Transcript Highlights:

• Staff will now... 2012.
• Staff will now... Staff will now present a summary of legislative audit's role related to Medicaid.
• Lori McDonald, Chief of Staff, DHS.
• Lori McDonald, Chief of Staff, DHS.
• We did not increase staff.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And staff, let's get a briefing on the amendments before us. All right.
• For the record, Ryan Giannini, staff counsel to this committee.
• Tim Ford, staff with the committee, and before you is Senate Bill 6086.
• For the record, Maya Eita, staff counsel to this committee.
• backlog, and we're just going to swap the CRO versions for the staff versions.

Summary: The Law and Justice Committee met on February 3rd to take executive action on several bills and gubernatorial appointments. The committee first considered Senate Bill 5925, which would expand Attorney General investigative authority through civil investigative demands. Members debated amendments to limit the bill’s reach, including protections for small businesses, exclusions for law enforcement use-of-force matters, and changes to appeal deadlines. Amendment Charlie was adopted, Amendment Delta failed, Amendment Alpha failed, and Amendment Echo was withdrawn. The bill then received a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The committee next worked through Senate Bill 6086 on judicial officer safety and threat assessments. A proposed substitute retained threat-assessment provisions while removing some personal-information and consultant-related sections. Amendment Foxtrot 1, which would have removed security consultant authority, was not adopted, and the proposed substitute was approved and sent to the Rules Committee. Senate Bill 6074, concerning reinstituting parole, was narrowed in a proposed substitute to create a parole reinstitution work group with legislative appointment authority and a 2027 reporting deadline; an amendment adding victim advocate members was adopted, and the bill advanced to the Rules Committee. The committee also considered Senate Bill 6296 on involuntary treatment. The proposed substitute made multiple changes to enforcement, prosecutor representation, peace officer duties, intimate partner definitions, and firearms-related provisions. Amendments to remove firearm-related changes and to clarify officer liability and home-entry authority were debated; Kilo-2 and Kilo-3 were not adopted, and the proposed substitute ultimately passed and was sent to the Ways and Means Committee. The committee then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments, including Kristen Ferrer, Lisa Mannion, Kate Ben Ward, and Rochelle Cleland, and concluded by thanking staff and adjourning at the house-of-origin policy cutoff.

Transcript Highlights:

• gather on a elected officials, and staff gather on a regular<00:01:31.119><c> basis.
• ,</c><00:05:03.919><c> and</c> that possible for visitors, staff, and that possible for visitors, staff
• That process, again, you'll alert security or staff that you have a permit.
• >> So, the question was members and staff. So elected officials are exempt.
• Staff right now is not exempted.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and State Patrol Colonel Christina Bogoich announced that weapon screening will begin Tuesday at the Minnesota State Capitol, at the start of the 2026 legislative session. They said the change is based on an independent security assessment and the Axtell report’s top recommendation, and is intended as an added layer of protection rather than a weapons ban or a change in state law. Both officials emphasized that the Capitol should remain open, accessible, and welcoming while reducing preventable risks, citing increased threats nationwide and the recent murders of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman and the shootings of Senator John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman. Officials said visitors will enter through four public access points, with all other exterior doors closed to public entry. The primary entrance will be the south ground-level entrance, with additional access through tunnels connecting to the Senate building, State Office Building, Parking Lot C, and the Judicial Center. They said the screening process should take only seconds for most people, with bags scanned separately and additional checks only if needed. Prohibited items will not be stored by the Capitol, and the public was told to plan ahead, carry fewer items, and follow staff instructions. The Capitol will close to the general public at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays unless legislative business is still underway, in which case accommodations will be made. In questions, officials said people with valid permit-to-carry authorization may still bring a firearm if it is otherwise legal, but they must declare the permit, show government ID, and go through screening. Elected officials are exempt and will have a separate lane, while staff will be screened. They also said the tunnels will be locked with restricted key-card access, and that the Senate is implementing its own screening, with questions about Senate doors referred there. Jacobson said the State Patrol will cover the costs within its existing budget, and that the process will be evaluated and adjusted as needed to keep it efficient and not a deterrent to visitors.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to take a moment to also recognize the staff: legal counsel Garrett Burns, Matt Cricone from the
• Luddy and I had several conversations with our staff about constituent cases that we had seen in our
• these issues, and really to be sure as well that, I mean, we all know that it's our aides and our staff
• We, of course, recognize the monumental effort DUA staff has been tasked with in learning to navigate
• We also fully support additional funding and staff for DUA if they believe that that would be helpful

