Transcript Highlights:

• The original intent is the same as the intent now, and that is to prevent It bears repeating there is
• The original tent is the same as the intent now, and that is to prevent.
• The original intent is the same as the intent now, and that is to prevent sexual crimes against children
• And these interventions are experimental and should only be employed in exceptional circumstances.
• I will be no on this bill, and I hope the members of this body will join me in actually trying to prevent

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:46:45.360><c> And</c> High's program and how great it was.
• And High's program and how great it was.
• </c><03:55:28.640><c> and</c> student progress, evaluate program and student progress, evaluate program
• </c> interventions, and it explicitly calls interventions, and it explicitly calls for<05:05:13.520><
• And it's going whole of the EFA program.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fourth is IDOC connection and intervention station housing.
• Connection and Intervention Station Housing. Fifth is IDOC North Idaho Reentry Center.
• And finally, the ISU pedestrian crossing over the railway between ISU and INL.
• Conference rooms are booked out, so we can get started pretty early this morning on workgroups and get
• I should have just waited and waited and waited and just looked at you and waited. Go ahead.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met to consider several FY 2026 and FY 2027 cash transfers and then began reviewing maintenance budget language for FY 2027. The first transfer moved $33.745 million from the permanent building fund to the general fund. Keith Bybee and Lori Wolf explained the money was tied to canceled or stalled capital projects, including the Carnegie Library purchase/renovation, juvenile corrections facility additions, an Idaho State Police district facility, IDOC reentry-related projects, and an ISU pedestrian crossing. Senator Wintrow raised concerns that some projects remained important, but the committee approved the transfer 18-2 and sent it with a due pass recommendation. The committee then approved a $15 million transfer from the Water Pollution Control Fund to the general fund and a $10 million transfer from the In-Demand Careers Fund to the general fund, both with due pass recommendations. Members asked whether there were eligible students waiting for In-Demand Careers grants and whether the transfer would reduce aid availability; staff said the fund had a large cash balance relative to current obligations and that some money had been returned or remained unclaimed. The committee also approved a FY 2027 In-Demand Careers transfer of $10 million, but only after awards are obligated and reconciled on December 31, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practicable, reflecting concerns about preserving student aid while allowing unused balances to revert. After the cash-transfer votes, the committee shifted to maintenance budget work for FY 2027. Bybee explained that the packet contained the standard clear language for the maintenance bills, but the reporting structure in the budget database had been disrupted by the many adjustments, so staff would do additional testing before final numbers were circulated. He walked members through the table of contents and examples of the language, noting that maintenance budgets have only existed for three years and generally contain less controversial statutory language, though workgroups could still consider adding intent language. The committee was told that workgroups for General Government and Natural Resources would begin, with additional lunch meetings possible, and the meeting adjourned until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• medication for individuals within adult residential facilities and community care licensed day programs
• protection program, allowing capacity-building activities and grants in local and tribal communities
• program, allowing capacity-building activities and grants in local and tribal communities to be eligible
• This includes enrolling in school, receiving medical care, and accessing social safety net programs.
• AB 246 will prevent evictions of seniors and people with disabilities if there is a declared illegal

Summary: The Assembly convened with a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long daily file of bills. Early procedural motions included a failed attempt to suspend the rules for AB 1219, followed by consideration of numerous measures on housing, veterans, education, elections, energy, wildfire prevention, public safety, and consumer affordability. Several bills drew bipartisan support and passed overwhelmingly, including AB 878 on safety accommodations for survivors of violence, AB 948 on school district facility maintenance, AB 81 and AB 88 on veterans’ mental health and student aid, AB 640 on school board fiscal training, AB 660 on housing permit timelines, AB 1048 on workers’ compensation billing disputes, AB 1119 on dual credentialing, AB 1172 on inhalable anti-seizure medication access, AB 1227 on wildfire prevention, AB 1285 and AB 696 on lithium-ion battery safety, AB 1417 on offshore wind transparency, AB 1530 on disaster recovery assistance, and AB 353 on affordable home internet. Some measures drew opposition or more divided votes, including AB 704 on sealing certain misdemeanor records, AB 1249 on early voting access, AB 1280 on thermal energy incentives, AB 1448 on offshore oil protections, AB 380 on price gouging, AB 402 on Cal Grant increases, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification, and AB 1084 on expedited gender-change and name-change court orders. The Assembly also granted reconsideration on AB 435, a child passenger safety bill, and passed it after debate on the five-step safety-seat standard. The floor debate featured recurring themes of affordability, housing, wildfire preparedness, election access, veterans’ services, and public safety. Supporters of the election bill AB 1249 argued it would simply add a Saturday early-voting option in non-VCA counties, while opponents raised concerns about verification and county staffing. AB 30, authorizing E15 gasoline in California, was presented as an urgency measure to lower fuel costs and passed unanimously on the urgency and the bill. AB 1466 on groundwater disputes was also taken up, with the author arguing it would reduce frivolous litigation and better represent all water users; the vote was 42 ayes and 17 noes. After completing the file, the Assembly recessed for lunch, later returned, and continued with additional file items, with many measures passing on strong bipartisan votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs and taking that and funneling it into a secret police program.
• c> programs,</c><01:19:45.600><c> and</c> development, afterchool programs, and development, afterchool
• Why is health and our Medicaid programs.
• And I understand the impulse to do just anything to try and prevent this.
• </c><05:50:35.680><c> Under</c> and prevent power shortfalls. Under and prevent power shortfalls.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• prevent the generation of content, That include a referral for crisis services and prevent the generation
• I'm a senior fellow at the Abundance Institute and the director of the AI Innovation and Law program
• This pollution is widespread, persistent, and entirely preventable.
• combination under the Safer Products for Washington program, and work under that program is currently
• For the record, my name is Lucas Hall, and I’m the chief program officer with Long Live the Kings.

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on three bills. SB 6076, sponsored by Sen. Gaynor, would streamline procurement for consumer-owned utilities on clean energy, storage, transmission, and distribution projects through 2045 by raising contract thresholds, allowing more use of vendor lists, electronic bids, and broader competitive-bidding exemptions for certain energy-related projects. The sponsor and utility and labor supporters said the bill would help PUDs respond to rising costs, supply-chain shortages, aging infrastructure, and growing electricity demand, while keeping work with union labor. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing closed with 60 people signed in pro and 3 con. The committee then heard SB 5984, a governor-request bill sponsored by Sen. Wellman that would regulate AI companion chatbots by requiring disclosure that users are interacting with AI, restricting manipulative engagement techniques for minors, requiring safeguards against sexual content and self-harm, and creating enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act with a private right of action. Supporters included the governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, privacy officials, parents, child-safety advocates, researchers, and some tech-industry voices who urged stronger safeguards; they emphasized harms to minors, suicide risks, and the need for transparency and accountability. Opponents and critics argued the bill could sweep too broadly, create constitutional/free-speech problems, burden general-purpose AI and consumer-facing businesses, and rely on unclear or ineffective definitions. The hearing closed with 697 signed in pro, 219 con, and 477 other. Finally, the committee heard SB 6119 on 6PPD-containing tires. The bill would phase out sale and distribution of tires containing 6PPD or regrettable substitutes beginning in 2035, create a mitigation fee on such tires, and dedicate revenue to Ecology administration, monitoring, salmon and waterbody studies, and waste tire removal. Supporters, including the bill sponsor, scientists, environmental groups, Seattle Public Utilities, and salmon-recovery advocates, said 6PPD-Q is acutely toxic to coho salmon and that a deadline and fee would accelerate safer alternatives and fund mitigation. Ecology and industry witnesses acknowledged the problem but said no proven alternative is yet available and warned the bill could be premature, raise costs, and affect tire safety and affordability; business and trucking groups also opposed the measure, citing duplication of the existing Safer Products process and the need for further stakeholder work. No votes or executive action were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And will now be prevented if we pass this bill.
• Program of 24 and at the FSU Undergraduate Research Center.
• And on behalf of the entire Florida Senate, the incredible program that you bring these young men and
• And this will be completed in early 2026. They started this process in 2022.
• And this will be completed in early 2026. They started this process in 2022.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, volunteers, and the retirement of Pastor Gary Austin from the sergeant’s office. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators would not need to plan on being in next week, suggesting progress toward a budget framework. After routine floor business, the chamber took up a major third-reading measure on citizen initiatives and several education bills, followed later by returning messages from the House on health and school-safety measures. The most extensive debate centered on the citizen initiative bill, which sponsors said was intended to protect the constitutional amendment process from fraud and abuse based on election-crime investigations and a large state report on petition fraud. Supporters argued the bill would add reasonable guardrails, prevent misuse of public funds, and preserve integrity while still allowing grassroots participation. Opponents from both parties argued it would make citizen-led amendments much harder by adding costs, deadlines, criminal penalties, and administrative burdens that would chill participation and favor wealthy or corporate interests. After lengthy debate, the Senate voted 28-10 to pass the bill. The chamber then passed several education measures with little or no opposition, including bills tied to Bright Futures, dual enrollment, Florida ABLE, teacher preparation, and other education policy updates, all by 38-0. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments on a stem cell therapy bill, an EKG requirement for student athletes, and a cardiac emergency bill, each passing 37-0. The House also sent back a school safety bill with amendments affecting child care facility partnerships with law enforcement, temporary door locks during active assailant incidents, supervision windows, and funding for panic alarm systems; the transcript ends as that bill is being explained.

