Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of times though, uh, we're not auditing them for accuracy, but [clears throat] we look at them
• A lot of times though, uh, we're not auditing them for accuracy, but [clears throat] we look at them
• Um, again, not an audit, but more for completion and answer any questions for the candidates.
• Um, again, not an audit,<00:16:12.079> but<00:16:12.320> more<00:16:12.560> for<
• 00:16:12.959> completion<00:16:14.240> and<00:16:14.880> uh audit, but more for

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on March 9, 2026, with a quorum present in person and one commissioner participating from Florida. The meeting began with the swearing-in of new commissioner Joe Palumbo, who briefly introduced himself and his family and business background. The commission then approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and approved the staff budget report, with staff noting the office remained within spending parameters. Staff gave an update on the heavy workload from re-registration and reporting season, saying roughly 4,500 re-registrations and about 10,000 total forms had been processed. They credited the new online payment portal with reducing manual work and discussed ongoing LRC technology work to build a new system for desktop use, online re-registration, payment processing, and a searchable register. Commissioners asked about the timeline and current paper-based process; staff said the system is being built from scratch and that, for now, forms are still often downloaded, completed, emailed or mailed, and manually entered by staff. The commission also reviewed financial disclosure processing. Staff said all required disclosures had been received except one outstanding candidate filing, and that the candidate was still officially running, so notice was being sent by certified mail under the statute. Staff explained that their review is for completeness rather than audit-level accuracy, and that disclosures from legislators, candidates, and certain upper-management/LRC officials are posted for public access. The commission then discussed its informal advisory opinions, including how staff tracks and organizes them, and praised staff for quick turnaround before voting to enter executive session to discuss confidential complaints and informal opinions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Something that's been added in three of our audits over the years, and Tina will walk you through that
• The only position that will technically be added will be the director of finance and audit.
• 03:24.319> finance<00:03:24.720> and director of finance and director of finance and audit
• 27.280> third<00:03:27.599> page,<00:03:28.239> you'll<00:03:28.480> see audit
• So, on the third page, you'll see audit.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 538, a Liquor Commission cleanup bill. Chair Joseph Mica and CFO Tina Deir explained that the bill updates outdated statutory titles and positions after the commission’s 2014 restructuring, deleting references to the former commissioner and COO roles, adding a director of administration and a director of finance and audit, and keeping the new positions at the same labor grade pending review by the Joint Committee on Employee Classification (JCEC). Members discussed the proper sequence for JCEC review, but generally treated the bill as housekeeping. The committee then voted ought to pass, and the roll call was unanimous, 16-0. The committee next took up House Bill 493, which would require continuing education related to child abuse/ACE recognition for physicians and other providers. Testimony and committee discussion focused on whether the bill was too vague, whether it improperly intruded on the Board of Medicine’s authority to set professional education requirements, and whether it would effectively mandate a narrow training course that is currently voluntary and free. Supporters argued the bill addressed a real problem and cited testimony about missed abuse cases, while opponents said the board should handle the issue through its own rules and that the bill was poorly drafted. A motion of inexpedient to legislate passed 9-7, and the committee noted a minority report would be needed. The meeting ended with procedural and scheduling announcements, including that the committee would be dealing with budget hearings the following week and had a large number of Senate bills scheduled for later in the month.

Transcript Highlights:

• concerns about you know the audit concerns about you know the audit auditability<00:19:02.240>
• of the program so I I also auditability of the program so I I also serve<00:19:04.280> on<00:
• are these people being able to audit are these people really<00:19:34.280> um<00:19:34.720>
• kind of uh auditability built into it<00:19:45.320> as<00:19:45.480> well<00:19:46.360
• that's all it is the auditability that's all it is the auditability component<00:20:34.400> is

Bills: HF1277, HF812, HF457, HF633

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, income tax, tax brackets, tax adjustments, Minnesota, tax policy, underutilized buildings, adaptive reuse, building conversion, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, vacant property, vacancy reduction, refundable tax credit, income tax credit, grant in lieu of credit

Transcript Highlights:

• They also perform some auditing functions with the counties.
• think that's the beauty, if you will, of having a very simple system in place that not just county audits
• As mentioned, a built-in real-time auditing mechanism, and I'm not going to get into all the details
• And then we also perform an audit of funds dispersed through the treasurer's office.
• The problem is a lot of these smaller entities aren't being audited anymore because of our exemptions

