Transcript Highlights:

• I first want to just make a comment on the report and say the word that I think no one from DHS wants
• I first want to just make a comment on the report and say the word that I think no one from DHS wants
• But the actions, the mindset, you know, I heard you use the term fraud prevention mindset.
• But the actions, the mindset, you know, I heard you use the term fraud prevention mindset.
• We have an OLA report that is, I guess, exactly what I was saying 7 years ago.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Faye Bernstein, a 20-year employee of the Department of Human Services, testified that she had experienced retaliation after raising concerns about contract irregularities and compliance problems years earlier. She said she was walked out of the building, banned from DHS property, and subjected to a lengthy investigation, which she described as professionally and personally harmful. Bernstein stated that the investigation ultimately found she had questioned leadership’s decision-making and held up contracts with compliance issues, and she said she stood by those actions. Her broader testimony focused on what she described as a culture of retaliation and a lack of fraud-prevention mindset at DHS. She criticized department leadership, including Commissioner Gandhi, and said internal auditors and others failed to adequately address the problems she raised. Bernstein argued that the department’s failures had serious consequences for vulnerable people, including homeless individuals affected by a program shutdown during winter, and said the agency needed major leadership changes and firings. The chair thanked Bernstein for her testimony at the end of her remarks. No committee vote or formal action was taken during this exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you can see there at the bottom, it indicates preliminary report due in 2026 and a final report
• <00:03:21.280> on we're focused in this report on we're focused in this report on workforce
• , public funds funds from waste, fraud, public funds funds from waste, fraud, and<00:03:40.239>
• > can<00:08:40.479> see Fraud prevention measures you can see Fraud prevention measures
• , determine at least with the OA report, determine at least with the OA report, we<00:15:31.279><

Bills: HF4072, HF3691, HF4613

Keywords: workforce development, journalism, local news, internships, media training, emergency management, essential employees, public safety, law enforcement, workforce, economic development, appropriation, Twin Cities Marathon, Explore Minnesota, grants, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you select to waive speaking, your position will be noted in the committee reportings.
• Members, by your vote, we will show SB 174 reported favorably. Thank you.
• Members, by your vote, we'll show SB 388 reported favorably. Congratulations.
• Members, by your vote, will show SB 470 reported favorably. Congratulations.
• And, Senators, by your vote, Senate Bill 490 is reported favorably.

Bills: S0174, S0388, S0470, S0488, S0490, S0584, S0628

Keywords: transportation, memorial, honorary designation, Miami-Dade, Charlie Kirk, license plates, Florida Wildflower, vehicle registration, annual use fee, specialty plates, Fraternal Order of Police, license plate, funding, memorial foundation, law enforcement, motor carriers, fuel tax, military exemptions, safety regulations, electronic submissions

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and advanced several bills, mostly related to honorary roadway designations, specialty license plates, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles administration. SB 628 designated a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as “Warrior Sacrifice Way” to honor Ensign Joshua Watson and Petty Officers Muhammad Hatham and Cameron Walters, who were killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack. The bill passed favorably with no debate or opposition. The committee also considered SB 174, naming a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue. Senator Arrington opposed the bill during debate, citing Kirk’s public statements as inconsistent with the honor, while Senator Rodriguez argued the designation was an honorary roadway naming that did not require agreement with Kirk’s views. The bill was reported favorably. SB 388, which raises the annual use fee for the Florida Wildflowers specialty license plate from $15 to $25 while keeping the lower fee for owners with more than 10 vehicles, also passed favorably after a support-only public comment. Members then approved SB 470, which opens the Fraternal Order of Police specialty plate to the general public and allows redesigns to help sustain sales and increase funding for law enforcement memorial efforts. Public testimony from the FOP supported the change. SB 584 authorized DHSMV to enter agreements allowing county tax collectors to enforce certain commercial driving school provisions, aimed at addressing fraud and licensing abuses, and it passed favorably with support. Finally, the committee approved SB 488, the DHSMV agency package updating IFTA compliance, online filing, crash reporting thresholds, registration procedures, email communications, and tank vehicle definitions, along with SB 490, the companion public records exemption for email addresses used under SB 488; both were reported favorably, with SB 490 noted as requiring a two-thirds vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the upcoming key performance enhancements include the expansion of data reporting capabilities
• We are also modernizing the subsystem that supports fuel use reporting by motor carriers, as well as
• Also, to identify enhancements or modernization efforts that improve service delivery and reporting.
• First and foremost is how quickly Florida proactively initiated increased front-end fraud prevention
• First and foremost is how quickly Florida proactively initiated increased front-end fraud prevention

