Transcript Highlights:

• Would you please recognize Senator Grellner to introduce the nurse of the day?
• So we're glad to have our nurse here of the day.
• We think he planned to return home after a few years.
• It's a standard practice.
• It's a standard practice.

Bills: HB4248 , HB4429 , HB2588 , HB3472 , HB4317 , HB3462 , HB2035 , HB3501 , HB3127 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3260 , HB4321 , HB3011 , HB3522 , HB3530 , HB3940 , HB3078 , HB3043 , HB3005 , HB3007 , HB3403 , HB1907 , HB3175 , HB3986 , HB3466 , HB3411 , HB4246 , SJR49 , HB3281 , HB4319 , HJR1086 , HJR1024 , HJR1087

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, and several introductions recognizing the Doctor and Nurse of the Day, visiting school groups, and other guests in the galleries. Members also heard a personal privilege statement from Senator Peterson marking the 100th anniversary of his father’s immigration to the United States, followed by a reception announcement in the lounge. The chamber then took up H.J.R. 1024, a proposed constitutional amendment revising the Judicial Nominating Commission by removing political affiliation restrictions, changing term rules, and allowing consecutive service. An amendment was adopted to move the special election date to August 25, 2026, but the special-election provision later failed on a 27-17 vote. After extended debate over judicial independence, transparency, and political influence, the resolution itself passed 35-8. The Senate next considered H.J.R. 1087, which would place before voters a constitutional amendment on the five-year ad valorem tax exemption for qualified manufacturing facilities and allow the Legislature to set reimbursement levels for local entities. Supporters said it would give the state more control over costly reimbursements; the measure passed 38-7, and the special-election provision also passed 38-7. The Senate then laid over two agenda items, made committee and event announcements, and adjourned until Monday, April 13 at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also served on the board of directors and the board chair at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic
• I also served on the board of Warner.
• ><c> New</c> directors and the board chair at the New directors and the board chair at the New Hampshire
• </c> sexual assault nurse examiner program. sexual assault nurse examiner program.
• </c> Assault Nurse Examiner Program. Assault Nurse Examiner Program.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• home, personal care, private nursing facilities, and PACE.
• We do have two state-run facilities, an Arkansas nursing home and a psychiatric hospital, or human development
• These include any sort of nursing home, any boarding care facility.
• These include any sort of nursing home, any boarding care facility.
• So if you have your grandmother that is in a nursing home and she is being exploited either by a caregiver

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to adopt the November 2018 minutes and receive a primer on the subcommittee’s role and Medicaid oversight in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s history and explained that Medicaid is audited annually through the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including weaknesses in eligibility and data-matching controls, improper use of Medicaid funds for partially non-Medicaid work, issues with incarcerated juveniles’ coverage, the absence of a Medicaid recovery audit contractor program exception request, reporting problems involving MFCU recoveries, and provider eligibility documentation concerns. Staff also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for further action. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of Medicaid’s structure, eligibility, delivery systems, and budget. DHS described Arkansas Medicaid as covering about 850,000 people through fee-for-service, managed care, and premium assistance for the expansion population, and outlined major spending categories such as institutional care, long-term services, pharmacy, capitated payments, and supplemental payments. DHS also explained the difference between state plan amendments and waivers, and said it has a beneficiary-fraud unit that refers cases to local prosecutors. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, distinguishing between suspensions for credible allegations of fraud and recovery actions for mistakes or overpayments. OMIG said it works with DHS and law enforcement, issues quarterly and annual reports, and has increased recoveries in recent years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, can also handle long-term care neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases, and works with local prosecutors as special deputies. Committee members asked about court venue, provider suspensions, beneficiary fraud, education of providers, and the status of Medicaid expansion work requirements; DHS said it is preparing to implement community engagement requirements under HR 1 and will begin with a soft launch before full enforcement. No formal votes were taken beyond adoption of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after questions were answered.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm not here testifying on their behalf, but I also sit on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Board, so I
• Within 1199, we represent more than 80,000 members, caregivers in hospitals, health centers, home care
• , and nursing homes.
• , and nursing homes.
• They help home a world, you know.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on H. 4975, Governor Healey’s bill to manage the impact of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OB3) on Massachusetts tax law and state revenues. Administration officials, led by Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorowitz, said OB3 would otherwise reduce FY26 revenue by about $442 million and argued for a phased-in conformity approach that would preserve the current-year budget while still adopting selected federal business tax provisions over time. The proposal would phase in the research and experimental expenditure deduction first, delay other major corporate provisions for two years, extend the pass-through entity excise to income subject to the 4% surtax, add a one-year delay mechanism for future federal tax changes over $20 million, limit opportunity zone benefits to Massachusetts investments, and make smaller technical changes to DFML contributions and casino reporting thresholds. Committee members questioned the rationale for phasing in rather than fully decoupling, the effect on the budget if the bill did not pass, and the treatment of opportunity zones, the surtax, and future federal tax changes. Public testimony was split. MassBudget, Progressive Massachusetts, and several labor and public-sector groups urged the committee to permanently decouple from the federal corporate tax changes rather than delay them, arguing that the bill would still send state revenue to corporate tax breaks, often for investments outside Massachusetts, and that the state should protect funding for schools, health care, human services, and other public services. The Massachusetts Society of CPAs supported the administration’s timing and the research-and-development provisions, citing filing deadlines and the importance of certainty for businesses and startups. Business and tax experts also testified that rushed conformity can create revenue losses and that the governor’s review-and-delay framework was a prudent improvement, though some said decoupling should be the default if the Legislature does not act. Unite Here Local 26 testified against sections 3 and 4, which would raise the slot-machine jackpot reporting threshold from $1,200 to $2,000, arguing the current threshold helps with problem-gambling intervention, preserves slot attendant jobs, and generates revenue. Several union leaders, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, AFT Massachusetts, SEIU 509, the Massachusetts Building Trades, the AFL-CIO, and 1199 SEIU, urged permanent decoupling, warning that OB3’s federal tax cuts and related spending reductions would worsen budget pressures, harm public services, and shift costs onto workers, patients, and schools. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Watch over our families back home, Lord.
• supports, in-home workbooks, and things along those lines.
• And you know it's great we're getting reading materials in homes.
• of as we have lowered our standards continually for our kids, as we've lowered the standards for our
• And again, as we've had lax standards, it's lowered outcomes.

