Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there was a hearing on some related biotech bills before House HHS recently where 12, I believe,
• There are a number of advocacy groups and companies lobbying federal HHS right now to actually codify
• I don't know whether that's going to happen or not, but what I can tell you is everyone watching HHS
• and watching these discussions, nobody thinks that not only is HHS at the federal level not going to
• Um, there was a hearing on some related biotech bills before House HHS recently where 12, I believe,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is my first time before HHS this year. So, hello to the new members.
• A couple of months ago, I participated in a Zoom meeting with HHS vital records and a number of people
• division of HHS so that they<01:15:52.080> can<01:15:52.960> do<01:15:53.280> all
• Thank you, Chair McDonald and members of House, HHS, and Elderly Affairs. It's great to be back.
• House, HHS, and Elderly Affairs. It's great to be back. That was just like a flash in time.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• proposed budget for 2027 calls for over $800 million in cuts to maternal and child health programs at HHS
• proposed budget for 2027 calls for over $800 million in cuts to maternal and child health programs at HHS
• PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2027 CALLS FOR OVER $800 MILLION IN CUTS TO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS AT HHS
• And it wasn't just HHS and CDC that removed data sets.
• AND IT CUTS STUDIES ON UTERINE FIBROIDS, WHICH DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK And it wasn't just HHS

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in regular communication with CMS and with HHS OIG.
• And so there are some reports from DOJ, HHS, and OIG.
• And so there are some reports from DOJ, HHS, and OIG.
• And so there are some reports from DOJ, HHS, and OIG.
• And so there are some reports from DOJ, HHS, and OIG.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the Department for Medicaid Services’ program integrity work. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Program Integrity Director Jennifer Dudinsky outlined Kentucky Medicaid’s structure, funding, enrollment, and spending, including FMAP rates, the size of the Medicaid and KCHIP populations, the number of providers, and 2024 expenditures. They also described the managed care and fee-for-service populations, noting that managed care serves most members while fee-for-service is concentrated in long-term care and waiver populations. Most of the discussion focused on fraud, waste, abuse prevention, and provider oversight. The department described its provider enrollment and certification checks, revalidation requirements, site reviews, fingerprinting for some high-risk providers, and termination grounds such as false application information, Medicare actions, unreported ownership changes, and abandonment of a provider number. Members asked about nonprofit ownership reporting, MCO fraud oversight, and how the department tracks unusual CPT code utilization, especially in behavioral health. The department said it uses data analytics, audits, policy review, and collaboration with behavioral health staff to monitor those trends. Dudinsky explained the division’s four branches: provider licensing and certification, audits and compliance, recovery, and third-party liability/estate recovery. She described prepayment and postpayment audits, referrals of credible fraud allegations to the Attorney General, monthly meetings with the AG’s office, and coordination with the Office of Inspector General, CMS, HHS OIG, MCOs, and other partners. She also explained payment suspensions, stand-downs during law enforcement investigations, and recovery efforts for overpayments, provider/member fraud, and third-party liability. The department said its recovery and avoidance efforts produced more than $251 million in savings so far in 2025. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first slide represents HHS progress. These are projects that recently completed.
• The first slide represents HHS progress.
• The team is doing really good progress, I would say, as well, across both us and HHS.
• But I would also say there is true partnership between us and HHS in working through this.
• I feel like we should have some conversations with HHS a little bit.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and this generally follows a theme that all of you are used to with HHS.
• Nothing is simple but everything is HHS.
• a... >> Um, we are under a hiring freeze, and in this particular area, very different from most of HHS
• HHS budget only about a little less than 11% is actually personnel.
• HHS budget only about a little less than 11% is actually personnel.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The work session was limited to House Bill 1750, a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Health and Human Services’ SNAP administration. Before testimony, Representative Terski distributed a written statement from Representative Priest for the record. Department officials Karen Heert and Nathan White then walked the committee through a chart showing SNAP participation, federal benefit dollars, and state administrative costs, emphasizing that the benefits themselves do not flow through the state budget. They explained that the reported administrative cost includes overhead and cost-allocation methods used to maximize federal reimbursement, and that the current participant count is about 75,000 with the trend steady in recent years. Members questioned whether the reported costs were stable, how much of the administrative expense was directly tied to SNAP, and whether reducing overhead would lower the need for the appropriation. The department said the cost per participant and per dollar distributed would be lower if SNAP were isolated, but that the broader allocation system also supports federal claiming across multiple programs. Officials said SNAP eligibility is redetermined every six months, that the department processes nearly 50 eligibility programs with about 250 field staff, roughly 70 unfunded positions, and a vacancy rate around 25%. They also said most errors in the program are unintentional and can come from either staff or participant mistakes, and that the department reviews errors to identify systemic fixes. The committee discussed the fiscal impact of the bill and related budget issues. DHHS said the current adjusted authorization for 2026 is about $31 million, but actual spending is expected to be closer to $25–26 million because of vacancies and unfilled positions. Members asked whether the $4.4 million shortfall identified in the fiscal note would come from the rainy day fund; staff said it would not be taken directly from that fund, but would reduce the amount available to flow into it at the end of the biennium. The committee also reviewed Senate Bill 603 FN, which was described as an alternative approach that would require DHHS to transfer funds within its existing budget rather than provide new money; officials said it would simply codify an option the department already has. No vote or final action on House Bill 1750 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was there a data officer at HHS or an analytics officer that you worked with for the data use agreement
• In November of 2024, we had calls with CMS, HHS, with In November of 2024, we had calls with CMS, HHS
• In November of 2024, we had calls with CMS, HHS, with Scott Davis and Mike Andrews at the time, and they
• Do you believe it was HHS?
