Video & Transcript Research : 'workforce development'

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AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING Jun 5th, 2026

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Transcript Highlights:
  • Maybe Workforce Services needs to come to the table to answer that question.
  • Is Workforce Services here? That is an accurate assessment of the finding, yes.
  • Is Workforce Services here?
  • I'm the accounting manager at Division Workforce Services. Thank you.
  • If not, we'll just continue with Workforce Services when we reconvene in August. All right.
Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met on June 5 and first adopted prior minutes and several committee reports. The executive committee report noted adoption of its minutes, staff updates on scheduled audits, approval of an annual financial audit for the City of Horseshoe Bend, and an update on the intern program. The Counties and Municipalities report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, compliance follow-up with towns including Denning, Gum Springs, Omer, Fargo, Jericho, and Haynes, and review of current and deferred reports; the committee filed most current reports but deferred several and referred some matters to prosecutors and the Attorney General. The Educational Institutions report said 103 education audits were reviewed, most with no findings, while several school districts had findings and one Booneville School District finding was referred to law enforcement. The State Agencies report included findings at the Department of Finance and Administration and a deferred Department of Health report, and the committee filed 13 reports. The committee then received lengthy presentations on the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report and the state single audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Legislative Audit issued unmodified opinions on the state financial statements, but identified two material weaknesses: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and improper methodology changes and documentation issues at the Division of Workforce Services affecting year-end estimates for unemployment-related accounts. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed. Auditors reported 33 findings overall, including 31 federal findings, $12.9 million in outstanding questioned costs, and qualified opinions for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Committee members questioned DHS, the broadband office, OST, DFA, Education, and Workforce Services about the findings, corrective actions, cyber protections, federal drawdowns, child care reporting, and accounting methodology changes. Several agencies described corrective steps. DHS said it had changed how it draws Summer EBT funds, addressed provider revalidation and incarceration-related Medicaid issues, and updated internal processes and staffing. The broadband office said the questioned costs reflected invoice documentation disputes rather than missing payments and expected Treasury review to resolve the issue. OST said it was expanding logging, endpoint detection, and enterprise monitoring, and described broader cybersecurity investments, training, and a roadmap. DFA and Workforce Services addressed the workers’ compensation and unemployment accounting issues, with Workforce Services saying it had updated its policy and submitted the methodology to DFA. After discussion, the committee voted to hold the two statewide audit reports over until the August meeting, with members asked to submit specific questions in advance so only needed agencies would return. The final item was a special report on the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Authority for January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The audit reviewed compliance with laws, board procedures, bidding, payroll, permits, inspections, and cash handling. It noted prior private audit findings on segregation of duties, that recent private audit reports had not been obtained for 2023 through 2025, and that the current administrator said prior office staff and bookkeeping contractors resigned when he was hired. The authority’s operations and revenue sources were described, and the report was presented for committee review.
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 21 January, 2026; 3:30 PM

Public Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:
  • I know others have questions. soon we can u develop and and write the soon we can u develop and and write
  • There is always concern about people entering the workforce.
  • a misuse of the term workforce a misuse of the term workforce participation<00:59:30.079> rate
  • They want to work workforce, but They want to work workforce, but they<01:00:01.520> have<01:00
  • <01:00:18.640> participation<01:00:19.359> rate, workforce participation rate, workforce
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3, a certificate-of-need measure that had passed last year but was vetoed by the governor because of one objectionable provision. The chair explained that the House had just passed the bill unanimously and urged quick Senate action so it could be sent to the governor again. He said the bill is intended to restore the prior law, with the main policy focus on rural hospitals and other future certificate-of-need changes. A question was raised about language affecting the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s academic exemption; the chair said the intent was to preserve the teaching hospital’s core exemption around its main campus while requiring certificate-of-need review for facilities it operates elsewhere, and the committee then voted title sufficient, due pass. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2476, requested by the Board of Pharmacy. Senator Hill explained that it would let licensed pharmacists self-report substance abuse or mental health issues and enter treatment before disciplinary action, similar to programs already available for nurses and with comparable provisions for physicians and dentists. Board representatives said participants would have to stop practicing until cleared, and that failure to comply would trigger discipline; the bill was described as an alternative to professional discipline, not immunity from criminal law. After questions about definitions and how many times a person could use the program, the committee voted title sufficient, due pass. The meeting concluded with an informational presentation from Mr. Anderson on child care funding and program operations. He said the state used ARPA funds during the pandemic to support child care certificates and providers, but those funds were exhausted, leading to a pause and a waiting list of about 20,000 families; the program currently serves about 18,000 children. He said the department is continuing $15 million in state support, is converting 30% of the TANF state assistance grant to child care, and is exploring additional TANF direct-assistance options, though cautiously because the state has not done that before. He also discussed child care tax credits, employer-based child care, and efforts to expand capacity through provider support and technical assistance.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 1/23/25

