Video & Transcript Research : 'waste characterization study'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Jun 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- This is what your study is going to end up with. We have the answers to your study right here.
- We have the answers to your study right here.
- no requirement at all for the results of the study to be used.
- The member from the task force said you studied history.
- A pilot study to study additional funds assist in their total cost of attendance could reveal how the
Summary:
The committee heard several higher education bills. It first approved the consent calendar, which included SB 67 and SB 619. The main discussion centered on SB 437, which would direct the CSU system to develop a fair, evidence-based process for verifying whether someone is a descendant of a person enslaved in the United States, as part of the state’s reparations work. Supporters said the bill fills a gap left by the Reparations Task Force and would create a transparent, credible lineage-verification process; opponents argued genealogy methods already exist, the bill would waste money and delay action, and some raised constitutional concerns. The committee took a vote on SB 437, but the roll was left open after the initial tally showed three ayes and three noes.
The committee then heard SB 790, which would allow California to join the interstate reciprocity agreement for online postsecondary education. The author and supporters said the bill would improve consumer protections for California students taking out-of-state online courses and help California institutions compete more effectively by reducing the burden of seeking separate state approvals. Opponents, including University of Phoenix and other groups, argued the bill conflicted with the existing reciprocity framework, could exclude some institutions, and might not actually secure California’s entry into the agreement. The committee voted 3-1 to pass SB 790 as amended to the Business and Professions Committee, with the roll left open.
The committee also heard SB 391, which would authorize the Community College Chancellor’s Office to charge fees for research partners seeking access to data. Supporters said the office is absorbing significant unfunded workload from data requests and that fees would help recover costs; opponents, including the California Teachers Association community college association, warned the fees could create barriers for faculty and smaller researchers. Members discussed possible exemptions and implementation details. The committee voted 5-1 to pass SB 391 as amended to the Appropriations Committee, with the roll left open. Finally, the committee heard SB 685, a pilot program to provide cost-of-attendance assistance at four CSU campuses for students who experienced homelessness in high school. Supporters said it would help students cover housing, food, and transportation costs and reduce dropout risk; members asked about eligibility and implementation, and the author explained the bill would use McKinney-Vento homelessness designations and target students at risk of “summer melt” and college homelessness.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment committee hears 'Keep it Clean' bill, HF1120 2/25/25
Transcript Highlights:
- The problem of improper disposal of human and solid waste is a real problem and is growing.
- The problem of improper disposal of human and solid waste is a real problem and is growing.
- We provide waste dumpsters so that human waste can be separated from garbage and trash.
- Lake we have a one-of-a-kind waste Lake we have a one-of-a-kind waste removal<00:09:41.800>
program - dumpsters so that human we provide waste dumpsters so that human waste<00:09:49.560>
can <00:09
Summary:
The committee heard House File 1120, the follow-up “Keep It Clean” bill from Representative Andrew Myers, which would create grant funding for local governments and organizations to improve garbage removal and related clean-water programs, especially around frozen lakes and winter recreation areas. Myers said the earlier Keep It Clean effort to enforce litter laws on frozen lakes had already reduced garbage in the water, and he framed this bill as a way to expand that success with additional resources. Testifier Robin Dwight of the Upper Red Lake Area Association and Keep It Clean Coalition described growing problems with trash and human waste on ice, said the coalition now has 60 members representing more than 10,000 lakes, and explained that local programs use dumpsters and separation systems to manage waste. Tom Johnson of the MPCA and Assistant Commissioner Bob Myers of the DNR both testified in support, saying improper disposal of human and solid waste is a real and growing problem and that the public education campaign has changed behavior on the ice.
Members asked about the bill’s results and funding needs. Representative Pelz asked for more context on the coalition’s impact, and Dwight said the group has been active for about three years and recently launched a survey to gather more data on infrastructure needs for wheelhouse users. Representative Fiser asked what dollar amount would be needed, and Myers said the bill seeks general fund dollars, with a rough ideal range of one to two million dollars, though he emphasized he wanted to work with the committee on the final amount and funding mechanism. The discussion also noted a second related bill with a $10 wheelhouse fee as another possible funding option.
