Transcript Highlights:

• They may not choose to take an assessment.
• The families that get assessed may not choose to engage in the services then they qualify for.
• And then they assign the LSIR, which is a risk assessment.
• We've got to get all our assessments. I mean, all...
• We've got to get all our assessments.

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence for a deceased member, then approved the April minutes and heard a presentation from HHS on the Diversion Task Force and related youth services grants. Chelsea Florey described the $750,000 one-time appropriation from HB 1012, the five awarded grants, and how programs in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot are using the funds for youth diversion, including school-based groups, physical activity, and services for problematic sexual behavior. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, family engagement, service silos, and whether diversion eligibility rules are too rigid; Florey said the task force is focused on better coordination, broader education about available services, and possible changes to diversion criteria, with the Children’s Cabinet likely to drive broader recommendations. The committee then received a North Dakota Lottery biennium report from Director Thomas Lawler, who reviewed the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, player programs, and revenue distribution. He reported about $67 million in ticket sales for the 2023-2025 biennium, about $16.2 million transferred overall, including roughly $13.6 million to the general fund, plus transfers to drug task force and compulsive gambling funds. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether it is set by statute. Next, the Department of Corrections presented on criminal justice data sharing and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that jails, courts, DOCR, HHS, and other entities use separate systems with limited interoperability, making real-time communication largely manual. He outlined possible hub or point-to-point IT solutions, but noted cost, vendor, identifier, and data-definition challenges. Robin Schmolenberger followed with an update on a Medicaid data exchange project between DOCR and HHS to suspend and reactivate inmate Medicaid coverage automatically and improve care coordination, with full bi-directional exchange expected in fall 2026. The committee also heard from county representatives on 24-7 sobriety program fees and an AG opinion allowing local sheriffs to use cheaper testing options when courts waive fees. Finally, the North Dakota Racing Commission reviewed a troubling audit. Bruce Johnson acknowledged serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, missing grant documentation, a reversed decision on breeders fund eligibility, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has begun corrective actions, including monthly tracking of the promotion fund cap, stricter grant documentation, written procurement procedures, and clearer eligibility rules in condition books. Members pressed him on how the overspending occurred, whether the commission board would impose consequences, and whether statutory clarification is needed on the promotion fund limit and related spending rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've done an assessment of governance structures nationally as part of this, and we were in Hawaii.
• We've done an assessment of governance structures nationally as part of this, and we were in Hawaii.
• We've done an assessment of governance structures nationally as part of this, and we were in Hawaii.
• We've done an assessment of governance structures nationally as part of this, and we were in Hawaii.
• We've done an assessment of governance structures nationally as part of this, and we were in Hawaii.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency will also use the needs assessment to understand the amount of technical debt.
• And also help us with agency assessments.
• Further, the bill aligns norm reference assessment requirements.
• Further, the bill aligns norm reference assessment requirements.
• Assessment requirements.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery introductions before taking up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley explained that the bill is intended to divert clinically appropriate defendants with mental illness from jail to treatment, create pretrial mental health diversion programs, expand grant uses for mental health and substance abuse reinvestment, require evaluations and treatment follow-up in certain probation and prison settings, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, and establish a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, and the Murphy family’s role in the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then recorded 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then moved into presentations on SB 2500, the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act. Chair Hooper said the Senate budget totals $117.4 billion, reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, keeps employee health contributions level, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and nearly $1 billion in education capital outlay. Committee chairs outlined their portions of the budget, including increased funding for K-12 schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, Medicaid and health services, corrections and courts, transportation and housing, and environmental restoration such as Everglades and water quality projects. Members then asked extensive questions, especially about education funding, school choice, AP/IB and accelerated programs, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, and the FEFP calculations. Senator Burgess repeatedly explained that scholarship funding is being moved “below the line” to improve tracking and that the Senate position is to preserve funding while giving districts more flexibility. Senators also questioned the APD wait list for disability services, opioid settlement spending, arts funding, the My Safe Florida Home condo pilot, and proposed IT and agency restructuring. Several chairs said some issues would be resolved in conference, and no final vote on the budget was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and those assessments are determined by the state board.
• passing scores on educator assessments and<01:31:46.520> those<01:31:46.800> assessments
• c><01:31:47.320> are<01:31:47.560> determined<01:31:48.159> by and those assessments
• are determined by and those assessments are determined by the<01:31:48.440> state<01:31:49.119
• And it's up to the State Board to determine which assessments those are.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:20:36.640> to this program called assessment to this program called assessment to action
• And in assessment to action, we action.
• <01:21:17.760> to the exact page where assessment to the exact page where assessment to action
• assessed valuation factor. assessed valuation factor.
• we're taking and and those assessment we're taking and and those assessment action<03:00:02.880>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one the custodian of sensitive information of property owners necessitated by its duty to fairly assess
• taxes and to a party to litigation or the assessment and decisions it makes in individual cases. as
• She's been a friend of the assessing community and a stalwart defender of our professionalism and our
• Fair and equitable assessments is the cornerstone of the Minnesota property tax system.
• Fair and equitable assessments is the cornerstone of the Minnesota property tax system.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:57.039> that's demographics and need assessment that's demographics and need assessment
• <01:50:33.719> penalties federal government can assess penalties federal government can assess
• You're doing simply the financial assessment, correct?
• You're doing simply the financial assessment, correct?
• You're doing simply the financial assessment, correct?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines. A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year. Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• to validate what scientific assessments to validate what we<00:37:57.680> have<00:37:58.079><
• They're trying to make assessments of the data that they have available to them, and they're only being
• Generally, our brains are not wired to assess things like probability correctly.
• uh things like probability assess uh things like probability correctly<01:37:48.960> like<01:
• <01:43:38.960> the Hampshire can independently assess the Hampshire can independently assess

