Transcript Highlights:

• So, the way that I'm reading the committee substitute is that the applicability would be at the time
• Declines to certify a discovery dispute, protesters and applicants are left without a procedural avenue
• This bill ensures that both the protesters and applicants have a clear and fair mechanism.
• Because the proposal allows for both protesters and applicants to request certification of questions,
• We agree that this legislation ensures that both protesters and applicants have a clear and reasonable

Bills: HB573, HB1499, HB1768, HB3071, HB3249, HB3866, HB4112

Keywords: environmental enforcement, legislative oversight, inspection, concrete plants, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental product declaration, grant program, ready-mixed concrete, manufacturers, sustainability, concrete plant, concrete batch plant, wet batching, dry batching, central mixing, standard permit, TCEQ, environmental regulation, air quality, construction permit

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the form itself provides users or applicators the ability to basically fill in a blank; there
• He said they want to make it easier for both staff and applicators to provide accurate information.
• The deletion of quote, “all applicable laws and regulations,” may have unintended legal consequences.
• But the application is technically open until March 31st, at which point no further applications are
• <01:33:44.239> every requested we get from applications every requested we get from applications

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we currently support a little over 130 applications in the department across all of the different
• About six years ago, actually, our applications were closer to 200 applications that we supported, so
• we've actually reduced our application over the last six years.
• About six years ago, actually, our applications were closer to 200 applications that we supported, so
• we've actually reduced our application over the last six years.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee convened an informational Division 3 Finance hearing focused on DHHS programmatic issues rather than budget line items. The chair emphasized that members should avoid questions requiring dollar figures and noted that the coming budget cycle would likely be difficult because revenues are expected to be tighter. Commissioner Lori Weaver said the department wanted to use the session to explain its functions at a high level, with more detailed presentations to follow, and to collect questions for later responses. Weaver outlined DHHS’s mission of supporting optimal health for state residents and described the department’s three main responsibilities: protection and prevention, client service delivery, and regulatory oversight. She said DHHS has eight divisions, a $3.6 billion total budget, about $1.217 billion in general funds, roughly a quarter of state positions, and personnel costs that are less than 11% of the budget. She also noted a recent hiring freeze, explained that the department did not request new positions except where required by law, and said vacancy rates had improved from 22% to 14% over the last two years but could rise again because of attrition and the hiring freeze. Weaver and CFO Nathan White then discussed why the DHHS budget is complex, explaining that it is built from multiple funding sources and is shaped by assumptions made months before the fiscal year begins, actual service demand, and cost allocation rules used to draw down federal funds. White highlighted maintenance-of-effort requirements, including TANF, where state spending is needed to secure federal matching funds and shortfalls can trigger penalties. At the committee’s request, DHHS agreed to provide a simplified historical accounting of TANF contributions to show how the match is assembled across positions, contracts, and other factors. The department also reviewed its roadmap, which Weaver described as a framework developed with staff and stakeholders around three themes: culture, community, and customer service. She highlighted priorities such as Mission Zero to end emergency department boarding, expanding access to community-based and residential behavioral health services, reducing reliance on institutional care, improving contract management with nonprofit and provider partners, using data dashboards to guide decisions, and investing in workforce stability and culture. No votes were taken; the main action was DHHS’s commitment to provide additional follow-up materials, including the TANF contribution breakdown.

Transcript Highlights:

• They’ll have to retain the services of a certified applicator to inspect the dwelling and provide whatever
• In many instances, we struggle to even attract applicants, even though our teaching salaries are above
• Since 2022, I've approved applications from 97 residents with registered emotional support animals. to
• applications from 97 residents with registered emotional support animals.
• Prior to 2022, I could count on one hand the number of ESA requests that I received from applicants.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing heard testimony on several housing bills, with much of the discussion focused on seasonal communities and funding for year-round housing in places like Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires. Speakers supported bills including H. 4410/S. 966 and related seasonal communities legislation, which would allow local option real estate transfer fees and expand tools for towns to preserve and create affordable housing. Testimony emphasized severe housing shortages, high home prices, workforce displacement, and impacts on public safety, schools, health care, and local businesses. Many witnesses said the transfer fee would provide a sustainable local revenue stream, citing prior land bank models on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard as proof the approach can work. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3989 regarding seasonal community designation, with supporters arguing that towns should be included automatically or through a simpler opt-in process, and on H. 4568 to expand the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which would broaden access to a federal voucher-based savings and self-sufficiency model. Senator Edwards testified in support of a bill to create training for municipal board members, describing it as a toolkit to improve informed local decision-making. Senator O’Connor testified for a bed bug bill, saying it would create clearer landlord and tenant notification and treatment requirements and provide needed legal guidance after his family’s experience with an infestation. Senator Lovely also testified for the Homeworks program, which provides transportation so homeless children in motels and shelters can attend after-school activities. The committee further heard testimony on a bill to fund housing in seasonal communities through a transfer fee and on a companion measure to expand the seasonal communities toolkit, with repeated calls for favorable reports. Witnesses from public safety, health care, housing nonprofits, schools, and local government described staffing shortages and housing insecurity as urgent problems. Later, the committee took testimony on H. 1559/S. 102 to maintain stable housing for families with pets, with animal welfare groups supporting protections against eviction, breed discrimination, and excessive pet rent. They said housing-related pet surrenders are a major driver of shelter intake. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1498 to limit criminalization of homelessness, which would restrict citations, fines, and related consequences for outdoor camping tied solely to homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm assuming that this would allow that to happen because that application of the burden as applied to
• application application of<00:47:51.760> the<00:47:51.880> burden<00:47:52.440> as<
• ,<00:48:52.200> let's<00:48:52.359> see,<00:48:52.800> the that application,
• let's see, the that application, let's see, the application<00:48:53.640> of<00:48:53.800>
• of the burden as applied to application of the burden as applied to the<00:48:54.960> parent<

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> It need to be one set of rules because there is evil application if you'll allow me to explain.
• >> May I whatever path that is is fine. >> It need to be one set of rules because there is evil application
• >> May I whatever path that is is fine. >> It need to be one set of rules because there is evil application
• >> May I whatever path that is is fine. >> It need to be one set of rules because there is evil application
• >> May I whatever path that is is fine. >> It need to be one set of rules because there is evil application

Bills: SB209, SB248, HB122, SB99, SB209, SB248, HB122, SB99

Keywords: sales tax exemption, Consumer Price Index, local government, clothing, school supplies, emergency preparedness, Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, APA, administrative law, judicial review, agency deference, Chevron deference, de novo review, contested case, state agency, regulatory power, individual liberty, statutory interpretation, rule interpretation, license revocation

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're on board with that and we're entertaining their application.
• Submitted an application; it took us a day and a half to approve it.
• And Santa Rosa filled out their application.
• The application took ten minutes to fill out. That was it.
• We'll start working in the background on this application.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then if you look in 2024, we had 248 applicants, and you can see that qualified wages have grown
• were 71 applicants were 71 applicants >> made<00:47:21.920> do<00:47:22.000> we<
• and you can see that applicants and you can see that qualified<00:47:34.240> wages<00:47:34.800
• , growing wages, is it growing applicants, growing wages, is it growing applicants, is<00:52:35.440
• , meaning $7 million in applications, meaning there's<01:10:41.760> more<01:10:42.000> than

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to review tax expenditures, elect a chair and clerk, and hear updates on two credits due for periodic review: the career and technical education (CTE) center tax credit and the research and development (R&D) tax credit. Members first organized the meeting, then heard from Jennifer Ramsey of DRA, who explained the purpose of the tax expenditure review process and summarized the CTE and R&D credits. She said the CTE credit allows donations to CTE centers for a credit against business profits tax, is capped at 25% of a taxpayer’s liability, has a $500,000 aggregate limit, and was extended in SB 98 to fiscal year 2031. She also noted DRA could not provide detailed financial data because of statistical disclosure limits when too few taxpayers claim the credit. Committee members pressed for more historical and aggregate information, arguing they needed numbers to judge whether the credit is effective and worth continuing. The committee then heard from Chrissy Vanderhook of the Department of Education on the CTE credit. She described New Hampshire’s CTE system as serving 26 secondary centers and seven post-secondary centers, with industry partners providing internships, work-based learning, equipment, employee time, and other in-kind support that can qualify for the credit. She said the department reports annually to legislative leaders and that fiscal year 2025 credit activity was down about 48% from FY24, partly due to staffing changes and outreach issues. Members asked whether the program extends to community college-level programs, and she said it can, though she was not sure how broadly it is used that way. The committee also discussed a new Granite Patron of the Arts credit, which DRA said went into effect July 1 and is included in the tax expenditure report even though it is not yet listed in the statute. For the R&D credit, Ramsey explained that it offsets business profits tax and can carry forward to business enterprise tax, is based on incremental research spending, and currently has a $7 million annual aggregate cap. She said the cap has not yet been reached but could require proration as early as fiscal year 2026 if not increased. She noted there were 271 taxpayers claiming the credit in fiscal 2024 and that a proposal last session to raise the cap to $10 million and increase the per-company limit did not advance. Mark Liberty of BEA said the credit is an important recruitment and retention tool, especially for life sciences, aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, but acknowledged BEA does not track direct revenue return. Andrea Hchvaria of New Hampshire Life Sciences argued the R&D credit is critical for startups and cited growth in applicants from 71 in 2008 to 248 in 2024, with qualified wages rising substantially over that period. Committee members repeatedly asked for more objective economic-impact data, but DRA said it only tracks who claimed the credit and the amount claimed, not broader business outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> if if if the the applicant fails the >> if if if the the applicant fails the road<04:16
• practice includes encouraging applicants practice includes encouraging applicants to<04:20:03.840
• amount of uh percentage of applicants amount of uh percentage of applicants fail<04:23:15.680>
• [clears throat] >> Representative Beu. the applicants failing three times and the applicants failing
• <04:27:15.680> there you've got [snorts] an applicant there you've got [snorts] an applicant

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we could target applications.
• Um, we could target applications.
• Um, we could target applications.
• Um, we could target applications.
• . applications. applications.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:05:35.599> eval forward a pre-application eval forward a pre-application eval evaluation
• employees to notify the commissioner of any potential applicant contact.
• employees to notify the commissioner of any potential applicant contact.
• employees to notify the commissioner of any potential applicant contact.
• Any potential applicant contact.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that said, we went from four applicants in cohort one to 20 in cohort two.
• categories so we had a small tribe category and a lot into two applicant categories.
• And with that said, we went from four applicants in cohort one to 20 in cohort two.
• And in cohort three, we had more applicants than we had funding.
• We submitted our application.

Summary: The hearing focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) grant program under the Board of State and Community Corrections and related Department of Justice efforts. BSCC reported that it now administers 36 MMIP grants across three cohorts, with awards ranging from $436,000 to $1 million, plus five collaborative grants at $2 million each, totaling $35.4 million awarded to federally recognized tribes. Testimony from tribal leaders and grantees described how the funding supports prevention, family advocacy, domestic violence services, law enforcement coordination, youth programming, culturally grounded healing, and new tribal public safety positions such as investigators, social workers, and drone operators. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that the crisis is longstanding, tied to generational trauma, and that the grant has helped build trust and infrastructure in tribal communities. Several witnesses and committee members urged continued and preferably ongoing funding, noting that demand now exceeds available one-time money. BSCC and tribal representatives described outreach efforts that increased participation from four applicants in cohort one to 20 in cohort two and more applicants than funding in cohort three. Tribes also raised implementation concerns, especially the burden of quarterly narrative reporting, limited staff capacity, and the need for flexible administration. BSCC said it uses steering committees, separate small- and large-project categories, orientations, monitoring visits, and technical assistance to support grantees. Tribal leaders and advocates stressed that the program should remain accessible without requiring a waiver of tribal sovereignty. The second major topic was DOJ’s update on AB 3099, the Tribal Assistance Program, and the tribal police pilot under AB 134. DOJ officials said the Office of Native American Affairs and the Division of Law Enforcement have been conducting outreach, trainings, listening sessions, and coordination with tribal, local, state, and federal partners to address Public Law 280 jurisdictional issues, improve reporting and data, and support Feather Alert and MMIP-related resources. DOJ said the AB 3099 report is in internal review and that the tribal police pilot is moving forward with the Yurok Tribe as a participant, with a July 1, 2026 start date. DOJ and tribal witnesses said the pilot’s main barriers are cost and, for some tribes, the waiver of sovereign immunity. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with broad support for expanding and sustaining MMIP-related funding and infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it aligns the application for a refund with federal law and Minnesota law.
• revenue estimate because the department doesn't do revenue estimates on granting of refunds or applications
• So, it it aligns the application for a So, it it aligns the application for a refund<00:43:16.400>
• So application for refund was uh denied.
• <00:44:18.720> for granting of refunds or applications for granting of refunds or applications

