Transcript Highlights:

• You want to talk about utilization management practices? Sure.
• There are the pharmacy benefit managers and all the other entities that manage benefits.
• So there are radiology management companies. There are behavioral health management companies.
• These are all called health care benefit managers. They have to register with us.
• manager C, who may actually also be contracting with another health insurer.

Committee: Joint Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight

Summary: The committee first welcomed new DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who described her background in public service and emphasized collaboration, relationships, and responsiveness to legislators as she begins her tenure. Members thanked her and noted they looked forward to working with her on the governor’s priorities and the state’s budget and service challenges. The committee then heard a presentation on the West Coast Health Alliance from Governor’s Office, Department of Health, and state health leadership. Witnesses said the alliance was formed by Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii to provide unified, science-based public health guidance, especially on vaccines, amid federal instability and misinformation. They said the alliance has already issued vaccine recommendations and statements rejecting a vaccine-autism link, and is working on return-to-work guidance and responses to federal ACIP actions. Members asked about workload and coordination with an East Coast public health group; witnesses said the main challenge is communicating unified guidance rather than reviewing studies themselves. Next, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange reported on open enrollment and the effects of federal changes, including the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and HR1 provisions affecting immigrant eligibility and future auto-renewal rules. Officials said premium increases are driving some customers to drop coverage, while state actions such as silver loading and Cascade Care Savings are helping blunt the impact for many enrollees. They also described outreach through navigators, brokers, tribal organizations, and community groups, and noted rising website traffic and more customer questions during open enrollment. Members asked about enrollment trends, carrier participation, and how to communicate upcoming federal changes. Finally, the Health Care Authority and Office of the Insurance Commissioner reviewed the state’s health reform history and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and the individual market. They highlighted ongoing state efforts on affordability, prescription drug oversight, primary care and behavioral health access, preventive services, and rural health funding. Witnesses said agencies are coordinating across DSHS, HCA, OIC, the Exchange, Employment Security, and others to prepare for Medicaid work requirements and other HR1 changes, while also trying to reduce administrative burden and preserve access to care. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• You want to talk about utilization management practices? Sure.
• There are the pharmacy benefit managers and all the other entities that manage benefits.
• So there are radiology management companies. There are behavioral health management companies.
• These are all called health care benefit managers. They have to register with us.
• manager C, who may actually also be contracting with another health insurer.

Committee: Joint Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight

Summary: The committee first welcomed new DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who introduced herself and described her background in public service, federal and state legislative work, and health and human services leadership. Members emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with her and noted her focus on protecting services, using strategic approaches in a tight budget environment, and improving partnerships with the Legislature. Ramirez said she wanted to keep communication open and that her priorities would be shaped by what she learns from lawmakers and agency partners. The next work session focused on the West Coast Health Alliance and the broader Governor’s Public Health Alliance. Department of Health and governor’s office staff said the West Coast alliance, involving Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, was formed to coordinate science-based public health guidance, especially around vaccines, return-to-work guidance, and responses to federal changes. They said the alliance is intended to reduce confusion, counter misinformation, and preserve access to evidence-based recommendations, with early actions including vaccine guidance for COVID-19, flu, and RSV, a statement rejecting any vaccine-autism link, and preparation for possible ACIP changes. Members asked about workload and coordination with other regional alliances, and staff said there is informal coordination but no formal regular meetings. The committee then heard from the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange about open enrollment and the effects of federal policy changes. Exchange leaders said the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, HR1 provisions, and immigration-related eligibility changes are affecting affordability and enrollment, with some customers facing large premium increases and some counties becoming harder to serve. They reported early open-enrollment traffic increases, nearly 10,000 new sign-ups, and nearly 12,000 active coverage drops so far, while noting that many more people may disenroll later if subsidies are not extended. They also described mitigation efforts such as silver loading, Cascade Care Savings, outreach through navigators and community partners, and planning for future HR1 requirements like ending auto-renewal and adding verification steps. In the final work session, staff from the Health Care Authority and Insurance Commissioner’s office reviewed Washington’s health reform history and the state’s current affordability and access efforts. They highlighted past ACA-related coverage gains, continued work on prescription drug affordability, PBM oversight, primary care and behavioral health access, and a pending legislative proposal to preserve access to preventive services. They also discussed federal changes affecting Medicaid and the exchange, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, and the need to coordinate across agencies to implement new rules. Members raised concerns about network adequacy, provider access, and the complexity of the health care system, while staff said they are trying to mitigate harm, simplify administration, and keep coverage and access as stable as possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• We manage the registration, distribution, and use of pesticides and fertilizers.
• That means, think about it, students interested in crop management, economics, animal science, human
• My project manager for this is Madison, or Maddie Roy.
• I do want to mention that we do have a managed pollinator protection process.
• That makes it very difficult to target individual countries and manage individual trade.

