Transcript Highlights:

• IT IS OFTEN SAID FLORIDA HAS THE BEST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN THE NATION. I AGREE WITH THAT.
• MAYOR TRAINING WITH THE DIVISION OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• I HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WITH STAFF.
• AND BE REVIEWED IN THE AUDITS BEFORE YOU DRAFTED THE BILL? >> I DID NOT. >> Sen.
• POLICE THEM AN AUDIT THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS WITH THIS MONEY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• need to manage where folks are going. need to manage where folks are going.
• <00:40:27.040> something we're we're trying to manage something we're we're trying to manage
• <00:40:29.160> by that I think needs to be managed by that I think needs to be managed by
• that we've got to have to help them manage.
• <01:04:01.360> council's And and I know management council's And and I know management council's

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee opened with quorum and housekeeping, then began setting interim topics for discussion. The first major topic was trapping, including prior legislation on mandatory trapper education and trapping setbacks. The Game and Fish director said the department had already gone through a trapping reform process in 2018-2019 and was prepared to testify on those issues again, noting that the commission had previously wanted legislative authority for them. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on a proposed non-motorized trail user fee. Supporters argued it could help fund trail systems and match state trail grants, citing demand for professionally built trails and examples from other states. Testimony estimated potential revenue at roughly $150,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on the model, while noting enforcement would likely rely on an honor system. Committee members discussed possible alternatives and related ideas, including using good neighbor authority with federal land managers and looking at motorized trail funding models. The director said the concept was not yet ready for immediate passage but was worth continued discussion. The committee also briefly discussed fishing outfitter issues, with the co-chair noting a prior bill had passed and that the current board still exists, but more data would be needed later in the interim. Another topic addressed ticket scalping and fake tickets at Jackson’s rodeo, which the sponsor said was affecting visitors and could warrant broader state discussion. The State Archives topic proposed expanding the digital archive and requiring agencies to use it, with added resources for local governments; staff said it would improve security, access, and storage efficiency. The committee then discussed problematic gaming and program funding, but noted a pending bill to create a separate statutory select committee on gaming, so the topic may be better handled there if formed. The final major discussion was the Game and Fish budget. The director said employee compensation increases had raised salary costs from about 40% to 60% of the budget, while overall revenue had not kept pace, forcing cuts to habitat and research work. She warned the department could reach a critical budget point by 2030. Committee members and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation supported a deeper interim review of the department’s finances and possible new revenue sources, with the director suggesting a three-meeting structure: first to lay out the budget outlook, then to discuss additional revenue options, and finally to consider what future generations may have to pay.

Transcript Highlights:

• our growth and to manage our population.
• And I serve as the city manager of the city of Kerrville.
• Council members to be able to manage.
• So I'm just looking at the audited financials.
• My city manager... Is the one who's been setting the tax rate.

Bills: HB17, HB23, SB 10

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:24.640> prepared<00:22:25.200> for public accounts and audits prepared for public
• accounts and audits prepared for the<00:22:25.600> sunset<00:22:26.159> committee.
• you know, bring boards like that together so that shared cost of one executive director would be manageable
• :24:52.159> director<00:24:52.559> would<00:24:52.799> be<00:24:53.120> manageable
• executive director would be manageable executive director would be manageable for<00:24:53.760><

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Others look very workforce-oriented, if you're familiar with CTE audit.
• Others look very workforce-oriented, if you're familiar with CTE audit.
• So our students ...science management programs and the fifth is radiology.
• , focused on acquisitions, project management, quality improvement, and technology management; a Bachelor
• That has been a challenge for us, and how do we manage that?

