Transcript Highlights:

• involved in not being paid, but we're in the middle right now of doing a request for proposal to do a procurement
• to<01:14:47.199> um<01:14:47.760> do<01:14:47.960> a<01:14:48.159> procurement
• <01:14:48.639> to<01:14:49.560> uh proposal to um do a procurement to uh proposal to
• um do a procurement to uh support<01:14:50.239> schools<01:14:50.600> with<01:14:50.760

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division III held an informational hearing on Medicaid, Medicare, Choices for Independence, and related financing, while postponing nursing facility financing and the county cap discussion to a later date. DHHS officials Ann Landry, Jonathan Ballard, and Medicaid Director Henry Litman provided an overview of Medicaid’s role, noting it is a federal-state partnership with state-specific eligibility and benefits, and emphasizing that Medicaid is a major funding and programmatic support for other DHHS initiatives. They also distinguished Medicaid from Medicare and explained that Medicaid funding is not the same as grant funding, though some providers may also receive federal grants through other channels. The presentation focused on New Hampshire’s relatively small Medicaid program and why it differs from national averages. Officials said about 184,000 residents are covered, roughly one in seven Granite Staters compared with one in five nationally, and attributed the difference largely to the state’s higher per-capita income and older population. They highlighted that about 65% of Medicaid-enrolled adults in New Hampshire are working, that only 22% of births are covered by Medicaid versus 42% nationally, and that the state’s uninsured rate is lower than the national rate. Members asked about covered services, income limits, federal matching rates, and the names of optional eligibility groups; staff explained that New Hampshire offers the optional groups discussed, with matching rates varying by category, including 90% for Granite Advantage and certain other groups, and 65% for children above the required level. A substantial portion of the hearing covered eligibility rules and recent policy changes. Officials reviewed the history of Medicaid, including HCBS waivers, the CFI program, Katie Beckett, the Olmstead decision, the ACA, and the end of continuous enrollment after the public health emergency. They also discussed the 2023 legislative expansion of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months and child eligibility changes. In response to questions, DHHS said it is tracking utilization and costs for the postpartum expansion and reported that many maternal deaths occur after the prior 60-day coverage period, often involving substance use disorder or suicide; they said the longer coverage is intended to improve access to treatment and prevention. The committee also walked through household-income examples, clarified that Medicaid eligibility is based on household income and categorical rules, and confirmed that Granite Advantage ends at 138% of the federal poverty level unless another categorical basis applies. No votes were taken, and the hearing remained informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but usually that is all done through CMS audits. >> Representative Nelson. Mr. Nelson. >> Yes.
• Um, but usually that is all done through CMS audits.
• So we are audited by the federal government every year, and then we are also audited usually by state
• Today, telematics systems can provide auditable records of location, routes, timestamps, and mileage
• records of uh location, auditable records of uh location, routes,<01:42:21.360> timestamps,<01

Bills: HF4421, HF1937, HF4675, HF4715, HF4684

Keywords: county cost share, economically distressed county, human services finance, substance use disorder treatment, SUD services, civil commitment, state aid, county levy, poverty threshold, tax-exempt acreage, property tax exemption, Minnesota human services, county fiscal relief, local government finance, chemical dependency, behavioral health, PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services

Transcript Highlights:

• , while presuming the chief elections officer can execute these expanded duties despite unresolved audit
• When Common Cause audited the in-person voting on the day of, we saw a lot of people registering to vote
• duties can execute these expanded duties despite<01:16:36.480> unresolved<01:16:37.199> audit
• unresolved audit failures and accountability<01:16:39.199> gaps.
• When Common Cause audited the to do.

Bills: HB1546

Keywords: Medicaid, health insurance, healthcare access, insurance subsidies, pilot program, affordable care, preventive services, low-income, community engagement, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I thought with the presentation of the governor's bill, they did discuss the audit function and the
• It's a very common one that's made, that if you can hold people accountable through the audit function
• /c><01:47:08.239> discuss<01:47:09.199> um<01:47:09.520> the<01:47:09.840> audit
• <01:47:10.239> function they did discuss um the audit function they did discuss um the audit
• <01:48:01.679> function accountable through the audit function accountable through the audit

