Transcript Highlights:

• We will be looking at the Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee amendments, which extends the
• The Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee amendments, as Senator Milner said, has been extended
• Let's move on to Child Care Advisory Committee amendments.
• care advisory services, and Rhonda Bailey, would you please share your thoughts on that?
• It's simply an advisory council. Thank you.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• joint federal-state task forces.
• That's how the task force works.
• there is a joint federal state task there is a joint federal state task force<02:29:48.880> and
• That's how the task force works.
• federal state task forces have to be federal state task forces have to be disbanded. disbanded.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 13, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum and first honored Nancy Crawford with a resolution recognizing her 46 years of state service, including 20 years as Senator Pam Beidle’s chief of staff. Senator Beidle then spoke at length about her own retirement plans and public service, reflecting on her career in the House and Senate, her work on the Finance Committee, and thanking her staff and colleagues. The chamber unanimously journalized the remarks. The Senate then moved into business on House and Senate messages, including House Bill 139 and Senate Bill 311, and adopted a conference committee report on House Bill 1532, the Utility Relief/Reducing Energy Load for Inflation measure. The report was described as a broad energy and utility package that had already passed the Senate 38-4 and was said to address short-, medium-, and long-term issues, including rate relief, in-state generation, data center policy, consumer transparency, and low-income utility assistance. During debate on the conference report, the majority leader explained several changes from prior versions: no legislative ban on forecast test years, instead deferring to the Public Service Commission; removal of gas programs from Empower to avoid inequities across service territories; modest opening of the retail supply market with guardrails; and rejection of some floor amendments, including a gas line extension provision and a study amendment. The minority leader argued the bill offered only limited relief, focused too much on talking points and short-term savings, and said many bipartisan amendments were not retained. The majority leader responded that the bill would save ratepayers real dollars through provisions on utility adders, executive bonuses, FERC-related returns, and new generation, and urged adoption of the conference report.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act to amend the Education Law in relation to establishing a task force on safety and school transportation
• An act to amend the Education Law in relation to establishing a task force on safety and school transportation

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met on February 10, 2026, with members noting the presence of staff and the 4201 schools, which were praised as an example of bipartisan support. The chair also referenced the committee’s annual report of bills passed. The committee then took up five education bills for consideration. S. 1111, which would create a streamlined certification process for combination pre-kindergarten and daycare programs, was reported to finance. S. 1424, prohibiting discrimination against students on school property or at school functions based on religious attire, clothing, or facial hair, was reported to the floor. S. 3071A, establishing a task force on school transportation safety, was also reported to the floor. S. 6273A, directing a study on child caregivers and the impact on their education, and S. 6655, allowing students attending agricultural learning events to be marked present at school, were likewise advanced to the floor. Each bill was moved, seconded, and approved without recorded opposition or with no objections noted. After completing the agenda quickly, the chair invited members to informally suggest future bills for committee review, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2021 through 2022, Mayor Blangiardi appointed a landfill advisory committee.
• sites uh the the landfill advisory sites uh the the landfill advisory committee<00:13:03.760>
• evaluated by our landfill advisory evaluated by our landfill advisory committee<00:17:29.240>
• That was the result of the study they did for the landfill advisory committee.
• they did for the landfill advisory they did for the landfill advisory Community Community Community