Bills: HB4420 , HB3974 , HB3016 , HB3062 , HB3021 , HB3145 , HB4128 , HB3131 , HB3015 , HB3472 , HB3453 , HB1638 , HB4126 , HB2696 , HB2710 , HB3552 , HB3031 , HB3544 , HB3521 , HB4490 , HB4488 , HB1746 , HJR1069 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB1170 , HB3538 , HB4124 , HB3904 , HB4106 , HB2999 , HB3982 , HJR1077 , HB3464 , HB2588 , HB3462 , HB4440 , HB3674 , HB3345 , HJR1067 , HB4326 , HB4331 , HB4337 , HB4338 , HB4359 , HB4392 , HB3557 , HJR1076 , HB4003 , HB3495 , HB3497 , HB3501 , HB3505 , HB3749 , HB3011 , HB4336 , HB4346 , HJR1087 , HB3240 , HB3647 , HB3796 , HB3969 , HB3972 , HB3983 , HB3984 , HB3989 , HB3383 , HB3130 , HB4358 , HB3327 , HJR1055 , HB3386 , HJR1089 , HB3087 , HB2970 , HB3314 , HB4129 , HB4199

Transcript Highlights:

• the common standards of uh the standards the common standards of decency.<01:13:08.400><c> I</c><01:
• . workforce. workforce.
• </c> the child care home the child care home &gt;&gt; home.<02:21:57.200><c> Okay.
• </c> &gt;&gt; home. Okay. &gt;&gt; home. Okay.
• I was like, well, group home or whatever the standard. Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> standard in this scenario. standard in this scenario.
• </c> our internet or satellite to our homes our internet or satellite to our homes and<00:09:55.200><
• Uh turning have no negligence standard.
• Can we have that apply to everybody across the board?
• </c> everybody across the board? everybody across the board?

Bills: HB0083 , HB0102 , HB0178

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2408, Nursing Board regulations actions expungement, modifies how
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2729, Nursing Board Continuation, passed unanimously and is on Third
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2730, Occupational Therapy Board Continuation, continues the Board
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2731, Physicians Assistant Board Continuation, continues the board
• Madam Chair and members, House Bill 2732, Pharmacy Board Continuation, continues the Arizona State Board