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary held an informational hearing focused on how Florida’s public colleges and universities are aligning bachelor’s degree programs with workforce needs and improving student outcomes. Chancellor Kathy Hebda described Florida College System enrollment growth, the state college system’s workforce-oriented bachelor’s degrees, approval and accountability processes for those programs, and outcomes data showing strong completion and wage results, especially in health care. Emily Sykes of the Board of Governors outlined the State University System’s program review practices, performance-based funding metrics, strategic emphasis programs, and the MyFloridaFuture tool that lets students compare earnings, debt, and employment outcomes by major and institution. University and college leaders then described campus-level workforce initiatives. Florida Gulf Coast University highlighted employer-driven microcredentials, digital badges, internships, career fairs, service learning, and partnerships with regional employers. UCF discussed its career navigator requirements, major industry partnerships such as Lockheed Martin, nursing and faculty career-integration efforts, and a centralized career development center. Northwest Florida State College and the University of West Florida emphasized their bachelor’s programs, transfer pathways, teacher and nursing outcomes, military and defense-related workforce pipelines, cybersecurity training, and stackable credentials tied to regional labor needs. During member questions, senators asked how microcredentials and military experience translate into college credit, whether credentials transfer across institutions, and what legislators can do to help. Witnesses said the state’s common course and articulation systems already support transfer, and they encouraged continued legislative support for innovation, faster curriculum alignment, internships, and specialized transfer degrees. No bills were voted on, and the meeting ended with no public comment and an adjournment motion adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on kind of, it was a federal audit on claims, and so we have the audits of the claims and the claim
• As Michelle and Tyler indicated, this was a financial management audit of the actual claims.
• There are certain benefits that are only available in managed care, including enhanced care management
• and care management, like ECM.
• , manage employment verification, Able to conduct fraud prevention audits, manage employment verification

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee first heard May Revision items for child support, child care, and related human services. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the LAO said raised no concerns. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a shift in how federal and Proposition 64 funding reductions would be absorbed, a 2.01% COLA, disaster-related child care infrastructure grants, an increase in in-contract administrative support costs for alternative payment agencies, reversion of prospective-pay implementation funding after a federal rule change, a one-time allocation to cover the first quarter of Cost of Care Plus payments in the next fiscal year, reappropriation for existing infrastructure grant closeout work, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The department also outlined trailer bill language on a single rate structure, site safety and emergency procedures, CalWORKs child care data sharing, and child care oversight. The LAO recommended that the Legislature seek more justification for shifting reductions from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment Program, noting that CAP reductions affect more slots and that General Child Care has had significant unspent funds. It supported removing prospective-pay funding, but recommended rejecting the administrative cost shift to a percentage-based rate because it could create future General Fund pressure. It also suggested the Legislature review alignment between the disaster grants and the child care infrastructure program. Senators and members pressed the administration on why the budget would reduce child care slots and COLA percentages while the state still has waitlists and unspent funds, and questioned the need for early funding of Cost of Care Plus payments and the move from a flat administrative amount to a percentage. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, county offices, and infrastructure partners, urged full COLA funding, preservation of child care slots, support for prospective pay, and continued investment in child care access and facilities. After a short recess, the committee moved to Part B on health and heard the Department of State Hospitals. DSH presented a May Revision budget of $3.2 billion and described proposals for a central utility plant replacement at Metropolitan State Hospital, an electronic health record implementation, reduced county bed billing authority due to phased-in LPS bed capacity, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscriptions, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal shifting some costs to Behavioral Health Services Act funds, including support for an additional psychiatric training cohort at Napa. The department also outlined IST-related savings and a trailer bill to remove the sunset on the independent placement panel program.

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency salary reflects the knowledge and leadership skills required to manage the agency and prevents
• You all would probably laugh at me if I came in here and requested enough FTEs to manage that.
• It was also highlighted in an SAO audit that we were not performing these queries, and we are trying
• to address that audit finding.
• For instance, we only have nine FTEs to audit over 82,000 active licenses.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > of<00:16:30.480> the information systems manager of the information systems manager of
• "Um, the audit.
• audit and ethics. ethics. ethics.
• I mean all of that is management.
• help our supervisors and our managers. help our supervisors and our managers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And he's coached and managed 40-plus... Thank you.
• The Golf Hall of Fame, and he's coached and managed 40-plus American Cups, 20 Ryder Cups, seven amateur
• Senate Bill 145, introduced by Senator Muñoz, an act relating to auditing, providing for federal single
• audits, amending the Audit Act, restructuring audit requirements, amending local public body audit thresholds
• , amending definitions, updating terms, amending audit reporting requirements, amending the audit fund

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During the 88th session, we passed Senate Bill 1801, which requires districts to systematically audit
• Should he want to submit a new application, this approach maintains the integrity of the homestead audit
• Nothing negates the obligation of the appraisal district to continue to audit and find out whether or
• What we are asking for in the committee substitute is that right now, in order to pass an audit from
• We had, when we started doing the property values and the homestead audits, a couple of new residents

Bills: HB249, HB 1186, HB2313, HB2408, HB2508, HB2730, HB2974, HB3045, HB3232, HB3336, HB3710, HB4044, HB4236, HJR133, HB249

Keywords: ad valorem taxes, property taxes, homestead exemption, disabled veterans, senior citizens, tax payments, installment payments, municipal tax revenue, hotel, convention center, tax code, economic development, local government, municipality, tax revenue, qualified projects, municipal taxation, hotel project, municipality funding, veteran

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:

• The audit team is also part of enforcement, so we have five auditors who audit the books and records
• firms, those other firms do out-of-state audits and multi-state audits.
• firms, those other firms do out-of-state audits and multi-state audits.
• In essence, we have $12.2 million in management assets and 1,900 accounts.
• have um $12.2 million uh in management have um $12.2 million uh in management uh<05:24:44.558>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• Burke, sorry, he was my old manager.
• Burke, sorry, he was my old manager. Mr. Burke, sorry, he was my old manager.
• So, and it has to be vetted and it's managed and it has to be vetted and it's managed um<01:28:08.080
• a<03:08:50.720> long-term The audit estimates that a long-term The audit estimates that
• um road safety audit of February 2024. um road safety audit of February 2024.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide public safety, they help maintain infrastructure, and they provide emergency management
• businesses up to Fortune 500 businesses in this particular area, in the application and defense in audit
• businesses up to Fortune 500 businesses in this particular area, in the application and defense in audit
• And so in one instance, we had a member who had an audit, ...polluted and confusing.
• So in one instance, we had a member who had an audit.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard several tax and economic development bills. SB 935 would exempt counties from the motor fuels tax on fuel used exclusively in county vehicles; Sen. Hall and Cass County Judge Travis Ransom argued it would save counties money without changing fund allocations, and the bill was left pending while the committee waited for the House version. SB 2206 would extend and revise Texas’s research and development incentives by tying the franchise tax credit more closely to federal law and changing the program’s effective date; supporters from business, manufacturing, and tax policy groups said it would protect innovation jobs and help startups, while the Comptroller’s office explained the fiscal note and said the committee substitute was no longer needed. The committee later withdrew the substitute and left the bill pending before ultimately voting it out favorably. The committee also heard SB 2020, which would repeal the “rehab tax” on nonresidential remodeling. Sen. Campbell said a large fiscal note led him to delay a full presentation, but builders, architects, and contractors testified that the tax raises remodeling costs, complicates audits, and discourages reuse and reinvestment in existing buildings. The bill was left pending. SB 2018 would create a two-year “strong families” tax credit for businesses donating to nonprofits that provide family support services; supporters from Family First, Buckner International, and Texas Baptist said it would strengthen families, father engagement, and upstream prevention, while the author said the Comptroller and HHSC were still working on administration details. That bill was also left pending. After a quorum was established, the committee heard and later reported several bills favorably. SB 1030 would exempt certain aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul parts from sales tax for general aviation; industry, airport, and local economic development witnesses said it would keep high-wage aviation work in Texas and improve competitiveness with neighboring states, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 214 would create a temporary sales tax holiday for qualifying residential HVAC systems; it was laid out and left pending. SB 1901 would make administrative and ethics changes to the Opioid Abatement Fund Council, including staggered terms, conflict rules, and fund reallocation procedures; it was reported favorably. SB 266 would repeal the Texas Research Incentive Program and use the appropriation to address the existing backlog of unmatched donations; the chair and Sen. Paxton said the state should honor past commitments, and the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:07.440> division administration unit the audit division administration unit the audit
• <00:33:22.120> and really is if you're not under audit and really is if you're not under audit
• Who audits the disposition of the funds?
• management management system<02:28:12.960> uh<02:28:13.120> Tims<02:28:13.439> was<
