Transcript Highlights:

• The Administrative Service Unit provides services for all 16 of the health licensing boards, along with
• The Administrative Service Unit provides services for all 16 of the health licensing boards, along with
• The Administrative Service Unit provides services for all 16 of the health licensing boards, along with
• services and other technology legal services and other costs<00:21:24.640> of<00:21:24.760>
• Outpatient services: 2009. Birth centers: 2010. Supplemental nursing service agency: 2015.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations. The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less. The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed. The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• based on what utility services you have. based on what utility services you have.
• <00:26:06.799> and department of environmental services and department of environmental services
• Human Services people? Human Services people?
• when we received our technical advisory. when we received our technical advisory. it<01:23:39.600
• <01:23:51.840> did outlined in the technical advisory did outlined in the technical advisory

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By having an advisory board.
• . services.
• This program provides services to reconnect over over 22,000 exiting military service men and women into
• It is mental health services, physical health services provided through our medical clinic, is inside
• It pays for ID services. services for youth in foster care or youth who are experiencing homelessness

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , that the need for additional services, that the need for additional services, supports,<00:01:53.439
• to support autism services. each session to support autism services.
• <00:03:12.159> for that it's research and services for that it's research and services for
• technologies, services, and supports. technologies, services, and supports. and<00:03:34.080>
• spectrum disorder research and services spectrum disorder research and services throughout<00:03

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:01 SB 69 Discussion 00:00:30 SB 69 Vote 00:05:52, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up only one item: Senate Bill 69, sponsored by Senator Julie Adams. The bill would create an autism spectrum disorder trust fund in the state treasury, allow taxpayers to contribute a portion of their individual income tax refunds to the fund, and authorize additional grants, contributions, and appropriations. Senator Adams said the fund is intended to support autism spectrum disorder research and services in Kentucky, administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services with grants awarded through the advisory council on autism spectrum disorders based on a statewide needs assessment. She also noted the bill includes an emergency clause. During questions, Senator Boswell confirmed the tax refund contribution option would be available on both paper and electronic returns. Senator Funky From asked how families would access services, and Senator Adams explained that providers would apply for grants to the trust fund, which would then review and award funding if the proposal was deemed a good use of the money. No outside testimony was presented; a signed-up witness from the Russell County Fiscal Court did not speak. The committee then moved the bill, with Senator Boswell making the motion and Senator Neil seconding it. The roll call resulted in 12 yes votes and no nays, and Senate Bill 69 passed the committee with a favorable expression. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One thing that we haven't done, and I'll talk more about is look at actual services in schools, and what
• What's the variation in those services?
• And Natasha's going to take a closer look at advisory councils so that you can at least get an update
• Uh, every year, these advisory councils issue advisories to the public education department.
• What are those advisories? How much of them are taken into some sort of account in terms of action?

Transcript Highlights:

• this replaces the annual limit on the amount of credit per employer, which was intended to serve as a proxy
• <00:55:18.000> to<00:55:18.240> offer whether it's a childare service to offer whether
• it's a childare service to offer that<00:55:19.040> as<00:55:19.280> a<00:55:19.440>
• So again, on line eight it'll be operating or contracting for on-site or nearby childcare services. >
• nearby childcare services. nearby childcare services.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 6,500 are veterans and service 6,500 are veterans and service members<00:04:23.759> our<00
• Some of these services include information technology, legal services, and financial oversight.
• Some of these services include information technology, legal services, and financial oversight.
• We’ve worked with the firm Baker Tilly Risk Advisory for several years now.
• <00:54:35.880> and has provided additional service and has provided additional service and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :25.080> health responsibility for the mental health responsibility for the mental health services
• c> medications<00:03:27.000> of<00:03:27.200> such<00:03:27.560> inmate services
• and medications of such inmate services and medications of such inmate any<00:03:28.840> discussion
• Remove the Advisory Board on page 14, Section 3, and revert the language on page 17, Section 4, to read
• Remove the Advisory Board on page 14, Section 3, and revert the language on page 17, Section 4, to read

