Transcript Highlights:

• There is a staff report. Good morning. Emily Poole, staff to the committee.
• There is a staff report, and if you would also brief us on the amendment, please.
• For the record, Martha Whaling, staff to the committee.
• I appreciate the excellent staff summary of this bill.
• I appreciate the excellent staff summary of this bill.

Bills: SB5420

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, service members, uniformed services, National Guard, reservists, active duty, qualifying discharge, veterans preference, hiring preference, public employment, state benefits, license renewal, professional licensing, retirement service credit, pension, public retirement system, Washington RCW, military leave, reemployment rights

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'll, uh, Board of Finance, if council's comfortable with it, we'll work with staff to make those
• Um, PSFA staff of RPMs uses this tool routinely.
• Staff to help work with those that are being delayed for any reason. So again, thank you.
• Um, I just wanna thank staff for putting together the timeline.
• Yeah, I just want to thank the staff again.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Mary Monroe, staff to the House Appropriations Committee.
• For the record, Mary Monroe, staff to the House Appropriations Committee.
• Should you have questions about those, we have staff in the room to help with details, as well as with
• So I want to start off by saying thank you to staff who have done all of the hard work and worked the
• , as well as the partisan House and Senate staff, for getting us to this point.

Summary: The conference committee met on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5167, the state operating budget, and received a detailed staff briefing on the proposed conference report. Staff explained how to read the comparison documents, the four-year balanced-budget outlook, and the main resource assumptions, including use of the March 2025 revenue forecast, exclusion of the statutory 4.5% growth assumption, revenue legislation totaling about $8.7 billion, numerous fund transfers, and reversion assumptions. They also noted the proposal does not include a temporary salary reduction or furloughs. The briefing highlighted major policy areas and their net five-year impacts, including increases for state and higher education employee compensation, K-12 education, long-term care and developmental disabilities, corrections, information technology, and other policy items. It also described net reductions in behavioral health, children/youth/families, higher education, natural resources, other human services, and health care/public health, with many of the changes tied to delayed programs, rate adjustments, fund shifts, and savings options from Governor Ferguson. The committee then heard member comments, with supporters emphasizing K-12 funding and fiscal responsibility, and Senator Gildon opposing the process and the closed-door nature of the budget development. A motion was made and seconded to recommend adoption of the conference report and pass the bill. The roll call showed one member voting do not recommend, one member excused, and the remaining members recommending adoption. By vote of the committee, the conference report was adopted, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I want to encourage his staff to make sure that they're there. And then he's here.
• And so I want to encourage his staff to make sure that they're there. And then he's here.
• We had everyone introduce themselves, including staff, because commissions have work.
• Including staff, because commissions have work.
• Cindy Marrow, the one that the mayor's chief of staff. Yes, Sydney Marrow. Yes, yes, yes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The meeting focused on organizing the Cabo Verdean Cultural Center Commission, including confirming quorum, approving prior minutes, electing leadership, and planning next steps. Once quorum was reached, members approved the minutes from the prior meeting and unanimously elected Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Kip Diggs as co-chairs. There was also discussion of whether vice chairs should be added later, with several members favoring a mix of legislative and appointed/community representation. A major portion of the discussion centered on expanding the commission membership and identifying candidates who reflect regional, gender, and professional diversity, with emphasis on arts, culture, history, philanthropy, development, and construction. Members suggested numerous names from Boston, Brockton, New Bedford, Fall River, Cape Cod, Taunton, and other communities, and there was broad interest in including people connected to cultural organizations, universities, and the business/development community. Members also discussed whether designees could count toward quorum, but no rule change was adopted during the meeting. The commission also discussed its operating structure and public process. Members agreed to submit two or three recommended names by November 13, and to reconvene on November 25 at 4 p.m. to finalize recommendations and continue building the commission. They also discussed meeting cadence, with support for alternating formal meetings and site visits or listening sessions every other month, plus possible subcommittees to handle research between meetings. The chair noted that the commission is public-facing, will keep records and minutes, and will need to consider the organizational vehicle or advisory structure that will support Cape Verdean clubs and associations in the broader project. The meeting adjourned after these next steps were outlined.

Transcript Highlights:

• He also thanked the partisan staff, including Eric Anderson, Sam O'Neal, and Alex Wheeler.
• He also thanked the GOP staff, including Jesse McGall, Ben Freeze, and Karen Hardwick, saying they've
• He said Jesse and Ben will have to debrief about the draft tomorrow a little bit. partisan staff, um
• </c> want to uh thank our GOP staff as well. want to uh thank our GOP staff as well.
• c><00:16:03.040><c> Slovac</c><00:16:03.600><c> Beckal</c> staff, Lori Pampu and Slovac Beckal staff,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So the next item on the agenda is an overview of the Medicaid Subcommittee by legislative audit staff
• Staff will now present a summary of legislative audit's role related to Medicaid.
• Madam Chair, can we have them as staff to send these out?
• We did not increase staff.
• Are there any questions for staff or representatives of these offices?

