Transcript Highlights:

• Every member has an election certificate; they can drop any bill they want.
• member has an election certificate they member has an election certificate they can<00:17:57.280> drop
• :58.160> want<00:17:58.559> so<00:17:59.120> I<00:17:59.360> don't can drop
• any bill they want so I don't can drop any bill they want so I don't know<00:17:59.600> that<
• bills dropped it was deadline<00:19:38.960> week.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Chair Kristen Robbins and Vice Chair Patti Anderson reviewed the committee’s first session, saying its work focused on exposing fraud, identifying gaps in statute and agency tools, and creating a public whistleblower portal (mnfraud.com). Robbins said the committee helped drive bipartisan opposition to legislatively named grants/earmarks, and that committee testimony from agencies, the Office of Legislative Auditor, and the Office of Grants Management led to late-session committee bills on issues such as a state kickback statute and required grants-management training. She also said the portal received 530 submissions in its first week, which the committee will review over the interim. Members emphasized the need for stronger statewide oversight of grants and fraud prevention. Anderson said existing agency inspector general structures have not worked well and described a bipartisan effort to create a statewide Office of Inspector General with full investigatory authority. Robbins said the Senate version was moving through finance and expected on the floor soon, with the governor indicating he would sign it. Walter Hudson argued that hearings showed agencies often focus on paperwork and compliance checkboxes rather than actually preventing fraud, citing conflict-of-interest attestations and the Feeding Our Future-related testimony as examples. Jim Nash said the state government finance bill includes funding for anti-fraud efforts through the Office of the Auditor and related provisions. In response to questions, Robbins said the committee tried to remain bipartisan despite a 5-3 Republican majority, and that members had handed significant allegations to law enforcement when appropriate. She said the committee did not need subpoena power this session because it is an oversight body, not a law-enforcement body. On legislatively named grants, Robbins said the goal is to change legislative culture rather than impose a formal ban, and she expects future policy to require front-end risk review, 990 review, and capacity checks before such grants are approved. Anderson added that the House and Senate versions of the inspector general bill differ on branch placement and law-enforcement authority, and that the House will decide whether to accept the Senate version once it comes back from finance and the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've had many widows, which is sad, drop...
• The more people that drop out, the more expensive it becomes for you because you don't have a choice.
• At 12th grade, that really drops down.
• Is that because 12th graders are so busy doing dual credit or other things that they drop out of the
• That's a significant drop. It's like half between 11th and 12th of kids.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• I've had one divorce in my life, and that was because a prosecutor said I will drop the bigamy charge
• I've had one divorce in my life, and that was because a prosecutor said I will drop the bigamy charge
• I've had one divorce in my life, and that was because a prosecutor said I will drop the bigamy charge
• I've had one divorce in my life, and that was because a prosecutor said I will drop the bigamy charge
• I've had one divorce in my life, and that was because a prosecutor said I will drop the bigamy charge

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met for its first meeting, established a quorum, welcomed new members and guests, and announced that committee rules would be sent out later. The committee then took up House Bill 38, sponsored by Representative Tipton, which would increase the penalty for repeated violations of an order of protection. Under the committee substitute, a third violation of the same protective order could be charged as a Class D felony instead of a Class A misdemeanor. The substitute was adopted by voice vote. Representative Tipton said the bill was prompted by a constituent’s experience with repeated abuse and violations of protective orders, and he argued the change was needed to better protect the public. Maryanne Pratt testified in support of the bill, describing a long history of domestic violence, repeated violations of protective orders, stalking through calls and social media, and her fear for her safety. Several members expressed support and praised her courage. Questions focused on whether the bill would cover social media contact and on the committee substitute’s language requiring the same victim and same order. Representative Burke raised concern that the same-victim language could allow an abuser to victimize multiple partners without triggering the felony provision. Tipton said the original bill was broader, that the change was added because of concerns about reverse protective orders, and that the issue might be revisited in the Senate. Scott West, speaking for the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said the bill addressed some concerns but warned that the third-offense trigger could be based on technical contempt findings rather than violent conduct, and he noted that stalking already can be charged as a felony in some cases. The discussion continued on those concerns, but no final action on the bill beyond adoption of the committee substitute was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• penalties have dropped 45%. penalties have dropped 45%.
• Um, the Fed rate has dropped three meetings in a row. It's going to drop more going forward.
• Um, the Fed rate has dropped three meetings in a row. It's going to drop more going forward.
• Um, the Fed rate has dropped three meetings in a row. It's going to drop more going forward.
• praying that the tariffs would drop. praying that the tariffs would drop.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That caused me a very jaw-dropping situation of what I just saw.
• And then that's where that drop came from, is most of those presumptively eligible dropped off because
• And then that's where that drop came from, is most of those presumptively eligible dropped off because
• <01:26:49.679> that that data database, we will drop that that data database, we will drop
• that doesn't match then you can drop that doesn't match then you can drop down<01:27:01.280>

