Transcript Highlights:

• Even after the contracts were awarded, there was a lot more time needed.
• right in the middle of these contracts.
• However, funding that now will be slashed even though it's mid-contract.
• The contracts were available through June of 2026. As well as the funding.
• Is it going to be contracted out? It will be contracted out.

Transcript Highlights:

• multiple vendors and multiple contracts.
• Now, if we had contract language in there before and we didn't monitor that contract language tight enough
• That being said, it's part of the contract.
• So we're focusing on the future in the new contract.
• I think Cal OES, or maybe it's a contract or something...

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• KDE contracts<00:02:20.160><c> with</c><00:02:20.480><c> four</c><00:02:20.800><c> districts,</c> contracts
• </c> In addition, OEA reviewed the contracts In addition, OEA reviewed the contracts or<00:04:01.920>
• ,</c> at each of the MOAS and the contracts, at each of the MOAS and the contracts, the<00:13:53.760>
• </c><00:19:27.039><c> each</c> given the number of contracts each given the number of contracts each
• They gave it up and so the contract.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an Office of Education Accountability report on Kentucky’s early childhood regional training centers (RTCs). OEA said the centers provide valuable training, consultation, technical assistance, and materials for preschool personnel, especially for children with disabilities and at-risk students, and that the services align with state and federal requirements. However, the report found uneven student and teacher populations across regions, wide variation in per-student funding, some staffing data inaccuracies, and several fiscal oversight concerns, including inconsistent indirect cost rates, a building rental charge that may have been duplicative, and host districts recording RTC expenditures in a way that could blur them with district finances. OEA also said some documentation of progress toward goals was incomplete and that the technology lending library appeared underused. The report recommended stronger KDE oversight, uniform coding and accounting practices, review of budgets and expenditures, and an evaluation of whether the current five-center model remains the most efficient structure; OEA also suggested the General Assembly may wish to revisit KRS 157.318. Members asked about KDE’s response, whether the centers are required by federal law, how the centers operate, and whether changing the model would affect federal funding. OEA said KDE had only discussed the findings informally and had not issued a formal response, the centers are required by state law but not federal law, and changing the model would not jeopardize IDEA preschool funds. The committee accepted the report by motion. The subcommittee then approved the minutes from its July 14, 2025 meeting after initially delaying action because quorum was not yet present. After that, members turned to the Office of Education Accountability’s proposed 2026 study agenda. OEA said the three proposed topics are the annual district data profiles, facilities funding, and implementation of early literacy statutes. The district profiles would add an appendix showing the number and percentage of students moving to private school or homeschool by district and another appendix noting data-quality issues that affect comparability. OEA explained that district staffing data can undercount contract staff because those employees are not always entered into the system, and members expressed interest in tracking whether prior recommendations were implemented. One senator also raised a separate interest in reviewing whether KDE created and implemented regulations related to KFIX. The discussion remained informational, with no final vote on the study agenda shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• A concessions contract may be entered by negotiation of adequate compensation.
• It's an adhesive contract.
• Because, you know, when a state employee clicks through, that's a contract.
• It's an adhesive contract, but it's still a contract.
• The statute still requires the contract to be reviewed by legal counsel.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it's contract review, procurement.
• The current contract? The employment contract with the chief?”
• I was not aware of the initial contract. The president can make remarks about that contract.
• “Who wrote the contract?” “He did.” “So the chief wrote his own employment contract?”
• I couldn’t write my own employment contract.

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 6, 2026, approved the April 28 minutes, and heard several bills before moving into confirmation hearings. HB 205, by Rep. Bacala, would allow local governing authorities to supplement election commissioners’ pay by up to $100 per day; supporters from clerks of court and the Secretary of State’s office said the increase is needed to recruit and retain qualified commissioners amid longer days, training demands, and election security changes. The committee also reported HB 210, a cleanup bill clarifying retroactive application of a prior ethics law, and HB 228, which recreates the Department of State Civil Service and related entities through 2033. It likewise reported SR 86, which bars eyeglasses with audio/video recording capability in the Senate chamber without the Senate President’s permission, and HB 1177, which protects the identities of lottery hunt winners until after the drawing. HB 1045, limited to Pointe Coupee Parish, raises an audit threshold for certain water districts from $500,000 to $600,000 to reduce audit costs, and HB 813 would move Orleans Parish sheriff terms so the sheriff takes office in January instead of waiting until May; all were reported favorably. Senator Miller also announced that SB 491 would not be taken up that day. The committee then questioned nominees to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East. The first group, including Peter Vicari and Ronald Schumann, was asked extensively about recent personnel actions, an internal investigation, and the authority’s handling of a report that members said would likely be released after a board vote. Senators focused on the firing of the chief of police/operations personnel, allegations of payroll fraud, and whether the authority had improperly combined the chief of police role with compliance duties in a way that may conflict with statute and Civil Service guidance. Committee members also raised concerns about the chief’s contract, whether it had board approval, and whether the authority’s bylaws and salary practices complied with law. The nominees and counsel said some matters were still under review and that a separate compliance position was being considered. The committee later heard from additional nominees, including David Martin, Gregory Marsiglia, and Elton Jude Myers, who described backgrounds in engineering, law, procurement, and governmental contracts. Senators again pressed them on the need to separate compliance/auditing duties from the chief of police role, and the nominees generally agreed that those functions should be distinct and that the authority should have qualified auditing expertise. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjournment after the confirmation discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I don't know that we've hit our seven years on that contract.
• “Okay, and they’re being paid for that through this contract.
• “And that’s just based on, again, eliminating this part of the Optum contract.
• That's not, that's—so it comes from removing it from the Optum contract.
• You have a contract, you have an independent assessment.

Summary: The committee approved the December 8 minutes and referred items C1 and C2 to the labor and environment subcommittees, adopting the chair’s recommendations. The main substantive item was a DHS rule package revising the State Plan Personal Care Manual and the Arkansas Independent Assessment (ARIA) Manual. DHS said the revisions would repeal and replace the current manuals with streamlined versions, remove overlapping language, implement Act 853 by shifting licensure/certification for personal care agencies to the Department of Health, lengthen personal care prior authorizations from six months to one year, and keep the 64-hour monthly cap. For ARIA, DHS said it would remove references to state plan personal care, clarify telehealth and in-person assessments, and add/update sections for PASS, AR Choices, Living Choices, and PACE. DHS argued the current independent assessment process is costly and not controlling utilization, citing a 95% approval rate, annual spending of more than $212 million on personal care for about 17,000 people, and an estimated $6.173 million in savings from eliminating the Optum assessment and reducing prior-authorization frequency. Agency witnesses said the new process would reinsert primary care practitioner involvement, use standardized evaluation and prescription forms, and rely on personal care provider nurses for the assessment step, with training already available through an AFMC contract. Several members questioned whether PCPs should be used as gatekeepers, whether the change would delay services, and whether the savings estimate accounted for training or provider burden. Some members also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, the workload on physicians, and whether the agency had adequately worked with the existing vendor to improve the current system. The discussion became contentious, with Senator Irvin and others strongly opposing the proposal as inconsistent with the earlier independent-assessment approach and urging DHS to slow down and work with legislators. Other members asked for clarification on how the new process would work for new applicants and whether it would affect waiver or PASS participants; DHS said the rule would not apply to PASS and should not delay services. At the end of the hearing, the chair offered DHS the option to pull the rule down and work off-record with legislators on a revised proposal, and DHS agreed. The meeting then adjourned without further business or a final vote on the rule.

Transcript Highlights:

• for two of our marketing contracts.
• increases for two of our marketing contracts.
• Current contract value is $2.8 million.
• I respectfully ask for your approval of these two contracts.
• And so this contract is an up-to amount.

Summary: The committee received the May fiscal status statement from the Office of Planning and Budget, which reflected the updated Revenue Estimating Conference forecast. The revised forecast reduced the FY26 general fund excess available from $292.6 million to $179.7 million and lowered projected revenues across the five-year baseline, including a drop in FY27 available funds and larger out-year imbalances. The statement was approved without objection. Members then considered several Facility Planning and Control items and approved them without objection: a $3 million LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans project to build out space in the Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation; a $343,600 increase for HVAC upgrades at the Louisiana War Veterans Home warehouse in Jackson; and a $700,000 increase for Southern University’s A.A. Lenoir Law Center addition. The committee also received, for information only, five change orders over $50,000 but under $250,000. The committee approved contract extensions and funding actions for several agencies. Louisiana Economic Development received approval for one-year extensions and increases for marketing contracts with Zender Communications and Graham Group. The Department of Education’s contract amendment for the Louisiana Gator ESA program with Odyssey was reported favorably after questions about the procurement process and how the contract amount relates to student enrollment. The Sabine River Authority’s $9.5 million operating budget increase and its 2026–2027 budget were approved favorably, with members discussing the planned takeover of Cypress Bend Resort operations. The Department of Health’s HERO Fund round of 15 grant awards, totaling about $4.6 million and projected to create 541 new health care credentials, was also approved favorably. Finally, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendations were adopted, including an additional $619,850 for St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5 and $1.5 million in emergency subfund assistance for the city of Tallulah, conditioned on a limited fiscal administration order. The committee also reviewed a cooperative agreement between the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and its facilities corporation related to Act 35 projects, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll just give you a couple of details about the contract, Mr. Chair.
• This is re-upping our contract with Perrin Knight.
• The maximum contract amount for this one is $475,000.
• The maximum contract amount for this one is $475,000.
• The maximum contract amount for this one is $475,000.

Committee: All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first considered a waiver request from the Stuttgart School District to use the TIPS interlocal purchasing system for a turf replacement project instead of a traditional competitive bid. Superintendent Jeff McKinney explained that three bids were received but none fully met the RFP specifications, including warranty and insurance requirements. After review by the district’s architect, the committee approved the waiver request by voice vote. The committee then approved a consultant services agreement between the Bureau of Legislative Research and Work Ed Consulting to support the Hospital Medicaid Developmental Disability Subcommittee’s study under Act 145. Legislators said the consultant would help develop workforce-system reform legislation for the 2027 session, and noted the firm’s experience in other states. The contract runs through June 30, 2027, with a maximum amount of $158,000, and was approved without opposition. Next, the committee approved an actuarial and consultant services agreement with Perrin Knight to provide ongoing actuarial support for the state property insurance captive and related legislative oversight work. Bureau staff said the contract would run from April 1 through December 31, 2027, with a maximum amount of $475,000, though only actual hours and travel would be billed. Members asked about budgeting, invoice timing, and overlap with other insurance consultants, and the agreement was approved. Finally, the committee approved using Bureau committee room funds to renovate Committee Room C in the Big Mac Building, citing outdated audiovisual equipment and the need to update the room to match other recent renovations before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are all advertising and marketing contracts that the office received.
• The amount of the contract that we are seeking for the extension is $211,111,149.
• the final extension of the contract for the fifth year.
• These efforts require continuity of services beyond the current contract term.
• These efforts require continuity of services beyond the current contract term.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on March 19, 2006, and first approved a fiscal status statement and five-year baseline budget with no changes. The committee then approved several B.A. 7 budget adjustments, including additional authority for the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism for cultural development activities, a federal Rural Health Transformation Program grant for the Department of Health with 15 added positions, and a $1 million increase from the major events incentive fund to reimburse costs tied to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The committee also reviewed a Louisiana Military Department project to convert Building 2013 at Jackson Barracks into a cyber warfare operations facility, increasing total funding authority to $29.7 million to add a SCIF component. Members approved clarifications of legislative intent for several prior appropriations, including parish drainage and local government items, and approved extensions or amendments to contracts for tourism advertising, the Office of Risk Management’s third-party claims administrator, and a DEQ contract with RTI International. The committee heard presentations on two university-related items: Louisiana Tech’s plan to shift campus buildings from its aging in-house cogeneration system to utility service from the City of Ruston and a local gas provider, which is expected to save money even after debt service, and UL Lafayette’s request to extend a consulting contract for continued support of its Banner ERP system. Members asked questions about the Louisiana Tech project’s scope and savings, but no objections were raised on the items before the committee. The meeting concluded with adjournment after a motion by Senator Fesi.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn’t appear to from reading the contract.
• The word lobbying is not used in their contract, and I do have their contract here, and I understand
• Yes, that a number of state agencies contract with.
• Because what you said the contract in Shipyard was allocated for.
• As the executive director, you were under a contract, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not anti-contract, it is pro-contract. I know my contracts.
• They could not get the contract to justify.
• Third, providers are not prisoners in network contracts.
• To be clear, they agreed to network contracts... Providers are not prisoners in network contracts.
• Every one of these contracts has a cancellation clause.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• The contract that we had last year, I have to submit this to contract review, government contract review
• It's a $100,000 contract.
• The contract that we had last year, I have to submit this to contract review, government contract review
• It's a $100,000 contract.
• It's a It's a<00:12:47.760><c> $100,000</c> contract. contract. contract.

Summary: The commission first returned from executive session and noted that discussions there were preliminary only and no final agency action was taken. It then approved the budget report, which staff said was within year-to-date budget parameters. Members discussed recommended changes to the code of ethics. Staff proposed four items: defining and prohibiting sexual harassment as ethical misconduct; two housekeeping changes related to lobbyist registration notice and campaign contribution language; and a possible reduction of the post-service waiting period for former legislators to become lobbyists from two years to one year. Members agreed the lobbying cooling-off period was a broader General Assembly issue and voted to recommend only the first three changes, leaving the fourth for later review. The chair noted the July 1 deadline for submitting ethics-code recommendations to the LRC. The commission also approved renewal of a $100,000 contract with Casey Bailey and Mains for Robert Jenkins to continue serving as enforcement counsel, with hourly rates of $125 for the attorney and $40 for the paralegal. Finally, it approved a 3% cost-of-living pay increase for General Counsel Steven Pium, discussed possible conference attendance and informal opinions, and adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> In other types of stay or pay contracts, In other types of stay or pay contracts, employers<00:
• Without guardrails of law, these contracts begin to function as a penalty.
• little context for U.S. contract law, but they sign just as U.S.
• <00:36:38.520><c> is</c><00:36:38.880><c> essentially</c> contracts is essentially contracts is essentially
• So, in my experience, these are employment contracts.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the sole-source contracts that I can speak to personally, which we've gotten sole-source contracts
• Question number one: Were you bid on a contract?
• So the phase one of the contract was for county island schools.
• So the phase one of the contract was for county island schools.
• Although the contract does stipulate that we would begin with county... ...clarify regarding that contract

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard presentations on Arizona’s school safety interoperability communication systems, beginning with remarks from Senator Kevin Payne, who described the program as a response to school shootings and 911 overloads, and said the goal is to let schools trigger a panic-button alert that immediately shares video, floor plans, and location information with law enforcement and other responders. Several members echoed support for the concept, while also raising concerns about whether the systems are actually working as intended and whether school resource officers remain necessary or should be supplemented by technology. Auditor General Lindsay Perry summarized the JLAC-directed special audit, explaining that the office reviewed whether fund expenditures were authorized, whether purchased systems met statutory requirements, and whether procurement followed applicable standards. She said the office had tested a sample of systems with vendors, schools, and law enforcement, and that some agencies had not provided requested follow-up information. Members questioned Pinal County’s lack of response and the status of its reports and payments, and committee leaders criticized the county sheriff’s claim that the committee had treated staff unfairly. Representatives from Mutualink, Motorola Solutions, and Navigate 360 then defended their systems and described implementation challenges. Mutualink said its platform connects schools, dispatch, and responders across jurisdictions and claimed it can reduce response times, but acknowledged that implementation depends on training, infrastructure, and cooperation among schools and agencies. Motorola said it had deployed systems in Maricopa and Yuma counties and that some delays stemmed from school participation and procurement issues. Navigate 360 highlighted Cochise County as a success story, saying 60 of 69 schools were implemented and that the company had added maps, emergency management tools, and training support after audit findings. Members repeatedly pressed the vendors on statutory criteria, procurement practices, rural infrastructure, and why some counties or schools were not fully operational; the vendors generally said the biggest barriers were local readiness, training, and interagency coordination rather than the technology itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that the only example that you have right now that you need to contract with, or you'd like to contract
• She said they are not told that they must or shall contract, but they may contract.
• They don't They They contract.
• ,</c><00:09:58.600><c> but</c> contract or they shall contract, but contract or they shall contract,
• And so, they may contract.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• no implied contract.
• You can say, well, then a physician shouldn't sign that contract.
• You can say, well, then a physician shouldn't sign that contract.
• handled all of those contracts now for over 14 years.
• contracts as actually term contracts.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to brief you on House Bill 2552 that allows the use of multiple award task order contracting
• Both entities use a mix of traditional public works contracting methods and alternative public works
• contracting methods to award contracts to responsible bidders for project delivery.
• , the general contracting/construction manager method, and job order contracting.
• The bill authorizes the use of multiple award task order contracting, MATOC, for construction.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three transportation-related bills. HB 2467, sponsored by Rep. Timmons, would clarify how fifth-wheel RVs are measured for length purposes by measuring from the king pin to the rear-most point, allowing fifth wheels up to 46 feet under that method without increasing the current roadway length limits. The staff report said the bill has no fiscal impact for most agencies and a small indeterminate impact for Labor and Industries; the proposed substitute makes technical clarifications. The sponsor and several RV dealers, the Association of Washington Business, and the RV Industry Association testified in support, saying the bill would improve clarity, preserve safety, and help Washington dealers compete with neighboring states. No one testified in opposition during the hearing. The committee briefly suspended HB 2467 to hear HB 2495, sponsored by Rep. Thomas, which would give the City of Seattle authority to immediately remove vehicles blocking streetcar tracks or otherwise jeopardizing streetcar operations without waiting for police to first cite the vehicle. Staff said the bill applies only to Seattle, includes an emergency clause, and has no fiscal impact because impound fees are expected to offset costs. Rep. Thomas and Seattle Streetcar Program Manager Alison Redenz supported the bill, describing frequent track blockages and delays to service, especially after hours, and saying the change would speed restoration of transit operations. The committee then heard public testimony on HB 2552, which would authorize WSDOT and Sound Transit to use multiple award task order contracting (MATOC) for transportation construction projects. Staff explained that MATOC would let agencies prequalify contractors and then compete task orders among them, with required award and protest processes. Rep. Zahn said the bill would give agencies another tool to streamline delivery while preserving competition and including WMBE firms. Sound Transit supported the bill as a faster, more flexible procurement method that could broaden opportunities for smaller firms, while the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association opposed it, arguing the approach is not well tested in Washington, could reduce competition, and should be reviewed by the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board. After testimony, the committee closed the public hearing on HB 2552 and adjourned after caucusing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have any contracts with them?
• They are through the contract.
• Is the contract, I'm sorry, is the contracting more cost effective?
• Is the contracting, I'm sorry, is the contracting more cost effective, or is it more cost effective to
• The contract does offer flexibility in the aviation roles because not all the positions in the contract

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:54.279><c> potential</c> respect to Contracting potential respect to Contracting potential
• year with active contracts.
• year with active contracts.
• /c> you consider contract phes for both you consider contract phes for both Hospitals<01:20:03.520><c
• </c> pbms or chains 69% of of contract pbms or chains 69% of of contract pharmacies<01:21:53.239><c>

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 785, as amended by a committee substitute that combined language from HB 785 and HB 787. The bill was described as addressing Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) audits, provider contract notice and amendment procedures, mental health parity compliance, and related transparency requirements. Supporters said the measure would tighten notice to providers, limit repeated contract amendments and rate reductions, require more standardized audit procedures, and add reporting on Medicaid claims, appeals, and grievances. It also includes a provision requiring coverage of at least two evaluation-and-management billable services per physician per recipient per date of service, and a section addressing narcotic/opioid treatment program licensing and reimbursement language. Testimony in support came from Representative Kim Moore, John Inman of BrightView Health, Michelle Sandborne of the Children’s Alliance, and Kelly Cormic of RYSE. They argued that MCOs often use audits and recoupments in ways that are burdensome, opaque, and financially damaging to providers, especially smaller and rural ones. They cited examples of multiple audit requests in short timeframes, large record requests with short deadlines, delayed or absent feedback, and recoupments taken before appeals are resolved. They also said parity laws are not being consistently enforced and that the bill would give the Department of Insurance authority to suspend or revoke an MCO certificate of authority for willful or repeated parity violations. Committee members generally expressed support for provider protections and transparency, while asking for clarification on the narcotic treatment and E/M billing provisions. Tom Stevens of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans testified in opposition, saying the bill is complex to implement and should be handled through the broader Medicaid oversight work of House Bill 9, the MOAB. He said the issues raised were better suited for that bipartisan stakeholder process and noted the committee substitute had not yet been fully reviewed by his group. After discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute and then moved to a vote on the bill; the roll call began, with several members recorded as voting yes, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote result is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it allows us then to go into there and see if there is a contract.
• And sometimes these contracts are from other states or other agencies.
• And so this also clarifies that that is also allowed as we pull in those contracts.
• Contracts and how they get issued and how they get protected and written correctly.
• And I think sometimes we will look at contracts trying to make them Idaho Pacific.

Committee: House Health and Welfare