Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2008 prohibits a school library from using public monies to pay any
• pay of over $72,000 and 50 days personal leave and vacation days, which could be banked and ultimately
• in misspending on items such as babysitting, sexually explicit item gifts, gift cards, and parents paying
• program, including spending monies on sexually explicit materials, shopping gift cards, and parents paying
• And parents paying themselves. And with that, I vote no.

Bills: HB2008, HB2075, HB2203, HB2395, HB2409

Keywords: school libraries, public school libraries, library funding, professional associations, library associations, librarians, information services, dues, membership fees, public monies, school governing body, county free library district, municipal library, library contracts, library services, books and programs, Arizona education, Title 15, Library Freedom Act, school district transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• improvement of the highway at the expense of the franchise holder, except that the state is required to pay
• So please pay attention to your timer.
• It means disrupted project sequencing and ultimately taxpayers paying more for less.
• So under the loans, they let you pay off all bondholders first.
• So under the loans, they let you pay off all bondholders first, and then they get paid off.

Bills: SB6148

Keywords: regional transit authority, RTA, transit bonds, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, bond maturity, debt limit, 25-year cap, regional mobility grant program, public transit financing, transportation funding, Washington RCW, bond issuance, municipal finance, infrastructure finance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in our introductory hearing, I think it was Representative Nelson, if I remember right, about who pays
• that 20-year window, because after that 20-year window passes, then they're no longer obligated to pay
• So what this does is clarify that they shall pay during that 20-year period of time and that the...
• assets per student while some Lincoln County schools and parts of Jerome have the least ability to pay
• off bonds, pay off their levies.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 9th without objection. It then introduced RS 32974, which would set a uniform school start date of the Tuesday after Labor Day. Supporters said it would create consistency for families and help tourism, while members raised concerns about impacts on rural districts, harvest schedules, fairs, and finishing the school year before Christmas break. The committee also introduced RS 33138C1, an apprenticeship-style option for filling principal and superintendent vacancies in rural areas, and RS 33325, which would create a voluntary high school civics seal and related district endorsement for students meeting civics and volunteerism requirements. The committee then heard House Bill 608, a clarification bill for the public school facilities cooperative fund. Sponsors explained that the bill would clean up eligibility rules, repayment terms, and priority criteria for districts seeking grant money for school facilities, especially where safety needs exist or a bond has failed. Testimony from Camas County and Middleton School District supported the changes, saying the current law can force districts to run repeated bonds even when grant amounts are smaller than prior bond requests, creating confusion and eroding public trust. Members discussed how the bill differs from other school facilities funding laws and how it is intended to help districts with urgent needs and limited bonding capacity. HB 608 was moved to the floor with a do-pass recommendation and approved. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 636, which would allow school districts to use remaining school district facilities fund dollars for lease-purchase agreements and related long-term facility investments after required bond and levy obligations are met. The sponsor and a West Ada superintendent said the bill would give districts more flexibility to address growth, aging buildings, and debt repayment without increasing property taxes, while still preserving local control. Members asked about the size and funding source of the facilities fund and noted concerns about disparities between rural and urban districts. HB 636 was also sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, and the committee adjourned after announcing its next meeting location.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then they arrange and pay for the care.
• So these are where we pay our contracts.
• So we, as the Division of Human Services or department, will pay for those Part A and B premiums.
• That's why it's my least favorite, because I don't get to choose if I pay those.
• I just have to pay them.

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to adopt the November 2018 minutes and receive a primer on the subcommittee’s role and Medicaid oversight in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s history and explained that Medicaid is audited annually through the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including weaknesses in eligibility and data-matching controls, improper use of Medicaid funds for partially non-Medicaid work, issues with incarcerated juveniles’ coverage, the absence of a Medicaid recovery audit contractor program exception request, reporting problems involving MFCU recoveries, and provider eligibility documentation concerns. Staff also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for further action. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of Medicaid’s structure, eligibility, delivery systems, and budget. DHS described Arkansas Medicaid as covering about 850,000 people through fee-for-service, managed care, and premium assistance for the expansion population, and outlined major spending categories such as institutional care, long-term services, pharmacy, capitated payments, and supplemental payments. DHS also explained the difference between state plan amendments and waivers, and said it has a beneficiary-fraud unit that refers cases to local prosecutors. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, distinguishing between suspensions for credible allegations of fraud and recovery actions for mistakes or overpayments. OMIG said it works with DHS and law enforcement, issues quarterly and annual reports, and has increased recoveries in recent years. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, can also handle long-term care neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases, and works with local prosecutors as special deputies. Committee members asked about court venue, provider suspensions, beneficiary fraud, education of providers, and the status of Medicaid expansion work requirements; DHS said it is preparing to implement community engagement requirements under HR 1 and will begin with a soft launch before full enforcement. No formal votes were taken beyond adoption of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after questions were answered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then they arrange and pay for the care.
• So these are where we pay our contracts.
• So we, as the Division of Human Services or department, will pay for those Part A and B premiums.
• That's why it's my least favorite, because I don't get to choose if I pay those.
• I just have to pay them.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for that, because the federal government will not pay the same reimbursement rate that they pay for
• And in terms of what we are paying out, it looks more like six hours a day paid out.
• Members may use their authorized number of hours for the PCCA services within the two-week pay period
• Members may use their authorized number of hours for the PCCA services within the two-week pay period
• So the rate of pay for complex care assistance is higher than the rate for home health aides.

Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee met at policy cutoff and first took up executive session on four bills. It considered a proposed substitute for HB 1589 on health carrier contracting practices, which would require carriers to provide providers advance notice and clean copies of contract changes and payment methodologies, and would also add notice requirements for significant payer contract modifications. The committee also considered HB 2402 on phthalates in IV solution containers and tubing, with a substitute delaying implementation dates and creating shortage and FDA-related exemptions. HB 2555, concerning Medicaid coverage of traditional health care practices, and HB 2685, concerning tribal data and disease reporting to tribal health jurisdictions, were also before the committee. HB 2599 was deferred. The committee reported HB 1589, HB 2402, HB 2555, and HB 2685 out of committee with do pass recommendations, with recorded votes showing some members voting no or no without recommendation on the more contested bills. The committee then held a work session on private duty nursing in the Medically Intensive Children’s Program. Health Care Authority and DSHS staff described how the program serves children with complex medical needs through managed care and fee-for-service pathways, the role of prior authorization and medical necessity review, and the ongoing shortage of nursing staff. They said many approved hours are not filled, especially in rural areas, and that family members often provide unpaid care to fill gaps. Committee members asked about the structure of the children’s and adult PDN programs and about how many authorized hours are actually being served. The committee also heard testimony from a home care agency representative and a parent caregiver, both of whom described severe staffing shortages and the burden on families when nursing shifts go unfilled. They supported models that would allow trusted family caregivers to be paid for some of the skilled care they already provide. The committee then heard examples from Montana and Massachusetts of similar family caregiver or complex care assistant programs. Montana described its pediatric complex care assistant model as a gap-filling service with prior authorization and a set hourly rate, while Massachusetts outlined its complex care assistant program, including training, supervision, wage pass-through requirements, and early growth in participation. The meeting concluded after the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we have to jump through to be legal to do things the right way for the people that rely on us to pay
• for legal fees or have you pay your lawyers and have it wait weeks and weeks and weeks to get answers
• This last year made me pay $2,000 that I shouldn't have had to pay.
• way to see if there's a way to make that $2,000 a little more palatable that I shouldn't have had to pay
• So, we feel like this is probably going to be like an OA personnel whose either pay or job security may

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This will also save the agency funds by only having to pay for that service, that function, one time
• We're paying about $497 per assessment. They are receiving those annually.
• But if we do nothing, we’re still going to pay another...” “Okay, gotcha.
• But if we do nothing, we’re still going to pay another $6 million next year, which will be no savings
• “Why are we already paying for training of these providers with an AFMC contract if they’re not doing

Summary: The committee approved the December 8 minutes and referred items C1 and C2 to the labor and environment subcommittees, adopting the chair’s recommendations. The main substantive item was a DHS rule package revising the State Plan Personal Care Manual and the Arkansas Independent Assessment (ARIA) Manual. DHS said the revisions would repeal and replace the current manuals with streamlined versions, remove overlapping language, implement Act 853 by shifting licensure/certification for personal care agencies to the Department of Health, lengthen personal care prior authorizations from six months to one year, and keep the 64-hour monthly cap. For ARIA, DHS said it would remove references to state plan personal care, clarify telehealth and in-person assessments, and add/update sections for PASS, AR Choices, Living Choices, and PACE. DHS argued the current independent assessment process is costly and not controlling utilization, citing a 95% approval rate, annual spending of more than $212 million on personal care for about 17,000 people, and an estimated $6.173 million in savings from eliminating the Optum assessment and reducing prior-authorization frequency. Agency witnesses said the new process would reinsert primary care practitioner involvement, use standardized evaluation and prescription forms, and rely on personal care provider nurses for the assessment step, with training already available through an AFMC contract. Several members questioned whether PCPs should be used as gatekeepers, whether the change would delay services, and whether the savings estimate accounted for training or provider burden. Some members also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, the workload on physicians, and whether the agency had adequately worked with the existing vendor to improve the current system. The discussion became contentious, with Senator Irvin and others strongly opposing the proposal as inconsistent with the earlier independent-assessment approach and urging DHS to slow down and work with legislators. Other members asked for clarification on how the new process would work for new applicants and whether it would affect waiver or PASS participants; DHS said the rule would not apply to PASS and should not delay services. At the end of the hearing, the chair offered DHS the option to pull the rule down and work off-record with legislators on a revised proposal, and DHS agreed. The meeting then adjourned without further business or a final vote on the rule.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amount that we're anticipating paying for. 25 26 again GPPs disaster it there because pending CMS
• for approval like so I want he to explain to us how would that even though you talk about a 10 year pay
• I think they just get by in regards to paying their leases in paying their bills in other type of operating
• But yeah, we're going to have to pay billions and rate because of the rate.
• So would it be better better administration than to pay out penalties?

Transcript Highlights:

• I wouldn't say almost always, but often I would say very often each pays their own.
• But they also made him pay the attorney's fees for the wife.
• That who you got the protective order against was paying for the device.
• So in other words, if the applicant is paying for the device, but the subject of the protective order
• I think it brings denial of possession much more in line with, uh, failure to pay child support.

Transcript Highlights:

• B</c><00:05:23.199><c> every</c><00:05:23.639><c> year</c><00:05:24.639><c> to</c><00:05:24.919><c> pay
• </c><00:05:25.120><c> for</c> billion with the B every year to pay for billion with the B every year
• to pay for the<00:05:25.479><c> unfunded</c> the unfunded the unfunded liability<00:05:28.080><c> and
• processing payroll for um processing pay processing payroll for third-party<00:10:55.320><c> entities
• The final financial impact: the daily pay is calculated, so you calculate the daily pay.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 193, described as a simple measure to restore a wallet card for jailers to carry when outside the jail. The chair noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee voted to pass the bill 9-0. The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, a proposal focused on the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS). The sponsor argued TRS remains underfunded despite large state contributions, cited rising unfunded liability and negative cash flow, and said the bill is intended to standardize and limit what sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave can count toward retirement calculations. The bill would generally cap TRS retirement credit at 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, prevent annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, require more uniform reporting and oversight from participating districts and agencies, and shift costs to districts that offer benefits beyond TRS limits. The sponsor also said the bill would add 30 maternity leave days, allow voluntary supplemental contributions for Tier Four teachers, and include a floor amendment directing the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agency leave policies. During the presentation, the sponsor emphasized fairness, transparency, and accountability, and used a hypothetical high-salary administrator to illustrate how leave payouts can increase retirement benefits and create additional unfunded liability. Senator Mills thanked the sponsor and said members had been working to understand the issue, but no committee action on Senate Bill 9 was completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of you know that our state police, we are struggling with their pay, and there are other efforts
• So what this piece of legislation does is... ...the needs of our state police and their pay.
• I'm going to find it now. the needs of our state police and their pay.
• Representative, some of you may know that... ...be used for pay at State Police.
• So it's heavily weighted to support State Police pay.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our paying $300 for an MRI or $3,000.
• .5%</c> industry member in Hawaii is paying.5% industry member in Hawaii is paying.5% coming<01:27:24.080
• </c> the local rate that the residents pay the local rate that the residents pay when<01:27:28.480><c
• </c> and then through depreciation is paying and then through depreciation is paying zero<01:27:34.000
• is</c><01:28:27.600><c> it</c> in addition, we also pay a what is it in addition, we also pay a what

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on bills addressing tobacco/vape enforcement, psychology licensure, hospital price transparency, prior authorization, and medical cannabis. The chair opened by explaining the one-minute testimony limit and that written testimony had been reviewed. For SB 2175 on disposable electronic smoking devices, the Department of Health said the bill’s placement in litter-control law was not a good fit because disposable e-cigarettes contain hazardous materials like lithium and nicotine, but it supported the intent and pointed to a related measure. Public health and tobacco-control advocates strongly supported the bill, citing youth use, toxic waste, battery fires, and the need to tighten definitions and remove exemptions; a long list of organizations and individuals were noted in support, with no opposition mentioned. For SB 2410, which would create a state directory and enforcement tools for authorized e-cigarette products, the Attorney General’s office strongly supported the measure and said it would help enforce the FDA-authorized list of products through certification, inspections, and civil penalties. The Department of Health said thousands of illegal products remain on the market and cited youth usage rates, while public health groups also supported the bill. One tobacco industry-related witness was noted in opposition. SB 2080, the psychology interjurisdictional compact, drew support from the Department of Corrections, which said it had severe staffing shortages and that the compact would help fill gaps, especially for forensic psychology and neighbor island facilities. Some committee members raised concerns about whether the compact would loosen licensure standards and reduce licensing revenue, and the Board of Psychology was said to be meeting and had not taken a formal position; testimony also noted the need for resources if the compact were adopted. The committee also heard SB 2276 on surgical assistance, with DCCA in opposition and a supporter from the field, but little discussion followed. SB 2277 on hospital price transparency drew support from consumer and patient advocates, who argued that clearer pricing would reduce medical debt and help patients shop for care; DCCA and the Department of Health offered comments, with the department suggesting an alternative enforcement model using outside review entities and noting that implementation would require significant staffing and funding. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, saying federal transparency rules already cover the issue and state law could create duplication. SB 2282 on prior authorization received comments from insurers and providers; HMSA asked that the bill be set aside pending the report of the prior authorization working group created by Act 151, while the Hawaii Medical Association said prior authorization is a major burden but deferred to regulators on resources. Finally, SB 2413 on medical cannabis was supported by the Office of Medical Cannabis and others, who said the bill would close a patient-access gap by allowing viable seed sales; one witness suggested clarifying jurisdictional language and allowing dispensaries to sell seeds to each other. The committee then began SB 2425 on health insurance, where an addiction treatment provider testified that insurers’ refusal to honor assignment-of-benefits payments can delay reimbursement and create relapse risk for patients, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• V the amount that we are amount pays V the amount that we are paying<00:07:09.520><c> out</c><00:07:
• </c> employee the maximum that you would pay employee the maximum that you would pay per<00:08:44.800
• Again, all employers only pay taxes up to this amount, so in 2025 employers only pay taxes on the first
• </c><00:12:40.920><c> the</c> 2025 employers only pay taxes on the 2025 employers only pay taxes on the
• </c> one-time Co money from the feds to pay one-time Co money from the feds to pay off<00:41:32.839><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can either pay back a lump sum to the system, which sometimes people do not have that money.
• But the actuarial reduction, the whole idea is you have to pay it back with interest.
• So if you just said, well, let me just pay back the amount I got paid.
• And we're saying it's okay to make them pay back more because somebody else died.
• This will ignite a tremendous return on investment, good-paying jobs, and growth in the state.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the prior day by a vote of 118-1. The bulk of the meeting consisted of lengthy points of personal privilege, including farewell remarks from several outgoing members who thanked family, staff, colleagues, and constituents, reflected on their service, and spoke about issues such as law enforcement, veterans, rural schools, unborn life, kindness, and the influence of money and lobbyists in the legislative process. The chamber also recognized several special guests, including schoolchildren, interns, a law school graduate, family members, and a former representative. The House then took up committee reports and several bills. It granted further conference on Senate Bill 1020. Senate Bill 1019, dealing with hospital finance and related health-care provisions, was amended and passed 110-31 after debate over an amendment on prior authorization reform, physician licensure, telehealth, workplace violence language, and Lyme disease fixes. Senate Bill 1572, a pensions measure affecting MOSERS, EMPERS, the St. Louis police retirement system, and Kansas City police retirement timing, was amended on several technical and policy points and passed 129-14 after discussion of overpayment recoupment rules and retirement system compliance concerns. The House also passed House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1196, which removed the sunset from the workforce diploma program, expanded Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grants, added workforce Pell Grant language, and established a future higher-education funding model subject to later legislative approval. It passed 115-20-4, but the emergency clause failed 2-132-2 after the sponsor said it was included only to speed Pell Grant implementation and was being handled “tongue in cheek.” Finally, the House began consideration of House Bill 2508 with Senate amendments, an LLC-related bill addressing certificates of good standing, court dissolution of LLCs in limited cases, and a St. Louis County property-management affidavit requirement for unresolved ordinance violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we all, anybody that has a boat license in North Dakota has to pay extra for ANS disease, but
• Some owners just get tired of paying on it.
• We project that state costs would increase due to paying for more residential and inpatient treatment
• It pays less than cost, and it pays actually, when it was interesting looking at the slides that Krista
• They'll submit invoices to us, and then we'll pay 50% of those.

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and heard an extended discussion with Spirit Lake tribal leaders and program directors about government-to-government relations with the state. Chairwoman Street and others outlined a number of concerns and requests, including taxation of tribal and trust lands, state school support for non-beneficiary students, homelessness services, Indian-managed health care, gaming/e-tabs, the Feather Alert system, industrial farming near waterways, tourism and cultural issues, and the need for more consistent tribal consultation. Committee members responded that many of these issues had previously been passed along without direct action, and several members emphasized the committee’s role in education, communication, and preparing possible legislation or resolutions for the next session. Tribal representatives also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to help legislators better understand tribal jurisdiction and billing issues. A major portion of the meeting focused on Spirit Lake Fish and Wildlife concerns, especially jurisdictional “gray areas” around hunting and fishing on the reservation, recognition of tribal licenses, and the boundary of the reservation around Spirit Lake/Devils Lake. Tribal officials said they wanted a co-stewardship agreement or MOU with the state to clarify jurisdiction, improve cooperation, and address invasive species and aquatic nuisance species. Committee members discussed whether to draft legislation or a resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and they asked for further input from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at a future meeting. The committee also discussed county involvement in land status changes and trust land issues, with Spirit Lake leaders describing a past Benson County resolution that tried to block fee-to-trust transfers and saying it was later rescinded. The committee then heard from Benson County tax equalization director Randy Thompson, who explained how the county values land and handles tax-exempt, inundated, and fee-to-trust parcels. Members asked about the impact of tax-exempt lands on county services and discussed prior legislation that helped counties with large tax-exempt bases. The committee also received a presentation from Dr. Steven Smith of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, including support for non-beneficiary students and workforce training. Members asked about expanding tribal college education into correctional settings, and Smith said the idea was worth exploring through the tribal college system. Finally, HHS interim medical services director Christoph Framing presented remotely on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion, explaining current state funding mechanisms for inpatient and residential behavioral health services and the bill draft directing HHS to pursue a waiver for IMD payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• But what we and pay for those needs.
• Don't even pay them. Go do a job.
• Go do a Don't even Don't even pay them.
• your link, or I'll just pay you an upfront fee to do it as an advertisement.
• </c> entering in order to pay the child. entering in order to pay the child.

Bills: HB19, HB170, HB171, HB173, HB174, HB19, HB170, HB171, HB173, HB174

Keywords: Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, HB170, supplemental appropriations, Education Trust Fund, Alabama education budget, school funding, K-12 education, local boards of education, textbook adoption, school buses, school safety, charter schools, summer programs, afterschool programs, reading intervention, college and career readiness

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's just incidental to paying by credit card.
• So many of them have the means to pay a fine.” “I understand that.
• Uh, do they get to take advantage of this, uh, pay-my-way-back-home?
• my way back advantage of this uh, pay my way back home?
• </c> pay their way out and get back home. pay their way out and get back home.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from private to public pay.
• </c><00:07:54.080><c> pay.
• So, uh, if folks private to public pay.
• to public pay and was kicked out of her nursing home.
• </c> even know the system of public pay even know the system of public pay exists.<00:17:28.160><c> You

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm gonna pay 20 bucks or something.
• </c> with it well-paying jobs. with it well-paying jobs.
• </c> estate of a hospital, sell it off to pay estate of a hospital, sell it off to pay off<00:35:14.000
• pay you know<00:37:10.160><c> that.
• Um and gonna pay 20 bucks or something.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all