions reviewed or revoked, and the effect of the proposed amendments. The bill was amended in committee, but because there was no quorum it was not formally voted on at that time. The committee then heard SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, which would create a statewide inspection and compliance framework for large private detention facilities. The author and supporters described severe conditions in immigration detention, including denial of medication, unsafe food and water, and lack of oversight, and the bill was presented as a response to those abuses. The California Hospital Association raised concerns about duplicative regulation and overlapping standards, but said it was continuing to work on a solution. The committee discussed constitutional and jurisdictional issues, and the bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Judiciary with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Next, SB 1089 was heard, proposing expanded access through CalPERS and CalRX to GLP-1 medications for chronic weight disease and diabetes prevention. The author and supporters from the American Diabetes Association and medical groups argued the drugs are effective tools to prevent type 2 diabetes, reduce long-term costs, and improve health equity, while the author also shared personal experience with weight loss and medication access barriers. There was no opposition testimony. The bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1221, dealing with Murphy conservatorships for people found not guilty by reason of insanity or otherwise under criminal-mental health conservatorship. Supporters, including prosecutors and psychiatrists, said the bill addresses a gap created by a court decision and would improve public safety and placement decisions for a small population of high-risk individuals. Opponents from county behavioral health and disability rights groups warned it would turn a civil process into a quasi-criminal one, expand district attorney involvement, and disrupt bed prioritization and least-restrictive-placement principles. The discussion centered on the scope of the bill and its amendments, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> attribute of Warren County Public attribute of Warren County Public Schools.<00:07:18.880><c> And
• </c> benefit not just Warren County Public benefit not just Warren County Public Schools<00:10:35.120
• So for students to be accountable in a school, you have to be enrolled 100 days to be accountable for
• </c> accountable for graduation date rate. accountable for graduation date rate.
• </c> public school administrators. public school administrators.

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met in September 2025, established a quorum, introduced new member Larry Forester, and approved the minutes from the August 26 meeting. The main presentation came from Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Sarah Johnson, who discussed the district’s work serving English language learners and multilingual students, including immigrant and refugee families. They said Warren County now serves roughly 5,500 multilingual students out of about 19,000 total, representing about 92 languages and 90 countries, with 57 certified multilingual teachers, a GO Center, migrant and refugee advocates, and the state’s first international high school. The presenters emphasized that the district welcomes immigrant families and that students and parents generally value public education, but they described major challenges tied to accountability and funding. They explained that multilingual students are tested after one year in the system, even though many need more time to become proficient in English and grade-level standards, and they argued that current graduation-rate rules can unfairly penalize schools when transient students enroll briefly and then leave. They also said the cost of serving this population has risen sharply, with special revenue and especially general-fund spending increasing substantially over the past decade, prompting the district to reallocate resources from EL teacher assistants toward translation technology and additional certified staff. Committee members asked questions about how long-term multilingual students compare with the general student body and whether the district’s data show similar graduation outcomes. Clayton said he did not have the specific comparison data at hand but believed students who stay K-12 generally reach proficiency. He and Johnson asked legislators to consider giving students more time before accountability measures apply and to shift some graduation accountability from individual schools to the district level for highly transient populations, while still maintaining accountability. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> are accountable to us. are accountable to us.
• of public instruction.
• Why are we electing a state superintendent to be accountable for public instruction if we have not given
• </c><01:57:15.119><c> for</c><01:57:15.440><c> public</c><01:57:15.760><c> instruction</c> to be accountable
• for public instruction to be accountable for public instruction if<01:57:17.679><c> we</c><01:57:18.000

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Governance structures and virtually no public accountability or independent oversight from elected state
• and to restore public trust.
• and to restore public trust.
• It is about accountability. It is about ensuring that public funds are used responsibly.
• It is about accountability. It is about ensuring that public funds are used responsibly.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee because it initially lacked a quorum, heard a status update from State Auditor Grant Parks, and reviewed several new audit requests. Parks reported that 10 previously requested audits were underway, with most expected to be released in spring/summer and one pesticide audit still pending; he also noted ongoing litigation with Huntington Beach over a 2024 audit. He said the office had grown to just over 200 employees and could start about five new JALAC audits between April and July. The committee also noted that one Prop. 28 request was being held and one PUC-related request was moved off consent to the regular calendar. Senator Cervantes presented an audit request on California fusion centers, arguing they operate with little public oversight and may collect, share, and store sensitive information without adequate transparency or safeguards. Supporters, including former FBI agent Mike German and ACLU California Action, said fusion centers function as secretive intelligence-sharing hubs that can produce inaccurate or biased reports and may undermine privacy and civil liberties. Parks said the audit would examine the State Threat Assessment Center and two local fusion centers, focusing on oversight, legal authority, data quality, unauthorized disclosure controls, use of private vendors, funding, and performance metrics, while warning of likely access and public-disclosure limitations. The request drew sharp opposition from Assembly Member DeMaio, who called it a politicized “witch hunt,” but public comment included support from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Senator Allen then presented an audit of the Public Utilities Commission’s enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for customer-sited solar and storage projects. He and witnesses said utilities have repeatedly missed deadlines, causing long delays and added costs for schools, nonprofits, and other customers; CPUC staff responded that the commission adopted timelines and compliance benchmarks in 2020, publishes quarterly data, and is already pursuing the issue through workshops and an open proceeding. Parks said the audit would assess CPUC monitoring, enforcement tools, and reasons for utility noncompliance. Public comment was mixed, with solar advocates supporting the request and PG&E objecting on process grounds and arguing the commission’s ongoing proceeding should address the issue. Senator Perez, with Senator Fong, requested an audit of Caltrans’ administration of the former SR 710 corridor property sales and affordable housing program. They described tenant complaints about mold, pests, deferred maintenance, inconsistent pricing and eligibility information, and possible failures to inform residents of purchase rights; Caltrans said it is working to complete sales and has already closed 59 properties since fiscal year 2024-25. Parks said the audit would examine compliance with the Roberti Act, pricing, appraisals, communications, rent accounting, property maintenance, and follow-up on prior recommendations. Finally, Senator Umberg requested an audit of the Orange County Board of Education, citing transparency, litigation spending, charter authorization, procurement, and whistleblower concerns; after quorum was established, Parks said the audit would review Brown Act and Public Records Act compliance, public resource use, contracting, litigation costs, charter oversight, and retaliation complaints.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, let's do the public hearing first. Oh, wait a second.
• Proceeds are deposited in the new non-appropriated account.
• Closing the public hearing on House Bill 2347.
• We know that's frequently a concern with the public.
• Those who have a Good To Go account, the same Those who have a Good To Go account, the same thing works

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on House Bill 2410, which would establish a commercial truck safety and education council, increase the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from $16 to $32, and direct the new revenue to a dedicated account for truck safety and training programs. Committee staff outlined the bill’s CDL and training requirements, council structure, confidentiality provisions, and fiscal impacts. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to improve truck safety through industry-led education and noted that a substitute was expected because details still needed work. Testimony from the Washington Trucking Associations, insurers, the Association of Washington Business, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission was generally supportive of the safety goals, though the commission said operational details and agency roles still needed clarification. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2347, which would repeal the recently enacted luxury aircraft tax on non-commercial aircraft valued above $500,000. Staff explained that the tax is scheduled to take effect April 1 and that repeal would reduce revenue to the Sustainable Aviation Fuel account. Representative Dent, the sponsor, argued the tax is harming business aviation, emergency services, wildfire response, agricultural operations, and rural access, and said aircraft and related jobs were already leaving the state. Most public testimony came from aviation businesses, airport operators, industry associations, and related employers, all urging repeal and warning of aircraft departures, lost hangar tenants, reduced fuel sales, and job losses. One witness from the Port of Seattle supported addressing the tax’s impact but urged working toward a narrower fix rather than full repeal so sustainable aviation fuel funding would remain stable. After closing the hearing on HB 2347, the committee received a work session on tolling technology. Transportation Commission staff presented the results of a pilot using a smartphone app to support toll collection, explaining that the current tolling system remains accurate but that new technologies could reduce costs and improve flexibility over time. The pilot found high accuracy when the app was paired to a vehicle by Bluetooth, lower accuracy without pairing, strong customer satisfaction, and some privacy concerns. The commission recommended keeping the current system in place for now, conducting a more fully operational smartphone-based pilot in the near term, and eventually developing a broader technology marketplace for future tolling systems. Members asked about the role of tags versus apps, video tolling accuracy, and the timeline for replacing existing tolling methods. The meeting ended with adjournment for caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the public to have a better idea of actual bill impacts of the decisions being made by the Public
• </c><00:20:58.840><c> works</c> forward with their public works forward with their public works projects
• That is transparency to the public.
• </c> guess I would report it to the public guess I would report it to the public this<00:31:37.040><c
• </c> account, part of a larger conversation. account, part of a larger conversation.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1098 will strengthen oversight and accountability of these accounts by doing the following: requiring
• safety for members of the public.
• safety for members of the public.
• Courthouses and public spaces.
• engagement, and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is merely an account.
• public programs, or if it aids in the law enforcement process.
• We amended the bill in the last stop in Public Safety.
• Assistance in making sure that they're held accountable.
• Medicaid, in contrast, accounts for 89%.