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The New Hampshire House Special Committee on the COVID Response Efficacy met to continue its fact-finding review of the state’s pandemic response, with the chair restating the committee’s mission and focus on federal guidance, federal funding, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID, patient rights, and vaccination policies. The chair said the committee had previously reviewed materials about the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a COVID vaccine case and CDC internal emails about vaccine risks, and introduced additional research on CDC testing and communications failures. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to summarizing articles and a recent U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report titled *Unmasked: How Biden Health Officials Purposely Turned a Blind Eye Toward COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Signals*. The chair argued that CDC testing and guidance were flawed, citing delayed data publication, confusing guidance, a faulty early COVID test, missed opportunities to study silent spread, and alleged suppression of safety information. The Senate report was described as alleging that FDA and CDC officials knew their surveillance systems could mask vaccine safety signals, that officials discouraged internal analysis from being shared externally, and that newer analytical methods identified multiple statistically significant adverse-event signals. The chair also discussed the V-safe system, VAERS, and claims that federal officials downplayed or concealed adverse-event data. Members and the chair connected these federal issues to New Hampshire, noting changes in the state’s health care landscape since the pandemic, including more urgent care facilities and satellite ERs. The chair suggested New Hampshire should develop independent scientific assessment resources to validate federal information in future emergencies. Representative Wheeler noted that the materials would be entered into the committee record and made available on the House website. No votes were taken; the committee discussed the materials, invited further questions, and indicated that a proposed committee communication would be revisited later after additional supporting information is gathered, with a goal of issuing a statement by the end of June.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did a vendor value assessment with two large entities. I'll mention them here in a little bit.
• So the cloud readiness assessment, what did we really find?
• So the cloud readiness assessment, what did we really find?
• So the cloud readiness assessment, what did we really find?
• Assessment and benchmarking, putting those in place.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:10:36.159> So, subreient risk assessment process.
• So, subreient risk assessment process.
• <01:10:48.320> And we conduct a risk assessment. And we conduct a risk assessment.
• We get their audited risk assessment.
• ,<01:11:24.239> we<01:11:24.560> actually<01:11:24.960> incorporate assessment,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first thing is the state law: the tax rates will increase, the additional assessment goes up,
• So the first thing is the state law: the tax rates will increase, the additional assessment goes up,
• Um, currently, the base tax and additional assessment are both came on for 2025 and they're on again
• And the additional assessment ticked up to 14% again; that's 14% of the tax owed from where it was at
• And the additional assessment ticked up to 14% again; that's 14% of the tax owed from where it was at

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unwinding project and um uh assessing unwinding project and um uh assessing how<00:19:37.600>
• This is something that CMS does every year, where they assess what the state's per capita income is and
• ><00:22:07.760> year<00:22:08.159> where<00:22:08.480> they<00:22:08.799> assess
• <00:22:09.760> um CMS does every year where they assess um CMS does every year where they
• assess the entire expansion population. assess the entire expansion population.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They would be doing that assessment with the parent or guardian to find out, okay, why are you here?
• With that, our ability to do things like assess the patient, determine what is going on, assess them
• for any adverse reactions or assess them for any health care issues.
• <00:32:44.399> adverse going on assess them for any adverse going on assess them for any adverse
• reactions or assess them for any healthc care<00:32:48.159> issues.

Bills: SF0122, SJ0006, SF0121, SF0106

Keywords: medical necessity, insurance, healthcare policy, independent review, claim processing, shared parenting, family law, joint custody, child well-being, parental rights, pharmacy, collaborative care, healthcare, prescriptions, patient safety, Wyoming Pharmacy Act, welfare, Medicaid, employment, eligibility verification

Transcript Highlights:

• taxes which oh by the way are assessed taxes which oh by the way are assessed at<01:03:08.400>
• Boulder, along with the entirety of the 20th Judicial District, already use this assessment each time
• The lethality assessment protocol is voluntary and puts survivors at the center.
• The lethality assessment autonomy.
• <04:57:53.200> Appeals, for the Board of Assessment Appeals, for the Board of Assessment Appeals

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a process where we go and collect and assess that tax from the individual on the purchase
• be happy to share with this committee as to... ...the number of car purchases that we've ended up assessing
• my first payment is going to be due within 60 days, and I haven't registered it, I haven't got it assessed

Summary: The committee met to approve special expenses and then considered two interim study proposals. ISP 2025-069, by Representative Perry and presented by Representative Eaton, would move vehicle sales tax collection from the current registration-based process to the point of sale. Members asked about the current 60-day registration period, the fiscal and administrative impact on DFA, the burden on dealerships, verification and audit issues, and whether the change could affect tax collection or vehicle pricing. DFA said it was neutral on the proposal, noted programming and process changes would be needed, and said the total tax collected would not change, though timing would. The committee approved the ISP and sent it on for research. The committee then took up ISP 2025-071, based on House Bill 1636 from the 2025 session, which would phase out the state soda excise tax over five years if Medicaid trust fund revenue triggers are met. Representative Ray said the bill was intended to continue discussion after the underlying bill failed on the House floor. Members asked about the tax’s annual revenue, its dedication to the Medicaid Trust Fund, and whether the revenue would be replaced. Ray estimated the tax brings in roughly $40 million to $50 million annually and said the proposal did not replace that revenue. DFA was asked to explain how withdrawals from the trust fund are authorized and whether the legislature has oversight, and said it would provide that information later. The committee then adopted the interim study proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a process where we go and collect and assess that tax from the individual on the purchase,
• we'd be happy to share with this committee as to the number of car purchases that we've ended up assessing
• I haven't got it assessed. Who actually owns the car?