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you request anything from House staff on fiscal impact? No, sir. Okay. One follow-up.
• Staff, please open the queue for a vote. Eves, yay.
• Staff, close the queue and declare the vote. 9-0, aye. I declare your bill to pass, sir.
• Staff, please open the queue for a vote. Bear with us for technical difficulties. Difficulties.
• Staff, please open the queue for a vote. Representative Gise.

Bills: HB3725, HB3260, HB3660, HB3369, HB3370

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3725, as amended by a PCS, which would require employers statewide to use E-Verify or a federal equivalent when hiring new employees. The author argued the bill would help reduce illegal immigration, protect wages and jobs for lawful workers, and impose only minimal costs because E-Verify is free and quick to use. Members raised concerns about burdens on small businesses, farms, and ranches; state versus federal authority; enforcement by the Department of Labor; identity theft and false positives; possible litigation; and what would happen if the federal system went offline or changed. The author said the bill includes good-faith protections, a trigger repeal if the federal program expands, and that he would file additional language to address shutdown-related disruptions. No motion was made, and the bill remained in committee. The committee then heard and passed several other measures without opposition. House Bill 3260 would add the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association as an approved provider for continuing education credits for funeral director license renewals, and it passed 9-0. House Bill 3660 would authorize natural organic reduction, described as transforming human remains into soil, and it also passed 9-0. House Bill 3369 would revise food truck fire code requirements by allowing portable fire extinguishers instead of an automatic suppression system and by allowing licensed plumbers, not just Oklahoma LP Gas, to inspect or install certain gas plumbing; members discussed possible conflicts with another LP gas fix and agreed to work together, and the bill passed 9-0. Finally, House Bill 3370 would extend the effective date of the food truck fire code to November 1, 2028, creating a sunset to allow more time for a broader solution. The author said he preferred another option but wanted this bill available if needed. After brief clarification, the committee passed HB 3370 9-0. The meeting ended with the chair noting there would be three meetings left in the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• least, within the Budget and Policy Analysis Division, as the chairman stated, we have a number of staff
• , and we have two individuals on our staff who work with health and welfare.
• We have a person on our staff that specifically works with the transportation budget.
• but in case your interests wander elsewhere, we want to make sure that you can find whoever on our staff
• who works with two individuals on our staff who work with health and welfare we have a person on our

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But what I did see is that my staff endures trauma every day.
• One, my detention staff and probation staff.
• I'm in the process of hiring a therapist just for my staff.
• Madam Staff Director? No. Any member of the committee with further business?
• Madam Staff Director? No. Many member of the committee with further business?

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider several gubernatorial appointees, beginning with Matthew Walsh, Secretary of Juvenile Justice, for confirmation. Walsh outlined his law enforcement background, social work training, and priorities at DJJ, including staff wellness, seeking statutory recognition and training standards for juvenile detention and probation officers, and increasing bed capacity so adjudicated youth can move from detention into residential programming sooner. Members asked about the impact of detention “dead time” and the need for more beds; Walsh said DJJ is evaluating ways to let youth begin programming earlier while in detention. Public support was noted, and the committee voted unanimously to confirm Walsh and forward his nomination to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Tina Vidal-Duarte, nominee to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees. She described her business background, service on multiple boards, and prior service on FAU’s board pending confirmation, emphasizing governance, accountability, and strategic planning. Senators questioned her about FAU’s handling of faculty social media controversies, the university’s relationship with its new president, student and faculty engagement, AI planning, diversity, and her role on the Hope Florida board and with CDR Health’s state contracts, including work related to the Everglades detention center. Public testimony included strong opposition from one speaker who criticized her ties to state contracts and Hope Florida, while another senator spoke in support, citing her community service and business experience. The committee voted 5-2 to confirm her, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no. Afterward, the committee considered the remaining nominees in Tabs 2 through 15, excluding Tab 10, en bloc. No separate votes were requested, and the committee approved the group of nominees by voice roll call to be forwarded to the full Senate. The meeting then concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• a public records exemption for the sensitive personal information and addresses of the commission staff
• This week alone, an individual called over 35 times making threats to staff.
• Every day, the staff experiences threatening calls.
• It is the only agency in which all of its staff must file a Form 1.
• Would you talk to our folks, my staff? Yes, sir. Absolutely. That's your convenience.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, my staff has got it okay, but you asked if I did, so I'm just being truthful and authentic
• President, my staff has got it okay, but you asked if I did, so I'm just being truthful and authentic
• </c> secretary's office and nonpartisan staff secretary's office and nonpartisan staff to<00:11:45.000
• There are also changes in decorum, including adding staff and their ability to have water on the floor
• President, and just briefly wanted to say thank you to nonpartisan staff who was involved with this as

