Transcript Highlights:

• And then there was the separate $25 billion that was distributed based on a number of factors.
• But when you look at those factors in particular, that unfortunately, I think, really impacted ultimately
• Where we did really well, though, was those other factors. So, for example, state policies.
• But unfortunately, those other factors really impacted our score. Well, maybe not.
• the ones that are saying that they didn't want their scope of practice, is it more of the liability factor

Summary: The Rural Health Transformation Committee met to receive an overview from Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon on Idaho’s Rural Health Transformation Program application and the federal rules governing the five-year funding. Sharon explained the program was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that Idaho’s award is about $186 million annually in year one, and that the state must obligate the funds by October 30 or risk losing them. She reviewed the application timeline, the federal scoring process, reporting and audit requirements, and the state’s plan to hire a 12-person limited-term team to manage solicitations, monitoring, and compliance. Committee members asked about scope-of-practice issues for dental hygienists and physician assistants, the risk of losing or gaining funds, survey methodology, telehealth, and how the state will use the money for workforce, technology, behavioral health, infrastructure, and tribal set-asides. Sharon said the department would continue working with the legislature on scope-of-practice policy, provide more detail on survey data and funding caps, and set up a shared information space with LSO for committee access. Sharon also walked through the five main initiative areas in Idaho’s plan: technology and access, innovative models, workforce, chronic disease and behavioral health, and rural infrastructure/partnerships. She emphasized that allowable uses include telehealth and EHR modernization, cybersecurity, EMS support, workforce recruitment and retention incentives, evidence-based behavioral health and chronic disease programs, renovations and mobile units, and a 3.5% tribal set-aside. She said the department is still refining what is allowable with CMS and that the committee will receive monthly summaries, procurement information, and performance reports. Members raised concerns about the survey’s heavy use of “other” responses, the amount of money going to administration, and whether telehealth spending is the best use of funds. Chris Jones of Catalyst Policy Group then offered outside perspective on rural health strategy and the federal program. He praised Idaho’s application but urged the committee to think in terms of integrated, patient-centered systems rather than isolated projects. He highlighted examples from other states involving community health workers, telehealth hubs, remote monitoring, value-based care networks, rural training pipelines, and partnerships among hospitals, FQHCs, and tribal providers. He cautioned against focusing on social determinants of health funding, encouraged use of technology to reduce labor burden and improve sustainability, and emphasized that training providers in rural areas tends to keep them there. No votes were taken. The committee agreed to tentatively meet again on May 28 during CMS’s planned Idaho visit, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's, I think, an important factor for us.
• So that's, I think, an important factor for us.
• Director Lali's comments around partnering with other licensing bodies, that's a huge contributing factor
• institutions that would beg the issue as to why the exactly... bodies, that's a huge contributing factor
• aren't typically included sort of in the same way in budget projections, it is another important factor

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm wondering if they meant to say 62-1C-3, which governs fixing the amount of bail and gives the factors
• if that is going to be a policy, there's got to be a better place for that. in kind of giving the factors
• So the intent of the bill to start with was to have residency be a factor when you're doing bail.
• absolutely should be looking at whether somebody can show up for hearings, and residency is a big factor
• And I think one other key factor that some people don't look at and think about that I do because of

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are several factors that can affect that increase.
• But there can be multiple factors like that that can affect the numbers.
• There are factors that can affect whether or not that space will be suitable, such as whether it is in
• Then sometimes agencies have requirements for public transportation and other factors like that, being
• There are factors that can affect whether or not that space will be suitable, such as whether it is in

Summary: The LOFT Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then received LOFT’s report on state office space utilization in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. LOFT presented three main findings: OMES is not fully exercising its statutory authority over state property and relies on flawed self-reported data; state office space is being used inefficiently and often below policy benchmarks; and better use of state-owned space could save tens of millions in private lease costs. LOFT also described errors in the state’s real property inventory, low utilization rates across OMES-owned, agency-owned, and privately leased space, and recommended stronger data verification, clearer space standards, and more active oversight of underused property. OMES responded that it believes it is meeting its statutory obligations and said it tries to balance oversight with being a partner to agencies, placing them in space that best fits their mission and service needs. OMES officials said they rely on agency-reported data, do not have enough staff to independently verify all inventory information, and do not “police” daily occupancy. Members questioned the distinction between meeting statutory duties and exercising full authority, the use of “shall” versus “recommend,” the lack of enforcement for agencies that decline space recommendations, and whether OMES should more aggressively consolidate or divest underused buildings. LOFT and OMES also discussed the methodology behind utilization calculations, including badge-swipe data, space standards, and common-area adjustments. In the final finding, LOFT estimated that relocating agencies from private leases into existing state-owned space could save roughly $16 million to $28.8 million annually, depending on the scenario used. LOFT cited other states and federal reforms as models and recommended that OMES more actively assess underutilized properties, verify data, and use actual utilization analysis to reduce private leasing. OMES said it would review the comments and work to improve. The committee then unanimously approved a rapid-response evaluation request for LOFT to examine DHS child care subsidy verification and reimbursement processes, citing concerns about possible improprieties and the need to confirm whether fraud or waste is occurring.