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held an interim work session focused on Washington agriculture’s viability, competitiveness, and the effects of federal policy and trade. Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sanderson outlined the agency’s role in inspections, food assistance, pesticide and fertilizer oversight, disease control, and marketing, and described Washington agriculture as a diverse, export-oriented sector facing declining farm numbers, high labor and input costs, low commodity prices, trade barriers, drought, regulatory burdens, and pest and disease pressures. WSU CAHNRS Dean Raj Kosla emphasized the land-grant mission, extension network, education programs, and research capacity, highlighting precision agriculture, broadband needs in rural areas, and the importance of research and outreach to support growers and rural communities. Members asked about farm loss, workforce challenges, precision agriculture, and the cost of technology. Kosla said precision agriculture can help address labor shortages but is often cost-prohibitive and dependent on rural broadband; he described it as applying the right input, in the right amount, place, time, and manner. He also noted that WSU’s research and extension system supports crop development, soil health, forestry, youth programs, and agricultural training, and that the college is eager to partner with the legislature on priorities. Sanderson said the department is working on local food systems, farm-to-school grants, infrastructure, market development, pest and disease response, climate resilience, and access to land for new and underrepresented farmers. The committee then heard from WSU economist Randy Fortenberry on an agricultural competitiveness study and trade impacts. He said the study used producer surveys, case studies, and shift-share analysis for dairy, grapes, hops, potatoes, apples/tree fruit, wheat, and small/diversified farms, comparing Washington to national trends and peer states. His findings indicated that Washington’s competitiveness is declining in most sectors, with potatoes as the main exception; labor and regulatory compliance costs were especially significant in dairy, grapes, potatoes, and tree fruit, while small farms were more constrained by land access, capital, and profitability. On trade, he said Washington is highly export-dependent and vulnerable to retaliation, citing past losses in wheat, apples, pulses, and cherries when tariffs disrupted access to China and India, while noting current uncertainty around Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, and India. No votes were taken. The committee discussed next steps, including a December interim report on food security and agricultural viability and a final report expected by June 2026. Sanderson said the department had already held a stakeholder workshop and is continuing internal and external review, while the chair asked WSU to connect the committee with policy experts who could help identify practical solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we're establishing this project management collaborative.
• We will manage implementation using four cross-sector networks that are overseen by the project management
• With that, we’re going to go to our Walla Walla City Manager, Elizabeth Chamberlain.
• It's managed by a property management company here in town, and then our Mill Creek Apartments.
• And I'm the Planning and Development Services Manager for the City of Des Moines.