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Out of 18 grantee applications, Commerce selected the first-, eighth-, and 18th-ranked applicants.
• While notes were left for why applicants 2 through 7 were not selected, no details were given for why
• applicants 9 through 17 were not selected.
• No details were given for why applicants 9 through 17 were not selected, leaving the selection of the
• 18th-ranked applicant unexplained.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard three State Auditor’s Office performance audits: implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, Washington’s digital equity planning, and the Department of Commerce’s Digital Navigator Program. In the law enforcement training audit, the State Auditor found the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training content but had not developed all required topics, lacked a systematic project management approach, and had weak tools to ensure participation and compliance. Auditors said most officers had not completed the required 40 hours, patrol tactics training was a major bottleneck, and the Commission’s reporting did not clearly show statewide compliance. The Commission said it generally agreed with the recommendations and had begun implementing some changes. Committee members raised concerns about staffing, liability, incentives, and whether the law had enough enforcement “teeth.” In the digital equity audit, auditors said Washington lacked a comprehensive, unified statewide plan, a designated leader, and reliable funding for digital equity efforts. They said existing plans were fragmented, with the NTIA-approved plan the most complete but no longer fully funded after federal changes. The State Auditor recommended the legislature establish oversight authority and require a lead organization to coordinate and evaluate statewide digital equity efforts and develop a unified plan. The Department of Commerce and Office of Equity agreed with the need for clearer leadership and coordination, and a public witness described ongoing coalition and local planning work. Committee members asked about best practices from other states and whether the auditor could provide additional research on coordination models. In the Digital Navigator Program audit, the State Auditor concluded Commerce did not consistently follow core grant-management practices, including competitive award processes, vetting of grantees, clear contracts, performance monitoring, and reimbursement controls. Auditors said Commerce expanded grants without a new competition, lacked adequate documentation and reporting, and paid out millions without sufficient support; they also cited management decisions that overrode staff concerns. Commerce said it had already begun major contract-management reforms, created a new contracts and compliance structure, and was working on risk assessments, documentation standards, and staff training. Members pressed Commerce on accountability, possible recoupment of improper payments, ethics issues, and whether the agency had clear performance metrics for the program. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the workload associated with processing licensing applications at the upfront, which had its own
• If the license transfer applications received since the license fee increase was passed, what percentage
• It was developed utilizing an application that, in present day, is running on obsolete and unsupported
• The application itself is in a programming language that has been deprecated.
• Many qualified applicants are turned away each year, not because of a lack of merit, but simply due to

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• daily cash flow streams, the bill itself would allow the department to make that assessment as applicants
• submit their applications for grant funding.
• daily cash flow streams, the bill itself would allow the department to make that assessment as applicants
• submit their applications for grant funding.
• And then with respect to the As applicants submit their applications for grant funding.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to provide for general operating expenses, and it's supported by license and application fees.
• It's supported by license and application fees.
• This is supported by license and application fees. Mr.
• And so we had 29 applications of eligible sites to be reviewed.
• But of the applications we received, they range everywhere from due diligence studies.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to provide for general operating expenses, and it's supported by license and application fees.
• It is supported by license and application fees.
• This is supported by license and application fees. Mr.
• And so we had 29 applications of eligible sites to be reviewed.
• But of the applications we received, they range everywhere from due diligence studies.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large set of appropriation, transfer, contract, and grant requests. Early items included temporary appropriations for the Auditor of State, Department of Education, and Labor and Licensing divisions; ARPA returns from Workforce Services; infrastructure grants for State Police CDL implementation and a Pope County wildlife protection plan; restricted reserve transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic stimulus; and a Commerce reallocation shifting positions and $2 million in spending authority to support organizational realignment and avoid salary and match shortfalls. All of those items were approved without objection. Members asked several questions on specific requests. The Commerce site infrastructure grant was described as funding due diligence, environmental studies, and build-out for 30-plus-acre industrial sites, including rural communities, with matching requirements and grant agreements in place. A DHS RSVP grant item was held after concerns about state funding for volunteer stipends and administrative costs; the agency was asked to provide more information before the next meeting. In the contract section, members questioned a DHS sole-source contract for EMS Link, Inc. and a DHS Medicaid inspections-of-care bridge contract, both of which were held for further review or additional information. A Department of Education mental health referral contract with Care Solace drew questions about how the service works, whether Arkansas providers are used, and how schools and parents are involved; the agency explained it is a referral and follow-up service available to all districts and charter schools, and the item was allowed to proceed. The committee also reviewed numerous higher education construction methods of finance, agriculture promotion board grants, DHS intergovernmental and in-state contracts, and monthly reports. Questions were raised about the Arkansas Medicaid Trust Fund balance and the need to define a minimum reserve level; DFA and DHS said the fund remains adequate for the current fiscal year, though it is being drawn down and may require future restricted reserve transfers. The meeting ended with no further objections and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• education committee because apparently former Senator President Fenberg didn't even fill out the application
• c><00:47:29.599> fill<00:47:29.760> out<00:47:29.920> the<00:47:30.160> application
• >> didn't even fill out the application. >> didn't even fill out the application.
• exactly what we want it to do if we don't know the information behind checking boxes and filling out applications
• exactly what we want it to do if we don't know the information behind checking boxes and filling out applications

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Possible that physicians might not have enough applicants or qualified applicants.
• We definitely want qualified applicants.
• Both bills have the concept that if there weren't enough applicants, particularly qualified ones for
• Enough eligible applicants, and again, eligible qualified applicants, to meet 50% of the distribution
• So, once you get an applicant, say you get a physician, then the money will be held for that individual

Bills: SB101, SB21, HM52, HB132, SB14, SB20

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation