Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Fraud Prevention and State Oversight Committee hearing.
• and investigate suspected fraud prevent and investigate suspected fraud and<00:14:54.800><c> refer</
• During that time, we've advocated for best practices and fraud prevention in the NEMT industry.
• <00:39:11.080><c> in</c><00:39:11.160><c> the</c> prevention in the prevention in the NEMT<00:39:12.560
• I mean, 62% drop when we're actually starting, we haven't even implemented really fraud prevention or

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is not, this measure is not the only thing that we are doing.
• This measure, alongside other solutions, will allow the people who serve our community to remain part
• Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness with a housing-first approach.
• And our mission is to prevent an end homelessness with a housing first approach.
• And part of And our mission is to prevent and end homelessness with a housing-first approach.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: 995, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• If the voters approved the measure, we could become the most prosperous state in the nation.
• Speaker, when voting for bond measures and school boards, we need a higher bar for implementing taxes
• Speaker, when voting for bond measures and school boards, we need a higher bar for implementing taxes
• prior to any child maintenance under this section, then no maintenance will be ordered so that it prevents
• I think what the lady's trying to do is a good provision, a good step in the right direction to prevent

Summary: The House met on the final day of session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by a 126-0 vote. Much of the early floor time was devoted to points of personal privilege, with members and the Speaker offering lengthy tributes to departing colleagues, House staff, law enforcement, veterans, and family members. Several members reflected on their service, discussed the challenges of the session, and thanked staff in the chamber and across the Capitol for their work. The chamber then took up Senate messages and committee reports, followed by several bills and resolutions. House Bill 2636, dealing with mortgage modification and related consumer protections, was adopted as amended and finally passed by votes of 142-1 on adoption and 144-1 on final passage. House Bill 2397, concerning water district dissolution procedures and related safeguards, was adopted and finally passed by votes of 129-16 and 127-17. House Bill 2576, a naming and designation bill adding observances and memorial highways/bridges, was adopted and finally passed by votes of 136-4 and 134-6. The House also debated Senate Joint Resolution 95, which proposed creating a constitutional Show Me Prosperity Fund as a sovereign wealth fund intended to eventually replace state taxes through long-term investment returns. Supporters argued it was a forward-looking fiscal strategy based on compound interest and could reduce reliance on taxes over generations. Opponents warned that the state was facing near-term budget shortfalls and that locking money away could make it inaccessible during emergencies or when needed for current services. The transcript ends during continued debate on the resolution, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The VA grant that we have does provide for homeless prevention.
• And then also, are you doing any work in that space on prevention? Mr.
• But the VA, that SSVF grant, does allow for homeless prevention and always has.
• That's for homeless prevention. We still have some ARP funding for that as well.
• And so I think it's important that we have that conversation about prevention.

Transcript Highlights:

• $41.8 million is budgeted for contracted services and operating costs to support everything from prevention
• And so I think those investments in prevention are critical.
• Again, it's about the prevention. piece that I think allows us to intervene earlier and keep people on
• This is preventative in terms of clearing to reduce the fire risk within the bosque.
• So what we really have to measure is not our supply, but what is the gap to what we need.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are proposing that for certain transactions that we’ve identified, where we can count and measure,
• That does mean some overlap, and the report covers performance measures or metrics used to relate to
• or metrics used uh performance measures or metrics used to<01:33:26.679><c> relate</c><01:33:26.960>
• And then, lastly, in our measure of trying to track down 14 appointments being available in 14 days,
• </c> out and then lastly um um in our measure out and then lastly um um in our measure of<01:35:46.719

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Although you heard some about that this morning, it does not prevent an injured person from recovering
• the full measure of damages. of compensatory and non-economic damages.
• Our debate today is, you know, do these words actually prevent someone from recovering?
• And we are being prevented from putting that out.
• In my field, you know, we don't do preventative spine surgery.