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, um, we do, you know, audits, and during audit, if we see that something is mislabeled or misrepresented
• <00:31:40.160> and then um we do, you know, do audits and then um we do, you know, do audits
• and during<00:31:40.600> audit,<00:31:40.840> if<00:31:41.000> we<00:31:41.120>
• during audit, if we see that something is<00:31:41.840> mislabeled<00:31:42.560> or<00
• These are random audits, so it's not that we are targeting certain areas or not; it's random.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 18 was taken up in committee, with the chair noting a preference to hear testimony from people who had traveled farther before hearing from lobbyists or other local witnesses. Representative Engan presented the bill as a family-support measure that would exempt certain infant care items from sales tax, arguing that the cost of raising children has risen sharply and that the bill would provide immediate relief to parents. He cited examples of potential savings on cribs, mattresses, strollers, and baby bottles, and said he was open to expanding the list of covered items. Chair Gomez offered a DE1 amendment that would replace the blanket sales tax exemption with an expansion of Minnesota’s child tax credit, arguing that the child-rearing cost burden is better addressed through targeted assistance rather than a broad exemption that could also benefit higher-income purchasers. After discussing the policy differences and the fiscal impact, Gomez withdrew the amendment. Members then asked questions about the bill’s scope, whether luxury items should be excluded, and why the exemption was limited to baby items rather than older children’s needs. Engan said he would be open to excluding luxury items and to discussing broader expansions, including school supplies. The committee then heard testimony in support from Sarah Gangelhoff of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, who said the bill would help families facing high housing, food, and child care costs and would especially benefit women and single-mother households. Maggie Hanggi of the Minnesota Catholic Conference also supported the bill, saying the tax relief could help families afford essential infant items and reduce fear for prospective parents. Members raised concerns about whether tax exemptions effectively reach the families most in need, with one member noting that low-income families may not even be in a position to shop for these items; Engan responded that the savings would still be real for those who do purchase them. No final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:39:39.439> which completed a two-day 340B audit which completed a two-day 340B audit which
• and 5% of process for internally auditing 340B process for internally auditing 340B claims.<02:40:08.000
• <02:40:19.439> 100% on a monthly basis they self audit 100% on a monthly basis they self audit
• Seeing none, thank you. experience in these audits, do you see experience in these audits, do you see
• Um and I don't think I can the audits.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requires plastics facilities to monitor surrounding waters for nurdles pollution and to conduct monthly audits
• So this bill, very much modestly, just says self-audit and figure out how the spills are happening, and
• more than 150 trained and approved inspectors and two dozen audit service providers to provide ample
• Based on all the auditing that you've done, what is the average resin loss? currently?
• The auditing that has been done to date is really focused on the successful implementation of those two

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• beautiful bill, or H.R. 1, as this is calling it, that makes changes to our SNAP program and our Medicaid audits
• . ...that makes changes to our SNAP program and our Medicaid audits.
• Because if we have a PERM audit, which is a payment error rate Medicaid audit from CMS... ...CMS used
• So we are now running the risk of real audit payments and penalties if we tie the hands of DSS.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In this particular area, I handle the application and defense in audit of these credits.
• The calculations used for both the companies as well as the Comptroller's office and the audit.
• It doesn't apply to new construction, and the other thing I'd point out is that the audits that the comptroller
• And so, in one instance, we had a member who had an audit.
• of this ongoing discussion going forward, in addition to the tax overall, is looking into how the audits

Bills: SB214, SB935, SB1030, SB1901, SB2018, SB2020, SB2066, SB2206

Keywords: HVAC, tax exemption, energy efficiency, residential heating, installation services, Energy Star, sales tax, residential, installation, sales tax exemption, Environmental Protection Agency, temporary exemption, motor fuel tax, county exemption, diesel fuel, gasoline tax, transportation funding, SB 1030, Texas Tax Code, use tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• on the federal return, which allows the comptroller to leverage the work that the IRS is doing on audits
• The city is responsible for administering and auditing the use of HOT as set forth in state and local
• Recent audits have investigated the Parks Board's use of restricted funds.
• As Sheila mentioned, the park board is under an audit.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the committee knows, our LBA audit division completed a special education audit on dispute resolution
• , and they're currently doing another special education audit performance audit.
• a our LBA audit division completed a special<01:29:26.400> education<01:29:26.800> audit
• And what the audit performance audits.
• If I may, repres performance audits.

Keywords: 928, house, all

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:

• I have shared with the committee an NNC CPA audit.
• it's a report committee uh nnk CPA audit it's a report to<00:32:35.120> the<00:32:35.240>
• This audit has been done. OHA funded this audit.
• This audit has been done. OHA funded this audit.
• <00:56:13.680> will accurate inventory in the um audit will accurate inventory in the um audit

