Transcript Highlights:

• Uh in 2024 human services judges.
• </c> administrative hearings but uh the human administrative hearings but uh the human services<00:05
• I'm with the Department of Human Services.
• I just want to clarify for the committee that our human services judges are essentially administrative
• </c> particular last year we had a human particular last year we had a human services<00:14:04.639><c

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2260, a Judiciary Committee clone of portions of the larger DHS policy bill, and adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as largely technical but also incorporating changes from the related human services bill. The bill was presented as covering several DHS-related policy areas, including background studies transparency, anti-kickback provisions for medical assistance and child care assistance, and personal data protections for human services judges. The amendment also added a number of provisions related to direct care and treatment, competency restoration billing and data sharing, fraud enforcement tools, behavioral health fund eligibility, and clarifications to prior law. Testimony from DHS Office of Inspector General legislative director Ardian Diddy emphasized that the bill would improve transparency in background studies, update investigative and arrest data access, extend a limited set-aside to similar provider types, and correct an effective-date error from last session. He also said the anti-kickback language would mirror federal Medicaid law for medical assistance and create a state-level prohibition for CCAP, giving DHS and law enforcement more tools to investigate fraud and misuse. Additional provisions would add human services judges to existing personal data protections for judicial officials. Diddy also explained amendment sections from the governor’s fraud package, including authority to act against entities convicted of fraud or theft, data-sharing improvements, and a disqualification from management and billing positions. Members raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving DHS employees with outside LLCs and about the need for stronger safeguards against fraud. The chair and other members referenced recent fraud cases and said the bill would help prevent similar abuses. Christy Grumman of DHS testified on the judge privacy section, saying there are about 35 human services judges and describing a recent incident in which a judge received violent threats serious enough to require the family’s temporary relocation by the State Patrol. Representative Hudson supported the anti-kickback provisions as a needed codification of agency authority. The committee then approved the amended bill and recommended it be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety, Finance, and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Human Services will come to order.
• As the co-chair on the Human Services Committee, I just thought it was very important that we took a
• As the co-chair on the Human Services Committee, I just thought it was very important that we took a
• > underneath</c> of Human Services and then underneath of Human Services and then underneath them<00:
• Human Services has not the Department of Human Services has not attempted<00:30:17.000><c> to</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery.
• Human trafficking comes in all forms. These are not statistics; they are human beings.
• We must fund survivor services.
• Human trafficking rises.
• The Emergency Management Committee will focus on issues relating to the California Emergency Services

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee will come to order.
• Good morning, Chair Schumacher and members of the Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.
• </c><00:04:57.840><c> Services</c> compliance and the Human Services compliance and the Human Services
• This committee is named the Human Services Committee, so it's probably no surprise that with a complex
• is named community or this committee is named Human<01:06:16.680><c> Service</c><01:06:17.240><c> committee

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.
• That bill has been referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.
• /c><00:08:46.959><c> Services</c> committee on Health and Human Services committee on Health and Human
• /c><00:08:57.839><c> Services</c> committee on Health and Human Services committee on Health and Human
• </c> the committee on Health and Human the committee on Health and Human Services<00:09:55.079><c> as

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we had a really robust conversation in the Human Services Committee, um, about these multiple layers
• Um, we had a really robust conversation in the Human Services Committee, um, about these multiple layers
• Um, we had a really robust conversation in the Human Services Committee, um, about these multiple layers
• Um, we had a really robust conversation in the Human Services Committee, um, about these multiple layers
• human services if there's department of human services if there's Medicaid<00:15:49.920><c> fraud</c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services can meet this afternoon, Thursday, April 3,
• Services, to Health and Human Services.
• , to Health and Human Services.
• , to Health and Human Services.
• inpatient mental health and human services.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with remarks highlighting UTRGV’s growth, degree production, research expansion, medical school, and role in serving the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. The chamber also recognized the doctor of the day and adopted additional resolutions, including one for Denton County Days at the Capitol and another recognizing Texas HBCU Day. The Senate gave extensive recognition to outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp through Senate Resolution 368. Senators from both parties praised his long public career, leadership of the A&M System, support for regional universities, and bipartisan approach. The resolution was adopted after multiple members added their names. The chamber also heard from advocates with the Texas Streets Coalition, and received gubernatorial nominations for the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. On legislation, the Senate passed several major bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to address teacher vacancies, bilingual certification testing, paid leave options, classroom removals, and appeal rights, then passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment on parents’ right to direct a child’s education, advanced on a 22-9 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, aimed at preventing foreign influence and intellectual property theft at public institutions of higher education, passed unanimously. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the business entities bill, also passed after debate over corporate governance and shareholder protections. Senate Bill 857, authorizing law enforcement to tow certain vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed despite some concern about towing abuses during disasters. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536 on dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, but the transcript ends as that bill is being laid out.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas before joining the Department of Human Services, Lori McDonald built a strong foundation
• And whereas Lori McDonald's work with the Department of Human Services has spanned multiple leadership
• And whereas Lori McDonald advanced at the Department of Human Services, she became a trusted liaison
• of her retirement from the Department of Human Services.
• And thank you for always being so supportive of me at the Department of Human Services.

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I would see it as something that would be needed to be heard in the Health and Human Services Committee
• </c><01:03:07.359><c> Services,</c> Department of Human Services, Department of Human Services, specifically
• </c><01:10:58.199><c> services,</c> in the department of human services, in the department of human services
• </c><01:14:28.159><c> services</c> to be department of human services to be department of human services
• Services in the Health and Human Services bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > I</c><00:19:55.840><c> normally</c> of Human Services you know I normally of Human Services you know
• </c><00:21:20.880><c> Services</c> house chair of Health and Human Services house chair of Health and
• futil</c><00:21:28.600><c> attempt</c> human services including a futil attempt human services including
• Human Services after The to help theart Human Services after The Disappearance<00:21:47.919><c> and<
• </c><00:25:49.240><c> to</c><00:25:49.399><c> our</c> Human Services when it comes to our Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• service centers.
• Thank you for being in committee.
• of human connection.
• We treat students as human beings. We talk about what it means to be human.
• Thank you, members of the committee. Thank you. Privilege. Thanks. All right, committee.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee began by welcoming a new Senate Page, Caleb Williams of Shelley, who introduced himself and answered a few light questions about his plans after graduation. The committee then approved minutes from February 10, 12, 16, and 17, 2026, by voice vote. The main action item was Senate Bill 1317, which would create regional service centers to help school districts and charter schools share special education-related staff and services, especially in rural areas. The sponsor and department staff said the bill is intended to reduce duplication, improve compliance with IDEA, strengthen recruitment and retention of specialists, and preserve local control. Testimony from superintendents, teachers, parents, advocates, and others was overwhelmingly supportive, emphasizing high costs for contracted services, staffing shortages, and the benefits of shared regional models. Senator Zito raised concerns about the $1 million fiscal note, the use of real property, and the lack of clarity about how many centers would be created and where they would be located. After discussion, the committee voted to send SB 1317 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation; the motion passed with Senator Zito voting no. Following that, the committee received informational presentations on two Idaho education programs: District 91’s PASS program in Idaho Falls, a tiered behavior-support model for young students, and Kootenai Classical Academy’s classical education model, including its curriculum, character education, and strong literacy results. The meeting adjourned at the scheduled hard stop.

Transcript Highlights:

• I see one of our illustrious committee members here, so we will start as a committee this morning.
• Humans should be making these decisions.
• , a human in an oversight position, and that human is lax...
• I'd like to thank the committee staff for your work on the bill and accept the committee amendments.
• Right now, we are seeing AI replace human workers and human judgment at a scale we have not seen before