Summary: The caucus reviewed a large Minority Caucus Calendar and moved quickly through many bills, with staff often noting whether items were unanimous, party-line, or pulled from consent. Early items included HB 2130 on ADOA personnel financial systems, HB 2749 on felony sentence-completion designation, HCR 258 on Medicaid claim audits, and several agency or board continuation bills. Members also discussed HB 2745 on legislative subpoenas, HB 4027 naming Loop 202 the Charlie Kirk Highway, HB 2601 on Interstate 11 studies, and a number of education, health, labor, and public safety measures. Several bills were pulled from consent or flagged for later discussion, including HCR 258, HB 4027, HB 2375, HB 2601, HB 2408, HB 2444, HB 2923, HB 2182, HCR 2048, HB 2750, HB 2765, HB 2838, HB 4043, HB 2290, HB 2940, and others. Testimony and caucus debate focused on a range of policy concerns. Members objected to bills involving school strikes, weapons detection systems, public records fees for legislators, union activity, school safety felony penalties, and restrictions on school clubs. Education bills drew extended discussion, including HB 2423 on automatic advanced math placement, HB 2478 creating a student outcomes commission, HB 2579 for free school meals, HB 2992 on child sexual abuse prevention, HB 4041 on spending authority for low-reading-performing districts, and HB 4043 requiring CPR/AED training. Health and professional regulation bills also prompted debate, including HB 2408 on nursing board investigations and expungement, HB 2444 on pharmacist testing authority, HB 2697 on expired opioid antagonists, and HB 4010 establishing a genetic counselors board. Members raised concerns about fiscal impacts, stakeholder opposition, and whether some measures were unfunded mandates or needed more amendment work. The caucus also discussed immigration, labor, and public safety measures, including HB 2416 for DPS local border support, HB 2811 on obstructing governmental operations during lawful arrests, HB 2862 on unlawful masking penalties, HB 4070 on nonprofit incorporation restrictions tied to offenses, and HB 4117 creating a crime for disturbing religious services. Water, energy, and land-use bills were reviewed as well, such as HB 2099, HB 2263, HB 2330, HB 2341, HB 2492, HB 2757, HB 2782, HB 2912, HB 2918, and HCR 2020. The meeting ended with announcements, including an Affordability Award for Brian Garcia and a March 12 breakfast update on the Colorado River, before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Board of Nursing comes to mind. It's a 13-member board.
• The electricians board is the five-member board.
• The Board of Nursing comes to mind. It's a 13-member board.
• The Board of Nursing comes to mind. It's a 13-member board.
• The Board of Nursing comes to mind. It's a 13-member board.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk, please close the board.
• It gives school boards authority to allow students and school nurses to use this medication in emergencies
• Plus, child care centers and nursing homes are included.
• Was it not school nurses? Right, yes.
• Clerk, please close the board. Mr. Clerk, please close the board and tally the vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> considering</c> Number three, require boards considering Number three, require boards considering
• </c><00:23:36.320><c> It</c> tightens and clarifies the standard.
• It tightens and clarifies the standard.
• House Bill 616, Representative Rudy, an act relating to the Board of Nursing.
• 47:43.599><c> Bill</c><00:47:44.000><c> 556</c> workforce investment, House Bill 556 workforce investment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of in order for the child to return home of in order for the child to return home safe safe safe
• </c> are a blessing for single parent homes are a blessing for single parent homes like<00:58:07.920>
• Workforce Now Beyond immediate pressures Workforce Now Beyond immediate pressures like<01:04:50.559><
• </c><01:34:26.880><c> in</c><01:34:27.080><c> that</c> and nursing homes and and in in that and nursing
• <01:35:26.400><c> to</c><01:35:27.400><c> feel</c> workforce to feel workforce to feel appreciated<01

Bills: HF2436 , HF470 , HF2643 , HF2456 , HF102 , HF1367

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• They are doctors, they are nurses, they are teachers.
• California is home to the largest immigrant population in the country.
• Millions of undocumented immigrants who have made California their home.
• California is home to nearly 10 million immigrants.
• Our state is home, this is, this blew my mind when I first heard it, our state is home to approximately

Summary: The Assembly met after initially lacking a quorum, then proceeded with prayers, the pledge, journal approval, and a series of guest introductions and recognitions. The chamber honored the 2025 Science and Technology Policy Fellows and the 2024-25 Jesse Marvin Unruh Assembly Fellows, and members also recognized guests including Brad Webb, youth advocates supporting AB 1231, the Live Oak Lady Lions softball team, UC President J.B. Milliken, and the Rohnert Park Cal Ripken All-Star team. Several ceremonial resolutions were then taken up, including ACR 12 designating November 1 as Fernando Valenzuela Day, and H.R. 56 recognizing August 2025 as Chicano Heritage Month; both drew extensive floor remarks about cultural pride, immigrant stories, and community representation before being adopted. The Assembly also adopted ACR 101 naming a portion of Highway 46 the James Dean Memorial Highway, and approved a series of concurrence items with Senate amendments, including AB 359 on political reform, AB 594 on student health insurance protections, AB 1085 banning license plate obstruction devices, AB 1286 on future employment disclosure for public officials, and AB 1505, the Agriculture Committee omnibus bill. AB 359, AB 594, AB 1085, AB 1286, and AB 1505 all passed on roll calls with no opposition recorded. The chamber also adopted HR 50, proclaiming November 25, 2025 as Elimination of Violence Against Women Day, after testimony emphasizing the prevalence of gender-based violence and the need for survivor support and prevention. Two major joint resolutions generated substantial debate. AJR 14 urged federal agencies to consider the impact of tariffs on California ports; supporters argued tariffs were harming cargo volumes, jobs, and supply chains, while an opponent said trade negotiations should be left to the federal government. The resolution passed by roll call, 44-1. AJR 17 urged Congress to modernize immigration law and create a pathway to lawful permanent status for long-term undocumented residents; supporters framed it as a humane and economically necessary response to an outdated system, while the debate highlighted family separation, labor contributions, and fears of deportation. AJR 17 passed 47-7. The Assembly also adopted ACR 108 recognizing Sacramento County’s 175th anniversary, and began consideration of ACR 11 on Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Day, with the author and a veteran member describing the prevalence and harms of MST and the need for trauma-informed support.

Transcript Highlights:

• controls and process and we really think this will really help improve access to communities close to home
• Um, back home we were very fortunate that we were able to get a surgeon from a war-torn area who had
• Uh we talked about this during the interim in 2024 at the workforce task force, and this was one of the
• Um Um Um back<00:07:40.120><c> home</c> back home back home we<00:07:41.440><c> were</c><00:07:41.600
• </c><00:08:58.120><c> task</c> interim uh in 2024 at the workforce task interim uh in 2024 at the workforce

Committee: House Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a sexual assault nurse examiner who is a forensic nurse available to answer some of those
• I've had patients that. that were nursing home patients. They were bedridden.
• Leave your homes open.
• It hit home.
• Our amazing SANE nurses.

Bills: HB47 , HB1552 , HB1686 , HB1953 , HB2151 , HB2355 , HB2582 , HB2697 , HB2895 , HB3073 , HB3418 , HB47

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• We pulled together some workforce, some committees.
• We pulled together some workforce, some committees.
• early childhood sustainable across the board for these programs.
• So I know at least annually we bring to our state board because our state board goes through the process
• There's also the standards included in the state's testing system.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the previous minutes and then focused on an update from the Department of Education on early childhood programs, especially the state-funded Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program. Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacey Smith said Arkansas had received a federal Preschool Development Grant and described ongoing work to review ABC slots, which have been flat for years at about 23,800 slots and roughly $114 million. They said about 1,000 slots statewide are currently unfilled despite a waiting list of more than 2,000 families, and the department is shifting toward paying based on enrollment rather than guaranteed slots. Members asked about school choice, income eligibility, year-round access, curriculum flexibility, transportation, and whether funding should be increased or rebalanced; the department said it is collecting data, may survey providers more formally, and is considering whether to modernize income thresholds, daily rates, and other program rules. The committee agreed to form an early childhood subcommittee and asked the Bureau of Legislative Research to help gather historical information on income limits and other program details. The second major portion of the meeting was a legal presentation on the framework for Arkansas school adequacy by BLR education attorney Taylor Lloyd. She reviewed the constitutional basis for a “general, suitable, and efficient” public school system, the Dupree and Lake View cases, and the principle that adequacy and equity are different but related: adequacy asks what resources are needed, while equity asks whether those resources are distributed fairly. She explained that the General Assembly must define adequacy, study it, and react to evidence over time, and that the current adequacy definition includes curriculum and career/technical frameworks, the 38 mandatory Carnegie units, state testing standards, and sufficient funding. She also described the matrix as a funding tool, not a spending mandate, and noted that categorical funds are separate from the matrix. BLR’s Elizabeth Bynum then gave the historical framework, tracing legislative responses from Dupree through Lake View and into the present. She highlighted major changes such as the creation of equalization funding, fiscal distress and academic distress laws, the adequacy study process, the Educational Adequacy Fund, facilities and transportation changes, declining enrollment and student growth funding, and later adjustments to teacher salaries, isolated funding, and categorical programs. She explained that the adequacy study has evolved through committee hearings, surveys, site visits, and outside consultants, and that recent changes include updates to accountability references and the addition or removal of certain funding categories. Members asked follow-up questions about how the matrix is used, whether homeschool or private-school funding raises comparable issues, whether stakeholders include private and homeschool participants, whether school board members should be surveyed, and whether the state should revisit average daily membership versus attendance-based funding. No votes were taken on the adequacy presentations, but the committee did agree to continue the early childhood discussion in a future subcommittee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those who call New Mexico home.
• Board.
• Board.
• across the board?
• I will tell you, as someone who's actually had a home daycare in their home.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeing it right there at home. The commercial fishing.
• We're seeing it right there at home as we speak.
• I'm sorry, it's State Water Board. State Water Board.
• I'm sorry, it's State Water Board. State Water Board.
• and workforce opportunities.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, it's a dwelling is someone's home.
• home type setting.
• There is a strike all nursing home type setting.
• So under federal law, any crime in a nursing home must be reported under Florida law.
• home. >> Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nationally, immigrants make up 28% of the long-term care, direct care workforce.
• They bring home that sickness to their families, so don't tell me immigrants are not doing more than
• They bring home that sickness to their families, so don't tell me immigrants are not doing more than
• It was a brave nurse.”
• A nurse who understood that compassion, humanity, and patient advocacy still matter.