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The informational briefing focused on the City and County of Honolulu’s effort to site a replacement landfill for Oahu before Waimanalo Gulch landfill closes in 2028. Department of Environmental Services officials outlined the solid waste system, including curbside collection, convenience centers, transfer stations, H-POWER, and the existing landfill, and explained that H-POWER reduces the volume of waste going to the landfill by about 90%. They reviewed the siting history, including the 2019 Land Use Commission deadline, the 2020 enactment of Act 73 with landfill setback and conservation-district restrictions, and the 2021-2022 landfill advisory committee that evaluated six sites but recommended none because they were within the Board of Water Supply’s no-pass zone. The city said it ultimately selected a site in central Oahu, on agricultural land near Wahiawa and the Dole Plantation, as the best legally permissible option and described it as requiring about 150 acres, with 90 acres for the landfill itself. City officials also described the proposed landfill design and safeguards, emphasizing a modern sanitary landfill with double liners, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring wells, and post-closure monitoring. They said the ash from H-POWER is dry and that leachate would be pumped to a wastewater treatment plant. They stated the site is away from residences and groundwater wells, accessible by highway, and can be permitted under state and federal rules, though they acknowledged that a full environmental review, public hearings, and multiple permits would still be required. When asked whether the new landfill could be operating before the 2028 closure date, the city said it did not yet know and that an extension of Waimanalo Gulch might be needed if the new site is not ready in time. The Board of Water Supply strongly opposed the city’s decision to site a landfill above Oahu’s freshwater resources. Its representative said the agency’s mission is to protect safe, dependable water for the future and that it had disapproved all six previously proposed sites because they were located over freshwater aquifers. In response to questions from legislators, the Board said it could not guarantee the liner system would remain impermeable forever and warned that leachate can contain hazardous chemicals, including so-called forever chemicals. The Board characterized the proposal as a long-term risk to the island’s drinking water supply and compared the decision to past infrastructure choices that later proved problematic. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are advisory. We're a great source of information for those who struggle to find it.
• My name is Erica Barnes, and I'm the executive director of the Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council
• The Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council is a state agency established in 2022 whose mission is to
• The Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council is grateful for the funding from last session that allowed
• So there's a lot to be done, and I just ask you to please fund the Rare Disease Advisory Council.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 1501, which would fund the Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council and make the current fiscal year 2025 budget its permanent base. Representative Murphy said the bill would provide about $342,000 in general fund money for the 2026-27 cycle and argued that the council helps shorten diagnosis times, support research, and keep Minnesota a leader in rare disease work. Erica Barnes, the council’s executive director, testified in support and explained that the council was established in 2022 to improve care for the estimated one in 10 Minnesotans living with a rare disease. She said the council needs the full $668,000 level it operated with this year to maintain its statutory duties, noting that the current ongoing base is about $326,000 and that the extra funding was previously one-time money. Barnes described the barriers faced by rare disease patients, including long diagnostic delays, limited provider knowledge, and the fact that only a small share of rare diseases have FDA-approved treatments. She said rare disease care is costly to the health system and that the council has used prior funding to convene the community more regularly and carry out its work. Representative Leing questioned why the budget should be doubled and asked what additional work the council would do with the higher amount; Barnes responded that without the larger ongoing appropriation the council would fall back to 1.8 FTE and would have to stop some programs. Representative Hingson Jger spoke in support, saying the council’s collaboration has been valuable for policy work in the genetic and rare disease space. In closing, Murphy emphasized Minnesota’s leadership in rare disease and shared a personal story about how diagnosis and treatment changed his family’s life. No public testimony was offered. The chair then laid House File 1501 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• task force, to talk as you know from the task force, to talk about<00:16:19.560> the<00:16:19.680
• <00:16:34.480> force Commission as well as in the task force Commission as well as in the
• task force is<00:16:35.320> to<00:16:35.480> identify<00:16:36.079> ways<00:16:36.480
• My immediate task was to allow everyone and anyone to have confidence through it.
• My immediate task was to allow everyone and anyone to have confidence through it.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered a long list of Governor’s messages for appointments to state boards and commissions, including the Board of Dentistry, Barbering and Cosmetology, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board, Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board, Real Estate Commission, Board of Naturopathic Medicine, State Boxing Commission, Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Pharmacy, and the Public Utilities Commission. Most nominees and supporting agencies testified in support, and many nominees simply stood on their written testimony. Several nominees also answered questions about their experience and the issues facing their boards, including dental insurance and Medicaid concerns, condo and real estate disputes, pharmacy regulation and telepharmacy, boxing and MMA rule updates, and medical board service in rural areas. The committee discussed some contested or notable nominations in more detail. Richard Emery’s nomination to the Real Estate Commission drew opposition testimony tied to a condo management dispute, and he responded by emphasizing the need for factual evidence, mediation and complaint data, and better consumer education. Trinette Kahui and Andrea Ushijima were also nominated to the Real Estate Commission, with broad support. For the Boxing Commission, Robin Jumawan described ongoing statutory updates, MMA-related work, and delegation of amateur boxing rules. For the Hawaii Medical Board, Elizabeth Ignacio was strongly endorsed by state and industry witnesses as highly qualified and familiar with rural health issues, while Rebecca Sawai also received support from the board and Kaiser Permanente. In the decision-making portion, the committee moved to advise and consent to nearly all nominees on the agenda. Senator McKelvey stated reservations about Richard Emery due to opposition and possible conflicts, and also about nominees who were not present at the hearing, specifically Corrine Muldrow Soto and Stacie Kealoha Inouye; Senator Lamasao also noted reservations on those absent nominees. The chair disclosed personal acquaintance with Dr. Sawai and Andrea Ushijima. The committee then voted to adopt the recommendations, with the noted reservations and one no vote on GM 697 reflected in the record, and later reconvened to take up Governor’s Message 514/515 for John Etemura as chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, where additional support testimony was heard from the Governor’s office, DCCA, and former consumer advocacy staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• So honestly, Senator Angolia, I have taken this task upon myself because of the concerns that I had with
• to walk, talk, see, hear, judge distances, act in emergencies, and do the many mental and physical tasks
• to walk, talk, see, hear, judge distances, act in emergencies, and do the many mental and physical tasks
• Florida law provides that a person may not lawfully use force or violence to resist a law enforcement
• even when they know. officers will believe they're empowered to act, are using that unlawful force,

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met with a quorum and first approved SPB 7014, which terminates the state court system’s mediation and arbitration trust fund; staff noted the fund has no current balance and that filing fees were already redirected in 2011. The bill was reported favorably as a committee bill without objection. The committee then took up CS/SB 48 on alternative judicial procedures for foreclosure sales. Senator Garcia described it as a response to reported abuses in Miami-Dade County, adding longer sale timeframes, stronger notice requirements, rules for alternative sale methods, online auction authorization, and consumer protections for surplus funds. After adopting a technical amendment, members raised concerns about whether the bill was codifying a process they believed should remain with clerks of court and about the new online auction provisions; Senator Garcia ultimately moved to temporarily postpone the bill. Members also approved CS/SB 322, creating a nonjudicial process for sheriffs to remove unauthorized persons from commercial property, and CS/SB 138, which revises DUI-related language from “intoxicating” to “impairing” and allows judicial circuits to create DUI diversion programs. CS/SB 138 drew opposition from some members and testimony from cannabis advocates and defense lawyers who argued the catch-all language was too broad and could sweep in lawful medications or create testing and expungement issues, but it still passed. The committee further reported favorably SB 130 on wrongful incarceration compensation, extending filing deadlines and removing restrictive bars to compensation, and SB 234, which strengthens penalties for violent resistance against law enforcement officers and clarifies that such resistance can lead to life imprisonment if it results in an officer’s death. Both bills received supportive testimony, though SB 234 also drew concerns from defense lawyers about removing language tied to lawful duty and good faith; the sponsor said the bill preserves defenses while focusing on violent resistance. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forces the sales of lands people want to actually explore, where we know from the geology that you can
• <00:31:16.000> Forces<00:31:16.480> the<00:31:16.720> sales<00:31:17.120>
• Forces the sales of number of years.
• Forces the sales of lands<00:31:17.760> people<00:31:18.000> want<00:31:18.159> to
• opposed to a bludgeoned force? opposed to a bludgeoned force?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• force and other entities that I believe much of this information is readily available.
• force and other entities.
• force and other entities.
• the greenhouse gas sequestration task the greenhouse gas sequestration task force<01:27:39.280><
• and other entities that uh I force and other entities that uh I believe<01:27:42.400> much<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and just want to thank the chairman of that task force, the senator from Campbell, and her work on
• , and just want to thank the chairman of that task force, the senator from Campbell, and her work on
• We learned in that task force about so many diseases that are now affecting children younger and younger
• was able to participate in the Maja task was able to participate in the Maja task force<00:13:17.839
• <00:13:23.839> force chairman of that of that um task force chairman of that of that um task

