Transcript Highlights:

• It clears up grammar errors. This still had some mirror errors. It clears up grammar errors.
• This still had some errors from when we came over from the Health Department.
• And just now getting around to cleaning up typos and errors in the rules.
• And because somebody that may not want to get technically into the B class, they may still be doing some
• But they're not into some of the new stuff that's epoxy and that type of stuff that is more technical

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed several agency rules and most were approved without objection. The Department of Agriculture repealed rules tied to the now-repealed Arkansas Catfish Processors Fair Practice Act. The Department of Human Services updated Medicaid policy to clarify child support enforcement treatment for pregnant women, remove the word “forcible” from rape/incest good-cause language, and eliminate a 90-day waiting period for ARKids B after loss of group coverage; members highlighted the significance of the language change and asked for a quick-reference eligibility chart. DHS Medical Services also received approval for a CMS cell and gene therapy model rule for sickle cell drugs and a technical Medicaid-assisted medication-assisted treatment update that was described as cost-neutral and non-substantive. The Department of Labor and Licensing presented several rules implementing recent acts and internal cleanup changes. These included procedures for local construction plan disputes under Act 591, Contractors Licensing Board amendments raising the restricted commercial license threshold from $750,000 to $1.5 million and allowing deferral of owner-complaint investigations during civil litigation, and a similar residential contractors change. The HVACR Licensing Board presented broader revisions under Act 746, including grammar and cleanup changes, elimination of the Class C license with transfer of existing holders to Class B, expansion of allowable work limits, a change to continuing education from four hours annually to eight hours per three-year code cycle, and clarification on training, child labor, and licensing issues. Several members questioned the practical impact of the HVAC changes, but the rule was approved. The committee also granted the Department of Inspector General’s request for exclusion from rulemaking reporting under Act 473, concluding that no rule was necessary because the act already defines the key terms and review process for foreign-adversary cultural exchange agreements. In addition, the Arkansas State Library’s report recommending continuation of its existing rules was accepted. During the status updates on outstanding 2023-session rulemaking, Education explained delays were due to overlapping 2025 amendments and the large volume of rules, while members expressed concern about the length of time since enactment; staff noted only a small number of 2023 rules remain outstanding. The meeting ended after written 2025-session updates were received with no further questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is recognizing that error and um showing a decrease in the committee's total spend.
• This is recognizing that error<00:02:16.800> and<00:02:17.040> and<00:02:17.760> um<
• and and um showing a decrease in error and and um showing a decrease in the<00:02:19.599> in<
• That was a technical correction suggested by OSS.
• <00:13:25.920> suggested technical correction that was suggested technical correction that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• About a third of our overall errors are caused by client errors.
• as not counting client errors in the calculation of the error rate.
• The error rate is based on only the staff errors, or is it also combined with the applicant errors as
• And so, yes, that error rate includes the client errors, and about a third of the overall error rate
• So it's the combination of worker errors and client errors.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are three of the primary errors, if you will, that show up in our error rate.
• You could use the error rate as of 9/30/25 or the error rate as of 9/30/26.
• or the error rate as of 93026. or the error rate as of 93026.
• And so those agency errors also contribute to the error rate.
• to<00:57:28.000> the<00:57:28.400> error errors also contribute to the error errors

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 21 January, 2026; 3:30 PM, 925, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I was kind of a stickler for the 24-hour rule, but I think Chair Quam has maybe made me learn the error
• We're always looking for ways to address any technical inefficiencies that are in the election law or
• But this will give the ability for cities to decline should they not have the capability or technical
• So, it just gives them that ability to decline if they don't have the personnel, technical assistance
• Just technical... Is there discussion on the amendment? Okay. So any opposition?

