Video & Transcript Research : 'rules changes'
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US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Howard Lutnick, of New York, to be Secretary of Commerce. Jan 29th, 2025 at 09:15 am
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We set rules because I think the President also gave you a new responsibility related to the crypto rules
- And lastly, you can't change the rules, meaning if someone has bought the stable coin, you can't change
- Do secondary markets need rules here?
- We need to change those rules.
- It's a failed industrial policy that needs to be changed. and needs to be changed now.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- You're not changing any of that appointment, correct?
- And so just changing House District 4 to House District 2. That's the only change?
- And members of that body changes all the time.
- And members of that body changes all the time.
- I was changing one at that point.
Bills:
HR217, HB66, HB204, HB208, HB326, HB472, HB483, HB484, HB793, HB1051, HB1080, HB1087, HB1111, HB1215, SB78, SB148
Keywords:
rent stabilization, affordable housing, cost burdened, Louisiana housing, housing policy, emergency rental protections, Alexandria, municipal ordinances, administrative adjudication, code enforcement, housing violations, building codes, zoning, nuisance ordinances, vegetation ordinances, sewerage, drainage, licensing, permits, local government
Summary:
The committee met on April 29 and heard a series of local bills affecting municipal and parish governance, blight enforcement, planning boards, and other local issues. Early actions included adopting a three-minute rule due to the late hour and deferring several bills that were not to be heard that day. House Bill 483 was voluntarily deferred, while House Bill 484 on the New Orleans Regional Business Park was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 78 on the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority was amended to correct a district reference and then reported favorably. House Bill 66, expanding Alexandria’s administrative adjudication authority for ordinance violations, was supported by the city and reported favorably. House Bill 326, requiring the Tickfaw police chief to reside in the village, was also reported favorably.
The committee then took up several Shreveport blight-related bills. House Bill 1051, dealing with demolition of dilapidated residential property, was amended to allow the city to rely on reports from code enforcement, fire, police, or other public safety officials, and was reported favorably. House Bill 1080, a similar measure for condemned commercial property, was also reported favorably, with the sponsor noting he would consult the city attorney before floor debate. Senate Bill 148, allowing Lake Charles to pay a modest per diem to planning commission members by local ordinance, was reported favorably. House Bill 208, which would let St. Helena Parish voters decide whether to impose term limits on parish governing authority members, drew opposition from the police jury and failed on a recorded vote, 3-10.
The committee also considered House Bill 1215 on the disposition of historical statues and monuments, adopting an amendment to prevent transferred monuments from being placed back in the parish where they were removed, and then reporting the bill favorably as amended. House Bill 793, a contested bill addressing subdivision plats filed without parish approval and the running of prescription, generated extensive testimony from the author, parish officials, the McCormicks, and a former appellate judge; the committee ultimately reported it favorably, with the author saying he would keep working on the language and send it to the Law Institute. Finally, House Bill 472, authorizing local rent stabilization measures during declared emergencies, was amended to limit any local ordinance to the duration of a governor-declared emergency, tie increases to CPI, and cap the measure at 365 days; the bill remained under discussion with questions about its relationship to existing price-gouging laws and whether the committee should wait for a broader study.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing on Appropriations and Revenue (2-19-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- So yes, it's programmatic changes there, federal rules, federal laws, state rules, state laws that we
- Medicaid discussions as Federal changes Medicaid discussions as Federal changes are<00:11:42.760
- it's it's there's programmatic changes it's it's there's programmatic changes there<00:12:29.600
- :12:31.800>
uh there Federal rules federal laws uh there Federal rules federal laws uh state<00 - Chang, thank you for the question.