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Ways and Means committee met in several decision-making agendas and took action on a number of Senate bills. Early in the meeting, members adopted a measure with amendments that removed a section due to legal issues identified by the Attorney General and set an effective date of July 1, 2050. The committee then passed SB 14, SB 1434, SB 1443, and SB 152 unamended, and SB 1612 with amendments clarifying that certain requirements apply to buildings constructed after December 31, 2025, and defining joint custody between the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Health for inmate mental health services and medications. In a joint Judiciary and Ways and Means agenda, the committee considered SB 242 on foreign ownership of agricultural land. Members agreed to amendments adding non-impairment-of-contract language and revising enforcement and penalty provisions so consideration exchanged in a violating transaction would revert to the respective parties. The bill was adopted with reservations noted by several members. The committee also took up SB 534 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority and residential development on certain Makakilo Makai parcels, but because there was no consensus, the measure was deferred indefinitely. Later Ways and Means agendas approved several additional bills, mostly unamended, including SB 878, SB 1146, SB 614, SB 891, SB 964, SB 1559, and SB 503. SB 1379 was passed with amendments adding a blank appropriation for acquisition of land for Community Readiness centers and an emergency operations center, with the funds to lapse on June 30, 2027. SB 1571 was amended to remove an advisory board and restore earlier authority language, and SB 1632 was amended to rank the appropriation and set the date to 2050. Across these votes, measures were generally adopted with some members recording reservations or being excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission banned the catching of horseshoe crabs
• These legislations remove the service members' right to choose where to obtain a pet.
• Hoffman, and thank you for your service to our nation.
• Therefore, they do not consider it subject to the consumer advisory requirement.
• Therefore, they do not consider it subject to the consumer advisory requirement.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of animal, wildlife, hunting, and environmental bills. Early testimony focused on deer management, with Rep. Markey urging creation of a deer commission to address crop damage, vehicle collisions, and Lyme disease, and Sen. Durant supporting bills to allow Sunday bow hunting, expand crossbow use, and reduce the 500-foot dwelling restriction for archery hunting. Supporters framed these measures as practical wildlife-management tools, while questions centered on how they would differ from existing Fish and Wildlife authority and whether they would allow hunting closer to residences. Later, Rep. Sena also spoke in support of a bill to increase protected wildlife management areas and another to require non-lead ammunition, arguing both would benefit biodiversity and reduce environmental harm. A substantial portion of the hearing addressed animal welfare and commerce. Multiple witnesses supported bills to ban or phase out the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops, arguing that pet stores rely on puppy mills and obscure the source of animals, while opponents said the bills would hurt responsible breeders, small businesses, and consumer choice. The committee also heard strong testimony for bills to ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops, with supporters citing sick animals, consumer deception, and the need to cut off the puppy mill supply chain. In a separate animal-testing segment, witnesses backed bills requiring non-animal testing methods for cosmetics and household products, saying alternatives are more accurate and humane; biomedical research representatives opposed those bills and a related research-animal measure, warning of unintended restrictions on research institutions and arguing animal models remain necessary for many studies. The committee also heard testimony