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 11 also human services committee.
• </c><01:08:48.960><c> As</c> the human services committee. As the human services committee.
• </c> since that left the human services since that left the human services committee<01:09:11.120><c>
• I'm Kyle Raymond, uh, staff to the human services committee. Excuse me.
• human services committee.<01:50:02.000><c> Excuse</c><01:50:02.320><c> me.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas before joining the Department of Human Services, Lori McDonald built a strong foundation
• And whereas Lori McDonald's work with the Department of Human Services has spanned multiple leadership
• And whereas Lori McDonald advanced at the Department of Human Services, she became a trusted liaison
• In these positions, she led the Department of Human Services' legislative strategy, managed high-level
• of her retirement from the Department of Human Services.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for hearing aids and related services. for hearing aids and related services.
• misery into a human into It turns human misery into a human into a<00:10:15.360><c> business</c><00:10
• > human</c> human trafficking promoting human human trafficking promoting human trafficking<00:10:29.360
• House Committee Substitute 1 is adopted. House Committee Substitute 1 is adopted.
• Next order of business is meeting of the Committee on Committees and Rules. Mr.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:11 Report of Committees 06:05 Orders of the Day/HB 320 07:52 HB 366 14:55 HB 389 17:22 HB 56 22:10 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 25:47 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 29:20 Petition of Impeachment Filed 31:24 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 32:03 ConC/Rules Report 36:31 Floor Amendments 37:29 Adjournment 37:47, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the pledge, recorded 96 members present, excused absences, and approved the journal from January 27, 2026. The Senate clerk announced passage of Senate Bills 17 and 181 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced a number of bills on health insurance, judiciary, local government, and transportation topics, including measures on pharmacist reimbursements, hearing aid coverage, feeding and eating disorders, grooming a minor, local government liability, water fluoridation, cigar bars, chickens on residential property, highway pavement markings, motor vehicle titles, and pedestrian issues; all favorable reports were treated as first readings and placed on the calendar. The House then took up and passed House Bill 320 on human trafficking, with the sponsor explaining it would equalize penalties for promoting human trafficking with those for trafficking itself and increase the penalty when the victim is under 18. A member asked whether the bill included additional funding for cyber enforcement; the sponsor replied it was not an appropriation and would not require new funding, though prior budgets had increased support for anti-trafficking efforts. The House adopted a title amendment changing the bill’s title to combating human trafficking. The chamber also passed House Bill 366, which clarifies that materials portraying a sexual performance by a minor include computer-generated images and requires 85% service of the sentence before probation or parole; the sponsor said it was supported by law enforcement and prosecutors. House Bill 389 on reading and writing in schools also passed as amended by House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said it would require annual updates to the state dyslexia toolkit, expand professional development and coaching, require local school boards to develop processes for universal screening and diagnostic tools, and add dyslexia instruction to teacher preparation programs; the substitute added conformity with IDEA and revised the instructional language. Members spoke in support of early dyslexia detection and one member noted the bill updated prior legislation associated with former Rep. Bam Carney. House Bill 56, an omnibus Department of Agriculture bill, then passed; it addressed amusement ride inspections, grain warehousing penalties, egg handler licensing renewal timing, exemptions for small producers, and repealed obsolete tobacco and egg marketing board provisions. All three bills passed by roll call with 95 or 94 votes in favor and none opposed, and clinchers were applied. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings and events, including a suits-and-sneakers day and cancer-related breakfast, caucus meetings, and committee meetings. New bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on local occupational license fees, early learning and child care, tuition waivers, an adult workforce diploma pilot, motor vehicle usage tax, contract procurement, Fish and Wildlife Resources, adoption, veterans’ benefits, Cabinet for Health and Family Services operations, organ donation safety, hate crimes, prescription drugs, and resolutions on the Kentucky-Japan partnership and veterans’ benefits accreditation. The clerk also reported a petition of impeachment filed against Judge Julie Goodman. The House then referred a group of bills to committees, reported floor amendments for House Bills 321 and 416, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• be re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• to the Committee on Human Services.
• Services and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• to the Committee on Health and Human Services.
• /c><00:08:18.479><c> Services</c> committee on Health and Human Services committee on Health and Human

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Call the Protection and Victim Services Committee to order. Good morning, everybody.
• Our human service zones make a lot of referrals.
• And then if Human Services has it in its budget, great.
• request for these funds, and it ends up in a human services budget.
• We get our referrals from law enforcement and human services.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 514, by the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, makes revisions relating to
• Assembly Bill 515, by the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, revises provisions relating
• Also, your committee on health and human services, to which was referred to assembly bill number 463,
• Assembly Bill 514, introduced by the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, makes revisions
• Assembly Bill 514, introduced by the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, makes revisions

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Read twice by title, is ordered printed, and referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee
• Services Committee.
• Services Committee.
• Referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee, thence to the House Judiciary Committee.
• Is ordered printed and referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee, thence to the House

Transcript Highlights:

• And you have amended the report of the committee on human services.
• If so, all those in favor, please say I. human services committee and we approve human services committee
• > be</c> the committee on human services be the committee on human services be amended<01:18:26.159><
• </c><01:18:48.480><c> Now</c> of the committee on human services.
• Now of the committee on human services.

Keywords: 926, house, all