Transcript Highlights:

• The subcommittee reviewed reports, reviewed requests, and approved the following various temporary appropriations
• The subcommittee reviewed reports, reviewed requests, and approved the following various temporary appropriations
• In addition to the regular review items, the subcommittee received one contract for review from the District
• In addition to the regular review items, the subcommittee received one contract for review from the District
• You have a review of an agreement in there, and I'll need a motion to file this as reviewed.

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reviews. So please come forward: Jeff Cunningham, Aline, Ms.
• Today we'll present the 2025 tax preference performance reviews.
• Next, the reviews are scheduled by a five-member citizen commission.
• As Aline mentioned at the outset, most of these are going to be briefer reviews...
• into the brief reviews here.

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• instead of just administrative review.
• instead of just administrative review.
• instead of just administrative review.
• instead of just administrative review.
• I had an administrative review.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee hearing on SAO performance audits, State
• The office operates independently of the legislature and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
• As you can see on the graph, we found that for each year in our review period, the courts reviewed released
• We have an overall pretrial FTA rate of 4.5%, which is, again, a phenomenal review.
• of the courts that we reviewed do offer pretrial services to some extent.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a hearing on a State Auditor’s Office performance audit about expanding pretrial services in Washington. Audit staff said most of the 14 courts reviewed wanted to expand or implement pretrial services but faced barriers such as funding, limited community resources, and public safety concerns. They also reported that only three courts could provide usable data, that pretrial service use varied across courts, and that some demographic disparities appeared in the data, including lower rates of pretrial services for Hispanic defendants at two Spokane courts and for Black defendants at Spokane Superior Court. The audit also found that many courts do not collect pretrial data in an accessible format and recommended clearer guidance, better data systems, stakeholder outreach, and evaluation of program effectiveness. The State Auditor’s Office also noted that the Administrative Office of the Courts’ pretrial pilot program had received legislative funding and was being expanded. Representatives from Spokane Municipal Court, Grays Harbor County District Court, and Yakima County discussed their local programs and data. Spokane officials described a robust integrated system and said their pretrial services unit, launched in 2021, had reduced bail use, jail time, failure-to-appear rates, and recidivism, while helping judges make quicker release decisions. Grays Harbor staff echoed the audit’s findings on cost savings and said data collection is labor-intensive for limited-jurisdiction courts, especially without dedicated staff. They also described using risk assessment tools and pilot funding to support alternatives to jail. Yakima and Spokane participants emphasized that stable funding and standalone pretrial services units would improve program consistency and outcomes. Committee members asked about how pretrial services reduce detention time, how courts can better communicate cost savings and public safety benefits, and why statewide data collection is difficult. Audit staff and court representatives said early assessments, better information at first appearance, and integrated case-management systems help reduce jail stays and improve release decisions. The hearing ended without formal committee action, and the chair adjourned the meeting after inviting written public testimony on the audit topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee hearing on SAO performance audits, State
• The office operates independently of the Legislature and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
• As you can see on the graph, we found that for each year in our review period, the courts reviewed released
• We have an overall pretrial FTA rate of 4.5%, which is, again, a phenomenal review.
• of the courts that we reviewed do offer pretrial services to some extent.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on expanding the use of pretrial services in Washington. Auditors said most of the 14 local courts they reviewed wanted to expand or implement pretrial services but faced barriers such as funding, limited community resources, and public safety concerns. The audit found variation in how courts use pretrial services, potential disparities in who receives them, and major data limitations because most courts do not track pretrial outcomes in an accessible, standardized way. Auditors recommended that local courts engage stakeholders early, improve data collection and evaluation, and that the Administrative Office of the Courts provide more standardized guidance and support. They also noted the legislature had funded an AOC pilot program to help courts expand pretrial services. Court representatives from Spokane Municipal Court, Grays Harbor County District Court, and Yakima County described their own programs and supported the audit’s general conclusions. Spokane officials said their pretrial unit, funded locally and built around risk and needs assessments, had reduced bail use, detention time, failures to appear, and recidivism, but emphasized the need for stable funding and better public understanding of pretrial alternatives. Grays Harbor staff similarly said pretrial supervision and least-restrictive alternatives save jail costs and reduce reoffending, but that collecting data across all cases is labor-intensive and difficult without dedicated staff. Yakima and Spokane also highlighted the value of integrated case-management systems and centralized data tracking. Committee members asked about how reduced detention time occurs, how courts can communicate cost savings and public safety outcomes, and why many courts struggle to track pretrial data. Auditors explained that early risk and financial screening helps judges make quicker release decisions and that better data and stakeholder communication are key to building support. No formal action or vote was taken; the committee held the required hearing and then adjourned after public testimony was invited and written testimony information was provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a robust community reviewer process to involve non-DEED experts in the review and recommendation
• </c> you examining as part of this review you examining as part of this review process<00:26:33.840><
• reviewers.
• </c> a community reviewer would get to me. a community reviewer would get to me.
• </c><00:35:44.720><c> I</c> the reviewer process is important. I the reviewer process is important.

Bills: HF4072 , HF3691 , HF4613

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

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:

• </c> as the Contract Review Committee. as the Contract Review Committee.
• </c> through contract review. through contract review.
• So I would contract review something.
• </c> some sort of review to it. some sort of review to it.
• </c> any contract review any contract review uh<00:18:51.280><c> contract,</c><00:18:52.360><c> any</

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The most relevant here is NEPA review, the National Environmental Policy Act.
• NEPA review has to be completed prior to construction.
• How are we going to accelerate EHP review?
• That's the environmental and historic preservation review.
• That means that we're able to move a lot faster on NEPA reviews.

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Department of Commerce’s new state broadband director on Washington’s BEAD broadband program and permitting process. Jordan Arnold said Washington’s final BEAD proposal has been submitted to NTIA but remains unapproved after months of back-and-forth over federal rule changes, technology choices, cost, and tribal sovereignty. He said the program is expected to bring about $1 billion in broadband investment, connecting roughly 166,000 homes and small businesses, with a mix of fiber, fixed wireless, and low-earth-orbit satellite. He also outlined permitting challenges, including rights-of-way and environmental/historic reviews, and said the office is working on permitting roundtables, federal coordination, and NEPA expertise to speed reviews. Members asked about the interaction of NEPA and SEPA, the reduction in deployable federal BEAD dollars, the long-term value of fiber versus other technologies, and possible coordination with other infrastructure permitting efforts. The committee then took executive action on House Bill 2684, which would add Middle Eastern and North African groups to the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises’ socially disadvantaged certification framework. Four proposed amendments were considered and all failed: an amendment narrowing the rebuttable presumption to groups with specific current discrimination, an amendment requiring disaggregated subgroup data and limiting use of aggregated data, an amendment tying the rules to the state constitution, and two amendments requiring consistency with federal law and Attorney General review. After debate over whether the bill was too broad or needed more specificity, the committee voted 7-4 to report HB 2684 out with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee unanimously approved House Joint Memorial 4012, which urges Congress to address the 20-year rule affecting certain combat-injured veterans and seeks parity in recognition and benefits. The memorial was reported out with a do pass recommendation by an 11-0 vote, with two members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't need the review.
• </c> then um then you need the second review. then um then you need the second review.
• , I don't think it's the review.
• court says we we want to review these court says we we want to review these findings,<00:15:46.639><c
• </c><00:29:05.760><c> Again,</c> order that secondary review. Again, order that secondary review.

Bills: SF0023 , SF0057

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: mental health, involuntary hospitalization, examiners, public safety, Wyoming legislature, hospital pricing, healthcare transparency, public health, civil penalties, shoppable services, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to review that before I would cast a vote.
• I would like to review that before I would cast a vote.
• I would like to review that before I would cast a vote.
• I would like to review that before I would cast a vote.
• </c><01:00:00.280><c> that</c> that uh I would like to review that that uh I would like to review that

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, there are 103 education audit reports for the committee's review.
• You had mentioned some of that oversight reviewing statements monthly now.
• I'd just like to say that we have reviewed the finding.
• We have reviewed it very carefully.
• Staff recommends that these be filed en masse as reviewed.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Summary: The committee met to review education audit reports and adopted the minutes. Legislative Audit reported 103 education audits total, with 89 having no findings and 14 containing findings. The committee first heard from Camden Fairview School District, which had findings for spending operating funds on an end-of-year employee banquet and for unauthorized credit card charges. District officials said they had implemented stronger internal controls, stopped using the affected card, and would limit future events to comply with state law and constitutional requirements. Members questioned the district about prior practices, donated funds, and how teacher appreciation could continue without using operating funds; the report was filed as reviewed. The committee then reviewed Forest City School District, which had a finding for spending $33,000 in operating funds on an off-campus end-of-year celebration and entertainment event. District representatives said the money came from a long-standing Pepsi-related donation fund, but acknowledged confusion over whether it should be treated as operational funds and said they would stop using it that way and provide training to staff and the board. Members discussed whether the funds were private donations or operating funds, the lack of a formal board vote, and whether the event was intended to recognize staff and growth; the report was filed as reviewed. The committee also received notice of more serious findings that were referred to the prosecuting attorney and attorney general, including Conway School District for misuse of district funds and resources by former maintenance employees, Magnolia School District for undeposited activity funds, Westside School District for undocumented and personal credit card charges, and Boonville School District for paying a board member’s son in excess of the statutory limit without an approved exemption. The remaining eight reports with findings were filed en masse as reviewed, and the 89 reports with no findings were also filed en masse. The committee adjourned after noting that most districts reviewed had no findings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd just like to say that we have reviewed the finding.
• We have reviewed it very carefully.
• I'd just like to say that we have reviewed the finding.
• We have reviewed it very carefully.
• Staff recommends that these be filed en masse as reviewed.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Summary: The committee met to review education audit reports and heard responses from several school districts with findings. Camden Fairview School District was cited for using operating funds for an end-of-year employee awards banquet and for unauthorized credit card charges that caused a small loss; district officials said the current administration had strengthened controls, stopped the banquet practice, and improved monthly credit card reconciliation. Members questioned whether the prior officials were still employed, whether the credit card issue was an outside hack, and how teacher appreciation could continue without using district funds. Forest City School District was cited for spending about $33,000 on an off-campus staff celebration and entertainment event; district representatives said the money came from long-standing Pepsi-related donation funds, that the event was intended to recognize staff and growth, and that they would change practices and receive training going forward. Members discussed whether those funds were private donations or operational funds, and staff said the district’s accounting treatment made them subject to the constitutional restriction at issue. The committee also reviewed several other findings. Conway School District was referred for an ongoing investigative report involving misuse of district funds and resources by former maintenance employees. Magnolia School District had undeposited activity funds totaling more than $21,000, tied to a resigned high school secretary and sponsor receipts not deposited. Westside School District had about $30,000 in credit card charges lacking documentation or business purpose, including charges by the superintendent, personal purchases, and items shipped to personal addresses; the matter was referred to the prosecuting attorney. Boonville School District was cited for paying a board member’s son more than the statutory limit for seasonal groundskeeping without the required exemption, and DESE later denied the exemption request. After discussing those cases, the committee filed the remaining eight findings en masse and then filed the 89 reports with no findings. Members noted that most school districts audited had clean reports and encouraged districts to continue good practices while learning from the findings discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do a review of the transcript.
• They have to go through the same review process as any California school. We re-review them.
• Based on that, we review curriculum. We review faculty requirements.
• What is your sort of review process?
• What is your sort of review process?

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with committee chairs emphasizing oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and economic mobility. BRN leaders reported improvements since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, higher consumer satisfaction, growth in pre-licensure enrollment, and expanded data collection. Members questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international and military pathways to licensure, online nursing education and clinical requirements, rural workforce shortages, and the 30-unit LVN-to-RN option. BRN staff explained California’s tiered advanced practice system, the NCLEX and certification requirements, English proficiency rules, clinical hour standards, and the board’s role in approving programs and supporting schools through nursing education consultants. Several members and the board president also discussed the need to retain new graduates, improve diversity in the workforce, and better support nontraditional students and rural placements. Public comment on the BRN sunset review was extensive and largely supportive of the board, while also urging policy changes. Nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nursing education groups generally supported the BRN report and especially backed clarification of APRN-to-RN delegation authority under issue 13. Other commenters asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, more flexibility for clinical nurse specialists, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and changes to federal loan limits affecting graduate nursing education. Higher education representatives and private nursing schools raised concerns about duplicative BRN documentation, clinical placement bottlenecks, and barriers faced by out-of-state and online programs seeking to serve California students. The California Medical Association and some physician groups opposed easing transition-to-practice requirements for out-of-state nurse practitioners and cautioned against changes to specialty and delegation rules, while the California Nurses Association and others stressed the importance of community college pathways, new graduate support, and workforce retention. The hearing then moved to the Physical Therapy Board of California. Board leadership reported that the board oversees more than 41,000 active licensees, has seen about 15% growth since 2021, and continues to maintain high exam pass rates among California physical therapy and physical therapist assistant programs. The board described its mission as consumer protection through licensing, enforcement, continuing competency oversight, and stakeholder engagement. The vice president’s remote testimony encountered technical problems, so the executive officer continued with a brief overview of the board’s work and its commitment to efficient service and public protection. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> um</c><00:13:45.959><c> reviewing</c> charged with um reviewing charged with um reviewing curriculum
• There is a review process going on for those publishers who submitted originally to be reviewed, did
• There is a review process going on for those publishers who submitted originally to be reviewed, did
• There is a review process going on for those publishers who submitted originally to be reviewed, did
• <00:20:18.799><c> um</c><00:20:19.039><c> right</c> review um right review um right now<00:20:21.080>

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So PAR, the post-education review boards are citizen review panels. They're complete volunteers.
• The review of child death cases.
• You're reviewing 45% of all deaths.
• And we reviewed 293 cases, which was 42%.
• They're just a review of records.

