Transcript Highlights:

• in fiscal year 26.
• in fiscal year 26.
• in fiscal year 26.
• in fiscal year 26.
• in fiscal year 26.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the testifier has a copy of the fiscal note, and I know the committee does as well.
• note and I know the committee fiscal note and I know the committee does<00:16:08.160> as<00:16
• note had had indicated as the fiscal note had had indicated as closer<00:16:15.240> between<00
• Another point I'd like to make is the fiscal impact to the state.
• the fiscal impact to the state of Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I saw fiscal disparities, and that makes my ears perk.
• <01:18:39.360> year fiscal year fiscal year 2025<01:18:41.199> that<01:18:41.320> was
• that was made for fiscal that was made for fiscal 2025<01:19:45.920> in<01:19:46.120>
• This upcoming fiscal year, fiscal year 2026, calendar year 2025, will be the first year that we see the
• <01:22:10.120> year in statute um this upcoming fiscal year in statute um this upcoming fiscal

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our total operating expenses in fiscal year 24 were $928 million.
• <00:04:31.199> n Hampshire has grown 75 % since fiscal n Hampshire has grown 75 % since fiscal
• Representative, so on slide seven, where does the state investment go in fiscal 25?
• Representative, so on slide seven, where does the state investment go in fiscal 25?
• 14% since fiscal 14% since fiscal 19 19 19 and<00:22:45.279> much<00:22:45.480> of

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• done in the allotted time, the fiscal done in the allotted time, the fiscal year<00:04:00.640>
• >> So, we did send out notice to everybody that had taken strained fiscal liquidity.
• >> So, we did send out notice to everybody that had taken strained fiscal liquidity.
• >> So, we did send out notice to everybody that had taken strained fiscal liquidity.
• utilizing those strained fiscal utilizing those strained fiscal liquidity<00:32:17.200> dollars

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee received a budget and program update from Kentucky Emergency Management on the state’s urban search and rescue buildout. Eric Gibson and Doug Hargrave said the legislature’s funding was used to create FEMA-type urban search and rescue capacity, including Kentucky Task Force 1 and 2, the incident support team, and the helicopter aquatic rescue/hoist team. They emphasized that the effort is not just equipment purchases but also training, credentialing, warehouse and training-facility development, canine program expansion, and coordination with local search and rescue agencies across the Commonwealth. Gibson reported that the agency executed 99.4% of the $16.175 million appropriation by the end of the fiscal year and said the team met its readiness target ahead of schedule, with equipment already being deployed in recent flood response operations. He also said $500,000 per year was set aside for local search and rescue grants, with about $482,000 awarded to 29 teams in one year and $490,000 to 36 teams in the next, averaging about $20,000 per grant. Several members urged the committee to consider increasing support for local responders in future budgets, noting rising equipment costs and the importance of local teams as first on scene. Members asked about staffing, coverage, and benefits. Gibson explained that the task force is a mixed workforce of full-time fire personnel loaned from local departments, professional service staff such as doctors and engineers, and temporary deployment staff, with workers’ compensation coverage provided through KYEM and/or home agencies depending on the arrangement. He also said local search and rescue members are not currently included in line-of-duty death benefits. In response to questions about coverage and deployment, he described the two task force locations as designed to keep resources within roughly 100 miles of every Kentuckian. The discussion also turned to recent flood response and disaster recovery. Gibson said the state had mobilized up to 24 teams over the weekend, documented roughly 60 to 80 water rescues or assisted evacuations, and was seeing significant damage in counties such as Cumberland, Clinton, and Metcalfe, including agricultural losses. He said several counties were meeting FEMA public assistance thresholds and that the state was preparing a broader relief request that could include FEMA, SBA, and USDA assistance. He also updated members on efforts to claw back and reallocate unused “strained fiscal liquidity” funds by the statutory deadline, saying notices were sent and funds were redirected where possible to unmet local needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• In its first year of operation, fiscal year 2025, the appropriation for North Star Promise Program
• In total, 61,024 students received either an NSP base and/or NSP Plus award in fiscal year 2025, and
• <00:04:40.960> North<00:04:41.200> Star In fiscal year 25, base North Star In fiscal
• uh base and/or NSP Plus award in fiscal uh base and/or NSP Plus award in fiscal year<00:05:03.120
• <00:09:35.080> year pages, it shows that in fiscal year pages, it shows that in fiscal year