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hearing on House 5188, a late-filed bill to establish a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in Massachusetts. Chairs and members noted the hearing was in hybrid format and limited to this one bill. Representatives Hadley Luddy and Joshua Tarski testified in support, saying they filed the bill after seeing many constituent cases involving delayed or difficult unemployment claims, especially for seasonal workers and others facing housing and financial instability. They argued a commission could review claim data, identify gaps, and recommend improvements to make the system more efficient, equitable, and transparent. Greater Boston Legal Services also testified in favor. Attorneys described representing many low-income workers whose claims were delayed for months after the launch of the new online DUA system, often leaving them in limbo while trying to pay bills. They cited examples where claimants were denied or delayed due to issues that could have been resolved more quickly, and said the new system has contributed to major backlogs. They reported that DUA’s non-monetary issue backlog more than doubled, separation issues tripled, and hearings appeals grew to more than 12,500 pending cases, with average appeal times far above required timelines. They said the commission could help identify root causes and systemic fixes, and suggested the bill might be improved by giving the commission more time to report. Committee members generally praised the bill’s intent and the filers’ collaboration. Several members shared their own experiences with constituent unemployment cases and emphasized that people should not have to contact legislators to get claims processed. Some asked whether the commission should include broader stakeholder representation, such as business groups, MassHire, staff, and people with direct claims experience, and whether its scope should be widened. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the chair concluded the meeting after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to thank all that were involved in that staff.
• Liu on my staff, as well as PSFA staff and the superintendent from Hobbs on being able to quickly come
• And then, uh, we've worked with PSFA staff.
• I would just ask for PSFA staff to look at this in all projects to make sure that we're not.
• That was, I think, really great work and to the director on her staff and the superintendent.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• We are currently hiring and training new staff and providing H.R. 1 training to existing staff, working
• We are currently hiring and training new staff and providing HR1 training to existing staff, working
• Because of the layoffs and the shortage of staff, that's going to put more burden on the staff that we
• We have to train not only our newly hired staff, but we have to retrain all of our existing staff for
• Our staff do multiple programs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and and staff. and and staff.
• </c> elected officials and staff. elected officials and staff.
• staff staff and<00:14:56.560><c> everyone</c><00:14:56.920><c> who</c><00:14:57.000><c> visits</c><00
• Well, in a legislators and staff.
• ><c> Committee</c><00:29:29.400><c> on</c> who staffs the Advisory Committee on who staffs the Advisory

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our nonpartisan staff, Nathan Hopkins and Ken Savory, and the Republican partisan staff were terrific
• I appreciate staff.
• I appreciate the DFL staff.
• Okay, thank you to nonpartisan staff and to partisan staff on both sides of the aisle.
• I thank the committee and our staff, especially.

