Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, anti-Semitic activity in our Commonwealth included 87 extremist incidents.
• Anti-Semitic activity in our Commonwealth included 87 extremist incidents, 132 cases of verbal or written
• Anti-Semitic activity and our Commonwealth included 87 extremist incidents, 132 cases of verbal or written

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on a series of bills focused largely on local-option real estate transfer fees and housing funding tools for communities facing severe affordability pressures. Testimony strongly favored bills for Somerville, Concord, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Chatham, and a statewide local-option transfer fee, with speakers arguing that high-end real estate transactions should help fund affordable housing, anti-displacement efforts, workforce housing, and related capital improvements. Elected officials and local housing leaders described rising rents and home prices, investor activity, shrinking year-round housing stock, and difficulty recruiting or retaining teachers, police, health care workers, and other essential employees. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals would be optional for municipalities, could include exemptions for first-time homebuyers or seniors, and would direct revenue into local affordable housing trust funds or housing banks. Committee members asked questions about who would pay the fee and whether it could make housing less affordable, and supporters responded that the fees would be targeted at higher-value transactions and designed with local flexibility. For Somerville, the delegation and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne backed both a local home rule petition and statewide enabling legislation, saying the city has already used zoning reform, inclusionary zoning, and local housing funds but still needs a new revenue source to address displacement and investor-driven purchases. For Concord, Representative Carmine Gentile and Concord housing advocates supported a home rule petition and the statewide bill, arguing that a modest fee on sales above $1 million could generate predictable revenue for affordable housing production and preservation. One committee exchange focused on whether the fee would affect most Concord sales and whether it would be passed on to buyers; supporters said the policy was intended to shift costs toward higher-value properties and help leverage other funding sources. The committee also heard testimony on House 4105, which would redirect a casino-related revenue stream to the Healthy Incentives Program. Farmers, advocates, and residents said the current funding was originally intended to support horse racing but has not met that goal, and that the money would be better used to support Massachusetts farmers and food-insecure residents through HIP. In a separate bill, Senator Becca Rausch testified in support of Senate 268, which would create a state-level hostile learning environment complaint process for higher education institutions and potentially strip tax exemptions from colleges or universities found to have such environments; she cited anti-Semitic and transphobic incidents on campuses and argued that existing federal protections should be mirrored in state law. The hearing also included testimony on college tuition debt reduction legislation from Senator Michael Moore, who said the bill would allow a deduction for tuition and fees paid to Massachusetts public colleges and universities to ease student debt and support the state’s workforce. A major portion of the hearing focused on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket housing bank proposals. Hospital, school, housing, planning, and municipal officials from Martha’s Vineyard said the island’s year-round housing shortage is harming health care, schools, and the local workforce, and urged approval of a housing bank funded by a local-option transfer fee. Nantucket witnesses made similar arguments, pointing to a very high median home price, a large seasonal housing stock, and the need for a dedicated revenue stream to preserve and create year-round housing. Supporters repeatedly cited the long-running success of the islands’ land banks as evidence that transfer fees can work without harming real estate markets. Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Thomas Moakley Luddy also backed the Cape and Islands transfer-fee bills, saying the region needs bold action and a sustainable local funding source to address its housing crisis.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to have, I think, 87 vendors this year, including some of these big companies you hear about
• Next bill: House Bill 87 by Representative Mack. The motion to table is rejected. Next bill.
• House Bill 87 by Representative Mack provides relative to Livingston Parish Gas Utility District No.

Bills: HR188 , HR189 , HR190 , HR191 , HR179 , HR180 , HR181 , HR182 , HR183 , HR185 , HR186 , HR187 , HCR75 , HCR76 , HCR77 , HCR78 , HCR79 , SCR24 , SCR36 , SCR39 , SB64 , SB107 , SB152 , SB185 , SB217 , SB232 , SB278 , SB290 , SB294 , SB320 , SB321 , SB419 , SB424 , SB436 , SB440 , SB468 , SB470 , SB476 , SB482 , SB489 , HCR32 , SCR11 , HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB267 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB478 , HB610 , HB617 , HB679 , HB745 , HB749 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB896 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1000 , HB1024 , HB1050 , HB1166 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1193 , HB1207 , HB1218 , HB1223 , SB256 , SB180 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HB59 , HB74 , HB159 , HB330 , HB364 , HB414 , HB458 , HB525 , HB568 , HB786 , HB1008 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1041 , HB1062 , HB1070 , HB1079 , HB1112 , HB1118 , HB1139 , HB1151 , HB1176 , HB1182 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB87 , HB115 , HB162 , HB368 , HB433 , HB441 , HB447 , HB466 , HB481 , HB741 , HB1242 , HB362 , HB893 , HB990 , HB1007 , HB1153 , HB1243 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , SB127 , SB244 , HB615 , HB864 , HB1103 , HB1175 , HB31 , HB225 , HB608 , HB664 , HB897 , HB977 , HB1003 , HB1160 , HB1180 , HB911 , HB306 , HB366 , HB1161 , HB1230 , HB181 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB284 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB772 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1058 , HB1082 , HB1113 , HB1189 , HB1234 , HB1240