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have a a some hard fiscal plan?
• the radar and I think it's a good fiscal the radar and I think it's a good fiscal healthy<00:11:
• But we have no fiscal obligation and no fiscal liability. And Mr.
• But we have no fiscal charter schools.
• But we have no fiscal obligation<00:14:06.800> and<00:14:07.120> no<00:14:07.519> fiscal

Bills: HB245, SB16, SB59, SB62, SB79, SB88

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, SB16, four-point restraint, hog-tie, hog tie, prone restraint, law enforcement, police, sheriff, use of force, restraint techniques, positional asphyxia, arrest procedures, detention

Transcript Highlights:

• year 25 when started it in state fiscal year 25 when we<00:12:49.720> had<00:12:49.839> to
• of the state fiscal year not knowing<00:13:10.760> at<00:13:10.959> that<00:13:11.199>
• The bill provided that this appropriation is for fiscal year 2024 and 2025.
• fiscal year.
• <01:03:40.799> year<01:03:41.599> and fiscal year through next fiscal year and fiscal

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon adjournment of both chambers today. There is not an exact time, there for the live stream has been created with a place holder time of 4:00 PM est., 958, all

Summary: Chairman Hart called the meeting to order, confirmed a quorum, welcomed Representative Rachel Roarx, and the committee approved the February 11 minutes. The committee then moved through its agenda of PSC and related contract items, including a motion to consider the reviewed contracts without objection. One Department of Highways item was deferred when the virtual representatives were not yet available. The committee first took up Kentucky Housing Corporation contracts. Members questioned outside legal services for foreclosures and bankruptcies, why the work was not handled entirely in-house, and how much of the workload and cost it represented. Witnesses said the agency’s need was largely geographic rather than a lack of expertise, that less than 1% of the loan portfolio is referred out for foreclosures, and that many fees are reimbursable through FHA. Both Kentucky Housing Corporation items were approved. The committee then considered a Department for Community Based Services contract tied to a protest and a temporary renewal with PCG. Witnesses said the contract increase was needed to bridge the gap while the protest and RFP process were unresolved, and that the initial vendor received no funds. The committee approved the item, with Senator Douglas explaining his vote as a preference for straightforward answers. The committee also heard a Northern Kentucky University contract for a Workday ERP replacement, including implementation consulting and separate license fees. University officials explained the move from SAP to Workday, the complexity of the systems, and the need for a consulting partner; they said the total effort would span 10 years and that the contract was priced below comparable institutions. After extensive questioning about cost, budget, and value, the vote ended 4-4 and the chair noted the contract would move forward through the Finance Committee if no disapproval motion was made. Finally, the Office of Inspector General presented a contract for culture change training in nursing facilities funded by civil monetary penalties; witnesses said the goal was to improve staff satisfaction, communication, and resident outcomes, and that the CMP fund balance was about $38 million. Discussion also covered survey backlogs and CMS restrictions on the funds, with the item still under review as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the 2026 fiscal year, which was $115.1 billion.
• It is an application of common-sense fiscal discipline. Not my words.
• Because we have very fiscally constrained counties.
• I come from an area that's very fiscally conservative. It has done a great job.
• What's the impact on my county's fiscal responsibility?