Transcript Highlights:

• But before I do that, I'd like to thank the staff, the very staff who are relying on this bill's passage
• I will start off by also thanking Helen Roberts, Colby Sullivan, and our staff, our partisan staff that
• and non-partisan staff.
• And again, I want to thank our nonpartisan staff, our partisan staff, and our pages.
• Thank you, members of the committees, our staff, partisan staff, nonpartisan staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> conditions we've actually had a staff conditions we've actually had a staff veterinarian<00:12:24.760
• </c><00:24:56.279><c> for</c><00:24:56.600><c> staff</c> satisfaction for their staff for staff satisfaction
• for their staff for staff retention<00:24:57.720><c> as</c><00:24:57.840><c> well</c><00:24:57.960><
• The staff have done an amazing job.
• The staff have done an amazing job.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And in many cases, some of those entities have engineers on staff.
• Utah has a staff of about 50 doing that.
• So there's a, you know, and I'm not asking for a staff of 50 because we couldn't possibly hire a staff
• You know, it's your staff and Alan's staff, so you have to figure it out.
• It's our staff, but, like, right, to figure out the best... I think, Mr.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Summary: The task force first approved the March 25, 2026 minutes as amended, including a correction removing language that suggested the auditor’s office would contract with a security vendor. Members then moved to a bill draft on concessions (LC 27.0161.00000), which would raise the competitive solicitation threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, allow requests for proposals in addition to bids, clarify that proceeds go to the entity’s operating fund or general fund, and make other technical updates. OMB explained the draft and answered questions about scope, fragmentation, vendor restrictions, school districts, and whether concession proceeds could be directed to nonprofits; OMB said the draft could be refined further, including clarifying covered entities and contract length. No vote was taken on the draft during the discussion. OMB also reported on other survey items. It said a proposal to broadly allow agencies to create pre-qualified architect/engineering/land surveying vendor pools would not move forward, because the existing authority is working well for the agencies that already have it. On legal notices, OMB said it has been working with the North Dakota Newspaper Association on modernization, including an ADA-compliant online notice system and possible statutory updates to reflect changing technology and notice definitions. On click-through agreements for routine IT purchases, OMB and the Attorney General’s office said policy clarification—not statutory change—was enough, and the $20,000 threshold was intended to distinguish low-dollar adhesive contracts from purchases where terms can be negotiated. The committee also heard that OMB and the Center for Distance Education had resolved questions about alternate procurements and food/beverage expenditures through existing policy, so no statutory changes were needed there. North Dakota University System representatives gave a brief update on ongoing collaboration with OMB on statutory efficiency ideas, including concessions and surplus property. Finally, the task force discussed a draft on requirements for new or expanded spending programs, which would require agencies to identify purpose, expected benefits, alternatives, success measures, and full implementation costs, and would require reporting on outcomes over time. Members debated whether OMB or Legislative Council should collect and report the information, how to use the new program evaluators, whether real-time dashboards should be used, and how to choose which programs to evaluate; staff from Legislative Council said they would work with OMB and the auditor’s office to revise the draft and process.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think staff did an excellent job of telling you what the bill is about.
• The same staff member was later caught using cocaine in the bathroom.
• I just want to take a moment to thank all of our staff.
• And I just want to take a moment to thank all of our staff.
• I'd also like to thank all of the staff for their hard work all session long. and, and, and, staff for