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you've done successful services in the past, and we are audited through DHS quarterly with reports
• and then annually with a visit, plus fiscal auditing, if you've done poorly in the past, you don't score
• through<00:28:54.519> DHS<00:28:55.519> quarterly<00:28:56.240> with are audited
• through DHS quarterly with are audited through DHS quarterly with reports<00:28:56.919> and<00
• so if if you've uh plus fiscal auditing so if if you've done<00:29:01.480> poorly<00:29:01.799

Bills: HF2367, HF2319, HF2523, HF1742, HF671, HF2331, HF2722, HF2406, HF1674

Keywords: HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust

Transcript Highlights:

• They also have a team that audits, um, uh, that conducts compliance checks and audits of programs that
• 10.120> um<01:16:10.840> uh<01:16:11.440> that<01:16:12.040> conducts that audits
• um uh that conducts that audits um uh that conducts compliance<01:16:13.120> checks<01:16:13.400
• > and<01:16:13.520> audits<01:16:13.840> of<01:16:14.000> programs compliance
• checks and audits of programs compliance checks and audits of programs that<01:16:14.480> receive

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs. Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers. Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children. Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We should make competitive procurement for the government.
• We should make<00:14:37.199> competitive<00:14:37.920> procurement<00:14:38.800> for
• <00:14:39.040> the make competitive procurement for the make competitive procurement for the

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we've had an audit to come in and they've been dinged on certain things that they didn't do.
• And then we've had an audit to come in and they've been dinged on certain things that they didn't do.
• 39.840> to<01:25:40.000> come<01:25:40.080> in >> And then we've had an audit
• <01:34:29.120> With and less audits within the agency.
• With and less audits within the agency. With that,<01:34:29.600> Mr.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if I know that the state's audit division is looking into the program now and would release their
• And if I know that this floor amendment would require the audit report to have a clean bill of health
• I know that a sample audit of the EFA I know that a sample audit of the EFA program<01:41:10.480>
• And if I know that the state's audit And if I know that the state's audit division<01:41:19.280>
• LBA uh budget uh performance audits LBA uh budget uh performance audits rarely<01:42:52.320>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our audit of anti-Semitic incidents just came out for 2024.
• of anti-Semitic incidents across the country, specifically looking at what we found in our clinical audit
• The first is, I’ve studied the ADL audit that you just released for 2024 incidents, which is very important
• And from Massachusetts, the ADL audit indicates that 63% of incidents were, quote, Israel- or Zionist

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Anti-Semitism met to focus on the role of law enforcement in responding to anti-Semitic incidents. After approving amended minutes, the chair opened with remarks emphasizing that the Commission would confront anti-Semitism from any political direction and outlined the day’s agenda: extremist activity trends, hate-crime statutes, intergovernmental coordination, and security funding. The first presentation came from Ben Pott of the ADL Center on Extremism, who described rising extremist propaganda and anti-Semitic incidents nationally and in Massachusetts, highlighting groups such as NSC-131, GDL, and Patriot Front. He said these groups increasingly use anti-Zionist language, public disruptions, and online platforms to spread hate, and recommended prosecution where possible, civil litigation, education about symbols and tactics, and community reporting to law enforcement and ADL. Assistant District Attorney David Solvin then reviewed federal and Massachusetts hate-crime laws, including federal civil-rights and hate-crime statutes and state provisions for civil-rights violations, assault and battery to intimidate, religious vandalism, terroristic threats, and criminal harassment. He explained that many of these laws enhance penalties based on bias motivation, but some do not create standalone offenses or qualify as dangerousness predicates under current law. Commissioners pressed him on hypothetical fact patterns involving anti-Semitic slurs, symbols, and attacks, as well as on the limits of existing law for pretrial detention and the need for better data collection. Solvin said more training, better reporting, and possible legislative updates could improve enforcement, and he noted pending bills that would require more regular hate-crime reporting and expand protected classes. Detective Lieutenant Ryan Cepiel of the State Police Anti-Terrorism Unit and HART described the unit’s creation in 2023, its role in implementing prior hate-crime task force recommendations, and its work with local, state, federal, and community partners. He said HART has trained civil-rights officers, developed recruit and in-service curricula, created resource pamphlets and a Teams page, and is building a GIS-based reporting portal to improve tracking and victim support. Cepiel reported a year-over-year rise in reported anti-Semitic hate crimes in Massachusetts, while noting that current numbers are incomplete because reporting is inconsistent and there is no mandate for local departments to notify HART. Commissioners discussed underreporting, rural versus eastern Massachusetts coverage, the need for more officers and training, and the importance of making victims feel safe coming forward. The meeting ended with agreement that better data, training, and coordination are needed to address the rise in anti-Semitic hate and bias incidents.