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several state technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Enterprise Business Solution (DEMS). FDEM said DEMS is about 50% complete, with some grants and finance functions already live, and is intended to replace manual disaster and grants processing with a cloud-based system. Officials described faster reimbursement timelines after recent storms, major return-on-investment claims, and a planned final phase focused on design, testing, communications, data governance, and additional functionality. Members asked about the total cost, the role of Florida Digital Service, deliverables-based contracting, and how much of the system is live; FDEM said the project is expected to cost about $16 million to $16.8 million and finish by June 2027, with some follow-up information to be provided. The Department of Legal Affairs presented its Office of Attorney General Modernization Program, a follow-up to an earlier effort that failed after spending about $26 million. Acting Attorney General John Gard said the department has now moved to an off-the-shelf case management product, LawBase, and is in development and testing, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution already live and full implementation expected by the end of the fiscal year. The request includes funding for staff augmentation, cloud storage, the LawBase license, redundancy through a backup site in Orlando, and OnBase support. Members questioned the prior failure, the use of Florida Digital Service standards, data location and cloud migration, and the redundancy plan; Gard said lessons learned included better scoping and that the current effort is on track. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then updated the committee on Motorist Modernization, including the Orion system and the MyDMV portal. Officials said Phase 1 and Phase 2 have modernized driver license and motor vehicle services, with Phase 2 statewide rollout scheduled to begin in April 2025 and Phase 3 proposed at $16.5 million for dealer services, data warehouse improvements, and call center modernization. Members asked about payment options, organ donor questions, staffing, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and the digital driver license program. The agency said the portal already allows some sanctions to be cleared online, an ACH option is being developed, the digital driver license vendor has changed with a fall go-live anticipated, and the department is using security testing and a managed security service provider. Officials also said the system is currently on an on-prem private cloud, with future workloads expected to move to public cloud where appropriate. Finally, Florida Commerce presented on the Reemployment Assistance modernization system, Reconnect, and the FLWINS workforce system. Commerce said Reconnect is hosted in the Azure Government Cloud, has reduced claim filing time, improved fraud detection, and increased appeals capacity, and now needs $4.9 million in recurring funding to cover ongoing operations, cloud hosting, licenses, and staff augmentation. Members asked about adjudication issues, wait times, fraud prevention, and whether the system stores caller identifiers; Commerce said the average wait to speak to a representative is about 18 minutes and claims are generally processed in four to six weeks. The committee then began hearing about FLWINS, which is intended to create a “no wrong door” workforce portal under the REACH Act, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:27.280> uh of legislative auditor report uh of legislative auditor report uh increased
• And then the final report that we've included here, and we can send links to these reports to the committee
• relevant uh we were also asked to report relevant uh we were also asked to report out<00:17:27.199
• <00:43:11.400> we commissioner for the report we commissioner for the report we appreciate
• your report your report today<00:47:56.559> Commission<00:47:56.880> commissioner<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, fraud absolutely.
• So our fraud division will work with county attorneys.
• I'm very confident that we're not going to miss a step with regard to fraud.
• are department yes fraud absolutely they are department yes fraud absolutely they are hitting<00
• to uh miss a step with regard to fraud to uh miss a step with regard to fraud that<00:20:00.159>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt on the New Hampshire Insurance Department budget. He said the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers based on New Hampshire premium volume, with about $8 billion in premiums written in the state and a department budget of roughly $15.5 million. He explained that the department has 88 authorized positions, eight vacancies, and that three full-time positions were unfunded after the governor’s requested 4% reduction exercise. He also said the department is trying to balance staffing needs with not overburdening carriers during a hard insurance market. A major topic was the department’s $2.6 million rebate to industry from the prior fiscal year, which Bettencourt described as a credit against the next assessment rather than a direct cash payment. Members questioned why that credit was not reflected as a reduction in the upcoming budget, and Bettencourt and staff explained that the budget assumes full staffing and full spending, with any year-end surplus returned to insurers. The commissioner said the department had added staff in recent years for succession planning and to preserve institutional expertise, and that the rebate reflects careful budgeting rather than excess spending. Members also asked about staffing changes by division, including positions unfunded in fraud, property and casualty examinations, life and health examinations, and tax. Bettencourt said fraud investigations remain strong and that the department can use outside contractors for examinations, with those costs billed to the company being examined. He also described the department’s examination process, including periodic financial exams and targeted market conduct reviews triggered by consumer complaints or trends. Additional questions covered OIT transfers, the department’s oversight of fully insured health coverage, the insurance premium tax and fines going to the general fund, and the department’s limited role in auto repair reimbursement disputes, where he said complaints have recently declined.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the last tracking cycle, we report 324 new HIV diagnoses.
• tracking cycle uh we report tracking cycle uh we report 324<00:43:10.559> new<00:43:10.800
• The bill is a proactive step to protect public funds, prevent fraud and misuse, and improve government
• The bill is a proactive step to protect public funds, prevent fraud and misuse, and improve government
• or abuse um explicitly related to fraud or abuse um explicitly stating<01:47:23.239> that<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're expected to investigate the sales of sick puppies and suspected fraud, but we're operating in the
• California currently, of sick puppies and suspected fraud. But we're operating in the dark.
• never had, real, accessible data, data that allows us to trace origins, identify patterns of abuse and fraud
• The bill also relieves local agencies of paper-based, largely ignored reporting systems and replaces