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand homestead property tax relief, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses. Senator Avila presented the measure as a major property tax reform intended to provide relief to homeowners and restrain local government spending, while opponents argued it would shift costs to fees, services, and state appropriations and could harm local budgets, public safety, schools, and other services. Several senators also raised concerns about the ballot language and the lack of a completed fiscal analysis. The chamber considered and rejected multiple amendments. Senator Sharif’s income-based “circuit breaker” amendment failed, as did Senator Smith’s sunset clause amendment and Senator Berman’s amendment to rewrite the ballot statement for greater accuracy. During questioning, Avila said the revised language was meant to preserve flexibility for local governments and that future legislatures could set implementing procedures and, if necessary, prohibit certain local expenditures by general law. He also confirmed that the proposal would not affect refinancing or portability, and said the measure would not prevent local governments from continuing to fund many services such as libraries, parks, animal control, code enforcement, mosquito control, public housing, county health departments, and elections. Debate on final passage was extensive. Supporters described the proposal as overdue relief for homeowners and a way to force local governments to prioritize spending, while critics called it a risky tax shift that could reduce local revenue by billions and force cuts or higher fees. Some senators emphasized concerns about public safety funding, mental health and social services, and the accuracy of the ballot summary; others argued the measure would give voters a chance to decide on property tax reform. After debate, the resolution was rolled over for third reading and the Senate continued discussion, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this is to directly support 988 center operations in fiscal year 2026-27 and through fiscal year
• year 2026-27 through fiscal year 2029-30.
• And then $1.4 million in fiscal year 2026-27 and $1.37 million in fiscal year 2027-28 and ongoing for
• Yet our budget remained flat since the previous fiscal year.
• DSH requests $3.9 million and four permanent positions in fiscal year 2026-27 and $1.1 million in fiscal

Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially serious mental illness and anosognosia, a condition described by witnesses as a neurological symptom that prevents people from recognizing they are ill. The chair framed the issue around families cycling through emergency rooms, jails, conservatorships, and short-term stabilization without lasting treatment, and warned that federal changes under H.R. 1 could reduce Medi-Cal funding and worsen access. Dawn Marie Anderson gave a personal account of her son’s long history of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, repeated jail and state hospital stays, and eventual stability when he received sustained medication and coordinated support. She argued that the system often treats the problem as criminal rather than medical and that voluntary programs and short-term services are not enough for people who lack insight into their illness. Other panelists, including representatives from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, agreed that anosognosia is not denial or noncompliance and said the system needs long-term, coordinated care, including assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, medication support, and stronger handoffs between county and managed care systems. They said CalAIM and other reforms have improved some coordination, but significant gaps remain, especially for people with serious mental illness, for those in jail or locked settings, and for people with private insurance, which witnesses said often offers little meaningful coverage for early psychosis or intensive behavioral health services. Several witnesses urged the Legislature to protect Medi-Cal, shore up county safety-net services, and invest in training and family engagement. The committee then turned to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, with a focus on the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, saying the platforms provide free, culturally responsive, early-intervention support statewide and help connect users to higher levels of care when needed. On the fee schedule, DHCS said more than 500 LEAs, colleges, universities, and school-linked providers are participating, 181 LEAs have submitted claims, and $9.6 million has been reimbursed to date, with 41,556 students represented in claims. The chair and several members criticized the pace of implementation and the amount of money spent relative to reimbursement levels, saying the Legislature had requested data earlier and that the return on investment still appeared low. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, that 70% of denials are correctable, that $400 million in capacity grants has been distributed locally, and that reimbursement is increasing rapidly as more districts come online. Public comment included a rural county behavioral health director who said private insurance denials leave counties with significant uncompensated work, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services.

Transcript Highlights:

• That wasn't true in fiscal year 23 and wouldn't have been true in fiscal year 24 but for the key offset
• That wasn't true in fiscal year 23 and wouldn't have been true in fiscal year 24 but for the key offset
• That wasn't true in fiscal year 23 and wouldn't have been true in fiscal year 24 but for the key offset
• That wasn't true in fiscal year 23 and wouldn't have been true in fiscal year 24 but for the key offset
• That wasn't true in fiscal year 23 and wouldn't have been true in fiscal year 24 but for the key offset

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• year, which was $115.1 billion. 2025-26 fiscal year, which was $115.1 billion.
• It is an application of common-sense fiscal discipline. Not my words.
• Because we have very fiscally constrained counties.
• What's the impact on my county's fiscal responsibility?
• A negative fiscal, negative...