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm requesting that you write an error and place Albany 16113 intersection in the current 10-year plan
• <00:28:22.799> in >> I I claim there is a drafting error in >> I I claim there
• is a drafting error in this<00:28:23.120> amendment.
• And second, the drafting error. Built.
• And second, the drafting error that I pointed out, where you would have law that says it reverts and

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But there is a small error, as the Senator had pointed out, or a different way of looking at it, and
• So errors are going to occur. We think we can certainly acknowledge that.
• or billing errors.
• Good faith disputes, errors, mechanical errors, even mistakes by the state of Texas.
• Even an error on the part of the state does not result in these sanctions.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first three changes are to fix an error in the definition regarding the date of employment for
• <00:10:09.600> in<00:10:09.839> the changes are to fix an error in the changes are
• to fix an error in the definition<00:10:10.640> regarding<00:10:11.120> the<00:10:11.519
• These technical amendments are to add the words “on or before” after the words “January 1st” to ensure
• These technical amendments are to add the words “on or before” after the words “January 1st” to ensure

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:14:42.000> The<01:14:42.640> um The payment error rate, based on our error rate
• I would um the payment error rate.
• To our SNAP program that our error rates are very high.
• the error the error This<01:54:30.000> this<01:54:30.240> is<01:54:30.520> a
• Um and so just kind of a payment errors.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so basically just a bookkeeping error, it sounds like. On the bank's part, yes, sir.
• Okay, so basically just a bookkeeping error, it sounds like. On the bank's part, yes, sir.
• Excuse the technical difficulties.
• Errors were made when the rehire information was entered into ACEs.
• If we notice errors in our testing, we will expand our testing, and if we stop seeing errors, we'll stop

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then heard audit reports from Tom Bullington, including two reports with findings and three without findings, which were filed without objection. The Department of Public Safety FY24 audit had two findings: a duplicate vendor payment of nearly $3,700 that was later recouped, and a $2.5 million collateral shortfall tied to bank-held cash funds because securities were not properly pledged in the State Police’s name. Agency representatives from Arkansas State Police and the Department of Public Safety answered questions, and members discussed how collateralization works for deposits above FDIC coverage. The committee next reviewed the Department of Transformation and Shared Services FY24 audit, which contained five findings. These included an $800 career service overpayment caused by a rehire data entry error, delayed deactivation and inventory issues for assets including stolen cameras, a double count of more than $940,000 in year-end cash records, $10.3 million in health claims that should have been recorded as fiscal year 2024 payables, and repeated deficiencies in vehicle mileage logs. Agency officials explained that the stolen cameras were recovered through restitution, that inventory reviews are being expanded, and that the vehicle log problems are expected to be addressed through a statewide electronic GPS/telematics system. Members asked about the scope of audit testing, asset tracking, vehicle oversight, and whether the new vehicle system would allow monitoring of use, fuel purchases, geofencing, and possible sharing of vehicles across agencies. Shared Administrative Services said it would administer the statewide system, with departments retaining operational responsibility and access controls. After discussion, the committee filed the report without objection and adjourned, noting the next meeting would be held June 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Treasurer's Office has rejected stuff in error too.
• Our technical schools all around the state provide various programs.
• They have partnerships with Lander University and Piedmont Technical College.
• The strength of our team isn't just technical expertise.
• Some of those solutions were highly technical. Some were surprisingly simple.