No opposition testimony was presented. After discussion, the chair renewed the motion to lay over House File 1120 for possible inclusion in a future bill, and the bill was laid over.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- part um to cut down on the fraud waste part um to cut down on the fraud waste and<00:07:58.280><
- to make sure that kids are well fed at school, and some feel that's wasteful.
- to make sure that kids are well fed at school, and some feel that's wasteful.
- to make sure that kids are well fed at school, and some feel that's wasteful.
- from the 54 or $640 million in waste from the 54 or $640 million in waste Fraud<00:41:50.560>
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Education. (6-3-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:20:17.360>
spending and wasteful spending and wasteful spending on<00:20:18.840>faculty - But, um, they're the experts in the field of study.
- My PhD is a study of higher ed.
- My PhD is a study in higher education.
- My PhD is a study of<01:25:34.480>
higher <01:25:34.800>ed.
Summary:
The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met for its first summer interim meeting, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and took roll. The first presentation came from Jerry Gels, principal of Ignite Institute in Erlanger, who focused on the rising cost of dual credit. He said dual credit tuition has increased from about $150 to $290 for a three-credit course over roughly five years, which he argued is discouraging participation, especially for working-class and low-income students. He cited Ignite data and broader college outcomes to argue dual credit improves college persistence, shortens time to degree, and reduces student debt, noting that many of his students enter college with substantial credit and that low-income students at Ignite have increasingly participated after targeted efforts and scholarship use. He also said the instructional labor is largely paid by county school systems, so he questioned the size of the tuition increase and said the committee should examine how the costs are being set and whether college tuition should be stabilizing as more students arrive with credits already earned.
Members asked about who pays for dual credit, the role of state scholarship support, and whether tuition varies by institution. Gels said students in his district generally pay the dual credit cost themselves, though some districts may cover it, and he noted the dual credit scholarship now covers fewer classes than before. He said the price appears to be set centrally rather than varying by university, and he emphasized that the higher cost is creating barriers even though the courses are taught largely by local teachers on school payrolls. He also described Ignite’s efforts to expand access for free- and reduced-lunch students, saying participation among that group rose from 27% with no dual credit to about 90-92% taking at least one dual credit class.
The committee then heard from the Goldwater Institute, represented by Michael Frazier and Dr. Tim Minella by Zoom. They argued Kentucky’s public universities should face stronger accountability and transparency, citing declining public confidence in higher education, rising costs, and what they described as administrative growth and research spending that does not clearly benefit students or the Commonwealth. They proposed requiring a 10-year accounting of staffing growth by category, comparing it to enrollment and low-income Kentucky enrollment, and limiting non-STEM faculty teaching releases for research unless approved under a baseline consent process. They also criticized certain university-funded research projects as examples of misdirected spending and said public reporting should distinguish Kentucky residents from non-residents more clearly, pointing to a reported decline in low-income in-state undergraduate enrollment. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 048 Mar 3rd, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Wasted<01:02:12.880>
tax <01:02:13.200>dollars <01:02:13.520>breed <01:02:13.920> - Wasted tax dollars breed cynicism.
- Wasted tax dollars breed cynicism. cynicism<01:02:15.520>
paving <01:02:16.880>the <01:02 - And studies show gun control doesn't reduce crime. Chicago's strict laws haven't curbed violence.
- Uh come feed your soul and we'll study.
Summary:
The Senate opened with a quorum present, approved the February 27, 2026 journal, and then moved out of order to consider resolutions. Senate Resolution 003, designating March as Arts Education Month in Colorado, was read at length and supported by Senators Snyder and Basley, who emphasized the educational, social, and economic value of arts instruction and noted concerns about unequal access across the state. Senator Coleman and Senator Danielson also spoke in support, highlighting personal experiences with the arts and the importance of preserving arts programs in schools. The resolution passed unanimously, 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors.
The chamber then adopted House Joint Resolution 1019, recognizing Caregiving Youth Day. Senator Judah described caregiving youth as children and teens who provide substantial care for family members while balancing school and other responsibilities, citing statewide and national data on the prevalence of youth caregivers and the risks they face. Senator Gonzales also spoke in support, urging the legislature to recognize and support this often invisible work. The resolution passed 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors.
