Transcript Highlights:

• It was a bill that had to do with this concept, but instead of going to HHS, it went to judiciary in
• It was a bill that had to do with this concept, but instead of going to HHS, it went to judiciary in
• It was a bill that had to do with this concept, but instead of going to HHS, it went to judiciary in
• It was a bill that had to do with this concept, but instead of going to HHS, it went to Judiciary in

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:48.480> program, actions to terminate the HHS program, actions to terminate the HHS
• And I think that, um, it maybe wasn't discussed on the HHS side that they haven't seen it.
• >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, for the HHS roll call, it was five yes and four no.
• >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, for the HHS roll call, it was five yes and four no.
• >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, for the HHS roll call, it was five yes and four no.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with chairs explaining that the program integrity omnibus bill is a combined draft assembled from individual member bills and governor proposals, many of which had already been heard in committee. Members emphasized the compressed end-of-session timeline, said the language was not yet ready for enactment, and invited continued revisions as the bill moves next to judiciary and finance. Several speakers stressed the need for bipartisan collaboration, while also warning that the Legislature must act this session on program integrity rather than defer reforms. The fiscal staff then walked through a spreadsheet showing the bill’s overall budget effects and major provisions. The package includes DHS proposals on transforming human services, market- and receipt-based rate reform, enhanced program and payment integrity, uniform service standards, nursing facility rate changes, ICS reforms, and a repeal/redesign of housing stabilization, along with child care assistance integrity and human services redesign items in DCYF. Staff highlighted that the bill combines multiple sources, including governor proposals and member bills, and noted several items that are also in the supplemental human services budget. Committee discussion focused heavily on prepayment review, remote supports, ICS, and provider accountability. Chairs said the bill would codify prepayment review with a 60-day notice requirement after providers were caught off guard by prior rollout, and that remote supports and ICS language were placeholders or under active debate. One member argued the system needs stronger standards but cautioned against harming compliant providers, while another urged the committee to learn from good providers and warned against repeating failed implementations. Staff also reviewed thematic indexes covering billing and service delivery oversight, EVV, administrative reform, licensing and background studies, provider enrollment, sanctions, and child care provider compliance training. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided. The hearing ended with staff beginning the index walkthrough and members indicating that posted amendments would be considered as the bill advances through the remaining committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• that >> I heard our uh, I heard from others that uh,<00:41:27.839> the<00:41:28.160> HHS
• department was using green uh, the HHS department was using green screens,<00:41:31.440> I<00
• a job opening every single time we post a job opening in<00:53:52.240> our<00:53:52.400> HHS
• Our current case in our HHS department.
• told me when One of my HHS supervisors told me when she<00:54:06.319> started<00:54:06.559>

Bills: HF4421, HF1937, HF4675, HF4715, HF4684

Keywords: county cost share, economically distressed county, human services finance, substance use disorder treatment, SUD services, civil commitment, state aid, county levy, poverty threshold, tax-exempt acreage, property tax exemption, Minnesota human services, county fiscal relief, local government finance, chemical dependency, behavioral health, PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services

Transcript Highlights:

• feel pretty safe in saying or by HHS feel pretty safe in saying or by HHS through<00:49:41.599><
• Someone from HHS to see the chief financial officer come and Senator Rosenwald for a question.
• >> I did have one question on the HHS >> I did have one question on the HHS dashboard
• Someone<01:00:02.079> from<01:00:02.319> HHS<01:00:03.359> to<01:00:03.440>
• from HHS to see the chief financial<01:00:05.200> officer<01:00:05.680> come Thank you