Keywords: hunting dogs, field trials, working dogs, dog training, greyhound protection, Farm Bill, federal overreach, sportsmen, sportswomen, wildlife management, conservation, rural communities, Louisiana hunting, hunting tradition, animal welfare, dog breeders, dog owners, outdoor recreation, Kathy Taylor, musical achievements

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, we're going to take HB 87 by Representative Mack. We'll read that in, Blake.
• House Bill 87 by Representative Mack provides relative to the Board of Commissioners of Livingston Parish
• House Bill 87 by Representative Mack provides relative to the Board of Commissioners of Livingston Parish

Summary: The committee met at 5:13 p.m. on April 15 with 14 members present and took up several local and municipal bills. HB 87, which would increase the per diem for the Livingston Parish Gas Utility District No. 1 board, was presented as a local bill with no opposition and was reported favorably without objection. HB 162, authorizing the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Prevention and Improvement District to levy a fee after a local vote, was also moved favorably without objection. A lengthy discussion centered on HB 481, which would change the rate for publishing official proceedings and public notices. Supporters from the Louisiana Press Association said a prior agreement intended a 15% to 20% reduction in newspaper revenue, but a calculation error meant the current law would instead cut revenues by about 40% to 50% when it takes effect in 2027. Representatives from police juries and other local-government groups argued the bill should be corrected to restore the intended compromise, while some members questioned whether the change would break a prior deal and whether small or single-newspaper parishes would be harmed. The committee ultimately reported HB 481 favorably by a 10-5 vote, with members urging further negotiation and possible floor amendments. HB 573, as amended, would restructure oversight of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board by giving the New Orleans City Council and mayor more authority over operations, contracts, and accountability measures. Representative Hilferty and Mayor Helena Moreno argued the current structure diffuses responsibility and has failed residents, while one witness from the Louisiana Justice Institute warned the bill could shift control without fixing infrastructure problems and could raise equity and financial concerns. Despite that opposition, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also advanced HB 368, increasing fines for unauthorized demolition of historic properties in New Orleans; HB 441, clarifying that Sewerage and Water Board employees remain in city civil service; and HB 257, which would give the elected police chief of Central authority to hire, fire, and discipline police personnel, subject to consultation with the city attorney and a delayed effective date. All of those bills were reported favorably after discussion and, where needed, adoption of amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you look at your adopted amendment from the last round of floor debate on page 87, that's where
• So if you look at your adopted amendment from the last round of floor debate on page 87, that's where
• So if you look at your adopted amendment from the last round of floor debate on page 87, that's where

Bills: LB815A , LB838A , LB912A , LB972A , LB1126A , LB962A , LB1114 , LB921 , LB937 , LB803 , LB803A , LB1032 , LB1032A , LB1075 , LB1075A , LB889 , LB878 , LB933 , LB304 , LB304A , LB1096 , LB1096A , LB1165 , LB1165A , LB958 , LB958A , LB762 , LB1187 , LB966 , LB929 , LB962 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB743 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LB787

Transcript Highlights:

• It was House Bill 87. I'm not going to go into the—you've got the summary in front of you.
• It was House Bill 87. I'm not going to go into the—you've got the summary in front of you.
• this time, I testified in front of this committee in favor of Melanie's Law, which was then House Bill 87