Keywords: 1. Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00 2. Approval of Minutes – 00:02:10 3. Discussion of State-Based Marketplaces and the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace – 00:02:31 4. Discussion of the Role of Kynectors and Navigators – 00:27:29 5. Discussion of Presumptive Eligibility – 01:11:57 6. Discussion of Medicaid Eligibility, Enrollment, and Redeterminations – 01:20:09 7. Update on Rural Health Transformation Program Application Process – 01:47:35 8. Public Comment – 01:59:57 9. Adjournment – 02:06:10, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board met for its third meeting and approved the July 30 minutes. The chair outlined a full agenda covering the state-based marketplace versus the federally facilitated marketplace, connectors and navigators, presumptive eligibility, eligibility/enrollment/redetermination, and a rural health transformation update. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Assistant Director David Barry presented first on Kentucky’s state-based exchange, Connect, explaining that it is an integrated eligibility and enrollment system for Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, child care, and qualified health plans. They reviewed Kentucky’s move from a state-based exchange to healthcare.gov in 2017 and back to a state-based marketplace in 2021, and said the system helps route applicants to the correct program and allows families to move more easily between Medicaid and exchange coverage as circumstances change. The presenters said the exchange is funded by carrier assessments on qualified health plans rather than general fund dollars, with costs allocated across programs based on use. They said Kentucky’s exchange fees are lower than the federal platform’s and that the state-based system provides local assistance through DCBS offices, connectors, and licensed agents in every county. Members asked about startup and operating costs, fee-setting, and whether any general fund dollars are used; the department said it would follow up with the CFO on fee details and said it was not aware of general fund support for exchange operations. Members also raised concerns about Medicaid eligibility verification and improper enrollment, while the department emphasized that the state system uses different questions than healthcare.gov and is designed to identify the correct coverage based on monthly Medicaid income and annual tax-credit income. The board also discussed enrollment trends, including a COVID-era spike during the public health emergency when disenrollments were largely paused, and current qualified health plan enrollment of more than 97,000 people on Connect. Commissioner Lee explained presumptive eligibility as temporary Medicaid coverage, noting it applies to pregnant women and hospital-based cases, with hospitals able to grant it and certain providers able to grant it to pregnant women. She said full eligibility is still determined within 30 days and that presumptive eligibility ends when full Medicaid eligibility is determined or at the end of the following month. The meeting then shifted to connectors, with representatives from Community Action Kentucky and the Kentucky Primary Care Association describing their statewide outreach network, local offices, and role helping residents apply for Medicaid, renew coverage, report changes, and navigate benefits; they said connectors do not determine eligibility but assist with applications, recertifications, and outreach events across the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• My rent check dropped in half.
• My rent check dropped in half.
• Some of our posts have seen around a 20% drop in revenues.
• Some of our posts have seen around a 20% drop in revenues.
• Some of our posts have seen around a 20% drop in revenues.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 169, which would change the tax structure for charitable gambling. Representative Robbins offered and the committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment, described as a technical correction to ensure sports-themed tip boards are not inadvertently taxed under the bill. Robbins then presented the bill as a way to replace the current tiered combined net receipts tax on charitable gambling with a flat 5% rate, arguing charities were being overtaxed and that prior promises of relief had not been fully delivered. Chair Stevenson pushed back on several of Robbins’ factual claims, correcting the record on the status of E-pull tabs, the share of charitable gambling revenue they represent, and the amount of tax relief already enacted in 2023 and 2024. He said E-tabs were not eliminated, that the revenue split between paper pull tabs and E-tabs is closer to 45/55, and that charities had already received a $15 million tax cut plus savings from reduced developer fees. Robbins responded that the changes still significantly reduced revenue and that the bill was intended as a middle-ground approach. Testimony largely came from charitable gambling and veterans groups in support of the bill. Rachel Jenner of Allied Charities of Minnesota said nearly 1,000 charities depend on charitable gambling, cited high taxes and fees, and said many organizations were seeing revenue declines after the new E-pull tab rules took effect. Dr. Christy Jano of the American Legion Department of Minnesota said charitable gambling funds support veterans, youth, and community programs, and that a flat 5% tax would help posts continue those efforts. Members asked about the size of the revenue drops and how much gambling proceeds go to overhead and operating costs; Jenner said the losses varied by organization and that it was too early to know the long-term effect, while Jano said some expenses are used for property taxes and building upkeep. The committee then moved on to additional testimony, including Tim Angstrom, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then our 27 dropped by $50 million.
• And as you can see when we go across to 27, our budgets drop—our general fund budget drops down to $20
• our general fund um we our budgets drop our general fund budget<00:39:06.880> drops<00:39:07.200
• Our governor's line dropped our grants by $1.5 million.
• Our governor's line dropped our million.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will also continue to focus on ensuring that childcare locations are safe for the Children that drop
• and also what Would be the savings that we would be making with that change because we're still dropping
• anticipated we expected to see a further reduction in the childcare homes of another 61 facilities drop
• off a five-star in another 30 facilities drop off of childcare centers drop off as well.
• Dropping down between 8 and 9.99%, it's $165 million to $167.9 million. It's $82 million.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• seen in some of the audit reporting is that students who were initially eligible for the scholarships drop
• scholarships, I suspect, in an attempt to retain them as students and to ensure that they did not drop
• are the eligible students, were basically not—they were, I guess, the credentials or whatever were dropped
• that next scholarship, likely in an attempt to keep them as students and ensure that they did not drop
• Witness: ...keep them as students and ensure that they did not drop out in order for them to graduate

