Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes you said cases get dismissed for failure to appear, and we now know sometimes cops don't appear
• But on a couple examples, the example was used of law enforcement's failure to appear.
• I do know that the vast majority in the report were due to either failure to appear or the prosecutor
• And they did mention number one by a landslide: failure to appear from witnesses and...
• What the committee needs to know is when we—what's called an FTA, failure to appear—it would be nice

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to say the initial response, because we were targeting, like, the very high end of teacher
• And I just want to clarify, it's the 1033 initiative.
• So with that being said, the question is, are our schools partnering with the 1033 initiative?
• Would you mind giving us the schools that are working with that initiative? Thank you.
• We brought in initiatives. We hired administrators. We made fake jobs.

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I just want to clarify, it’s the 1033 initiative.
• So with that being said, the question is, are our schools partnering with the 1033 initiative?
• Would you mind giving us the schools that are working with that initiative? Thank you.
• We brought in initiatives. We hired administrators. We made fake jobs.
• So it appears that it's a lot of movement within... 24 to 25.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Senate and House Education Committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program from Department of Education staff and three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central. The teachers described the year-long fellowship for high-performing merit pay recipients, saying it provided collaboration with educators across the state, shared resources, and ideas they brought back to their districts. Members asked about the teachers’ experience levels, how they shared information locally, and whether the program should be expanded to more teachers and districts. A major focus of the discussion was third-grade reading, the new ATLAS testing system, and the state’s third-grade retention law. The teachers said they do not teach to the test, but use standards, data, interventions, small groups, and relationships to help students grow. They described progress monitoring throughout the year, early screening in K-2, and interventions such as before-school tutoring, RTI meetings, and co-teaching. One teacher reported that six students in a small group improved 10 to 15 points on ATLAS, and another said a student who started the year reading four words per minute improved significantly with targeted support. Secretary Jacob Oliva said the state is trying to create clarity and alignment through Arkansas Learns, science-of-reading support, literacy coaches, and faster test-result turnaround, with student scores now available within about 24 hours and district-level results expected later in the summer. Members also asked about student poverty, trauma, ACEs, DHS involvement, social workers, community supports, and the role of counselors. The teachers emphasized that relationship-building is essential, especially for students facing unstable home situations, and described local supports such as backpack food programs, church donations, fire department incentives, and family assistance. Oliva said the fellowship was intentionally small in its first year because it targeted top-tier merit pay recipients, but he expects participation to grow. He also said merit pay and fellowship eligibility spans many grade levels and subjects, including kindergarten and hard-to-staff areas, and that D and F schools receive state literacy coaches. No additional committee votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we generally go in the order that you appear on the agenda, if you have an agenda.
• Or what was the initial amount and what are the contributions going into it, Madam Chair?
• The well drilling was completed, and initial casing was done.
• Initially, the plume was fairly shallow.
• And the initial wells were in fact not past the edge of the plume, but were actually appears in the plume

Transcript Highlights:

• They estimated the initial capital investment to be no greater than $50 million.
• They were the initial responders there waiting for the emergency, and they continue to help today.
• The center does provide initial training, and to the chairman's point, the JPs across the state...
• To reaffirm, we will have some way of initiating volunteers into a database.
• When it comes to not just moving initiatives forward, but really looking for solutions.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• person's first court appearance. person's first court appearance.
• fail to appear. fail to appear.
• But even so, there is strict criteria for even issuing the initial one.
• criteria for even issuing the initial criteria for even issuing the initial one. one. one.
• > by the state initially had to prove by the state initially had to prove by clear<03:19:56.880

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 1,800 new children served through recent initiatives, but we have 1,400 more kids that have no
• But going back to my initial question, that was not going to curb that behavior, right?
• The individuals who are not being released and whose name would not appear on a registry because they're
• not getting out, they would appear in the registry, but if they never get out then maybe it wouldn't
• To nursing facilities, for a statewide quality oversight initiative, from the committee, calling it from

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appear before you as a private citizen in opposition of Bill 1071.
• It appears that I have it, and it is so ordered. Mr.
• went missing, and from the time she went missing up until the time that the Turquoise Alert was initiated
• And so when it was initially... ...the fact was that she was missing, and so when it was initiated, the
• by operators that wouldn't qualify as existing owners who wouldn't qualify for the program as the initial

