Transcript Highlights:

• to the endowed Mesabi Range account, and the remainder, 75%, to the endowed scholarship account.
• </c><00:10:04.399><c> In</c> to endowed scholarship account. In to endowed scholarship account.
• So, the mineral research account.
• </c><00:10:25.200><c> account.
• ,</c><00:10:44.320><c> it</c> endowed mineral research account, it endowed mineral research account,

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And so on that part, I agree with the effort to hold people accountable.
• But unfortunately, I agree with the effort to hold people accountable.
• It brings transparency to our courtrooms and accountability to our justice system.
• It means they used bad judgment, and they need to be held accountable for the bad judgment.
• It means they used bad judgment, and they need to be held accountable for the bad judgment.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Social media shouldn't be allowed to put impersonation accounts out there.
• for any of your financial accounts.
• for any of your financial accounts.
• We've seen last month there was a breach at just. accounts.
• Fake social media accounts, fake ads that we see on Facebook and Meta.

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members hearing from bankers, regulators, law enforcement, AARP, and mortgage and insurance industry representatives. Witnesses described a wide range of scams, including spoofed bank calls and texts, fake websites and social media impersonation, romance and investment scams, business email compromise, gift card fraud, check fraud, wire fraud, reverse mortgage scams, and crypto kiosk schemes. Several speakers emphasized that fraud is increasingly organized, technology-driven, and amplified by artificial intelligence, and that seniors are disproportionately targeted and often suffer the largest losses. Testimony highlighted both prevention and recovery efforts. Bankers said institutions spend heavily on training, customer education, and fraud detection, but often cannot stop losses once customers have been convinced to authorize transfers. The Attorney General’s office described its Consumer Protection Division, a new Financial Fraud Task Force, and examples of recovering funds quickly from crypto kiosk and wire fraud cases. The State Bank Department and Securities Department said Arkansas’s 2025 crypto ATM legislation and related education requirements have helped, and they urged continued public education. The Insurance Department reported major insurance-fraud trends, including fake insurance cards, forged policies, premium-finance schemes, and staged auto accidents, and said it prosecutes these cases aggressively. Members asked about reporting scams, the security of tap payments, how fraud losses are tracked, the role of crypto kiosks, and whether Arkansas should pursue model legislation or stronger action against telecom and social media companies. Witnesses said tap payments are generally safer than chip or swipe, that crypto transfers are often unrecoverable, and that spoofed caller ID and impersonation ads remain major problems. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association urged state and federal action against telecom and social media platforms and supported national scam legislation. No new bills were voted on at the meeting, but members approved the November 3, 2025 minutes and several witnesses offered to share model legislation, consumer education materials, and state-by-state fraud data with the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Social media shouldn't be allowed to put impersonation accounts out there.
• , she was told that her Apple account had been compromised, and she needed to take $19,000 from her account
• Account information, debit card information, or online banking credentials.
• for any of your financial accounts.
• Can your account be hacked online without any kind of...

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members and witnesses describing scams targeting seniors, small businesses, and working families. The committee first approved the November 3, 2025 minutes, then heard from the Arkansas Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, banks, the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, the Arkansas Mortgage Bankers Association, the State Bank and Securities Department, the Insurance Department, and AARP. Witnesses described common schemes including spoofed bank calls and texts, government imposter scams, romance and investment scams, business email compromise, fake job postings, gift card scams, check fraud, wire fraud, reverse mortgage scams, identity theft, and insurance fraud. Several witnesses emphasized that cryptocurrency kiosks and crypto transfers make recovery difficult or impossible, and that artificial intelligence is making scams more convincing and scalable. Witnesses repeatedly stressed education, verification, and coordination among banks, law enforcement, regulators, and consumers. Bank and mortgage representatives urged consumers to slow down, independently verify wire instructions, avoid clicking unexpected links, use tap-to-pay rather than chip or swipe when possible, and never share account credentials or one-time codes. The Attorney General’s office said it investigates consumer complaints, mediates disputes, works with social media platforms to remove scam ads, and recently created a Financial Fraud Task Force with bankers and other stakeholders. The State Bank and Securities Commissioner highlighted the Safe AR Act, the state’s crypto kiosk framework, and fraud education efforts such as “fraud bingo,” while the Insurance Department described its law-enforcement role and a range of insurance-related fraud schemes it prosecutes. AARP said fraud is widespread and underreported, especially among older adults. Members asked about reporting scams, how losses are handled, whether tap is safer than chip, how crypto fraud works, whether Arkansas has model legislation to address telecom and social media impersonation, and how local law enforcement and state agencies coordinate investigations. Witnesses said banks generally absorb much of the financial loss under federal rules, while consumers bear the inconvenience and account changes. Several witnesses said Arkansas should consider additional legislation to hold telecom companies and social media platforms accountable for spoofed caller IDs and impersonation ads, and one witness said a federal Scam Act is moving in Congress. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes, but witnesses agreed to share consumer education materials and model legislation with committee staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supporting accountability measures to ensure programs are of high quality.
• The word is accountability. Accountability then comes in three flavors for me.
• One is internal accountability. external accountability, and community accountability.
• So, there are 838 accountable schools subject to state accreditation this year.
• Government Accountability Office. I was also a presidential management fellow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. program account. So, we're simply program account.
• Uh currently preservation account.
• </c><01:55:28.639><c> We're</c> money out of those accounts. We're money out of those accounts.
• the account?
• </c> it will come out of water account one. it will come out of water account one.

Transcript Highlights:

• California and the accounting profession.
• It recognizes the important oversight role of the California Board of Accountancy.
• Kristen Lata, CPA, president of the California Board of Accountancy, up in the gallery.
• Frank Zella, executive officer, the California Board of Accountancy, also in the gallery.
• I'm an accountant, and I am enthused in reducing our inventory to... ever after that.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and began with a floor introduction honoring guests from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, including President Jeffrey Armstrong, students, and student leaders. Senator Laird highlighted Cal Poly’s 125th anniversary, its statewide impact, and student achievements, including Rose Parade and design-build competition awards. The body then took up two Senate concurrent resolutions. SCR 111 by Senator Niello commemorated the 125th anniversary of the certified public accountant profession in California and recognized the California Board of Accountancy and the California Society of CPAs; it passed on a roll call and was later adopted 38-0 after the call was lifted. SCR 109 by Senator Grove proclaimed January 2026 as National Mentoring Month and recognized Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California for its long-standing youth mentorship work; it also passed on a roll call and was adopted 39-0 after the call was lifted. The Senate also concurred in Assembly amendments to SB 25 by Senator Umberg, which streamlines California’s merger process and aligns it with the federal process; the vote was 33-0. Members then approved a motion by Senator Laird to give second reading and move forward bills reported from the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on February 4, 2026, despite objections from Senator Niello; the motion passed 29-10. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjourn-in-memory tributes for Congressman Doug LaMalfa, Barry Del Bono, Professor Alan Stewart Hammond, and journalist Jeb Bing, with multiple senators offering personal recollections and condolences to their families and communities. The Senate concluded by announcing the next floor session and recessing until later that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> police communications, uh, accounting police communications, uh, accounting unit.<00:38:50.880><
• We can simply fund accounting 291 2916. We can simply fund that<01:54:01.360><c> account.
• </c> that account. that account.
• </c> account. So that will remain unchanged. account. So that will remain unchanged.
• </c> of the dollars in that accounting unit. of the dollars in that accounting unit.