Summary: The committee first approved special expenses incurred by the committee, then took up interim study proposals. ISP 2025-069, sponsored by Representative Perry and presented by Representative Eaton, would move collection of sales tax on motor vehicles from the current post-purchase registration process to the point of sale at dealerships. Committee members and DFA discussed the current 60-day registration/tax payment window, possible fiscal and programming impacts on DFA, the added administrative burden on dealers, verification and audit issues, and concerns about whether the change would improve or complicate tax collection. After questions, the committee voted to send the proposal to research/interim study. The committee then considered ISP 2025-071, from Representative Ray, based on House Bill 1636, which would phase out the state excise tax on soda over five years if revenue triggers were met. Representative Ray explained the tax revenue supports the Medicaid trust fund and said the proposal was intended to continue discussion after the bill failed on the House floor in the regular session. Members asked about the annual revenue generated, the trust fund’s other revenue sources, and whether the revenue would be replaced. DFA was asked to provide additional information on how withdrawals from the Medicaid trust fund are authorized and whether the legislature has oversight. The committee then approved the proposal for interim study and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a process where we go and collect and assess that tax from the individual on the purchase
• we'd be happy to share with this committee as to the number of car purchases that we've ended up assessing
• my first payment is going to be due within 60 days, and I haven't registered it, I haven't got it assessed

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I've heard from school districts that have gone through some assessment, some through NYSERDA
• will do an assessment.
• They feel what's going to happen with this summer with the assessment that they found?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee met under Chair Kevin Parker and considered a series of energy, utility, and clean transportation bills. The committee first advanced a bill by Senator Connery on make-ready electric infrastructure for public-serving EV charging, after members raised concerns that the costs of preparing school bus charging infrastructure could be shifted to ratepayers. The committee then advanced Senator Parker’s pilot program for resilient EV charging microgrids, with discussion focused on using existing NYSERDA resources, the role of batteries, and the bill’s purpose in supporting emergency charging during outages. Another bill on heavy distribution centers and EV charging was also advanced after debate over its application to large warehouse and e-commerce facilities. The committee also considered a bill on carport-mounted solar systems that would limit local zoning restrictions. A motion to substitute in a different bill was ruled improper for lack of notice, and the chair’s ruling was upheld on appeal. Members then advanced a PSC guidebook bill on gas and electric rate-making, and a utility shutoff protection bill for medical emergencies, life support equipment, and elderly, blind, or disabled customers, with questions about age definitions and the scope of medical documentation. The committee also advanced the Home Utility Weatherization Jobs Act, which would create a pilot program for electrification and weatherization in disadvantaged communities, with members discussing whether the program would be available at no cost to building owners and how utilities would access capital. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly raised concerns about who would pay for the programs, whether ratepayers or taxpayers would bear the costs, and how much local control would remain under the solar siting bill. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed a recent NYISO report warning about possible summer reliability issues and urged the committee and the PSC to review it closely. The chair noted the report should be considered alongside other state planning documents, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, I wanted to just speak to the issue when we talk about fair market value, the assessment of properties
• Historically, you can have the same home square footage and it gets assessed differently if it's in
• It has more to do with preconceived ideas and notions that people might carry as to how they might assess

Bills: HB3002, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3463, HB3919, HB3985, HB4303

Keywords: counties, county officers, education, training, sunset law, county purchasing, procurement practices, budget management, public accountability, emergency procurement, reverse auction, bidding process, competitive bidding, public procurement, city council regulations, public works, bidding procedures, construction contracts, transparency, public trust

Transcript Highlights:

• We issue comprehensive assessments on the nation's infrastructure. once about every four years.
• localized report that speaks to our state's needs and future outlook. look to pair with the national assessment
• These are just a few of the 16 categories of infrastructure we have assessed. or detailed breakdown,

Keywords: Texas, Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE, population growth, climate change, investment, public safety, engineering standards

Summary: The meeting focused on the release of the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting key findings and recommendations for improving infrastructure across various sectors in the state. Julie Jones, Vice President of ASCE Texas, opened the session by introducing key speakers, including Dr. Art Wood and committee co-chairs Griselda Gonzalez and Austin Mazzarelli. Throughout the discussion, the report's grades were revealed, showing the state's infrastructure received an overall grade of 'C'—adequate but requiring significant attention and investment. Emphasis was placed on the rising challenges posed by climate change and increased population growth, underscoring the need for strategic investments in infrastructure to support Texas' economic growth and public safety.