Bills: SB1071, SB1315, SB1317, SB1416, SB1493, SB1537, SB1542, SB1584, SB1626, SB1740, SB1751, SB1804, SCR1047, SCR1049

Keywords: Arizona Rangers, statutory repeal, security, state law, regulatory changes, school safety, interoperable communications, law enforcement, emergency response, funding, reentry programs, criminal justice, grants, recidivism, attorney general, missing children, kidnapping, reporting requirements, child safety, training

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1071, which would repeal the statutory framework for the Arizona Rangers. The sponsor argued the bill was about accountability and transparency, citing concerns about missing training and firearms qualification records; Arizona Rangers representatives and several sheriffs opposed the bill, saying the Rangers provide valuable volunteer support and that the real issue was adding oversight rather than eliminating protections. After discussion, the committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1071 a do pass recommendation, with members noting they expected amendments later. The committee then heard SB 1315, requiring school districts and charter schools to maintain interoperable emergency communications with law enforcement and to submit annual affidavits confirming testing and compliance. Testimony from school safety officials and sheriffs emphasized the value of real-time communication during emergencies and the need for secure sharing of campus maps and floor plans; concerns about cost and information security were addressed by supporters. The bill passed unanimously, 7-0. The committee also advanced SB 1317, which appropriates opioid settlement funds for county reentry planning programs; sheriffs and association representatives supported it, citing reduced recidivism and jail populations, and it passed 7-0. Several public safety and missing-children measures were considered next. SB 1416, as amended, revises missing child reporting requirements, adds runaway children back into reporting, requires faster photo and information sharing, and expands training requirements; advocates for missing children and law enforcement supported the compromise language, and the bill passed 7-0. SB 1740, which updates Turquoise Alert training and procedures, was also advanced 7-0 after discussion about statewide versus geographically targeted alerts and the need to keep alerts effective. Later, SB 1493, a strike-everything amendment affecting police officer termination appeals and fee shifting when an employer rejects a favorable administrative ruling, passed 5-2 despite opposition from chiefs’ representatives. SB 1537, renaming the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund and repealing its advisory commission, passed 5-2. The committee also approved SB 1751 and SCR 1049, which expand execution methods to include lethal gas and firing squad and make firing squad mandatory in certain cases involving the murder of a law enforcement officer; opponents raised constitutional, ethical, and practical concerns, while supporters framed the measures as aligning Arizona with other states and providing additional options. Both measures passed 4-3. Finally, SB 1542, which would create a framework and funding for MDMA research and treatment for PTSD in first responders and peace officers contingent on FDA approval, was heard with testimony describing promising clinical trial results and the need for Arizona research; the bill was then moved forward, though the transcript cuts off before the final roll call result is fully shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• One initiative that we haven't gotten to yet, but I'm thinking very seriously of, We need to put our
• It initially says less than 10 years, but that actually is 14 to 17 years.
• Luckily, two years ago, we received non-recurring state funding from the Governor's Food Initiative,
• It appears that the administrative cost is over a third in the blue. That's correct. Yes, correct.
• So those are the initial estimates of that potential. Cliff that the state will be incurring.

Transcript Highlights:

• captain of the University of Delaware rugby team, helping lead the program to two national tournament appearances
• original bill to cover Industrial Accident Board proceedings from a suggestion that was made during the initial
• So I just want to confirm, in simplest terms, that with this piece of legislation, it appears that DSP
• may have a duty to intervene at that point, thinking it's a criminal matter because that's what it appeared
• We did not initiate the legislation, sir, no. Thank you. That's all. Thank you, Senator Richardson.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It appears to be more abuse. The Constitution is clear.
• While this initiative has been proposed in other states, it's crucial to understand its potential...
• While this initiative has been proposed in other states, it's crucial to understand its potential and
• I appear before you to express our support for...
• I appear before you to express our support for H. 3860 and S. 2458, the Guard Enlistment Enhancement

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hybrid public hearing on seven House bills and seven Senate bills related to the Massachusetts National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserves. Opening remarks covered hearing procedures, livestreaming, testimony limits, and expected reporting dates, and chairs noted the committee’s focus on Guard and Reserve issues. Testimony then moved through several bills, including S. 2465 to expand the National Guard welcome-home veterans bonus to all deployed Guard members regardless of residency, H. 3876/S. 2462 to authorize military-style headstones for long-serving or deceased Guard members, and S. 2482/H. 3833 to establish a Massachusetts National Guard Museum in Salem. Supporters of the bonus and headstone bills argued they would correct inequities and better honor service; Senator Lovely described the museum proposal as a way to preserve the Guard’s history in Salem and potentially support federal funding for the project. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 3829/S. 2471, the “Defend the Guard” proposal that would bar Massachusetts National Guard deployments into active combat absent a formal congressional declaration of war. Supporters argued the bill would restore constitutional war powers, reduce repeated undeclared deployments, and protect Guard members’ mental health and state readiness. Opponents, including retired Guard leaders and current service members, warned it could conflict with federal law and Title 10 authority, undermine federal funding and training, and harm readiness, force structure, and unique Guard capabilities. Committee members repeatedly questioned the bill’s legal authority, constitutional basis, and practical effects under the Supremacy Clause and Title 10, and several witnesses were asked to submit additional written legal support. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3831, which would extend Chapter 115 benefits to currently serving Guard and Reserve members who do not meet federal veteran-status thresholds, and on related proposals to clarify Guard command structure and the duties of the Adjutant General. Supporters said these changes would improve access to benefits, reduce confusion in the chain of command, and strengthen discipline and responsiveness. Separately, the National Guard Association of Massachusetts backed H. 3860/S. 2458, the Guard Enlistment Enhancement Program, as a recruiting tool, while opposing the Defend the Guard bills. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Coach Whittington led Holy Savior Menard, its first ever appearance in the state finals, and a state
• Led Holy Savior Menard to its first ever appearance in the state finals and a state runner-up finish,
• and led Sacred Heart to its first semifinals appearance.
• City of Shreveport to partner with certain enumerated entities to advance the Southern Soul City Initiative
• Louisiana churches, nonprofit religious organizations, self-insurance funds, provides for definitions, initial

Bills: HR308, HR309, HR310, HR311, HR312, HR313, HR314, HR315, HR316, HR317, HR318, HR319, HR295, HR296, HR297, HR298, HR299, HR300, HR301, HR302, HR303, HR304, HR305, HR306, HR307, HCR115, HCR116, HCR117, SCR71, SCR72, SCR73, HR73, HR118, HR144, HR196, HR237, HR249, HR260, HR267, HR272, HR273, HR276, HR278, HCR85, HCR100, HCR105, HCR107, HCR113, HCR114, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR37, SCR63, HB255, HB378, HB509, HB1090, SB80, SB131, SB143, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB367, SB384, SB388, SB389, SB398, SB408, SB431, SB468, SB469, SB496, SB25, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB295, SB433, HR179, HR223, HR225, HR274, HCR89, HR252, HR253, HCR96, HCR103, HCR108, HCR26, HB250, HB265, HB339, HB427, HB445, HB463, HB468, HB606, HB639, HB649, HB665, HB746, HB781, HB853, HB861, HB872, HB886, HB916, HB937, HB1054, HB1068, HB1117, HB1237, HB74, HB108, HB956, HB1085, HB1137, HB62, HB193, HB210, HB220, HB246, HB364, HB420, HB475, HB584, HB622, HB772, HB784, HB949, HB953, HB1043, HB1070, HB1092, HB1134, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1214, HB1199, SB268, SB283, HB782, SB149, HR84, HB646, HB998, SB56, SB163, SB197, SB97, SB326, SB341, SB518, SB123, SB353, SB479, SB495, HB901, HR20, HR74, HR168, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB302, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, HB134, HB258, HB359, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB379, SB382, SB441, SB449

Keywords: HR 308, House Resolution 308, Pope Leo XIV, Catholic Church, Holy See, Vatican, commendation, resolution, Louisiana Catholic heritage, St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, South Louisiana parishes, religious recognition, ceremonial resolution, faith leadership, pontificate, spiritual solidarity, human dignity, peace, mercy

Transcript Highlights:

• That maybe six or seven years ago really saw it appearing heavily in internal medicine.
• interviewing people. ...them, or if it's the reason why they don't stay, or the reason when your first initial
• They do not exist, and so it appears that three years is the best in terms of retention.
• indicates perfect correlation between variables, so disciplinary actions and medical malpractice payments appear
• I will briefly discuss some of the workforce initiatives in the rural health transformation program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to appear today, and I look forward to answering questions.
• Now, I think we've got a lot of regulator-initiated debanking going on with this concept of reputational
• The regulator-initiated debanking.
• activities, that's the kind of stuff that is, that's the kind of thing you see in countries that appear
• It appears to be a tacit attempt to hold back speech that is considered undesirable. And thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department was very much involved in helping clean up the initial proposal of SB 561.
• clean up the initial proposal of SB561. clean up the initial proposal of SB561.
• feedback, but we just have a lot initial feedback, but we just have a lot of<00:31:11.520> rules<
• In my own experience, prior authorization requests are initially denied and often, upon approval, are
• As it often happens, just when I think I'm all done, another card appears.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh they really liked this bill initially uh they really liked our<00:36:55.440> approach.
• In the case of the six initiative In the case of the six initiative foundations<00:46:46.480>
• being done it appears they're being done accurately. accurately. accurately.
• Foundation in central Minnesota; we flagged X number at the West Central Initiative, etc.
• Why was that initially said those footprints should not be included? Commissioner, >> Mr.

Bills: HF3217, HF2252

Keywords: bioindustrial facilities, economic development, renewable energy, advanced biofuels, state funding, HF2252, Minnesota bonding, volume cap, private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, public facility bonds, public facilities pool, unified pool, bond allocation, municipal finance, bond cap, housing bonds, residential rental projects, manufacturing bonds, enterprise zone bonds

Summary: The committee first approved the prior day’s minutes as amended, correcting the meeting number from the 46th to the 45th meeting. It then took up House File 3217, which would restore funding for the Minnesota Bioincentive Program. Representative Kisha argued the state should honor commitments made to companies that met program requirements and had not received full reimbursement. Testifiers from the Great Plains Institute and Minnesota Biofuels Association said the program has supported bioeconomy investment, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and generated strong economic returns, but has been underfunded, leaving unpaid claims. Members raised questions about whether the bill was retrospective and whether it should be reviewed by another committee; the bill was laid over for further consideration without a vote. The committee then heard House File 2252, a proposal to modernize Minnesota’s private activity bond volume cap by shifting unused allocation from the small issuer/manufacturing bucket to the public facilities bucket while leaving the overall cap unchanged. The bill’s public finance testifier said the current allocation formula is outdated, housing would remain the top priority, and the change would be budget neutral. Testifiers from the Minnesota Milk Producers Association and Minnesota Biofuels Association supported the bill, saying it would better align financing with rural infrastructure, clean water, manure management, renewable natural gas, dairy processing, and low-carbon fuel projects, and could lower borrowing costs for those sectors. Members questioned whether the bill fit the committee’s jurisdiction and noted it might be more appropriate for another committee; the bill was also laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The H-2B industry, when you look at that, the initial allocation of 66,000, and then they increase it
• The initial allocation of 66,000, and then they increase it, and it split into two sections of 33,000
• and the great work she's doing at LED, but every time that they bring somebody to this state, the appearance
• And I just want to reinforce some of the things that we've said about your initiative in this resolution
• The Healthy Food Retail Act was initiated post-Katrina and it was designed.

Bills: HCR77, HB81, HB512, HB663, HB717, HB1194

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2B program, H-2A program, labor shortage, temporary workers, Louisiana economy, HCR77, crawfish industry, H-2B visa, seasonal labor, agriculture, immigration, arborist, property disputes, tree trimming, neighborhood, landowner rights, Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District, board of commissioners

Transcript Highlights:

• And if a citizen wants to make an initiative or take an initiative to provide some type of coverage for
• That doesn't appear anywhere. And so that's, we're concerned about that as well.
• So this bill initially was brought by the folks with the rental car companies, including Enterprise,
• And then I think I have Ryan Haney, who is here, who I think initially may have had some opposition to
• And then I think I have Ryan Haney, who is here, who I think initially may have had some opposition to

