Transcript Highlights:

• Without guardrails of law, these contracts begin to function as a penalty.
• Without guardrails of law, these contracts begin to function as a penalty.
• Without guardrails of law, these contracts begin to function as a penalty.
• Without guardrails of law, these contracts begin to function as a penalty.
• Without guardrails of law, these contracts begin to function as a penalty.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• most of these assessments that ECECD has selected emphasize social-emotional growth and executive function
• you'll see there are some key things about that assessment, and we're very excited about executive function
• it, but the window of 3 to 5 is where we as human beings really begin developing that executive function
• year, and you're able to get these personalized interventions so that we can see this executive function
• We see that the average executive function score for our preschoolers was around 40. 5th percentile,

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say I think this is the most functional committee in the legislature.
• I will say I think this is the most functional committee in the legislature.
• I will say I think this is the most functional committee in the legislature.
• I will say I think this is the most functional committee in the legislature.
• functional committee in the legislature. functional committee in the legislature.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• historical trends in entries into the system. essentially accounts for the waitlist continuing to function
• washers, and things that are in our factories that need... need to be replaced because they're non-functional
• The hospital cannot work if it's not functioning. and things are getting even just more expensive.
• and the safety of our facilities, and they function in the juvenile detention centers in our communities
• So historically TGJD and TYC functioned what I would call a like an outpatient model where I live in

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The response continued: “The non-emergency medical transportation benefit functions very similar to a
• The response continued: “The non-emergency medical transportation benefit functions very similar to a
• best practice model on various functions best practice model on various functions that<00:43:11.000
• Okay, what's y'all's main, what's y'all's top five functions and mission of the Department of Medicaid
• What's your five functions? What are y'all's mission?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services held its first meeting and received an overview from the Department for Medicaid Services on Medicaid’s behavioral health and substance use disorder services. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal said Kentucky Medicaid serves about 1.4 million members, including over half of Kentucky children, with 485,000 expansion members, more than 69,000 enrolled providers, and total fiscal year 2024 expenditures of $18.5 billion. They said Kentucky covers a broad range of behavioral health services, and behavioral health provider enrollment has grown from a little over 4,500 in 2019 to nearly 8,000 in 2024. They also described how Medicaid spending and utilization are tracked through claims and encounter data, with most members served through managed care organizations. Members focused on sharp increases in certain behavioral health billing codes, especially peer-to-peer services, and asked about reimbursement, utilization review, and whether the growth reflected increased need or expanded coverage. DMS said the rise was partly tied to combining facility and nonfacility behavioral health fee schedules in 2023, choosing the higher reimbursement rate to avoid cuts, and that the department has seen an uptick in peer-to-peer services. In response to concerns about overutilization, DMS said it mailed a letter to behavioral health providers, is considering limits and prior authorizations for some services, and plans to create a standardized monthly behavioral health report to monitor trends consistently and identify when controls may be needed. Lawmakers also asked whether the provider network is sufficient and whether access is adequate, especially for children. DMS said provider enrollment has expanded because behavioral health services were added to Medicaid in 2014 and because demand increased after COVID, but acknowledged studies showing children have less access than adults and said that would be an area of focus. The department said managed care organizations are required to ensure access to needed services and that current trends indicate access is available, though one member disagreed and said workforce shortages remain a major concern. Another member asked about non-emergency medical transportation spending, and DMS explained that it is handled through a capitated arrangement administered by the Transportation Cabinet rather than directly by the managed care organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• of that position became job functions of that position became lessened<01:03:19.359> and<01:03
• is actually the executive committee on a number of issues, and we then send it to EDNA, and our function
• is to put the to EDNA and our function is to put the bill<01:07:30.720> uh<01:07:31.039> into
• articulately about the uh the function articulately about the uh the function of<01:08:16.640>
• here of you, but ministerial function here of you, but I'm<01:08:26.480> happy<01:08:26.799><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on Senate Bill 401, which DHHS described as a cleanup bill. Testimony from the department explained that the bill would repeal obsolete reporting requirements tied to a repealed municipal reimbursement program and to the now-repealed commission on demographic trends. No one testified in opposition, and the committee voted 12-0 ought to pass, placing the bill on the consent calendar. The committee then heard Senate Bill 402, which would eliminate certain non-compete agreements for physician associates going forward. Senator Gray introduced the bill, and a representative of the New Hampshire Society of Physician Associates said it would improve workforce recruitment and access to care without changing scope of practice or affecting existing agreements. Committee members asked about the length of current restrictions and whether the change would make New Hampshire more attractive to PAs. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and sent the bill to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 426, which would repeal the permissible fireworks committee. Senator Uler and the deputy state fire marshal said the committee’s original purpose had been overtaken by later changes adopting federal fireworks standards, and that the fire marshal now has the necessary authority. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and placed the bill on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 469, a DMV modernization bill allowing electronic signatures in place of wet signatures for certain motor vehicle title and registration processes. Senator Lang, Carvana, the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, Copart, and DMV staff all supported the measure, saying it would reduce delays, errors, and paperwork burdens. Members asked about AI, consumer protections, costs, and how electronic signatures would work in practice, including in cases involving deceased owners. The transcript cuts off during that hearing before any committee action on SB 469.