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several bills, including SB 788 by Senator Niello, which clarified that CPAs and CPA firms, including employees and out-of-state CPAs authorized to practice in California, are regulated by the California Board of Accountancy rather than subject to Tax Preparation Act registration requirements. Supporters said the bill would reduce duplicative regulation and confusion; there was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 351 by Senator Cabaldon, aimed at strengthening enforcement of California’s corporate practice of medicine rules as they relate to private equity and hedge fund involvement in medical and dental practices. The author and physician supporters argued that private equity can interfere with clinical decisions and patient care, while opposition from the American Investment Council said the bill could sweep in legitimate business practices and requested a narrow amendment. The bill passed to Judiciary. SB 312 by Senator Umberg was heard next and would require health certificates for imported dogs sold in California to be submitted to CDFA and made publicly available, with supporters describing it as a transparency and consumer protection measure to combat puppy mills and misleading online sales. There was no opposition, and the bill passed to Agriculture. The committee also approved a consent calendar containing SB 291, SB 387, SB 517, SB 602, and SB 773, all moving to their respective committees. The meeting ended after additional roll calls and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.
• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.
• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.
• I understand the fraud concern, of course.
• the the fraud concern, of course. the the fraud concern, of course.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• These are victims of people who were convicted of fraud and then had no resources.
• <00:44:10.920> and<00:44:11.040> fraud spent nearly 10 years in fraud and fraud spent
• nearly 10 years in fraud and fraud prevention<00:44:12.240> yes<00:44:12.760> uh<00:44
• I had to estimate fraud losses.
• <00:56:21.520> against publicly um as committing fraud against publicly um as committing fraud

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um it's going to add in some kind of uh reporting mechanisms and some fraud mechanisms just to kind of
• Um but that's basically what uh the amendment does. reporting me mechanisms and some some reporting me
• mechanisms and some some fraud<00:01:20.880> mechanisms<00:01:21.439> just<00:01:21.600
• > to<00:01:21.759> kind<00:01:21.840> of<00:01:21.920> make fraud mechanisms
• just to kind of make fraud mechanisms just to kind of make sure<00:01:22.240> that<00:01:22.640

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually cannot report on the status of where we are at with that.
• ,<00:39:00.320> so ham radio operators, trouble reports, so ham radio operators, trouble reports
• Suicide Prevention Annual Report Suicide Prevention Annual Report describes<03:14:50.479> that
• <03:37:00.080> a vehicle titles are branded reporting a vehicle titles are branded reporting
• Um be through the possibility of fraud.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It turns out waste, fraud, and abuse.
• No, it's hard waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Clerk will report the consideration.
• Clerk will report the resolution.
• Clerk will report the consideration.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the past several months, we've gathered across all the agencies and are pleased to report that many
• extraction, reporting and data extraction, reporting and data extraction, supporting<00:59:05.680
• <01:03:01.600> fraud<01:03:02.000> prevention<01:03:02.760> and additional fraud
• fraud prevention and additional fraud fraud prevention and accuracy.<01:03:03.800> There's<01
• We are looking at fraud at compliance.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:00 Department of Education 00:21:00 Transportation Cabinet 00:35:30 Secretary of State 00:45:15 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:56:11 Discussion of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Related legislation 01:09:11, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then focused first on the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s legacy systems and two specific projects. COT officials said many agencies have made progress moving off legacy applications, with remaining mainframe systems slated to be retired through RFPs or other work orders. They also described a legacy funding pool of $10 million per biennium used to help agencies transition. The two projects discussed were the Kentucky aerial photography and elevation data program, which provides statewide aerial imagery and lidar data for GIS, E911, environmental, transportation, and other uses, and a citizen identity and access management system intended to give residents a single login for state services. Officials said the GIS program costs about $1.2 million annually to host and maintain, with data acquisition costing several million more per year, and that the citizen identity system would cost about $2.5 million per year after an initial three-year COT investment. Members asked about duplication of funding, licensing, local government use, and whether multi-factor authentication would be required; COT said the GIS data is being acquired as statewide unlicensed data and that MFA would be available but not yet mandated statewide. Committee members pressed COT on costs, overlap with cabinet-level IT spending, and the practical benefits of the GIS and identity projects. COT explained that GIS hosting is generally covered through enterprise assessments billed quarterly to agencies, while the new aerial data is intended to benefit the whole state and local partners. On the identity project, officials said it would centralize authentication for citizens who use state systems, improve compliance with zero-trust and NIST-related security expectations, and reduce help desk and maintenance burdens through self-service account tools. Members also discussed whether the system would extend to local governments; COT said it would be a Kentucky.gov-style state login for users inside the state identity infrastructure, not a local-government system. The Department of Education then testified that it does not operate mainframes or major legacy systems, having moved long ago to cloud-based, off-the-shelf products and vendor-supported services. KDE officials described a strong emphasis on staff cybersecurity awareness, standardized statewide systems, vendor risk-sharing, and reducing sensitive data exposure, including efforts to move away from student Social Security numbers. They also highlighted a transition from Microsoft Active Directory to Identity Automation, which they said will improve identity management and make multi-factor authentication universal across K-12. In response to questions about Kentucky Wired and internet service, KDE said all 171 school districts and KDE agencies have been moved to a new next-generation internet service through ENA by Zayo, with strong satisfaction, e-rate savings, and better reliability. Officials warned that any internet disruption would immediately affect attendance, grades, student records, payroll, security systems, and communications across the K-12 system.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, you have a report. Please report.
• Report of committees.
• Clerk, please report.
• classification report. classification report.
• Clerk, please report Rules Committee and Committee on Committees report.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, the Committee on Fiscal Review reports a deferred conference committee report on Senate Substitute
• Speaker, your Committee on Fiscal Review reports its deferred conference committee report number two,
• Speaker, your Committee on Fiscal Review reports its deferred conference committee report, House Committee
• They might not, and it's fraud.
• They might not, and it's fraud.

Summary: The House took up a series of conference committee reports and third-read Senate bills near the end of session, with several members also recognizing House drafters and research staff. The chamber first adopted and finally passed Senate Joint Resolution 87, which drew debate over whether the measure would remove the City of St. Louis sheriff as an elected office; supporters said the change also applied to other charter governments, while opponents argued it reduced local autonomy. The report and final passage both succeeded on 95-46 votes. Members then adopted and finally passed Senate Bill 973, a package combining a wholesaler/real estate transparency measure with a land bank provision. Senate Bill 1421, a broad public safety bill, was also advanced after a motion to exceed the conference differences; supporters highlighted provisions on clean slate, masked intimidation, prosecuting attorney salaries, fentanyl, gift card fraud, unmanned aircraft, and other public safety items. The conference report passed 116-18, the bill finally passed 110-25, and the emergency clause for the drone-related portion passed 136-5. The House also adopted and finally passed Senate Bills 835 and 1111, a combined conference report that included insurance consumer protections, court administration updates, treatment court and judgeship provisions, a St. Louis civil case surcharge, and the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. Senate Bill 1408 was stripped back to a single issue authorizing MoDOT to consider raising rural interstate speed limits from 70 to 75 mph, and it passed 93-46. Senate Bill 913, extending several agriculture tax credits and adding a short line railroad credit, prompted extended debate over tax credits, budget pressures, and whether such incentives should be extended now or later; a proposed child tax credit amendment was withdrawn, and the bill ultimately passed 107-30. The House then began debate on Senate Bill 1553, a critical minerals and pharmaceutical manufacturing incentive bill, with supporters framing it as a jobs and supply-chain security measure and opponents raising questions about tax incentives and local impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill is Representative Witty's House File 3826, which is a BCA bill related to the fraud investigations
• The first bill is Representative Witty's House File 3826, which is a BCA bill related to the fraud investigations
• 25.160> amends this language, which amends this language, which amends the<00:02:26.600> reporting
• date<00:02:27.280> for<00:02:27.400> the<00:02:27.520> disaster the reporting
• date for the disaster the reporting date for the disaster assistance<00:02:29.200> uh<00:02:29.640