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• incorporated by referencing the rules, but based on the amount of material reviewed by the committee staff
• Based on the amount of material reviewed by the committee staff, it is estimated roughly equal to the
• It’s almost like every year we do a primer every two years to staff because it’s such a rollover on what
• So in just 2024, this staff—and you wonder why you never get to see Ken, he's too busy—they reviewed
• If difficulties cannot be resolved at the staff level, staff prepares a recommendation for formal objection

Summary: The committee received an informational presentation from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC/JAPSI) staff and Chair Representative Overdorf on how Florida administrative rulemaking is reviewed. Mr. Plant explained that JAPC is a joint legislative oversight committee that monitors agency rules under Chapter 120, focusing on whether rules stay within statutory authority, whether agencies are acting consistently with legislative intent, and how the rulemaking process works. He emphasized that agencies are creatures of statute, that rulemaking authority must be specific enough to support the rule, and that without a date certain in statute, agencies may delay rulemaking indefinitely. Members asked about how to ensure agencies actually adopt rules, how to identify rules that exceed legislative intent, and how JAPC handles internal policies and delayed rulemaking. Representative Overdorf then described JAPC’s objection process and its limits. He said the committee does not approve or disapprove rules or direct agencies to adopt them, but it can object to proposed or existing rules that enlarge, modify, or contravene enabling statutes or fail to comply with Chapter 120. He noted that if an agency does not resolve an objection, a footnote is published in the Florida Administrative Code and the committee may recommend legislation to amend, suspend, or repeal the rule. He also discussed recent committee activity, including 1,355 proposed rules, 119 emergency rules, and 1,243 incorporated materials reviewed in 2024, and said the committee filed 31 objections against one agency after repeated noncompliance. The discussion also touched on possible changes to Chapter 120, including the governor’s 2019 request that agencies include five-year sunset provisions in rules, and a proposal to instead require periodic legislative review rather than automatic expiration. Overdorf also said the committee is considering raising the current statement of estimated regulatory costs thresholds of $200,000 annually or $1 million over five years because inflation has made those limits too low. No votes were taken on legislation, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , administration staff, administrative staff.
• , administration staff, administrative staff.
• , administration staff, administrative staff.
• So we're in full swing to try to recruit all those staff members there to get full-time staff to the
• So we're in full swing to try to recruit all those staff members there to get full-time staff to the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just wanted to thank you for your leadership and thank you again to the staff on your budgets for all
• Staff asked me to provide a broad overview of efforts to improve technology at the EDD over time.
• We acknowledge... ...for department staff during heightened workload.
• and legislative staff.
• of effort from your staff and yourselves and our office to keep tabs on the moving pieces.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This protects both students and staff.
• This protects both students<00:08:48.880><c> and</c><00:08:49.200><c> staff.
• </c> students and staff. students and staff.
• We do want to note, however, that there are many times on field trips where staff may need to be alone
• there are multiple staff in certain settings.<00:12:04.240><c> We</c><00:12:04.480><c> thank</c><00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, please explain the bill. Mr.
• I'm just one question for staff.
• Members, any questions of staff?
• Staff, please explain the bill. Mr.
• Staff?