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted the September 5 minutes and then approved the remaining consent calendar items after removing several bills for separate consideration, including 25-252, 25-248, 25-251, and 25-253. The committee then took up 25-252 from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, where members asked about the arts tax credit program, staffing, and volunteer coordination. Department representatives said the program had recently been authorized, forms had been finalized, three of six laid-off staff had been rehired through a federal grant, and the agency was now trying to recruit participants. Members also discussed whether tax-credit-raised funds could count as federal match; the department said they could not, because federal rules require state dollars. The item was adopted. The committee next considered 25-248 from the Department of Safety, which was described as a technical correction moving funds from equipment to hardware and software after consultation with the Department of Administrative Services. A member asked about “buy American” waivers, and the department said it would follow up with more information. The item was adopted. The committee then approved 25-251 from the Department of Administrative Services, which included discussion of ongoing problems with Anthem’s retiree health plan mail-order pharmacy. Department staff said many issues were tied to implementation changes and prescription renewal rules, that some complaints were being resolved through the vendor and the retiree health office, and that the contract would be rebid in the coming year, likely causing further changes. On 25-253 from the Department of Health and Human Services, members questioned the department’s September 5 health alert and whether it diverged from CDC guidance. DHHS said the alert was an annual evidence-based guideline for respiratory virus season and immunizations, largely aligned with CDC recommendations, and that some differences reflected timing and population-specific guidance. The item was adopted. The committee then heard 25-237 from the Department of Justice on the annual litigation fund request. Attorney General John Formela said the request was about $4.3 million, roughly 40% below last year and below the five-year average, with major costs tied to YDC civil and criminal litigation and some DHHS class actions. A member criticized the large increase over the budgeted $350,000 and said the budgeting approach should be corrected in the next cycle. Another member asked about YDC settlement reductions; the attorney general said confidentiality limited specifics, but explained that under the new statute the office had accepted well over half of administrator awards, rejected some, and negotiated lower amounts in others while still resolving most cases. The item remained under discussion at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we'll go to HHS. Chair Trumbull, you're recognized to highlight your budget.
• Overall, the HHS budget has increased by more than $2.1 billion, or 4.6%. More than 80% of that.
• There are other key highlights of the HHS budget: $209.9 million to initiate the Rural Health Transformation
• President, concludes the highlights of the HHS budget. Thank you, Chair Trumbull.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Other formularies, like ones that HHS does for managed care, are carved out from the statutes from 541A's
• like<00:10:32.160> um<00:10:32.560> ones<00:10:32.880> that<00:10:33.200> HHS
• <00:10:33.839> does formularies like um ones that HHS does formularies like um ones that HHS

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and adopted the consent calendar without objection. It then postponed the Board of Licensed Dieticians item until next month after granting a waiver, and also postponed the Board of Accountancy item to next month so the agency could respond. The Board of Registry and Optometry received conditional approval. Staff noted the board had addressed editorial comments, but flagged one substantive issue involving the drug formulary and whether it should be exempt from rulemaking requirements; the committee agreed to add that as a legislative suggestion for later review. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources interim rule drew more discussion, focused on a provision regulating kindling size for Category 3 fires. Staff and committee members questioned whether the agency had authority over Category 3 fires under the statute, but agency representatives said the interim rules were needed because the prior rules had expired and forest rangers lacked enforcement authority while final rulemaking was pending. The committee ultimately granted conditional approval to interim rule 25-4, with one member voting against it over concerns about consistency with the law. The Board of Examiners’ Dental 304 rules were presented next. The agency explained that it had revised the rules to address prior committee concerns about anesthesia and sedation for children, including creating a pathway for oral surgeons and dentist anesthesiologists to obtain exemptions for under-13 patients, setting a 20-patient-every-two-years threshold for certain permits, adding pediatric minimal sedation permitting, and loosening moderate sedation rules for pediatric dentists. Members also discussed whether the rules were compatible with House Bill 470, and staff said they appeared compatible and would not require additional rulemaking. The committee then approved the dental rules, and after that it adjourned after announcing it would cancel the continued meeting and take up remaining business next month.

