Video & Transcript Research : 'inspector'
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CA
Transcript Highlights:
- The question is, the Inspector General talked about statutory requirements.
- Benjamin Belknap, High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Thank you for being here. Mr.
- Reiner D., also from the Office of Inspector General. Good to have you here.
- Office of Inspector General. Good to have you here. Please proceed. Thank you.
- I'm the Inspector General of High-Speed Rail.
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan, with testimony from the authority, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Chair Cortese framed the hearing around major changes since the 2024 plan, including a new CEO, revised scope for the Merced-to-Bakersfield initial operating segment, the loss of about $4 billion in federal funds, and the authority’s push for private investment, value capture, and public-private partnerships. The authority’s CEO said the project is now in a more disciplined phase, with most major structures in the Central Valley underway or complete, track procurement moving forward, and an updated target of revenue service for the initial operating segment by early 2033. He also highlighted cost-saving “optimization,” direct procurement of materials, and plans to pursue ancillary revenues from real estate, energy, broadband, and logistics.
Committee members pressed the authority on several issues, including proposed station relocations in Merced and Bakersfield, reduced double-tracking, the need for tax increment or other value-capture tools, utility relocation authority, permitting delays, transparency, and whether the project can still qualify as true high-speed rail. The CEO said the station locations are still under discussion with local governments, that the project will still be built to high-speed standards, and that the authority is seeking legislative changes to reduce delays and enable financing. Senators also questioned the loss of federal funds, the use of future cap-and-invest revenues, and the feasibility of private financing; the authority said the project can proceed without the withdrawn federal money but that it will keep applying for grants and exploring ways to bring future revenue forward.
LAO and the Inspector General were sharply critical of the draft plan. They said it does not fully comply with newer statutory requirements in SB 198 and AB 377, especially because it assumes a different Merced station location and a largely single-track segment without clearly identifying those as scope changes. They also said the plan omits key funding details, including borrowing costs that could total billions, and relies on assumptions about future legislative changes, financing, and project savings that may not materialize. The Inspector General said the draft plan falls short on required business-plan elements, including comparable cost estimates, a complete funding plan, and projected procurement milestones. In response, the authority committed to address the OIG’s findings in the final business plan and to provide a written response on compliance before the plan is finalized.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority -OMMA- Apr 17th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- So when inspectors are in the field and they see a need for an embargo immediately or a recall that we
- What kind of training do inspectors have, and do they wear body cams?
- Yes, our inspectors do wear body cams. If you're talking about lab inspectors, I think they do.
- All of our compliance inspectors do, and our investigators do.
- Different inspectors going out to the same site and giving conflicting information is a problem we're
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Finance Sub Committee Oct 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- need an increase in our services of $31,600 and an increase of $900,000 just for training for new inspectors
- This is our contract inspector, and we're having to pay them higher per diem rates, which is affecting
- I mean, I am not allowing any position to be held open for our producers, and we put every inspector
- Our team, our inspectors are trained in alert training and emergency response training.
- So I agree, a task force, but all of our inspectors know how to do this.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Tue Feb 11, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- We have one package and labeling inspector who also is a device inspector in Hilo.
- <00:14:23.880>
who one package and labeling inspector who one package and labeling inspector - <00:14:26.199>
in also is a device inspector in also is a device inspector in Hilo<00:14:28.800 - <00:14:53.519>
with personnel for full-time inspectors with personnel for full-time inspectors - <00:15:02.480>
in but right now we have no inspectors in but right now we have no inspectors
Summary:
The committees heard testimony on several transportation and consumer-related bills. HB 496, relating to mamaki tea labeling, drew support from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Weights and Measures, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, which said the bill would help protect a culturally important crop and the Hawaii brand. Members questioned Agriculture about staffing and whether the bill was being used to reopen a package-labeling inspection branch; the department said it currently has no Oahu inspectors for that function but has a place for an additional inspector. No opposition was registered on the measure.
HB 978, relating to electric utilities, and HB 1316, relating to DLNR/park reservations, were also heard. HB 1316 received support from State Parks, and members discussed where reservation fees would go and whether the statewide reservation system for three parks would cover its costs; the committee indicated a change would be made so fees go to the special fund. HB 914, relating to water carriers, drew support or comments from the PUC, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. The main discussion focused on the proposed automatic rate-adjustment mechanism tied to the GDP price index, with members asking for alternative index ideas and questioning whether the PUC already had authority to adopt such a mechanism. Young Brothers said the measure would provide clarity and help recover inflationary costs, while the chair raised concerns about repeated rate increases and asked for further testimony on possible alternative indices.
HB 1161, relating to transportation and road usage charges, received support from the Insurance Division, DOT, and the State Energy Office, with comments from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Hawaii Food Industry Association. Members asked whether counties need state authorization to adopt mileage-based charges and why the bill included funding for implementation; DOT said it is helping counties build the data collection and billing system and that Honolulu is handling much of the collection work. A question was also raised about whether plug-in hybrids would be covered, and DOT said vehicles under the federal electric-vehicle definition would be included. HB 1301, relating to transportation network companies, drew opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, Lyft, and Uber, all arguing that classifying TNCs as common carriers and changing liability rules would raise costs, reduce access, and disrupt the current statewide framework. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- Inspector General. Good afternoon, Mr. Inspector General. You're welcome. Thank you.
- general or assisting offices of the inspector general where inspectors general's authority or independence
- And thank you, Inspector General Sparrow, for all your work.
- I hope and answer, thank you for all your work, Inspector General.
- Any further questions for the Inspector General?
Summary:
The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness.
A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law.
Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Committee Jun 17th, 2026
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- AB 1738 preserves full discretion for inspectors to require in-person inspections when necessary, while
- With the exception of the foundation and the framing inspections don't have to be by an inspector. but
- again with the framing inspections or have to be by an inspector.
- If a homeowner or a contractor wants to have an inspector come over to do the inspections, they can do
- An inspector would have to make those inspections. Okay, thank you. Okay.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Kashyap Patel, of Nevada, to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice. Jan 30th, 2025 at 08:30 am
Senate Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- Do you remember when the Inspector General, not his colleagues, turned him in?
- The Inspector General found that Mr.
- As I've argued in this committee, my Inspector General Access Act would allow the Inspector General to
- Would you object to the firing Of the Department of Justice, Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
- He's fired inspector generals who might hold him accountable. Accountable.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy and Natural Resources Apr 11th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- That was a request by the installers, because if they needed an inspector to come out and look at it,
- public health units to do MOUs with adjacent counties and public health units that do not have inspectors
- That was a request by the installers, because if they needed an inspector to come out and look at it,
- public health units to do MOUs with adjacent counties and public health units that do not have inspectors
- That was a request by the installers, because if they needed an inspector to come out and look at it,
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 2276, which addresses water projects that cross county lines. Senator Larry Luick and Danny Quissel of the North Dakota Water Resource Districts Association explained that the bill would require joint boards for multi-county projects, with equal representation from each county, and would add a dispute-resolution process: mediation through the Agriculture Department, then appeal to the Department of Water Resources, and finally court if needed. An additional cleanup amendment was adopted to clarify that a district could proceed if a joint board or district refused to participate. Members raised concerns about possible county-versus-county litigation, but the committee approved the amendment and then passed SB 2276 as amended on an 11-0-2 roll call.
The committee then heard the final bill of the day, Senate Bill 2267, on on-site wastewater treatment systems. DEQ Director Dave Glott presented a revised amendment reflecting prior discussion and input from local public health units and installers. The proposal would give the Department of Environmental Quality exclusive rulemaking authority, require public health units to inspect systems within 24 hours, allow MOUs with neighboring counties or health units, prohibit local rules that conflict with state standards, and create a state licensing system for installers while exempting homeowners working on their own property. It also set up permitting and appeals procedures, civil penalties for violations, and a $99,000 appropriation, with the department saying it would also rely on fee revenue and report back later on whether the program is working.
Members asked about homeowner installation, local permitting, technical assistance, and whether the $99,000 appropriation and expected fees would be sufficient. Glott said homeowners could still consult with local health units and would likely still need permits, and estimated fees might be around $200 per year for installers, generating roughly $50,000 annually. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed SB 2267 as amended on a due-pass motion, with one no vote recorded. The chair then adjourned the meeting.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 13th, 2026 at 01:31 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- We train and send our inspectors and all of our supervisors to training all the time.
- We've been sending our inspectors and our supervisors to trainings on how to look for this parasite.
- When I came to this agency, our inspectors were driving vehicles with. Over 200,000 miles on them.
- The task force that we put together was actually of our own inspectors.
- Ordinated that off and assigned the inspectors to certain regions with the help of Google Earth.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Performance Audit Oversight Committee (11/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- So we have three pharmacy inspectors. They're unclassified positions within the office.
- Um, updating and periodically review compliance policy manual and provide training to inspectors.
- <00:13:04.639>
Um, <00:13:05.360>so provide training to inspectors. - Um, so provide training to inspectors.
- had just been um part of in inspectors had just been um part of in the<00:16:50.880>
enforcement<
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from its October 3 meeting unanimously. It then reviewed follow-up status on prior performance audits, beginning with the Department of Corrections’ sex offender treatment program. DOC said all audit items from the 2016 review were resolved except one related to tracking benchmarks, progress, and recidivism. Officials explained that a new offender management system, Chorus, was recently implemented but has had rollout problems affecting operations, including restitution checks, and that they hope the system will be stable enough within about six months to begin tracking the needed metrics. Members asked about treatment inside prison and after release; DOC described in-prison treatment, parole aftercare, probation and parole oversight, administrative restrictions, and reassessment if conditions are not met.
The committee next heard from OPLC on the Real Estate Commission audit. OPLC reported that all but one finding is substantially or fully resolved, with the remaining issue involving review of applicants’ adverse financial history and liabilities. The delay is tied to ongoing rulemaking, and OPLC said the commission is amending its criteria and integrating universal application procedures into board rules. The office estimated substantive completion by March 2027, with rule filing expected sooner. The committee then took up the Board of Pharmacy audit, where OPLC said most findings remain partially resolved because the board is in the middle of a major rule overhaul and a new licensing software project. Officials described a shift toward a compliance bureau and more routine, risk-informed inspections, rather than inspections driven only by complaints, and said updated manuals and forms will follow the new rules and technology.
Finally, the Legislative Budget Assistant reported on ongoing audits. For special education, staff said they are writing the report, have 25 completed observations, and have expanded to 70 identified observations, with a full draft expected in the first quarter of 2026 and a final report by summer 2026. For education freedom accounts, 40 observations have been identified, 15 finalized, and a draft is expected by midspring with a fiscal committee presentation in summer. For the Doorway program, the audit plan was finalized with DHHS help, financial activity was isolated, fieldwork is expected to finish by Thanksgiving, and a draft report is planned for January or February 2026, with a final report by March or April 2026. The committee discussed scheduling its next meeting for February 6 at 10 a.m. and emphasized the value of follow-up on older audits; the meeting adjourned after members agreed the follow-up process should continue.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Funding Disability Services / Regulating Artificial Intelligence / Senate Media Service’s Upgrade Feb 23rd, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- , an update to the push for a new fraud-fighting tool, where the bill to create an Office of the Inspector
- , an update to the push for a new fraud-fighting tool, where the bill to create an Office of the Inspector
- Senate File 856 calls for the creation of an Office of the Inspector General, and it was heard during
- creation of an office of the Inspector creation of an office of the Inspector General<00:18:46.960
- As an executive agency, the bill gives the Office of the Inspector General, or OIG, more independence
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- The question is, the Inspector General talked about statutory requirements.
- Benjamin Belknap, High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Thank you for being here. Mr.
- Reiner D., also from the Office of Inspector General. Good to have you here.
- Office of Inspector General. Good to have you here. Please proceed. Thank you.
- I'm the Inspector General of the High-Speed Rail. I have Mark Rineardi with me.
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan and next steps for the project. Chair Cortese opened by noting major changes since the 2024 plan, including new leadership, a bottoms-up review, scope changes in the Central Valley, loss of federal funds, and renewed interest in private investment and value capture. The Authority’s CEO, Ian Chaudhary, presented the project as moving into a construction and track-laying phase, citing progress on Central Valley structures, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocations, and a new procurement for track and systems. He said the plan reflects a more disciplined, optimized approach, with the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment targeted for revenue service around 2033 and the broader Phase 1 corridor envisioned as commercially viable through ancillary revenues, public-private partnerships, and future private financing.
Committee members questioned the Authority about station relocations, single-tracking, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, transparency, and the feasibility of private financing. Chaudhary said the Merced and Bakersfield station locations were still under discussion with local governments and that no contracts had been finalized. He defended the reduced scope and single-track approach as a just-in-time strategy to avoid overbuilding, while maintaining high-speed standards. He also said the Authority was exploring land value capture, broadband, energy, and other corridor-based revenue sources, but acknowledged that some tools would require legislative action and that private financing options were still being evaluated. Several senators expressed support for the project but raised concerns about permitting delays, local opposition, constitutional and statutory limits, and the need for stronger accountability.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General then gave critical assessments of the draft plan. LAO staff said the plan assumes major statutory changes, understates risk, lacks transparency about scope changes, and may not fully fund even the smaller Merced-to-Bakersfield segment once borrowing costs and other uncertainties are considered. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan does not comply with newer statutory requirements in SB 198 and AB 377, citing three main deficiencies: unauthorized scope changes to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment, an inadequate funding plan that omits financing costs, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the Authority’s presentation obscures the true cost and schedule impacts of the project changes, and that incomplete reporting limits legislative oversight. The Authority responded that it would address the OIG’s findings in the final business plan, and committee members indicated they expected a written response on compliance issues.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (10/22/2025)
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Transcript Highlights:
- inspectors currently and a support staff inspectors currently and a support staff team<00:36:52.480><
- <00:55:18.640>
were initiated and a safety inspector were initiated and a safety inspector - Um, based on your experience, and I see the inspector is here as well in the room, safety inspector,
- Safety inspector I believe the room.
- <01:53:24.719>
um they're identified um by inspectors um they're identified um by inspectors
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informational interview with Rep. Matt Norris (DFL-Blaine) Jan 6th, 2026
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Office of the Inspector General bill is one that continues to be at the forefront.
- to create an independent office of bill to create an independent office of the<00:07:24.720>
inspector general <00:07:25.440>to <00:07:25.680>help <00:07:25.919>fight the inspector- general to help fight the inspector general to help fight fraud<00:07:26.880>
in <00:07:27.120 - <00:07:45.280>
General Um the Office of the Inspector General Um the Office of the Inspector
Summary:
The interview focused on the lawmaker’s emphasis on bipartisanship and civility, which he said has become even more important amid recent political violence in Minnesota and nationally. He described the civic pledge he signed with Republican Senator Michael Kun as part of a broader responsibility for elected officials and citizens to lower the temperature, debate issues vigorously without demeaning opponents, and preserve basic human dignity.
He was also asked about gun violence and said Minnesota should continue a robust debate on possible policy changes after recent shootings, including the Annunciation school shooting. He pointed to steps already taken, such as expanded use of the red flag law and enhanced background checks, but said the public expects action and that the current status quo is unacceptable.