• Do you believe it was HHS?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Was there, like, a data officer at HHS or an analytics officer that you worked with for the data use
• We do have a tribal liaison through HHS, but one of the issues I think is our tribal liaison is constantly
• In November of 2024, we had calls with CMS and HHS, with Scott Davis and Mike Andrews at the time, and
• In November of 2024, we had calls with CMS, HHS, with Scott Davis and Mike Andrews at the time, and they
• Do you believe it was HHS? And one of the points that we had made was the money is...

Summary: The meeting focused heavily on behavioral health and substance use treatment, especially the IMD exclusion and whether North Dakota should pursue a Section 1115 waiver to allow Medicaid reimbursement for services in institutions for mental diseases for adults ages 21 to 64. Turtle Mountain representatives described major local needs, including limited access to care, high syphilis rates, and the importance of timely public health data. They also discussed the tribe’s recovery center, which opened the prior year, now operating five levels of care with 16 beds, and the desire to expand capacity, possibly through an IMD waiver or related policy changes. Committee members also raised related issues such as rural health transformation funding, telehealth, workforce retention, and the need for better coordination between tribal and state public health systems. A central issue was Turtle Mountain Public Health’s long-running effort to secure a data use agreement with the state so it can receive surveillance data and respond directly to infectious disease cases among tribal members. Speakers said the tribe had a successful COVID-era agreement that allowed faster contact tracing and case management, but that agreement ended with the pandemic. They argued that current delays in sharing data, especially for sexually transmitted infections, leave the tribe unable to respond quickly, while the state and county epidemiology workload is too distant and stretched to be effective. Committee members expressed support and said they would look into the issue, noting that other tribes have secured similar agreements. The committee also heard a detailed presentation from the National Health Law Program on the IMD exclusion. The presenter explained that federal Medicaid law generally bars payment for care in facilities with more than 16 beds, but that states can use other tools such as state plan amendments, managed care arrangements, telehealth, and community-based services. He said IMD waivers are administratively complex, time-limited, and have shown mixed results in other states, with some gains in residential treatment access but limited evidence of improved overdose outcomes or stronger community-based care. He urged the committee to consider broader continuum-of-care solutions and cautioned that waivers alone are not a cure-all. No final vote was taken on the bill draft during the portion shown, but the committee discussed the proposal to appropriate $49,000 and one FTE to HHS to pursue an IMD waiver and report back in the next interim. Members also debated the policy rationale for the 16-bed limit, the role of the state versus tribal sovereignty, and whether the bill should move through the Health Care or Human Services committee in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, seeing none, we will adjourn this agenda, recalling the current 9:30 calendar for CPN-HHS joint
• Okay, seeing none, we will adjourn this agenda, recalling the current 9:30 calendar for CPN-HHS joint
• This is a joint decision-making agenda between the Senate CPN and HHS committees to consider measures
• HHS agrees with deferment. The next one is SB 953, relating to hospitals.
• The recommendation on SB 953 was to defer in HHS, yes, and the recommendation in CPN is also to defer

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held decision-making on SB 146, SB 147, and SB 1166. SB 146 and SB 147, both relating to condominiums, were recommended to pass with amendments. The committee adopted amendments based on testimony from Anne Anderson, including mediator/arbitrator qualifications, clarifications about disputes involving managing agents, small claims timing, lien rights, and refund determinations by an early neutral evaluator. For both bills, the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050 for further discussion. Each measure was adopted with no objections. SB 1166, relating to insurance, was also passed with amendments. The committee removed language that would have required insurers to bring claims and condition rates on doing so, replacing it with encouraging language. The amended bill adds a private cause of action against responsible parties, authorizes insurer actions under certain conditions, defines terms tied to climate-related events and fossil fuel products, and requires HPIA to report to the insurance commissioner on whether it exercised direct action rights. The effective date was likewise deferred to July 1, 2050, and the measure was adopted without objection. The committee then heard SB 985, relating to consumer protection and gift card fraud, and SB 1525, relating to electronic smoking devices and e-liquids. SB 985 drew support from a consumer fraud victim and others who said gift card scams disproportionately harm kupuna, while the Retail Merchants of Hawaii opposed the bill’s packaging/display requirements and suggested stronger penalties instead. The committee voted to pass SB 985 with amendments, deferring its effective date to July 1, 2050, and noted it would move on to Judiciary next. SB 1525 drew significant opposition from the Attorney General’s office, Department of Taxation, Department of Health, and public health groups, who argued it conflicted with federal tobacco law, was hard for Tax to administer, and would not effectively remove unauthorized vape products. After testimony, the committee recommended deferral of SB 1525 without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• committee members, uh, Director White, for the record, I think we should know what portion of this HHS
• committee members, uh, Director White, for the record, I think we should know what portion of this HHS
• committee members, uh, Director White, for the record, I think we should know what portion of this HHS
• committee members, uh, Director White, for the record, I think we should know what portion of this HHS
• committee members, uh, Director White, for the record, I think we should know what portion of this HHS

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met with replacement members noted at the start and took up one emergency item from the Department of Health and Human Services: approval to accept and expend $2 million to support SNAP recipients during the federal shutdown. Commissioner Lori Weaver and CFO Nathan White explained that USDA/FNS had notified the state it would not receive November SNAP funds, affecting about 74,000 recipients. The department said it activated a contingency plan to contract with the New Hampshire Food Bank to expand mobile food pantries, targeting SNAP households and prioritizing locations based on need, with evening and daytime access and outreach through mail, text, email, social media, partner organizations, and a shutdown webpage. Committee members asked about timing, locations, reimbursement, and whether the state would be repaid by the federal government. Department staff said the food bank would likely need about a week to mobilize once the contract was approved, and that the contract would be cost-reimbursement based, with faster turnaround than usual but not advance payment. White explained the money would come from excess Medicaid Enhancement Tax revenue from state fiscal year 2025, which can be used only for Medicaid purposes under state law and SB 249, allowing general funds to be shifted to the food bank contract. Members also asked about other affected programs; the department said WIC had funding through November 10, energy assistance was expected to continue through December, and school breakfast/free and reduced lunch were not impacted. Members discussed broader public outreach, including a possible PSA and use of the New Hampshire Food Bank’s network of 417 partners, and one member suggested religious leaders or the governor might be better positioned to make donation appeals. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the item (motion by Senator Gray, second by Senator Waters). The meeting ended with notice of the next meeting on November 21 at 11:00 and a motion to adjourn, which was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, uh, there was a great deal of others in HHS, human services, uh, and other bills that we'll
• You know, uh, there was a great deal of others in HHS, human services, uh, and other bills that we'll
• You know, uh, there was a great deal of others in HHS, human services, uh, and other bills that we'll
• You know, uh, there was a great deal of others in HHS, human services, uh, and other bills that we'll
• You know, uh, there was a great deal of others in HHS, human services, uh, and other bills that we'll

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you see the negative $300 million and the negative $1 billion in HHS, that is from forecasted
• There are a couple line items that are agreed in HHS.
• are a couple line items that are<00:15:17.760> agreed<00:15:18.399> in<00:15:18.639> HHS
• A<00:15:19.760> couple<00:15:19.920> of<00:15:20.240> uh are agreed in HHS
• A couple of uh are agreed in HHS.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Democratic leaders and House Republican leaders announced a compromise set of budget targets reached Friday night, describing it as a numbers-only deal that leaves policy issues aside. They said the targets are the first step in the budget process: House committee chairs will write bills to fit the targets, those bills will go to Ways and Means, and later leaders will negotiate global targets with the governor and Senate. Leaders emphasized that the agreement reflects compromise rather than either party’s ideal budget, and that they will continue talks with Governor Walz and the Senate over the next several weeks. The speakers highlighted what was not included in the deal, saying it does not target paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time, reproductive rights, or universal school meals. They said the House priorities that did make it in include housing, education, pensions, public safety, and transportation. On education, they said the compromise provides $40 million in new money in the first biennium for the READ Act and no cuts in either biennium, contrasting that with larger cuts in the governor’s and Senate proposals. They also said schools could still choose to fund unemployment insurance for school workers from existing resources, though it was not earmarked in the targets. Leaders said the agreement leaves room for committee chairs to make choices within the targets, including in health and human services, where they described the target as a reduction in projected growth rather than a cut to existing appropriations. They said the budget plan sets aside discretionary inflation adjustments in the first biennium while preserving inflation indexing for items like the K-12 formula. They also said the deal improves the state’s long-term balance, with a projected $1.6 billion balance in the first biennium and a $1.3 billion deficit in the second, and that the House’s numbers do not include the same revenue assumptions as the governor’s and Senate’s plans. In questions, leaders said conference committees will require majority support from both House and Senate conferees, and that the House will send equal numbers of Democratic and Republican conferees. They said the bonding bill size is still under discussion, but the adopted numbers would allow for roughly a $700 million general obligation bill. They also said large state spending for professional sports facilities is likely over, and explained that the press conference was held without Republican leaders for logistical reasons after the deal was reached late Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1621 is withdrawn from the Committee on Government, further referred to the Committee on HHS
• Symbal 1628 is withdrawn from the Committee on Finance, further referred to the Committee on HHS.