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3990, Chair Novotny’s bill, as the vehicle for a public safety policy package. Members were told the DE1 amendment had been posted for public review, so no formal action would be taken at this meeting; the committee planned to act on the bill at the next hearing on March 25. Chair Novotny said questions from Judiciary on the original bill had been addressed or were still being worked on, and he expressed hope the bill would pass out the next day. Non-partisan staff walked through the DE1 amendment, explaining that it combines multiple bills into one package. The included provisions covered BCA fraud investigations and administrative subpoenas, disaster assistance reporting dates, DOC policy on substance use and TV screening, raising the kratom possession/sale age to 21, DOC facility licensing, restitution considerations for early release, BCA data collection and local law enforcement reimbursements, public employer review of applicants with criminal convictions, victim notification and minor-victim privacy protections, second-degree murder language involving out-of-state protection orders, increased penalties for certain coercion offenses tied to non-consensual image dissemination, and reporting when law enforcement deploys chemical irritants. No one signed up to testify, and there were no votes or formal amendments acted on during the meeting. The chair noted that additional amendments were expected at the next hearing, and the meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• report, which is what we're talking to you today, which is a capping report or a summary report.
• , which is an electronic report.
• As Debbie mentioned, they also owe the last— Required financial report.
• As Debbie mentioned, they also owe last year's report.
• Now the town is also noncompliant with federal reporting requirements.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items related to local government accountability. The committee heard requests for operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member cited concerns about transparency, financial management, or compliance with state law. Representatives from Delray Beach DDA testified that an internal audit had already been completed, that findings were limited, and that they were working to cure issues such as procurement, credit card, and disbursement policies; the DDA chair also said the organization was willing to cooperate and was considering transitioning out of operating Old School Square. For Daytona Beach, the sponsor pointed to excess building permit revenues, vehicle purchases, and reported P-card irregularities as reasons for a broader audit. The committee approved all three audit requests, directing the Auditor General to finalize the scope while considering the stated concerns. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide performance reviews of 21 neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 districts were active and six inactive, with common issues including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and recommended that several districts be reviewed to determine whether they were still needed. Members asked about staffing, inactivity criteria, and how the districts were administered, and staff explained that city or county liaisons often supplement district staffing. Later, staff reviewed enforcement actions for local governments that failed to file required financial reports or omitted required information from submitted audits. The committee discussed a list of noncompliant counties, municipalities, and special districts, including the town of Rayford, which staff said had long-standing reporting problems, no apparent municipal services, and no response to repeated outreach. The committee voted to send a letter to the Union County legislative delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve Rayford. It also approved staff recommendations to proceed against entities still missing required filings or missing audit information, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is later provided in good faith.

Transcript Highlights:

• report, which is what we're talking to you today: a capping report, or a summary report.
• , which is an electronic report.
• As Debbie mentioned, they also owe last year's report.
• Now the town is also noncompliant with federal reporting requirements.
• Now the town is also noncompliant with federal reporting requirements.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items involving local governments and special districts. The committee approved operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member described concerns about transparency, financial management, or internal controls, while local officials or representatives generally said they were willing to cooperate and, in Delray Beach’s case, noted that an internal audit had already been completed and that some issues were being corrected. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide review of neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 of 21 districts were active and six inactive, with common findings including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and they recommended updates to district governance and transparency practices. On enforcement, staff reviewed local governments and special districts that had failed to file required financial reports or had submitted audit reports missing required information. The committee approved staff recommendations to proceed under the statutory enforcement process for the noncompliant entities, with flexibility for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is provided in good faith. The committee also voted to send a letter to the Union County Legislative Delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve the Town of Rayford, based on staff’s view that the town lacked employees, services, debt, and a clear reason to continue existing as an incorporated municipality.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we are, we are required to periodically review reports.
• Uh, they produce supply and demand reports, they produce education reports.
• , false, false documentation, um, fraud.
• And that concludes my report. Thank you, Mr. Harper. Members, any questions?
• It wasn't like we went out and hired this expert to prepare a report pro forma.