Transcript Highlights:

• through 3D technology an undetectable firearm, for one, that firearm's probably not going to be functional
• <00:23:36.160> You functional, but two, that's a crime.
• You functional, but two, that's a crime.
• It is a prohibition on a category of firearm functionality.
• firearm functionality. firearm functionality.

Bills: HF2354, HF3407, HF4359, HF4192, HF3356, HF3695, HF1597, HF3155, HF3871, HF4437, HF4446, HF3990

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, ghost guns, unserialized firearms, 3D-printed guns, 3D printer firearms, CNC milling, home-built firearms, firearm serialization, serial numbers, unfinished frame, unfinished receiver, ghost gun ban, gun control, firearm design files, CAD files, digital gun blueprints

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Magrum, members of the committee, the university system does have an internal audit function, but
• The second set of charts on page 12 illustrates operating expense by function.
• It's really their performance of their audit function and the various reporting that they have to do
• The integration of the Securities function into the Insurance Department aligns that function with these
• They did merge into the Insurance Department, and we will continue to do the functions of performing

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I was just curious about your auditing capabilities, and if you have any of those functions within
• Um, I was just curious about your auditing capabilities, and if you have any of those functions within
• Um, I was just curious about your auditing capabilities, and if you have any of those functions within
• if you have any of those functions if you have any of those functions within<01:29:57.720> your
• in terms of the functions of our office. in terms of the functions of our office.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The chairman opened by explaining that the committee would hear proposed interim topics and then rank them by written submissions rather than debating them one by one. The Public Service Commission presented two topics: an educational session on small water utilities, citing maintenance needs, water-quality compliance, and difficulty accessing capital, and a review of civil penalties for pipeline safety violations because Wyoming’s statutory penalties are far below federal levels and could affect compliance and funding. Members and outside presenters then outlined a range of additional topics. Representative Campbell proposed work on fire protection districts and EMS districts, focusing on financial stability, mill levies, and possible county authority to combine districts and levies. He also raised public records at meetings, corporate filing fees, and fraudulent corporate filings. The Community College Commission proposed updating annexation statutes so communities can join community college districts more easily, especially where current mill-levy rules create funding issues. Senator Crago supported the fraudulent corporate filings topic and noted related technology-based solutions and overlap with blockchain issues. Other proposals included CPA “Pathways” licensing changes to address a shortage of accountants, a review of public meetings and public records laws, continuation of the electricity study with emphasis on grid reliability and large-load capacity constraints, and a broader review of the public meetings and records act. Ashley Harpstreith of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities supported extending municipal audit deadlines and described a statewide shortage of auditors and CPAs. Healthy Wyoming proposed studying health coverage options for low-income working adults, including state-sponsored or cooperative models. Representative Chestek proposed making most nonpartisan county offices elected on a nonpartisan basis. No votes or final selections were taken in the portion provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and discussed whether topics should be assigned to this committee or another one.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill will be a functioning bill.
• And this bill will be a functioning bill.
• And this bill will be a functioning bill.
• And this bill will be a functioning bill.
• This functioning budget for our schools.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's very specific outlined functions and objectives of our office to work with the other state
• And there's very specific outlined functions and objectives of our office to work with the other state
• c> um<00:50:57.000> but<00:50:57.319> at<00:50:57.440> the not properly function
• and um but at the not properly function and um but at the same<00:50:57.880> time<00:50:58.359
