Transcript Highlights:

• . fraud.
• We also can't investigate or prosecute fraud in obtaining benefits, also known as welfare fraud, or fraud
• and, frankly, our consumer fraud, all fraud, but the fraud that's actually, um, the ongoing programs
• and, frankly, our consumer fraud, all fraud, but the fraud that's actually, um, the ongoing programs
• and, frankly, our consumer fraud, all fraud, but the fraud that's actually, um, the ongoing programs

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• That way they for fraud convictions.
• been convicted, folks like Devin Archer, who was convicted of $60 million in a bond fraud scheme.
• been convicted, folks like Devin Archer, who was convicted of $60 million in a bond fraud scheme.
• been convicted, folks like Devin Archer, who was convicted of $60 million in a bond fraud scheme.
• or charged of committing convicted or charged of committing fraud. fraud. fraud.

Transcript Highlights:

• charges, and eighth in fraud convictions in the entire country.
• </c> many more people in the number of fraud many more people in the number of fraud convictions<00:14
• </c><00:14:27.839><c> conviction</c> You look at our fraud conviction You look at our fraud conviction
• ><c> convictions</c> charges, and eighth in fraud convictions charges, and eighth in fraud convictions
• </c> we're on average fifth in fraud we're on average fifth in fraud convictions<00:14:51.280><c> in<

Bills: HF1338

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:42.559><c> was</c> jurisdiction in which the conviction was jurisdiction in which the conviction
• </c> conviction was entered. conviction was entered.
• </c> state convictions that were resolved. state convictions that were resolved.
• </c> uh because of the federal conviction. uh because of the federal conviction.
• </c><00:23:44.000><c> under</c> specific to state convictions under specific to state convictions under

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• registering multiple people across multiple counties of voter fraud, voter registration fraud.
• multiple people across multiple counties of voter fraud, voter registration fraud.
• And, uh, Chairwam, I guess I'm confused because it was the feds that actually got those voter fraud convictions
• </c> for, you know, convictions. for, you know, convictions.
• But bring it up and get the convictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• convicted.
• If I'm convicted, then take it away.
• Colby, I've worked on many, many cases like this of financial fraud, securities fraud.
• fraud.
• wrongful convictions and a major cause of innocent people being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned

Bills: HB867 , HB1347 , HB1801 , HB1820 , HB2197 , HB2617 , HB3110 , HB3166 , HB3330 , HB4237 , HB4342 , HB4629 , HB4933 , HJR148

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:59:06.080><c> of</c><02:59:06.160><c> fraud</c> conviction of fraud conviction of fraud and<02:59
• </c><02:59:45.960><c> of</c><02:59:46.160><c> fraud,</c> related parties if convicted of fraud, related
• parties if convicted of fraud, therefore<02:59:47.840><c> protecting</c><02:59:48.520><c> state</c><
• There's almost 90 convictions in<03:10:41.120><c> recent</c><03:10:41.520><c> fraud</c><03:10:42.440>
• </c> uh when someone is convicted of fraud. uh when someone is convicted of fraud.

Transcript Highlights:

• crimes and fraud.
• crimes and fraud.
• </c><00:09:19.279><c> and</c><00:09:19.440><c> state</c> fraud, wage theft, uh fraud and state fraud,
• </c> tentacles of frauds like that. tentacles of frauds like that.
• c> against</c> convicted of embezzlement, fraud against convicted of embezzlement, fraud against the<

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• of fraud, to protect state funds.
• But most credible allegation of fraud.
• </c><00:04:26.680><c> Um</c> under investigation for fraud. Um under investigation for fraud.
• </c><00:04:54.760><c> of</c><00:04:54.880><c> fraud</c><00:04:55.880><c> uh</c> when there's a conviction
• of fraud uh when there's a conviction of fraud uh allowing<00:04:56.720><c> for</c><00:04:56.919><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• How many successful felony convictions for voter fraud have occurred since that bill?
• And, Senator, for voter fraud, I'm not sure of the number of convictions.
• Before your bill was passed, how many successful convictions for election fraud had occurred in the prior
• Given the very sparse evidence of actual election fraud or voter fraud by Texans, is this really a good
• Given the very sparse evidence of actual election fraud or voter fraud by Texans, is this really The