Summary: The committee first adopted prior minutes and then heard several standing committee audit reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports scheduled for the month, one outstanding committee-requested report, and a request to gather information on a possible special report for February. The city/county/local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of turn-back funds for 17 entities, 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities filing reports, and action on the town of Daisy requiring repayment of misused street funds. The education report filed three higher education audit reports and deferred one Northwest Arkansas Community College report. The state agencies report filed four reports and deferred audits of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for more information on corrective actions. The committee then received a special audit review of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Auditors said the program received $10 million in desegregation funding and a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, and saw 116 students graduate. The review found many scholarship eligibility exceptions, including awards above the maximum and to students who did not meet GPA, enrollment-hour, or full-time requirements, and numerous disbursement documentation and authorization problems. Committee members sharply questioned the program’s oversight, the role of former staff, the use of funds for travel and cultural activities, and whether any improper spending should be referred for criminal review. UALR representatives said the program was overseen as a sponsored program, that some controls were later strengthened, and that Philander Smith only verified enrollment rather than eligibility. The committee voted to table the report until the next meeting and asked staff to gather the federal court order and additional information. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 criminal charges filed, 39 still under review, 3 dismissed, 5 pending in court, and 96 not charged; convictions in 20 cases led to fines, restitution, audit costs, and some bond trust fund payments. Prosecutor representatives explained that many referrals do not become criminal cases because of intent, timing, or other legal limits, and said they generally seek restitution even when charges are not filed. Members asked for more standardized reporting, including whether restitution was recovered and why cases were not prosecuted, and discussed possible training and a checklist for future reports. The committee then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12-13.

Transcript Highlights:

• The lead time for getting that drop of water to fall from the faucet at home or a business is significant
• Since that time, the water level in my well has dropped from 186 feet to 210 feet, a drop of 19 feet.
• You said basically you all had roughly a 40-foot drop in your water... ...And that's just in a very short
• Drop for people that are in the Carrizo formation as well as the city of Smithville, which has municipal
• They're going to lose about 50 feet of water and may have to drop some of their municipal pumps.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• For every minute without action, survival drops by up to 10%.
• And by the way, who do you think is going to drop dead in a school?
• The odds of a student dropping dead are extremely slim.
• But the people who are dropping dead in schools of heart attacks are staff, and most of the staff are

Bills: SB1009

Keywords: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, AED training, high school curriculum, public school, safety training, emergency response, 1182, all

Summary: The committee meeting began with member and staff introductions, followed by consideration of SB 1009, which would expand Arizona high school emergency response training to include instruction on using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) alongside CPR. The sponsor, Senator Kavanaugh, argued the bill would improve school safety, cost schools nothing because it would be folded into existing CPR instruction, and would help students and staff respond to sudden cardiac arrest. Supporters included the American Heart Association and student witnesses, who emphasized that AED and CPR training can save lives and should be available in schools. The Arizona Education Association opposed the bill, saying it adds an unfunded mandate, could take instructional time away from core subjects, and may require staff time and resources that schools do not have. The Arizona School Boards Association was neutral but raised concerns about funding and implementation, especially for rural districts. During questions, senators debated whether AED instruction is already included in existing CPR standards and whether the bill would create new costs. Senator Kavanaugh said many programs already include AED training and that the bill simply ensures it is part of all school CPR instruction. Opponents questioned the lack of a fiscal note and the reliance on tax credit funding. After discussion, the committee voted on SB 1009 and passed it with a due pass recommendation by a 5-2 vote. Senators Diaz and Brown voted no, while Senators Dunn, Mesnard, Miranda, Werner, and Angius voted yes.

Transcript Highlights:

• In conservation, we simply reduced the top number of 1.5 million and dropped that down.
• We reduced the top number of 1.5 million and dropped that down specifically for the Rickwood Caverns
• If you drop down to number 11, underneath the pro tem office...
• inflation in 2026, and then we've had, I think the number was like somewhere around 370,000 people dropped

Bills: HB186, HB185, HB184, HB183, HB181, HB312, HB405, HB182, HB460

Keywords: Alabama budget, general fund appropriations, fiscal year 2026, state budget, appropriations act, HB186, executive branch funding, legislative branch funding, judicial branch funding, debt service, capital outlay, corrections, Medicaid, public health, mental health, transportation, education, law enforcement, tourism, veterans affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill puts the framework around the economic development money that we dropped in the 2024 budget
• 26.760> we the a Economic Development money that we the a Economic Development money that we dropped
• 02:28.680> budget<00:02:29.680> uh<00:02:30.200> it<00:02:30.360> just dropped
• in the 2024 budget uh it just dropped in the 2024 budget uh it just sets<00:02:30.760> the<00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by guest Bob James of Barren County. The chair recognized visiting groups, including the Kentucky Leadership Program and the Kentucky Cattleman’s Leadership Program, before turning to the day’s only agenda item, Senate Bill 28. The committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 28 by motion and second, with no opposition recorded. The chair explained that the bill creates the framework and parameters for distributing $5 million in economic development funding included in the 2024 budget through the Department of Agriculture. Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell testified in support of the bill and described it as enabling legislation to help Kentucky attract more end users, processors, and further-processing operations. He highlighted the importance of existing agricultural processing in the state, especially poultry, citing growth in agricultural cash receipts from $3.1 billion in 1996 to $8.3 billion more recently, with poultry rising from 5% to 25% of the total. He also pointed to major processing facilities, job creation, and the broader impact on farmers and corn markets, including examples from Hopkinsville and other regions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had parents sitting in the parking lot from the time teachers arrived before kids even got dropped
• <00:02:42.080> off,<00:02:42.800> and before kids even got dropped off, and before
• their parents are too afraid to drop their parents are too afraid to drop them<00:10:25.640>
• drop off alone." drop off alone."
• And in Dallas, Texas, vaccination drive participation dropped 50% in Latino communities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. outside my child's school during drop outside my child's school during drop off,<00:45:14.319
• Our school attendance dropped country.
• If families don't trust schools, attendance drops.
• And when attendance drops, everyone pays the price.
• <01:34:53.040> in simply cannot handle this drop in simply cannot handle this drop in funding