Keywords: 977, all

Summary: The committee met to receive a detailed financial operations presentation from the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency, with staff walking members through funding sources, budgeting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and grants management. Sabrina Walker explained VR’s blended funding structure, including federal grants, state appropriations, program income, and interagency contracts, and emphasized that state funds are essential to meeting the federal match and maintenance-of-effort requirements. Members asked repeatedly about transparency, audit controls, and the risk that state cuts could reduce federal drawdowns; staff responded that all reports reconcile back to the SCEIS accounting system, are subject to state audits and internal reviews, and that even modest state reductions could significantly reduce total available funding. The committee also discussed pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities, with staff confirming services are offered through school districts, charters, and private schools, and that contracts are monitored for performance and compliance. The presentation then shifted to budgeting and internal controls. Walker described a zero-based departmental budgeting process, monthly monitoring reports, contingency reserves for unexpected expenses, and a formal annual cycle that culminates in board approval. Members asked about facilities tracking, culture, and how the agency maintains accountability; staff said facilities staff inspect buildings and equipment, supervisors justify line-item requests, and the process has become smoother over time as departments learned the system. Cynthia Johnson followed with an accounts receivable overview, describing invoicing, receipting, aging, customer verification, year-end reporting, and the use of cross-training, shared email inboxes, and spreadsheets as checks and balances. She also explained work training center billing, interdepartmental transfers, and the revolving fund used to issue consumer checks more quickly than standard vendor payments. Olivia Perez presented accounts payable operations, including invoice processing through SCEIS and OnBase, the three-way match, travel reimbursements, revolving fund checks, State Treasury Office interactions, and handling of reversals, rejections, and levy notices. She reported that AP processed 67,723 SCEIS payments, 13,670 case management system invoices, 3,379 travel reimbursements, and 15,693 revolving fund checks in fiscal year 2025, with only 70 payment rejections. The final portion of the meeting covered Grants and Funds Management, where Walker explained federal reporting, drawdowns, payroll allocation, asset tracking, lease and IT contract reviews, cost allocation, and closing packages. She noted upcoming system changes such as S/4HANA, Workiva, and SC Pro, but said the agency is receiving training and feedback opportunities. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the presentation portion beyond approval of the prior minutes and a brief recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's mostly existing law, and then there's just a few technical corrections from the Secretary of State's
• And then there's just a few technical corrections from the Secretary of State's office that they would
• So we won’t have as much human error on our addition.
• We’ll do that for us, so we won’t have as much human error on our addition, and then everything over
• If you discover two, three years after you filed that report that you have indeed made an error, You

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2156, a campaign finance and reporting bill tied to the Secretary of State’s new software system. Members and staff walked through the bill section by section, explaining that much of the text is existing law being reorganized into a new chapter, with technical updates to make reporting easier and more consistent in the new electronic “checkbook” format. The bill also adds or clarifies several categories and definitions, including political donations and volunteer appreciation, and changes the reporting threshold from $200 to $250 to align with a separate inflation-adjustment bill. Other discussed changes included using the deposit date as the contribution receipt date, removing contributor addresses from public disclosure, adding non-statewide political parties to disclosure requirements, and adding political committees to the foreign-national contribution prohibition. The Secretary of State’s office testified that the new software is being developed with a vendor already used in other states, and that it will automatically track contributions, expenditures, balances, deadlines, and reminders, while preserving current public/nonpublic disclosure rules. Members asked about public access, enforcement, maintenance costs, training, and whether the system would allow both checkbook-style entry and aggregation; staff said both options would be available and that the system would flag discrepancies and carry amendments forward through later reports. The committee also discussed late-filing and amendment fees, keeping some existing deadlines such as the 48-hour supplemental statement, and making late fees more visible to the public. The committee adopted the proposed amendments by voice vote and then passed the bill as amended on a 13-0 roll call vote. Members expressed appreciation for the work of the bill sponsor and the Secretary of State’s office, and the chair indicated the bill would likely go to caucus and then the floor before moving to conference with the Senate if needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB4877 makes technical and clarifying changes to Chapter 462 of the Insurance Code relating to the Texas
• A lot of these are really inconsequential clerical errors that we've talked about already.
• However, the PBM uses small clerical errors to claw back that full amount.
• A minor clerical error will not result in the PBM taking back the reimbursement.
• Or there's a small clerical error that's in the claim when it's submitted.

Bills: HB1464, HB1635, HB2516, HB3317, HB3502, HB4012, HB4268, HB4386, HB4877, SB916

Keywords: prescription drugs, drug pricing, pharmacy benefits, health insurance, health benefit plan, insurer, HMO, self-insured employer, public employer, school district, county, municipality, university system, higher education, retirees, dependent coverage, stop-loss coverage, bulk purchasing, group purchasing, purchasing pool

Transcript Highlights:

• generally technical changes. generally technical changes.
• Again, um, this is so technical.
• Again, um, this is so technical.
• Again, um, this is so technical.
• Again, um, this is so technical.

Keywords: HB 534 (only one on the agenda) – 00:02:08, 958, all

Summary: The House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee met to consider House Bill 534, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson, with a committee substitute. Johnson said the bill was the product of interim work with the Secretary of State’s office, the State Board of Elections, county clerks, KREF, and other stakeholders, and that the committee substitute folded in several election-administration changes. He highlighted provisions clarifying the timeline for felony voter-roll removals, allowing the Board of Elections to work with federal agencies to identify non-citizens on the voter rolls, creating a process for those individuals to prove citizenship and vote provisionally, and changing some KREF board appointments. He also described technical campaign-finance changes and said some provisions might still be adjusted through floor amendments. Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, timing, and voter privacy. Rep. Bivens questioned the cost and whether the bill could affect voter records; Johnson responded that the bill itself did not require new equipment or broad new spending, though a special election in a local government failure scenario could create costs. Rep. Hancock and Rep. Marzian argued the bill could create unnecessary burdens on county clerks and questioned whether there was a demonstrated problem to justify the changes. The county clerks’ association, through Rockcastle County Clerk Danetta Ford Allen, opposed the bill as introduced, warning that citizenship checks could wrongly remove eligible voters, that online ballot images or cast vote records could threaten voter privacy and facilitate vote buying, and that the emergency clause would force major changes too close to the May primary. Johnson defended the bill as a targeted response to a real local election failure and said the citizenship data sharing would be limited to name, date of birth, and Social Security number. He also explained that the ballot-image language was permissive and intended to let counties explore emerging technology, but he was open to removing that section or changing the effective date in a floor amendment. He further said he would consider preserving gubernatorial appointments to KREF with Senate oversight instead of shifting appointments to legislative leaders. After discussion, the committee voted 9-2 with one pass to report the bill out, with several members explaining yes votes as support for moving the bill forward while expecting further cleanup, and no votes citing cost, timing, and voter-access concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I will say that I'm sure clerical errors occur and I'm sure other errors occur, right?
• Um, I will say that I'm sure clerical errors occur and I'm sure other errors occur, right?
• I will say that I'm sure clerical errors occur and I'm sure other errors occur, right?
• Because, to me, it seems like there is just some human error, just some large bureaucratic error in a
• just some large some human error just some large bureaucratic<00:46:14.559> error<00:46:15.200

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the January 16, 2024 minutes without objection. Members then heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on its December 2024 performance audit of the Department of Human Services’ outstanding provider debt in Minnesota’s Medicaid fee-for-service program. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall said the audit was launched after the office noticed a large accounts receivable balance during the state financial statement audit and became concerned that DHS did not understand the extent of the overpayments, had poor data, and planned to forgo recovery of some recoverable balances. Deputy Legislative Auditor Lori Lyson explained that DHS had reported $51.7 million in provider debt across about 2,500 providers in fiscal year 2023, with testing focused on long-term care facilities and the largest balances. The audit concluded DHS did not comply with legal requirements and lacked adequate internal controls. Findings included that DHS had not attempted to recover more than $40 million since collection notices were last sent in 2015 and 2019; that the department planned to write off some balances under $1,000 and some older than six years despite the auditors’ view that at least some of that debt may still be recoverable; that DHS overstated accounts receivable in its financial reporting because it had not updated its allowance calculation since 2019; and that MMIS data were insufficient to verify balances, with 20 of 59 sampled providers not reconciling and many dates inaccurate. In response to member questions, the auditors said the overpayments appeared to be routine program adjustments rather than fraud, but the department could not explain many of them because detailed data are only retained for about three years. They also said they did not know which specific DHS leader approved not collecting the debt, and that responsibility for recovery appeared split between program and finance staff, with each pointing to the other. The auditors recommended DHS recover the debt where possible, improve internal controls, retain better documentation, ensure accurate financial reporting, and work with the legislature if needed to clarify recovery authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, this past summer we received a citation for a clerical error on a staff person's orientation
• <00:04:34.479> mistakes providers for minor technical mistakes providers for minor technical
• on a staff person's orientation error on a staff person's orientation record<00:04:46.919> the
• So, um, I do have a phone-a-friend here if you're looking for more sort of technical description.
• for more sort of um technical for more sort of um technical description<00:15:41.920> now