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee approved the March 18 and 19 minutes and heard a presentation from the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix on its new tuition-free, three-year regional medical school branch in Yuma. The presenter said the program is designed to address Arizona’s primary care shortage by training students in a high-need rural area, with 18 months in Phoenix and 18 months in Yuma, and members asked about residency placement, applicant eligibility, and whether students would be required to remain in rural Arizona after training. The program was described as open to applicants from in and out of state, with no post-graduation practice commitment, but with an emphasis on recruiting students already interested in rural care. The committee then heard several health and child welfare bills. HB 2923 would expand judicial review procedures for court-ordered mental health treatment, add timelines and counsel protections, and require clear and convincing evidence to continue treatment; supporters said it updates outdated 1970s law and preserves due process. HB 2434 would change the controlled substances prescription monitoring program by requiring updated patient utilization reports before opioid or benzodiazepine prescribing, tightening reporting rules, and replacing a task force with a compliance workgroup. HB 2035 would broaden kinship foster care to include extended family, strengthen sibling and family placement preferences, require written findings when kin placement is denied, and shift the standard from promoting to presuming kinship placement as in the child’s best interest; DCS said the policy largely matches current practice but raised an implementation concern about a report deadline before preliminary protective hearings. The committee also heard HB 2611, which would expand foster youth rights and safety protections in group homes, including anti-retaliation rules, drug-screening requirements for staff, and new safety rules for DCS and DHS; foster youth and group home staff testified in support, while DCS was neutral and noted possible fiscal and operational impacts. HB 2732 would continue the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy until 2032, and HB 2733 would make various pharmacy regulation changes, including medication delivery flexibility, continuing education timing, change-of-ownership permits, and wholesale distribution permitting. HB 2830, as amended, would require instruction on fetal and prenatal development and initially restricted abortion-provider materials in schools, but the amendment removed that prohibition; testimony split between supporters who framed it as educational and opponents who objected to its implications for reproductive rights. HB 2932, as amended, would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse noncontracting providers for referred lab services and limit prior authorization and retaliation; health plans opposed it as a threat to managed care tools, while lab providers supported it as fair payment for covered services. Finally, HB 4004 would require DCS to investigate credible abuse or neglect reports even when one parent is considered protective, and to report annually on cases where it declined to intervene. Parents testified that abuse was minimized or left uninvestigated because of the “protective parent” concept, while supporters said the bill would close a dangerous gap. The committee also considered HB 2086, which would bar government and businesses from imposing mask or vaccination requirements, though an amendment removed the business prohibition; supporters framed it as bodily autonomy and opponents argued it would weaken public health protections. The committee voted to give do pass recommendations to HB 2035, HB 2086 as amended, HB 2434, HB 2611 as amended, HB 2732, HB 2733, HB 2830 as amended, HB 2923, HB 2932 as amended, and HB 4004, with recorded no votes on some measures, including opposition from members on HB 2086, HB 2830, HB 2932, and HB 4004.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll have a staff report, please. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Do members have any questions of staff?
• And we'll have a staff report, please. Again, this is Corey Patton, staff to the committee.
• Do any other members have questions of staff? Terrific. Go ahead. Members have questions of staff.
• Staff: As legislative staff, I can't answer whether or not the bill would be held constitutional by the

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2203 would create the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations for driving on a roadway known to be closed due to hazardous conditions, with gross misdemeanor penalties, a possible Class C felony enhancement if a rescue leads to injury or involves a minor or vulnerable adult, license suspension, and emergency-response cost recovery. The prime sponsor described recent flooding rescues in Orting as the impetus, and local police support emphasized responder safety and limited resources. The Sentencing Guidelines Commission opposed the felony section, saying the conduct did not warrant felony treatment and recommending a traffic infraction for the first level and a gross misdemeanor for the second. House Bill 2293 would bar Washington law enforcement agencies, the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and related personnel from training with foreign militaries, intelligence agencies, or security services, or funding travel for that purpose. The sponsor said civilian policing should not be trained like military service and argued officers should be trained under U.S. constitutional standards. Opponents from the sheriffs and police chiefs association argued the bill was too broad and unclear, could block valuable counterterrorism and best-practice training, and might need exemptions for Canada, Mexico, and other legitimate international partnerships. Members discussed possible amendments and clarification language. House Bill 2165 would create a new gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer, covering possession or creation of realistic badges, insignia, or other items identifying someone as an officer when they are not commissioned, while preserving defenses for honorary, reserve, posse, and protected expressive uses. The sponsor and governor’s office said current law is too limited because it often requires an active impersonation before enforcement can occur; law enforcement groups supported the goal but raised concerns about definitions, vehicle markings, federal-agent coverage, and whether the offense could be plea-bargained away. House Bill 2173 would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public, with exceptions for undercover work, SWAT protective gear, and medical or environmental masks, and would allow civil suits for violations. Supporters said the bill promotes transparency and trust and responds to concerns about masked immigration enforcement; opponents warned it could expose officers to doxxing, create liability and recruitment problems, and raise constitutional issues, especially as applied to federal officers. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our staff includes multiple levels of investigators as well.
• So, thank you, Chair, and thank you to the AG's staff for your fabulous work.
• If we left it up to each agency, they were going to be requesting a lot more staff.
• Agency staff who manage grants.
• There is a lot of turnover in agency staff.

