Transcript Highlights:

• It's a Medicaid fraud case, $2.6 million, not the biggest fraud on the list by any means.
• They have the Fraud Unit.
• I did a television interview in Alabama where they had almost identical fraud, but it was $6 million.
• </c> for fraud in the state how much fraud for fraud in the state how much fraud have<01:35:59.360><c
• That is fraud.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm also concerned about the fraud.
• Um, I'm also concerned about the fraud.
• :21.199><c> the</c><01:13:21.440><c> system</c> relatively no fraud within the system relatively no fraud
• First of all, on the fraud piece, which I think is a very fair question we make sure we ask.
• That is just ripe for fraud.

Bills: HF3490 , HF4040

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• They can't find any fraud.
• Well, we know there's waste and fraud all over those contracts, if you're going to be honest about it
• However, as you have noted, there is way too much fraud in these programs or was too much fraud.
• That reduced a lot of that fraud.
• current programs and have a zero-tolerance approach to fraud going forward.

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: SBA, small business, nominations, Bill Briggs, Casey Mulligan, regulations, capital access, public support

Summary: The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship convened to consider the nominations of Bill Briggs for Deputy Administrator of the SBA and Dr. Casey Mulligan for Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The discussions highlighted the critical role of the SBA in promoting small businesses, with emphasis on overcoming challenges posed by excessive regulations and the need for improved access to capital. Several committee members expressed their concerns over recent layoffs within the SBA and the closure of district offices, which they believe undermine support for small businesses across the nation. The committee meeting saw extensive dialogue about the implications of regulations on small business operations and how the nominees plan to address these issues if confirmed. Public support for the nominees was acknowledged through letters from various stakeholders who advocate for small business interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington and Oregon have nearly identical premium taxes at roughly 2%.
• Washington and Oregon have nearly identical premium taxes at roughly 2%.
• It allows insurers to pend up to 5% of claims when there is a legitimate suspicion of fraud, waste, or
• We will be up in a little bit talking about what we can do when we do have concerns about fraud, waste
• Most payment recovery is due to waste or abuse, not fraud.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 6159 would create a public hospital infrastructure account funded by a new annual coverage assessment on insurers and other businesses subject to the premium tax, and would allow public hospital districts and other public health entities to collaborate more freely and access capital financing for major construction or modernization projects. Senator Dhingra said the bill is intended to help public hospitals compete and modernize, especially amid federal Medicaid and ACA subsidy cuts. Supporters included UW Medicine, while hospital districts supported the general concept but said Section 2 could unintentionally narrow existing cooperative agreements with nonpublic entities. Health plans and insurers opposed the bill, arguing it would raise premiums, increase consolidation, and improperly sweep in property and casualty insurers and mutual companies; testimony also raised concerns about pass-through costs and retaliatory tax effects. The hearing on SB 6159 closed with 5 pro, 74 con, and 2 other sign-ins. The committee then heard SB 5845, which would modernize timely payment rules by requiring carriers and public employee plans to pay or deny all clean claims within 30 days, require prompt notice and a single request for additional information on incomplete claims, and impose interest or penalties for missed deadlines. Senator Slaughter said the bill would reduce uncertainty for providers and stabilize payments without increasing patient costs. Hospitals, physicians, and health systems strongly supported the measure, citing large volumes of late clean claims and examples of prolonged delays, including a Harborview claim that remained unpaid more than a year after billing. Health plans opposed the bill, saying the current 95% standard is workable, that they already meet high compliance rates, and that the bill could limit fraud, waste, and abuse review on high-dollar claims; they also sought more flexibility and additional time for responses. The hearing closed with 69 pro, 4 con, and 2 other sign-ins. The committee also heard SB 5916, which would prohibit health plans from disadvantaging non-opioid pain treatments relative to opioids in formularies and utilization management, and would require a Department of Health educational pamphlet on non-opioid alternatives. Senator Harris described the bill as a response to opioid deaths and a way to encourage safer pain treatment options. Patients, recovery advocates, and rare disease advocates testified in support, saying insurance barriers and step therapy often make non-opioid care harder to access and can push patients toward opioids. The Health Care Authority and an association of health plans opposed the bill, arguing it could reduce formulary flexibility, increase costs, and limit tools such as prior authorization and step therapy. The hearing closed with 8 pro, 1 con, and 2 other sign-ins. Finally, the committee heard SB 6102 and SB 6103, both sponsored by Senator Muzzall, and SB 6071. SB 6102 would align the ambulance transport quality assurance fee with federal rules after H.R. 1 barred new provider taxes, preserving the existing fee rate and adjusting the Medicaid add-on rate annually; the Washington Ambulance Association supported it, saying the program had improved wages and benefits for EMS workers. SB 6103 would make Medicaid payments for services provided by a rural emergency hospital subject to appropriation, creating a framework for East Adams Rural Health Care to convert to the new federal rural emergency hospital model; East Adams and the Washington State Hospital Association supported it as a way to preserve rural access. SB 6071 would shorten overpayment recovery timelines for all services to six months, or nine months for coordination-of-benefits cases, matching the shorter timelines already enacted for behavioral health services; providers and specialty associations supported the bill as a way to reduce destabilizing clawbacks, while the remaining testimony was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to improve identity verification for the return of ballots.
• And finally, we would continue to look at the signature review process and verification of identity by
• Voter ID laws perpetuate the myth of voter fraud and do nothing to improve election integrity.
• The public official will be required to disclose the date of the arrangement and the identity of the
• And the identities of those who would actually vote for them be untraceable.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of elections-related bills. It first approved three consent items: AB 808, AB 1029, and AB 1072. The committee then took up AB 1249, which would require non-Voter’s Choice Act counties to offer at least one Saturday early-voting location before statewide elections and allow in-person return of vote-by-mail ballots at designated county offices or satellite locations. Supporters said it would expand access for working voters and those with transportation barriers; some members raised concerns about ballot verification and added workload for rural counties. The bill passed the committee on a divided vote and was placed on call for absent members. The committee next considered AB 25, a voter ID and election integrity measure that would require citizenship verification, government ID for voting, tighter voter-roll audits, and a 72-hour ballot-counting deadline. The author and supporters argued it would restore public trust and improve election integrity, while opponents from the League of Women Voters, ACLU California Action, labor groups, disability advocates, and others said it would restrict access, burden vulnerable voters, and amount to voter suppression. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out on a narrow split and kept it on call. Members also approved AB 1164, which clarifies when voters are entitled to a replacement ballot and updates the Voter Bill of Rights language; AB 1441, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission in Merced County despite opposition from the county board over cost and local control; and AB 16, which would clarify county election officials’ authority to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots earlier and clean up outdated code. The committee also heard AB 1411, which would require non-VCA counties to prepare voter education and outreach plans and use a Secretary of State template, with the sponsor saying it would improve voter information statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to have a process that protects the whistleblower's identity, gives the whistleblower a chance
• And deprive seniors of their earned benefits under the false banner of fighting fraud.
• And as I reminded the committee last week, the amount of fraud taking place from Social Security's retirement
• One, we're going to protect the whistleblower's identity.
• And if he's heading this effort of supposedly going after waste, fraud, and abuse.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Frank Bisignano, Social Security Administration, Doge, nomination, committee, customer service, staffing issues

Summary: The meeting of the Finance Committee primarily focused on the nomination of Frank Bisignano for Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Members discussed the nominee's qualifications extensively, raising concerns about his past connections to Doge and the implications for Social Security. Several Senators expressed doubts about Bisignano's ability to improve the existing issues faced by the Social Security Administration, particularly related to staffing, customer service, and the potential for service cuts that could ultimately harm beneficiaries. The atmosphere was contentious, with divisive opinions visible among the committee members as they scrutinized Bisignano's past dealings and strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• The language, like I said, most of the language is pretty much identical on all of them.
• Um it uh it identical on all of them.
• &gt;&gt; fraud &gt;&gt; fraud &gt;&gt; election<00:21:15.919><c> fraud.
• </c> &gt;&gt; election fraud. &gt;&gt; election fraud.
• </c> dealing with elections, election fraud dealing with elections, election fraud should<00:21:22.240

Summary: The committee first took up two fire commission regulatory amendments. Bruce Roberts, director of the Fire Commission, explained that one amendment updates financial disclosure reporting rules to align with changes to KRS 95A.55, including revised definitions, reporting requirements, and moving compliance reviews from every four years to an annual basis. The second amendment changes the deadline for fire departments to submit state aid documentation from July 31 to September and adds flexibility for departments affected by natural disasters by allowing a waiver process for missing, lost, or damaged documents. The committee approved the agency amendment by motion, second, and voice vote with no opposition. The main policy discussion centered on a proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for people convicted of felonies after they complete their sentence and probation/parole. Senators Hickden and Herren said the proposal would restore only voting rights, not citizenship or the right to run for office, and would still exclude certain offenses such as treason, bribery in an election, sex offenses, violent offenses, and offenses against a child. They argued that Kentucky is one of only three states without automatic restoration, that the current governor’s executive order is temporary, and that the issue should be settled by constitutional amendment. Members asked about the relationship to expungement, costs, and whether election-related crimes should be included among the exceptions; the sponsors said expungement is separate and that they were open to refining the language. Several members voiced support, and the sponsors said they hoped to continue working on the proposal before the next session. The committee also discussed a practical issue involving schools used as polling places and conflicts with KDE testing days. The chair raised the possibility of adjusting testing schedules or using NI days at affected schools, while members noted that county clerks already have authority to use tax-funded buildings for elections and that schools have long been used because of ADA accessibility. Some members suggested a simpler fix would be to prevent KDE testing dates from overlapping with election dates, rather than changing NI-day rules or limiting clerks’ authority. The committee then approved the minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For identity governance and administration, essentially a solution that last year the legislature was
• Right now, I'm sorry, Chair, so right now there is no identity governance. Administration.
• So the first item, the 948, there is no modern identity governance administration system.
• And then we did layer on additional technologies to modernize the system to prevent fraud and to make
• There's a lot of repetition for that person in inputting not identical but pretty similar information

Transcript Highlights:

• Verifying voter identity is not controversial. It is widely supported.
• Those are alternative documents, but they prove your identity.
• One, when we talk about these other forms of identity, And when we talk about these other forms of identity
• I think they know they're committing fraud. Let's be clear on that.
• So they're essentially proving their identity.

Bills: HR118 , HR196 , HR237 , HR285 , HCR85 , HB442 , HB443 , SCR5 , SCR29 , SCR33 , SCR63 , SB25 , SB202 , SB319

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, fallen trees, property damage, insurance, property values, hurricanes, storm damage, local government, homeowners, risk management, committee study, census, military population, Department of Defense, representation, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no issue with hiring people based on a social category or identity.
• I love the fraud prevention stuff.
• I really value the guardrails, the fraud protection.
• I don't know why fraud can't be addressed by that same method.
• If we're concerned about waste, fraud, and abuse that could... ...much more permanent.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Senate File 106, Welfare Fraud Senate File 106, Welfare Fraud Prevention<00:54:34.079><c> Act</c
• There is no fraud.
• There is no fraud.
• There is no fraud.
• There is no fraud.

Bills: SF0122 , SJ0006 , SF0121 , SF0106

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Transcript Highlights:

• an option for electronic health records to have a space for other information relating to gender identity
• Sometimes someone's gender identity may actually start matching their... indicated biological sex and
• Senate Bill 2798 will extend the statute of limitations for certain fraud-related offenses from three
• Members, Senate Bill 1379 responds to a sharp rise in financial fraud, particularly... ...check forgery
• Senate Bill 1379 gives law enforcement stronger tools to prosecute fraud and makes clear that Texas will

Bills: SB263 , SB370 , SB663 , SB924 , SB987 , SB1939 , SB1937 , SB1598 , SB2798 , SB2801 , SB2580 , SB2569 , SB2514 , SB2064 , SB1940 , SB1621 , SB2601 , SB1379 , SB1376 , SB1372 , SB1353 , SB2216 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1612 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SCR8 , SB31 , SB33 , SB3 , SB1405 , SB1948 , SB243 , SB20 , SB217 , SB264 , SB269 , SB650 , SB681 , SB528 , SB502 , SB740 , SB916 , SB995 , SB2581 , SB3031 , SB24 , SB2570 , SB1566 , SB552 , SJR1 , SB646 , SB379 , SB1171 , SB1121 , SB1120 , SB1061 , SB1036 , SB1019 , SB890 , SB11 , SB868 , SB1188 , SB1254 , SB2778 , SB2543 , SB2443 , SB1333 , SB1259 , SB1401 , SB1404 , SB2139 , SB2165 , SB2237 , SB2268 , SB1202 , SB1198 , SB1212 , SB1451 , SB1470 , SB1498 , SB965 , SB1547 , SB1667 , SB1818 , SB1902 , SB2129 , SB2078 , SB2069 , SB1737 , SB1589 , SB1318 , SB387 , SB1150 , SB1574 , SB2127 , SB3034 , SB860 , SB1278 , SB263 , SB370 , SB663 , SB924 , SB987 , SB1939 , SB1937 , SB1598 , SB2798 , SB2801 , SB2580 , SB2569 , SB2514 , SB2064 , SB1940 , SB1621 , SB2601 , SB1379 , SB1376 , SB1372 , SB1353 , SB2216 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1612 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SCR5 , SCR32 , SCR8 , HB3228 , HB2802 , HB45 , HB1318 , HB5560 , HB2894 , HB4344 , HB4238 , HB2775 , HB34 , HB33 , HB 12 , HB148 , HB 130 , HB4273 , HB4850 , HB2733 , HB4783 , SB1833

Keywords: SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction, margin tax, Texas Tax Code, depreciation, amortization, broadcast rights

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:56:11.040><c> and</c> statement must include the identity and statement must include the identity
• </c><01:56:25.320><c> and</c> statement must include the identity and statement must include the identity
• </c><01:58:43.840><c> and</c> debtor may withhold the identity and debtor may withhold the identity and
• notice of the identity of the perpetrator.
• </c> complaints of scams and cyber frauds complaints of scams and cyber frauds from<02:04:15.920><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• So if somebody comes in is committing fraud or some other intentional act, they don’t receive the civil
• Identities being stolen. It would still be fraud. I mean, it's... Identity's being stolen?
• It would still be fraud.
• I mean, this doesn't, if you commit fraud now, it's the same thing as if you commit fraud under this
• You hear of instances of fraud, and I think this will address that. And it's getting worse.

Bills: HR1 , HB96 , HB345 , HB360 , HB401 , HB592 , HB703 , HB723 , HB729 , HB776 , HB838 , HB844 , HB882 , HB885 , HB888 , HB966

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The committee first heard House Resolution 1, which approves the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for fiscal years 2026-2027. CPRA officials described the plan as about $1.54 billion, with roughly 93% directed to project implementation and construction, funded through state mineral revenue, GOMESA, BP spill dollars, surplus funds, and newly available coastal sediment funds. They outlined projects across the coast, including marsh creation, barrier island restoration, levees, pump stations, freshwater diversions, and nonstructural flood protection, and said the plan had been unanimously approved by the CPRA board after public hearings. Members asked about specific coastal and basin issues, including the Sabine River, the Chafalaya Basin, Bayou Sorrel, and tidal flooding in interior parishes. HR 1 was reported favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Bill 838, as substituted, dealing with vehicle inspection stickers and related OMV modernization. The substitute would repeal inspection requirements for assembled vehicles, keep periodic inspections for commercial and student transportation vehicles, address federal inspection requirements, allow out-of-state inspections in some cases, and create a Louisiana Vehicle Identification Program using QR codes. Members focused on privacy and enforcement questions, and OMV and state IT officials explained that the QR code would contain only the VIN and that the system would support police ticketing applications. The bill also ties implementation to the OMV modernization effort and takes effect January 1, 2027. HB 838 was reported by substitute. The committee next advanced House Bill 888 on temporary dealer plates, adopting a set of amendments that added security features, clarified timing for the new electronic issuance system, and adjusted rules for temporary tags and dealer plates. Testimony from the auto dealers’ association said the bill was intended to reduce fraud, resolve confusion over five-day versus 60-day tags, and extend certain temporary loaner tag periods from five to ten days. HB 888 was reported with amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 885 on electronic titles and lien recordation, which would allow electronic signatures, electronic lien notifications, and electronic titling/recordation for participating commercial entities, with civil immunity for good-faith actions and a severability clause. Members raised questions about fraud prevention and consumer participation, and supporters said the bill would modernize the process and align Louisiana with current industry practice. HB 885 was reported by substitute. Finally, the committee advanced House Bill 723, which allows certain two- and three-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds to proceed through a red light under specified circumstances when sensors fail to detect them. The sponsor said the measure is a safety fix for riders stuck at malfunctioning signals, and the bill was amended to clarify the vehicle types covered. The committee also considered House Bill 882 on outdoor advertising, which would increase billboard spacing on state highways from 150 feet to 1,000 feet and allow certain signs damaged by an act of God after January 1, 2010, to be rebuilt. Supporters said the bill would reduce billboard density and improve aesthetics, while opponents argued it would harm smaller operators and impose a one-size-fits-all rule. After testimony, HB 882 was amended and reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Identity is going to be analogous to democracy. You're born.
• fraud.
• In addition, we attended one of the leading identity conferences out there called Identity.
• And so online identity and building online trusted relationships requires more from this digital identity
• for these digital identities.

Committee: Joint Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• and misuse. >> No, never said fraud and misuse, sir.
• </c> certain fraud and misuse. certain fraud and misuse.
• </c> &gt;&gt; No, never said fraud and misuse, sir. &gt;&gt; No, never said fraud and misuse, sir.
• Whose names are similar or identical and who have the same address. >> Will you be taking questions?
• Does that go through any sort of identity verification process, or how is that vetted?

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• c> uh</c> protections include identity uh protections include identity uh verification,<00:22:15.280>
• exist</c><00:28:14.320><c> without</c> Scams and fraud can't exist without Scams and fraud can't exist
• </c> when fraud occurs, why does it occur? when fraud occurs, why does it occur?
• ,</c> less fees and less fraud, less fees and less fraud, why<01:22:09.360><c> would</c><01:22:09.600
• </c> would minimize the fraud? would minimize the fraud?

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a living celebration of culture, community, and identity that resonates deeply here in California
• Hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud since this governor took office in 2018, with no revelation
• There's a pattern of behavior here, hiding fraud and invoking the threat of public safety.
• Those methods are, so we have an opportunity to detect the fraud.
• Mandalorian identities, blending personal creativity with the traditions of Star Wars.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am proud to be American, but I'm also proud of my identity and my parents that I'm I'm proud to be
• It was a reclamation of identity, culture, and belonging.
• There is no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud by ineligible individuals.
• They found no systemic instances of voter fraud in the United States.
• would have won California if not for voter fraud, which would be over 3 million instances of voter fraud

Summary: The Assembly met in session after a quorum call and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a ceremonial observance for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support of House Resolution 107, which designates May as AAPI Heritage Month, emphasizing the community’s contributions, resilience, and the need to confront discrimination and hate. The resolution was adopted, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 AAPI Heritage Month celebration, highlighting leaders in education, business, labor, media, cultural preservation, and public service. After guest introductions, the Assembly took up a series of bills. Measures discussed included HOA reserve funding for common interest developments (AB 2050), professional review requirements for lawsuits against design professionals (AB 2106), direct home delivery of enteral formula (AB 1794), expanded CalWORKs-related support for student parents (AB 1829), longer insurance moratoriums for wildfire survivors (AB 2038), election cybersecurity (AB 2281), medical privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care (AB 2448), water district board compensation (AB 2568), county public contract change-order authority (AB 1658), and several other education, health, and licensing bills. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 2050 passed 44-6, AB 2038 passed 45-8, AB 2448 passed 49-13, and AB 1658 passed 61-2, while several others passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and affirming California’s mail voting system. The resolution prompted extended debate over election integrity, voter access, and federal versus state authority, with supporters arguing mail voting is secure and accessible and opponents calling for stronger voter list maintenance and verification. The resolution passed 47-13. In addition, ACR 141 and ACR 123 were adopted by voice vote after co-author roll calls, and the chamber continued or passed on numerous other file items as it worked through the daily file.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and also brings pride in people to be proud of who their identity is.
• I am proud to be American, but I'm also proud of my identity and my parents that immigrated here to this
• It was a reclamation of identity, culture, and belonging.
• They found no systemic instances of voter fraud in the United States.
• fraud, is that erodes voters' faith in our democracy.