Bills: HF2783 , HF2603 , HF2846 , HF2354 , HF1836 , HF2713 , HF1198 , HF1389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, the fiscal impact for the Office of Public Defense to review public defense caseloads and for the
• service revolving account.
• Are there any... ...thousand per year and ongoing costs from the public service revolving account.
• The Digital Opportunity Program is funded by a dedicated account, the Digital Equity Account.
• to a newly created account, the Early Education Scholarship Account.

Summary: The committee first received staff briefings on amendments for a series of bills, including measures on child care workforce standards, homelessness programs, community preservation authorities, domestic violence survivor relief, public defense funding, student behavioral health supports, water system ownership changes, nonprofit health carrier surplus assessments, 340B drug pricing reporting, Secretary of State filing fees, step housing, campaign security reimbursements, digital equity programs, a Boys and Men’s Commission, a waste-to-energy facility’s Climate Commitment Act obligations, 6PPD tire substitutes, and an early education scholarship. Staff described the policy changes and, where available, the expected fiscal effects of each proposed substitute or line amendment. The committee then went into caucus before returning for executive session. In executive session, the committee voted out House Bill 1073, then adopted a Couture line amendment to House Bill 1128 exempting private K-12 schools with licensed child care programs from the child care employer definition before reporting the bill out as Second Substitute House Bill 1128. House Bill 1316, 1408, 1591, 1592, 1634, 1906, 1960, 2073, 2145, 2248, 2266, 2301, 2333, and 2365 were also reported from committee, with several amendments adopted along the way. Notable actions included adopting an emergency clause for House Bill 1408, rejecting proposed amendments to House Bill 1591 that would have narrowed relief for survivors and removed retroactivity, adopting a narrower amendment to House Bill 1592’s public defense funding formula, and adopting a substitute to House Bill 2145 that limited 340B reporting to hospitals. The committee also debated and rejected several amendments to the step housing bill, House Bill 2266, including proposals for larger school/daycare buffers, more local oversight, and broader local government authority; the bill still advanced on a 16-13 vote. House Bill 2073, which requires nonprofit health carriers to contribute surplus funds to Cascade Care Savings, advanced over concerns about using one-time money for an ongoing program. House Bill 2248 advanced after an amendment redirected annual license fee deposits to the state treasury rather than the Secretary of State’s revolving fund. House Bill 2333 was narrowed to allow use of campaign funds for personal security reimbursements, and House Bill 2365 advanced with some amendments adopted and others rejected as the committee began discussing additional digital equity oversight provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Accountability is not about blame; it's about partnership.
• and transparency in how accountability and transparency in how public<00:07:54.159><c> agencies</c><
• </c><00:08:21.240><c> to</c><00:08:21.479><c> these</c> bringing accountability to these bringing accountability
• </c><00:08:50.000><c> because</c><00:08:50.320><c> accountability</c> does this matter because accountability
• </c><00:09:12.000><c> in</c> make and by involving the public in make and by involving the public in