Transcript Highlights:

• So those are, you know, factors that typically 15 to 20 years on generator systems.
• So that's those are, you know, factors that typically 15 to 20 years on generator systems.
• Um, can you talk a little bit about what factors are driving this need for an additional $3.5 million
• </c><00:19:55.440><c> um</c><00:19:55.600><c> are</c> bit about the um what factors um are bit about
• the um what factors um are driving<00:19:56.640><c> this</c><00:19:57.360><c> need</c><00:19:57.760><

Keywords: Call to Order: 00;15 Approval of Minutes: 01:22 Update on Generator replacement: 01:52 Update on Sheriff Fees: 13:28 Adjournment: 25:22, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its fourth budget subreview session focused on personnel, public retirements, and finance. Members approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard from Finance Cabinet staff on two main items: a $7.5 million request related to generator systems and a sheriff’s fees budget request. The generator request was described as a preventive, life-cycle replacement and capacity-enhancement effort for 26 generators serving Frankfort-area state buildings, intended to protect continuity of government and expand beyond basic emergency power to support continuity of services. Members asked detailed questions about how many generators would be replaced, the cost per unit, the scope of the study, and whether the work could be phased. Staff said the $7.5 million would cover a full evaluation and any resulting engineering/replacement work, but the exact number of replacements was not yet known. They estimated the initial study would cost about $500,000 to $750,000, would take six to nine months once funded, and would produce building-by-building recommendations. Staff also said typical generator life cycles vary widely, often around 15 to 20 years but sometimes longer depending on run hours and usage. The committee then reviewed sheriff’s fees, with the Division of Local Government explaining that the state reimburses counties for several statutory sheriff-related costs, especially court security, which accounts for more than 90% of the claims. Staff said the current budget base is about $20 million, while actual spending has been running above $23 million, leading to a $3.5 million growth request to align the base with projected spending and reduce the need for non-general fund expenditure (NGE) adjustments. Members asked about claim volume, county participation, reimbursement controls, and whether the request reflected growth or underfunding; staff said all 120 counties submit claims, volumes have been fairly steady, and reimbursements are governed by statute and signed monthly certifications. No votes were taken on the requests, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• composition and those pieces or functional status, we're also going to be looking at employment and factors
• COVID years, when they weren't at school interacting with their peers, I think that's a contributing factor
• There's two parts to this, right: risk factors and protective factors.
• And anything you can do to build protective factors.
• Protective factors are helping to build the strength of individuals and families and build on their resiliency