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where House Bills 3012, 2997, and 3058 were combined into a House committee substitute and then voted do pass by a 17-0 roll call. House Bill 2868 was set aside for further work on a substitute. The committee then moved into public hearings, beginning with House Bill 1740, “Melanie’s Law,” which would increase penalties for intoxicated driving cases involving injury or death and expand ignition interlock requirements, including for high-BAC offenders. The sponsor and family members of victims described the bill as a response to fatal crashes involving loved ones, while law enforcement, MoDOT, prosecutors, and MADD supported the measure as a prevention tool and cited data on recidivism and fatal crashes. Members asked about BAC thresholds, whether the bill would cover drug impairment, fiscal impacts, and the relationship to existing sentencing and parole rules. No vote was taken on HB 1740 during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bills 3049 and 368, described by the sponsors as technical cleanup bills to resolve conflicts in Missouri’s sex offender registry statutes after court rulings and to reorganize and clarify the law. A prosecutor testified in support, and members discussed registry tiers, age-of-consent issues, and how the changes might affect people whose offenses were tied to older laws or unusual fact patterns. The bills were presented as consistency and cleanup measures, and no opposition testimony was offered. Next, House Bill 2311 was heard, proposing to raise the age of consent to 18 and reduce the close-in-age exception from four years to three. The sponsor said the change was intended to align the law with recent marriage-age changes and avoid mixed signals. Members raised concerns about criminalizing high-school relationships and about consistency with existing law, but there was no testimony in opposition or a vote. Finally, House Bill 3105, a revised Second Amendment Preservation Act-style bill, was heard. The sponsor said it would remove unconstitutional language from the prior law, bar state and local officials from knowingly violating law-abiding citizens’ firearm rights, and preserve cooperation with federal law enforcement. Supporters, including sheriffs, argued it protects constitutional rights while allowing officers to act against dangerous criminals and people in crisis. Opponents, including gun-rights advocates, argued the bill still lacked a meaningful deterrent to federal overreach and raised concerns about vague language such as “danger to self or others,” which they said could function like a red-flag law and be misused. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 3105.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we have I think 86 or 87 now in the state of Oklahoma.
• And you said They're about 87 to 90 licensed polygraph examiners.
• We've got either 86 or 87 polygraph examiners. We've got one more coming through the process.

Committee: House Administrative Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And so 87% of the claims filed in fiscal year 24 were before 2020. 65% were before the year 2000.
• And so 87%. frankly on behalf of the state when appropriate.
• And so 87% of the claims filed in fiscal year 24 were before 2020. 65% were before the year 2000.

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Summary: The committee work session began with a staff presentation on state tort liability, focusing on why Washington’s tort payouts and claims have risen and how sovereign immunity, statutes of limitation, damages rules, and case law shape state exposure. Staff and the Attorney General’s Office highlighted that DCYF, DSHS, and DOC account for the largest share of claims and payouts, with Washington’s broad waiver of immunity and lack of caps on non-economic damages making it unusual compared with many other states. The discussion emphasized childhood sexual abuse claims, foster care and juvenile rehabilitation liability, and the impact of recent cases and the 2024 statute of limitations changes. Agency witnesses from DCYF, DSHS, and DOC described rising claims, delayed payout timing, difficulty defending older cases with limited records, and efforts to reduce future liability through practice changes, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, staffing, and early resolution programs. The committee then shifted to parole and sentencing. Staff from the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and Public Safety Policy and Research Center reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing and parole to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained that parole can coexist with sentencing guidelines in other states through different models. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to three-strikes, persistent offender review, and a second-chance review process, noting that the task force did not reach consensus on those ideas. Judges Veronica Galvan and Cindy Larson, speaking for the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association, supported considering a parole or review-board model as a way to address racial disparities, improve fairness, and create a more centralized and transparent review process with data collection and judicial review. The final panel began with prosecutors, with Eric Eisenger introducing himself and indicating he would speak from both his role as Benton County prosecutor and as a former defense attorney. The transcript cuts off before the prosecutors’ full testimony or any committee action on the parole topic, and no votes were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill Number 87 by Representative McCampbell, relating to Moringo County.
• The question for the body now is final passage of HB 87. Clerk, unlock the machine.
• HB 87 has passed. Clerk, call the next bill on page three of the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• The district courts is $87 million. And as you know, the Supreme Court's is $29 million.

Bills: SB372 , SB1224 , SB1232 , SB1264 , SB1330 , SB1381 , SB1441 , SB1450 , SB1589 , SB1618 , SB1936 , SB1980 , SB2011 , SB2030

Committee: House Criminal Judiciary

Summary: The committee first handled several housekeeping items: SB 1330 was withdrawn, SB 1381 was laid over, and SB 1618 was transferred to rules. It then heard a series of bills, mostly criminal justice, public safety, and regulatory measures, with members repeatedly moving due pass recommendations after brief explanations and little or no debate. SB 1589 would strengthen penalties under Oklahoma’s sweepstakes law and extend coverage to entities profiting from illegal gambling, while not affecting ordinary entertainment games. SB 1441 would make it a crime to fly a drone in the airspace of, or make contact with, designated critical infrastructure facilities such as refineries, power stations, telecommunications sites, and manufacturing facilities, with exceptions for recreational use and authorized law enforcement. SB 1224 would require clemency-related hearing notices to be sent to victims by email as well as mail, and SB 372 was described as a cleanup bill clarifying where firearms may be carried. Other bills addressed theft, domestic violence, expungement, fraud, and impersonation. SB 1232 would create a felony and raise fines for copper theft; SB 1264, after an adopted amendment, expanded the definition of great bodily injury to include concussions, brain bleeds, and injuries affecting more than 10% of the body, making domestic abuse causing such injury a felony. SB 1450 dealt with consistency in fines and fees across counties and prompted discussion about county-by-county obligations and court revenue impacts. SB 2011 would treat assault and battery against OJA contract employees the same as against employees, SB 2030 would delay implementation of the Clean Slate expungement automation initiative to 2027 and backlog processing to 2029 without expanding eligibility, SB 1980 would protect against gift card fraud after an amendment changing the mental state language to “knowingly and willfully,” and SB 1936 would make falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer a D1 felony. The committee reported the bills out with due pass recommendations, with votes recorded on several measures, including unanimous or near-unanimous approvals.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's HB 87, HB 4205. What? And on the other hand, you and I are going to do a radio show.

Bills: HB24 , SB3038 , SB3045 , SB3065 , SB3069 , SB3071 , HB2025 , HB2149 , HB3370 , HB4205 , HB4506 , HB5424 , HB5652 , HB24 , HB3687

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• What this slide, the data to date, and the slide is telling us is that 87% of the providers did, or 87
• , sorry, it's not a percentage, 87 providers did experience teacher turnover.
• It's based on the number of provider responses that we received, but we did have 87 providers that did

Committee: Joint Human Services Committee

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then received an update from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency on the interagency council on homelessness and continuum of care funding. Testimony described rising homelessness tied to tight housing markets, low incomes, aging homelessness, barriers to rental assistance and public benefits, and limited shelter and case-management capacity. Members discussed the need for more affordable housing, continued one-time funding for the North Dakota Homeless Grant and Housing Incentive Fund, better coordination with Health and Human Services on economic assistance and human service zones, landlord engagement, recovery housing, and reentry housing. The committee also heard that federal continuum of care funding remains uncertain, with possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing and housing-first models; members asked for a future update on the impact if federal rules reduce the share available for permanent housing. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described current screening and service delivery, including infant referrals, regional staff, short-term programs, and collaboration with vocational rehabilitation. He said the targeted screening system is working, recommended maintaining the current model, and noted ongoing challenges with staffing, public awareness, and accessible state websites and documents. Public testimony from a visually impaired resident and a deaf resident emphasized barriers such as CAPTCHAs, inaccessible PDFs, employment forms that screen out applicants based on driver’s license status, shortages of interpreters, and the need for video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training for users and agencies. Finally, the committee heard a final report on the study of child care provider licensing from HHS Early Childhood Director Kay Larson. The report summarized provider input and committee discussion on simplifying North Dakota’s child care licensing structure, reducing administrative burden, and balancing that with health and safety standards. Key topics included licensing categories, child care assistance eligibility, food program sponsorship, staff qualifications, training requirements, ratios and group size, age bands, and preschool exemptions. The committee’s recommendations included streamlining to three provider types plus a preschool designation, revising ratio and age-band rules, and carrying forward certain preschool outdoor-space exemptions. Larson noted that any changes would require statutory changes, rulemaking, and a transition period before new licensing rules could take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• are successful in getting off probation and completing all of their requirements, and of those folks, 87
• Out of that 87 percent recidivism, do you know how many have gone through veterans’ treatment courts
• And of those folks, 87% go on to not recidivate.
• Out of that 87% recidivism, do you know how many have gone through veterans' treatments courts or other