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the prior journal. The House communicated that it had passed House Bill 4 and requested concurrence. The chamber then received second-reading reports for Senate Bills 18, 33, 85, and 132, and committee reports indicating Senate Bills 136, 183, 2, 4, and 71 should pass, with some substitutes and title amendments. The Senate also introduced Senate Resolutions 79 and 80 honoring Joseph Harden McFarland and Jeremiah Parsons. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 5, relating to Kentucky-grown agricultural product procurement. The sponsor described it as a way to improve school nutrition, support Kentucky producers, and keep food dollars in local communities. Several senators spoke in support, including references to the Make America Healthy Task Force and the idea of using food procurement as a tool for rural prosperity and better nutrition in schools. Senate Bill 5 passed by roll call, 38-0. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 73, which would allow home-based processors to use beef tallow in cosmetic products. The sponsor said the bill would expand existing home-processing authority beyond food products to cosmetics. It passed unanimously, 38-0. Senate Bill 12, relating to medical provider coverage and level four trauma centers, drew the most extended debate. Supporters argued it would help rural hospitals join the trauma network by allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to work under physician supervision, including remote supervision, and said it would improve access and save lives in underserved areas. Opponents, including a physician senator, argued the bill would lower trauma-care standards and could put patients at risk by allowing non-physician staffing in facilities that need immediate hands-on medical expertise. After lengthy discussion, the bill was advanced and then passed by roll call, with supporters emphasizing rural access and opponents warning about patient safety and the adequacy of physician coverage.

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to timing, when Jack was forced to retire, Massachusetts law did not allow him to elect Option C,
• His intention was to be restored to service after his forced retirement.
• He was forced to retire at only 39 years old, and then passed away at 62 years.
• What may be a simple task for some people is simply debilitating for John and it prevents him from being
• Simple task for some people is simply debilitating for John, and it prevents him from being able to

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on May 7, chaired by Senators Mike Brady and Dan Ryan, and heard testimony on a wide range of retirement and benefits bills for public employees and their families. Several bills focused on line-of-duty death or disability benefits for police and firefighters, including Senate Bill 1831 for Joanne Sanji, widow of Rutland Detective John Sanji, whose COVID-19 death was described by family, counsel, and the police chief as a line-of-duty death already recognized by local, state, and federal memorials. Similar support was offered for bills involving the surviving spouse of a State Police officer injured in the line of duty, a Springfield officer injured by a hammer attack during a mental health call, and a bill for a former police officer seeking an increased disability retirement due to PTSD after a traumatic incident. Testimony repeatedly emphasized that these cases had been recognized locally or had already moved through prior sessions, but legislative action was still needed to secure benefits. The committee also heard multiple firefighter-related retirement bills. Representatives and union advocates supported a bill for retired Attleboro Fire Captain Walter Gerton, arguing that an audit and recalculation improperly reduced his pension after retirement and that the correction was requested by the local retirement board. Another bill sought disability retirement for former Westfield firefighter Greg Heath, who testified that Parkinson’s disease has made daily life and family care increasingly difficult; supporters cited studies linking firefighting exposures to Parkinson’s and said the city, retirement board, and local officials backed the measure. The committee also heard testimony for retired Quincy Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Bithrow, who described a Parkinson’s diagnosis following years of exposure at major toxic fires, including the Home Depot and MWRA incidents, and for a related Quincy bill that would treat his retirement as line-of-duty for survivor protection. Additional bills included a proposal to provide flags to next of kin of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, a bill to resolve employer contribution obligations for the Neshoba Associated Boards of Health in the state retirement system, and several individual retirement or service-credit measures. These included a bill for former State Police gang unit officer David Patterson, a school nurse seeking additional credible service credit for a temporary staffing emergency, and a former Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy seeking an increased disability retirement after a violent inmate assault left him with lasting injuries. Testimony generally came from the affected individuals, family members, municipal officials, retirement boards, and public safety unions, with most speakers urging favorable action and noting that many of the bills had already passed one chamber or had been filed in prior sessions. At the end of the hearing, the committee took no recorded votes on the bills and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• forces that deal with different things, and so I think it's a little bit less.
• About specific programs in a situation like this is that the watershed task force is already looking
• DWR, as I understand it, leads that task force, but they'll coordinate with other agencies as necessary
• or looking at bills from the past that haven't moved forward, we need to consider retaining a fire force
• you that the operations on the ground are monitoring weather events very closely, and they have a task