Transcript Highlights:

• Governor, beyond that, the federal forecast is showing even more growth in HHS and education, special
• growth<00:10:31.399> in<00:10:31.519> the<00:10:31.680> HS<00:10:32.200> HHS
• showing even more growth in the HS HHS showing even more growth in the HS HHS and<00:10:32.920><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HHS Secretary Kennedy just fired everyone responsible for handling FOIA requests at the CDC and Food
• I'm going to offer, for what you follow up on, with HHS, this explanation that we got from them about
• And I'll just close with the observation that if we want to improve FOIA, then the HHS Secretary Gunn

Transcript Highlights:

• HHS may be able to answer that question. HHS may be able to answer that question.
• questions about HHS and these interpretations. interpretations. interpretations.
• Karen Heert, division director for economic stability at HHS.
• Obviously, the HHS is planning to empty it out.
• Obviously, the HHS is planning to empty it<03:21:24.960> out.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I presume an HHS or whatever, wherever it happens.
• an eight uh HHS or whatever wherever<01:53:05.920> it<01:53:06.159> happens.
• Um, looking at House Bill 2, it appears that it requires HHS to set up a grant program.
• Bill 2, it appears that it requires HHS Bill 2, it appears that it requires HHS to<02:10:58.079>
• dime on it, this bianium is it tells HHS dime on it, this bianium is it tells HHS to<02:12:32.960

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• According to HHS...
• They include our own employees and all the HHS employees.
• It's just, it's curious to me because we asked HHS to get us.
• We have the, my, it's my understanding that we on the HHS.
• HHS-OIG, federal HHS-OIG.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that may be Medicaid funds counted as part of the district's total effort through the combination of HHS
• 13:27.440> these<00:13:28.160> combination<00:13:28.880> both<00:13:29.760> HHS
• <00:13:30.320> and doing these combination both HHS and doing these combination both HHS and
• HHS. >> Um, a couple of questions. I think a couple...

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 20, 2025 minutes, with several members abstaining, and then adopted the consent calendar after removing items 223 and 224 under tab five, item 222 under tab six, and item 231 under tab seven. The committee also noted that an old business item related to YDC claims administration would be removed at a future meeting because the fiscal year had closed and no further committee action was needed. The main substantive discussion centered on Department of Health and Human Services requests. Item FIS-223 would fund a shared database between the Department of Education and HHS to identify children eligible for the summer EBT program; members asked whether it could also help with Medicaid or school reimbursement tracking, but the witness said the item was specifically for summer EBT and that broader integration questions would need follow-up with Education and Medicaid staff. The committee then adopted the item, with Representative Mooney voting no. Item FIS-224 concerned the phrase "high quality services" in child care-related funding; HHS said the standards come from the federal Office of Child Care, and the committee adopted the item. Item FIS-222 related to Money Follows the Person; HHS explained it is a 100% federally funded program that supports transitions from institutions to community living with services such as housing navigation, furnishings, and case management. Members questioned the scale and cost of the program, and HHS said the initial federal award was $5 million, with additional federal IT funding later approved; the committee adopted the item, again with Representative Mooney voting no. Under tab seven, the committee discussed item 231 involving ARPA funds and the YDC project. The Department of Administrative Services explained that recent Treasury guidance allows leftover ARPA dollars from approved projects to be repurposed only for additional work on already approved projects, not new projects. Members asked about whether the project was over budget and whether some items had been in the original plan; officials said the work reflected add alternates from the original bid and that the project was on track to meet the deadline. The committee adopted the item. The meeting then moved to the audit presentation on the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s fiscal year 2024 management letter, which identified 13 internal control comments, including two material weaknesses, largely tied to the new NextG system. Recommendations included strengthening controls, formal risk assessment, reconciliations to New Hampshire First, cash receipt controls, subsidiary ledgers, SOC reports for vendors, internal audit functions, lease accounting, gift card breakage reporting, and IT security and access controls. The Liquor Commission said it concurred with most findings, described the system transition as successful overall, and said remediation would continue; committee members asked for estimated completion dates for audit findings and discussed the need for more regular follow-up on audit issues and budget monitoring.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result of sunset legislation in 2015, the HHS system was directed to create administrative and operational
• And support the eligibility determination functions for multiple HHS programs, including, um, Medicaid
• We have, uh, jurisdiction to get over all of the HHS, uh, programs, $50 billion a year.
• Uh, we have jurisdiction over Medicaid providers, uh, the clients, the retailers, and also HHS employees
• kind of touched on a couple of questions I had, but how many FTEs do you have in the OIG office for HHS