• plant which uh is very well audited plant which uh is very well audited already<04:14:32.119>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an overview from Chris of the Legislative Budget Assistance Office on how it will estimate unrestricted revenues for the General Fund, Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund. He explained that the committee’s work is based on current law, not pending bills, and that the estimates will feed into a House resolution and an amendment to House Bill 1, the operating budget. He also described the broader budget process, including how House and Senate estimates are reconciled, how surplus statements account for revenue changes from enacted bills, and how a committee of conference could resolve differences later in the session. No votes were taken. Members then asked about why the Education Trust Fund was running below plan. Chris said the shortfall appeared to be driven largely by business taxes, including differences in the BET/BPT split and improved tax-processing systems that better track where business tax payments belong. Representative Orr also asked about tobacco tax collections and out-of-state sales; Chris said tobacco revenue was likely overestimated in 2023 based on COVID-era patterns, with more people smoking at home, and noted that e-cigarette tax revenue goes to the General Fund while cigarette taxes are split between the General Fund and Education Trust Fund. He said he did not have a specific estimate for cross-border sales. Commissioner Lindsay St. Pierre of the Department of Revenue then began a deeper dive into the department’s role and the taxes it administers. She reviewed the department’s mission, organizational structure, taxpayer services, and the tax policy and legislative analysis staff who prepare fiscal notes and testify on bills. She noted that the department administers about $2.9 billion in revenue across major taxes such as business taxes, meals and rooms, and utility property tax, and that the figures being discussed were preliminary because the annual report had not yet been issued. The discussion was informational only, with no formal action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two types of audits: the district vulnerability assessment and the intruder detection audit
• Regarding the intruder detection audit overview, TEA has conducted intruder detection audits for three
• years now, which equates to about 935 audits per month.
• to the intruder detection audit, which is a snapshot.
• They did an equity audit, and the equity audit... What does that mean? I'm going to tell you.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• manage a certain portion of our portfolio.
• Right now, we have a manager.
• Managers a portion of the $3 billion, but RVK currently is over them and managed that for them for us
• So there is someone currently managing this. Gotcha. That's what'm You don't want me managing it.
• OK, someone's currently managing this. Correct, as Chairman.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:40.640> that that point is overall an an audit that that point is overall an an audit
• And that audit oftent will take place.
• We've done an audit here. Uh, the letter in some cases, I don't love the tone of it.
• We've done an audit here. Uh, the letter in some cases, I don't love the tone of it.
• getting sucked into these uh audit getting sucked into these uh audit processes,<00:52:40.960>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began by discussing 15 retained bills and the chair’s preference to keep them alive through interim study rather than kill them, using them as vehicles for further discussion and possible later amendments. The chair said the bills would be executed out by November and then move to the House floor in January, and members generally agreed that interim study was the prevailing motion for the retained bills. Several health-related bills were then discussed. On Senate Bill 247, concerning pharmacy network exclusion when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost, members said the issue had been presented differently in prior discussions and noted unfamiliar intermediaries such as PSAOs; the bill was viewed as too complex to resolve immediately, so interim study was favored. A bill on treatment alternatives to opiates was said to need an amendment from the Insurance Department, and a bill on self-funded employer access to claims data was described as having changed substantially through amendment; the sponsor explained it was intended to incentivize self-funded plans to opt into the state’s all-payer claims database (CHIS) so their data could be used for cost analysis, and members indicated a separate bill would be brought later. The committee spent the most time on a glucose monitoring bill, with testimony from a sponsor and a parent of a type 1 diabetic describing the medical benefits of continuous glucose monitors, especially for preventing dangerous lows and managing fluctuations. Opponents and committee members raised concerns about the cost of a mandate, the effect on premiums in the individual and small-group markets, and whether the bill should require coverage without a prescription; one member cited medical literature suggesting limited evidence for non-insulin users. The chair concluded the bill was headed to interim study and said the committee would do further homework on the economic impact, especially for type 1 coverage. The meeting then moved on to a bill about insurer audits and clawbacks, where the Insurance Department commissioner explained that the issue involved several separate provider-payment problems that had recently come to the department’s attention and that the department would provide a report and work with the sponsor on next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, when we went to managed care, we kind of handed things over.
• You know, when we went to managed care, we kind of handed things over.
• Joint legislative audit committees are so important. I sat on J-LAC for years.
• Joint legislative audit committees are so important.
• Will AHCA audit providers' records? So can you explain the method we can use to implement this?