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met with a quorum present and first took up questions about a separate Rural Health Funding Task Force. Members asked who created it, its purpose, whether it was replacing JFAC, and whether it was tied to the governor’s task force. The chair said it was created by legislative leadership, not this committee, and that JFAC would still control funding decisions; the task force was described as a structure to help shape how any future appropriation would work. The committee also recognized guests from Boise State’s Executive Educational Leadership Program before moving to the General Fund Daily Update and then the Department of Health and Welfare budget review. Legislative Services analyst Alex Williamson reviewed Health and Welfare’s Division of Welfare, Mental Health Services, and Psychiatric Hospitalization budgets. Major items included one-time Medicaid eligibility system changes tied to federal law and House Bill 345, ongoing SNAP administrative cost shifts to the general fund, Medicaid expansion work requirement implementation costs, restoration of some transfer authority, and several behavioral health adjustments. In mental health, the department requested partial restoration of positions and funding tied to the former Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, but the director said the center itself had been disbanded and the request was instead for 15 FTE to support children’s mental health and the Jeff D. settlement. Other items included funding for mobile crisis services, a fund shift for hospital benefits and cost increases, replacement items at the state hospitals, and endowment fund adjustments. Director Juliet Sharon and Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmonds answered extensive questions about federal changes, managed care, and behavioral health service reductions. They said the department is implementing work requirements and more frequent Medicaid redeterminations required by federal law, starting with a one-month compliance period for applicants, and is not seeking a waiver to delay implementation. On behavioral health, they explained that reductions to Medicaid and non-Medicaid services were mirrored, that ACT services were discontinued as a bundled service but individual components remain available, and that the department is tracking hospital utilization, crisis services, and client touchpoints through Magellan. Members also asked about audits, deceased-member payments, endowment funds, staffing shortages, and whether some services were being duplicated; the director said program integrity processes are in place and that the department is trying to reduce duplication while maintaining reporting transparency. No formal votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after indicating it would meet again Monday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• composition and those pieces or functional status, we're also going to be looking at employment and factors
• felt during COVID years, when they weren't at school interacting with their peers, is a contributing factor
• There's two parts to this, right: risk factors and protective factors.
• And anything you can do to build protective factors—protective factors are helping to build the strength

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met with a quorum present and began with questions about a Rural Health Funding Task Force. Members asked who created it, what notice was given, whether it was replacing JFAC, and whether it was separate from the governor’s task force. The chair said it was created by legislative leadership rather than this committee, that JFAC would still control funding decisions, and that the task force was intended to provide structure and policy direction if the funding moves forward. The committee then received a General Fund Daily Update from Legislative Services analyst Christopher LaHosette, who noted updated revenue projections, three introduced House bills with general fund fiscal impacts, and the green sheet’s totalizing function for tracking legislation. The main presentation was from the Department of Health and Welfare on the Division of Welfare, Mental Health Services, and Psychiatric Hospitalization budgets. Alex Williamson reviewed the divisions’ roles, staffing, and five-year spending trends, and outlined the governor’s recommendations, including Medicaid eligibility system changes tied to federal law, SNAP administrative cost shifts to the state, Medicaid expansion work requirements, restoration of transfer authority, and behavioral health requests tied to the Jeff D. settlement and Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. Director Juliet Sharon said the department’s requests were largely maintenance, restoration, or compliance items, including system changes for twice-yearly Medicaid redeterminations and work requirements. Members asked about the impact of federal changes, the $5 million increase in welfare operations, vacancy levels, endowment funds, and whether the department could compare SNAP administrative costs to other states. Several questions focused on mental health cuts, the former Center of Excellence, the request to combine adult and children’s mental health budgets, and the effect of reductions on crisis services, ACT services, and mobile crisis units. Sharon and Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmonds said the department was trying to preserve crisis and hospital services, maintain separate tracking for children and adults, and monitor access closely while complying with legal and federal requirements. The committee also discussed Magellan’s contract, audit findings, and managed care oversight. Sharon said Magellan is reviewed through monthly, quarterly, and annual deliverables and can be placed on corrective action plans; she also said the department has processes to prevent payments for deceased or ineligible individuals. Members asked about duplication of services, the use of endowment funds at state hospitals, the need for more behavioral health workforce data, and whether the department could share equipment or contract out maintenance at the psychiatric hospitals. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after indicating it would meet again Monday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Leisure travel is a discretionary expense, and what's in people's wallets is the biggest factor in determining
• mentioned, About a lot of political discourse and rhetoric, and you know international opinion and other factors
• There are still unknown factors and threats that can seriously affect tourism in 2026, such as wildfires
• Load factors on some of our Canadian airlines are still fairly stable, so we're continuing to hold that
• actions that we saw earlier this year towards National Park Service staffing levels, how much of that factored

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay I appreciate the answers there and that's where my mind was going was now if the cost is a factor
• That's gonna be a factor that courts have to consider with fewer resources.
• Like what's going to be the factors that are taken in of that's the one that we're looking at as a top
• criteria by which the that's considered as well as balancing the population, looking at security factors
• So a lot of factors are taken into account, as well as scheduled to be closed by October 2026.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The strength of an FDA is an important influencing factor in determining where first launches occur.
• Those are risk factors for cancer.
• But the major. risk factor, the major number one risk factor for cancer is age.
• And it's accelerated in a way that's kind of created this perfect storm, where Multiple factors have
• you're familiar with that, which studies the cardiovascular health and other things that address risk factors

Committee: Senate Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• and systems lost or expended in battle with speed and proficiency is increasingly a differentiating factor
• Time must be a factor in all of our decisions as we confront and. increasingly sophisticated adversary
• I think it's one big factor.
• There are other factors as well, but could you give me your thoughts on that and also just the commitment
• Yes, Senator, I believe that you are correct, that space is going to be one of the determining factors

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Air Force modernization, fighter aircraft, autonomous systems, air superiority, national security, recapitalization

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on military procurement and modernization, with significant discussions surrounding the Air Force's capabilities and strategic needs. Key topics included the urgent need for recapitalization of the Air Force's fighter squadrons, as well as the importance of integrating new technologies like autonomous systems to bolster military effectiveness. Several senators raised concerns about the current resources available to the Air National Guard and the potential loss of skilled service members if recapitalization plans are not swiftly developed. There were also discussions on the importance of maintaining air superiority in light of evolving threats, particularly from adversaries like China.

Transcript Highlights:

• To just piggyback on that point and bring all of this together, one of the things that's a factor as
• That is a factor for us as well.
• That is a factor for us as well.
• But if there's something that could be a factor, a weighting factor, maybe that's a way to do it.
• But I do believe, at a very high level, you could look at those factors of demographics, geography, and

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to examine how Florida’s state universities are funded and to begin discussing a possible university funding model. The panel included the State University System chancellor and CFOs from FSU, UF, FAMU, FAU, UNF, and UCF. Members first reviewed major cost drivers, which the universities said are broadly similar across institutions: wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, financial aid, professional services, utilities, IT, and maintenance. Several institutions noted unique pressures from geography, growth, research intensity, and mission, such as UCF’s size and engineering focus, UF’s land-grant and research enterprise, FAMU’s need to recruit top talent while serving a high-Pell student population, and FSU’s large facilities and research obligations. The chancellor also summarized systemwide cost growth since 2012-13, including higher health insurance, retirement, and salary costs, while noting tuition had been held flat. The committee then discussed other revenue sources, including auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. University leaders explained that many of these funds are restricted to specific purposes, and some, like UF Health, account for a large share of operating expenses. Members also discussed the current performance-based funding process. University representatives generally praised it for transparency, accountability, and its focus on student success, but said the heavy use of one-time funds, nonrecurring appropriations, and unfunded mandates makes long-term planning difficult. FSU and others argued that rising employee costs, waivers, and facilities expenses are not fully covered, while FAMU said performance funding has improved outcomes but can disadvantage institutions serving more low-income students. In response to questions about improvements, the universities suggested more recurring and predictable funding, better coverage of mandated costs, more flexibility in fees, and continued investment in research and strategic priorities. The chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a version 3.0 of performance funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications. The committee also explored whether universities should have more flexibility to set out-of-state tuition and professional school tuition. Most university leaders favored giving boards of trustees more authority, while the chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or tuition too much could affect legislative support. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking the panel and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• So those might have been factors involved in this.
• . one, we we um there there's two factors. one, we we know<02:11:03.840><c> data</c><02:11:04.159><c>
• It would be maybe for future, it would be interesting to compare different confounding factors.
• For example, it consilogenic factors.
• to consider, how we can best help the constituents of New Hampshire if that may be a causal factor for

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met as a special House committee on COVID response efficacy, noted absences, and restated its mission to review New Hampshire’s pandemic response, including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID treatment, patient bill of rights implementation, and vaccination policies. The main business was discussion of a proposed letter or report language concerning current COVID vaccine recommendations for young children, especially those under age two, and how to support any conclusions with cited scientific and state sources. Representative Polozov argued that the committee should ask the governor or agencies to reconsider current recommendations, saying the committee should focus on whether vaccination is needed for that age group, whether it is effective, and whether the risks outweigh the benefits. He said he had distributed articles and wanted the committee to pair its conclusions with scientific and statistical data. Other members asked him to identify the specific New Hampshire DHHS and American Academy of Pediatrics sources for the recommendation, clarify the age range being discussed, and separate any evidence about adverse effects in other age groups from the infant/toddler demographic so the letter would be transparent and not misleading. Members generally agreed the letter should be carefully sourced and refined, with citations for each claim. The chair said the committee would treat the request as urgent and try to finalize a version by the next meeting, noting that some members would be traveling. The committee also discussed scheduling additional testimony in September and October, possibly with extra meetings, to continue gathering evidence and to hear from witnesses. The chair then began reviewing supporting articles, including studies he said were new since the 2024 report, and introduced a 2025 South Korea cohort study and another 2025 Italian cohort study as examples of the evidence he wanted to incorporate into an updated 2026 report.

Transcript Highlights:

• And not to debate on that, but part of it is we call it the size factor.
• There's size factor, correct? Yes. Any more questions for Dr. Simone? Senator Axman.
• that just several factors up here that are substantially more than double.
• And when you factor the current reimbursement model, have.
• I wouldn't think it would be that drastic of a change, but that could be a factor.

Committees: Joint Education , Joint Education Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm sorry if I was assuming we were also going to have a discussion about what if the factor, what
• It sounds to me like there's some other factors that are driving this, not just those.
• </c> to me like there's some other factors to me like there's some other factors that<00:15:37.680><c
• </c> complex and driven by multiple factors complex and driven by multiple factors and<01:25:16.520><
• I mean, there's some wow factor, so thank you, Senator Rasmusson. Senator Rasmusson, all right.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or, and that is with inflation factored in, without inflation factored in, the balance is -2.39379 billion
• </c> factored in without inflation factored factored in without inflation factored in<00:04:19.919><c
• But those are the biggest factors.
• But we have not changed the equalization factor for that for a few years.
• The 2.7% inflation factor brings that up by $200 to $748.

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the same factors as reasons why, and the last time this amount was adjusted was also in 2017.
• are is increasing and of course there are the<00:32:40.840><c> inflationary</c><00:32:41.519><c> factors
• c><00:32:42.240><c> that</c><00:32:42.360><c> you</c><00:32:42.559><c> cited</c> the inflationary factors
• as reasons why again the same factors as reasons why and<00:32:57.120><c> the</c><00:32:57.279><c> last
• and health factors and so projects<00:40:31.160><c> can</c><00:40:31.440><c> stay</c><00:40:31.800><

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, it's a factor, I'll say, right?
• </c> factor for sentencing purposes. factor for sentencing purposes.
• Okay, we're not factor in the crime.
• So, the included as a sentencing factor.
• </c> things that do come into that factor. things that do come into that factor.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a couple of factors.
• And this is one of the factors that seems to increase.
• I will tell you money is a factor.
• I will tell you money is a factor, a legitimate factor.
• However, I will tell you that it is money; money is a legitimate factor.

Bills: SB1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• , I've also got to factor in the cost of any benefits that are associated.
• But you have all these other factors that contributed to the liability.
• But you have all these other factors that contributed to the liability.
• But you have all these other factors that contributed to the liability.
• But you have all these other factors that contributed to the liability.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met without a quorum, so the minutes were not approved. The main presentation was from retired economics professors John Garren and Dr. Kums, who discussed their Bluegrass Institute research on teacher compensation in Kentucky since the Kentucky Education Reform Act era. They said teacher base salaries, adjusted for inflation, have declined over the last decade, while state-paid “on-behalf” benefits such as pension and health insurance contributions have risen sharply; they argued total teacher compensation has increased modestly overall, but less than per-pupil funding. They also presented broader context on staffing growth, declining average daily attendance, Kentucky’s low share of teachers among total school staff, and flat or weak NAEP and ACT performance trends, including widening white-Black score gaps on NAEP. Members questioned the methodology and interpretation of the compensation figures. Representative Bojanowski argued the on-behalf calculations may overstate teacher compensation because they include insurance and pension costs that also benefit classified employees and retirees, and he asked for clarification on the denominator used to derive the per-teacher amount. Representative Truit said the presentation could be misleading if it implies teachers earn $94,000 in salary, and he objected to framing pension stabilization payments as teacher pay. The presenters responded that they were using total compensation, not salary alone, said they had divided total personnel-related on-behalf payments by the relevant staff count, and promised to review and send a technical explanation. Representative Truit and Chairman Typton both emphasized that compensation should be viewed as salary plus benefits, not salary alone, and noted that pension contributions are part of the cost of employing teachers. The presenters said their intent was to show the full compensation package and its relevance to labor supply and teacher shortages, not to claim that individual teachers earn the total compensation figure as salary. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the decision to revisit the minutes at a later meeting due to the lack of quorum.