Bills: SCR46 , SB31 , SB39 , SB227 , SB330 , SB401 , SB407 , SB467 , SB482 , SB500 , SB506 , SB512 , SB527 , SB584 , SB619 , SB636 , SB646 , SB647 , SB648 , SB659 , SB663 , SB715 , SB732 , SB758 , SB801 , SB816 , SB847 , SB870 , SB884 , SB1020 , SB1055 , SB1065 , SB1137 , SB1169 , SB1181 , SB1283 , SB1383 , SB1395 , SB1410 , SB1433 , SB1490 , SB1558 , SB1574 , SB1626 , SB1666 , SB1718 , SB1727 , SB1756 , SB1757 , SB1845 , SB1924 , SB1964 , SB1972 , SB2018 , SB2031 , SB2075 , SB2076 , SB2080 , SB2111 , SB2117 , SB2154 , SB2161 , SB2173 , SB2206 , SB2225 , SB2253 , SB2268 , SB2314 , SB2322 , SB2351 , SB2371 , SB2476 , SB2533 , SB2540 , SB2570 , SB2589 , SB2623 , SB2658 , SB2660 , SB2692 , SB2693 , SB2717 , SB2722 , SB2753 , SB2779 , SB2877 , SB2880 , SB2900 , SB2920 , SB3031 , HJR4 , SB5 , SB260 , SB1786 , SJR3 , SJR18 , SB1 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SJR84 , SJR59 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SCR46 , SCR48 , SCR19 , SB2023 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB1502 , SB507 , SB1026 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1376 , SB1585 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1163 , SB619 , SB1122 , SB732 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB261 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB529 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB1999 , SB511 , SB2309 , SB510 , SB1924 , SB2253 , SB2018 , SB2206 , SB584 , SB1085 , SB1490 , SB2314 , SB2046 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB1524 , SB1137 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB1558 , SB884 , SB227 , SB517 , SB1200 , SB1410 , SB1626 , SB1845 , SB1863 , SB2681 , SB2200 , SB2199 , SB1757 , SB2050 , SB2458 , SB2201 , SB1055 , SB2660 , SB2662 , SB1065 , SB801 , SB2533 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB648 , SB647 , SB512 , SB1721 , SB2268 , SB2366 , SB1013 , SB2692 , SB2570 , SB2797 , SB2111 , SB2371 , SB2383 , SB646 , SB1169 , SB1754 , SB1718 , SB2779 , SB2004 , SB1756 , SB2119 , SB527 , SB2322 , SB2448 , SB1777 , SB1283 , SB407 , SB2392 , SB2076 , SB2786 , SB3031 , SB2877 , SB2876 , SB2284 , SB2225 , SB1540 , SB2920 , SB2929 , SB1395 , SB1972 , SB2540 , SB2742 , SB2595 , SB2217 , SB2117 , SB715 , SB2330 , SB1964 , SB1383 , SB500 , SB1640 , SB2001 , SB2080 , SB2722 , SB506 , SB2514 , SB2623 , SB2658 , SB1574 , SB2900 , SB2753 , SB2398 , SB401 , SB1241 , SB2927 , SB2173 , SB2538 , SB898 , SB467 , SB1449 , SB2529 , SB1531 , SB2846 , SB2476 , SB2031 , SB986 , SB1181 , SB2075 , SB2154 , SB2864 , SB31 , SB2880 , SB1359 , SB2386 , SB771 , SB2844 , SB2550 , SB1351 , SB1423 , SB1931 , SB2245 , SB2589 , SB2707 , SB2807 , SB2351 , SB410 , SB659 , SB816 , SB2776 , SB2693 , SB2580 , SB1980 , SB1886 , SB1234 , SB739 , SB482 , SB456 , SB127 , SB1666 , SB2843 , SB2801 , SB800 , SB2055 , SB784 , SB2986 , SB735 , SB1012 , SB324 , SB2926 , SB2938 , SB2007 , SB2138 , SB1242 , HJR4 , HB135 , HB 1109 , SCR30 , SCR3 , SB2615 , SB1049 , SB2310 , SB1224 , SB2972 , SB1568 , SB2841 , SB2885 , SB3016 , SB2858 , SB2610 , SB2139 , SB1856 , SB2035 , SB2308 , SB2306 , SB2041 , SB1528 , SB1681 , SB1141 , SB2401 , SB2530 , SB2375 , SB547 , SB1266 , SB1373 , SB1467 , SB2069 , SB2269 , SB2480 , SB2544 , SB672 , SB904 , SB2695 , SB2891 , SB2422 , SB2543 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB2539 , SB2532 , SB2925 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB2203 , SB457 , SB2357 , HCR35 , HCR64

