Transcript Highlights:

• Uh I money, how to spend their money.
• <01:25:10.800> at that was Mindot's intention to spend at that was Mindot's intention to spend
• It's about benchmarking the progress.
• 43.040> the<01:29:43.360> the about benchmarking the pro the the about benchmarking the
• , progress um benchmarking progress, progress um benchmarking progress, excuse<01:29:46.159> me

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Expansion without performance benchmarks risks scaling inefficiency. And that's the problem.
• So is this the best place to spend taxpayers' dollars to collect?
• Um expansion without performance Um expansion without performance benchmarks benchmarks benchmarks risk
• to place to spend taxpayers' dollars to collect?
• expansion without performance benchmarks expansion without performance benchmarks risk risk risk

Bills: HF4338

Keywords: human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review, postpayment review, surety bond, compliance training, case management, targeted case management

Transcript Highlights:

• They spend. On law, rule, and policy.
• She spends about six months bouncing around the system.
• L&I, ESD, and DOR do an annual benchmark report.
• L&I, ESD, and DOR do an annual benchmark report.
• We uncovered more than... ...and DOR do an annual benchmark report.

Summary: The committee first received an update from the Attorney General’s office on a new workers’ rights unit and two request bills. The office said the unit will focus on wage theft and civil rights enforcement, using existing resources for a small staff. It also described a bill to expand civil investigative demand authority for labor, wage theft, prevailing wage, and discrimination investigations, and an Immigrant Worker Protection Act that would require employer notice when federal immigration authorities request employee records, limit access to nonpublic work areas without a warrant, and restrict disclosure of employee data without proper legal process. Senators asked about costs, funding sources, and the scope of the proposed authority, and the office said it would follow up with more detail. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Washington’s workers’ compensation system from Labor and Industries, including how claims are filed, how the medical provider network works, and how treatment authorizations and utilization review are handled. L&I said the network was created to improve care quality and return workers to work, and explained that most routine care is automatically authorized while certain procedures require prior approval or review. A question from Senator Conway focused on the role of the medical director and the appeals process; L&I said decisions can be protested and reconsidered, with exceptions reviewed through a complex treatment unit and medical staff. An experience panel followed with testimony from labor representatives, physicians, and an injured-worker attorney, who argued that the medical provider network and treatment guidelines can delay or deny needed care, especially in complex cases such as PTSD, brain injuries, and serious orthopedic injuries. They described long appeals, utilization review barriers, provider shortages, and the impact on injured workers and families, while L&I’s presentation emphasized the system’s structure and review safeguards. The committee then heard a report from the Underground Economy Task Force in the construction industry. L&I summarized the task force’s findings on worker misclassification, unregistered contractors, and unpaid taxes and premiums, and outlined consensus and majority recommendations, including better interagency communication, stronger penalties for repeat offenders, more authority to address successorship, possible contractor notice requirements, and further study of cash payments. The Attorney General’s office, labor, and business representatives generally supported the report’s goals but differed on some recommendations, especially those affecting independent contractors, contractor liability, and administrative burdens. The chair and Senator Conway thanked participants and said the report would inform future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the original wording of the bill, and some of this is cleared up, has certain benchmarks on what
• they... ...there's certain benchmarks on when they are checked.
• I mean, it's substituted because it does have some benchmarks in it.
• Charges, but for relatively minor charges, they spend years in the penitentiary.
• And I'm kind of on the edge of my knowledge, but we spend millions of dollars per year to do this.

Bills: HB202, HB42, HB146, HB492, HB285, HB7, HB454, HB42, HB7

Keywords: law enforcement, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, bail reform, cash deposit, judicial discretion, criminal justice, Alabama law, youthful offender, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, juvenile offenders, delinquent acts, juvenile court, nonfelony offenses, water safety offenses, illegal immigration

Transcript Highlights:

• And do you really think DFA can spend that in two years? Alex, you want to answer that?
• And do you really think DFA can spend that in two years? Alex, you want to answer that?
• And do you really think DFA can spend that in two years? Alex, you want to answer that?
• And do you really think DFA can spend that in two years? Alex, you want to answer that?
• And do you really think DFA can spend that in two years? Alex, you want to answer that?

Bills: SB20, SB21, SB166, SB177, SB181, SB189, SM6

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• front end then you won't have to spend front end then you won't have to spend so<00:28:45.360>
• , career ladder in particular, but educational benchmarks, but primarily career ladder benchmarks.
• We're spending the money.
• We're spending the money.
• We're spending the money.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 21 January, 2026: 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks present its FY27 budget request and discuss accomplishments from prior appropriations. The commissioner highlighted improved conservation officer retention after salary increases, continued training and wellness efforts, upgrades to state parks and cabins, expansion of tiny homes, fisheries stocking and youth fishing programs, ongoing chronic wasting disease testing, and the Museum of Natural Science’s recent accreditation. The agency said it wants to maintain parks and facilities so they do not deteriorate again, and it emphasized tourism and public access benefits. Budget staff then outlined the request: $21.7 million in general funds, including increases for state parks, the museum, law enforcement, and chronic wasting disease; $23.2 million in state support capital and education funds; and $86.99 million in special funds authority. Major capital requests included $18.8 million for state parks projects at several parks, $1.25 million for law enforcement facilities, $2 million for Lake Lamar Bruce improvements, and $1.125 million for mobile teaching vans. Members asked for more detail on general fund increases, proof that law enforcement salary enhancements reached field agents, more information on the tiny home program and its return on investment, the source of motor vehicle funds, and a breakdown of requested pins and vacancies. The committee also questioned the agency about chronic wasting disease, with the department saying the $400,000 request supports testing and research and that live testing is not yet reliable. Members raised concerns about prioritization of lake and park maintenance, especially Lake Claude Bennett, and whether the agency is too reactive rather than proactive in addressing deteriorating facilities. The department said funding limitations and federal restrictions on certain lake dollars drive its priorities, and that it focuses on the most-used parks and lakes. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will spend a month or six weeks working with our consultant, analyzing the bids and getting those
• That's based upon a very large number of benchmarks. It's a very good survey.
• I selected, basically really took a subset of the benchmarks that were included in the Gallagher survey
• The same set of benchmarks, the 52 benchmarks, pulled data out of comparisons, and that showed us to
• I don't want to spend money just to spend money.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I wish more entities and agencies would spend a little more time on it.
• I spend almost every day looking at crime stats, not just from the perspective of what numbers can be
• This is a benchmarked project because our current School of Medicine building was built in 1967.
• We want to spend the old money first until they sort out what's going to happen with that.
• It just like we're trying to do for regular general fund spending increases for new programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• only thing I was going to comment on, I um, it's something I felt like if on this amendment we could spend
• We respectfully urge the committee to carefully consider whether removing ongoing academic benchmarks
• We respectfully urge the committee to carefully consider whether removing ongoing academic benchmarks
• And so then the numbers on that come out to about a $25 million spend, and which we've been making 25
• am also interested in the possibility of a cap to the tuition increases, you know, by sending a benchmark

Bills: SF0018, SF0036, SF0047

Keywords: K-12 education, part-time attendance, public schools, student enrollment, education funding, scholarship, Hathaway, academic eligibility, financial aid, Hathaway scholarship, education, state funding, college access, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the policies, talking about spending. the policies, talking about spending.
• legislation from an RDA spending legislation from an RDA spending standpoint<00:21:15.160> to
• If you give them $350,000, they'll spend $350,000.
• <00:42:59.600> $3 give them $3 million, they'll spend $3 give them $3 million, they'll spend
• they'll spend $350,000. they'll spend $350,000.

Bills: HF4560, HF4559, HF2317, HF3179, HF4880, HF2862, HF4374

Keywords: Public Utilities Commission, PUC, energy regulation, utility regulation, electric utility, public utility, rate case, multiyear rate plan, decoupling, rate decoupling, greenhouse gas, social cost of carbon, environmental cost, resource planning, certificate of need, distributed renewable energy, interconnection, budget billing, electronic filing, contested case

Transcript Highlights:

• no staff and it seems to me that I spend no staff and it seems to me that I spend an<00:54:06.960
• So to again in spite of that spending.
• <01:58:09.679> it's me it's not how much do you spend it's me it's not how much do you spend
• and how they should be spending that money.
• and how they should be spending that money.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're spending money to make money. Secondly, it actually is less cost to the consumer.
• I agree that we need to spend money on our roads. We need to fix our roads.
• This is a very calibrated benchmark system. And it's good.
• This is a very calibrated benchmark system. And it's good. changing at midstream.
• This is a very calibrated benchmark system. And it's good.

Bills: SB251, SB150, SB154, SB73, SB111, SB172, SB76, SB181, SB235

Keywords: horse racing, program training, program owning, state licensing, racehorses, regulation, local news, newspaper printing, journalism, media tax credit, print media, digital news, news publisher, newsprint, press operator, printing industry, local journalism, tax credit, income tax, corporate income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• It will focus utilities on spending money better, not spending more.
• It will focus utilities on spending money better, not spending more money.
• They could consider lowering it for spending that is less risky than normal, right?
• You're spending thousands of dollars in legal fees.
• There are approximately 200 accounts open, Spending and lacks oversight.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We heard that we had to benchmark it to something tangible. We Don't make things up at LOFT.
• We benchmark them to tangibles.
• look to the GAO and a study that was done for the federal government in 2023 that used the standard benchmark
• Agencies that rent from the private market spend about 50% more annually than agencies that rent from

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's say that an institution meets all the academic research benchmarks, but doesn't meet the residency
• So let's say that an institution meets all the academic research benchmarks, but doesn't meet the residency
• threshold. ...research benchmarks, but doesn't meet the residency threshold and loses preeminent eligibility
• Be there with a kid that is night and day and spends every waking minute that I challenge any of us to

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1503, which would require general education courses that use technology to provide students opportunities to build digital literacy, including instruction on applications of artificial intelligence and related topics such as software engineering, computer networks, database systems, and cybersecurity as applicable to the course. It would also require high school computer science courses offered by school districts to include instruction on AI. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1279, an education bill that the sponsor said was intended to improve consistency, oversight, and transparency while putting Florida students first. The bill drew extensive questioning and opposition over provisions affecting university admissions and funding, including a 95% Florida-resident first-time-in-college enrollment target tied to preeminent funding, a cap on nonresident students from any one country, standardized GPA weighting, limits on institution-wide graduation requirements, and changes related to accreditation references and other education programs. The sponsor argued these changes would open more seats for Florida students, preserve academic rigor, and align statutes with existing regulations and court action, while opponents said the bill would harm university competitiveness, research, revenue, faculty recruitment, and access for international and nontraditional students. Public testimony on HB 1279 was largely opposed. Speakers included a student advocate, a dental hygiene representative concerned about dual regulation of expanded-function dental programs, and faculty representatives from FSU and FAMU who warned the bill would politicize admissions and curriculum, reduce competitiveness, and create negative fiscal impacts. During debate, supporters emphasized taxpayer investment in Florida students and the need to prioritize in-state applicants, while opponents argued the bill would weaken the state university system and undermine its national standing. The committee reported PCS for HB 1279 favorably by a 12-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• One caveat here, though, that I do need to mention is because we don't have spending authority for this
• For those of us who have been here since a while, we have had to spend that entire morning, which is
• all this, and sometimes we do learn... ...thrown at those guys for spending all this.
• We just created a new $90 million of new spending for child care.
• Yeah, we're not, we're not, you don't spend the money yet because there's a long way to go on that.

Summary: The committee met to organize upcoming legislative session arrangements and staffing, and to review several rule and security-related items. It first approved a Joint Rule 211 change, recommended by the Employee Benefits Committee, that clarifies the deadline and statutory references for introducing health insurance mandate bills so required cost-benefit materials can be completed in time. Members noted the change would streamline the process, though it would not solve all timing and mandate-determination issues. The committee then discussed a draft bill on confidentiality protections for certain public officials and candidates, but members raised concerns about the statute’s complexity, the practical difficulty of administering it, and whether it would meaningfully improve safety; no action was taken and the topic was set aside for further discussion. The committee received an update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is in process to apply for grant funding that could reimburse up to about $200 per legislator for personal security-related expenses such as home cameras, locks, lighting, or monitoring services, with reimbursement handled through Legislative Council and subject to Emergency Commission approval. Members asked about eligible expenses, timing, and whether new legislators would be included, and staff said the program would likely cover current legislators only for this round. The committee also approved the 2027 joint session schedule for the State of the State, tribal-state message, and State of the Judiciary on January 5, with the tribal and judiciary addresses in the morning and the governor’s address later in the day. The committee next approved the statutory reporting schedule for the Commerce Commissioner and agricultural commodity groups, setting the Commerce report for January 13, 2027, and the agriculture reports and pesticide container disposal update for January 14, 2027. Members questioned the usefulness of some of these recurring reports, but agreed to follow the existing statutory requirements. The largest discussion centered on Legislative Council staffing for the 2027 session: the committee approved reducing session staff to 36 Senate and 41 House employees, eliminating procedural clerk positions in standing committees in favor of permanent policy analysts, while retaining quality assurance clerks and adding a House parking lot attendant. It also approved a 3% salary increase for those staff positions, matching the increase given to state employees. Finally, the committee reviewed a revised organizational session and new legislator training agenda. Staff proposed moving some orientation content into a separate pre-session training day for new legislators on November 30, including laptop setup, mock committee and floor sessions, parliamentary procedure, and HR/benefits training, while adding more security and budgeting instruction. Members strongly supported earlier and more practical training, including follow-up reinforcement during the first week of session, and suggested using experienced or term-limited former legislators as mentors. Staff also described efforts to expand training materials into podcasts, flowcharts, and other formats, and Legislative Council leadership outlined the office’s remaining vacancies and a proposed expansion of policy analysts, program evaluators, legal staff, and training support to better serve the legislature and improve oversight of state programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• One caveat here, though, that I do need to mention is because we don't have spending authority for this
• funding that we would receive, we would need to go before the Emergency Commission to receive spending
• For those of us who have been here for a while, we have had to spend that entire morning, which is a
• We just created a new $90 million of new spending for child care.
• Yeah, we're not—you don't spend the money yet because there's a long way to go on that.

Summary: The Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee first considered and adopted a Joint Rule 211 change clarifying the deadline and statutory references for bill drafts involving health insurance mandates, after discussion that the process is still somewhat cumbersome but improved by the clarification. The committee then reviewed a revised draft addressing confidentiality protections for certain legislators and candidates, but members expressed concerns about the breadth, enforceability, and transparency implications of the proposal, and the committee chose not to advance it at this time. The committee received an informational update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is applying for the grant, which could provide about $200 per legislator for home security or related safety expenses, subject to Emergency Commission approval and reimbursement procedures. Members asked about eligible expenses, administrative burden, and whether new legislators would be covered; staff said guidance would be provided if funding is approved. The committee also approved the 2027 timing for the State of the Judiciary, tribal-state relationship message, and State of the State address on January 5, and set the Commerce Department and agricultural commodity reports for January 13 and 14, respectively, as required by statute. A major portion of the meeting focused on legislative staffing and organizational planning. The committee approved a recommendation for 36 Senate staff positions and 41 House staff positions, along with a 3% compensation increase for session staff. Discussion centered on replacing some procedural clerk duties with permanent policy analyst staff, retaining quality assurance roles for now, and adding or repurposing positions in IT, program evaluation, legal, and administration. Members also discussed expanding program evaluation capacity and the need for clearer oversight of new programs, with staff noting upcoming training and model-sharing with other states. Finally, the committee reviewed a proposed new legislator orientation day on November 30 and broader organizational session training changes, including mock committee and floor sessions, security training, and more robust budget/appropriations instruction, but took no final action on the agenda items and adjourned after completing the budget-related recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We spend about six months out of the year in audit with as many auditors on site as we have financial
• We spend about six months out of 17th.
• as well as our composite benchmarks as well as our composite benchmark. benchmark. benchmark.
• And I'm going to go back to page eight because I want you to spend more time there.
• police and fire, Centerville is spending police and fire, Centerville is spending about<01:01:40.600

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Was it done to rein back spending or to free up money for investments in some worthy or noble cause?
• So if we were to achieve total 100 percent or even the 80 percent Benchmark.
• What I mean by that is that we also need to reassess what we are already spending money on, but would
• What I mean by that is that we also need to reassess what we are already spending money on, but would
• This first year is considered a planning year and our opportunity to negotiate performance benchmarks

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is important because we want to make sure everything that we do is spending the money of our students
• This is important because we want to make sure everything that we do is spending the money of our students
• <00:26:01.039> money<00:26:01.600> on<00:26:01.840> perhaps instead of spending
• the people, meet the faculty, meet the staff, walk around, and look at this is where I'm going to spend
• That expenditure is the real dollars that we spend each year on research, and this input of about $1.32

Keywords: 1187, senate, all