Committee: House A&B Human Services Subcommittee

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• two-tier permit um creates a final action which would basically allow the applicant to seek judicial review
• getting</c><00:04:45.680><c> more</c><00:04:45.840><c> eyes</c><00:04:46.120><c> on</c> judicial review
• HF 8 makes a number of updates to build on our high standards and improve our review process.
• HF 8 makes a number of updates to build on our high standards and improve our review process.
• </c> Farms entered the environmental review Farms entered the environmental review process<00:27:17.039

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This item is presented for your review and requires no action on your part.
• All right, item agenda number seven is a review and approval of Water Sector Commission.
• Review and approval of Water Sector Commission. Representatives are ready to present.
• This is only for review. All right. See no questions. This is only for review.
• This is just for review this month, so all right. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received an unchanged fiscal status statement and five-year baseline projection from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members approved the fiscal status statement, and the baseline budget was noted as unchanged from the prior month. The committee also approved Facility Planning and Control’s request to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the Act 751 eligible list, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes. The committee then approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget. Lottery officials reported $610 million in projected gross revenue, emphasized 29 consecutive years without legislative auditor findings or management comments, and noted the corporation’s long-running transfers to the MFP and State General Fund. Members also approved the 2026-2027 operating budgets for LASERS, TRSL, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System en bloc. The retirement systems described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and continued progress in reducing unfunded liabilities; members discussed COLA prospects, UAL paydown, and the impact of surplus dollars on retirement debt reduction. The committee approved prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures of $20,262.32 and then approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including items for Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish. It also approved the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for an additional $2.8 million for four ongoing water and sewer projects. Several contract items were reviewed without action, including DEQ’s extension with RTI International, Tourism’s marketing contract amendments, and the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration amendment. The meeting concluded with adjournment after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Administrators to do this review. Uh, let me see right here. Here's this. I'm doing fine.
• Those reviews are a quality of care review, if you will, currently takes place as noted every 3 years
• I'm just saying for immediate stuff like there is a review that already happens currently.
• To do a triennial review.
• In terms of getting everything together to be ready for these kinds of reviews. Gotcha.

Bills: HB139

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a multi-disciplinary review team.
• But if you look at number four, the DCS executive team can request a review.
• When people see reviews like this, it actually shuts down learning.
• Director Petak talked about the document review. We support them in that.
• They have been utilizing safety science in their reviews since that time.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This morning, we will begin with a Sunset Review Oversight hearing for the California State Board of
• So we are reviewing what is happening in the market.
• The second is remote processing as part of the Board’s sunset review.
• The second point has to do with two of the issues raised in the Sunset Review.
• I would like to ask the Legislature provide oversight by reviewing and revising...

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate business committees held a sunset review hearing on the California State Board of Pharmacy, with board leadership describing the board’s consumer-protection role and its priorities around access, enforcement, and updating pharmacy law. The board emphasized a proposed shift toward a standard-of-care model for pharmacists, arguing it would reduce rigid protocol requirements and improve access to services such as HIV PrEP/PEP, contraception, and naloxone. Board representatives also discussed pharmacy deserts, possible fee waivers for pharmacies in underserved areas, concerns about payer practices contributing to closures, continuing education audits, and a request to restore more flexibility in licensure decisions and probationary monitoring for applicants with certain criminal histories. A major focus of the hearing was the board’s ongoing compounding regulations, especially the treatment of sterile versus nonsterile compounding and substances such as glutathione and methylcobalamin. The board said the proposal was not a ban on those substances and described the rulemaking as grounded in federal law, USP standards, and public comment, noting the process had gone through multiple modified texts and hearings. Testimony from stakeholders was sharply divided: pharmacists, veterinarians, firefighters, naturopathic doctors, and patient advocates warned the rules were restricting access to compounded medications and harming patients and first responders, while the California Medical Association, psychiatric physicians, and PhRMA raised concerns that the board’s proposals could expand pharmacist authority beyond training, affect physician practice, or create safety risks. Other public comments addressed pharmacy technician ratios, remote processing, flavoring medications, hospital-specific regulation, budget and enforcement transparency, and whether the board should add members with community compounding or pharmacy technician expertise. Committee members also asked about the board’s oversight priorities and the rationale for its standard-of-care proposal. Board staff explained that consumer protection includes education, licensing, policy, and enforcement, with the highest-priority enforcement cases being those posing imminent public harm. After public testimony concluded, the chairs thanked participants and adjourned the sunset review hearing, announcing an immediate transition to the joint informational hearing on the Department of Cannabis Control.