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An additional assessment is triggered when the trust fund drops below a certain level, and the rates
• is triggered when the trust fund drops is triggered when the trust fund drops below<00:09:05.880
• I’ve been trying to figure out what’s been causing the trust fund to drop, and if I go back to Mr.
• the trust fund to drop the trust fund to drop and<00:42:58.800> you<00:42:58.920> know
• He continued, “So let me— it was a $45 million drop from ’23 to ’24, a $675 million drop from ’22 to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we did witness that, the big drop in 2022 reflects the result of tax reform in 2001, where there
• um, that, um, that, um, uh,<00:08:09.760> the<00:08:10.000> big<00:08:10.480> drop
• in<00:08:11.120> 20<00:08:11.520> for<00:08:11.680> 2022, uh, the big drop
• in 20 for 2022, uh, the big drop in 20 for 2022, uh,<00:08:13.440> reflects<00:08:13.960>
• And I don't um has dropped off recently.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you take the present formula and drop it 10% or move it up 4%, it does things all over for different
• All of a sudden, you're dropping somebody else into the hold harmless column.
• Representative Nathan continued: But again, in all seriousness, if you drop that to $7,000, you drop
• So, and again, in that, but again, in all seriousness, you drop that to $7, you drop that to $6,500,
• After that time, that number drops.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Committee met to discuss possible changes to North Dakota’s higher education funding formula, with a particular focus on separating the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences MD program from the general formula. Dr. Jenkins outlined several options for the MD program, including a fixed-funding model, a hybrid model, or keeping it in the formula, and emphasized the need to preserve strong support for medical education while making future funding clearer. He also discussed efforts to increase the share of North Dakota students in the MD program through ND85, expanded recruiting, early acceptance pathways, MCAT prep, a four-plus-one program, and the Primary Care Accelerated Track, along with future cost pressures such as AI licensing and residency growth. The committee then reviewed a simplified funding model from the University System Office that would base funding more heavily on student FTE, credentials awarded, and a few incentive factors such as small institution and research adjustments. Members questioned the use of placeholder numbers, the lack of a clear methodology for the small institution and research factors, and whether the model would adequately account for differences among institutions, high-cost programs, and graduate education. Several members raised concerns that arbitrary factors would be hard to defend politically and could distort funding or create competition between schools, while others said the exercise was useful as a starting point for discussion. Alex presented a second alternative that kept the current SIP-code structure but increased CTE weighting, added a progressive economic size factor, and separated out the MD program. His model also added an on-campus face-to-face headcount component and a credentials component, with the intent of rewarding in-person enrollment and completions. Members questioned the use of headcount instead of FTE, how hybrid, online, dual-credit, and off-campus students would be treated, and why face-to-face enrollment was weighted more heavily than completion. No formal votes or final actions were taken; the committee instead continued discussion and asked members to provide direction on which elements, if any, should be developed further.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a couple of things I'm gonna ask about that seem to be, have dropped off this plan, um, that
• It is, um, Our chronic absenteeism rates are too high still, but we have made a significant drop. 10%
• focusing the funds on those interventions that have been working because some school districts saw a 20% drop
• in chronic absenteeism, and some districts saw almost no drop.
• The other piece that seems to have been dropped off is in the educator ecosystem and it has to do with

Transcript Highlights:

• And ultimately, designing a reserve policy is not only about knowing that a revenue drop is going to
• As currently structured, it covers only about 30% of our expenses when revenues drop.
• The current 10% cap means that when revenues drop, our revenues run out quickly.
• The current 10% cap means that when revenues drop, our revenues run out quickly.
• Two, it increased 10% cap means that when revenues drop, our revenues run out quickly. 2.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on proposals to reform California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or rainy day fund, ahead of the May Revision. Members and witnesses reviewed how Proposition 2 (2014) changed reserve rules, including mandatory deposits, a 10% cap on the fund, and limits tied to the Governor’s declaration of a budget emergency. LAO staff explained that California’s revenues are highly volatile, that current reserve rules are complicated by interactions with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit, and that under current law reserves would cover only about one-third of funding shortfalls in a benchmark scenario over 50 years. The LAO presented its report recommending a larger reserve target, including raising the cap to 50% by 2055 and pairing that with either broader, more flexible deposit rules or a simpler approach that deposits all excess capital gains. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exempt BSA deposits from the state appropriations limit, while Assembly Member Valencia presented ACA 1, which would make similar changes and was described as an evolving proposal. Testimony generally supported saving more during boom years, but differed on how much to hardwire into the Constitution versus leave flexible, and on whether to broaden the deposit formulas beyond capital gains. Public witnesses and committee members raised additional issues, including whether reserve reforms should also address debt repayment, the treatment of unemployment insurance fund debt, and whether the Gann limit should be adjusted to better allow reserve growth. Supporters argued that stronger reserves would protect Californians from cuts during downturns and help the state weather volatility and federal funding threats. Some advocates warned that reforms should not come at the expense of current public needs, while taxpayer representatives cautioned against turning the BSA into a pass-through account that weakens constitutional spending limits. The hearing ended without a vote, with the committee chair noting the complexity of the issue and adjourning after public comment.