Bills: HB4806

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:00.120><c> pregnancy</c><00:18:01.120><c> they</c> control pills to prevent pregnancy they
• control pills to prevent pregnancy they could<00:18:01.440><c> refuse</c><00:18:01.799><c> to</c><00
• </c><00:25:28.600><c> patients</c><00:25:28.960><c> from</c> pro bill could prevent patients from pro
• bill could prevent patients from receiving<00:25:29.520><c> critical</c><00:25:29.919><c> information
• I want to remind you that more than three-quarters of Kentucky voters oppose measures like Senate Bill

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 132, a health care conscience-protection measure. Supporters said the bill would protect health care professionals from being forced to participate in procedures or services that violate sincerely held religious or ethical beliefs, while explicitly excluding emergency care. They argued it would help recruit and retain providers, preserve ethical integrity in medicine, and has worked in several other states. Supporters also emphasized that the bill is aimed at procedures or services, not at denying care based on who a patient is, and noted that the bill includes a civil cause of action to give it enforcement teeth. Several supporters described personal experiences. A nurse said lack of conscience protections affected her career choices and limited her path into women’s health. Dr. Warman said he had requested not to perform anesthesia for abortions and later chose non-narcotic pain management because he objected to heavy opioid prescribing, saying conscience protections allow professionals to practice responsibly. Senators asked about examples, the bill’s scope, whether it could be used to discriminate, and which states have similar laws; Mississippi, Florida, Montana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Arkansas were named. Questions also focused on the bill’s civil enforcement provisions and whether it could be used against patients based on identity or religion. Opponents warned the bill was overly broad and could allow refusals of care by a wide range of health workers, including clerks, ambulance drivers, pharmacists, nurses, and physicians. Dr. Karen Abrams said it could lead to denial of birth control, Plan B, blood transfusions, and other care, especially in rural areas with few alternatives, and could worsen Kentucky’s provider shortages. David Conway said the bill lacked patient protections, could increase delays and discrimination, and could prevent reassignment of objecting staff. The chair noted there were seven people signed up in opposition, limited testimony to two minutes each, and said the committee would return to the bill after hearing additional opposition and other pending bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• establishment of assertive community treatment programs and teams, to establish provisions regarding measures
• establishment of assertive community treatment programs and teams, to establish provisions regarding measures
• Also, this prevents future litigation that will come from our counties eventually or the ACLU for overcrowding
• Is it going to prevent some candidates from being able to maintain their eligibility, considering that

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received committee reports and bill referrals. Among the measures introduced or advanced were bills on restroom access and indecency, assertive community treatment, foreign law in Idaho courts, police dog protections, hospital taxing district petitions, legislative residency requirements, driver education options for parents, and redesigning the agricultural license plate. The House also passed several bills on second or third reading, including HB 652, HB 556, HB 602, HB 654, HB 549, HB 628, and HB 663, sending them to the Senate. HB 556 drew the most debate. Supporters argued the state should raise reimbursement to counties for housing state inmates in county jails because county costs have risen well above current reimbursement levels, counties are overcrowded, and property taxpayers are subsidizing state obligations. Opponents said the fiscal note was too large for the current budget year, though several members still acknowledged the underlying problem. The bill ultimately passed the House 59-10. HB 602, which limits the use of foreign law when it conflicts with Idaho or U.S. constitutional rights, also passed after questions about prior legislation affecting child support enforcement; the sponsor said this bill was narrower and preserved existing law as the guardrail. HB 673, which would require legislative candidates to have lived in their district for 120 days in the preceding year before filing, generated significant concern about retroactivity, fairness, and impacts on military members, missionaries, traveling workers, and others with temporary absences. After debate, the House voted to send it to general orders for further work rather than advancing it immediately. HB 628, concerning parent-taught driver education in urban districts, was defended as expanding parental choice and reducing costs, while opponents raised safety concerns about teaching teens on busy roads without dual brakes or other safeguards; it passed 63-6. The House adjourned after announcements and committee meeting notices.