Summary: The committee first revisited HB 781, the cell phone bill, after previously retaining it. On reconsideration, members moved to OTP the bill, and it passed unanimously. The committee then moved into the budget tracking packet and adopted an amendment to HB 2 to add the same cell phone policy language, also unanimously, and separately reduced HB 1 by $1 million to match the policy change. Members noted the cell phone language had already been stripped of grant funding language in the House version and that the policy and funding pieces were being aligned across the budget bills. The committee then took up a Department of Education technical amendment to HB 2 on charter school grants, which made timing and administrative changes without altering grant amounts, and adopted it unanimously. Members also discussed but held other education-related items, including adequacy grants, pending broader decisions on overall education funding. Another HB 2 item concerning E-911/state police radio communications prompted a longer discussion about whether E-911 surcharge funds were being used for purposes that should instead be general-funded. After debate over whether to leave the current practice in place or split the funding 50/50 between E-911 and general funds, the committee adopted a joint HB 1/HB 2 change to shift the funding source to a 50/50 split and delete the HB 2 language authorizing the prior use; the motion passed 7-0. The committee also discussed but did not act on several lottery-related provisions, including the video lottery terminal amendment, the increase in maximum ticket price from $30 to $50, and related tax split changes, with members planning to hear from the Lottery Commission on Monday. The meeting ended with the committee beginning review of new amendments in the tracking packet, including a Department of Education request related to Public School Infrastructure Commission grant administration, but no action was taken on that item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• it's a codified account.
• All funds in the account can be invested, and the investment earnings from the account shall be credited
• to the account.
• The account could accept any other gifts, grants, or contributions.
• It is important to remember the strategy alignment and accountability.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• , for the accounting provisions, for the scheduling<00:17:39.600><c> provisions</c><00:17:40.640><c>
• Uh, but I am uh supportive of sheriff accountability, particularly given the implications of the Windsor
• Uh, but I am uh supportive of sheriff accountability, particularly given the implications of the Windsor
• Uh, but I am uh supportive of sheriff accountability, particularly given the implications of the Windsor
• on a broader scale and I accountability on a broader scale and I will<00:21:32.480><c> be</c><00:21:

Transcript Highlights:

• When transparency is replaced with contractual silence, accountability disappears.
• When transparency is replaced with contractual silence, accountability disappears.
• How can a school board member hold the superintendent accountable and get sound legal advice if that
• That separation is a guardrail that keeps accountability clear and staff focused on student outcomes.
• It's about transparency, protection, and accountability for students and for staff.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee met and took up several education bills. It first heard SJR 1104 on religious expression in public schools, which would place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot to protect voluntary religious expression by students and school personnel. The sponsor said it would codify existing protections and not require prayer or religious activity, while opponents argued it was unnecessary, could be used to advance Christian nationalism, and could make minority-faith students uncomfortable. The committee reported the resolution favorably. The committee then approved SB 1738 on educational facilities, as amended, to require the Department of Education to review school facility requirements and recommend design and construction practices intended to improve safety and accountability. It also approved SB 824 on charter schools, as amended, which shifts the bill to a transparency-focused strike-all requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to the Department of Education. The committee also confirmed appointees on Tabs 7 and 8. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 1620 on public education, described by the sponsor as a “school board members’ bill of rights.” The bill would give board members broader access to district documents and staff, limit nondisclosure agreements, clarify attorney representation, and strengthen budget transparency and nepotism rules. Supporters said it would help board members do their oversight jobs, while opponents warned it could undermine superintendents, expose confidential student or employee information, and create confusion in district governance. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1170 on education, as amended, which would allow parents of students with disabilities to request cameras in self-contained classrooms and set district procedures for reviewing those requests. Supporters, including parents and disability advocates, testified that cameras would protect non-speaking and vulnerable students and provide accountability, while one opponent argued the measure should be funded if adopted. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also adopted a committee-bill motion for SPB 7036, a broad education package covering school turnaround, literacy, safety, early learning, instruction, and educator pipeline issues, though members raised concerns about a possible state role in producing instructional materials; the bill was reported favorably as a committee bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, felons who have not even faced any accountability or consequences with the criminal justice system
• But we do need a tool where there is accountability and criminals stop.
• But we do need a tool where there is accountability and criminals stop the cycle of violence.
• You know, making sure that they could hold accountable what was happening to raise it to this level,
• I will go to something that's even... ...a firearm to let people know you will be held accountable.

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• This adds an important layer of accountability and ensures that the real-world impacts on industries
• to study bank accounts for folks who don't have bank accounts.
• account.
• to study bank accounts for folks who don't have bank accounts.
• account.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Transcript Highlights:

• receivable and accounts payable reconciliation each month.
• I am interim CFO, but my formal position is the executive director of accounting/controller.
• My formal position is the executive director of accounting slash controller.
• That accounts for my budget team, which is three to four people.
• That accounts includes budget, my budget team, which is three to four people.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Nelson said his concern was the school-based account.
• is clearly not a school-based account because it is their private cell phone.
• But my concern is it has to be a school-based account.
• not a school-based account.
• My consideration would be to strike school-based account at the end of it. Mr. Wilson. Mr.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Transparency and accountability really do go hand in hand.
• But our mission is this: transparency promotes accountability.
• And so our goal is Transparency promotes accountability.
• I also have the opportunity to choose accounts.
• You can see that they all use the same account. The ad valorem happens to be 311.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to receive updates on Transparency Florida and related transparency tools. The Governor’s Office and the Department of Financial Services described the Transparency Florida website, the state payment and contract systems, and the local-government financial reporting system (Logger X/XBRL), emphasizing public access, searchable payment and contract data, downloadable reports, and ongoing upgrades. Members asked whether school districts and the Department of Corrections are included in these systems; staff explained that state agencies like Corrections are covered through Transparency Florida, FACTS, and the state financial reports, while Logger X is for local governments. Committee staff reported that the Transparency Florida Act’s requirements have been met and noted that any new recommendations would need legislative action; members were invited to submit recommendations by October 30. The committee then reviewed repeated audit findings for local governments and educational entities. Staff explained the statutory process for “three-peat” findings: first requesting an updated written corrective-action status, then possibly requiring an appearance before the committee, and finally taking further action if findings remain uncorrected. Most entities were recommended for written updates, while the City of Daytona Beach was singled out for an in-person appearance because of a repeated finding involving unexpended building permit balances. Members also raised questions about specific entities, including McIntosh, White Springs, Pahokee, and the Fred R. Wilson Memorial Law Library special district, with staff explaining the nature of the findings and noting that some entities may warrant further review. The committee adopted a motion to accept staff’s recommendations and to send letters to entities with uncorrected audit findings in late-filed 2023-24 audit reports. It also approved a motion directing the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required audit of the Department of the Lottery for fiscal year 2025-26, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance work and OPPAGA preparing operational recommendations. The meeting concluded with notice that the next meeting was tentatively scheduled for November 3 at 3:30 p.m., followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> And TRS 4, which is TRS's newest account And TRS 4, which is TRS's newest account type<00:28:27.159
• </c> He said they enacted the new account type TRS 4, which is the second-largest account type after
• </c> self-managed accounts. self-managed accounts.
• </c><01:41:26.920><c> or</c> their supplemental savings account or their supplemental savings account
• </c> individual accounts individual accounts you<01:47:32.760><c> know</c><01:47:32.880><c> they</c><

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from KPPA officials Ryan Barrow and Erin Saratt on the annual actuarial valuations for the retirement and insurance systems. They said the systems’ funding status improved overall, with three of five insurance funds fully funded, CERS hazardous dropping from over 100% funded to 90.9% because of premium changes, and KRS receiving $650 million in supplemental funding over the biennium. They also reported strong investment returns above assumed rates, higher payroll and membership counts, and resulting actuarial losses tied to higher salaries and premiums, especially on the insurance side. Members asked several questions about what drove the actuarial losses and whether legislation affected them. KPPA said the CERS insurance loss was driven by premium increases and Senate Bill 10, while the pension-side losses were largely due to higher payroll and benefits for Tier 1 and Tier 2 members. They explained that new Tier 3 employees are designed to add no additional unfunded liability, and that the state administers the systems but does not directly control all hiring. Questions also focused on retiree health premiums, which KPPA said rose about 15% for non-Medicare retirees and 38% for Medicare retirees, with the increase attributed to utilization, prescription costs, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The committee then heard from TRS Deputy Executive Secretary and General Counsel Beau Barnes on the 2025 TRS actuarial valuation. He reported that the Retirement Annuity Trust and Health Insurance Trust both received full funding, the retirement trust’s funded ratio improved to 61%, TRS 4 remains well funded with no liability, and the health insurance trust improved to 89.1%. Barnes said TRS is on track to fully fund legacy liabilities within the amortization period, with 2044 as the point when the system reflects 100% funding and 2046 as the last year needing additional dollars for the legacy liability. He also explained that lower assumed investment returns and updated mortality assumptions increased liabilities, but that TRS uses direct rate smoothing for budgeting purposes. At the end of the meeting, the chair circulated a proposed set of “do’s and don’ts of pensions,” emphasizing that future legislation should not create unfunded liabilities. Barnes also noted he would later discuss several legislative proposals for the 2026 session, but the transcript provided ends before that discussion or any votes on those proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• so that a recent federal retreat from fair lending enforcement does not translate into reduced accountability
• I think. account. With that, Arthur, would you like to close? Thank you.
• They deserve a marketplace that's fair, transparent, and accountable.
• There's no real structure for DFPI to actually hold people accountable, so...
• For DFPI to actually hold people accountable.

Committee: Senate Banking and Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> some accountability some accountability um<00:03:51.760><c> from</c><00:03:52.200><c> really</c>
• ,</c> uh made hints at taking accountability, uh made hints at taking accountability, he<00:04:15.040
• </c><00:04:49.320><c> on</c> been good to hear some accountability on been good to hear some accountability
• <00:05:18.080><c> and</c><00:05:18.240><c> they</c> accountability for the fraud and they accountability
• </c> It's not a legacy of accountability. It's not a legacy of accountability.

Summary: Republican legislative leaders reacted critically to Governor Walz’s speech, saying it was divisive and focused too heavily on Democratic priorities rather than unity or bipartisan work. Speaker Daudt and Majority Leader Liska argued the governor ignored the state’s affordability problems, including high property taxes, rising business costs, and what they described as mandates imposed under full Democratic control. They also said the speech downplayed poor educational outcomes and failed to offer a unifying vision for the final weeks of session. A major theme was fraud and accountability. Leaders said the governor waited too long to address the state’s large fraud scandal and then deflected blame to other states. They said Minnesotans want accountability and affordability, and they pointed to the House Fraud Committee and the Senate’s OIG bill as examples of anti-fraud work Republicans say Democrats have blocked. They also criticized the governor’s tax proposals as a “bait and switch,” arguing that promised tax cuts would be offset by new taxes on services and banking fees. The discussion also touched on school safety, gun policy, child care credits, and the HCMC bailout. Republicans said they were willing to work on bipartisan school safety measures, including mental health supports and funding for public, private, and charter schools, but believed gun-control proposals lacked the votes. On the child care credit, leaders said they would keep evaluating it but were concerned about future deficits and the need for a pay-for. In response to questions, they said they were not surprised HCMC was not mentioned and said conversations were continuing. One leader also objected to the governor’s comments about voting access for people of color, calling them disrespectful.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and voters will hold people accountable and voters will hold people accountable if<00:18:03.440>
• We deserve accountability.
• We deserve accountability.
• ><00:20:41.840><c> the</c> accountability for all of the accountability for all of the lawlessness<00
• and make it government accountable and make it enforceable?

Summary: Witnesses and lawmakers discussed the impact of “Operation Metro Surge” and related federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, describing it as a severe constitutional and humanitarian crisis. John Beler of the ACLU of Minnesota said the organization had received more than 700 reports of constitutional violations and argued the state should protect sensitive spaces, create legal remedies, and limit state involvement in federal surveillance and enforcement. Sen. Erin Maye Quade and other speakers said the operation was still ongoing, caused family separations, economic harm, and trauma in communities, and called on Minnesota Republicans to break with the Trump administration and support accountability. Several business owners testified about direct effects on restaurants and construction workforces. Hano JD Delgado, a restaurant owner, said ICE activity had frightened workers, led to closures and lost business, and recounted alleged mistreatment of employees and himself, including detentions and an incident involving a 15-year-old U.S. citizen. Sarah Lawitch, a Cottage Grove contractor, said her crews and projects were disrupted because workers feared leaving home and that lawmakers should protect constitutional rights and local businesses. Speakers repeatedly framed the issue as racial profiling and an attack on legal residents and citizens, not just undocumented immigrants. Rep. Lee Fininky said she is carrying two bills aimed at federal and local law enforcement practices: one would prohibit officers from wearing masks on duty except for limited safety or health exceptions, and another would require vehicles used to detain people to be clearly marked and equipped with safety features. She and other DFL speakers also discussed a broader package of bills, including a proposal to let Minnesotans hold the federal government accountable and a bill requiring the BCA to investigate shootings. In response to questions, they said they were seeking Republican support but expected the measures to face legal challenges; no votes or formal committee action were taken in the excerpt.