The discussion then turned to several policy priorities for the 2026 session. He highlighted concerns about private equity buying manufactured home parks and sharply raising lot rents, which he said can force residents to choose between leaving their homes or cutting back on essentials. He also discussed a bill to stop pet shops from selling cats and dogs sourced from puppy mills, while allowing existing shops to continue only if they can show responsible sourcing.
On fraud prevention, he said he plans to revisit a bill to create an independent inspector general office, along with a proposal to strengthen the Medicaid fraud control unit and other preventive measures. He also said he hopes to advance a bill licensing art therapy as a profession in Minnesota, framing it as a consumer protection and mental health issue. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the interview.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 13th, 2026 at 09:00 am
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Ortiz is one of them; I think they're short an electrical inspector.
- We still have, I think, nine inspectors we're trying to hire.
- It's inspectors; it's going to be there. So... that's the request.
- My inspectors are based out of their location or where they're at.
- That's what I do with my mechanical and LP inspectors.
US
Transcript Highlights:
- Last month, President- President Trump fired more than a dozen inspectors general.
- Now, on the issue of inspectors general.
- , Inspectors General serve to hold executive branch agencies accountable.
- And over the years, Congress has taken steps to ensure the independence of inspectors general.
- President Trump to have abided by the law in dismissing inspectors general. Yes or no?
Keywords:
nominations, Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Todd Blanch, Gail Slater, confirmation hearing
Summary:
The meeting focused on the nominations of Todd Blanch and Gail Slater for the positions of Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, respectively. The committee considered the qualifications of both nominees, with opening statements provided by the nominees themselves. There was an evident emphasis on the rigorous vetting process that nominees undergo before their selection, highlighting the importance of the roles within the Department of Justice. Members of the committee engaged in a structured question-and-answer session to further evaluate the nominees' capabilities and fit for the positions they were nominated for, with each member allotted seven minutes to pose questions.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- I want to thank Under Secretary Cooper and Commissioner Bakke, Deputy Inspector General O'Neill, and
- Deputy Inspector O'Neill and Deputy Inspector Giles, please, if you have some opening in the box, welcome
- I appreciate the opportunity to be here on behalf of the Inspector General today.
- If I'm not mistaken, you're the only inspector general office tonight. Thank you.
- We have the only inspector We have the only inspector general's office in the country that has jurisdiction
Summary:
The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held an oversight hearing on draft regulations implementing Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution under Chapter 274 of the Acts of 2022, the Open Space Act. Chairs Cabral and Collins framed the hearing as a review of how the new process for dispositions or changes in use of Article 97 land would work, including public notice, environmental justice protections, replacement land, appraisals, and the role of the legislature. Under Secretary Stephanie Cooper and Commissioner Adam Bakke testified for EEA/DCAM, followed later by Deputy Inspector General O’Neill and Deputy Inspector General Giles on appraisal review.
Much of the discussion focused on how the draft regulations would operate in practice. EEA said the regulations would require advance public notice, define “comparable location” for replacement land, and allow the Secretary to make findings on whether an action would adversely affect environmental justice communities. Members pressed for longer public comment periods, clearer notice to local officials, more frequent updates to the site evaluation tool, and a clearer definition of terms such as “limited duration” for permits and licenses. EEA said the regulations are intended to standardize a process that has been handled through policy and case-by-case review, and that the legislature still retains the final authority to approve any Article 97 disposition.
Committee members also questioned whether the draft rules shift too much discretion to the Secretary and whether the proposed “proponent” process could allow private entities to drive Article 97 actions. EEA responded that non-public proponents would still need municipal support and legislative sponsorship, and that the regulations do not create a new avenue to bypass the existing home rule and legislative process. Members raised concerns about the current policy’s unanimous-vote requirements for municipal commissions, the proposed waiver provisions, whether MEPA applies, and the lack of explicit enforcement or penalty language in the act or regulations. EEA and DCAM said the act does not provide an enforcement mechanism and that disputes would generally be handled through the courts or the Attorney General.