Transcript Highlights:

• Five, as a result of sunset legislation in 2015, the HHS system.
• programs. eligibility services we oversee and support the eligibility determination functions for multiple HHS
• We have� jurisdiction, again, over all of the HHS programs, $50 billion a year.
• We have jurisdiction over Medicaid providers, the clients, the retailers. and also HHS employees, programs
• of touched on a couple of questions I had, but how How many FTEs do you have in the OIG office for HHS

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When I was first elected to the county board, I heard from others that the HHS department was using green
• from others that I heard our uh I heard from others that uh<00:04:39.560> the<00:04:39.760> HHS
• department<00:04:41.600> was<00:04:41.800> using<00:04:42.200> green uh the HHS
• department was using green uh the HHS department was using green screens.<00:04:43.120> I<00:
• One of my HHS supervisors told me when she started in this field in 2002, there was already conversations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The um members, there's something that's a growing concern in the HHS budget that I think we all need
• But one of the things that came out is that the HHS budgets in the next biennium are going to surpass
• So, members, as a part of the general fund, we are now going to be spending more money in the HHS area
• Couple that with what the counties put up with, where the HHS budget is a major driver of property tax
• budget uh is a major where the HHS budget uh is a major driver<02:12:21.360> of<02:12:21.679>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• About a year passed, and HHS recommended rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III.
• After HHS recommended rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III, another almost year passed, and then the
• Again, the report on this shall go to the chairs of the House Committee for HHS and the Senate Committee

Keywords: Cannabis Retail Market, Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a, 976, house, all