Keywords:
Due to a technical issue in the room, the quality of the stream will be diminished. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Meeting start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:02:00
SB 61 Discussion Only 00:03:25
SB 13 Discussion Only 00:07:19
SJR 25 Discussion 00:25:33
SJR 25 Vote 00:28:40
SB 61 Discussion Only 00:29:44, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 61, relating to swimming pools, but initially had no representative from the governor’s office or cabinet available to explain the fiscal estimate. Senators questioned why the executive branch’s estimate was $4.25 million to $8.5 million while the committee’s internal fiscal note showed little or no impact. When Department for Public Health staff later joined, they explained their estimate was based on a roughly $85,000 cost for a large outbreak investigation, using a 2014 outbreak as a benchmark, and said the bill could increase workload and outside laboratory costs if private swimming pools became more common as rental properties. They reported 822 waterborne cases in 2024, with 8 tied to private swimming pools, and later corrected an earlier figure to 14 private-pool-related investigations over five years. Senators pressed on the discrepancy between those numbers and the projected 50 to 100 incidents, and staff said the higher figure was a ballpark estimate. The discussion also clarified that private pools are generally excluded by definition, while pools held out for rent may be treated as public pools under current definitions. No vote on SB 61 was taken in the portion provided.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 13, concerning the reprocurement of managed care organizations for Medicaid. Department for Medicaid Services officials said the bill would require work on a new RFP, system changes, and oversight improvements, and estimated the cost at $2.8 million based on prior procurement spending of about $2.5 million in 2018-2019, with a 10% growth adjustment. They explained that the work is administrative and therefore matched at 50/50 federal-state funding, not the 80/20 rate used for benefits, and said the expense would be incurred whether the bill passed or not if the state proceeded with an RFP. Senators discussed possible savings from reducing the number of MCOs from five to three, but agency staff said those savings were hard to quantify and that provider and member disruption could create offsetting costs. The committee later moved on to Senate Joint Resolution 25, which would ask the Revenue Department to report on the cost of issuing farmers a wallet-sized tax-exempt card instead of a paper certificate. The resolution was adopted by roll call, with all members present voting aye, and it was reported favorably to the floor.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- A child who does not changed.
- So that's that's going to change. >> Yeah. So that's that's going to change. Exactly.
- So, we changed a lot of... >> Does that change in this amendment that you keep talking about?
- is ruled unconstitutional. All right. is ruled unconstitutional. All right.
- . changes. changes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Joint Legislative Audit and Assembly Business and Professions Committee Feb 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I was pleased to hear Christina's comments before me and hope that that changes.
- Strong rules are only effective when they are clear.
- Unclear rules produce inconsistent enforcement.
- Going beyond that, what are some of the changes that you might make?
- Like going beyond that, what are then some of the changes that you might make?
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard an audit on the Department of Cannabis Control’s oversight of cannabis packaging and labeling, focused on whether products attractive to children are being kept out of the legal market. The auditor said the department’s rules are often vague or subjective, leading to inconsistent enforcement, and that the state relies heavily on licensees to self-police because there is no upfront review before products reach the market. The audit cited examples involving cartoon-like images, bright colors, flavor references, candy-like imagery, strain names, and beverage packaging, and recommended clearer statutory standards, possible pre-approval of packaging, better enforcement tools, and stronger tracking of repeat violators.
Assemblymembers and senators largely agreed that child safety is the priority, but differed on the best policy response. Some members argued for clearer legislative limits and even plain packaging, saying products like root beer, cherry pie, and cereal-like designs are plainly appealing to children. Department officials said they had already begun reforms, including a centralized label-review team, a rubric, improved databases, and more attention to repeat violations, while also emphasizing that the illicit and intoxicating hemp markets are major sources of youth exposure and that resource constraints limit inspections. They said they are open to working with the Legislature on more specific standards and additional funding.
Public witnesses split between public health and industry perspectives. A pediatrician and public health advocate urged stronger restrictions, including plain packaging, limits on flavors and potency, and a pre-market review system, arguing that vague rules have failed children. Industry representatives said they support youth protections but want bright-line, objective standards so compliant businesses can know what is allowed; they argued that most youth-targeted packaging is in the illicit market and that the legal market needs clearer rules rather than broader bans. No formal vote or committee action was taken during the hearing.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Apr 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- For example, the EU rules don't meet the rules of this bill.
- Do they follow the national rules? They follow international rules?
- Absent those changes, we request a no vote.
- Absent to the changes, we request a no vote.
- Can we change the wording? So it's a no, not practically no?
Summary:
The committee heard several environmental and consumer-safety bills. AB 405, the Fashion Act, would require fashion companies to disclose and manage toxic chemicals in their supply chains; supporters said it would reduce worker and consumer exposure and align with existing industry frameworks, while retailers and business groups argued it would duplicate existing laws and raise costs. After questions about DTSC workload, international standards, and affordability, the bill was moved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Natural Resources and held on call with three votes. AB 762 would ban the sale and distribution of disposable vape devices; supporters emphasized battery-fire risks, recycling contamination, and waste impacts, while cannabis and convenience-store interests warned it would push consumers to illicit markets and harm legal businesses. The bill passed on a due-pass motion to Business and Professions with three votes and was held on call.
The committee also adopted the consent calendar with six votes. AB 794 would direct California to keep in place the federal PFAS drinking-water standard if federal protections are weakened, with supporters citing health risks and the need for certainty, and water agencies opposing the emergency-rulemaking authority and potential costs. Members debated whether the bill was too broad and whether federal funds would cover implementation; the bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations with four votes and was held open. AB 1148, the Safer Food Packaging Act, would restrict certain chemicals in food packaging; supporters cited cancer and reproductive-health concerns, while chemical, beverage, and manufacturing groups argued the bill should go through existing regulatory processes and that some chemicals lacked feasible alternatives. The author said she would remove antimony trioxide later in the process after hearing opposition concerns; the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Judiciary with four votes and was held open.
Finally, AB 1338 would allow local air districts to recover costs for implementing fence-line air monitoring at metal shredding facilities, building on prior legislation and local air district efforts in AB 617 communities. The author said the bill would preserve local control and improve efficiency, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District testified in support. The transcript ends as the district witness begins testimony, with no vote yet taken on AB 1338.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 May 12th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- As you correctly ruled, a "no" or a "Red" vote will go against the ruling of the Speaker.
- This was not an enormous change; it was a bipartisan change.
- We need to make the change.
- Other lives have been forever changed.
- Technical changes related to certain filing provisions and repealing a rules provision codified in statute
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Health and Human Services Feb 4th, 2026 at 08:36 am
House Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm just saying there's going To be a change in administration, there's going to be a change in executive
- I know it's a big agenda, but the realities are firefighting changes, research changes, medical best
- practice changes.
- The materials that we're fighting against change our exposures. Change.
- They arise from prescribing patterns insurance refill rules, DEA thresholds, state rules, staffing shortages
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The chair hears none, and the rules are suspended.
- The Chair hears none, and the rules are suspended.
- The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended. The question now comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12.
- The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended.
- The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended.
Summary:
The Senate took up several third-reading matters and advanced them by voice vote. It adopted an amendment substituting a new draft for Senate No. 1425, a bill further regulating amendment of a conservation restriction in Hanson, and then passed the bill to be engrossed. The chamber also passed to be engrossed a sick leave bank bill for Marie LaTondra of the Department of Transitional Assistance.
The Senate suspended rules to act on a House bill authorizing the Department of Fire District No. 1 prudential committee to appoint a treasurer, ordering it to a third reading and then passing it to be engrossed. It also considered a House bill authorizing Scituate to issue four additional on-premises alcohol licenses; Senator O'Connor offered an amendment, which was adopted, and the bill as amended was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed.
On procedural and referral matters, the Senate suspended rules and joint rules to move forward a petition to include inflammatory breast cancer awareness in nursing education, referring it to the Committee on Public Health. It also ordered a House bill on the appointment of the police chief in Fall River to a third reading, and referred a House petition concerning survivors and holders of abuse or harassment prevention orders to the Judiciary Committee. The Senate adopted an order to reconvene the following Wednesday at 11 a.m., then adjourned.