The Inspector General’s office explained its role in reviewing appraisals for special legislation, including Article 97 matters, to ensure compliance with USPAP standards and to forward its review to DCAM. The hearing did not include any votes or formal committee action; members indicated that the committee may later issue recommendations to the executive agencies based on the testimony and questions raised.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Fraud Committee Meeting - 2025-05-05
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The Office of Inspector General also frequently issues policy guidance to MFCUs, and that guidance is
- Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Commerce Fraud
- I will tell you that there are a number of other states, as you know, that have inspector generals.
- It's posted on the Office of Inspector General's website.
- Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General on health care fraud cases too.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine reducing waste, fraud and abuse through innovation, focusing on how AI and data can improve government efficiency. Apr 9th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Joint Economic Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The Inspector General Act of 1978 established IGs and empowered them to provide independent, objective
- Trained auditors, investigators, inspectors, evaluators, IT specialists, and attorneys work every day
- Last year, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration leveraged data analytics. to help the
- Do you think that Inspector General oversight, transparency, and disclosure are important...
- So just to be clear, firing 19 inspectors general would not improve efficiency?
Keywords:
artificial intelligence, waste reduction, fraud prevention, government efficiency, improper payments, data reliability, oversight
Summary:
The meeting was chaired by Chairman Schweikert and involved a comprehensive discussion on how to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for reducing waste, fraud, and improper payments within federal programs. Key witnesses, including Mr. Andrew Canarsa from the Council of the Inspectors General, provided insights on the potential of AI in enhancing government efficiency. The committee emphasized the importance of reliable data and thorough examination of AI application to avoid unintended consequences while addressing the estimated $162 billion in improper payments reported by the federal government. Concerns were raised regarding the recent firing of inspectors general and the impacts that could have on oversight and accountability processes.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Inspectors go out and meet with them. It's called consultations.
- Inspectors go out and meet with them. It's called consultations.
- Inspectors go out and meet with them. It's called consultations.
- <00:29:14.640>
would how many trips and inspector would how many trips and inspector would - It was in a jurisdiction covered by a state electrical inspector.
Summary:
The Senate Labor Committee heard Senate File 560, a bill to require the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish a cost-per-square-foot valuation for residential building permits. Senator Dornink said the measure is intended to make permit fees more fair, reasonable, transparent, and predictable, and to reduce housing costs by limiting large differences in permit fees between municipalities. He said the bill would be sent to the Housing Committee without recommendation, and members discussed but did not act on a related amendment that would have shifted plan review and inspection fees to hourly and trip-based charges and made fee information publicly available.
Testimony from Housing First Minnesota supported the bill’s goal, arguing that Minnesota’s housing shortage and high new-home prices make it important to reduce inefficiencies in the permitting system. The witness said permit valuations are often increased by cities, leading to higher costs for homebuyers, and cited examples of large fee differences between municipalities and claims of overcollection. He said some other states, including Texas and Wisconsin communities, use square-footage-based approaches. A League of Minnesota Cities representative opposed the amendment language and cautioned that trip charges and hourly billing would make fees less certain, could raise costs, and would be especially burdensome in Greater Minnesota; he said current valuation-based fees better reflect the actual cost and complexity of service and can be appealed if disputed.
A representative of the Association of Minnesota Building Officials also raised concerns about the amendment, saying building departments provide consultations, inspections, plan review, and other services beyond a single trip, and that trip charges would not fit a responsive fee-for-service model. He said the current valuation system helps cover the full range of permitting work, though he acknowledged that a consistent square-foot valuation standard could improve transparency and reduce disputes over project value. Committee members asked about other states’ approaches and the scope of the bill, and the discussion emphasized that the proposal applies to one- and two-family dwellings.