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Civic Commons on the Starter Home Production Plan, developed under the Covenant Home Ownership Act to address Washington’s shortage of starter homes for low- and moderate-income buyers. Speakers said housing prices have far outpaced incomes, and argued that incremental fixes have not worked. They described a statewide, systems-based plan centered on smaller, standardized homes, off-site construction, pre-approved plans, new financing tools, a developer network, and a temporary cross-sector crisis task force to coordinate implementation. Committee members asked about the role of silos, target income ranges, geographic applicability, and pre-approved plans; Civic Commons said the effort is intended to support households roughly from 60% to 120% of area median income and to work across urban and rural contexts. The Department of Labor and Industries then reported progress on factory-built housing regulation. L&I said it has prioritized residential plan reviews, reducing turnaround times from months to about two days, and has created a new plans examiner supervisor position. The department also said it is formalizing third-party review and inspection rules, building a customer-tracking database, and reviewing national standards from the Modular Building Institute for possible alignment with state code. Committee members and L&I discussed the value of standardized plans and the need to balance speed with code compliance and safety. The Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council testified that it supports efforts to reduce permitting delays but warned against weakening safety standards or labor protections. Labor representatives said off-site fabrication can help housing delivery only if it preserves worker safety, fair wages, apprenticeship opportunities, and compliance with labor laws. They raised concerns about wage theft, misclassification, and underground-economy risks in residential construction, and suggested stronger front-end contractor licensing and training. Committee members responded that the state needs both housing production and good jobs, and that apprenticeship and workforce development remain important. The committee also heard from several cities about local housing code changes. Olympia described an affordable housing emergency ordinance that prioritizes affordable projects in the permitting queue, while noting that staff capacity and cross-department communication are critical. Walla Walla, an early adopter of middle housing, said it eliminated single-family zoning, expanded ADUs and MFTE, and has seen more duplexes, ADUs, and smaller-lot development, though it still faces neighborhood opposition and infrastructure-related barriers. Des Moines described adopting middle housing and ADU ordinances just before the deadline, after a lengthy process involving density, parking, and staffing challenges. Poulsbo said it proactively adopted multiple housing code changes, including duplexes on corner lots, unit lot subdivisions, a manufactured home overlay, and six shared pre-approved ADU plans with neighboring jurisdictions; it also highlighted a senior housing project using city land and public funding. Across the city testimony, speakers emphasized that zoning changes help but are only one part of the housing puzzle, and several urged more support for local staff, standardized plans, and broader reforms to permitting and infrastructure requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> property could be used or or or managed. property could be used or or or managed.
• </c> they're both in solid waste management. they're both in solid waste management.
• </c> members of solid waste management members of solid waste management districts.<01:37:54.560><c>
• </c> back to these solid waste management back to these solid waste management districts.<01:38:40.800
• </c> the words or solid waste management the words or solid waste management district<01:48:11.440><c

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• If we don't a serious management issue.
• Speaker, I'd like are being managed. Mr.
• </c><00:18:57.679><c> uh</c> so basically holding the med manage uh so basically holding the med manage
• </c><00:28:52.559><c> condition</c> they wait until a manageable condition they wait until a manageable
• ><c> illness,</c> For someone managing chronic illness, For someone managing chronic illness, picking

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the Transitional Planning Program Manager for the Department of Corrections. Thank you.
• The Department of Health and Human Services utilizes Avatar for a client management system.
• So who would be responsible for managing the system? This would be an enormous...
• Who would be responsible for managing the system?
• We also give local county sheriffs by statute the ability to manage their inmate population.

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence honoring a deceased member, then approved the April minutes. The first major presentation was from Chelsea Florey of Child and Family Services on the Diversion Task Force and related grant programs created with one-time funding from HB 1012. She reported that five of six proposals were funded, with youth diversion services operating in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and a Red River Children’s Advocacy Center program focused on problematic sexualized behavior. Members discussed barriers such as staffing shortages, voluntary family engagement, service fatigue, and the need for better coordination, broader outreach, and possible changes to diversion eligibility rules so low-level cases can remain in diversion longer. Several legislators pressed for more practical system changes and clearer service navigation, while Florey said the task force is trying to build a service array or hub and is leaning on the Children’s Cabinet for broader recommendations. The committee then heard from North Dakota Lottery Director Thomas Lawler, who gave an operational overview and biennium report. He described the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, Pick and Click subscriptions, Players Club membership, and revenue distribution. For the 2023-25 biennium, about $67 million in tickets were purchased, with roughly $16.2 million transferred overall, including money for the general fund, drug task force grants, and compulsive gambling prevention and treatment. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether the amount is set by statute. A lengthy presentation followed from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on criminal justice data connectivity and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that North Dakota’s jail, court, HHS, and correctional systems use multiple separate databases that do not communicate in real time, requiring manual cross-checks and staff communication. He said the department is exploring a centralized hub or other integration approach, but noted challenges with identifiers, vendor contracts, confidentiality, and cost. Robin Schmolenberger then updated the committee on a Medicaid data-sharing project with HHS, saying monthly application assistance is now occurring in correctional facilities and that automated bi-directional data exchange is expected in late 2026 to help suspend and reactivate Medicaid coverage and identify former foster care youth. Members also discussed parole, probation, transitional housing, and the need for better real-time notifications and clearer data definitions. The committee also received an update from county representatives on the 24/7 sobriety program, including a recent attorney general opinion that if a court waives 24/7 fees, sheriffs may use the cheaper twice-daily breath test or urine testing instead of SCRAM bracelets or drug patches. Finally, Bruce Johnson of the Racing Commission presented on an audit report, acknowledging serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, grant documentation failures, a breeders fund eligibility reversal, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has already changed its procedures by tracking fund limits monthly, requiring grant applications and itemized reports, enforcing breeders fund rules as written, and routing purchases through procurement with written contracts. The committee asked follow-up questions throughout but took no formal votes on these presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• management.
• </c><00:03:29.599><c> um</c> management um and quality management um management um and quality management
• Brad Parsons, Fishery Section Manager for the Minnesota DNR.
• </c><00:08:01.639><c> please</c> DNR Fisheries section manager please DNR Fisheries section manager please
• </c> important thing from a man management important thing from a man management position<01:05:42.279

Bills: HF647 , HF2824 , HF1249 , HF623 , HF820

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:47.640><c> and</c> auditor to conduct a management and auditor to conduct a management and
• uh that process organization that manage uh that process and<00:42:36.960><c> as</c><00:42:37.079><c
• </c><00:42:50.160><c> the</c><00:42:51.000><c> the</c><00:42:51.079><c> management</c><00:42:51.520><
• c> part</c> properly managed the the management part properly managed the the management part but<00:
• And for SR 55 and SCR 38, requesting the auditor to conduct a management and performance audit on the

Summary: The meeting covered several Senate resolutions related to the University of Hawaiʻi system, the East-West Center, and related education and workforce issues. On SCR 178 and SR 48, testifiers strongly supported the East-West Center, describing it as an important Hawaii asset that promotes cultural exchange, global citizenship, diplomacy, and ties to the University of Hawaiʻi. Speakers said the Center has helped train leaders and bring international connections and investment to Hawaii, and they urged continued funding despite federal cuts. The chairs then recommended passage with technical amendments, and both resolutions were adopted by the committees. The committee also heard testimony on resolutions calling for audits of University of Hawaiʻi operations. On SR 32 and SCR 50, the University of Hawaiʻi said it supported the resolution and had already begun work on establishing a Bachelor of Science in nursing at the UH Maui campus, with additional staff available on Zoom to answer questions. On SR 160 and SCR 142, which sought a financial and performance audit of UH Mānoa facilities, UH Athletics said it already undergoes annual financial audits required by NCAA bylaws but not performance audits, and discussed its internal evaluations, contingency planning, and efforts to address concerns raised by student athletes and staff. The committee then took up SCR 138 and SR 55, requesting a management and performance audit of the UH Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy. Vice President Deborah Halbert and P20 Director Steve Shotz said they did not oppose the audit and believed it could provide clarity, while explaining that the office is relatively new and works collaboratively across campuses on articulation, transfer, grants, and workforce alignment. They described grant programs including Perkins, GEAR UP, preschool development, and data-sharing efforts, and said they are focusing more resources on teaching, health care, and skilled trades. The discussion also touched on SR 54, a proposed performance audit of the UH Foundation, where foundation representatives said they already undergo annual financial audits, acknowledged some donor communication issues, but emphasized improved stewardship and growth in fundraising over recent years.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like other states around the country, we are also managing through intense spending pressures around
• How we choose to collectively approach them will impact how we manage through the rest of the fiscal
• Its management is also a key factor in our state's credit rating.
• The fund also continues to advance its work with diverse investment managers, The fund also continues
• The other thing I would highlight is, as you folks look to, I think, manage the 2026 and 2027 budgets

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Senate and House Ways and Means chairs opened the FY 2027 consensus revenue hearing by emphasizing the need for a balanced, fiscally responsible budget amid federal funding cuts, health care cost pressures, and uncertainty around the federal tax law changes referred to as OB3. They also noted the state’s current revenue performance is slightly above benchmark and paid tribute to the late Representative Anne Margaret Ferranti. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorkowitz echoed the call for caution, saying Massachusetts has protected core services while building reserves and that the FY27 budget process begins with a careful revenue estimate. Department of Revenue Commissioner Jeff Snyder, along with DOR staff, presented FY26 and FY27 tax forecasts and identified major drivers and risks: OB3’s negative impact on state revenue, surtax collections, labor market conditions, capital gains, and corporate/business excise taxes. DOR estimated OB3 would reduce FY26 revenue by about $664 million and FY27 by about $282 million, while surtax and capital gains were expected to remain strong in FY26 but soften in FY27. Members questioned the outlook for surtax, capital gains, and the potential fiscal effect of a ballot question reducing the income tax rate from 5% to 4%; DOR said that proposal could cost roughly $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion annually, with a smaller but still significant impact in FY27 because of phase-in timing. Treasurer Deb Goldberg testified next on the stabilization fund, lottery, PRIM, unclaimed property, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. She reported the rainy day fund at about $8.1 billion, said the lottery was on track for $1.5 billion in FY26 net profit and projected $1.25 billion in FY27, and highlighted that iLottery is expected to launch in summer 2026 with revenue beginning in FY27 and dedicated to child care initiatives. She also described strong PRIM performance and record unclaimed property returns, while members asked about the child care use of iLottery revenue, multilingual outreach, and the economic impact of expanded liquor licensing. Mass Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate and Tufts’ Evan Horowitz then offered differing revenue outlooks and policy warnings. Howgate projected modest growth, cautioned against overusing reserves for ongoing obligations, and urged caution on federal tax conformity changes and health care spending pressures. Horowitz projected higher FY26 and FY27 revenues than other witnesses, warned that the surtax and capital gains make the tax system more volatile, and said a 4% income tax ballot question could reduce FY27 revenues by roughly $800 million to $1 billion. He also flagged the rent control ballot question as a potential risk to municipal finance and suggested the state consider giving a permanent home to the independent revenue model used by Alan Clayton-Matthews.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are notified of those as we are not management.
• log management and alerting system.
• So that's one way that we can absorb or manage some of the investment because, as Jay said, Or manage
• I'm the accounting manager at Division Workforce Services. Thank you.
• The authority operates as an independent entity with its own management and employees.”

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Animal feed program, emergency management, food distribution, food quality, livestock brand, meat and
• Tiler Cloud is Management Branch Chief.
• Fifteen million acres of managed timber, pine plantations, 3.6 million acres of bottom lands.
• , we are responsible to manage the state's forest as well.
• Office of Management and Finance, and again, Dane Morgan, their assistant commissioner, and he has a

Committees: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development , House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Summary: The committee took up several agriculture-related bills and heard testimony on each. HB 715 by Representative Dezotel would require aerial applicators using public airports or landing fields to carry radios and transponders for safety; after a technical amendment was adopted, the bill was reported favorably. HB 663 by Vice Chairman Travis Johnson would update the board makeup of the Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District by removing certain ex officio members and reducing the board from 24 to 23; amendments were adopted and the bill was reported favorably. HB 717 by Representative Schamberhorn would increase and clarify labeling requirements for cell-cultured food products, including a larger, more visible font size; after a technical amendment, it was reported favorably with support from committee members and witnesses. The committee also considered HB 834 by Representative McMahon, a local-control bill on animal shelters and stray animals. A large amendment package of 23 amendments was adopted, revising hold periods, ownership transfer rules, local government discretion, liability protections, and the role of nonprofit or designated shelters. Testimony from the author, Police Jury Association representatives, and Michelle Hall emphasized that the bill is intended to fix a legal gap so shelters can transfer ownership to adopters, while preserving local control and limiting liability for good-faith actions. The bill was reported favorably with amendments. The committee then heard from Louisiana 4-H and FFA student leaders, who described how those programs developed leadership, public speaking, and agricultural career goals. Members responded with personal reflections and praise for the programs’ impact on rural youth and future agricultural leadership. Finally, the committee took up sunset review legislation: SB 349 to recreate the Department of Agriculture and Forestry was reported favorably, and SB 350, a technical change to the Louisiana Soybean Association/soybean board structure, was also reported favorably. Commissioner Mike Strain then began a lengthy presentation on the department’s functions, programs, boards, and commissions, but no further action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• She manages the grants on a day-to-day basis.
• Security and Emergency Management.
• And so, the Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management.
• agency. management agency.
• We're managing two budgets, so we're not.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• First, we have Anne Laurent, County Manager, Los Alamos County. Juan Rael, Deputy...
• My background is in architecture and project management.
• It's an increment for gross receipts tax in order to manage some of it.
• I commend our Intergovernmental Affairs Manager, Danielle Duran.
• It's a Phase 1A, 1B report, access management plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for statewide project management.
• The proposed positions will replace contracted project managers and transition the contract expenditures
• I would estimate that maybe 85% of the process is managed by us.
• The Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program provided incentive payments to managed care plans to
• now many school districts throughout the state have direct contracts with managed care organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the General Manager of Essos Water Supply Corporation in Wilson County, Texas.
• I'm the General Manager for the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
• I am the General Manager and CEO of Waterloo Blanco River.
• I'm the CEO and General Manager of the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority.
• Permissive authorizations for counties in a priority groundwater management area.

Bills: SB863 , SB1190 , SB1261 , SB1413 , SB1624 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB1855 , SB1967 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1623

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• in staff supervision, statewide training, auditing, policy interpretation, customer service, and managed
• And whereas beginning with her initial roles as program manager and program administrator at the Department
• And whereas in her roles as program manager and program administrator at the Department of Human Services
• And in these positions, she led the Department of Human Services' legislative strategy, managed high-level
• whereas Lori McDonald's ability to step into emergency response roles, such as serving as a housing manager

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , home inspections, those sorts of Preservation, construction management, home inspections, those sorts
• Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority.
• >> Great. >> Bottom page four. >> Sir, the second one is for feral swine management.
• Environmental Management, bottom page 12. >> Good afternoon, Mr.
• I’m Russell Kelly with the Department of Environmental Management. We have two contracts today.

Transcript Highlights:

• different reports for the legislature and that the vendor put together monthly charts and data management
• vendor is actually the only one in the United States that offers this type of structure decision management
• important around the sole sourcing, this particular contract today is around the operation and management
• So I would think that there's no one else that would be able to manage their particular platform.
• So a different contract was ending. ...of management, then that's how that other contract stood up.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS service contracts: a $690,000-plus sole-source contract for DCFS with Evident Change for maintenance and operation of the Child Welfare Structured Decision-Making Assessment tools; a $1.2 million contract with Sifter Solutions for a SNAP waiver compliance solution and related app; and a $156,000 contract with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. Staff said the Evident Change contract was needed to keep daily safety risk assessments, case planning, and reunification tools functioning, and that the vendor’s proprietary system made it sole source. Members questioned DHS about reliance on the vendor, the lack of an off-ramp, whether the state was paying more or less annually, and why the contracts were not aligned on the same cycle. DHS and the vendor said the new Evident Change contract was limited to maintenance and operations, that no additional services or employees were being added, and that the broader CQI/review contract would come up separately later. For the SNAP waiver contract, DHS explained that the waiver is intended to exclude certain unhealthy foods from SNAP purchases to improve nutritional value, and that Sifter Solutions would provide a dynamic list for retailers and an app for clients to check products by barcode. DHS said the contract is sole source because it is tied to the waiver implementation and because the vendor can provide the needed dynamic list and education features. Staff said the contract would be funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise revert to the federal government, and that the University of Pennsylvania would conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the public benefit, future renewals, and whether the state would own the application; DHS said the two-year term was designed to match the waiver period and allow time to reassess future procurement options. Members also asked about the nutrition education component, and DHS said it is developing videos with a nutritionist on preparing budget-friendly healthy meals and plans to link them to the app and website. After discussion, no objections were raised, and the items were reported as reviewed. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• assistance program to encourage qualified licensed engineers to work for state agencies and water management
• The Department of Management Services must provide the governor-elect, the transition staff, and the
• The Department of Management Services is required to provide the governor-elect and designated members
• The Department of Management Services must provide the governor-elect, the transition staff, and the
• The Department of Management Services is required to provide the governor-elect and designated members

Bills: S0314 , S0530 , S0576 , S0800 , S0990 , S1078 , S1440 , S1568 , S1588 , S1614

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to engineering regulation, cybersecurity, financial services, and state administration. CS/SB 800 would increase penalties for repeated unlicensed engineering practice and create an engineering student loan assistance program funded by licensure fees and fines; it was reported favorably after questions about whether it would reimburse victims of unlicensed practitioners, with the sponsor noting it would not and that affected individuals would need to pursue complaints and private legal action. CS/SB 576 created a local government cybersecurity protection program administered by Florida Digital Service, with state purchasing of cybersecurity services and priority for fiscally constrained counties; it received support from local government and industry groups and was reported favorably. CS/SB 1078 set transition requirements for gubernatorial administrations, including liaisons, briefing books, office space, IT access, and controlled access to agency records under a memorandum of understanding, and it also passed favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 314, which creates a regulatory framework for payment stablecoin issuers in Florida, and CS/SB 530, which updates lottery operations, security, retailer rules, and bonding requirements. CS/SB 1614, after adoption of a technical substitute amendment, would limit local governments’ eligibility for certain state funding if they have excess funds, have recently been audited by the legislative audit committee, or fail to affirm expenditure of prior funds; the sponsor said it would give the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee more enforcement leverage, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 990 authorizes protective cell captive insurance companies to expand insurance market capacity and potentially lower premiums, while CS/SB 1588 is a step toward implementing last session’s gold and silver legal tender law; both were reported favorably. Additional bills passed included CS/SB 1440, which adds cybersecurity-related exemptions and reporting provisions for financial institutions, loan originators, and money service businesses, and CS/SB 1568, which creates a Florida Stable Coin Pilot Program allowing DFS fees to be paid with approved stablecoins. The stablecoin bill was amended to add guardrails, including fee limits, website notice requirements, and restrictions if no approved issuers are available. The committee also received a brief budget overview highlighting major funding items such as Florida Forever, Everglades restoration, water quality, Farmers Feeding Florida, citrus recovery, school lunches, state parks, and law enforcement and staffing items, and members later recorded additional votes before the committee adjourned.