AK
Alaska 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Jul 16th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Alaska House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- A significant change in ownership structure is defined as any change of 5% or more of the pipeline or
- I know when we were younger, you say rules are just... Why do we have rules?
- Additional changes.
- But it changed, and then those changes—we just have not had time to develop them.
- We followed the rules.
Summary:
The House met with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the governor and Senate, including notice that the governor vetoed CSHB 16 and allowed HB 14 to become law without signature. The chamber then took up the conference committee report on HB 381, a major Alaska LNG-related bill that revises the project’s tax and regulatory structure. The conference report was explained as a compromise package that, among other things, changes required local contribution language, expands disclosure and notice requirements, adjusts foreign ownership reporting, extends the Phase 1 construction deadline, adds a $10 million workforce development/community impact fund, modifies project labor agreement provisions, and exempts the Alaska LNG project from the new pass-through entity tax while still requiring an informational tax return in 2027. The Speaker also announced the governor had issued a proclamation calling the legislature back into session on July 27, 2026, and said sine die would be moved after debate.
Debate on HB 381 was sharply divided. Supporters argued the bill is necessary enabling legislation to improve the project’s financial viability, protect Alaska’s interests, and move the North Slope gas line toward final investment decision, while also adding transparency, foreign ownership safeguards, and labor and workforce provisions. Several members said the conference committee process was collaborative and that the bill reflects hard-fought compromise with the developer, AGDC, labor, and the administration. Opponents focused on the addition of the pass-through entity/S-corp income tax and related reporting requirements, arguing it is a separate tax policy issue that should have been considered in its own bill, creates uncertainty and litigation risk, could harm existing oil and gas and Cook Inlet production, and may discourage investment. Multiple members also criticized the process as rushed and insufficiently transparent, especially the limited opportunity for the minority and the absence of Department of Revenue testimony during conference.
No final vote on the conference committee report is shown in the transcript excerpt. The debate continued with members alternating between support for the gas line project itself and opposition to the tax provisions and process used to advance HB 381.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (01/21/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Whatever that is called, if that's what the rules package says.
- What you did with the rules package versus what the statute says.
- I believe that was in this rule package.
- When did that change and why?
- So part of that is because we've piled rules on top of rules on top of rules and not changed. the old
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- We are seeking this change because the Massachusetts Office of Disability and Regional Disability Rights
- , the day-to-day operations, and what a change actually means.
- But he refused and said only the House of Representatives could rule.
- But he refused and said only the House of Representatives could rule.
- Myself and another colleague, Councillor Gordon, actually wrote this home rule petition, and without
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on several election-related bills, with most testimony focused on voting access, ballot administration, and election procedures. Senator Driscoll testified for S. 509, a Randolph home rule petition to require bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole, and Randolph officials and community members strongly supported it, saying it would improve access, confidence, and participation for Haitian Creole speakers. Other speakers, including advocates and residents, described language barriers as a form of voter suppression and urged favorable action.
Leader Donato testified on H. 822, which would remove the word “physical” from the absentee voting disability standard, and on a bill to raise the signature threshold for creating political designations and allow dormant designations to be dissolved. Senator Rausch testified on several bills, including one expanding the State Ballot Law Commission’s jurisdiction over presidential primary candidate placement and a broader elections infrastructure bill that would change registration deadlines, primary dates, reporting systems, ballot design, mail voting procedures, and voter outreach. Representative Cattelda also testified on a bill to rename the ballot title for governor’s councilor to “governor’s counselor.”
The Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, through Tom Joyce and Ben Kaufman, said it supported a number of the bills and offered local election administration expertise. Former Representative Lenny Mera and Sandra Cato testified for S. 536, a bill on accountability for defective and spoiled ballots, citing a disputed 2022 Revere recount and arguing that spoiled ballots should be documented and publicly inspectable so improperly rejected ballots are not lost. Emma Chinman of Partners in Democracy supported multiple reforms, including the elections infrastructure bill and a bill allowing unenrolled voters to serve on boards of registrars. After testimony concluded, the committee accepted written testimony by email and then adjourned without taking any votes.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:23:50.960>
of the permanent changes of the permanent changes of addresses<01:23:53.120 - I also want to thank the Department of Environmental Services for revising and changing the rules regarding
- ruling of the chair or override the ruling of the chair.
- ruling of the chair or override the ruling of the chair.
- What we have before us is a ruling on my ruling on the germane-ness of Amendment 0752.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- fully caught up with all the changes fully caught up with all the changes that<00:03:12.480>
- associated with these changes in TRA. associated with these changes in TRA.
- They wanted a career rule. improvements. They wanted a career rule.
- was included in the amendment to change was included in the amendment to change to<00:40:15.359>
- only with this recent proposed change only with this recent proposed change that<00:43:25.680>
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 53 (3-25-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 607 should pass the rules.
- Rules with Senate Committee sub one. Rules with Senate Committee sub one.
- House Bill 139 should pass the rules House Bill 139 should pass the rules with<00:10:08.240>
- House Bill 607 should pass the rules. House Bill 607 should pass the rules.
- recess for meeting of the Rules recess for meeting of the Rules Committee<02:00:54.480>
and
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- So, if you paid with exact change, then obviously there's no change to return.
- General has changed his mind? General has changed his mind?
- Has he changed his mind?
- under the rule. under the rule.
- change their vote, explain their vote? change their vote, explain their vote?
Summary:
The Senate convened on March 10, 2026, established a quorum, and began with an invocation by Reverend Damien Flowers, which was journalized without objection. The chamber then recognized several guests and honorees, including Dr. Courtney Glickman for being named 2025 Play Therapist of the Year, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Dr. Sonja B. Santelises for her leadership of Baltimore City Public Schools, students shadowing legislators, Navy Alliance representatives, the Maryland Alliance for Advocacy for Sickle Cell, and Ms. Kimberly Body for her lupus advocacy. The Senate also journalized prior remarks about the 6888 regiment.
The Finance Committee report then moved several bills forward. Senate Bill 348 would allow hospitals and freestanding birthing centers to contact, rather than only call, patients after high-risk pregnancies; its amendments were adopted and the bill was ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 390 on Wicomico County liquor licenses was laid over under the rule. Senate Bill 492, addressing massage therapy advertising and prohibiting misleading sexual-service advertising, was amended and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 562, concerning pharmacist-prescriber agreements for opioid use disorder treatment, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 773 would let pharmacists order certain vaccines, including intranasal flu vaccines, for self-administration and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 53, on Maryland Port Administration land acquisition notice in Anne Arundel County, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 428 would bar cost-sharing for collaborative care model services under Medicaid and private coverage and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 473 would require human trafficking awareness training for for-hire and transportation network drivers; its amendments were adopted and it was sent to third reading. Senate Bill 585 would shift administration of the human relevant research fund from Health to Agriculture and was advanced. Senate Bill 606, the Easy Pass Commuter Fairness and Transparency Act, would require an MDTA report on commuter plans and unused trips; its amendment was moved as the transcript ended.
During debate on Senate Bill 917, which would expand the definition of audiology practice to include certain screenings and non-radiographic imaging, a senator questioned whether the bill would make Maryland the only state restricting a health occupation from performing Medicare-required screenings. The floor leader said the committee had heard that claim in testimony but had not verified it, and the senator moved to special order the bill for amendment, which was granted without objection. Most other bills were reported favorably, with committee amendments adopted without objection and several bills ordered printed for third reading.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So now we're, we're going to change the rules.
- Rather than rushing to change law that may or may not need changing, we suggest conducting an interim
- It takes a buckshot approach to changing the eviction process, tons of changes all over the place.
- One of these rules is not to put holes in the walls at all.
- Well, now in the last week, the tune has changed.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the Department of Motor Vehicles to amend the rules
- This comes about because it's to clarify, at the end of the section, how we're looking at changing some
- of the rules around inspections.
- <00:07:07.720>
in Vermonters will benefit from changes in Vermonters will benefit from changes - <00:16:23.440>
to have it and you have suspended rules to have it and you have suspended rules
Summary:
The House first took up Senate Bill 214, relating to pre-kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts. After third reading, the chamber voted by voice to pass the bill in concurrence. The House then recessed briefly before returning to Senate Bill 326, a motor vehicle bill with several proposed amendments.
On S. 326, the House adopted an amendment from Representative Burke clarifying that the DMV could not use the bill to change emissions-inspection rules. It then adopted an amendment from Representative Tomlinson adding a website-based public notice step to the abandoned-vehicle process, intended to supplement certified-mail notice and help owners protect their property; the committee reported support for the change, and the DMV testified in favor. Representative Noise then offered an amendment to move non-commercial vehicle inspections to every other year while keeping annual emissions compliance unless federal approval is obtained, but after explaining the proposal, he asked leave to withdraw it, and no objection was made. The House then passed S. 326 in concurrence with proposal of amendment and suspended the rules to message its action to the Senate forthwith.
Finally, the House considered House Bill 674, relating to the Vermont Sister State Program. On a procedural motion, the chamber voted to commit the bill to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. A member asked whether the referral was intended to fix the bill or delay it, and the chair said the committee was working on another way to address the governor’s concerns and would revisit the issue the next day. The House then recessed until 3:30 p.m.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- We want behavioral changes.
- And their argument was, 'We don't have that rule,' and lo and behold, they made the rule.
- If I make a motion for change of physical custody, change of placement, sometimes placement will be changed
- If I make a motion for change of physical custody, change of placement, sometimes placement will be changed
- And something that adds fuel to the fire is Rule 4.4 of our ethical rules.
Summary:
The committee met for a presentation-only hearing on the Arizona Department of Child Safety, with no bills on the agenda. Chair Blackman opened by emphasizing that the hearing was intended to be data-focused and respectful, and that personal attacks or false accusations would not be tolerated. Director Catherine Patak then presented DCS data on hotline volume, investigations, reunifications, adoptions, guardianships, foster care entries and exits, kinship placement, congregate care, missing youth, and extended foster care. She said the department investigated more than 43,000 cases in 2025, kept the out-of-home care population relatively steady, and had reunified about 3,000 children with parents, while also noting that older youth and behavioral-health-driven removals are creating a mismatch with available foster homes. She also described kinship supports, foster parent recruitment, and the impact of Family First on funding, saying DCS lost federal drawdown for congregate care while waiting on approval for prevention programs.
Members questioned the director about kinship caregivers, behavioral health access, reunification services, parental rights terminations, notice and documentation practices, and the effect of increased reimbursement rates. Patak said unlicensed kin can receive support through the kinship supports contract, that behavioral health assessments are done quickly at the welcome center or within 24 hours for kin placements, and that provider capacity remains a major constraint outside DCS control. She explained reunification conditions and services, said the department is working on documentation and notice issues flagged by the Auditor General, and noted that kinship reimbursement increases have helped some families step forward. She also said DCS procurement for group homes is handled internally through an RFP process and that about 10% of kinship caregivers become licensed.
Representative Gillette then delivered a lengthy presentation arguing that the child welfare, Medicaid, and disability systems are structurally intertwined and that procurement and funding rules create incentives for volume and congregate care use. He criticized DCS, DES, and AHCCCS/Access oversight structures, argued that the system diffuses accountability, and said the committee’s work and related materials would be referred to special counsel. He also raised concerns about documentation, placement decisions, and the cost of congregate care, while asserting that the system over-relies on large providers and that reforms should focus on structural and financial incentives. Vice Chair Fink followed with a brief slide noting that congregate care costs far more per child than foster or kinship care, reinforcing the committee’s concern about placement costs and the need to shift children toward family-based care when possible.