Transcript Highlights:

• Isn't it true that other states that have prevented carriers from getting the rates that they felt they
• This model does not prevent or block catastrophic modeling or reinsurance cost recovery or any justification
• are going to happen absent some pressure and the fear that these bills are going to pass in some measure
• So to kind of summarize the bill, this bill would contain the transparency measures discussed in previous

Bills: HB3048 , HB3259 , HB3646 , HB3696 , HB3780 , HB3781 , HB3802 , HB3818 , HB4294 , HB4488 , HB2929

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, insurance regulation, Oklahoma, health insurance, contracting entities, medical providers, enrollment, beneficiary rights, property and casualty, rates, filing, Insurance Commissioner, regulation, property, regulations, actuary, rate filing, independent review

Summary: The committee heard a series of insurance-related bills, with much of the discussion focused on homeowners insurance rates, transparency, and regulatory oversight. House Bill 3696, a proposed rate-approval style measure for homeowners insurance, drew extensive questioning about whether it would actually lower premiums, its comparison to Texas, the role of the Insurance Department and Attorney General, and possible effects on carriers and agents. The author said the bill was intended to increase transparency and consumer protections, acknowledged it was a work in progress, and agreed to strike the title and keep working with the committee. The bill ultimately passed the committee on a recorded vote. The committee also advanced House Bill 3259, which would prohibit certain health care contract clauses such as all-or-nothing, anti-steering, gag, and most-favored-nation provisions; House Bill 4294, a follow-up to Dylan’s Law dealing with epilepsy-related insurance coverage and neurostimulator devices; and House Bill 4488, which would let the Insurance Commissioner appoint an impartial umpire when a body shop and insurer cannot agree on a loss value. House Bill 3646, a broad and still-developing insurance bill involving rate review, litigation, venue, AI use, and Attorney General involvement, generated substantial concern from members about workability, litigation, and agent exposure. Its author said it was not final, but the committee voted it down. Later, the committee passed House Bill 3048, a cleanup measure for surplus lines licensing laws; House Bill 3780, requiring an independent actuary review as a transparency measure; House Bill 3781, changing the timing from use-and-file to file-and-use with a 60-day review period while the author said he did not want rate approval; House Bill 3802, delaying rate adjustments after a spouse’s death until renewal; House Bill 3818, creating a home and auto savings account framework intended to help policyholders raise deductibles and lower premiums; and House Bill 2929, which limits how far back insurers may look at homeowners and auto claims for underwriting purposes. Most of these bills passed with little or no opposition after brief questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• That said, we do want to emphasize the importance of maintaining meaningful accountability measures around
• The legislature codified a B&O tax exemption for premium income in 1935 to prevent double taxation.
• Instead of simply preventing double taxation, it has been interpreted to provide a sweeping tax exemption
• The legislature has this opportunity to establish a measure of tax equity with this bill.

Bills: SB5872 , SB5879 , SB6047 , SB5988 , SB5923 , SB5832 , SB5970 , SB5994 , SB5949

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: preK promise account, early childhood education, child care, preschool, pre-kindergarten, DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, state treasury, trust fund, investment earnings, gift grants donations, dedicated account, general fund, nonreverting balance, appropriation, treasurer, Washington early learning, school readiness, education assistance program, legislative audit

Transcript Highlights:

• My take on that is: why don't we prevent them from becoming out-of-school youth?
• the pejorative sense, but shadow means that they've got first- or last-dollar problems that are preventing
• reauthorized, but it's still not fully implemented because the statistical adjustment model for measurable
• little bit of naming and shaming that, if you're not seeing any results, you've got these other measures