• Board and updating their Board and updating their functions<01:27:11.480> and<01:27:11.679>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several Human Services measures focused on Medicaid access, long-term care benefits, home health reimbursement, SNAP administration, trauma-informed child welfare, and child abuse reporting. HP 702 would increase funding for Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are secured, and testimony from disability advocates supported the measure as needed to help people with disabilities cover medical expenses. HB 1477, described as a correction to a prior session’s mistake, would clarify that the monthly needs allowance for certain long-term care residents does not replace state supplemental payments and would raise the ceiling by $25 to fix the prior issue and by an additional $20 as a new benefit; DHS supported it with amendments, and the committee indicated it would amend accordingly. HB 713 would fund a DHS rate study for home health services, with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii strongly supporting it and describing rising labor costs, losses on Medicaid patients, and access concerns if agencies cannot keep serving Medicaid clients. HB 1099 would appropriate emergency funds to DHS after a USDA penalty tied to SNAP response times, with supporters including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others arguing the money should be reinvested in staffing and systems to improve access and avoid further penalties. HB 1079 would direct the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS to create trauma-informed assessments and training for Child Welfare Services staff; testimony from state offices and advocacy groups supported it, citing the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group, staff burnout, and the need for a sustainable train-the-trainer model. Finally, HB 239 would narrow when failure to provide a child’s needs constitutes abuse or neglect, but DHS raised concerns that the current wording could broaden abuse findings and leave families in poverty without a clear safety net, while the Honolulu prosecutor’s office opposed it, warning it could weaken mandatory reporting and hinder investigations of child abuse. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided, though the chair said HB 1477 would be amended and several measures were left open for further questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just gonna make it a lot easier for the boards to function and have, well, maybe not half, several
• Uh, I do believe this bill will allow these boards to be more accountable, more functionable, and more

Transcript Highlights:

• Functions as basic as it is important, such as economic forecasting, auditing, and government accountability
• have a responsibility to our constituents and to the State of Florida to have three robust, well-functioning

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and so in the case of the lead attorney aspect, that's a different function, as you testified.
• Our JCEC's function is to make that decision. Then it comes to EDNA to be put into statute.
• JCECs function is to make that decision.
• That's the function. That is the kind of thing that JCEC actually does.
• treasurer, you know, other functional treasurer, you know, other functional leaders,<03:47:41.800

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You say now it's drug out; there's a lot of, uh, judicial, uh, regard and so forth, so how would this
• a<04:03:29.080> lot<04:03:29.319> of<04:03:30.319> uh<04:03:31.040> judicial
• <04:03:32.040> uh out there's a lot of uh judicial uh out there's a lot of uh judicial uh

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• eligible for Brownfields, but presumably some of these will fall in blighted areas that could be a function
• actually submit these lands are going to have more assessment data than they currently have as a function

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and took up a single bill, HB 167, dealing with former phosphate-mined land. Chair McClure explained that the bill revises a strict liability provision if the current property owner records the prior phosphate-mining use with the county or municipality and the Department of Health completes a survey. Members asked about whether the lands would be treated as hazardous or Brownfield properties, how the bill would affect disclosure and recorded notice, and whether it would apply to pending litigation. McClure said the bill is intended to create more public assessment data and that the language requires the conditions to be met at the time of litigation, though he was open to further clarifying language if needed. During debate, Ranking Member Gottlieb said he would support the bill because Florida is a buyer-beware state and the recording requirement plus the Department of Health study should provide purchasers with needed information. Representative Joseph also supported the bill, citing the transparency and recording provisions, while noting he still wanted clarification on pending litigation. In closing, McClure said the bill reflects a middle ground after prior discussions and noted that environmental assessments are typically part of transactions involving these properties. The committee then voted unanimously to report HB 167 favorably, with 21 ayes and no nays. The meeting adjourned after the bill passed and no further business remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• every one of us has experienced the benefits of having diversity, equity, and inclusion in the functioning
• every one of us has experienced the benefits of having diversity, equity, and inclusion in the functioning

Keywords: Senate Bill 688, Senate Bill 9, equity, meritocracy, social progress, policy reform, public testimony

Summary: During this meeting of the committee, significant discussions centered around Senate Bill 688 and Senate Bill 9, with members expressing deep concerns over the implications of the proposed legislation. Chair Carol Alvarado initiated the meeting by addressing the audience and highlighting the need for robust dialogue regarding the bills in question. Senator Royce West actively contributed to the discussions, emphasizing the necessity to reform existing policies that some believe would regress social progress in the state. The debate revealed a passionate division among committee members, as they navigated the complexities of equity and meritocracy in legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Functions as basic and as important as economic forecasting, auditing, and government accountability.
• have a responsibility to our constituents and to the State of Florida to have three robust, well-functioning

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:16:33.120> off<01:16:33.360> the everything kind of functions off the everything
• kind of functions off the monetary<01:16:34.640> and<01:16:34.960> so<01:16:35.120>
• So I think I bring that up because it's not necessarily just a function of what the individual filer
• The numbers demonstrate that it's really a function of job availability because we're not filling up
• of what the necessarily just a function of what the individual<01:21:14.800> filer individual

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All those technology functions in responding to a critical need that we know exists in our state.
• our local community level we have somewhat of a patchwork of emergency responses that many times function
• All those technology functions<00:08:20.240> in functions in functions in responding<00:08:22.480
• function function in<00:08:45.480> in<00:08:46.320> disconnected<00:08:47.120> way<
• recently and I was talking at a function recently and I was very<00:53:23.360> pleased<00:53:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board received a presentation from Dr. Stack and Commissioner Langfeld on Kentucky’s application for a federal Medicaid-related funding opportunity tied to House Resolution 1. They described a compressed six-week stakeholder process that produced more than 50 responses and letters of support, and said the application was organized around five broad priorities: maternal health, behavioral health and substance use disorder, oral health, EMS/trauma response, and chronic disease. They emphasized that the proposal was designed to align with CMS goals, use allowable funding categories, and focus on sustainability rather than a short-term grant. Commissioner Langfeld outlined five core initiatives: rural community hubs for chronic care innovation, beginning with obesity and diabetes; a maternal and infant health effort called POWER; a behavioral health and substance use model called IMPATH; an oral health initiative called Rooted in Health; and an integrated crisis-to-care EMS and trauma response effort. He said the chronic disease work would include prevention, food-as-medicine concepts, and technology tools, while the maternal health effort would expand team-based care around mothers and infants using community health workers and doulas. The behavioral health proposal would build on existing crisis intervention models, oral health would address workforce and access gaps through training, mobile vans, and telehealth, and the EMS proposal would better connect emergency response with home-based and community care. Several senators questioned whether the proposal would meaningfully address rural hospital closures or the broader rural health care crisis. Senator Meredith said the plan was not transformational and would not save rural hospitals, while Senator Berg asked how success would be measured. In response, the presenters said they would use both lagging and leading indicators, with an emphasis on rapid-cycle feedback and data use that is more actionable in real time. They also said the work could help existing models that already show promise, such as behavioral health units and dental workforce expansion, even if it would not solve the larger funding gap created by HR1. Senator Douglas asked how the proposals would motivate patients to participate in their own health care. The presenters responded that the chronic disease prevention work would focus on obesity, diabetes prevention, nutrition, and consumer-facing technology tools to help people engage in their own care, and that EMS-community health worker partnerships could identify unmet needs in the home and reduce preventable problems. The board then moved on to its next agenda item, Medicaid managed care delivery models, with Tom Stevens, Katherine North, and Dr. Patel scheduled to present.