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion to move the intent calendar deadline to 4 p.m. and then took up several bills by suspending the regular order of business. Senate Bill 2031, concerning removal of high fences around breeder deer release sites, passed after an amendment shortened the testing period from five years to three, tied visible identification requirements to the date Parks and Wildlife began requiring them, and made the bill effective immediately. Senate Bill 1490, a cleanup to adult charter high school funding, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2227, creating a process for delayed birth certificates and renamed the Charles E. Barton Act, both passed unanimously after floor amendments. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1964, regulating artificial intelligence systems used by state agencies, also passed unanimously after the author described guardrails for high-risk AI and disclosure requirements. The Senate then considered Senate Bill 2877, which increases penalties for election fraud and related attempts; after debate over whether existing law already covers some conduct and whether the bill was necessary given the small number of convictions, it passed to engrossment and later final passage on a 21-10 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2658, on brackish groundwater production and study, passed after four amendments, including one giving water districts authority to stop production if monitoring shows harm to freshwater supplies or subsidence and another returning a portion of transported water revenue to districts. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 648, strengthening recording requirements for real property instruments to help prevent deed theft, also passed on a 26-4 vote. Other measures approved included Committee Substitute Senate Bill 401, making it easier for homeschool students to participate in UIL activities through local district opt-in/nearest-district participation rules; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 407, requiring health care facilities to honor conscience or religious vaccine exemptions for employees, despite extensive questioning about patient safety and immunocompromised patients; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2117, creating a Texas Committee on Foreign Investment to review risky foreign acquisitions; Senate Bill 1718, adding the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program after a failed amendment seeking equal space for gun-control advocacy; Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1626, clarifying limits on censorship and interference with digital expression by social media platforms; and Senate Bill 2206, updating the state R&D franchise tax credit and related sales tax treatment, which passed 31-0. The chamber also debated Senate Bill 1395 on school health advisory councils. An initial amendment to restore voting seats for teachers and school employees failed, but a later amendment by Senator West added students back in an advisory, non-voting capacity. The Senate then handled routine motions, committee scheduling, first-reading referrals, and adjourned until April 29, with the session ending in memory of two constituents.

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY CAN REPORT THE FRAUD AND REMOVE THEIR SIGNATURE.
• >> HOW MANY CASES OF INDIVIDUAL CRIMINALITY OR FRAUD?
• THE NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A LARGER SCALE FINDING OF FRAUD, LET'S SAY FRAUD TO THE
• BY CALLING IT FRAUD.
• THEN DECIDE WHAT IS YOUR TOLERANCE FOR FRAUD.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:23.720><c> did</c> um uh convictions of of fraud that did um uh convictions of of fraud that
• These are victims of people who were convicted of fraud and then had no resources.
• These are victims of people who were convicted of fraud and then had no resources.
• convicted<00:40:33.040><c> of</c><00:40:33.720><c> Fraud</c><00:40:34.720><c> and</c><00:40:35.000><c
• of Fraud and then um uh had no convicted of Fraud and then um uh had no resources<00:40:39.480><c> they

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, over a hundred charged and dozens and dozens of convictions of fraud that Minnesota apparently
• wasn't capable of actually pursuing and charging and convicting for the fraud.
• convictions convictions of<00:31:11.120><c> fraud</c><00:31:12.480><c> that</c><00:31:13.120><c> Minnesota
• and convicting for the fraud. fraud. fraud.
• Well, recently we've had multiple convictions of voter registration fraud across at least a dozen of

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we're looking fairly narrowly in this bill at fraud that is perpetrated on consumers.
• of this kind of fraud, the restitution can be paid from the special revenue account.
• of this kind are commit uh are convicted of this kind of<00:16:09.720><c> fraud</c><00:16:10.720><c>
• How big of a problem is this type of consumer fraud in Minnesota?
• </c> of cases specifically relating to fraud of cases specifically relating to fraud against<00:24:10.400

Transcript Highlights:

• The loophole allows many innocent, wrongly convicted individuals to fall through the cracks of rightful
• But what this would do is it would expand that to health care fraud..."
• Could have affected the person's conviction or punishment.
• The fixes in HB 115 would ensure that innocent people convicted based on junk science have a genuine
• We also have fraud, the financial crimes in Title VII, where they're using credit cards of the victim

Bills: HB115 , HB 115 , HB507 , HB1765 , HB1847 , HB2046 , HB2239 , HB2328 , HB2309 , HB2417 , HB2728 , HB2794 , HB3206 , HB3566 , HB3694 , HB3744 , HB4254 , HB4697 , HB4733 , HB4915 , HB5465 , HB2813

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence reconvened with a quorum present and announced it would likely not vote that night because of confusion over the bill list; members were told a definitive list would be circulated the next morning and a formal meeting would be scheduled later. The chair then heard a series of bills, generally taking testimony and leaving each pending without action. House Bill 1847 would set maximum caseload standards for private attorneys handling indigent criminal appointments through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; House Bill 2417 would expand compensation eligibility for some wrongfully imprisoned people; House Bill 2813 would require earlier and more specific victim notice of scheduled court proceedings; and House Bill 2309 would expand state and local authority in certain civil asset forfeiture cases involving human trafficking, health care fraud, and organized crime. Each bill was laid out by its author or a member, with no opposition witnesses registered, and each was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 4733, which would require sealing records for people acquitted of charges when they were not convicted on the related allegation; House Bill 2328, which would modernize expunction service by encouraging electronic notice, setting a standardized fee when electronic service is unavailable, extending clerk retention of expunction orders, and preserving certain mental health commitment orders; and House Bill 115, which would revise Texas’s “junk science” post-conviction writ law by providing counsel, changing the relief standard, requiring written decisions, and easing procedural barriers. Testimony on HB 2328 was mixed: county clerks supported the bill as a cost-saving modernization, while legal advocates warned that permanent retention of expunction orders could undermine true expunction and create privacy risks. HB 115 drew support from innocence and defense organizations, with some concern about a provision affecting subsequent writs. All were left pending after testimony. Later, the committee heard House Bill 2046, which would allow affirmative family-violence findings for any Penal Code offense rather than only Title V offenses; testimony from a Dallas County prosecutor and a committee member emphasized that family violence can involve arson, burglary, fraud, and other non-Title V conduct, and the bill was left pending. House Bill 1765 would tighten restrictions on no-knock warrants by requiring higher-level approval, judicial review, and identifiable officers; members discussed the dangers highlighted by the Harding Street raid and similar incidents, and the bill was also left pending. The meeting ended with the chair noting that some bills had been removed from the agenda at the author’s request and that members should be prepared to finalize the vote list the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• and</c><00:21:32.240><c> then</c> conviction until no conviction and then conviction until no conviction
• I don't want to see fraud hurting fraud.
• We can fight fraud, but ultimately who are the victims of that fraud?
• </c> that fraud? that fraud?
• Um, target those that are doing the fraud. You know what I'm saying? And, and fraud.

Bills: HF3174 , HF3800

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• exclude convictions that have been set aside or pardoned.
• to exclude convictions that have been set aside or pardoned.
• We don't need fraud anywhere. It hurts everybody.
• And by the way, that doesn't combat fraud. That's not fraud.
• And by the way, that doesn't combat fraud. That's not fraud.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met with a quorum present and took up a full agenda of bills, beginning with agency and records measures from Senator Massullo. SB 488, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles agency package, would update reporting thresholds for crashes, expand DHSMV’s use of email for certain transactions, and align tank vehicle definitions with federal rules; it was reported favorably. Its companion, SB 490, creates a public records exemption for certain email records and also passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 892, revising enhanced sentencing procedures for repeat offenders, and SB 124, which cleans up outdated Florida Virtual School language without changing day-to-day operations. Later, SB 584 on commercial driving schools, SB 656 codifying the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and related grant program, and SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute all passed favorably as well. The most extensive debate centered on SB 216, which would tighten reemployment assistance eligibility by adding job-search requirements, interview attendance rules, identity and immigration verification every two weeks, and fraud-reporting duties for the Department of Commerce. Senator McLean argued the bill targets fraud and improves program integrity, while opponents and several members raised concerns about fiscal impact, administrative burden, and reduced access for unemployed workers, especially seniors and rural residents. Dr. Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO testified against the bill, warning it could sharply reduce recipiency and worsen an already restrictive system. Despite opposition, the bill was reported favorably on a divided roll call. The committee also approved CS/SB 382 on electric bicycles, which requires riders to yield to pedestrians on shared pathways, sound an audible signal before passing, and limits speed near pedestrians; it also creates a task force to study further regulation. Michelle Lynch, whose son was killed in an e-scooter crash, testified in support of broader safety rules and urged the committee to add e-scooters back into the bill. Several members echoed concerns about e-scooter safety and asked for further work, but the bill advanced favorably. At the end of the meeting, members requested to be recorded on specific tabs, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.
• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.
• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.
• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.
• We even have SNAP fraud cases here in Minnesota that have led to convictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of individual criminality or fraud? Yes. Yes. Yes. Of individual criminality or fraud. Yes.
• that was committed was committed by convicted felons.
• that was committed was committed by convicted felons.
• Then the next question is, what happens if there is a larger scale finding of fraud, let's say fraud
• By calling it fraud, sometimes...