Summary: The Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills. SB 1546 on background screening for athletic coaches was explained as another extension of the deadline for coaches to be added to the background screening clearinghouse; it passed favorably with support from athletic and youth sports organizations. SB 958 on type 1 diabetes early detection was amended to match the House version, requiring the Department of Health to provide school districts, school boards, and charter schools with informational materials for parents; it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. CS/SB 1070 on electrocardiograms for student athletes drew extensive discussion about sudden cardiac arrest prevention, implementation timelines, costs, funding through private and public sources, and whether insurance, KidCare, or Medicaid should cover screenings; after supportive testimony from school and athletic groups, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also heard SB 1060, which would create a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid managed care to review encounter data, financials, audits, and rebate calculations with assistance from an actuary and the Auditor General. The sponsor and several senators framed it as a transparency and verification measure in response to large mid-year Medicaid funding increases and concerns about network adequacy and vertical integration; it passed favorably. CS/SB 944, which shortens the insurer overpayment recovery look-back period for claims involving psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, also passed favorably with support from the Florida Psychological Association. SB 1370, moving ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute rather than under hospital licensure provisions, was supported by surgery center representatives and reported favorably. The committee approved SB 768, as amended, to narrow the foreign-country-of-concern licensure attestation for health care entities to direct controlling interests and clarify the “reasonable efforts” standard; it passed after questions about how the standard would work in practice. SB 1544 on opticianry prompted significant debate over whether the bill would limit nonlicensed staff in ophthalmology and optometry settings; after a proposed amendment was withdrawn and multiple witnesses spoke both for and against, the bill was temporarily postponed. Finally, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment to SB 1808 requiring health care practitioners and facilities to refund patient overpayments within 30 days, with enforcement through AHCA fines or professional discipline, and then reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a member of AAMVA, and the top-level management of that system is done there.
• That's under, I believe, Section 4 of the GAO's auditing report.
• Section 4 of the GAO's auditing report.
• However, it's an audit term, and it is related to internal control deficiencies.
• She's one of our budget managers with the CHP.

Summary: The committee first heard a DMV budget presentation on the state-to-state verification system required for Real ID compliance and the Digital Experience Platform (DXP) modernization project. DMV officials said the state-to-state system is a pointer-based exchange used when a person applies for a license in another state, with only limited identifying data shared initially and the full driver history sent only after a qualified request. Members raised concerns about privacy, possible misuse by other states or federal actors, notification to Californians, hacking, and whether California could detect or stop abusive access. DMV said it can monitor requests, see patterns of access, work with AAMVA and legal counsel, and seek to block or challenge misuse; LAO said California is in a difficult position and should consider guardrails rather than opt out. On DXP, DMV said the project is on its revised schedule and budget, occupational licensing is complete, vehicle registration is expected by the end of calendar year 2026, and the full system should be finished by fiscal year 2028-29, with phased rollout and reappropriated funding to keep costs controlled. The committee then heard from the California High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General on a trailer bill and AB 1608. The Inspector General said current law does not clearly authorize public reports or establish a framework for retaining and disclosing work papers, and the proposed trailer bill would create that framework while also adding authority to hire needed classifications and purchase goods and services. He also said the office needs a clearer statutory definition of “proposed agreements” and notice when the High-Speed Rail Authority is reviewing them, so the office can review contracts and related agreements effectively. LAO raised no concerns with the trailer bill language, and Finance said any amendments would come in the May revision. Members debated the scope of confidentiality in the Inspector General proposal, especially whether reports could be held confidential when they identify weaknesses in fraud controls, security, or other vulnerabilities. The Inspector General said confidentiality would be temporary, tied to articulating the risk, reassessing it every 120 days, and releasing the report once the risk is no longer substantial; he also said the office had already published reports at its discretion and had found at least one procurement violation involving an amendment that added services not in the original contract. Several members pressed for stronger transparency and suggested time limits or broader disclosure, while others argued the bill would improve oversight and make the Inspector General’s authority clearer. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the item was left for further work on the trailer bill and AB 1608 language.