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on May 6 with a quorum and first reported favorably House Resolution 196 by Rep. Owen. The resolution creates a special study committee to examine the impact of fallen trees on residential property, property values, daily life, and the insurance market. Rep. Owen said the goal is to study whether homeowners who remove risky trees should be considered for incentives or discounts, and members discussed whether homeowners association restrictions on tree removal should also be examined. The committee next reported favorably Senate Bill 100 by Sen. Jenkins, which requires transportation network company drivers to provide the correct proof of insurance after an accident and disclose whether they were logged into the ride-share app or on a prearranged ride. Supporters said the bill would ensure the proper ride-share-specific coverage is produced and reduce administrative problems when accidents occur. House Bill 408 by Rep. Jordan, dealing with homeowners insurance cancellations after a homeowner timely mitigates risks, drew opposition from the insurance industry. Opponents argued the bill addressed a problem they said does not generally occur and could create confusion or litigation, especially given existing notice rules. After discussion, the committee adopted a committee amendment changing a notice period from 90 days to 60 days, and Rep. Jordan voluntarily deferred the bill. The committee then took up House Bill 625 by Rep. Jordan on peer-to-peer car sharing programs. Members adopted technical amendments and a substantive amendment requiring a state-admitted or approved physical damage policy when no contractual protection package is in place, with a deductible cap and subrogation rights. Enterprise representative Ryan Haney said the company supported the broader effort but disagreed with the amended approach; the committee nevertheless reported the bill favorably as amended. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• honor to be part of the extraordinary transformation at FAU as it launched the Quantum Computing Initiative
• transformation happening at FAU as we stepped onto the national stage by launching the Quantum Computing Initiative
• Standards, And authored the definitive scholarly analysis on the Common Core State Standards, which was initiated
• I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to request a favorable recommendation for Senate
• USF's record research growth, nationally ranked medical and nursing programs, and workforce-focused initiatives

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education opened by noting it would not present its budget that day, explaining the budget rollout would be delayed until the following week to align with House partners and Senate notice requirements. After a roll call confirmed a quorum, the chair explained that because of the large number of gubernatorial appointments, the committee would hear only a subset individually and consider reappointments in a block unless members requested otherwise. The committee then heard testimony from appointees and reappointees to several university boards. Florida A&M University nominees Roderick Harris, Victor Young, and Rafael Vasquez emphasized service to their alma mater, support for leadership, student success, entrepreneurship, scholarships, and maintaining FAMU’s status as a leading HBCU. Florida Atlantic University appointees Linda Stock and Thomas Mersh highlighted FAU’s growth, R1 research designation, quantum computing, servant leadership, entrepreneurship, and expanded research opportunities. University of Central Florida reappointee Alex Martins focused on UCF’s preeminence, workforce needs, nursing and engineering, and keeping graduates in Florida. Florida Gulf Coast University nominees James Gris-Mall, Douglas Van Orte, Robert Rommel, Sarah Partial Perry, and reappointee Joseph Fogg discussed workforce development, affordability, student success, water and environmental programs, business and entrepreneurship, nursing outcomes, and FGCU’s regional role. University of South Florida reappointee Rogan Donnelly cited USF’s AAU status, research growth, and focus on student success, health care, cybersecurity, and AI. Committee members generally praised each nominee’s background and the universities’ achievements. At the end of the hearing, the committee approved all nominees in a single block vote for confirmation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The FY24 departmental audit of DHS was initially presented at the LJAC Standing Committee on State Agencies
• Initially, and Secretary Mann had referenced the program integrity function, there's a federal requirement
• Initially, and Secretary Mann, It became its own entity in 2013.
• Initially, and Secretary Mann had referenced the program integrity function.
• Second, it appears that unlike some of the other states across the country that we have a pretty good

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to adopt the November 2018 minutes and receive a primer on the subcommittee’s role and Medicaid oversight in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s history and explained that Medicaid is audited annually through the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including weaknesses in eligibility and data-matching controls, improper use of Medicaid funds for partially non-Medicaid work, issues with incarcerated juveniles’ coverage, the absence of a Medicaid recovery audit contractor program exception request, reporting problems involving MFCU recoveries, and provider eligibility documentation concerns. Staff also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for further action. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of Medicaid’s structure, eligibility, delivery systems, and budget. DHS described Arkansas Medicaid as covering about 850,000 people through fee-for-service, managed care, and premium assistance for the expansion population, and outlined major spending categories such as institutional care, long-term services, pharmacy, capitated payments, and supplemental payments. DHS also explained the difference between state plan amendments and waivers, and said it has a beneficiary-fraud unit that refers cases to local prosecutors. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, distinguishing between suspensions for credible allegations of fraud and recovery actions for mistakes or overpayments. OMIG said it works with DHS and law enforcement, issues quarterly and annual reports, and has increased recoveries in recent years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, can also handle long-term care neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases, and works with local prosecutors as special deputies. Committee members asked about court venue, provider suspensions, beneficiary fraud, education of providers, and the status of Medicaid expansion work requirements; DHS said it is preparing to implement community engagement requirements under HR 1 and will begin with a soft launch before full enforcement. No formal votes were taken beyond adoption of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after questions were answered.