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The committee first took up CS for CS for CS for SB 462 on transportation, adopting a substitute amendment that would require counties receiving transportation surtax proceeds to report how the money is used, prohibit certain airport fees tied to collegiate flight training, create a Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority pilot program, and fund a traffic signal modernization program with $10 million annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund. The amendment also removed several provisions from the bill, including a sales tax transfer to the trust fund, a bid protest-related contracting requirement, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. A late-filed amendment was tabled, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for CS for SB 628, “Lucy's Law,” on boating safety, which would strengthen penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and reckless vessel operation. Lucy’s parents gave emotional testimony in support, describing the fatal 2022 boating crash and urging stronger accountability. The sponsor withdrew pending amendments, and the bill was reported favorably. CS for CS for SB 700, the Florida Farm Bill, was next; the strike-all amendment covered a broad range of agriculture-related changes, including water fluoridation restrictions, labeling rules, drone restrictions over farmland, disaster recovery programs, an honest services registry, FFA-related provisions, and agricultural land preservation. Testimony included support from agricultural and gun-rights groups, opposition from banking, dental, and local-government advocates, and a lengthy public debate over fluoridation and financial discrimination. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 796 on general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems was reported favorably with little debate. The committee then took up CS for SB 1618 on K-12 education, adopting a delete-all amendment that combined a wide range of education provisions, including VPK flexibility, agriculture education, financial literacy, reading intervention requirements, teacher assignment reporting, restrictions on spending public funds on political or social activism, postsecondary and workforce-related changes, and other school and college system updates. Several speakers opposed the activism-related funding restriction, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to keep publicly funded schools focused on education; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 7016 on initiative petitions, adopting a strike-all amendment that would sharply tighten petition circulation rules and increase penalties. The proposal would require circulators to be Florida residents and U.S. citizens, impose training and registration requirements, shorten petition submission deadlines, require more identifying information on petition forms, limit sponsors to one amendment per election cycle, and create new enforcement and investigation triggers, including a 25% invalid-signature threshold. Sponsors argued the changes were needed to address fraud and protect the integrity of constitutional amendment petitions, while senators raised concerns about due process, public-records issues, burdens on volunteers, and the impact on voters and sponsors. The bill was not reported in the portion provided, and the discussion remained ongoing at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• go after beneficiary fraud.
• We need a credible allegation of fraud. credible allegation of fraud. That's the terminology.
• And where there's one kind of fraud, there's often other kinds of fraud, too.
• There's probably Medicaid fraud, too.
• The flip side of that is that when an individual gets a criminal conviction for Medicaid fraud, they

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the June 4 minutes and then heard an update from the Attorney General’s office on Medicaid fraud investigations, including ABA-related fraud concerns. Justin Brasher explained how the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates providers using credible allegations, hotline tips, data mining, subpoenas, surveillance, and federal partnerships, and described the choice between civil and criminal cases. He cited examples such as impossible-hours billing, caregiver fraud, DME fraud, and updates on the Brian Hyatt and Joseph Schwartz cases. Members asked about ABA fraud and safeguards; Brasher said the office is aware of the federal ABA fraud toolkit and emphasized that investigations require a credible allegation so legitimate services are not disrupted. Representative Clowney clarified that the examples discussed were Medicaid fraud generally, not ABA-specific cases. The committee then heard extensive testimony from Rachel Dodson and ABA provider Jessica Linnehan about Dodson’s nine-year-old daughter, Ella Grace, who has autism and multiple medical conditions. Dodson described how ABA has helped Ella improve communication, school participation, safety, hygiene, and medication management, but said insurance denials and reduced authorization hours are now the biggest barrier to care. Linnehan explained the authorization process, saying insurers often issue unclear denials, caregivers are excluded from physician review calls, and delays or partial approvals can interrupt services. She said Ella’s current plan was reduced to 25 hours per week despite the family requesting 34 hours, and argued that children should not have to regress before receiving higher-intensity care. Dodson and Linnehan also cited CASP guidance supporting higher-intensity ABA when safety concerns are present. Representatives from DHS and Empower Healthcare Solutions responded that Medicaid ABA services are covered through the PASSEs and fee-for-service, that Empower uses InterQual medical-necessity criteria, and that care coordinators help families but do not make clinical determinations. DHS said it is working on clearer ABA-related notices and a new policy/manual that is moving toward public comment and later legislative review. Members discussed whether the issue should be added to the task force’s legislative priorities, but several said they had not yet seen the draft priorities. The committee ultimately approved a motion to have the chairs finalize the report before submission to the General Assembly, then voted to expunge that vote after members objected to voting without reviewing the document. The meeting ended with a plan to circulate the draft by email and reconvene before the report deadline later in the month.