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibiting managed care organizations, or as they're known, MCOs, from using extrapolation in provider audits
• and ensures that recoupments or repayments are based Provider audits and ensures that recoupments or
• and this bill seeks to strictly prohibit managed care organizations from using extrapolation in the audit
• Representative Egan: This bill prohibits the use of extrapolation in the audit of health care providers

Bills: HR188, HR189, HR190, HR191, HR179, HR180, HR181, HR182, HR183, HR185, HR186, HR187, HCR75, HCR76, HCR77, HCR78, HCR79, SCR24, SCR36, SCR39, SB64, SB107, SB152, SB185, SB217, SB232, SB278, SB290, SB294, SB320, SB321, SB419, SB424, SB436, SB440, SB468, SB470, SB476, SB482, SB489, HCR32, SCR11, HB12, HB42, HB205, HB222, HB267, HB324, HB325, HB350, HB478, HB610, HB617, HB679, HB745, HB749, HB797, HB807, HB821, HB896, HB979, HB992, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1166, HB1172, HB1173, HB1193, HB1207, HB1218, HB1223, SB256, SB180, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HB59, HB74, HB159, HB330, HB364, HB414, HB458, HB525, HB568, HB786, HB1008, HB1033, HB1034, HB1041, HB1062, HB1070, HB1079, HB1112, HB1118, HB1139, HB1151, HB1176, HB1182, HB1196, HB1214, HB1241, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB368, HB433, HB441, HB447, HB466, HB481, HB741, HB1242, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, HB615, HB864, HB1103, HB1175, HB31, HB225, HB608, HB664, HB897, HB977, HB1003, HB1160, HB1180, HB911, HB306, HB366, HB1161, HB1230, HB181, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB772, HB773, HB996, HB1035, HB1058, HB1082, HB1113, HB1189, HB1234, HB1240

Keywords: hunting dogs, field trials, working dogs, dog training, greyhound protection, Farm Bill, federal overreach, sportsmen, sportswomen, wildlife management, conservation, rural communities, Louisiana hunting, hunting tradition, animal welfare, dog breeders, dog owners, outdoor recreation, Kathy Taylor, musical achievements

Transcript Highlights:

• During the first phase on the contract with Optum, they did a four-year claim audit of the 14 high-risk
• did<00:13:02.480> a<00:13:02.639> 4-year<00:13:03.120> claim<00:13:03.360> audit
• <00:13:03.680> of<00:13:03.839> the<00:13:04.079> 14 did a 4-year claim audit
• of the 14 did a 4-year claim audit of the 14 high-risisk<00:13:04.959> programs<00:13:05.440>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's important to figure out what happened, and I think they are doing forensic audits.
• doing<00:34:06.560> forensic they are doing forensic they are doing forensic >> audits
• c> think<00:34:09.440> it<00:34:09.679> it's<00:34:10.159> more >> audits
• Um, but I think it it's more >> audits.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to just let it come up on your audit that you've overspent your budget.
• If you overspend your budgets, plan on carrying that in your audits for years to come.
• We had a recent audit for last year, but there were no audit findings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paige Lauren, the audit manager who worked on the report.
• Paige<00:41:32.720> Lauren<00:41:33.119> on<00:41:33.359> the<00:41:33.520> audit
• <00:41:33.839> manager<00:41:34.240> who Paige Lauren on the audit manager who Paige
• Lauren on the audit manager who worked<00:41:34.720> on<00:41:34.880> the<00:41:35.359