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1233, relating to storm management systems, which would add safety and maintenance requirements for detention and retention ponds. Supporters, including Alison Schafers of the Ki Injury Prevention Coalition and Kristen Herstead of the Hawaii Lifeguard Association, said the measure is needed because poorly maintained ponds can become hidden drowning hazards, especially for children, and argued that fencing, signage, and life-saving equipment would have minimal cost. Schafers described the death of her daughter in a detention pond and said the bill reflects recommendations in the Hawaii Water Safety Plan. Members asked about whether the issue should be handled at the county level; testifiers responded that a statewide standard is needed, though counties would likely handle permitting. No vote was taken on the bill during the excerpted discussion. The committee then heard HB 867, relating to recreational facilities, which would require accessible playgrounds. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it submitted comments and that state parks do not generally have recreational facilities affected by the bill, while most such facilities are under county jurisdiction. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability Communication Access Board, and the Disability Rights Center all supported the bill’s intent but recommended changes, including replacing the term “special needs” with “accessible,” focusing the requirement on new and renovated playgrounds, and specifying wheelchair-accessible swings. Testifiers emphasized that accessible play spaces promote inclusion for children with disabilities and benefit all children. No final action or vote was reported. The committee also took up HB 1358, relating to a public land trust working group. DLNR supported the measure and said it had provided written comments, while the Office of Hawaiian Affairs strongly supported the bill and described longstanding problems with incomplete land inventories, self-reported revenue data, and disputed public land trust payments. OHA said an audit it funded suggests the state owes more than current payments reflect, and other supporters said the bill is needed for transparency, accountability, and a complete inventory of public trust lands, including submerged lands. Committee questions focused on how the public land trust information system is maintained, who updates it, and how revenue reporting works; DLNR said the system is older, has limited dedicated IT staffing, and relies on agency self-reporting rather than independent verification. No vote or final committee action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• ought to audit these businesses over here in Berlin,' or, 'We audit these businesses down here in Manchester
• to audit these businesses over ought to audit these businesses over here<04:37:05.039> in<04:
• :37:06.561> these here in Berlin or we audit these here in Berlin or we audit these businesses
• <04:46:19.760> but and we can get to it if we audit but and we can get to it if we audit but
• <05:21:36.360> and number of coy division runs Audits and number of coy division runs Audits

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 135, introduced by Representative Michael Harrington. He said the bill would codify a portion of the New Hampshire Constitution to bar New Hampshire businesses from being required to collect sales or use taxes for other states unless Congress mandates it, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision created an onerous compliance burden for businesses. He described the patchwork of state and local sales tax rules, thresholds, and product exemptions as extremely complex and said the bill was intended to push the issue back toward Congress and the courts. Members questioned whether the bill’s reference to a “foreign government” would apply to other U.S. states, whether the proposal would conflict with the Supremacy Clause, and whether it would create standing for businesses to challenge Wayfair. Harrington responded that “foreign government” meant any government other than New Hampshire, that he believed the state could challenge the decision in court by passing a law contrary to Wayfair, and that businesses were already being harmed by compliance costs. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill was an unfunded mandate or simply a private compliance burden, and Harrington argued that the state itself would not be collecting the taxes, but businesses would still face recordkeeping and administrative costs. Sam Garland of the Department of Justice then testified. He said the department was not taking a formal position on the bill, but offered technical comments. Garland acknowledged that Wayfair created significant compliance burdens and noted that states have become somewhat more uniform, with all states now having a $100,000 economic nexus threshold, though not all use the 200-transaction threshold and local tax variation remains substantial. He said the department’s concerns were legal, describing the issue as uncharted constitutional territory involving both vertical and horizontal federalism. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're not auditing them. We're not auditing their admin costs.
• And we're not auditing them. We're not auditing their admin costs.
• And we're not auditing them. We're not auditing their admin costs.
• And we're not auditing them. We're not auditing their admin costs.
• And we're not auditing them. We're not auditing their admin costs.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, led the pledge of allegiance, and established a quorum before approving the corrected journal. The Majority Leader then moved a long list of bills—House Bills 1150 through 1179—to be made special orders for February 11, 2026 at 9:15 a.m., and the chamber agreed without objection. The committee then took up House Bill 1150, a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Agriculture. Representative Serna explained it included technical adjustments tied to other agencies, plus a pilot program to test a biocontrol strategy for the mountain pine beetle infestation in Colorado’s ponderosa pine forests. After brief opposition from a member who said he would vote no on spending measures generally, the bill passed. House Bill 1151, the supplemental appropriation for the Department of Corrections, generated extensive debate. Supporters said the bill was necessary to cover major costs such as medical case loads, outside medical and mental health contracts, local jail payments, prison case load, private prison utilization, and food services, while also addressing staffing and parole/community corrections coordination. Opponents argued the state keeps funding more beds instead of investing in services that reduce incarceration, criticized DOC management and delays, and said the legislature should demand better accountability and efficiency. Supporters countered that DOC does not control the parole board or community corrections, that the prison population is aging, and that the state must pay for required custody and care. The transcript ends amid continued debate over the corrections supplemental, with no final vote on House Bill 1151 shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• selected machine and audit one race with a hand-to-eye count, and make sure if it says Steve Rollins
• selected machine and audit one race with a hand-to-eye count, and make sure if it says Steve Rollins
• The bill also moves the Office of Internal Audit from the mayor's office to Metro Council oversight.
• It simply defies common sense for the person in charge of auditing those agencies to be hired and work
• at the direction of the chief executive whose very agencies they are charged to audit and investigate