Transcript Highlights:

• the administration on that closure, and today we have a budget that maintains services and programs.
• and today we have a budget that maintains services and programs at this critical facility.
• of Ways and Means as well, is early intervention services for our youngest residents of the state.
• Early intervention and care. We all know this.
• in the MRVP program and the RAVP program as well. ...in the MRVP program and the RAVP program as well

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up debate on the FY2026 general appropriations bill, with several members speaking in support of the Ways and Means budget. Senators Comerford, O’Connor, Feeney, and DiDomenico emphasized the budget as a values-driven response to federal uncertainty, highlighting investments in MassHealth, education, housing, food security, local aid, libraries, transit, mental and behavioral health, and support for vulnerable residents. They also praised the budget’s lack of new taxes and its focus on spending within available revenues, while noting major cost pressures from health care and federal policy instability. Specific programs and items repeatedly cited included universal free community college, expanded financial aid, rural and minimum school aid, TAFDC/EAEDC increases, the Healthy Incentives Program, universal school meals, housing supports, Home and Healthy for Good, and funding for Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital. Speakers framed these investments as both fiscally responsible and morally necessary, and several noted that amendments would be considered during the debate. No votes on the budget itself were taken in the excerpt. After the budget remarks, Senator Miranda spoke in recognition of Haitian Flag Day and the history of Haiti, including foreign interference and the importance of protecting Haitian immigrants in Massachusetts. Another senator then honored Malcolm X on the 100th anniversary of his birth, connecting his legacy to the budget process and calling for investments in equity, education, housing, and health care. The Senate then adopted an order to meet the next day at 10 a.m. with the general appropriations bill as the only item on the calendar, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• monitoring the board's policies and programs.
• underlying both K-12 and higher education; and the school safety and security program, which assists
• And those programs are now lauded and desired among other states as they look at. lauded and desired
• together and clear... ...that and then start doing targeted interventions.
• My program and the other programs that are not Dr.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of budget presentations from the Legislative Services Office and agency leaders on higher education and health education programs. Kevin Campbell first reviewed the Office of the State Board of Education budget, noting staffing growth tied to added responsibilities, the end of federal COVID/ARPA funding, a governor-recommended supplemental reversion for the sunsetted Empowering Parents grant, and FY 2027 requests including a Canvas LMS renewal, a risk-manager transfer back to institutions, and a one-time federal AI grant. Jennifer White, OSBE executive director, defended the Canvas contract as a cost-saving centralized arrangement, discussed budget pressure on colleges and universities, and said the board is developing an outcomes-based funding model that would shift emphasis from enrollment to progression, completion, and workforce outcomes while phasing in changes to avoid destabilizing institutions. Members asked about cuts, tuition, private donations, rainy-day funds, the longitudinal data system, CETL Now usage, and whether programs should be evaluated or eliminated based on outcomes. White said the board is still gathering data and expects at least another year before a workable funding proposal is ready, and she emphasized that unearned funds under the new model would be returned to OSBE for targeted intervention rather than simply removed. The committee also discussed risk-management centralization, with White explaining that moving risk managers back to institutions would improve day-to-day efficiency while OSBE retains enterprise risk oversight. The committee then turned to health education programs, beginning with Family Medicine Residencies. Campbell outlined the program’s funding and recent growth, and residency leaders said the 3% holdback affected both ISU-based and hospital-affiliated programs but would not force immediate reductions. They stressed the importance of continued legislative support, noted that residency training helps retain physicians in Idaho, and said the programs rely on a mix of state, federal, and patient-care revenue. Members also raised concerns about clinical placement capacity, rural access, and whether federal rural health funds could help support expansion. Additional presentations covered the Eastern Idaho Medical Residencies and the University of Utah medical program. EIMR leaders said Idaho remains far short of needed psychiatrists, especially child psychiatrists, and that training residents in-state helps keep physicians in Idaho; they also described private hospital support as part of the funding model. For the University of Utah program, Campbell said the state supports both medical students and psychiatry residents, and the program requested funding for three additional child psychiatry residents. Dr. Beth Botz, the training director, attributed rising child psychiatry need to increased stress, social media, COVID-era effects, and broader awareness of mental health issues, and said placing residents in southeast Idaho has already improved access and reduced wait times.

Transcript Highlights:

• and tailor interventions.
• early childhood programs, growing career and technical pathways, and creating room for similar initiatives
• That and the connection between bilingual programs as well.
• It's not computer analysis; it's not this fancy program that's coming in and so on and so forth.
• It's not a half-time program. It's a 6-hour program, and we're not getting funded for that.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> preventative Services and I urge your preventative Services and I urge your support<01:52:39.480>
• in Minnesota, and we and others stand ready to provide feedback and context to have a successful program
• in Minnesota, and we and others stand ready to provide feedback and context to have a successful program
• </c> prr a program opening for 6 months and prr a program opening for 6 months and we<01:57:19.000><c
• In early 2024, MARATP and the Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, or MACMHP, drafted

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we pass legislation in 2010 to establish programs and then in 2020 in accordance with the prior
• program and providing recommendations for possible reinstatement and 3 to develop and promote markets
• creating a system where as people with concerns can call report and we can track research and and and
• then those that were coming out and doing what they call climate intervention.
• And this also helps with the economics of this being a market driven program so that can make sure those

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Homeless Prevention Program.
• In Jefferson, talented and gifted programs and athletics are on the chopping block.
• And kids' programs are going to end for us as well.
• It establishes a program and EDA to encourage employee ownership awareness and provide funding and advisory
• Establishes a program and EDA to encourage employee ownership awareness and provide funding and advisory

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to take the next steps to encourage community awareness programs and ensure that our children
• This school is an after-school program, and they have graduated some amazing students.
• And state programs like Medicaid are burdened with rising dental costs.
• And state programs like Medicaid are burden with rising dental costs.
• This change prevents the potential for fraud and protects consumers.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and gallery recognitions, including students, university basketball coaches, and other visitors. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar of bills, with most measures explained by sponsors, often substituted with identical House companions, and many passing on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, utility services, higher education, pre-arranged transportation services, the Uniform Commercial Code, altered sexual depictions, firearms during emergencies, brownfields, false reporting, health care billing and collection, and motor vehicles. Among the bills passed were measures on the Florida Trust Code, school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct, debt collection email communications, service of process, public lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers and releases, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ties affecting health care licensure, diabetes management in schools, platting procedures, fentanyl testing in hospitals and emergency departments, third-party reservation platforms, electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices, restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, background screening of athletic coaches, and surrendered infants. Debate was especially notable on the surrendered infants bill, where some senators raised concerns about safety, anonymity, and liability, while supporters argued the devices could save lives. The affordable housing/Live Local bill also drew extensive discussion and a late-filed amendment, with the sponsor describing major land-use and permitting changes and the chamber adopting the amendment before final passage. The most contentious floor debate came on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, where senators argued over its fluoride-related provisions and broader policy package. Opponents criticized the bill as an overbroad preemption and raised public health concerns, while the sponsor defended it as a farm-and-consumer package with multiple unrelated provisions. That bill ultimately passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a resolution honoring Florida’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, made additional announcements, and then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, we provide some really incredible programming that helps people get outdoors and stay active and
• And doing something that brings them joy and moving is preventative medicine.
• They reduce direct sun exposure, lower temperature, and prevent skin cancers and illnesses.
• So my concern is that, and is my concern for you, because I want this program to be funded and I want
• that provide early intervention services, and about 25% of our clientele at that time were CYFD referrals

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's all that was tested and certified at USDA for Texas Hill program.
• When I started as the DA, and again, I'm Early Wiley, and I'm here to speak in support.
• When I started as the DA, and again, I'm Early Wiley, and I'm here to speak in support of the ban, which
• So we're always monitoring for that and watching for that and trying to prevent that.
• We support the T-Cup expansion program, and we're grateful for that.

Bills: SB 5 , SB 11 , SB 12

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, human trafficking, trafficking victim, compelling prostitution, affirmative defense, criminal defense, coercion, force fraud or coercion, sexual exploitation, victim protection, Penal Code, Texas criminal law, prosecution, party liability, affirmative defense statute, survivor rights

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs took up Senate Bill 5, which Senator Perry described as a ban on intoxicating THC consumer products while preserving legal CBD, CBG, hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil products. Perry argued that most retail THC products are already illegal under federal law, that the industry has used loopholes and misleading labeling to sell high-potency products, and that regulation would be ineffective because chemists can quickly alter formulations. He also said the bill would steer people with medical needs toward the Texas Compassionate Use Program (T-Cup), which he and other supporters described as the proper physician-guided alternative. Committee members and witnesses repeatedly discussed the distinction between legal hemp-derived products and intoxicating THC products, and Perry said the bill would not touch non-consumable hemp uses such as fiber and clothing. Invited testimony came from law enforcement and medical witnesses who supported the bill. Texas Police Chiefs Association representative Steve Dye, Kaufman County District Attorney Early Wiley, and Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne all said regulation would be too costly, too complex, and ultimately unenforceable, while a ban would be clearer and easier to enforce. They cited overloaded DPS labs, the need for expensive private testing, limited police and prosecutor resources, and the difficulty of keeping up with constantly changing cannabinoids and out-of-state products. Hawthorne and Wiley described raids and investigations involving warehouses, retail stores, cash seizures, and products they said were marketed to young people and often mislabeled or imported from other states. They also said the bill would help law enforcement by creating a clearer legal line and protecting legitimate CBD/CBG businesses. Dr. Lindy McGee, speaking for the Texas Medical Association and Texas Pediatric Society, testified that retail THC products pose serious risks to children and adolescents, including addiction, impaired brain development, psychosis, suicide attempts, self-harm, accidental toddler ingestions, and possible long-term cognitive effects. She said there is no effective medication treatment for THC addiction comparable to nicotine cessation tools, and she supported restrictions such as child-resistant packaging, no marketing to minors, and age limits, while opposing criminal penalties for possession by minors. Senators asked follow-up questions about brain development, memory, dementia risk, pregnancy, and cardiovascular effects. No vote was taken during the portion provided, and the committee continued with invited testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• was talking about the home visiting and the early childhood and all the different programs that families
• of reentry and educational programs.
• of reentry and educational programs.
• of reentry and educational programs.
• of reentry and educational programs.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The meeting began as an informal education budget work group focused on reviewing a revised House Appropriations and Finance Committee scenario and flagging concerns rather than taking votes. Staff outlined the main changes from the LFC recommendation, including moving the statewide student information system appropriation, adding funding for the Black, Bilingual, Multicultural and Hispanic Education Act, universal school meals overrun costs, an evidence-based CTE pilot with a 50% local match, STEM network funding, wellness room pilots, Martinez-Yazzie action plan items, and changes to innovation zone and out-of-school time appropriations. A separate handout on the seven-year CTE pilot explained spending patterns, reversions, and possible federal maintenance-of-effort concerns if the state continues funding beyond a true pilot. Members then debated CTE extensively, with several arguing it improves attendance, graduation, and career readiness and should be sustained or expanded, especially in rural areas, while staff and others emphasized that much of the current funding has gone to general operational costs rather than intentional program design and that regional or matched funding models may be more effective. Members also discussed STEM and math initiatives, the need for more industry involvement, and whether the proposed match requirements would be too burdensome for smaller districts and BIE schools. The discussion also covered the Black, Hispanic, and Multilingual Education Acts and the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit. Some members stressed that the acts should be explicitly named in the budget language and not merely implied, while staff said the scenario reaffirms prior commitments by building the costs into agency operating budgets. Members raised concerns about charter school hold-harmless funding, declining enrollment, and the need to align spending with the needs of at-risk students. The work group ended the education portion without any votes, with staff noting they would incorporate the feedback and return with clarifications, including on CTE funding, the educational acts, and the charter hold-harmless item. The meeting then shifted to the child well-being and early childhood work group, where staff presented a revised Early Childhood Education and Care Department scenario. The proposal moved money toward child care assistance and early pre-K, kept the FIT program funding level unchanged, and used a mix of trust fund, TANF, federal, and operating-budget adjustments to close part of the gap between the executive and LFC recommendations. Members questioned the policy direction, especially the shift toward infant and toddler care and pre-K expansion, the impact on school-age child care, and the implications for continuity of care and provider costs. Staff explained that the scenario prioritizes younger children and at-risk families, includes language for a wage and career ladder, and would require legislation to raise the early childhood trust fund distribution cap from 500 to 525. Members also discussed a separate proposed CYFD pilot bill (HB 65), which would be distinct from ECECD funding. No votes were taken, and staff said they would return with more cost information on full pre-K plus wraparound care. A final work group reviewed C2 and Department of Information Technology-related appropriations. Staff compared the LFC and executive recommendations for new funding and reauthorizations, noting that the LFC generally limited new projects while the executive funded more. Members discussed several IT modernization requests, including the Secretary of State’s voter registration and election management systems, the Spaceport Authority, Game and Fish, the State Engineer’s WATERS system, ECECD’s FitKids and EPIC replacement discovery, and Aging and Long-Term Services’ enterprise system modernization. The main themes were whether to fund planning versus full replacement, how to avoid piecemeal spending, and whether new systems should wait for incoming leadership. The Secretary of State’s office said its system is nearing end of life and the planning funds would help prepare a realistic replacement request, while other agencies described aging infrastructure, cybersecurity risks, and the need for modernization. The work group did not vote on any of the items and ended with staff noting additional follow-up on funding needs and reauthorization details.

Transcript Highlights:

• I volunteered for my court and Conway Clinton and Marshall to participate as a pilot court program.
• And a lot of times what you see with 12th grade students and 11th grade students are dropout prevention
• right now and early literacy.
• services, and they're not being used for community-based programming.
• And so what we have to do is understand that from a prevention, intervention, and diversion standpoint

Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth approved the December 10 minutes and confirmed Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee. The committee then heard the annual Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review report, which said the state reviewed 148 of 170 non-natural child deaths in 2023; the reviewed deaths included 69 accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined causes. Members asked about how the report’s recommendations could be used, grant opportunities tied to prevention work, and whether the data could be broken down by age; presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies and nonprofits and that some age detail is available in later pages of the report. The committee next took up HCR 1010 and then a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Senator Missy Irvin, judges, and Administrative Office of the Courts staff described Arkansas’s use of validated risk assessments, including SAVRY, the Ohio Youth Assessment Tool, MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening, as part of a long-running effort to reduce juvenile incarceration and tailor services to individual youth and families. They said the reforms have contributed to fewer delinquency filings, fewer DYS commitments, and more diversions, while also emphasizing that mental health, substance abuse, school issues, and trauma often drive juvenile court involvement. Several members raised concerns about data gaps, school collaboration, and whether community-based services are sufficient, and presenters said more shared data and stronger school use of safety dashboards could help intervene earlier. Division of Youth Services Director Michael Crump then presented custody, education, recidivism, and cost data. He said DYS commitments rose after the pandemic, secure residential populations remain high, and detention-center use increased when intake beds filled; he also noted that DYS pays about $320 per day for secure custody and that detention beds cost roughly $90 to $100 per day. Crump said most youth in custody are older teens, about 80 percent are male, and many have behavioral-health needs or educational deficits; he reported 222 GEDs and 102 high school diplomas over six years. He also said about 15 to 19 percent of youth return to DYS within three years and that a larger share later enter the Department of Corrections, while members pressed him on how assessments relate to commitments, how low-risk cases are handled, and how to improve mental health and substance-abuse services statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Schultz and Associates, our design team, the demolition early drawings, and then the agency review was
• But you can see the number of applicants, train and place programs, and then you can see the amounts.
• And one of the things that we'd really like to focus on is brain health, early detection, and planning
• for your future, and what early diagnosis can do for you.
• They often need a break, and respite programs are important.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on health-related projects and Department of Health and Human Services budget matters. Representatives from CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck and Williston, and Altru in Grand Forks, reported progress on behavioral health expansion projects, including demolition and construction milestones, updated timelines, funding status, staffing plans, and barriers such as an unbudgeted air handler replacement in Williston. Members asked about original completion dates, use of telehealth, recruitment of psychiatrists and other staff, and whether the new beds might reduce the need for patients to travel to Jamestown State Hospital. The projects were described as on track overall, with completion expected in 2027 for the larger builds and earlier openings for some phases in Williston. The committee then heard from HHS leadership on technical line-item transfers and the Salaries and Wages Block Grant. Donna Ockland explained that recent transfers were administrative corrections to place spending in the proper budget lines and did not involve new spending, and she reviewed FTE counts and vacancies across the department. Questions focused on behavioral health staffing changes and the use of consultants in the Rural Health Transformation Program. Pat Rainer outlined the rural health program’s first-year grants and priorities, including workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community wellness initiatives, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, hospital equipment, suicide prevention training, technology, and EMS support. He said North Dakota’s plan was drawing positive national attention, but the department still needed to obligate roughly $199 million by September and was working with CMS on timing and compliance. The committee also received an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller. She said North Dakota had been accepted as a demonstration state, with certification efforts underway in Williston, North Central, Fargo, and Dickinson. Members asked about care coordination, service growth, staffing, and whether certification would expand to all clinics; the department said it was still collecting baseline data and evaluating impacts before making future recommendations. Finally, Rebecca Askins reviewed SNAP payment error rates, explaining that the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89 percent and that the department is working on training, system changes, and quality assurance steps to get below 6 percent. Members pressed on the causes of monthly variability, the performance of the SPACES system, and accountability for ongoing errors, and the department said it expects improvement over the next 6 to 12 months.

Transcript Highlights:

• and schools that did not have a one-to-one technology program.
• And thank you for the graciousness to let me. My background is early childhood.
• programs and device-based accommodations rather than providing true remediation.
• programs and device-based accommodations rather than providing true remediation.
• And during that time, I was National Board Certified in Early and Middle Childhood Literacy and Language

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 959, house, all