Transcript Highlights:

• and economic development, battle air pollution, and advance our climate goals.
• It's a five-year bill with a one-time addition to the vehicle license fee.
• But the registration fee, the one-time registration fee, is federally tax deductible.
• But the registration fee, the one-time registration fee, is federally tax deductible.
• Main Street was economic development for our city in Huntington Beach, and many of the coast of Orange

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard and advanced a full agenda of transportation-related bills, with extensive testimony on several measures. SB 1087 by Senator Cabaldon proposed modernizing SB 375 regional climate and transportation planning by moving regional plan cycles from four years to eight, clarifying CARB and CTC roles, aligning funding programs with greenhouse gas goals, and reducing duplicative CEQA-related work. Supporters, including SCAG, MTC/ABAG, and other MPOs, said the bill would save time and money and improve implementation; opponents from clean air and housing groups warned it could weaken climate accountability, dilute VMT-focused reductions, and reduce public participation. The committee later passed the bill on a 9-1 vote. The committee also heard SB 1315, a modest data-collection bill on semi-autonomous vehicle software updates and insurance oversight, which drew no opposition and passed unanimously. SB 1275, by Senator McNerney, would replace the general fund portion of the state sales tax on motor vehicles with a vehicle license fee structure intended to create a federal tax deduction for buyers; the LAO provided technical background, and the bill advanced on a 9-1 vote. SB 1287 by Senator Hurtado would create a tax credit to spur private investment in short-line railroad infrastructure; supporters said it would improve freight efficiency, reduce truck traffic, and cut emissions, and it passed unanimously. The committee also considered SB 1064, which would reduce the frequency of clean truck checks for very low-mileage heavy-duty, off-road diesel, and special equipment vehicles; supporters said it would ease burdens on rural and low-use operators, while opponents awaited CARB analysis, and the bill passed 12-0 after amendments. SB 1375 by Senator Cortese would streamline environmental review for certain transit and rail projects that have already undergone extensive prior review, and it passed unanimously. SB 1392, also by Senator Cortese, would expand the smog-check exemption for older collector vehicles used mainly for shows, parades, and historic display; classic-car and lowrider advocates supported it, while air quality groups opposed it as increasing emissions, and it passed 10-2. The committee also adopted the consent calendar, including SB 1213 by Senator Reyes, and all measures were reported out to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, as substituted, the bill puts collection fees on the same timeline as interest.
• House Bill 549 relates to conservation and replacement of trees during development.
• House Bill 693 relates to the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, workforce development
• House Bill 787 relates to zoning development agreements in certain localities.
• transfer of development rights bill that passed the House 97 to 0.

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not charge students lab fees.
• In a traditional high school, those lab fees are covered. We do not charge students lab fees.
• So whether some charged a lab fee.
• about the major and larger developments. about the major and larger developments.
• whole<02:29:23.520> pro developer who's developing the whole pro developer who's developing

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 292, which would authorize a governor’s warrant to cover special education aid shortfalls from the education trust fund, and from the general fund if needed, so local school districts would not have to absorb prorated costs or raise local property taxes. Senator Lang said the bill was prompted by a prior $15 million special education funding shortfall caused by higher-than-expected catastrophic aid claims, including more qualifying students and the recent increase in the special education age limit to 22. He emphasized that the bill is intended to ensure the state meets its funding commitment and avoid shifting costs to towns. Members asked about how the bill interacts with House Bill 742 and House Bill 773, including whether the language should be merged or whether the state should fund 100% versus an 80% floor. Lang said he was open to improving the bill and to adding a study committee or performance audit on special education costs, but maintained that the state should not push costs to local taxpayers when it has available funds. The hearing on SB 292 was then closed, with no vote taken. The committee then opened Senate Bill 98, which would extend for five more years a tax credit program for donations to regional career and technical education centers. Senator Waters said the program has been successful in building partnerships between CTE centers and employers, especially through equipment donations that support training and apprenticeships. He cited examples including automotive, marine trades, and advanced manufacturing programs, and said the five-year extension would let lawmakers continue to review whether the incentive is working as intended. Several members questioned whether the credit is effectively a 100% subsidy and how the cap works. Waters and another member explained that the underlying program has an aggregate cap of $500,000 and that credits are prorated if requests exceed that amount; they also said the donations are primarily equipment, not cash. Some members raised concerns about whether businesses could also claim other tax deductions or credits, but the sponsor said the existing structure has been in place for years and has been revisited periodically. No vote was taken during the hearing excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:41:54.479> another their fees another their fees another $1.5<03:41:56.720> million
• Uh, we should be decreasing fees. The bill increases fees $1.5 million.
• Um, you know the proposed fees in article six increases filing fees that would generate more revenue
• Senator Lang votes I. raise fees. But what we have going on, raise fees.
• center developments. center developments.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Principal<00:34:24.760> Leadership<00:34:25.240> Development Principal Leadership Development
• Reimbursement of sheriff's fees.
• Reimbursement of sheriff's fees. Reimbursement of sheriff's fees.
• increases in Medicaid fee-for-service increases in Medicaid fee-for-service program.
• <00:51:35.360> program development scholarship program development scholarship program the

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Free Conference Committee on the 2026 General Assembly budget met to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of House Bill 500. Leaders opened by thanking the other chamber’s work, asking members to turn microphones on and off to avoid feedback, and stressing the need to clearly note decision points so both chambers record the same actions. Staff then walked through the bill page by page, explaining that the committee was comparing only House and Senate differences, not the governor’s proposed budget. The discussion covered a wide range of appropriations and language items, including next generation non-911 services, school safety reporting tools, restored funding for brain injury, epilepsy, veteran service, homeless veterans, and rocket docket programs, debt service changes, rural infrastructure, disaster aid caps, Attorney General and Medicaid fraud funding, agriculture and county fair grants, auditor and pension-related appropriations, school facilities and SEEK funding, and numerous education programs. Members also discussed charter-related funding such as Star Academy, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, school resource officers, school-based mental health providers, AP/IB exams, Governor’s Scholars and Entrepreneurs, and several pilot or initiative programs in economic development, energy, and labor. Several items were described as technical corrections or restorations of language and funding, while others reflected differences in amounts or how funds would be distributed. There were several questions and comments from members about wording such as “implement and carry out,” the absence of the governor’s budget from the comparison document, and whether SEEK funding should be tied to teacher raises. The chair and other members emphasized that the committee’s role was to reconcile the two chambers’ budgets, not to adopt the governor’s proposal. Members also raised concerns about opioid settlement funds and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library match rate, with one senator urging restoration of the House language. No final vote or formal action was taken in the portion provided; the meeting primarily consisted of explanation, questions, and discussion of proposed budget differences.

Transcript Highlights:

• fee [clears throat] controversial fee [clears throat] part<00:52:43.760> is<00:52:44.000>
• be improved by a higher fee. be improved by a higher fee.
• Senator Marty: Madam Chair, again, if they want the fee or don't want the fee, that's fine.
• Senator Marty: Madam Chair, again, if they want the fee or don't want the fee, that's fine.
• article 10 jobs and economic development article 10 jobs and economic development appropriations

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A few big ones that we're waiting for are the fees.
• The fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65.
• The other fees associated with this were, with their lawyer fee, $1,250.85.
• And then the fee for the newspaper publication was $2,046.65. The other fees are was $2,046.65.
• The other fees associated with this was, with our lawyer fee, was $1,250.85.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• said, the fiscal note was developed said, the fiscal note was developed based<00:57:30.799> on
• these places to be actually developed. these places to be actually developed.
• <01:00:33.520> it spend serious money trying to develop it spend serious money trying to develop
• So fees back to it to what they were.
• <01:21:03.679> and relative to dog license fees and relative to dog license fees and establishing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we had a fee structure. I think there was a question earlier.
• , the amount of the fee.
• , the amount of the isn't about the fee, the amount of the fee.<01:19:54.000> It's<01:19:54.239
• It's really more about getting that fee.
• a you know the end user or the developer a you know the end user or the developer or<01:31:17.040

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding is mostly made up of community development block grants for disaster recovery.
• that are being paid a consultant fee rather than being paid as an employee?
• We develop a partnership. The Army Corps? Yes. In partnership. Okay.
• Each day we also economic development.
• We would lower some fees for those licensed.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker and members, AB 2071 requires the Department of Education to develop a plan to expand digital
• to their local needs. ...balance high rises while also tailoring the development to their local needs
• Young people's brains are still developing.
• , a fee that they would pay to be able to increase a consumer protection program.
• Very simply put, currently right now the fee is only $35 a year.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened in Sacramento, established a quorum, offered a prayer and pledge, and then moved through the daily file with several procedural motions, including moving AB 1566 to the inactive file and removing SCR 177 from the consent calendar. The chamber then took up a series of bills, mostly on third reading, with many measures described by authors as support bills and passing with little or no opposition. Among the early items, AB 2257 on county jail accountability was presented but the call was moved before a recorded result was announced in the excerpt; AB 2529 on claims against public agencies passed 41-2; AB 2689 on affordable housing management passed 49-0; AB 1722 on fish and wildlife passed 51-0; AB 2071 on digital wellness instruction passed 54-0; AB 1976 on pedestrian and bicycle safety passed 42-17; AB 2012 on manufactured home transport passed 57-0; AB 2139 on surplus land and an Inland Empire soccer project passed 58-1; AB 1548 creating a Monterey Bay stewardship authority passed after the call was moved; AB 1707 allowing online electrician license renewal passed 60-0; AB 2105 on navigation app impacts passed 44-14; and AB 2051 on coastal resiliency permitting passed 46-6. The floor also approved a number of other measures with broad bipartisan support, including AB 2074 on streamlined housing development in transit-rich downtowns (55-5), AB 2129 on Cal Fire firefighter compensation (57-1), AB 2279 on communications (16-0), AB 2282 allowing Del Puerto Health Care District to provide emergency care in rural Patterson-area communities (64-0), AB 2316 extending school facilities hardship relief to charter schools (59-0), AB 2337 adding theft by a peace officer under color of authority to serious misconduct (68-0), AB 2374 creating a state designation for AANHPI-serving institutions (47-14), AB 2464 on energy (67-0), AB 2537 on cannabis (62-0), AB 2562 requiring suicide prevention plans at alcohol and drug treatment facilities (62-0), AB 2667 on vape products (62-0), and AB 2727 raising the threshold for elderly parole review for violent sex offenses (66-0). AB 1958, which clarifies procedures under the California Racial Justice Act, was taken up later and the author said he would accept Senate amendments, but the excerpt cuts off before the final vote is shown. AB 2313, allowing customers with planned gas service line replacements to opt into electrification, drew debate over cost shifts and equity concerns before passing 41-21. The most extensive debate centered on AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for accounts on social media platforms using addictive features and create an e-safety commission. The author and supporters from both parties framed the bill as a child-safety measure responding to research on anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and other harms, while also emphasizing protections for vulnerable youth and the need for age verification and ongoing oversight. Several members raised concerns about preserving access for LGBTQ youth, isolated rural youth, and others who rely on online spaces, but said they trusted the author’s approach and the commission structure. The bill drew strong bipartisan support in floor speeches from members who described it as necessary to protect children from addictive platform design, and the excerpt ends amid that debate without showing the final vote on AB 1709.

Transcript Highlights:

• the fee. the fee.
• organization and relationships developed organization and relationships developed through<00:34:
• relationship [clears throat] development relationship [clears throat] development and<00:35:50.640
• administrative fee. administrative fee.
• reimbursement of expenses and fees reimbursement of expenses and fees associated<01:52:10.480>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• GRD 5173 is funded by, by revenues generated from forensic analyst licensing and testing fees, which
• generated through the collection of registration of test fees and test fees.
• the agency, we asked if they had considered application and exams, increasing application and exam fees
• The agency had indicated that they would consider raising these fees, but wanted to be careful not to
• We're also asking for an increase in court reporter fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• serve as a g per case the maximum fee serve as a g per case the maximum fee that<00:04:42.919>
• we have looked at the number of fees we have looked at the number of fees that<00:08:33.719>
• fee cap for one attorney<00:08:53.480> the<00:08:53.600> fees<00:08:53.920> that
• recognize that out of your gross fee recognize that out of your gross fee there<00:09:03.240>
• So the key fee is capped at $500.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss the guardian ad litem system, including appointment qualifications, training, payment, and whether any changes are needed. Roll was called, the February 25, 2025 minutes were approved, and the chair emphasized that the meeting was informational only and no vote would be taken. Representatives from the Court of Justice, including Chief Justice Deborah Henry Lambert and several family and district judges, testified about how the system has evolved since concerns raised in 2019 about overappointment and fees. Court witnesses said the judiciary responded to earlier concerns by requiring open appointment lists of trained and qualified attorneys, improving training, and increasing oversight of fee orders. They reported that statewide GAL fees have fallen from a little over $14 million in 2019 to about $12 million, even as caseloads have grown, and said the average payment works out to about $650 per case, with the statutory cap for trial-level GAL fees still set at $500 since 1986. They argued that the current local appointment model works well, especially in rural areas, and warned that moving to a DPA-style regional model would create serious scheduling and conflict problems because of overlapping dockets and related criminal cases. Judges from rural districts described shortages of available attorneys, high burnout, travel burdens, and the difficulty of finding enough counsel in smaller counties. They also said the Court of Justice cannot seek certain federal Title IV-E reimbursements, but urged the legislature to encourage the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to pursue that funding through an MOU. One judge noted that some appointed attorneys are effectively underpaid relative to private rates and that better compensation would help attract and retain lawyers. The discussion also covered training standards adopted after the 2019 audit. Witnesses said Rule 37 now requires initial training and four hours of multidisciplinary continuing training every two years, with topics including child development, trauma-informed care, substance use, child welfare, forensics, ethics, and communication with clients. They said the Court of Justice has offered in-person regional trainings and remote options, and that the goal is to keep qualified attorneys on the appointment lists while improving representation for children and parents in dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination-of-parental-rights cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the third, fees, sales, and federal funds. It also has the same format.
• And we don't want to raise tuition and fees $1 more than we have to.
• But it is common to have a student athletic fee. It's not.
• I mean, if we raise tuition and fees, we raise it more for them.
• So we are, we really need those positions to kick off what that development.

Summary: The committee first considered revisions to the JBC rules, which staff said were all prompted by acts passed in the 2025 legislative session. The rules were adopted without objection. Members then received a balanced budget presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s FY27 proposal, which he said was built around three priorities: limiting state government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income tax cuts. He highlighted major additions for education funding, EFA growth, pay plan costs, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, corrections medical costs, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction, and Medicaid sustainability, while also explaining a new A/B funding category structure intended to prioritize recurring costs and preserve room for tax cuts. Members questioned Hudson about the cost of income tax reductions, the constitutional balanced-budget requirement, education funding, the Educational Adequacy Fund, Medicaid trust fund balances, and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and SNAP. Hudson said each tenth of a percent income tax cut would cost about $58 million, the budget remained balanced, public education would still receive historic increases, and the Medicaid trust fund would be monitored closely with additional set-asides proposed. He also said the FY27 SNAP administrative cost increase would be about $18 million. The committee then heard from the Division of Higher Education, which reported institutions were 2.61% more productive overall and that the budget recommendation followed the statutory productivity formula. Questions focused on why some institutions were receiving decreases or large increases, how the formula works, and how the new return-on-investment metric and committee composition would affect future funding. The committee approved several higher education-related actions, including personnel changes for nine institutions and special language for North Arkansas College’s move into the University of Arkansas system. Staff then walked members through the higher education appropriation summary, explaining large percentage increases at several institutions were tied to federal funds or corrected carry-forward issues, including the U of A School of Mathematical, Sciences and the Arts, South Arkansas College, SAU Tech, ASU Mountain Home, and ASU Newport. Members also discussed UAPB’s 1890 extension program and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s land-grant matching funds; officials said UAPB’s recommendation was being aligned with actual spending and that the Division of Agriculture’s Smith-Lever and Hatch matches were included within its overall appropriation. The committee ultimately adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions and then moved on to the Department of Corrections section, with the chair outlining how the committee would proceed through those appropriations by section.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:31.640> are the projects that get developed are the projects that get developed are
• projects that would have been developed projects that would have been developed anywhere<00:35:34.880
• a vehicle will still be required, so Enterprise is not getting out of paying any kind of fees.
• that all us usual and customer AR fees that all us usual and customer AR fees associated<00:47:58.240
• getting out of paying any kind of fees getting out of paying any kind of fees it's<00:48:04.800>

Bills: HF2066, HF340, HF341, HF566, HF2107, HF2130

Keywords: electric bicycles, tax rebate, transportation, environment, local economy, fleeing peace officer, culpable negligence, traffic laws, public safety, motor vehicle offenses, driving violations, penalties, license suspension, traffic enforcement, all-terrain vehicle, ATV, class 1 ATV, class 2 ATV, road rights-of-way, public roads

Transcript Highlights:

• state-sized request for energy by single users and developers.
• Second, we needed... ...by single users and developers.
• When software developers develop software, there's inherently going to be bugs and weaknesses...
• When software developers develop software, there's inherently going to be bugs and weaknesses.
• ATM and pay this fee.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 219, an act relating to deferred deposit transaction fees imposed by the commissioner.
• Senate Bill 219, an act relating to deferred deposit transaction fees imposed by the commissioner.
• amends the filing fee to a fat<00:10:43.440> flat<00:10:43.760> rate<00:10:44.399>
• <00:10:48.560> for<00:10:48.800> the court to collect the filing fee for the court
• Uh, the Economic Development, Labor and Tourism Committee will meet tomorrow.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and approved the journal. The clerk reported House-passed bills and Senate bills received from the House, and several Senate bills were read a second time and sent to the Rules Committee. Committee reports recommended passage of multiple measures, including bills from Appropriations and Revenue, Health Services, Natural Resources and Energy, State and Local Government, and Transportation. The chamber then moved to orders of the day and took up Senate Bill 50 and Senate Bill 191, while Senate Bill 137 and Senate Joint Resolution 54 were passed over and retained in the orders of the day. Senate Bill 50, relating to the disposition of property, was explained as a broad update to trust, probate, and intestacy law. Supporters said it would streamline probate when there are no disputes, add privacy protections for decedents’ estate information, give courts more flexibility, set retention and filing-fee rules for wills, recognize electronic wills and other uniform-law concepts, and allow transfer-on-death designation for motor vehicles. A floor amendment removed inheritance-tax provisions and corrected technical issues; it was adopted, and the bill passed 35-1 after debate in favor from several senators and no substantive opposition. Senate Bill 191, creating the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-based Child Care Incentive Pilot Program, was also amended and passed. The bill would establish a three-year pilot administered by the University of Kentucky College of Education, providing a one-time $2,000 per child incentive payment or refundable tax credit to child care providers and low-income families when children are assessed as kindergarten ready. A floor amendment clarified that the study and recommendations must comply with federal child care regulations; it was adopted, and the bill passed 35-1 after a senator changed a vote from no to yes. The Senate then recessed for Rules and Committee on Committees meetings, after which the rules committee posted additional bills to future orders and the committee on committees referred several bills and resolutions to standing committees. Several members also made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, a legislative breakfast, a fish fry, and condolences for a community member.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment also says that the fee applies only until the appropriate local agency has inspected to
• Have you considered as far as the arbitrary three-times fee of maybe looking at the same entity that
• So right now, the bill talks about up to three times the daily administrative fee that can be charged
• We would like to see it the way it is right now in current law, that the counties establish a fee and
• We would like to see it the way it is right now in current law that the counties establish a fee and

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills, with several focused on water safety, utilities, and local government transparency. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was explained as clarifying water quality credits and water quality enhancement areas, and it was reported favorably after one support appearance. SB 28, a claim bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland arising from injuries caused by a police shooting, was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 658 on water safety requirements for rental properties drew extensive testimony in support from child advocacy and drowning prevention advocates, who cited Florida’s high child drowning rates and the disproportionate impact on children with autism; the bill was amended to require front-end certification and remove local add-on authority, then passed favorably. CS/SB 18, a claim bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, was reported favorably after questions about the verdict, settlement posture, and who would receive the funds. SB 934 on areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a provision viewed as conflicting with the Live Local Act and then passed favorably. SB 1622, which creates a one-time waiver for certain late-filed financial disclosure fines, also passed favorably with support from an appearance form. SB 1264 on private schools and zoning was reported favorably after members noted ongoing concerns and planned further discussion. CS/CS/SB 260 on electric vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to narrow the bill to storage issues and cap the fee period until inspection; it drew both support and opposition from insurers, fire officials, and vehicle industry representatives, and was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1014, dealing with municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, was amended to limit it to residential development and clarify capacity standards, then passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 expanded the local infrastructure surtax to include body camera programs and was reported favorably after an amendment requiring voter approval. Finally, CS/SB 1724 and SB 1566, both on local government utility and budget transparency, were amended and reported favorably despite concerns from cities and counties about implementation costs and burdens.

Transcript Highlights:

• rather than fee for service dollars. rather than fee for service dollars.
• fee for service. fee for service.
• <01:09:28.799> levy and six because it's the sure fee levy and six because it's the sure fee
• > alternative consider developing an alternative consider developing an alternative dental<01:
• > schedule Kentucky dental Medicaid fee schedule Kentucky dental Medicaid fee schedule has<01:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board reconvened and heard a presentation from the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control unit. AG staff described the unit’s structure and work: it investigates and prosecutes Medicaid provider fraud, and also handles abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases involving vulnerable adults in facility settings when asked to assist. They said the office has prosecutors, detectives, auditors, and support staff, works with federal partners, Commonwealth’s attorneys, CHFS, DMS, OIG, and MCOs, and uses a hotline and referral line for complaints. They also explained the MCO referral process, including monthly meetings, stand-down lists, and review of referrals for a “credible allegation of fraud” before the AG office decides whether to open a criminal or civil investigation. The presentation focused heavily on current fraud trends. Staff said behavioral health is a major concern, along with participant-directed waiver services, medically assisted treatment, cash billing for services, controlled-substance billing, and vision and dental fraud. They gave examples such as duplicate time sheets for family caregivers, questionable Suboxone counseling and urine drug screening practices, and a prior optometry case involving false claims for children’s glasses. They also discussed CMS’s estimate that about 5% of Medicaid payments are improper, noted that most improper payments are at the fee-for-service level, and said there is no reliable overall fraud-rate estimate. They highlighted a sharp shift in behavioral health billing after the cabinet’s November 1, 2024 policy changes, saying individual psychotherapy spending dropped while group billing increased, suggesting providers may have moved billing to different codes. Members asked about the scale and timing of cases, how MCO referrals are screened, and whether the data reflected more people being served or just higher spending. The AG office said investigations can take years, with some federal cases still awaiting sentencing from 2018 and 2019 matters, and that they currently had nine individuals awaiting sentencing in federal court. They also reported 58 hotline reports during the referenced period, six cases opened from MCO referrals, and four additional MCO referrals not accepted for active cases. Several members raised concerns about home-based services and the risk of abuse or fraud when family members are reimbursed, and asked whether the process could be streamlined; the AG office said it had no immediate recommendations but would be willing to return with suggestions after further review.