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I would move that House File 8 be recommended to be re-referred to the Labor and Workforce Development
  • the fen management plan and then three years to develop an operating plan.
  • Development Committee.
  • <00:55:31.960> Development<00:55:32.400> Committee<00:55:32.799> all Workforce Development
  • Committee all Workforce Development Committee all those<00:55:33.160> in<00:55:33.319> favor
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The committee approved the January 21, 2025 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Minnesota Chamber Foundation on its report about Minnesota’s environmental permitting system. The presenters said the report was based on research by Barr Engineering and the Policy Navigation Group and argued that permitting delays can discourage investment and make Minnesota less competitive for manufacturing, mining, energy, clean tech, and other industrial projects. They highlighted that Tier 1 permits are generally issued quickly, but Tier 2 air and water permits often take much longer than the state’s 150-day goal, with some median timelines ranging from 419 to 771 days for Tier 2 air permits and similar delays for industrial water permits. The report also said Minnesota’s permit timelines were longer than peer states and estimated that reducing delays could increase annual output by $260 million to $910 million and support 960 to 3,400 additional full-time-equivalent jobs per year. Committee members asked about which businesses fall under Tier 2 permits, the economic impact of permitting delays, and whether the Chamber had discussed the report with the governor or MPCA. The presenters said Tier 2 permits typically involve higher-emitting facilities such as manufacturing, utilities, mining, and other industrial operations, and that the economic estimates were based on modeling rather than exact lost-job counts. They also noted that the governor had been briefed and that MPCA had been invited to the hearing but did not attend. The committee then took up House File 8, which Chair Heintzeman said is intended to improve permitting efficiency while maintaining environmental standards. He described provisions that would reduce the number of 60-day wetland application extensions, require MPCA to issue permitting efficiency reports twice a year, break out data on missed timelines by municipal versus industrial applicants, treat failure to meet the 150-day Tier 2 deadline as a final action subject to judicial review, and require quicker notice when applications are incomplete. He also outlined sections that would allow separate construction and operating permits, expand expedited permitting, and change environmental assessment worksheet petition rules. The bill was moved to be re-referred to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee, and the discussion began, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the bill is shown.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • The motion is to re-refer to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee.
  • <00:09:22.079> committee<00:09:22.440> wanted they in the workforce committee wanted
  • Development Committee.
  • The bill is on to the Workforce Development Committee.
  • NOS the bill is on to the Workforce NOS the bill is on to the Workforce Development<00:31:49.159
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee heard extended discussion on House File 8, a bill aimed at changing Minnesota’s permitting and environmental review process. Supporters said the bill is intended to help small and medium-sized businesses and projects that face long delays, and argued that the proposal does not lower environmental standards. They described the bill as modeled in part on provisions used in other states, including a staggered permitting process and an expedited option, and said the goal is to improve transparency, reporting, and real-time public access to permit information. Members raised concerns about whether the bill could also benefit large corporations and major industrial projects, including mining and other large facilities, rather than just smaller businesses. Several lawmakers questioned the use of county-based public input, the lack of tribal consultation, and how the bill would interact with treaty rights and communities outside the affected county. Others argued that the bill could create risks by speeding permits for bad actors or by allowing larger entities to pay for expedited treatment. Testimony also referenced examples from the Minnesota Chamber’s report, with a witness disputing the claim that permitting alone drove companies out of Minnesota and saying those cases involved more complex facts. The committee first considered a motion to lay the bill on the table, but that motion failed on a 5-7 roll call. The committee then voted on a motion to re-refer House File 8, as amended, to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee. That motion passed 7-5, and the bill was sent on to that committee.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Mar 19th, 2025

Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:
  • It builds a skilled workforce.
  • This will address workforce needs.
  • It builds a skilled workforce.
  • This will address workforce needs.
  • Timber is obviously so important for our development, so our developers need good, proper two-by-fours
Summary: The committee began by postponing SB 1742 on condos until the following week, then took up SB 1298 on building construction. Senator Simon said the bill would require continued education for long-licensed building professionals, clarify interagency sharing of building officials, limit residential inspectors to one- and two-family homes, revive a paid internship for residential planning examiners, modernize permit signatures, and clarify contractor responsibility when work changes hands. The bill drew supportive waivers and was reported favorably. Members then considered SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation platforms. A delete-everything amendment was adopted to target bots and unauthorized resale of restaurant reservations, while preserving direct restaurant-platform relationships and requiring consumer contact information when reservations are made through noncontractual platforms. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Booking Holdings supported the measure, and CS/SB 940 was reported favorably. SB 638 on home inspectors also passed after the sponsor explained it would raise education requirements from 120 to 200 hours, add instruction on building code, wind mitigation, four-point and insurance inspections, and require $300,000 in errors-and-omissions coverage; it was reported favorably. The committee next approved SB 960 on elevator accessibility, allowing additional shorter support rails while keeping the existing 42-inch rail requirement. SB 196 on foods containing vaccines or vaccine materials was amended to address mRNA language and cosmetics safety standards, with the committee adopting amendments and then reporting the bill favorably. SB 1418 on heated tobacco products was amended to clarify the definition of heated tobacco products and exclude other forms such as hookah; it also passed favorably. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of board and commission appointees. Finally, SB 1262 on construction contracting was amended to add contractor continuing-education topics, strengthen penalties for unlicensed activity, create a standardized disciplinary reporting system, and require timely refunds and project completion standards; it was reported favorably with support from the Florida Home Builders Association. SB 1304 on solar facilities was then approved after extensive testimony from rural county commissioners and local officials who argued that utility-scale solar on agricultural land has grown without sufficient local oversight and that decommissioning rules are needed to protect farmland and communities. The bill would repeal the current by-right treatment of solar facilities on ag land and authorize counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances; it was reported favorably after a technical amendment.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • Hopefully I can contribute to the development of this important energy source.
  • that develops energy in the US.
  • My position on this is that we need to develop a series of mechanisms for financing of reactors.
  • But can we develop, can we work towards developing a better strategic approach?
  • Resource Management Plan amendment prohibiting new coal development in eastern Montana.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Just also to follow from our superintendent here to advocate for a coordinated statewide EAT plan developed
  • This robust plan builds in professional learning, resource development, workforce supports, including
  • Lisa Wilkin, Child Development Consortium of Los Angeles.
  • These reforms would stabilize the workforce, improve care and accessibility, and ensure families can
  • The workforce needs relief now.
Keywords: 988, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 2nd, 2026 at 08:43 am

House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • Of a luxury tourism development economy with the Ski Valley.
  • It does work on enhanced economic development, especially in our rural communities.
  • And so that's the reality of the pressures on the existing workforce.
  • This bill is an incentive-based approach to workforce development without creating new programs or mandates
  • And also, it gives us the time to be able to develop increased production as we move forward.
Keywords: 996, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Consumer and Public Affairs Jan 22nd, 2026 at 01:59 pm

House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And Madam Chair, Representative, did you bring up Workforce Solutions?
  • It is not a broad rural economic development bill.
  • We've invested billions into new economic development.
  • This is not an economic development issue for New Mexico.
  • built on cages is not development.
Keywords: 996, all
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Economic Development Jan 13th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Committee on Economic Development will now come to order. Please call the roll. Chair Gallick.
  • But this is a workforce development and an open pipeline bill.
  • development for those spots to keep them filled.
  • development issue because we're wanting to do a compact for the...
  • So a workforce economic development issue because we're wanting to do a compact for the dietitians to
Keywords: 959, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Labor - 04/10/25

Labor

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's no change from the base level of workforce development fund expenses, and there's a decrease
  • change from the base level of workforce change from the base level of workforce development<00:08
  • 09:09.040> development are also direct workforce development are also direct workforce development
  • development appropriations on line 76 and 80, the one-time $7 million workforce development fund appropriation
  • > development Senator Dornink continued, thanking the workforce development funding, dual training
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate Chamber Jan 28th, 2025

New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Through NDI's New Mexico's Youth Development Works, they prepare a young person to meet the challenges
  • NDI New Mexico is a unique blend of performing arts, physical education, and youth development.
  • , enacting the Strategic Economic Development Site Readiness Act, making an appropriation.
  • by enacting the Immigrant Health Care Workforce Development Act, providing for an immigrant health care
  • Development Fund, creating the Immigrant Healthcare Workforce Advisory Group, amending...
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • And you Will also develop the LAC roadmap, which guided a lot of our recent work and contributed to some
  • So, we have now developed a shared vision for school improvement.
  • They're scared mostly about the workforce and...
  • It also strengthens our long-term workforce sustainability statewide. But I think Mrs.
  • Our Educator Fellows address workforce diversity, instructional quality, and student support.
Keywords: 996, all
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • which requires small-box retail employers to develop and implement a written workforce safety plan and
  • The Louisiana workforce is happy to receive it. Yes, ma'am. And they're happy.
  • What if on page two, line 18, we eliminate, shall develop and implement it.
  • If they already have a written workforce plan, it still remains that they submit it. Ms.
  • , and if they develop a plan, you want them to send a copy to the workforce, right?
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 408 by Senator Myers, a major workers’ compensation overhaul centered on creating an all-claims medical database, requiring electronic reporting and billing, and modernizing fee schedule and claims data collection. Myers said the bill was designed to improve transparency, reduce disputes, address outliers and abuse, and help injured workers return to work faster. The committee adopted technical amendments, then considered a large amendment set combining portions of House bills 780 and 1101, which added preliminary determination procedures, fraud language, temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit changes, and a fallback deadline for the department to establish a fee schedule if no agreement is reached by 2029. Several members and witnesses objected that the amendments were dropped late and would turn SB 408 into an omnibus bill; supporters argued the package was the best chance for comprehensive reform. After debate, the committee adopted the amendments and reported SB 408 favorably as amended. Testimony on SB 408 was sharply divided. Supporters, including some providers and injured-worker advocates, said the bill’s core value was transparency through the database and that the system needed modernization and a better fee schedule. Opponents argued the added amendments would burden pro se claimants, expand litigation, and weaken injured workers’ rights, especially through fraud and preliminary hearing provisions. Committee members also questioned whether the combined package was germane and whether it should be allowed to move as a single reform measure. Louisiana Workforce Commission staff explained the timeline for data collection, electronic billing, dispute rules, and eventual fee schedule rulemaking, and said the department could execute the law as amended. The committee then turned to House Bill 585 by Representative Chasson, concerning workplace violence and safety plans for small-box discount retailers. The bill was revised through a substitute that required covered retailers to develop and submit a written workforce safety plan, or submit an existing plan if one already existed. Representative Glorioso raised concerns that requiring a written safety plan could create new civil liability under Louisiana’s assumption-of-duty doctrine and increase litigation and insurance costs. Chasson responded that the intent was simply to encourage safety planning and that businesses already had such plans. The committee discussed possible narrowing language, but the transcript ends before a final disposition on HB 585 is shown.
WV

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 10th, 2026 at 05:02 pm

West Virginia Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Your Committee on Economic Development has had under consideration engrossed committee substitute for
  • Your Committee on Economic Development has had under consideration engrossed House Bill 408, relating
  • to business-ready site programs, sites program, and, Your Committee on Economic Development has had
  • Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5381, relating to developing a comprehensive energy development
  • Engrossed Committee substitute for House Bill 5381 relating to developing a comprehensive energy development
Keywords: 994, senate, all
Summary: The Senate first took up Senate Bill 155 on adjunct teaching permits. After adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, the chamber concurred in the House amendment as amended and passed the bill 33-0, with one member absent and not voting. The amendment was described as creating an exception so a criminal history check would not be required every year, and the bill was presented as a tool to help county boards fill vacancies, especially in shortage areas. The chamber then received a large number of committee reports and advanced several House bills on first reading. These included measures on creating the Team West Virginia Corporation, establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory, the Foster Youth Post-Secondary Transition Awareness Act, business-ready site programs, volunteer fire company allowances, extending qualified opportunity zones, natural resource police retirement, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS, ALS care services, abuse prevention, the respiratory care interstate compact, peer support services, tax lien sales, the Neighborhood Investment Program, bonds for the Science and Culture Center, and a comprehensive energy development policy and plan. Several bills were reported as amended by committees, and one energy bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Additional committee action included reports on a bill to repeal the school-transfer eligibility protection, a load forecast accountability bill, oil and gas well plugging provisions, a TANF drug-screening extension, and a bill authorizing the Supreme Court of Appeals to create child protection commissioners. Most of these were advanced on first reading after unanimous consent. The Senate then moved to adjourn until the next day, with announcements of upcoming committee meetings before the chamber adjourned.
OR
Transcript Highlights:
  • of tools and frameworks to increase access to civic engagement, including the development of tools and
  • to be eligible for Workforce Pell Grant funding.
  • At that point, community colleges and workforce development actually were tied together, not in higher
  • Community colleges and workforce development actually were tied together, not in higher ed.
  • I happen to believe exactly what the Senate President said about the changing nature of the workforce
Summary: The Emergency Board approved a series of consent federal grant applications from the Natural Resources and Public Safety subcommittees, along with several budget and position requests. The board approved grant applications for parks, transportation, judicial, emergency management, higher education, school nutrition, and other programs, including retroactive approvals where deadlines had passed. One member objected to the Natural Resources consent grants over concerns about future funding needs, but the motion still passed. The board also approved a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, including digital privacy protections, circuit court security, and a statewide facilities assessment. A major discussion centered on Southern Oregon University’s financial stability. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported on SOU’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and projected cash shortfall. The subcommittee recommended, and the board approved, allocating $7.5 million from the special appropriation for short-term stability, with a required update at the September 2026 Emergency Board meeting and a future request for the remaining funds. Members debated the broader crisis in higher education, with several saying SOU’s situation reflects systemwide enrollment and funding pressures and that long-term restructuring will be needed. The board also approved an AmeriCorps volunteer generation grant, an apprenticeship expansion grant, and a Department of Education nutrition equipment grant. In public safety, it approved funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a statewide evacuation planning tool, and a juvenile justice information system modernization report, while requiring a follow-up viability report. The Department of Justice received approval for additional antitrust positions and expenditure limitation, though several members raised concerns about the funding structure and incentives tied to settlement revenues; the motion passed despite objections. In natural resources, the board approved funding for the Water Resources Department’s well abandonment, repair and replacement grants, an assistant water master position in Washington County, groundwater data collection in the Lower Umatilla Basin, a wetlands remote sensing pilot, and parks-related grant applications for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements. Members generally supported the requests but raised concerns about geographic equity, long-term sustainability, and whether some county responsibilities were being shifted to the state. The meeting also included discussion of a Department of Emergency Management evacuation tool as an urgent wildfire preparedness measure, with members emphasizing its potential to save lives.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Ways and Means (02/18/2026)

Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • a good policy issue given our workforce. a good policy issue given our workforce.
  • daytime workforce um within the work daytime workforce um within the constraints<00:49:35.839> that
  • <00:49:54.960> that businesses to provide a workforce that businesses to provide a workforce
  • , care workforce, care workforce, they<00:54:16.079> won't<00:54:16.400> open.
  • certified childare workforce employee. certified childare workforce employee.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight May 28th, 2025

Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, I know that uh we recently, one of the developments that I mentioned on the single family development
  • Um, they often utilize um through either a developer or, um, yeah, usually through a developer nonprofit
  • Planning and development. So we need to encourage the developers, construction.
  • In our mindset when we're planning and developing phases for housing development as a whole, then I think
  • It's now with the Workforce Solutions, and it's been, uh, the Secretary of Workforce Solutions is now
OR
Transcript Highlights:
  • Over the past 15 years, SOU has faced ongoing structural deficits caused including the development of
  • systems, including modifying instruction programs to be eligible for Workforce Pell Grant funding.
  • At that point, community colleges and workforce development actually were tied together, not in higher
  • Community colleges and workforce development actually were tied together, not in higher ed.
  • I happen to believe exactly what the Senate President said about the changing nature of the workforce
Keywords: 907, all
Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING Jun 5th, 2026

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Transcript Highlights:
  • The second finding was for the Division of Workforce Services, or DWS, which changed its methodology
  • Two findings were issued for the Child Care Development Fund cluster, also known as the CCDF cluster.
  • Is Workforce Services here? Good morning.
  • Martin Talley, I'm the accounting manager at Division of Workforce Services. Thank you.
  • If not, we'll just continue with Workforce Services when we reconvene in August.
Summary: The committee met to adopt prior minutes and reports from its executive and standing committees, including counties and municipalities, educational institutions, and state agencies. Those reports covered routine audit activity, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, and several state agency audit items. The committee also reviewed and adopted the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2025 and the related single audit report, both presented by Legislative Audit staff. The state financial report showed unmodified opinions on the state’s financial statements and described total assets of about $41.9 billion and liabilities of about $11.1 billion, along with retirement system assets of $39.9 billion and a net pension liability of $9 billion. Two material weaknesses were identified: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and a Division of Workforce Services methodology change for unemployment-related estimates that was not properly documented or approved. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed; it resulted in 33 findings, 14 with questioned costs totaling $16.6 million, and qualified opinions for the Summer EBT program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Members questioned agency officials in detail about the Summer EBT questioned costs, DHS unresolved findings, broadband grant documentation, cyber security controls, workers’ compensation liabilities, and child care funding and reporting. DHS explained that the Summer EBT issue involved drawing federal funds in advance rather than as benefits were redeemed, and said the process has been corrected. Broadband officials said the questioned $6.6 million reflected documentation-detail disagreements across many invoices rather than missing payments. OST officials described new logging, endpoint detection, and phishing-training efforts, and DFA and Education officials addressed specific audit findings and corrective actions. The committee ultimately moved to hold the two large statewide reports over until the August meeting for further review, with discussion continuing on whether to release some agency staff in the meantime.