The Senate next took up third-reading consent calendar House Bill 1035, which enacts the 2025 Colorado Revised Statutes as positive and statutory law; it passed 32-3, with Senators Baisley, Lynda Zamora Wilson, and Long voting no. Senate Bill 53, expanding eligible borrowers for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority mortgages, then passed 29-6 after no-vote requests from Senators Zamora Wilson, Amabile, Sullivan, Hinrichsen, Baisley, and R. Pelton. House Bill 1064, concerning modifications to the youthful offender system, passed 23-12 after several no-vote requests, and Senate Bill 43, concerning regulation of firearm barrel transfers and related criminal penalties, was introduced for final passage with Senator Zamora Wilson delivering extended opposition focused on Second Amendment and fiscal concerns; the transcript cuts off before the vote on that bill.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Information Technology Oversight Committee (7-9-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- They did a study and determined that there is a dark fiber market in Kentucky and, in fact, that maybe
- The consultant, CTC, did a study and determined that there is a dark fiber market in Kentucky and, in
- of our salesforce events and a study of our salesforce which<01:04:08.079>
has <01:04:08.319>< - <01:35:51.760>
Uh <01:35:52.320>that that they are not being wasted. - Uh that that they are not being wasted.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:00:15
Kentucky Department of Education 00:01:20
Kentucky Communications Network Authority 00:36:45
Accelecom 01:01:22
Auditor of Public Accounts 01:29:50, 958, all
Summary:
The Information Technology Oversight Committee met to hear a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education officials David Couch and Mike Lingham on the history and current status of Kentucky’s K-12 internet network, including its relationship to KentuckyWired. They described the original KETS design from 1995, when KDE established district internet hubs and left local districts to connect to them, and said that model helped Kentucky become a national leader in school connectivity and cloud-based services. They also emphasized the importance of E-rate eligibility, saying it has saved the state substantial money and remains central to KDE’s network contracting.
Couch and Lingham said the current “next generation Kentucky K-12 internet” contract with Education Networks of America is more reliable, offers more functionality, and costs less than the prior system, including lower bandwidth and firewall costs. They explained that the transition was complicated by build-out and provisioning issues, especially the need for more “type two” connections through local providers, which pushed some implementation past the June 30, 2024 E-rate deadline. As a result, 39 sites remain on type two connections, and KDE absorbed the loss of federal discount dollars for the portion of the transition that extended into July.
The witnesses also discussed home internet access for students. They said KDE has tracked home access for about 20 years and estimates about 4.5% of students still lack adequate internet at home, with roughly 3% able to reach access nearby and 1.5% having no access. They said the biggest barrier is usually cost rather than lack of available lines, and noted that temporary hotspot support during COVID helped students continue schoolwork. Senator Williams asked about the costs of the transition, the current type two sites, and the potential cost of any future transition, but the transcript cuts off before a full answer was given.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, we're in contact with you a lot over the course of the past few years about studies.
- You know, we're in contact with you a lot over the course of the past few years about studies.
- have to have to Our members have about a billion dollars of economic impact in Massachusetts, per a study
- In a recent study done by the University of California, a startling one-third of all pharmacies opened
- Results of a study that Pew commissioned on the cost of insufficient savings in Massachusetts indicate
Summary:
The committee held an informational opening hearing for the Financial Services Committee, with Chair Murphy and Senator Feeney introducing new and returning members and explaining that no bills were being heard that day beyond brief introductory testimony. Commissioner of Banks Mary Gallagher thanked the committee for last session’s money transmission modernization law, and several members echoed appreciation for her office’s work. The hearing then featured a long series of stakeholder introductions and overviews of their priorities for the session.
Testimony covered a wide range of financial, insurance, housing, health care, and consumer issues. Banking and mortgage groups discussed housing affordability, foreclosure delinquencies, flood insurance, regulatory changes, and the impact of federal policy shifts. Insurance representatives raised concerns about auto and homeowners market pressures, labor rates, tariffs, rebates, e-titling, third-party litigation funding, and public adjuster restrictions. Consumer and advocacy groups highlighted debt collection reform, earned wage access, retirement savings access, public banking, and consumer protections in financial services. Several speakers also emphasized the need for committee expertise and offered themselves as resources for future bills.