Bills: HF3043 , HF2891

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, staff. Thank you, Madam Chair. Oh, and Brett Taylor. Okay, staff, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Staff, if you could please read in the bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• So staff, we will hear SB 338.
• So staff, we will hear, and a committee will hear SB 338.
• Staff, if you could please read in the bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee met on May 19, 2026, with a quorum present and first heard a presentation from Superintendent Cade Brumley on Louisiana’s recent education scorecard, which showed the state ranked first nationally in reading growth, second in math growth, and first overall in academic growth from 2022 to 2026. Members praised teachers and the department for the results. The committee then deferred SB 507 at the author’s request. The committee reported several bills favorably. SB 484 by Sen. Abraham, as amended, transfers selected duties from the Board of Regents to university management boards and Louisiana Works, adjusts authority over certain higher-education initiatives, creates a study of LUMCON’s placement, and adds financial reporting and early-warning requirements for universities. SB 157 by Sen. Jenkins, as amended, creates six weeks of paid parental leave for eligible public K-12 employees for birth, adoption, or fostering, with a reimbursement fund subject to appropriation; testimony emphasized family support, recruitment and retention, and health benefits. SB 83 by Sen. Edmonds, as amended, requires human trafficking prevention and victim-identification training in schools and updates coordination and service language; the amendment made implementation subject to appropriation and clarified the governor’s office role. The committee also reported SB 450 by Sen. Edmonds, as amended, requiring mandatory reporting of school threats and physical security assessments, with student witnesses and members stressing school safety and the need for funding and practical security measures. SB 132 by Sen. Klein-Peter, as amended, requires exterior master key boxes and updated school mapping data for emergency response, with an amendment exempting districts already using such boxes. Finally, Rep. Carver presented HR 251 on recess for K-3 students, citing Oklahoma’s expanded recess law and research on physical activity and learning, but said he would keep the resolution parked for further discussion rather than seek a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't know if there's anything else to add from House Nonpartisan staff.
• </c><00:12:16.000><c> I'm</c> from House Nonpartisan staff. I'm from House Nonpartisan staff.
• </c> staff on any aspect of it. Work goes on. staff on any aspect of it. Work goes on.
• And so, with that, I also want to thank staff for all your hard work all year long.
• And so, with that, I also want to thank staff for all your hard work all year long.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have If you have any issues filling out the form, please ask a staff member to assist.
• also train other training providers and other TCEQ staff.
• Roughly 16% of our staff are paid below the midpoint when compared to our counterparts.
• Good morning, Chairman, members, staff.
• Agency staff estimates a total population at risk of 94,000 across the state. below such dams.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff? Mr. Chair, yes, you do need to vote on them, but a quick note: it's November minutes.
• Because I'm not sure exactly what the staff is thinking here. Sure. And if it helps, Mr.
• So staff, do you want to comment on that?
• Melinda Oslox and staff to the committee.
• Members of the committee, again, for the record, Aaron Gutierrez, committee staff.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and we had staff up here late last night working on getting this done.
• Our LSO staff, y'all, Ms. Gwen Tatum, Erin King Hanley, Mr.
• Our LBO staff led by Ms.
• [Applause] And then lastly, my staff, y'all. And then lastly, my staff, y'all.
• [Applause] And then rounding out our staff, Cole Butler and Sarah Bailey Staff, Cole Butler and Sarah

Keywords: MS House Floor - 2 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They were simply related to staff shortages and the COVID emergency.
• Staff would be applying for unemployment... ...medical and behavioral clients.
• Staff would be applying for unemployment.
• ResHab and staff is important to me because their support...
• They have trained those staff to help...

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all