Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, is the federal office that prescribes what must be tested
• Everyone wants to know about our budget.
• For SFY 26, we have an approximately $9.7 billion budget as prescribed in our annual operating plan.
• And then this may not be for you, just a thought process for me because we've got budgets coming up.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

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:

• The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, is the federal office that prescribes what must be tested
• Everyone wants to know about our budget.
• So for SFY 26, we have an approximately $9.7 billion budget as prescribed in our annual operating plan
• And then this may not be for you, just a thought process for me because we've got budgets coming up.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-MEDICAID SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that insatiable appetite is going to continue, and we will see less and less common-sense, pragmatic budgets
• that insatiable appetite is going to continue and we will see less, less common sense, pragmatic budgets
• although because there's a fee, I suspect they can make the argument that's necessary to implement the budget
• although because there's a fee, I suspect they can make the argument that's necessary to implement the budget

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a press availability focused on the late-session legislative agenda, with repeated criticism of Democratic proposals they said would raise costs and expand state control. Their main targets were a proposed state income tax on high earners, which they described as an unconstitutional income tax likely to expand over time, and an anti-initiative bill they said would make it harder for voters to use direct democracy. They also objected to bills they said would restrict local authority over camping bans and housing permits, and to a series of tax and fee increases affecting bottles, tires, groceries, food, health care, energy, labor, and licensing costs. The Republicans said the income tax proposal drew more than 60,000 opposition sign-ins and argued that the level of opposition showed Washingtonians broadly reject it. They said any legal challenge would likely come from outside the Legislature, not from caucuses, and cited former Attorney General Rob McKenna’s testimony as support for their view that the measure violates the state constitution. They also discussed capital flight and said prior tax increases, including the estate tax and capital gains tax, were already prompting businesses and wealthy residents to leave the state. The caucus highlighted several Republican-backed affordability bills they said remain alive, including a diaper tax exemption, a prepared-food tax exemption, repeal of last year’s services tax, and sales tax exemptions for certain continuing education and licensing fees. They also said they had helped block or weaken several Democratic bills, including proposals involving grocery stores, wildfire utility costs, college encampments, plastic bag fees, and a juvenile justice bill they said would have allowed earlier release of violent offenders. On child welfare, members criticized a bill addressing the Keeping Families Together Act as insufficient and said they would keep pushing to change the “imminent harm” standard, while also supporting a separate bill to add fentanyl exposure to the child endangerment statute. No formal votes were taken in the press event itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's based on the budget that we receive and dictates what projects we fund, because we ensure we try
• and I understand the vetting and everything, but we as legislators try to keep an eye on all the budgets
• And, Madam Chair and Representative, is there any other part of the budget that gets worked this way,
• And Madam Chair and Representative, is there any other parts of the budget that get work this way, the

Summary: The committee met on American Indian Day and first rolled Committee Substitute House Bill 110 at the sponsor’s request. It then heard House Memorial 32, which would direct the Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women to study the history and ongoing impacts of forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women and women of color in New Mexico, including known cases, access to reproductive health services, educational policy, and possible reparations. The sponsor, survivors, and expert witnesses described personal experiences and historical research, arguing the issue remains unresolved and that New Mexico could become the first state to formally acknowledge it through a memorial and study. Support came from the Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood, ACLU of New Mexico, and others; one member objected to the phrase “reproductive justice,” but the sponsor declined to change the language. The committee approved the memorial on a 7-1 vote, with Representative Block voting no. The committee then heard House Bill 109, which would speed up the approval and release of Water Trust Board funding by suspending the current legislative authorization step and relying on a more streamlined review process. The sponsor and NMFA witnesses said the bill would help rural and small communities avoid delays that drive up construction costs, especially given inflation, drought, and the large number of water projects needing funding. They noted the bill would still involve review by multiple state agencies and that legislators could still obtain project information from NMFA. Members asked about oversight, transparency, and whether the change would reduce legislative control, but supporters said the current process adds months and can force communities to reapply when costs rise. The committee passed the bill on a voice vote after a motion for due pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when I was a freshman here, people didn't understand some of the line items on the bill, on our budget
• And we're talking about line items on our budget that have been around for decades and decades and decades
• Line items on our budget that have been around for decades and decades and decades, and for a good reason
• And I know real quick there's not a specified amount, and that is because it is a budget issue.

Bills: HB2388 , HB2804 , HB2926

Committee: House Rural Economic Development

Keywords: HB2388, Arizona Commerce Authority, ACA, small modular reactor, SMR, nuclear energy, advanced nuclear, data center, data centers, economic development, study, appropriation, general fund, jobs, wages, tax revenue, broadband, infrastructure, secondary businesses, tertiary businesses

Transcript Highlights:

• say it before, but I hope that we would support moving forward the executive branch to identify a budget
• Our initial budget was $49 million.
• This is what really made a difference for public defense: our budget increased substantially to $83 million
• So when I say we're okay, we're comfortable with the governor's budget and we fully support it.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee first considered the gubernatorial appointment and reappointment of Alan Kavanaugh to the Pardons and Parole Commission, but no vote was taken at this meeting. Kavanaugh, a longtime law enforcement officer, described his approach as conservative on parole, strongly victim-focused, and centered on public safety, fair hearings, and helping people succeed after release. Senators asked about workload, decision-making, and successful outcomes; Kavanaugh highlighted a veteran who used parole to rebuild his life and support other veterans, and he also praised a work-release program in eastern Idaho as a model for reducing recidivism and increasing employment. Members expressed support for the commission’s work and noted the importance of adequate funding, but deferred the appointment vote to the next meeting. Eric Fredrickson, the Idaho State Public Defender, then gave an update on the statewide public defense system. He reviewed the history of public defense reform in Idaho, the creation of the State Public Defender office, and the transition from county-based to state-based operations. Fredrickson said the office faced a difficult rollout in October 2024, including a backlog of more than 1,300 cases and staff departures, but that the system has since stabilized. He reported that increased funding in 2025 allowed salary adjustments, higher contract rates, new institutional offices, and significant hiring, including 34 attorneys, 13 legal assistants, and 11 investigators. Senators asked about the effects of budget holdbacks, backlog recovery, judge relations, and future needs; Fredrickson said holdbacks led to reduced travel, training, and tighter spending on experts and billing, and said the office’s next priorities are an Idaho-specific workload standard, more attorneys, and more social workers. The committee then printed two bills. RS 32880 C1, by Senator Foreman, the “Constitutional Courts Act,” would prohibit Idaho courts from enforcing or applying judgments based on religious or cultural law that do not conform to the U.S. and Idaho Constitutions. Foreman said it was intended to prevent any outside body of law from replacing Idaho’s legal system, while not restricting private religious practice. Senators debated whether the proposal was necessary, whether it conflicted with religious liberty protections, and whether it would treat some religions differently; the motion to print passed. RS 33006 C1, by Senator Nichols, would update Idaho’s Son of Sam law to prevent criminals from profiting from notoriety through modern media and digital monetization while protecting free speech and due process. Nichols said the current statute is outdated and constitutionally vulnerable; the motion to print also passed, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• say it before, but I hope that we would support moving forward the executive branch to identify a budget
• Our initial budget was $49 million.
• Our budget increased substantially up to $83 million. Part of that was salary adjustments.
• So when I say we're okay, we're comfortable with the governor's budget and we fully support it.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I appreciate you for highlighting our budget challenges. Can I ask a follow-on question?
• So currently in the governor's budget, is it funded for the 2,000 per or 4,000 when you said half?
• No, there was no additional resources in this governor's budget.
• currently working with Commerce on a decision package that hopefully will be before you in the 2027-29 budget

Bills: HB2299 , HB2118 , HB2236

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: seniors, independent living, ombudsman, elderly support, continuing care retirement communities, common interest communities, restrictions, property rights, homeowners association, community governance, housing finance, affordable housing, housing commission, state agency, financial assistance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I appreciate you for highlighting our budget challenges. Can I ask a follow-on question?
• So currently in the governor’s budget, is it funded for the 2,000 per or 4,000 when you said half?
• No, there was no additional resources in this governor's budget.
• currently working with Commerce on a decision package that hopefully will be before you in the 2027-29 budget

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2299, which would create a state senior independent living ombuds program. Staff explained that the bill would direct the Department of Commerce to contract with a nonprofit to provide ombuds services for residents of senior independent living facilities, including complaint handling, data collection, referrals, training, and protections against retaliation and disclosure. The bill also sets qualifications and conflict-of-interest rules for ombuds staff and requires facilities to post notice of the services. The chair noted that, although executive session was on the agenda, the bills would not be voted out that day because amendments were still being worked on. Representative Christine Reeves, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure was intended to address gaps in protections for seniors in independent living settings, which are often treated under multifamily housing law rather than senior housing or long-term care statutes. She described constituent concerns about poor communication, delayed maintenance, safety issues, and a lack of a clear place for residents to seek help. Committee members asked about the bill’s scope, including whether it would apply to 55-plus communities, condominiums, and rented versus owned units, and staff clarified that the bill defines covered facilities as age-restricted apartment buildings, condominiums, or residential neighborhoods where residents rent the unit or land, plus certain portions of CCRCs and assisted living buildings not actively used for assisted living. Testimony was mixed. The Washington Health Care Association and LeadingAge Washington said they support the goal but raised concerns about the bill’s structure, funding, overlap with existing landlord-tenant and long-term care ombuds systems, and the need for a broader stakeholder process and a resident bill of rights first. The Washington State Long-Term Care Ombuds Program supported the concept and said it could potentially absorb the work, but emphasized that current funding is already below recommended staffing levels and that additional resources would likely be needed. Residents and advocates testified in support, saying the bill would provide a neutral outside authority and help address real problems in senior communities. No vote was taken, and the hearing was closed without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, if you take your seats, the Transportation Economic Development Budget Subcommittee will come
• sure we're not caught off guard with an all up with the a large request all of a sudden to the state budget
• have demonstration flights by the end of this year. >> What it all, if any, should we be prepared to budget
• for in >> What it all, if any, should we be prepared to budget for in this year's funds will be hopefully

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to tomorrow morning, Appropriations C has two more budget hearings this afternoon.
• Appropriations C has tomorrow morning, Appropriations C has two<00:25:31.000><c> more</c><00:25:31.360><c> budget
• </c> two more budget hearings this afternoon. two more budget hearings this afternoon.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 14 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When COVID hit, DJJ, like many agencies, decreased budget, which decreased the amount of beds.
• Obviously, stay in touch with the appropriators who cover that part of the budget, but let us know any
• Our state currently, our budget is $116 billion, and we're third in population.
• Their budget is well over $260 billion.

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider several executive appointments, beginning with Matthew Walsh, Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice, for confirmation. Walsh outlined his long law-enforcement career, social work background, and priorities at DJJ, including staff wellness, reclassifying juvenile detention and probation officers as officers under statute, adding beds to move youth from detention into residential programs, and increasing per diem funding. Members asked about detention “dead time” and the need to get adjudicated youth into programming sooner. Public testimony included support from Barney Bishop and Christian Minor, and the committee voted unanimously to approve Walsh’s nomination and forward it to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Tina Vidal-Duarte, nominee for the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees. She described her business background as CEO of CDR Health, her education, and extensive nonprofit and board service, including leadership roles with the Florida Grand Opera, the Homeless Trust of Miami-Dade County, FAU, and the Hope Florida Foundation. Senators questioned her about free speech issues involving FAU faculty, her relationship with the new FAU president, student diversity, AI and workforce planning, and her prior role on Hope Florida. She also answered questions about her company’s work at the Everglades detention center and the bidding process for state contracts. Public testimony opposed her nomination, citing concerns about her business ties, Hope Florida, and detention-center contracts. Debate split largely along partisan lines, and the committee approved her nomination on a recorded vote. Afterward, the committee took up the remaining nominations in Tabs 2 through 15, excluding Tab 10, and approved them as a group by voice/recorded vote for forwarding to the full Senate. The meeting then concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• When COVID hit, DJJ, like many agencies, decreased budget, which decreased the amount of beds.
• Obviously, stay in touch with the appropriators who cover that part of the budget, but let us know any
• Our state currently, our budget is $116 billion and we're third in population.
• Their budget is well over $260 billion.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

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 budget trailer bill that had the goal of stabilizing the budget for the Department of Toxic Substance
• However, the imposition of the increased fee to make up for the budget shortfalls has placed an unreasonable
• feel that the goals of legislation could be accomplished through that program under DTSC's existing budget

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are very significant parts of the state budget.
• I think together they represent about 20% and growing of the state budget.
• legislation, and I think it is important to recognize that these pieces of these bills that make up the budget
• And I think it is important to recognize that these pieces of these bills that make up the budget have

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Given the federal cutbacks and the state budget problems, we need these funds more than ever now.
• Given all of these challenges and the multi-year projected budget deficits, we must be thoughtful and
• file and file item order. spend through tax codes the fewer resources we have to allocate in the budget
• uncertainty this administration has created, given all of these challenges and the multi-year projected budget

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met with a delayed start while waiting for quorum, then heard several bills before moving to the suspense file. AB 564 by Assemblymember Haney would freeze the planned cannabis excise tax increase at 15% rather than allow it to rise to 25%; supporters argued the legal cannabis industry is struggling against the illicit market and high taxes, while opponents said the measure would reduce funding for children, youth programs, environmental restoration, and enforcement promised under Prop. 64. The bill was sent to suspense during regular order and later approved out of suspense on a 6-0 vote with amendments, including a five-year sunset and a reduced rate. AB 1265, also by Haney, would extend and expand the state historic tax credit to encourage rehabilitation of vacant historic buildings for housing and mixed-use projects; preservation and housing advocates supported it, and it was also sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee then heard AB 1377 by Assemblymember McKenna, which would require studios seeking optional diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility film tax credits to complete the plans they submit to the California Film Commission. Labor supporters said studios should do more than make good-faith efforts, and the bill passed 5-1 to Appropriations. AB 1416 by Vice Chair Ta would clarify disaster-related property tax deferrals for homeowners who have requested installment plans, and it passed 7-0 to the Assembly Floor. Afterward, the chair gave a general warning that the bills on suspense represented large revenue losses and emphasized the committee’s need to weigh tax expenditures against other state priorities. On the suspense file, the committee approved AB 27, AB 53, AB 97, AB 231, AB 232, AB 429, AB 613, AB 984, and AB 1485, mostly on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while AB 547 passed 5-1. Several other bills, including AB 386, AB 389, AB 490, AB 6991, AB 814, AB 1057, AB 1219, AB 1282, AB 1354, AB 1431, AB 1435, and AB 1481, were held in committee. The meeting concluded with the committee adjourning after completing the suspense-file actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• NEXT ON TAB 13 SENATORS, WE HAVE HB 5009, GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION ON BUDGET COMMITTEE, SENATOR BRODEUR
• THIS IS HB 5013, STATE-FUNDED PROPERTY REINSURANCE PROGRAM BY BUDGET COMMITTEE, SENATOR BRODEUR. >> Sen
• DeCeglie: THE AMENDMENT DELETES EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE BILL TO GET THE BILL IN THE PROPER POSTURE FOR A BUDGET
• THERE IS $1 MILLION IN THE BUDGET BY A MEMBER PROJECT TO PROVIDE SEED MONEY FOR THE FIRST YEAR. >> Sen

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand that there is a budget issue that is trying to be addressed here.
• So that line of duty death benefit is paid out through our state budgets.
• So other through our state budgets.
• I'm fearful that this benefit I'm fearful that this benefit won't be solvent going forward as our budgets

Bills: HB227 , HB255 , HB465 , HB472 , HB482 , HB483 , HB526 , HB529 , HB484

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Administration Budget Subcommittee will come to order. Missy, please call the roll.
• A quorum being present, I want to welcome everyone to the State Administration Budget Subcommittee.
• yesterday, but it was really crazy for me yesterday and today because we had an early morning with budget
• While that bill will not come to us, I think we can clearly see after our budget workshops how that bill

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up one bill, House Bill 499, which would allow malt beverage manufacturers producing less than 31,000 gallons annually to sell and deliver directly to vendors. The sponsor and several craft brewery owners and industry advocates testified in support, arguing the measure would help small breweries reach local restaurants, improve quality control, create jobs, and serve as a bridge into the three-tier system for businesses too small to attract distributors. Opponents, including the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, argued the bill would undermine the three-tier system, weaken accountability and tax collection, and create risks for consumer protection and market fairness. During debate, several members said they supported the bill as a small-business measure while noting they remained protective of the three-tier system. Some members raised concerns about tax tracking and long-term distributor contracts, but others said the bill appeared limited enough to preserve the existing system while giving small breweries a chance to grow. The committee then voted on the bill and it passed, with one recorded no vote. After the bill vote, the subcommittee revisited prior questions about Department of Lottery Secretary Davis’s travel reimbursements. Members reviewed updated documents showing more than $50,000 in travel reimbursements from January 2021 through November 2024, including about $27,840 tied to Orlando destinations, and expressed concern that some reimbursements may have covered commuting between Tallahassee and Orlando. The chair said the information would be sent to Secretary Davis for an explanation, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Governor's Message No. 9, transmitting proposed changes to the fiscal biennium 2025-2027 executive budget
• changes to the fiscal BM 2025 2027 changes to the fiscal BM 2025 2027 executive<00:17:32.240><c> budget
• > may</c><00:17:32.760><c> this</c><00:17:32.880><c> matter</c><00:17:33.120><c> be</c> executive budget
• may this matter be executive budget may this matter be received<00:17:33.559><c> and</c><00:17:33.760

Keywords: 910, house, all