Health-related organizations focused on insurance mandates, prior authorization, behavioral health access, pharmacy benefit manager reform, community health center funding, maternal health and midwifery reimbursement, and anesthesia reimbursement parity. Other groups, including credit unions, retailers, auto dealers, dental and medical associations, and behavioral health providers, described their roles in the Commonwealth and previewed legislation or policy areas they expect to follow this session. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended after testimony from the sign-up list and a few late additions.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- That led to a groundwater study committee in 2021 that was chaired by Regina Cobb of the legislature,
- and the NRCD in our district sat on that study committee.
- They were opposed to any recommendations that actually came out of that study committee, including being
- of the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system and to provide funding for a necessary system study
- of the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system and to provide funding for a necessary system study
Keywords:
petting zoos, animal encounters, public health, handwashing, supervision, sanitization, safety regulations, civil penalties, water supply, groundwater, Phoenix, certificates, long-term storage credits, water conservation, municipal provider, replenishment obligation, water banking, annual report, Arizona Water Banking Authority, water supply management
Summary:
The Senate Natural Resources Committee first considered two nominations. Jessica Manuel was introduced as a nominee to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, where testimony emphasized her science background and experience working with agencies and stakeholders. Members asked about wolf management and her qualifications, and the committee voted 8-0 to recommend her confirmation. Stephen Williams was then introduced for the Arizona Livestock Loss Board, with discussion focused on his livestock and State Land Department experience and how the board handles wolf-related livestock losses. The committee also voted 8-0 to recommend his confirmation.
The committee then took up several bills. SB 1785, which would codify ADWR’s one-mile safe-harbor policy for recovery wells near groundwater storage facilities, passed 5-3 after ADWR said it largely reflected current practice but requested clarifying language. SB 1082, requiring sanitation measures and signage for petting zoos and similar animal encounter exhibits, drew strong testimony from a parent advocate describing severe E. coli/HUS cases and opposition from fair/agriculture representatives who argued the bill was too broad and unnecessary; after amendment, it failed 4-4. SB 1336, extending the State Land Department and creating a temporary oversight committee with a broad amendment on lease holdovers, notice periods, and committee membership, passed 6-2 after significant debate over the committee’s composition and scope.
Later, SB 1200, which would require ADWR to revisit certain Phoenix AMA assured water supply applications using older groundwater models, passed 5-3 despite opposition from CAP and ADWR over added replenishment obligations and concerns about relying on outdated models. SB 1335, requiring the Arizona Water Banking Authority to post its annual report online, passed 7-1. SB 1559, creating rural groundwater management work groups in each basin to report to ADWR, passed 5-3 after supporters said it would improve basin-level coordination and opponents argued it created new bureaucracy without enforcement tools. SB 1761, appropriating $47.7 million to the University of Arizona for the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Experiment Station, passed 7-1 amid broad support but some concern about funding levels. Finally, SCM 1007, urging Congress to divest and improve the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system, passed unanimously.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine stemming the tide of antisemitism in America. Mar 5th, 2025 at 09:15 am
Senate Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- Junior at Tufts University studying international relations concentrating in the Middle East.
- I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and I'm a junior at Tufts University, studying inter-religious
- studies.
- I think that there's some schools that can be studied.
- And this is not only in liberal studies departments. I've taken dance classes.
Keywords:
anti-Semitism, hate crimes, college campuses, civil rights, public safety, protests, intimidation
Summary:
The committee meeting focused on addressing the rising tide of anti-Semitism across the nation. Among the discussions, members expressed concerns about the disturbing acts of hate witnessed on college campuses, with instances of harassment and intimidation targeting Jewish students being highlighted. High-profile incidents, including vandalism and the display of extremist symbols, prompted urgent calls for investigations and measures to protect civil rights. The importance of moral clarity in confronting such hate crimes was emphasized as well, outlining the responsibilities of leaders to ensure safety and uphold justice.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee Jun 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And they said, because we pull so much hazardous waste. facility.