• Symbal 1628 is withdrawn from the Committee on Finance, further referred to the Committee on HHS.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and approval of the prior journal. Members then recognized several guests and issued proclamations, including honors for the Maryvale High School basketball program and Maryvale’s gifted and talented micro school, a Black History Month proclamation, and a remembrance for Emily Pike, with Senator Hatathlie urging continued attention to missing and murdered Indigenous people and to changes in the turquoise alert law. The chamber also marked Arizona’s statehood anniversary with cake for members and staff. The body then moved through Committee of the Whole and third-reading action on several bills. SB 1107, relating to peace officer certification pathways, was amended in committee and passed 27-2-1. SB 1032, appropriating money to the Corrections Oversight Fund, passed 29-0-1 after supportive explanations from senators. SB 1083 on condominiums and planned communities, SB 1252 on assignment for benefit of creditors, and SB 1259 on campaign-related provisions all passed 29-0-1. SB 1198, relating to the Arizona Beef Council, passed 23-6-1 after debate over whether the council used tax dollars or industry checkoff dollars. SB 1020, relating to special plates, initially passed 26-3-1 but was later reconsidered at Senator Bolick’s request and then passed again 25-4-1. The Senate also requested the House return SBs 1333 and 1368 for reconsideration. Committee meetings were announced for the following Monday, and the chamber adjourned until February 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I live in Flower Mound, and I'm here testifying on SB1 concerning the HHS budget, particularly the budget
• HHS agencies' request to expedite the eligibility process for Medicaid. So thank you. Thank you.
• For the first time, I can remember, HHS released the nursing rates as an exceptional item in their LAR
• Texas is currently funded under HHS, and oh, I am out of time. Please finish your talk.
• So I will draw your attention to this document that was delivered to the HHS in September 2019.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I do have Senate counsel from the HHS committee here to answer any questions if you have any
• have uh Senate Council from the HHS have uh Senate Council from the HHS committee<01:21:07.760><
• It's an important part of the HHS bill.
• It's an important part of the<01:54:41.920> HHS<01:54:42.560> bill.
• Um, so my preference and the HHS bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, most, almost all of that's HHS.
• So it's not the dollar thing that was on this other page, like 56% HHS, 165% safety.
• And again, most, almost all of that's HHS.
• HHS and this is detailed out and you'll HHS and this is detailed out and you'll see<03:37:20.600>
• So it's not the dollar thing that was on this other page, like 56% HHS, 165% safety.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:11:01.120> he<00:11:01.360> says<00:11:01.600> we're Henry Litman over at HHS
• , he says we're Henry Litman over at HHS, he says we're leaving<00:11:02.320> a<00:11:02.720><
• these dollars in how to apply for these dollars working<00:11:36.480> with<00:11:37.120> HHS
• working with HHS. working with HHS.
• And does HHS have to capture the other side?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just comment we had a similar bill in HHS 441.
• This amendment, um, goes a little further than the scope that we discussed in HHS.
• > >> I just comment we had a similar bill in >> I just comment we had a similar bill in HHS
• This amendment um goes a little HHS 441.
• <00:29:38.559> Chairman<00:29:39.919> spoke In HHS, I like you, Mr.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• opposition<00:32:21.600> to<00:32:22.120> HB<00:32:23.480> 137<00:32:24.480> HH
• uh opposition to HB 137 HH uh opposition to HB 137 HH HD1.<00:32:26.880> Um<00:32:27.600>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it repeals a mental health medical supervisor position within HHS.
• Um, I've heard from HHS this position is not filled. They don't know the history behind it.
• <01:24:42.000> this within HHS.
• Um, I've heard from HHS this within HHS.
• Um, I've heard from HHS this position<01:24:42.560> is<01:24:42.800> not<01:24:43.040><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all