Summary: The joint appropriations committee met on April 28 to review the FY 2027 budget package, including the general appropriations feed bills (HB 4138 and SB 1831) and related budget reconciliation measures. Staff described the budget as including about $17.96 billion in general fund appropriations, a one-time transfer of state monies to increase revenues, a 5% lump-sum reduction to most agencies’ discretionary general fund budgets, and several one-time restorations or continuations for items such as school facilities, child care, child safety, corrections stipends, and public safety operating costs. Members spent much of the meeting debating how the across-the-board cuts would be implemented, which programs might be affected, and how fund sweeps from prior-year appropriations and special funds would work, including questions about universities, public safety, rural hospitals, transportation grants, the Corporation Commission, and health insurance costs for state employees and troopers. A major point of discussion was the impact on universities and higher education. Arizona Board of Regents representatives said the proposed reductions and fund sweeps would affect already obligated dollars, research, staffing, and student aid programs, and could force difficult decisions about programs such as the Promise Program, Teachers Academy, and other pass-through funds. Committee members also raised concerns about whether the cuts could lead to tuition increases or reductions in services, while majority members emphasized that agencies and the executive branch should decide how to absorb the reductions. Another major topic was health care and the state employee health plan: staff explained that the budget includes a $228 million general fund infusion to stabilize the plan, while a separate reconciliation bill would raise employee premiums over three years. Members also discussed whether the budget’s changes to AHCCCS/Access and hospital eligibility rules could increase costs for hospitals and reduce coverage. Public testimony largely opposed the budget. Speakers from Opportunity Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents, and local governments argued that the proposal would shift costs onto working families, reduce support for education, housing, SNAP, health care, and rural infrastructure, and protect tax benefits for data centers and higher-income taxpayers. A mayor from Globe asked for state help after severe flooding damaged roads, water lines, and homes, while a motorcycle safety advocate asked the committee to review a DPS motorcycle safety fund appropriation. Committee members and staff repeatedly clarified that some items discussed were one-time appropriations not continued into FY 2027, that some fund sweeps were from unspent or unencumbered balances, and that the committee planned to take a mass roll-call vote on the budget bills at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Minnesota's dentists, this is a direct investment in the long-term health care workforce for all 87
• projects in detail. long-term health care workforce for all long-term health care workforce for all 87
• </c> 87 Minnesota counties. 87 Minnesota counties.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• It's affecting our family, but we've discovered at 87 years old. So, I've got two questions.
• One, how would this apply to an 87-year-old?
• the reality is we have patients that are in their 70s, 80s, and 90s epidemiologically are the largest 87
• But, also, who is qualified 87-year-old?

Summary: The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, which would create an endowed research fund to support collaborative university research in Kentucky. Stivers described the bill as an extension of earlier higher-education research efforts, arguing that Kentucky should build research “hubs” by requiring or encouraging partnerships among universities and outside entities, with potential focus areas including health care, engineering, aerospace, agriculture, and other emerging fields. He said the proposal would establish five research tranches over five years and sought a $30 million endowment for each, generating annual interest to fund consortium-based research and leverage additional private and federal dollars. Senators Frommeyer, Neal, Givens, Boswell, and Richardson spoke in support, emphasizing economic development, job creation, and examples from other research clusters such as Boston and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The committee voted 12-0 to report the bill favorably to the Senate floor. The committee then received a presentation from Dr. Matthew Bush of the University of Kentucky on pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants. Bush explained that early hearing detection and intervention is critical because hearing loss in newborns is a neurocognitive emergency that affects language, literacy, and long-term outcomes. He outlined national screening benchmarks, Kentucky’s incidence of childhood hearing loss, and the high educational and societal costs of untreated hearing loss. Bush also highlighted disparities in rural and western Kentucky, where children face delayed diagnosis, longer waits for hearing aids or cochlear implants, and more difficulty accessing follow-up care. He described cochlear implants, the multidisciplinary care they require, and research showing improved language development, quality of life, and cost savings when children are treated early.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, top of page 36, sections 86 and 87 were technical corrections that the administration wanted.
• </c><00:49:56.079><c> 86</c><00:49:56.960><c> and</c><00:49:57.280><c> 87</c><00:49:57.839><c> were</
• c> uh top of page 36. 86 and 87 were uh top of page 36. 86 and 87 were technical<00:49:58.559><c> corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of entities, 80 of the 87 counties, I think, still, you know, use minute services one way or another
• entities</c><00:43:09.839><c> 80</c><00:43:10.079><c> of</c><00:43:10.160><c> the</c><00:43:10.319><c> 87
• </c> state um a lot of entities 80 of the 87 state um a lot of entities 80 of the 87 counties<00:43:11.200

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, a scam PAC called Law Enforcement for a Safer America raised $14 million; however, 87% of those
• $14</c> America raised $14 America raised $14 million<00:02:05.680><c> however</c><00:02:05.960><c> 87%
• ><00:02:06.920><c> of</c><00:02:07.079><c> those</c><00:02:07.280><c> donations</c> million however 87%
• of those donations million however 87% of those donations went<00:02:08.080><c> to</c><00:02:08.679>

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Since fiscal year 2020, TxDOT's compliance program has conducted 87 fraud, waste, or abuse investigations
• So then based on that and kind of weeding out those, you did full investigations on 87 of them?
• So of the 87 investigations, by your admission, 56.3% are found, I don't know if the word is guilty or
• What is it usually of the 56.3% of the 87 investigations themselves?
• What is it usually of the 56.3% of the 87 investigations that you did, of the how many allegations were

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to hear interim charges on higher education transparency and on preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. The chair emphasized accountability for taxpayer dollars and asked witnesses to address financial reporting, audit practices, and whether more frequent or comprehensive audits would improve oversight. Legislative Budget Board staff described how public university systems and most community colleges respond to requests about internal audit practices, noting that university systems generally follow a similar annual audit timeline and that community colleges use a more varied mix of internal and external audit arrangements. Members focused on gaps in reporting, especially Texas Southern University’s missing submissions for several years and Collin County Community College’s nonresponse to the LBB survey. The State Auditor’s Office then outlined its higher education audit work, including mandatory statewide single audits, DEI compliance audits, HUB and State Use Program audits, benefits proportional audits, and discretionary audits based on risk. The auditor said the office has released 43 higher-ed audit reports since fiscal year 2021 and has two audits in progress, and explained that internal audit reports from institutions help guide future audit selection. Senators pressed the office on the lack of enforcement authority, the value of internal auditors at each institution, and whether community colleges should have more standardized reporting and audit requirements. The auditor and general counsel said the SAO can refer suspected fraud to law enforcement but cannot itself enforce findings, while several senators suggested stronger clawback authority and more robust internal audit structures. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board explained that it collects annual financial reports, sources-and-uses data, and community college finance reports, and uses them for funding formulas and other reporting. It also trains governing board members and said it has limited regulatory authority, though community colleges must certify compliance annually and can lose eligibility for state funds if they do not. Members questioned the reliability of self-attested data, the adequacy of board training, and whether a single reporting structure would be more efficient. During public testimony, a ScholarShot representative argued for clearer, student-facing financial transparency so students can see total cost of attendance and the gap they must cover before enrolling.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in the case of the council 87% of routes and we'll talk >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair.
• So in the case of the council 87% of routes and we'll talk >> Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• So in the case of the council 87% of routes and we'll talk what's happened with um you know when we what's
• So in the case of the council<00:48:49.200><c> 87%</c><00:48:50.079><c> of</c><00:48:50.319><c> routes
• </c><00:48:50.800><c> and</c><00:48:51.040><c> we'll</c><00:48:51.280><c> talk</c> Council 87% of routes

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• : The cost of Hibbing's water infrastructure plan—we have a bold plan over 10 years—will cost over $87
• years will have a bold plan of over 10 years will cost<00:37:19.000><c> over</c><00:37:19.160><c> $87
• million to do it right um cost over $87 million to do it right um that<00:37:22.480><c> is</c><00:37
• Currently, this project is 87% done.
• Currently, this project is 87% done.

Bills: HF220 , HF230 , HF240 , HF241 , HF295 , HF429 , HF490 , HF505 , HF574 , HF576 , HF581 , HF865 , HF918 , HF1085 , HF1449 , HF1452 , HF1454 , HF602

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF220, Minnesota transportation, highway user tax distribution fund, trunk highway fund, Minnesota Department of Transportation, MnDOT, transportation finance, dedicated funds, funding restrictions, arts in transportation, cultural strategies, transportation project planning, project design, project construction, placemaking, public art, infrastructure spending, state statutes 161.045, HF230, Wyoming