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2617, and first adopted a DE1 amendment. The bill, as amended, was presented as a major child care licensing reform that would narrow licensing to core health and safety requirements, reduce what supporters described as punitive or overly technical citations, and shift quality standards toward accreditation and professional organizations. The author also described the bill as a response to long-standing problems in the current licensing structure and county oversight of family child care. Public testimony was uniformly supportive. Child care providers and directors from Duluth, Rochester, and Esko said the current system penalizes minor clerical or cosmetic issues, creates inconsistent interpretations, and contributes to provider burnout and the child care shortage. They argued the bill would separate health-and-safety licensing from quality measures, which they said are better addressed through accreditation, coaching, and national standards. One testifier also said the bill would help with background study delays by creating a liaison to improve visibility into the process. Members asked about the difference between licensing and accreditation, how other states handle similar models, and how the bill would interact with the department’s licensing modernization work. The bill’s supporters said licensing would remain focused on foundational health and safety items such as ratios, background checks, hygiene, and facilities, while quality standards would be left to national organizations like NAEYC or the National Family Child Care Association. They cited Connecticut, Indiana, and Florida as examples of states using national standards in some form. The committee closed public testimony, took member questions, and the author renewed his motion to lay over House File 2617 as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• error rates error rate penalties. error rates error rate penalties.
• errors.
• And an error of $10 too much and an error of $10 too little is the same.
• It is an error, and it's counted against your error rate.
• error is not fraud. error is not fraud.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also appreciate the inclusion of the errors and omissions out-of-court remedy.
• One of the technical issues we're hoping receives a little bit more conversation One of the technical
• They are technical, administrative, and improvements.
• The phonetic spelling of candidate names in section 20 may sound super technical.
• . in section 20 may sound super technical.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by removing references to specific types of errors and clarifying that the error may be corrected if
• of errors and clarifying that the error of errors and clarifying that the error may<00:44:31.680
• clarify language, and address technical clarify language, and address technical changes.<00:45:08.800
• Section four is technical as well.
• Section six is a technical employees.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:53.279> with<00:11:53.440> the errors oh not errors problems with the errors
• would allow those administrative technical amendments.
• He asked whether that was because of a drafting error.
• The response was that yes, it was because of a drafting error.
• > was the drafting error but because it was the drafting error but because it was eliminated<01

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1/CAC 1, which concerned gubernatorial succession and incapacity. Members supporting an ITL motion said the bill was not workable as written and that New Hampshire already has a constitutional structure that has functioned for more than 200 years. Others noted the state’s two-year gubernatorial term and said the existing protections were sufficient. The committee voted 16-0 to inexpedient to legislate, and the item was placed on consent. The committee then considered House Bill 96, the energy code bill. Supporters argued that updating the code would reduce long-term energy costs, improve climate resilience, help the construction industry, and keep New Hampshire eligible for federal funding. Opponents of ITL said the bill was premature because the 2024 energy code was already under review, housing costs were a major concern, and the testimony on costs was conflicting and not well supported. The committee voted 12-4 for ITL, and a minority report was requested. House Bill 161, dealing with the Native American Affairs Commission, was also sent to ITL by a 16-0 vote and placed on consent. Members cited serious concerns about vacancies, expired terms, missing annual reports, and whether the commission was functioning effectively. Several members said the committee lacked the expertise to resolve the underlying cultural and intergovernmental disputes and that the issues were beyond the committee’s scope. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 428 and adopted Amendment 0328 by a 16-0 vote. The amendment would preserve municipalities’ ability to make administrative building-code amendments, such as permit, inspection, occupancy, and fee procedures, while still barring local governments from setting higher construction standards than the state code. Testimony emphasized that the amendment was meant to clean up and consolidate related language and make the bill administratively workable. After the amendment passed, members discussed the bill in amended form, with supporters and opponents focusing on housing costs, local control, flood protection, and the risk of inconsistent local codes.