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We heard from a senior fiscal analyst from the Joint Fiscal Office.
• the from a senior fiscal analyst from the joint<00:26:26.159> fiscal<00:26:26.559> office.
• We heard from joint fiscal office.
• The Joint Fiscal Office has prepared a fiscal note that can be found on our committee's website or the
• beginning in fiscal 2028. beginning in fiscal 2028.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reading by Theo Novak, a student and Vermont Poetry Out Loud finalist, followed by several announcements, including a welcome for the guest speaker and a reminder about a freshman legislator gathering and the day’s corporate cup road closures. The House then postponed action for one legislative day on Senate Bill 208, relating to law enforcement identification; Senate Bill 212, relating to portable water supply and wastewater system connections; and House Bill 639, relating to genetic data privacy. The main floor action centered on House Bill 648, banking, insurance, and securities. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee presented Senate amendments and its own further amendments, including clarifications to consumer reinvestment reporting and a proposal to extend and then effectively end the moratorium on new cryptocurrency kiosks in Vermont. The committee described extensive testimony and data on crypto kiosk fraud, money laundering, and consumer losses, and also added a new licensing framework for merchant cash advance providers. Ways and Means reported the fiscal impact would be very small. After a brief question about the $1 million exemption threshold for commercial financing, the House concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment with further amendment thereto. The House also passed Senate Bill 243, distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project, in concurrence with proposal of amendment. It then took up Senate Bill 198, regulating tobacco products and tobacco substitutes. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee described updates to the definition of tobacco substitutes, creation of a wholesale licensing system under the Department of Liquor and Lottery, tighter controls on online sales, and bans on deceptive products that resemble school supplies, food, smartphones, inhalers, or video games. The committee heard testimony from health, enforcement, industry, and advocacy witnesses and voted 11-0 in favor. Human Services then proposed a strike-all amendment to the committee report, with further consideration to continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'd probably need a fiscal note from those people as well. So I support this amendment.
• House fiscal staff. Um I was unsure whether there would be costs attributable to this bill.
• <00:31:54.159> House<00:31:54.399> fiscal >> Thank you, John Walls.
• House fiscal >> Thank you, John Walls.
• I did request a fiscal note, but bill.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 3477, Representative Long’s “Universal Constitutional Remedies Act,” which would create a civil damages remedy for constitutional violations by government actors, including federal officials. Long and supporting testifiers argued the bill fills a gap in current law, noting that people can sue state and local officials under Section 1983 but generally lack a meaningful damages remedy against federal actors. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability, make harmed individuals whole, and is consistent with the Supremacy Clause and federal law. Public testimony included Dr. Roger Day, who said the bill was important to people harmed by “color of law” abuses and urged broad, inclusive language. Members then considered amendments. The A1 amendment, offered by Representative Duran, removed subdivision 2, which had required federal law enforcement partners entering agreements with Minnesota to agree to abide by the state and federal constitutions; the amendment was adopted. The A2 amendment, which would have added a six-year lookback and limited the bill to future causes of action, was debated at length and rejected. The A3 amendment, which would have required state agencies to absorb litigation costs, was also debated; House fiscal staff said a fiscal note was not complete and costs were uncertain, and the amendment was not adopted. In discussion after amendments, opponents argued the bill would conflict with federal supremacy, duplicate or interfere with existing federal remedies, and could create fiscal and operational burdens. Supporters responded that the bill is modeled on existing remedies for state and local officials and that federal accountability is currently inadequate. The bill, as amended by A1, was then moved toward the general register, with a roll call requested on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This represents a 7% increase from the previous fiscal year.
• This represents a 7% increase from the previous fiscal year.
• This is being requested for extension into the next fiscal year as well.
• , since there is still another two fiscal years, we'll see more movement of this funding.
• They just give agencies the ability to carry forward money from one fiscal year to the next.

Summary: The Department of Public Safety presented its FY27 budget request, emphasizing three priorities: improving community engagement through a redesigned website and outreach, expanding statewide data and intelligence integration through intelligence-led policing, and improving emergency response and officer safety through fleet replacement, a driving track, and a requested helicopter. DPS said much of its increase is driven by rising health care premiums, and it is also seeking special appropriations for fleet replacement, the website rebuild, and an Honor Guard program created after the 2022 helicopter crash that killed four public servants. Members asked about vacancies, fleet costs, cybersecurity compliance, the real-time crime center, EV fleet participation, and the Metro DPS facility. DPS said its vacancy rate is about 9%, its fleet replacement needs are driven by mileage and condition, it is compliant with federal CJIS standards even though DoIT has raised concerns, the real-time crime center would be built as a regional model to complement Albuquerque’s center, and the Metro facility is moving toward a January groundbreaking. Committee members also discussed several DPS-related capital and IT requests, including the intelligence-led policing data lake, recurring maintenance for critical systems, and a $5.6 million reauthorization for state crime lab DNA backlog work and a $900,000 reauthorization for fingerprinting equipment. DPS explained that the website request is high because the current site must be rebuilt from scratch to support missing-person alerts, memorial updates, ADA compliance, and better communication with law enforcement and the public. Members also raised concerns about speed enforcement, construction-zone cameras, and whether EVs are practical for patrol use; DPS said it is not pursuing speed cameras and is only partially participating in the state EV initiative because patrol needs make full electrification difficult. The committee then received an LFC quarterly update on non-recurring appropriations from the 2025 General Appropriation Act. LFC reported that of the $1.4 billion appropriated in Section 5, $164 million had been expended and $333 million encumbered, leaving $897.4 million unspent, which is a slower pace than the prior year. Staff highlighted a number of reauthorization requests and slow-moving projects across agencies, including AOC cybersecurity funding, DFA housing and public safety grants, DoIT cybersecurity and higher education funds, EDD economic development and energy programs, OSI mitigation and malpractice funds, EMNRD energy and geothermal grants, Health Care Authority behavioral health-related appropriations, DPS crime lab and fingerprinting funds, PED career technical education and special education initiatives, and higher education loan repayment and technology funds. Members questioned why some large appropriations had little or no spending, discussed the need to monitor reauthorizations more closely, and asked for follow-up on several specific line items and project balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• fiscal analysis staff.
• And now I will turn it over to the fiscal staff to begin their presentation of the spreadsheet.
• c> uh<00:03:11.360> fiscal<00:03:11.920> analysis<00:03:12.480> staff.
• <00:03:13.280> Um Council and uh fiscal analysis staff.
• Um Council and uh fiscal analysis staff.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Subcommittee 4 on the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee will come to order.
• The fiscal estimate is minus $25 million in 2026-27 and $100 million in each of the two following fiscal
• So the fiscal impact here is minus $1 million in 2026-27, increasing to minus $3 million by fiscal year
• Thank you. ...increasing to minus $3 million by fiscal year 2029-30. Thank you. Thank you.
• Also, thank you to. writing submitted to the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on the website.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 2025 alone, tribal contributions totaled $163 million to the state and $22 million to
• As a result of that work, in fiscal year 2025, Arizona recorded the lowest equine fatality rate since
• Horse racing historically, up until this current fiscal year, did not receive any general fund money.
• In fiscal year 25, the... ...organizers.
• In fact, in fiscal year 2025, it exceeded the cash reserve requirement by approximately $17.5 million

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, our House research and fiscal staff who are here, um, Sean Williams, Chris Clayman, Justin Cope,
• Under the best of circumstances, especially our House research and House fiscal, they have very, very
• And it's interesting to me, you know, that people who are up in arms about fiscal discipline and the
• research and house fiscal departments. research and house fiscal departments.
• <00:32:36.559> discipline are up in arms about fiscal discipline are up in arms about fiscal

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, salary increases for law enforcement officers in fiscally constrained counties.
• This illustrates our decline in parole-eligible population over the past fiscal year.
• This illustrates our decline in parole-eligible population over the past fiscal year.
• In the prior fiscal year, the Commission made 837 parole determinations.
• In fiscal year 23-24, In fiscal year 23-24, the legislature appropriated an additional 14 positions to

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs. Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing. The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted. Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.