Summary: The committee met with all members present, temporarily replacing Vice Chair Keshel with Representative Taylor, and held HB 4014 at the sponsor’s request. It then heard HB 415, which would extend existing state rules on paid petition circulators and initiative/referendum disclosures to municipal and county measures, require paid circulators to display identifying information, and require local measures to disclose expenditures and revenue sources. The sponsor and supporters, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, argued the bill would improve transparency and keep initiatives driven by Arizona residents; the bill passed 5-2. The committee also heard the mirror resolution, HCR 2051, which passed 4-3. The committee next considered HCM 2010, urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment repealing the Seventeenth Amendment and returning selection of U.S. senators to state legislatures. The sponsor argued it would restore state sovereignty and accountability, while opponents raised concerns about direct democracy and the practical problems that led to the Seventeenth Amendment. The motion initially appeared to pass 4-3, but after a vote correction and a present vote, the measure ultimately failed. The committee then took up HB 2940, a complex AHCCCS/DES bill aimed at tightening eligibility verification, expanding competition in managed care contracting, and creating a unified eligibility rules engine. The sponsor said it would improve fiscal discipline and competition; AHCCCS and health plan representatives said many verification steps already exist, some provisions would add cost or duplicate federal/state processes, and the bill would significantly alter the managed care model. Despite those concerns, HB 2940 passed 4-3. Later, HB 2874 passed unanimously 7-0. That bill would ease termination requirements and penalties for candidate committees, PACs, or parties that never received contributions and later file termination statements. The committee then heard HB 467, which would require county recorders to display certain voter status information in precinct registers, signature rosters, or electronic poll books; after testimony from county officials and the Association of Counties, the committee adopted a verbal amendment changing “shall” to “may” and passed the bill 5-2. Finally, HB 2775, as amended, passed 4-3. The bill would bar state and local governments from using state resources to implement or enforce rules or policies of international organizations, and the amendment added restrictions on Arizona public universities’ dealings with certain foreign entities, with ABOR given review authority. Supporters framed it as a sovereignty and anti-foreign-influence measure, while the amendment’s removal of rulemaking authority was cited as important to the vote in favor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our amazing staff, quick research: 2013. So 13 years ago. Thank you, Speaker Pro Tem. Rep.
• Brumley and his staff are doing a phenomenal job.
• Brumley and his staff are doing a phenomenal job.
• Seeing or hearing none, yes, we're going to let staff read it in. Just what I was thinking.
• there may be some in the seats, from the Senate staff.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The special legislative study committee met with seven members present, adopted the minutes from prior meetings, and heard public testimony from Terrell Butler and his father about a transfer-eligibility dispute affecting Terrell’s ability to play varsity sports after moving from Anacoco High School to Leesville High School in the same parish. They described the move as family-driven and in the student’s best interest, but said he was ruled ineligible for varsity athletics for a year despite strong grades and a positive adjustment to the new school. Several members responded that the current transfer rules can unfairly punish students for adult decisions and that the case illustrated broader concerns about student-athlete eligibility and consistency in enforcement. The committee then discussed and adopted factual findings about the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA), with members criticizing inconsistent enforcement, lack of transparency, limited accountability, and the association’s absence from prior meetings. Members noted that LHSAA has previously argued in court that it is a private corporation, which limits the legislature’s direct authority. Despite that, the committee adopted three recommendations: a structured transfer-eligibility process allowing one one-time transfer through junior year; making the House and Senate representatives on the LHSAA executive committee voting members; and adding a governor-appointed voting member to the executive committee. The Speaker Pro Tem then presented broader policy options. The committee adopted a “Tier 2” recommendation calling for high school athletics to be managed through a cooperative endeavor agreement between the Louisiana Department of Education/BESE and a nonprofit administering organization, with legislative oversight, public-records compliance subject to privacy exceptions, audit authority, and the ability for nonpublic schools to opt in. The committee also included a “Tier 1” concept for a new state-run sanctioned athletics office under BESE, but only as a discussion item for future consideration, not as a committee recommendation. Staff was authorized to incorporate the adopted findings, recommendations, meeting details, technical corrections, and to send the final report to the House and Senate education committees and LHSAA. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair, staff, and one another, and then adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the public are here and wishing to speak today, please fill out an appearance form and hand it to staff
• The public are here and wishing to speak today, please fill out an appearance form and hand it to staff
• Today, Adam Calaway, our Chief of Staff, is here.
• That's where we work with your staff on expected invoicing.
• How are contracts for things like staff augmentation and cybersecurity services structured?

Transcript Highlights:

• There are staff reports. Please proceed.
• Emily Poole, staff to the committee.
• And we do have a staff report. Thank you. For the record, Martha Whaling, staff to the committee.
• But we have a limited staff and limited resources.
• But we have a limited staff and limited resources.

Bills: HB2186, HB2351, HB1170

Keywords: economic development, federal funds, state funding, infrastructure, grants, local government, emergency responders, emergency response, disaster response, obstruction of law enforcement, gross misdemeanor, public safety, incident command system, emergency operation zone, emergency management, law enforcement restrictions, warrant requirement, search and seizure, civil liberties, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• HOW ARE WE GUIDING OUR STAFF?
• AND ADMINISTRATION STAFF?
• WE MEET WITH THE STAFF. ANOTHER WAY WE USE THAT CYBERSECURITY.
• THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION WHETHER STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF, HOW ARE WE TRAINING?
• OF AI WITH THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, EACH DEPARTMENT IS DIFFERENT.