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Nick Moore, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Career and Technical Education, focused on integrating workforce, education, training, and human services systems. Moore argued that WIOA, Perkins, and ESSA should be aligned more closely, with fewer federal and state bureaucratic layers, more state flexibility, and a stronger emphasis on labor force participation, postsecondary attainment, and training tied to in-demand jobs. He said the federal agencies are moving toward combined plan timelines for 2026, encouraged states to pursue combined plans and waivers, and described efforts to streamline reporting, reduce administrative overhead, and expand tools such as integrated intake, cross-training, virtual and mobile service delivery, apprenticeship, and talent marketplaces. Moore also emphasized accountability and outcomes, saying states should measure training-related employment, retention, and the share of funds going to direct services rather than administration. He criticized the current workforce system as too costly and ineffective, and said states should use primary labor market information, better wage records, and employer input to align training with actual job demand. Members asked about balancing flexibility with accountability, the role of employers versus postsecondary institutions, serving rural “training deserts,” state waivers, and data-sharing systems such as Mississippi’s workforce technology efforts. Moore said states can use waivers and technology to create common intake and co-enrollment across programs, and that enhanced wage records are key to better workforce planning. The committee then received a separate update from DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Director Jay Hill on reimbursement rates for aging and adult behavioral health services. They said DHS had compiled more than 100 public comments, submitted a recommendation to the governor to hold current rates, and was awaiting executive review, which they estimated could take 30 to 60 days. Members asked about the timeline and the scope of the legislation requiring monthly reports. The meeting ended with notice of a later audit presentation scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Big Mac building.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of model subdivision rules that we implemented a few years ago, which now will help prevent having insufficient
• The Texas Legislature has enacted a series of measures to update the state's approach to flood planning
• Providing federal funds for cost-effective measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flooding
• Use of some type of a low-level berming system would allow us to take that water—one, to prevent creating

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For more than 30 years, Wallen has focused on measurable outcomes.
• For more than 30 years, Wallen has focused on measurable outcomes.
• </c><00:03:52.080><c> 87%</c><00:03:52.799><c> of</c><00:03:52.959><c> our</c> measurable outcomes. 87%
• State investment helps remove barriers that currently prevent parents from working or advancing in the
• </c><00:25:27.440><c> parents</c> barriers that currently prevent parents barriers that currently prevent

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the past week, you know, from data centers with a massive tax increase and in doing so to try to prevent
• bills from the floor team, but I will say, and I agree with Senator Braun, you know, it's about preventing
• I think the voters have spoken in numerous ballot measures, and they've said we do not want an income

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: At this Republican media availability, Senate and House GOP leaders focused on affordability, taxes, and government accountability as the session approached cutoff. Senate Republican Leader John Braun criticized the Senate’s income tax bill and a range of other tax proposals, arguing they would raise costs for food, health care, prescription drugs, data centers, startups, grocery bags, and employers of Apple Health/Medicaid users. House Republican leaders Peter Abbarno and April Connors echoed those concerns, saying the latest revenue forecast did not justify new taxes and that Democrats were relying on tax increases rather than relief for families and small businesses. A major topic was the income tax bill that had passed the Senate and was headed to the House. Republicans said they opposed it on constitutional and policy grounds, argued it would eventually expand beyond high earners, and said the bill should be amended to remove the necessity clause so it could be referred to voters. They also said any meaningful tax reform should include broader relief such as property or sales tax reductions, not just narrow carveouts. Braun also said he hoped Governor Inslee would reconsider support for the measure, while House Republicans said they would try to stop it from advancing. The lawmakers also discussed child welfare and public safety bills, especially efforts to force votes on legislation related to DCYF and child deaths. They criticized House Democrats for not hearing or advancing several Republican-backed bills and said process objections were being used to avoid accountability. Braun noted that a bipartisan bill to add fentanyl to the endangerment statute, HB 5071, remained alive in the House. Other bills mentioned as priorities to oppose included an environmental crimes bill, a juvenile release bill, a real estate excise tax measure, and a bottle bill, all of which Republicans said would increase costs or expand state authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• This measure closes a loophole in the current law, which will prohibit part-time or parish employees
• don't want it to stop anything, the rest of the technical changes that are needed, or slow down or prevent
• amendment. anything, the rest of the technical changes that are needed to, you know, slow down or prevent

Summary: The State Board of Election Supervisors met on February 5, 2026, with Secretary of State Nancy Landry presiding. The board approved the minutes from its March 11, 2025 meeting and then received a presentation from First Assistant Secretary of State Catherine Newsom and Deputy Commissioner Lainey Boyd on proposed technical changes for the 2026 elections omnibus bill. The board removed item 7 from consideration before the presentation began. The proposed provisions covered a wide range of election-administration topics, including ROV payroll timing, restrictions on ROV employees running for office, party affiliation clarification for voters marked “unaffiliated,” registration transfers, assistance for disabled voters, protection of pre-registrant information, removal from protected voter lists, absentee voting procedures, precinct boundary notices, candidate death notice procedures, nomination petitions, ballot design, watcher deadlines, overvote definitions, absentee ballot curing, nursing home voting timelines, procurement authority for voting equipment, and contest procedures for elections and constitutional amendments. Board members asked several clarifying questions, and staff explained the intent of various technical and procedural changes. Two items were specifically discussed as policy concerns. Board member Guidry objected to item 37, which would allow the Secretary of State to bring an election contest based on irregularities reported by an election official, and staff agreed to remove it from the omnibus bill for separate consideration. Item 38, concerning deadlines and causes of action for contesting the calling of a constitutional amendment, and item 39, clarifying that such a contest cannot be filed before election day, were explained as intended to align amendment contests with other election contest deadlines. After discussion, the board approved items 1 through 6, 8 through 36, and 38 through 39 for inclusion in the report and eventual omnibus bill. No public comments were submitted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE SEEN HIGH VOLUMES OF PROTECTION OVER 630,000 ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED SINCE WE PUT THAT
• TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE. 630,000 ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED SINCE WE PUT THAT TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE.
• IS THAT BEING MEASURED BY SAYING, OKAY -- BUT IF IT'S A BIT APPLY FOR. THAT IS THE PATHWAY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I presume that Waste Management is measuring any fugitive methane from their landfill.
• So my question is: do we follow up and also measure, and do we look for methane in other parts of the
• of measures.
• So on our transformers we measure current, voltage, temperature, winding temperature.
• </c> &gt;&gt; So on our transformers we measure &gt;&gt; So on our transformers we measure current current

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:29:24.000><c> the</c> gap in the statutes that prevent the gap in the statutes that prevent the
• </c><01:39:52.480><c> dental</c> relatively cheap, preventative dental relatively cheap, preventative
• </c> carries because it's a preventable carries because it's a preventable disease.<01:56:11.440><c>
• </c> measuring outcomes in a good way? measuring outcomes in a good way?
• </c> we get more people for preventative we get more people for preventative dental<02:06:50.320><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But for the other two measures, we can certainly get that.
• But for the other two measures, we can certainly get that.
• For this particular measure, this is not referencing a specific test.
• For this particular measure, this is not referencing a specific test.
• available measures regarding teacher quality.

Summary: The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy requirements. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act through the 2003 Quality Education Act and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required coursework, standards for accreditation, career and technical education, graduation requirements, and recent additions such as computer science, personal finance, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a chart comparing the major laws and repeals over time, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to federal ESSA requirements and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and reported 2025 ATLAS proficiency results, which remained below the 80% goal across student groups. They also reviewed English learner progress, graduation rates, school support and improvement, and equitable access to educators. Data showed gaps by subgroup and by school poverty/minority concentration, with Title I and high-poverty schools more likely to have emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff. Members questioned the lack of recent data for some ESSA measures, including equity labs and school index calculations, and asked staff to follow up with the Department of Education. The committee also discussed NAEP results, ACT scores, and teacher quality measures under the state accountability act. Arkansas’s NAEP performance remained below national averages in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math, and ACT composite scores and benchmark attainment were also reviewed. Members asked for additional information on historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. No formal votes were taken; the main action was agreement to request additional information from DESE and to schedule department follow-up at a future meeting.