Summary: The Joint Commission on Cannabis and Hemp Policy met for its first meeting of 2026, elected Senator Lashrecse Aird as chair and Delegate Paul Krizek as vice chair, confirmed a quorum, adopted the virtual participation policy, and heard member introductions. Opening remarks emphasized the commission’s ongoing charge under HJR 497 to oversee Virginia’s transition toward a regulated retail cannabis market, with leaders noting that cannabis possession and home cultivation are already legal but retail sales remain unregulated and that the commission’s work continues despite the veto of the 2026 retail market bill. The commission then received a virtual briefing from NCSL on federal cannabis and hemp developments. Presenters explained the federal rescheduling of certain cannabis products to Schedule III, stressing that it applies only to FDA-approved cannabis drugs and state medical cannabis products, does not legalize adult-use sales, and leaves unresolved issues such as banking and broader tax compliance. They also reviewed the 2026 federal hemp changes narrowing the hemp definition, effective November 12, 2026, and warned of enforcement, interstate commerce, and market-disruption concerns for hemp-derived products. Members asked questions about whether rescheduling could lead to decriminalization and about tax and compliance implications for states. Commission staff then reviewed Virginia’s cannabis-related legislation from the 2026 session. They summarized bills that became law, including a process for modifying certain pre-2021 marijuana-related sentences, a bill allowing the Department of Health to address cannabis oil use in hospitals and convene a work group on medical-care-facility access, and a medical cannabis labeling/delivery measure. They also described SB 543, which strengthened hemp and illicit cannabis enforcement by requiring license decals, creating penalties for unlicensed sales and false decals, authorizing cease-and-desist actions and seizures, establishing a public tip line, directing law-enforcement training, and creating a consumer-protection civil action for certain high-THC products. No public comments were offered, and the meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• HHS. HB 2047, writ of restitution; criminal trespass. Judiciary and Elections.
• HHS. HB 4043, training AED/CPR school personnel. Education. HB 4044, Public Safety Parity Fund.
• HHS. HB 4043, training AED/CPR school personnel. Education. HB 4044, Public Safety Parity Fund.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized guests including the doctor of the day, visiting family members, and representatives from the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Surgeons demonstrating Stop the Bleed techniques. Members also acknowledged a St. Patrick’s Day visit by the Speaker of the Irish Parliament and adopted a proclamation honoring Irish heritage and the Arizona-Ireland relationship. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered and advanced several bills. SB 1046, relating to information technology, was amended and given a do-pass recommendation. SB 1066, concerning civil liability and fraudulent scientific research, was amended with a floor amendment limiting liability for certain researchers, universities, and registered drug manufacturers, then advanced. SB 1332, relating to light rail expansion participation, was amended after debate over transit policy and state versus local control, and also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1286, on veterinary prescriptions, was amended to adjust electronic prescribing timeframes for flea/tick and antimicrobial drugs and then advanced. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1009 on school curriculum and AED training, SB 1086 on the Arizona health care cost and payment system, SB 1317 appropriating money to the Attorney General for a coordinated jail reentry program, SB 1580 appropriating money to the Department of Administration, SB 1582 funding school safety, SB 1709 on probation for dangerous crimes against children, SB 1550 appropriating money to the state treasurer, SB 1761 appropriating money to the University of Arizona, SB 1046, and SB 1286. Several members explained votes, including support for reentry programming and school safety, and opposition based on concerns about funding sources, judicial discretion, or program effectiveness. The House requested reconsideration of HB 4027 and HB 2444, and the Senate then recessed, received a list of bills for first reading and committee referral, announced committee meetings for the next day, and adjourned until March 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• this will be the necessity to raise FTE staffing pay and other sections of staffing needs across the HHS
• that we need to be bearing down on across the board with all of our agencies, but in particular our HHS
• that we need to be bearing down on across the board with all of our agencies, but in particular our HHS

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to review agency budgets, vacant positions, and possible efficiencies across several health and human services agencies. Members were asked to identify savings and potential areas for increased funding, and the discussion repeatedly focused on whether long-vacant FTEs, reversion of funds, and staffing shortages reflect true operational needs or broader budgeting and recruitment problems. The chair and members emphasized that the exercise was intended to help the committee make more informed budget decisions and to identify structural issues that may require legislative action. For the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, members highlighted a large waiting list, including individuals in crisis and children, and discussed whether vacant positions and unspent funds could be redirected to services. Several members raised concerns about delays in crisis applications, the use of paper applications, and whether the issue is staffing, process, or both. For the Department of Children and Families, the presenters discussed vacant positions, the use of staff augmentation in state hospitals, support for expanding behavioral qualified residential treatment program beds, and concerns raised by audits of the managing entities, which showed procurement and financial management problems. They recommended continued oversight, reporting requirements on Medicaid enrollees receiving mental health services through managing entities, and support for the governor’s proposed funding items. Other agencies reviewed included Elder Affairs, where members questioned the need for multiple divisions, CARES assessments, and supervisory overhead; the Department of Health, where vacancies, turnover, pay gaps, and units of rate were discussed as barriers to recruitment and retention; and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where the presenters said vacancies were tied to new nursing homes and recommended shifting a major priority into general revenue rather than trust funds. Throughout the meeting, members generally agreed that the vacancy review was eye-opening and suggested deeper, possibly separate, reviews of agency staffing, pay parity, and fund reversion practices. No formal votes were taken during the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I staff HHS.
• <00:02:26.440> I<00:02:26.560> staff<00:02:26.920> HHS. Senate Counsel.
• I staff HHS. Senate Counsel. I staff HHS.
• Chair, with the language that was added, I believe in the joint committee hearing held by the HHS and
• hearing<00:30:41.720> held<00:30:42.120> by<00:30:42.280> the<00:30:42.480> HHS

Keywords: 1187, senate, all