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on June 20, 2025 and first approved the May 16 minutes and the non-removed items on the consent calendar. It then took up a Health and Human Services item for $5 million in additional nursing facility payments (FIS 25158). HHS explained the transfer was for private and county nursing facilities and was the third and final transfer in FY25, funded through federal matching dollars, county cap funds, and general funds. Members asked about the size of the transfer, whether it signaled future shortfalls, and how projections were developed; HHS said the request reflected updated estimates and that they did not expect similarly large transfers going forward. The committee adopted the item. The committee also considered an ARPA-related item to remove a line from a funding request because the issue had been resolved and the positions/funds were no longer needed. Members approved the item with that line removed. Commissioner Caswell then answered questions about ARPA spending authority, saying remaining projects must be expended by December 31, 2026 and that the item was intended to preserve authority for ongoing capital projects; any unspent funds would revert to the federal government. Members noted the recurring nature of these ARPA adjustments and the need to keep tracking deadlines. The Department of Corrections presented several items, including a $10 million request tied to staffing shortages and overtime costs, plus additional corrections-related funding items. Interim commissioner John Skipa said 18 employees had received preliminary layoff notices pending final budget approval. He and staff said the overtime need was driven by staffing shortages, later collective bargaining pay increases, and double-time compensation for uniform officers forced into overtime; they also said one housing unit section had been closed to reduce staffing pressure. In response to questions about morale and operational risk, Skipa said the department was under strain, that leadership was in transition, and that staffing or budget reductions could create litigation risk. The committee also heard about the Site Evaluation Committee’s budget shortfall, which was attributed to fewer new facility applications but continued casework and public engagement, and approved that item. Finally, members discussed a YDC claims administration item, questioning the role and cost of the Verald Dana consultant; staff said the firm handles intake and processing of claims for the Attorney General’s office and had been involved since the claims process was created. Several items were adopted after brief discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• backlog was the, um, the backlog cases of untested sexual assault kits that were identified in the audit
• Um, the, the, uh, um, it was through, through a state audit.
• What we found through the through the audit and through our investigations is that there were a significant
• Um, I also think that it would be beneficial for the state to do a, a 10 year anniversary audit, as we're

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 85, sponsored by Management Audit, Postelection Audit Procedures, an act relating to elections
• House Bill 86, sponsored by Management Audit, Removal of County Officers, election code violations, an
• ,<00:39:47.920> Postelection<00:39:48.720> Audit<00:39:49.119> Procedures,<00:39
• :49.760> an Audit, Postelection Audit Procedures, an Audit, Postelection Audit Procedures, an
• , removal of county officers, Audit, removal of county officers, election<00:40:07.440> code<00

Keywords: 916, all

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The department does not currently audit The department does not currently audit retailers retailers
• audits of existing requirements. requirements. requirements.
• which doesn't auditing retailers which doesn't currently<01:10:20.800> exist.
• <01:18:00.640> and<01:18:01.360> uh follow up with auditing and uh follow up with auditing
• <01:27:38.400> that monitor that activity and audit that monitor that activity and audit that

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you say at this point in time your department is best equipped to continue to perform the corporate audits
• of this nature, considering that you are the corporate audit division that found this problem in the
• In New Hampshire, it is true that we fund our insurance department through fees and through audit fees
• fees<01:21:16.880> and<01:21:17.280> and<01:21:17.840> we fees and through audit
• fees and and we fees and through audit fees and and we have<01:21:18.400> the<01:21:18.719>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up several insurance-related bills. Senate Bill 47, concerning health insurance policies related to the birth of the mother, was moved ought to pass with no amendments and was approved on a 6-0 vote. Senate Bill 121, dealing with Medicare Advantage plan notice requirements, was amended to reduce the required notice from 120 days to 90 days and to remove a federal citation; the department said the change was to avoid conflict with federal notice rules. After discussion about the stress caused when carriers leave the Medicare Advantage market, the committee voted ought to pass as amended, 7-0. The committee then heard a detailed explanation of the continuing care retirement communities bill, described by the Insurance Department as a rewrite of a 1989 law to modernize oversight, require quarterly financial reporting as an early warning system, create a bill of rights for residents, and clarify issues such as entrance fees and removal of dangerous residents. A member recalled the bill’s original purpose as protecting solvency because residents pay substantial upfront fees. The bill was moved ought to pass and approved unanimously, 7-0. The final major discussion concerned a pooled risk organizations bill. Members debated whether oversight should remain with the Secretary of State or be moved to the Insurance Department. Supporters of moving it argued the issue is solvency, citing concerns about reserve levels, prior insolvencies, and the Insurance Department’s expertise. Opponents said the Secretary of State’s office had historically overseen the entities and that the bill would fundamentally change how they operate. A straw vote favored an amendment, but the committee ultimately voted to retain the bill for further work, with plans to revisit it later in the session.