on horseshoe crab conservation, with supporters of H. 898 urging an end to taking horseshoe crabs for bait because of population declines, shorebird impacts, and the species’ importance to biomedical science. On wildlife trafficking, witnesses backed bills to ban intrastate sales of ivory and rhino horn, saying Massachusetts should close loopholes that aid poaching and align with federal law and other states; one antique dealer testified in support, saying he avoids such items and still sees them in the marketplace. Additional testimony supported bans on fur products from factory farms and on force-feeding birds for foie gras, with advocates emphasizing cruelty, public health, and environmental concerns. The hearing was lengthy and heavily attended, with the chairs repeatedly limiting testimony to three minutes and inviting written submissions; no committee votes or final actions were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a veteran service officer.
• I'm a veteran service officer.
• Thank you. ...advisory council and strong support. Thank you.
• Association of County Veterans Service Officers, strong support.
• It's offensive to the husbands and wives of service members.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs heard several veteran-focused measures, with extensive testimony in support from veterans’ organizations and individual veterans. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income calculations for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, addressing a situation where disability benefits can disqualify veterans from tax relief. SB 1354 would prohibit military personnel from another state, territory, or district from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the Governor’s express permission, while preserving Title X activity, training, and mutual aid arrangements. SB 623 would place the Veterans Bond Act of 2026 on the ballot to authorize a $1.25 billion general obligation bond for the CalVet Home Loan Program, which supporters said is nearing depletion of bond authority and remains a critical path to homeownership for veterans and military families. SB 1407 would increase the state income tax exclusion for military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits to the first $40,000, subject to income caps, as a retention measure to keep military retirees in California. Supporters for the bills emphasized housing stability, affordability, retention of veterans in California, and the economic benefits of keeping military retirees and their income in the state. SB 888 and SB 623 drew broad support from veterans’ groups, county veterans service officers, and related organizations, with no opposition testimony. SB 1354 also received support from veterans’ advocates, while committee members sought clarification on training, mutual aid, and the bill’s scope, and the author agreed to work on amendments. SB 1407 drew strong support from veterans and military organizations, but also formal opposition from the California Tax Reform Association, which argued the state already provides generous veteran benefits and that the tax break would be unfair to other public servants. The committee voted to advance all four measures. SB 888 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation; SB 1354 was approved as amended and re-referred to Public Safety; SB 623 was approved as amended, given urgency, and re-referred to Housing and Community Development; and SB 1407 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation. The consent item, SCR 143, was adopted unanimously. After the initial votes, the committee later took add-on votes to confirm passage of SB 888 and SB 1354, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• thank him for his service. Thank you. thank him for his service. Thank you.
• The students participate in competitions, service learning, and work-based learning leadership roles
• <00:04:12.239> and competitions, service learning, and competitions, service learning, and work-based
• Congressional House Armed Services Congressional House Armed Services Committee.<00:08:35.200>
• <00:09:28.880> as education in Annapolis and advisory as education in Annapolis and advisory

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate met on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with a quorum present. The session opened with an invocation by Chaplain David Stadler, followed by journalization of his remarks and several introductions recognizing guests in the chamber, including dentists, an intern, a former legislative staffer, and representatives from the University System of Maryland and other groups. Senators also noted upcoming committee meetings and a Legislative Black Caucus photo the next day. The main floor action centered on a resolution honoring Maryland Career and Technical Student Organizations for Career and Technical Student Organization Week. The sponsor described the role of CTSOs in serving more than 12,000 students statewide and in building leadership, professional, and career skills. The resolution was read in full and adopted unanimously, with the Senate expressing congratulations and appreciation for the organizations’ work with young people. The Senate then took up layover items and calendar bills. Senate Bill 56, concerning Maryland Longitudinal Data Center external data sharing for multi-state reporting, was special ordered for one day after members raised privacy-related questions. Senate Bill 99, the Open Meetings Act/Local Board of Education Transparency Act measure, was also special ordered for one day after discussion of its committee amendment. The chamber also received administrative corrections from the Governor and referred them to the Executive Nominations Committee, and the majority leader later moved adjournment until February 19 at 10:00 a.m., which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide central administrative infrastructure services to the entire judicial branch, including human
• Our courts have the responsibility to deliver and pay for many different types of services pursuant to
• administrative infrastructure services administrative infrastructure services to<00:04:14.079>
• many different types of services many different types of services pursuant<00:05:19.440> to
• talk about the rising cost of delivering these services later in my presentation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee heard a presentation from State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba on the Minnesota judicial branch’s 2026-27 budget request. He outlined the courts’ structure and workload, noting 322 judges, about 2,800 staff, roughly 1 million district court cases annually, and a current budget of about $479 million. Shorba emphasized the courts’ constitutional role, the fact that court fines and fees are deposited into the general fund rather than retained by the branch, and recent legislative investments that helped reduce pandemic-era backlogs, improve technology, sustain treatment courts, and raise interpreter and examiner pay. The budget request focused on several areas: a 6% judicial salary increase to address recruitment and retention problems, including a 15% rise in turnover and a 27% drop in applicants since 2020; funding for health care and office lease cost increases; digital accessibility compliance work required by new federal ADA rules; a modernized justice partner access system for court records; higher pay for forensic psychological examiners, whose workload has risen sharply; increased juror compensation from $20 to $100 per day and mileage adjustments; and ongoing funding for interpreters, jury services, and cybersecurity. Shorba said the total request would be a 12% increase over the FY 2026-27 base budget. Members asked follow-up questions about funding for newly launched treatment courts and how those courts are financed after federal grants expire. Shorba said he would provide more detail later and noted the branch generally starts treatment courts with federal funding before seeking state support. Representative Ric also asked about labor negotiations, and Shorba explained that the judicial branch negotiates its own contracts rather than using the executive branch, with three unions involved and many unrepresented employees. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• service and making sure I get the right coffee drink going through, right?
• and the Office of Enterprise Information Services.
• Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Enterprise Information Services about their current
• I'm the state chief data officer and with Enterprise Information Services.
• services.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee held a series of informational briefings on information management and technology issues. It first heard from ACLU representatives on data privacy, who argued that Oregon should strengthen protections against private data brokers, government purchases of personal data, reverse warrants, automatic license plate readers, and local police surveillance. They urged data minimization, limits on data sales and retention, and broader transparency and accountability measures. Members asked about practical uses of license plate readers, state sales of data, and how Oregon’s approach compares with other states; the presenters said similar proposals have been adopted elsewhere, including data minimization in Maryland and a state version of the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act in Montana. The committee then received a detailed update from the Department of Administrative Services and Enterprise Information Services on licensing system modernization for 14 boards and commissions with the most immediate need. DAS said it is seeking a shared procurement approach through an RFP that would create either one scalable system or two tiers of systems, depending on agency needs and security requirements, with contracts expected by September. Committee members emphasized the need for a more unified, user-friendly statewide login and service experience for businesses and residents, and raised concerns about small agencies “figuring it out on their own” without sufficient cybersecurity or technical expertise. EIS said it is overseeing the investment review, security and architecture review, and future implementation planning, and noted that multiple agency requests may still come back to the legislature in the next session. The committee also discussed a revised cybersecurity incident notification concept. Staff explained that the earlier bill had raised stakeholder concerns, so the co-chairs directed further interim work with the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council and other local government and K-12 stakeholders. The goal is a narrower, voluntary “911-style” notification process that would let public bodies alert peers and potentially receive assistance after cyber incidents; a temporary voluntary process is being tested now, with a work group developing language for possible 2027 consideration. Finally, the committee heard updates from the new state chief data officer on data governance, data sharing, geospatial work, and the state transparency website, followed by a briefing on data centers from NCSL and the Technology Association of Oregon. The data officer described efforts to expand data inventories, data governance plans, data literacy, and interagency sharing, along with statewide aerial imagery, geospatial standards, and the open data portal. The data center discussion focused on national and state trends, including rapid growth in data centers, rising electricity and water demand, and legislative responses such as new rate classes, reporting requirements, and cost-allocation rules to protect ratepayers. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we do, that is assurance, when you hear assurance, think audit and consulting or advisory services
• and consultation services.
• and consultate consultation services advisory and consultate consultation services and placing those
• Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't skip to the service elements.
• , so they have to remember when they get back into service.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The Joint Interim Committee on Legislative Audits met on June 17 for informational presentations. The Department of Administrative Services, through Chief Audit Executive Eli Ritchie, gave an overview of statewide internal audit requirements and the fiscal year 2025 report. He explained the difference between internal and external audit, described Oregon’s statutory and rule-based internal audit structure, and reported that 30 agencies had internal audit functions, with most meeting required standards. He said 73 audits and 49 advisory/consulting engagements were completed statewide, with strong compliance overall, though a few agencies were rebuilding audit committees after vacancies. No committee questions were raised after the presentation. The Secretary of State’s Audits Division then presented its Government Waste Hotline annual report. Director Steve Bergman and audit manager Olivia Rekhed described changes made to align the hotline with statute, including renaming it the Government Waste Hotline, creating a review panel, improving anonymity protections, removing fraud reporting from the hotline’s scope, and adjusting reporting timelines. They said hotline volume increased modestly in 2025, most reports were referred elsewhere or closed for insufficient evidence, and two reports were substantiated, including questioned costs of about $856 for personal use of a state vehicle and about $2.9 million tied to the Preschool Promise program. Committee members asked about hotline staffing, cost, anonymity, and follow-up on findings; staff said the hotline is lightly resourced, uses a contracted intake service, and referrals or recommendations are followed up through management letters and later reviews. The committee also heard an audit of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s safety inspections and asset tracking. The Secretary of State’s office reported that OPRD had not consistently conducted or documented quarterly OSHA safety inspections and had incomplete asset records, including missing acquisition dates and costs for many assets. The audit made eight recommendations covering safety inspection policies, asset management guidance, tagging, reconciliations, disposition controls, training, and a new asset management system; OPRD agreed to all recommendations. OPRD officials said they had already begun training staff, improving inspection procedures, and working toward a replacement asset system, while noting operational challenges from a large, dispersed park system and manual processes. Committee members asked about what kinds of assets are tracked, how tagging works, whether items were actually being lost, and how much tracking is necessary for low-value tools; OPRD said the main issue was inconsistent classification and documentation rather than widespread loss. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to answer, and also would introduce Renee Raga, who was on our advisory committee.
• The Louisiana Department of Health, through the Office of Aging and Adult Services, shall identify and
• SIPAC was and temporary in-person services across state lines.
• It seeks to update the membership of the Mental Health Advisory Services Board, not necessarily functionally
• It seeks to update the membership of the Mental Health Advisory Services Board, not necessarily functionally

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 6, 2026, with five members present. After adopting the April 28 minutes, the committee heard a brief presentation on the new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, which is intended to bring together health care, business, policy, and education leaders to study Louisiana health challenges and build a network for action. Members expressed support for the program and its potential value to health policy work. The committee then advanced several bills, often with technical or substantive amendments. SB 57, a nutrition-labeling bill, was amended to push its effective date to December 31, 2028 and reported as amended. HB 62 increased the membership of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission to 27 members and was reported as amended. HB 193 updated membership rules for the sickle cell commission foundations so long-serving executive directors would not have to reapply repeatedly, and it was reported as amended. HB 815 would allow financial institutions to receive death certificates to help families manage accounts after a death; it was reported favorably after a question about state-licensed banks. SB 405 was substantially revised to codify LDH’s new Ascend nursing-facility quality initiative, including statewide quality oversight goals, stakeholder involvement, reporting requirements, and tools such as dashboards and surveys; after reconsidering prior action and adopting the new amendment, the bill was reported as amended. The committee also approved HB 222, which provides Medicaid dental coverage when needed for another covered medical procedure, and HB 420, which requires background checks for all DCFS employees with access to sensitive information. HB 475 requires verbal consent when AI is used to record or transcribe a medical visit and was reported favorably after a technical question. HB 246 updated membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the council on grandparents raising grandchildren, including replacing an inactive coalition seat with the state police superintendent or designee. HB 486 would enter Louisiana into the psychology inter-jurisdictional compact to expand access to mental health care, and HB 574 updated outdated board names on the Mental Health Advisory Services Board; both were reported favorably. Later, the committee reported HB 949, which creates a licensure framework for radiologist assistants to help address imaging workforce shortages, especially in rural areas, and HB 584, which requires foster children to be provided luggage instead of trash bags for their belongings and restores “rights” language in the Foster Youth Bill of Rights. The committee also reported HB 1214, restructuring certain LDH facilities into a single system under the secretary’s office; HB 1092, a technical renaming/terminology cleanup bill; and HB 203, which adds members to the uterine fibroids commission. Throughout the meeting, members and witnesses emphasized access to care, workforce shortages, child welfare, and quality improvement, and the committee repeatedly adopted amendments and reported the bills favorably or as amended before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I work with school finance, agency finance, human resources, agency services, internal audit advisory
• internal audit<00:43:13.920> advisory<00:43:14.480> services<00:43:14.880> division<
• /c><00:43:15.599> and audit advisory services division and audit advisory services division and
• Our internal audit and advisory services division.
• our internal and audit and advisory our internal and audit and advisory services<00:44:44.400>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on March 3, 2026, approved the minutes from February 26, and then held a lengthy informational hearing on the Minnesota Department of Education’s funding and internal allocation of resources. House fiscal staff walked members through several spreadsheets showing federal, non-general fund, and general fund administrative spending, noting the data was filtered from SWIFT and was not exact. The chair said the discussion was intended to help members understand how MDE is funded and how those funds are used internally, in advance of later budget decisions and a separate upcoming hearing on the Perpich Center. Commissioner Willie Jett opened by describing MDE’s mission, statewide reach, and FY 2026 budget of about $14.1 billion, most of which flows directly to districts and charter schools for instruction, special education, transportation, nutrition, and operations. He emphasized transparency, accountability, and the department’s role in implementing laws, distributing aid, and supporting schools and students across urban, suburban, and rural communities. He also noted the department serves more than 873,000 pre-K through 12 students in 2,264 schools. Deputy Commissioner Maren Holden outlined the Office of American Indian Education, the Office of General Counsel, and the Office of Inspector General, highlighting support for American Indian students, legal and rulemaking work, special education dispute resolution, fraud prevention, and student maltreatment investigations. Assistant Commissioner Dr. McCari Traum described the Office of Equity and Engagement, including equity and inclusion training, safe and supportive schools work, public engagement, family outreach, and fraud-prevention coordination. Assistant Commissioner Darren Cordy reviewed nutrition programs, special education services, and the charter center, including free school meals, commodity food distribution, IDEA compliance, and charter school support. Assistant Commissioner Bobby Bernham then described the Office of Teaching and Learning, including early education, academic standards, instruction and assessment, state library services, expanded learning, and literacy work. He highlighted early childhood alignment efforts, standards development across core subjects, professional learning, and library grants. No votes were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes, and the meeting remained informational, with members expected to ask questions after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR OUR MEETING TODAY WE WILL BE GETTING AN UPDATE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES VERSUS THE
• BUT THEY SERVE AS CONTRACT MANAGERS FOR THE VENDORS THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE HOMEOWNERS
• THE OTHER THING WE'VE DONE ALSO IN THE IMPLEMENTING BILL CREATES AN ADVISORY COUNCIL.
• AND WE WILL HAVE THAT SERVICE ROLLING QUICKLY AND THEY WILL BE ENGAGING WITH AGENCIES WORKING TO HELP
• PHILIP TALK ABOUT THE ADVISORY COUNCIL, THAT IS MADE UP OF A SMALL GROUP OF AGENCIES, ABOUT HALF THE

Transcript Highlights:

• service to that proposed for lower cost. service to that proposed for lower cost.
• Again, what if the level of service Again, what if the level of service violates<00:07:22.560>
• advisory committee of ISO New England. advisory committee of ISO New England.
• But it is advisory. Again different way. But it is advisory.
• Environmental Services over decades. Environmental Services over decades.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Social Services, and has amended same.
• Social Services, and has amended same.
• program to contract for supplemental caseworker aid services for the Bureau for Social Services.
• program to contract for supplemental caseworker aid services for the Bureau for Social Services.
• The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS Care Services

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Same thing with 988 services.
• telecommunications service charges. telecommunications service charges.
• service systems in our state. service systems in our state.
• Veterinary Pharmaceutical Advisory Veterinary Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee.
• > Veterinary Pharmaceutical Advisory Veterinary Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee<00:46:10.720> in

Keywords: 981, all