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:10 Attendance Roll Call: 00:19 HB 10 Discussion: 02:19 HB 10 Vote: 06:24 HB 139 Discussion: 08:23 HB 139 Vote: 19:50 HB 607 Discussion: 21:29 HB 607 Vote: 25:55 HB 642 Discussion: 28:15 HB 642 Vote: 32:06 Adjournment: 33:25, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee's cannabis market study is going to be presented by
• I'm staff to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. I'm Chair, members of the committee.
• I'm staff to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, and I'm presenting a JLARC report that
• The JLARC study evaluates state agencies and programs, and our work includes performance audits, and
• that's the study that we'll be discussing today was a performance audit.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states. The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• From working with it without any idea of the hazards to auditing later on, I audited in 2005 the Chemours
• I audited those facilities, and because I was auditing, they showed me how they make PFAS, or I'm sorry
• Um, from working with it without any idea of the the hazards to auditing um later on, I audited in 2005
• I audited those facilities, and because I was auditing, they, uh, they showed me how they make PIFASS

Summary: The committee hearing focused on biosolids, sewage sludge, and PFAS contamination, with the opening remarks and first three presenters arguing that land application of municipal sludge poses serious risks to soil, water, livestock, and human health. Representative Shaw cited EPA and state data on detected pollutants and PFAS in biosolids, while Denise Travick Poyer described her background in chemical engineering and PFAS work and said the EPA’s draft sewage sludge risk assessment shows unacceptable risk at very low PFOS/PFOA levels. She urged source reduction, more testing, and consideration of total organic fluorine, and noted examples from Michigan where industrial pretreatment and source reduction reduced PFAS in biosolids. Johnson County, Texas Commissioner Larry Woolley and Investigator Dana Ames presented a case study of alleged runoff from land-applied biosolids affecting a ranch, with high PFAS readings in soil, water, fish, cattle tissue, and a stillborn calf, and said the county and state had pursued investigations, lawsuits, and legislative responses. Sandra Trawick of Save Oklahoma Farms and Ranches argued that Oklahoma’s biosolids program relies heavily on Class B sludge, that current rules are outdated, and that land application exposes farms and rural communities to pathogens, chemicals, odors, flies, and runoff; she cited examples from Maine, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma to support calls for stronger regulation or a ban. After the testimony, members asked about sampling methods, lab testing, EPA limits, and whether the cited PFAS blood levels were comparable to the soil and sludge measurements. Witnesses said the Johnson County samples were collected by a Texas A&M PhD contractor and tested at a single lab, and they explained that the EPA’s 4 parts per trillion figure applied to municipal drinking water standards. Questions also addressed whether sludge is incorporated into soil; Trawick said it had often been left on the surface, though she had seen better disking after public scrutiny. Members asked how biosolids compare with manure and feedlot waste, and witnesses responded that municipal sludge is more contaminated because it includes industrial, hospital, and household waste streams, unlike animal manure. The committee then moved to alternative solutions, hearing from Doug McKinney of Advanced Microbial Solutions, who promoted biological sludge removal using bacteria to reduce sludge volumes and avoid land application, citing cost savings for wastewater plants and correctional facilities. Jason Jepsen of Eden Energy followed with a pitch for an eight-stage waste-to-energy system that converts mixed waste into clean energy, biochar, and reusable products, framing waste as an asset and presenting his company’s technology as a no-land-application alternative.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that probably would have been part of their annual audit process. Okay. Yeah.
• Yes, just for my past history, that would have been part of the annual audit process that those checks
• Yes, we do have an audit and confirm the match.
• Part of our audit process is to ensure that the LCFF...
• Are you auditing all the grants, or are you auditing on an annual basis the funding source or stream?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be overseen essentially by the Legislative Audit Commission, sitting parallel to the Legislative
• That Legislative Audit Commission is made up of 12 members, three from each of the four caucuses, and
• <00:02:00.159> commission<00:02:00.560> sitting Legislative audit commission sitting
• Legislative audit commission sitting parallel<00:02:01.640> to<00:02:02.600> uh<00:02:
• deputies within the legislative audit deputies within the legislative audit are<00:10:23.320>

Bills: HF1, HF1384

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's my question: Have we done an audit?
• And then my second question is related to that. have we audited the use of the private contracts?
• So, do we have statewide audits of both of those, more specifically?
• We have not run audits at the state level.
• We have not done any audits at the state level. Thanks, Mr.

Keywords: 996, all