- That includes hazardous waste collection and recycling.
- waste.
- David Krieger for Waste Connections, in support.
- Julie Lachewski on behalf of Rethink Waste, in support. Thank you.
Summary:
The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard three main bills after initially lacking a quorum and deferring the consent calendar. SB 501 by Senator Allen would expand California’s battery extended producer responsibility program to include medium-format batteries, such as those used in e-bikes, lawn equipment, and portable power systems. Supporters from local governments, recycling groups, environmental organizations, and battery stewardship interests said the bill would reduce fire risks, improve collection and recycling, and close a gap in existing law. One industry witness sought clarification about off-highway vehicles and a battery association requested guardrails for mixed battery formats; the California Retailers Association moved from opposition to neutral after discussions with the author.
SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide, state-funded low-income drinking water rate assistance program administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, contingent on funding. The author and supporters said many Californians face water debt and that the bill would help address affordability while working around Proposition 218 limits on local ratepayer-funded assistance. Water districts, local governments, environmental justice groups, and conservation organizations testified in support, and there was no opposition.
SB 1259 by Senator Blakespear, as amended, would require refineries to provide advance information on closure, cleanup costs, and timelines to help communities plan for refinery transitions and remediation. Supporters, including the City of Benicia, environmental justice groups, and advocacy organizations, argued that communities need transparency before closures occur and that other energy sectors already provide similar planning information. Opponents from labor, petroleum, and business groups argued the bill was unnecessary, burdensome, and could discourage refinery investment or signal premature decline of the industry. After extensive debate, the committee voted to pass SB 1259 as amended to the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, and also approved SB 501 and SB 1125; the consent calendar items SB 1253 and SJR 13 were adopted.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Committee OKs bill to strengthen whistleblower protections for reporting waste, fraud 2/11/25
Transcript Highlights:
- This is clarifying a statutory definition for abuse, fraud, and waste.
- it um currently abuse fraud and waste it um currently exists<00:00:50.719>
in <00:00:50.879> protected but that exact category waste protected but that exact category waste fraud<00:03:20.879 - <00:04:47.080>
Fraud protection for reporting of waste Fraud protection for reporting of waste - they're quick though, is fraud, waste, and abuse considered a crime under state law?
Summary:
House File 23, authored by Representative Robbins, was heard on a motion to advance it to the next committee. The bill, as amended by the A1 author’s amendment, would clarify the statutory definition of abuse, fraud, and waste and expand whistleblower protections for state employees who report those issues to legislators, the legislative auditor, or constitutional officers. Robbins said the measure is intended to protect state workers and align whistleblower language with existing Inspector General definitions; he also cited recent fraud investigations as the backdrop for the bill and noted a Senate companion, SF 475, with bipartisan support.
Devon Bruce of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees testified in support of the bill’s protective intent but raised concerns that it only covers classified state employees, creating uneven treatment between classified and unclassified workers and between state and local public employees. Bruce also warned that the bill does not fully address data practices issues, including the handling of nonpublic, private, or proprietary information, and suggested broader privacy protections for whistleblowers’ identities. In response to questions, Robbins said the bill was not meant to change data practices law and that those issues should be addressed separately.
Members debated whether the bill was ready for further consideration and whether it should also go to the fraud oversight committee or Judiciary. Motions to lay the bill over and to re-refer it to the fraud prevention and state oversight committee both failed. After a roll call vote, the committee approved the bill 7-6 and sent House File 23 to Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Health Insurance Affordability Task Force, June 17, 2026 - AM
Health Insurance Affordability Task Force
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:03:57.800>
that <00:03:58.000>we <00:03:58.160>could <00:03:58.360>study - task force so that we could study task force so that we could study and<00:03:59.760>
perhaps - <01:09:05.720>
is interesting case study recently is interesting case study recently is looking - ,<01:46:36.840>
more you're going to have more waste, more you're going to have more waste - And MIT randomized control study on hot spotting also had similar results in 2020.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Republican Caucus Members Present Bill Package Addressing Waste, Fraud and Abuse - 02/12/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I would argue that the waste component is exponentially larger than that, meaning waste that services
- and rooting out the causes of waste, fraud, and abuse.
- and rooting out the causes of waste, fraud, and abuse.
- and rooting out the causes of waste, fraud, and abuse.
- We've talked a lot today about the problem with fraud, waste, and abuse.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Judiciary Committee in Session Mar 10th, 2026 at 03:04 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, with your respect, Senator, I think the way that you asked certain questions were characterized
- I mean, just from 2022 to 2024, these swatting events have gone up 75%, according to two studies I presented
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities.
The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/21/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- The Senate adopted this bill unanimously, adopting an amendment establishing a commission to study regulatory
- Because of the lithium batteries, they are considered hazardous waste, and they have to be stored and
- Because of the lithium batteries, they are considered hazardous waste, and they have to be stored and
- ,<00:20:49.360>
and they are considered hazardous waste, and they are considered hazardous - waste waste 40<01:22:08.240>
hours <01:22:08.520>a <01:22:08.600>month <01:22:09.440
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Special Session 2026 Part 2 May 8th, 2026
Alabama House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- All I ask for you today is stop wasting our taxpayers' money.
- All I ask for you today is stop wasting our taxpayers' money.
- All I ask for you today is stop wasting our taxpayers' money.
- All I ask for you today is stop wasting our taxpayers' money.
- All I ask for you today is stop wasting our taxpayers' money.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
PUBLIC HEALTH- HOUSE HEALTH SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE Jun 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, members, when we convened this meeting, we had three interim studies before us.
- Since that time, two of the sponsors have decided to hold their interim studies for the time being, and
- We had a working group, our interim study before COVID, on the non-emergency behavioral health transportation
- those people, it's just a cycle of getting worse and worse and going in and out of jails, which is a waste
Summary:
The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to behavioral health as the main topic. Representatives Woodridge and Vaught described the work of the behavioral health working group, saying Arkansas needs a more proactive system that improves access, reduces red tape, and focuses on a few achievable policy changes for the 2027 session rather than many bills. Members discussed barriers such as low reimbursement, workforce shortages, licensing and credentialing hurdles, rural access problems, and the need to better use community providers, compacts, and step-down services.
Director Paula Stone of DHS’s Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health gave a detailed overview of the behavioral health system. She said Medicaid pays for more than 75% of behavioral health services in Arkansas and explained that when people are jailed or admitted to the state hospital, Medicaid generally stops, leaving state general revenue to cover care. She described current efforts including family-centered treatment for children, community reintegration group homes, a new adolescent substance use disorder residential unit, expanded community mental health center contracts, a secured restoration unit to reduce state hospital backlogs, and an IMD waiver to allow Medicaid payment for certain residential services. She also said DHS is working on crisis services, forensic evaluations, and provider rebidding in areas previously served by ERISA.
Members asked about reimbursement for jail services, the lack of a statewide behavioral health dashboard, civil commitment options, crisis stabilization units, and whether Arkansas should expand step-down or long-term facilities for people who cannot safely return to the community. Stone said the state hospital backlog remains significant, average stays are still about 14 months, and crisis stabilization units have had mixed success, with Fort Smith and Jonesboro performing better than Fayetteville and Little Rock. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more substantive discussion planned for August.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
October 8, 2025 - 10:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- an 18 credit excelled in Houma as well as a career and technical education, pathway and to advance studies
- And there are your mentors that are academic that are helping them with coursework and studying and that
- to let you off the hook today if you could just dive in a little bit and tell us about your pilot study
- So I don't waste any more time later.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Sep 12th, 2025
Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We had one of our services that we use for economics conduct a study of 66 inflationary periods in various
- His study would indicate that we might have another spike in inflation coming.
- We did a study several years ago, and we've just updated it not too long ago that showed historically
- It seems like such a waste because just warehousing them instead of integrating them to solve these problems
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- , a private citizen could just challenge a DA's judgment that the evidence simply doesn't warrant wasting
- A study of U.S. adolescents aged 12 to 15 found that adolescents who spent more time on social media
- Are there studies going on on these topics here in Texas?
- Yes, so there actually is a... big study being done in the state of Florida right now and they released
Keywords:
SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty