Transcript Highlights:

• them the same access to the courts as people without disabilities.
• , a cross-disability advocacy organization advocating for Texans with disabilities to live, work, learn
• House Bill 32 violates due process and harms disabled vets.
• Ensure disabilities and accommodations for veterans.
• I've worked in all the divisions of the constable's office.

Bills: HB15, HB171, HB204

Keywords: flood risk, campground, safety regulations, civil penalty, guest safety, Harris County, flood control, governance, expansion, public health, local governance, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that our kids that are under age 16 are developmentally unprepared for the addictive architecture
• our kids that are under age<00:01:42.680> 16<00:01:43.200> are<00:01:43.280> developmentally
• <00:01:44.080> unprepared age 16 are developmentally unprepared age 16 are developmentally
• The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, in partnership with the Division of Indian Work, supports Senate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For people participating remotely, please remain muted and video disabled until shortly before it is
• <00:01:23.000> muted<00:01:23.560> and<00:01:23.759> video<00:01:24.320> disabled
• <00:01:25.280> until remain muted and video disabled until remain muted and video disabled
• If having conflicting interests and then a division of the board because of that...
• Linda Elento said that the bill should also include students with disabilities.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Katie Walden, Bureau of Legislative Research Fiscal Division.
• Division of Workforce Services with Kerosoft Technology.
• Number 13, DHS, Division of County Operations, with Oren-Bennett.
• Number 15, DTS Division of Information Systems, with CARESoft Technology.
• Jim Cheek, Director, Division of Community Correction.

Summary: The review subcommittee met to consider a supplemental agenda, methods of finance, an alternative delivery project, discretionary grants, and a large slate of construction, out-of-state, and in-state contracts. The supplemental item was a $2.6 million out-of-state contract with Tyler Technologies for a mobile app that would let citizens access state services through a single sign-on, initially for DFA vehicle and licensing services, with possible expansion to other agencies. Members also reviewed five methods of finance, including University of Arkansas projects for roof and cooling tower replacements, a new $100 million academic classroom building at U of A Fayetteville, a police department renovation at UA Fort Smith, and a boiler/chiller replacement at Hope-Texarkana. Questions focused on project timing, why some items were being reviewed after work had begun, and the high estimated cost of the Fayetteville classroom building; DFA explained that projects under $250,000 are not reviewed and that the larger project was still in design and would later seek a guaranteed maximum price. The committee also reviewed two DHS discretionary grants: one for targeted youth advocacy in southwest Arkansas and another adding $582,000 for family-centered treatment training and implementation. In the services contract section, members discussed construction-related contracts, including an ASMSA electrical scope increase tied to three-phase power requirements and the U of A Fayetteville architect contract for the classroom building. Out-of-state contracts included major items such as ACT Education’s $17 million amendment to provide required pre-ACT testing for 9th and 10th graders, a $12.5 million DFA contract for rural health transformation grant management, DHS’s $16.5 million EBT services contract with updated chip-card and fraud-prevention features, and ADH’s special procurement for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The committee also reviewed U of A system consulting contracts for financial advisory and sponsorship strategy work, with university officials saying the outside expertise was needed for specialized planning and revenue-generation efforts. In-state contracts covered corrections reentry services, nursing board investigations, foster care and child welfare services, DHS office janitorial work, emergency management radio system expansion, veterans’ home nursing staffing, and UAMS grants consulting. A lengthy exchange centered on the Department of Corrections’ reentry housing contract, with members pressing officials about vacant beds and urging fuller use of the program, while corrections staff said placements depend on screening and eligibility. Another discussion addressed the balance between out-of-state and in-state contracting, with a member noting the large dollar volume going to out-of-state vendors and asking whether Arkansas vendors receive any preference; State Procurement said current law does not allow an in-state preference. The committee approved the supplemental agenda, the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, the discretionary grants, and the contract lists, and then received routine reports and an emergency action report before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Economic Development, unemployment insurance, and paid leave divisions.
• Department of Economic Development, unemployment insurance, and paid leave divisions.
• We're some process divisions language uh with paid family divisions language uh with paid family especially
• I'm here today to represent on division.
• and leave compliance related disability and leave compliance related services.<00:52:21.200> We

Bills: HF3707, HF3732, HF2581, HF3731

Keywords: unemployment insurance, judicial officials, paid leave, economic development, worker protections, workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, grants, job creation, grant funding, revolving loan, underserved communities, disadvantaged groups, electrical licensing, installation, Class A installer, regulations, labor and industry, 1183

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill. The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers. Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.

Transcript Highlights:

• We verify if someone is disabled.
• We verify if someone is disabled.
• We verify if someone is disabled.
• We verify if someone is disabled.
• They may not be permanently disabled, but they're going through chemotherapy.

Summary: The subcommittee first recognized the Arkansas Community Colleges Leadership Institute and received a brief DHS update on the Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver reimbursement process, including that the new cost-reporting period began in January and provider/contractor calls are underway. The main presentation then focused on SNAP and TANF, with DHS describing federal changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill that tighten SNAP work requirements for adults ages 18 to 64 without certain exemptions, remove some prior exemptions, and add new federal definitions for Native American populations. DHS also reviewed SNAP Employment and Training providers, their service areas, projected budgets, participant characteristics, and outcomes, noting that the program is currently voluntary but will shift toward mandatory participation for those subject to the new rules. Members asked detailed questions about how mandatory participation will be implemented, how referrals will be made, what other training options exist, how verification of work, volunteering, disability, and exemptions will be handled, and whether DHS has enough funding and provider capacity. DHS said it will conduct verbal and written notices during eligibility interviews, make direct referrals to providers, use six-month recertifications and documentation from employers or volunteer organizations, and apply sanctions for noncompliance after determining whether a good cause exists. Members also requested additional data, including age breakdowns of at-risk SNAP recipients, provider-level outcomes and costs, and information on other training programs such as WIOA. The committee then moved to Medicaid community engagement requirements for ARHOME, which DHS said are also required by the same federal law and must be implemented by January 1, 2027. DHS said it is preparing policy, system changes, communications, and a customer-service/outbound verification vendor, and plans a soft launch beginning in July to help clients understand what would be required if the rule were already in effect. Members raised concerns about timing, local versus central decision-making, and how clients in rural areas will be notified and assisted. The meeting concluded with broader discussion of the committee’s workforce-development goals, the recently released Alliance for Opportunity audit, and interest in continuing the contract with that group to help guide future reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a mixed bag of agencies and divisions, but, you know, in one sense, it's very humbling.
• but you know in agencies and divisions but you know in in<00:37:52.720> one<00:37:53.000>
• LBR 1883, sequence 100-1: Disability Compensation Division modernization project.
• <01:22:50.280> compensation<01:22:50.920> division 100-1 disability compensation division
• 100-1 disability compensation division modernization<01:22:52.280> project<01:22:53.040> modify

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another really scared my son has a disability, and I think I've worked with kids with disabilities.
• I'll move on to our Aging and Disability Resource Center.
• some additional staffing that we provide specific to Alzheimer's and dementia across all of our divisions
• Alzheimer's and dementia, but we are asking for some additional staffing in some of our divisions that
• support Alzheimer's and dementia across our programs and divisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• A disabled veteran who scores a 70 on the civil service exam gets a preference over a veteran who scores
• With the disabled veteran exemption, the fire cadet program aims to solve that by allowing one third
• of every Fire Academy class to be fire cadets as opposed to disabled veterans.
• You said 95% of a class was disabled veterans. Is that what you said?
• House Bill 2925, Senate Bill 1793, an act relative to Human Resource Division Civil Service Unit, and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public employees, retirees, and public safety personnel. Early testimony focused on House Bill 2859, which would make Massachusetts Department of Correction industrial instructors permanent civil service employees after years of provisional status, and House Bill 2995, which would reduce the Boston Fire Cadet Program service requirement from two years to one year. Supporters of the Boston fire cadet bill argued it would improve equity, expand opportunities for Boston residents, and help diversify the Boston Fire Department; committee members asked about the current makeup of academy classes and the effect of a hybrid model, and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association was described as neutral on a separate age-related police bill. The committee also heard several proposals related to post-retirement earnings and civil service rules for police and fire retirees. Testimony supported bills including H. 2903 and H. 2966, which would loosen earnings limits for retired public safety workers returning to work, and related measures affecting civil service exemptions and professional services for retirement boards. Speakers argued the current limits are confusing, discourage experienced workers from filling needed municipal jobs, and can create safety issues on public works and construction sites. One witness from Worcester Police supported raising the police academy age limit from 32 to 39 to improve recruitment, especially in BIPOC communities, while Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata supported a separate bill to raise the Boston Police Academy age cap from 39 to 45. A substantial portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 2812 and S. 1817, which would increase the pension COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000 and freeze certain retiree health insurance contribution rates, with additional testimony about capping out-of-pocket health costs for some retirees. Educators and union representatives said the current COLA structure has eroded pension value and leaves retirees struggling with rising costs, while one witness described long delays and confusion in navigating retiree health coverage. The committee took no substantive votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after hearing all testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• health programs and maternal safety measures, and $100.8 million in all funds to support with disabilities
• million to the Water Development Board for flood mitigation projects, $315 million to the Texas Division
• Thank you again for your time and commitment to supporting students with disabilities.
• I'm Stephen Alleman with Disability Rights Texas, here in favor of House Bill 500, specifically with
• Presumably the basis of this money is to support school districts in serving students with disabilities

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the meeting of the public hearing for Division IV. Good morning, Mr. President.
• The federal VA has a disability chart for the level of rating.
• I'm a disabled veteran from the Iraq War. Veteran from the Iraq War.
• I served six years in the world's finest Navy, and I am a disabled veteran.
• What's your disability rating? You know, I can help you get more."

Transcript Highlights:

• In Texas, more than 530 motorists were killed while standing outside of their disabled vehicles in the
• I'm part of... ...amputee and disabled community and know far too many people that have had to change
• I am Calvin Harvey, the Deputy Director of HECTRA's Public Safety and Operations Division.
• The way they got together and did that division within the precincts...
• Many of us that have been diagnosed with a disability.

Bills: HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Disabilities Act.
• Disabilities Act.
• Disabilities Act.
• I'm going by the... and I'm hearing disabled.
• hearing I have a hearing disability so I hearing I have a hearing disability so I rely<01:00:55.520>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met on February 4, 2025, for decision making on previously heard measures, then later held hearings on additional bills. Early action focused on several measures that were amended and advanced, including SB 161 on state project exemptions from county permitting, which was heavily revised to allow programmatic or project-specific agreements with counties, require public reporting of exempted projects, and create a working group to study broader permitting and construction coordination issues. The committee also advanced SB 635 on energy efficiency with changes shifting survey leadership to the Hawaii State Energy Office, SB 700 on resilience hubs after narrowing it to focus on emergency-service-capable hubs and removing distributed energy language, SB 869 on community outreach boards with a technical amendment, SB 1081 on a legislative budget office by converting it to a feasibility study, SB 711 on gubernatorial appointments with a salary threshold change, SB 405 on neighborhood board agendas with a committee-report note about OIP concerns, SB 381 with privacy issues deferred to Judiciary, SB 2 as a two-year pilot for fruit tree planting in selected districts, SB 239 on disaster preparedness with sheltering revisions, and SB 998 as introduced with a cost estimate for site selection work. Several measures were deferred or not advanced, including SB 615, which was deferred indefinitely, SB 1132, which the chair said would be set aside in favor of another childcare bill, and SB 111, which was not taken up further because of confusion during an earlier hearing. During the later hearing portion, SB 1175 on procurement drew testimony from the State Procurement Office, which supported the bill but corrected its estimated database revision cost from $7,500 to $30,000; the Department of Transportation also appeared, while the General Contractors Association submitted opposition. Committee members questioned whether the past-performance database should include more detailed quality information and whether a one-year post-completion review would be useful, but no amendment was adopted at that time. SB 1587 on retainage received written support from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii and no opposition in the room. SB 1543 on government accountability, which would require justification for outside consultants and cap consultant spending, drew opposition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii, which argued it could slow procurement, reduce flexibility, and worsen delays given existing vacancies and limited in-house expertise. The Public First Law Center supported the related transparency bill discussed in the hearing, arguing it would close a loophole by making contractor-created records used in government functions subject to disclosure under UIPA, while the Attorney General’s office opposed it. The transcript ends with that testimony still underway, and no final vote is shown for the later hearing bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such wedge politics are divisive, counterproductive, and ultimately a threat to our institutions of higher
• It got me to grad school at UT and it got me a job here at UT teaching developmental mathematics, working

Bills: SB 37

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• People in the Medicaid long-term care program are your frail elders or people with disabilities that
• I'm the chief clinical officer for AdventHealth's West Florida Division, which comprises 14 hospitals
• and now I have responsibility for the clinical care across the 14 hospitals that are part of our division
• And as a part of that is also our GME focus in our company for West Florida Division, which we didn't
• And as a part of that is also our GME focus in our company for West Florida Division, which we didn't

Summary: The committee held a panel discussion focused on how Florida health care organizations are working to improve access, quality, and affordability. Panelists from Florida Community Care/Independent Living Systems, Sunshine Health, AdventHealth, UF Health, and Nemours described their approaches, including Medicaid managed care, value-based contracting, community partnerships, mobile screening units, smart-room technology, telehealth, and specialized programs for maternal health, children, and complex chronic conditions. Several speakers emphasized that managed care and coordinated care can improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary utilization and costs. Members asked about the impact of Medicare’s V28 changes, mobile cancer screening, urgent care versus emergency room billing, pediatric specialty access, complaint resolution, Black maternal mortality, provider shortages, network adequacy, and the use of AI in prior authorization. Witnesses said V28 has affected providers and revenue, UF Health’s mobile screening program is expanding beyond a few cancer types, and its urgent care model bills patients at the appropriate level rather than both urgent care and ER rates. Nemours said it reduced specialty wait times through scheduling changes, telemedicine, and registry tools, while AdventHealth described postpartum coordination and maternal heart programs to reduce maternal complications and mortality. On complaints and access problems, panelists said their organizations use patient/member advocates, care managers, call centers, and escalation processes to resolve issues, and Sunshine Health specifically discussed a transportation complaint that was addressed with its vendor and the family. Sunshine Health also said it is not using AI for prior authorization, though it is exploring responsible uses elsewhere, and Florida Community Care said it is not using AI in utilization management. In closing, panelists identified workforce shortages, provider burnout, and high-cost drugs as the biggest ongoing challenges. The meeting ended with thanks to the panel and adjournment after Representative Brackett moved to rise, without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the other portion is I understand the predicament that Division 2 is in.
• And just know that we have other people here that are not on Division 2 that may want to stand in and
• In fact, the chair of Finance at that time, Division 2 Representative Emer, came on and participated
• The division, our finance people, which we appreciate there being on our committee, HB 549, relative
• The division, our going this afternoon.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met to consider eight bills, beginning with HB 443 on the terms of appointment for members of the Higher Education Commission. Department of Education Director Steve Applebee explained that the commission supported a language change to address a holdover issue, but members raised concerns that the bill did not solve the problem of inactive members and might not address the broader question of whether the commission should continue to exist. The committee agreed to retain HB 443 for further work and voted 18-0 to do so. The committee then voted on HB 137, which would allocate excess statewide education property tax funds for local school and municipal purposes. Supporters of ITL argued that using the statewide property tax to reduce the state’s school funding obligation could create a slippery slope and shift more burden to property taxpayers. The committee voted 15-3 to ITL the bill, with a minority report to be written. HB 237, which would prohibit the use of special education and differentiated aid funds on students not receiving special education services, was also ITL’d after members said federal law already governs how IDEA-related funds may be used and that the bill was unnecessary. That motion passed 16-0, with some members not voting because they were out for medical reasons. The committee next advanced HB 354, creating alternative certification pathways for career and technical education instructors. Members said the bill could help recruit qualified tradespeople and retirees to teach in CTE programs, and it was approved 18-0 and placed on the consent calendar. HB 491, establishing a committee to study alternative public education funding methods and reduce reliance on local property taxes, was retained for further study after members said the committee or a subcommittee could continue the work over the year; it passed 18-0. HB 656, concerning local school districts’ authority to accept federal grants, was also retained after discussion focused on transparency, grant conditions, and the need to avoid delays in services; it passed 18-0. The committee then moved on to HB 729, an appropriation for an attorney to recodify education laws, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill includes requests for multiple DPS divisions.
• Wayne Thorley, for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Wayne Thorley for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Kathy Crockett, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• She recently served in the Purchasing Division.

Bills: AB102, AB108, AB117, AB213, AB220, AB221, AB251, AB259, AB331, AB336, AB375, AB379, AB409, AB475, AB476, AB550, AB575, AB594, SB466

Keywords: emergency medical services, ambulance, licensing, health district, paramedic, training requirements, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, special license plates, vehicle registration, custom plates, state revenue, transportation, public works, prevailing wage, custom fabrication, nonstandard materials

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I've spoken with our administrative Services Division and we're, we stand ready to be able to
• I'm an attorney and the executive director of the Native American Disability Law Center.
• As I said, one of our clients was a named plaintiff, um, the Law Center, Disability Rights New Mexico
• We actually attached it to a division within DPS of the Law Enforcement academy of the Department of
• I just followed up with our administrative Services division, and that's what they had told me.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paid disability and parental leave should be a standard workplace benefit.
• I thought I had done my due diligence and had enrolled in disability insurance through a provider.
• I thought I had done my due diligence and had enrolled in disability insurance through a provider.
• You know, the hardest part is that some districts don’t pay for pregnancy leave disability, and the federal
• She has a child with a disability. ...200% of the federal poverty line, but she wasn't qualifying for

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, in our School Budget Division, these are the folks that really work deeply with all of our schools
• As we know, we are under IDEA required to transport our students with disabilities to school.
• It could be associated with their disability.
• When it goes to Department of Finance and Administration, does it go to the local government division
• told that last year, that was the intention: it went to DFA because they have the local government division

Keywords: 996, all