Transcript Highlights:

• Capitol Police Force.
• Notably, uh Capitol Police Force.
• Means Committee, and the litigation task Means Committee, and the litigation task force. force.
• force.
• 40:08.560> Wolf<04:40:08.878> and Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolf and Force Staff Sergeant

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've loved the tasks that we've been working on, and they love that we never stop.
• I absolutely agree, and that's something I think we would need to discuss with the task force regarding
• So I do believe this is additional conversation, but with the Council and task force for us to determine
• force as well through some roundtable of superintendents that was a little hodgepodge, but it did come
• Any other questions or comments as we move forward with this task? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now you've heard what this is doing to our ICAC task force, and more importantly, to the children and
• And one of the things the task force was tasked with was focusing on increasing child sexual abuse prevention
• So it's something that this prevention education in schools is something that the task force has been
• One thing the task force did in 2022 is an environmental scan.
• And then the ICAC task force—they're the red, and they're all over. So they're in Belfield.

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focusing on the economic and public-system impacts in North Dakota. She explained that ACEs are a population-level measure, not a diagnostic tool for individuals, and said higher ACE exposure is consistently associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, justice-system contact, and reduced workforce participation. She emphasized that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across a person’s life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based prevention and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, historical trends in ACEs, and the role of positive childhood experiences and home visiting. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. They described home visiting as voluntary, relationship-based, and tailored to family needs, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, human service zones, pregnancy navigators, self-referrals, and other community sources. A parent, Abby, shared that home visiting helped her family after premature births and NICU stays by providing support with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, referrals, and parenting guidance. The presenters said the programs are funded through a mix of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E dollars, Medicaid targeted case management, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and grants, and they noted that current funding is fragmented and insufficient to serve all eligible families statewide. Members discussed whether the state should expand or better fund these services and how to improve outreach and referrals. Later, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, followed by a presentation from a BCI special agent on how AI is already affecting child exploitation investigations in North Dakota. The memo and testimony described AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and risks posed by chatbots, along with relevant federal and state law and recent executive orders. The agent said North Dakota saw 2,698 cyber tips in 2025, the highest on record, and that investigators are increasingly encountering AI-assisted exploitation that is harder to detect and verify. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI undermining critical thinking and spreading misinformation. No votes were taken on the AI materials during the portion provided, and the committee recessed briefly after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's advisory because that's the power of the governing body.
• That's advisory because that's the power of the governing body.
• That's advisory because that's the power of the governing body.
• That's advisory because that's the power of the governing body.
• That's advisory because that's the power of the governing body.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you tell me how this differs from the Red Tape Task Force that was previously I think in the same
• it's one of those things that if we need to consolidate it into another board and give them another task
• I would just ask you all if you're not familiar with the Red Tape Task Force.
• And so that Red Tape Task Force kind of clearly lays out things like the accreditation reports and schools

Bills: SB1726, SB1236, SB1633, SB1413, SB1317, SB1360, SB1342, SB1477, SB1189, SB1546, SB1524, SB1338, SB1193, SB1812, SB1617

Keywords: higher education, graduate instructors, training program, academic integrity, First Amendment rights, administrative reporting, education, consolidation, board, public schools, resident tuition, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, state scholarships, financial aid, immigration status, undocumented students, noncitizen students, lawfully present, postsecondary education benefits, college tuition

Transcript Highlights:

• the regime task force created by the regime task force created by the legislature<00:23:29.080><
• And you know, I'm not one who loves studies or task forces, but there's got to be something better than
• And you know, I'm not one who loves studies or task forces, but there's got to be something better than
• And you know, I'm not one who loves studies or task forces, but there's got to be something better than
• You know, I'm not one who loves studies or task forces, but there's got to be something better than HB

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee met on February 12 and heard several bills. HB 97, relating to travel insurance, drew only brief testimony: the Insurance Division stood on written testimony, one industry witness supported the bill and requested a minor amendment, and no one else testified or asked questions. HB 226, relating to window tinting, received support from the Department of Transportation, while the Honolulu Police Department offered comments on the proposed amendments, asking for clearer language on what it means to roll windows down, when the requirement applies, how it handles bad weather, and what sanctions would apply for noncompliance. No further testimony was offered on that measure. The committee also heard HB 1179, relating to rural emergency hospitals. The Department of Human Services stood on written testimony, and Maui Health Systems strongly supported the bill, saying it would help critical access hospitals better serve kūpuna and provide long-term care beds. There were no questions or additional testimony. HB 420, relating to remedies and the contractor repair act, generated extensive and sharply divided testimony. Opponents, including attorneys representing homeowners and AARP Hawaii, argued the bill was anti-consumer, would weaken homeowners’ ability to recover for construction defects, and would shift costs and risk to consumers. Supporters, including builders, realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, and D.R. Horton Hawaii, said the bill would create a more balanced and efficient process, reduce unnecessary litigation, and help builders address legitimate defects more quickly. Testimony on HB 420 focused heavily on whether the contractor repair process and class actions help or hinder repairs. Opponents said the bill would delay or limit homeowner recovery, especially for life and safety defects, while supporters said current class-action litigation can prevent direct communication with homeowners and slow repairs. Committee members asked questions about when communication with homeowners stops and whether repairs could be made before a class is certified. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• already own so the city<00:21:17.679> leaders<00:21:18.159> aren't<00:21:18.480> forced
• <00:21:18.799> to<00:21:19.039> choose city leaders aren't forced to choose city leaders
• aren't forced to choose between<00:21:20.080> a<00:21:20.400> singlepurpose<00:21:21.200
• We've done the training, we've reviewed their joint advisories, the shared national intelligence.
• We've reviewed their joint advisories, the shared national intelligence.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And there’s a second committee, which is ABLE Housing Task Force.
• Um, ABLE Housing Task Force, and ABLE is a disability justice advocacy organization.” “Gotcha.
• <00:17:06.160> Uh, which is ABLE housing task force.
• Uh, which is ABLE housing task force.
• :17:20.240> is<00:17:20.400> a<00:17:20.640> disability task force and ABLE is a

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Performance Audit and Oversight Committee met to accept prior minutes and receive updates on ongoing audits. Audit staff reported progress on three education-related reviews: special education (34 of 71 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), education freedom accounts (22 of 41 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), and the doorway program (5 of 13 observations completed, draft expected by the end of February and final by April or May). No committee questions were raised on the audit status update. The committee then discussed possible future oversight topics, beginning with SNAP and concerns about fraud and work requirements. Members suggested inviting DHS officials and contract administrators to explain program operations and compliance, and also discussed whether the Department of Justice Medicaid fraud unit or other experienced officials could provide useful context. Members noted New Hampshire’s existing oversight layers, including the Executive Council and the joint HHS oversight committee, while also expressing interest in hearing more directly from department staff about staffing and contract management capacity. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on whether to pursue an audit of special education at the local school level. Members debated whether to wait for the ongoing statewide special education review and a legislative study commission report, or to begin scoping a local audit now so work could start sooner. Supporters argued that local-level spending, identification rates, and effectiveness vary widely by district and that an audit should examine both costs and outcomes; others cautioned that the scope would need to be manageable given limited audit staff and that the statewide report may help narrow the focus. The committee also briefly discussed a potential audit of the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, but no decision was made on that item.