Transcript Highlights:

• and grant... ...requiring charter schools to meet audit and grant deadlines that are earlier than their
• Many districts currently require charter school audits to be submitted by August 1st, just 30 days after
• But I think we could all agree that if charter staff are asking for, say, an audited financial statement
• If I was a charter school and I'm being asked for those audited financials...
• If I was a charter school and I'm being asked for those audit financials 30 days after we know we do

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and took up several education bills. SB 1150, which would remove an unrelated exam barrier for school social workers to help districts retain them, was briefly explained and reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1514 on anaphylaxis in public schools, which would require emergency action plans and training for school personnel; amendments narrowed and clarified the bill, including applicability to K-8 schools and FDA-approved epinephrine devices. Orange County Public Schools waived in support, and CS/CS/SB 1514 was reported favorably. The committee spent the most time on SB 1708, which expands Schools of Hope and creates a co-location framework allowing high-performing charter operators to share space in underused public school facilities, with the sponsor explaining that agreements would address safety, supervision, grade levels, emergency protocols, and liability. Members raised concerns about who would be served, lottery access, accountability, and whether the bill would worsen inequities or strain public schools; many public speakers opposed the bill on similar grounds, arguing it would divert resources from already underfunded schools. The sponsor clarified that Schools of Hope recruitment is exempt from lottery, that the bill would not use classrooms already in use, and that districts would receive $600 per student plus associated funding for vacant space. Despite mixed debate, CS for SB 1708 was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS/SB 822, which updates charter school governance by limiting sponsor-imposed deadlines, preventing enrollment caps below facility capacity, improving data sharing, and allowing high-performing charter schools to assume existing charters. A charter school advocate supported the bill as a fairness and efficiency measure, while senators pressed him on claims of district “harassment” and the basis for the bill’s deadline changes. After brief debate, CS/SB 822 was reported favorably. The meeting ended with members recording votes on prior tabs and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• They need to be audited. I just heard a lot about the inefficiencies at TxDOT.
• They needed to be audited, wasteful spending, diversion of funds, and I, too, am really pleased that,
• I've been on the internal audit committee since 2021, and I've been chair of the audit committee at TxDOT
• I've been on the internal audit committee since 2021, and I've been chair of the audit committee at TxDOT

Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations met to consider several gubernatorial nominees and first approved a slate of nominees left pending from the March 31 agenda. The committee voted 5-0 to favorably report those nominees to the full Senate for confirmation. Public testimony was then opened and later closed, with some listed witnesses not appearing. The committee heard testimony on Jerry K. Weldon II for the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors. Senators focused on stewardship of the Brazos River, the authority’s relationship to the legislature and the public, Sunset review, water quality and nutrient runoff, impaired waterways, and possible uses of constructed wetlands for aggregate mine reclamation. Weldon emphasized collaboration, transparency, and keeping the citizens of Texas as the authority’s primary customer. Commissioner Robert Vaughn was considered for reappointment to the Texas Transportation Commission. Discussion centered on TxDOT’s management, rural funding, population growth, project delivery, and the commissioner’s role on the audit committee. Doug McCreakin was considered for the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, with questions about legislative priorities, compliance with DEI-related state law, workforce development, rural medical education, and university partnerships. Jody Giles was considered for reappointment to the University of Texas Board of Regents, and Bernadette Carrasco Coleman for reappointment to the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents; both discussed higher education priorities, PUF funding, compliance with state law, and student support programs. John Rutherford was considered for reappointment to the Teachers Retirement System Board of Trustees, with questions about fiduciary oversight, investment understanding, and keeping the retirement system solvent. Brigadier General Michael Boyd was also considered for appointment to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, where discussion focused on military retention, child care, spouse licensing, base infrastructure, and grant funding for Texas installations. The committee did not take final votes on these later nominees during the hearing and left them pending subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• a 37 to 1 vote, and it had very specific parameters and under Florida Statute 163 had the annual auditing
• So here's my question: Have you reviewed any of those audits of the 200 CRAs before you drafted this
• So here's my question: Have you reviewed any of those audits of the 200 CRAs before you drafted this
• new project is, but again, I think we should also apply sanctions on the CRAs that don't pass the audit
• And we do have, as Senator Jones said, an organization to police them and audit them and make sure that

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met and took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with SB 262 on trust law technical changes. Senator Berman explained four clarifications involving trust decanting, successor trustee actions, ademption by satisfaction, and homestead/community trust definitions; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SJR 174 and SB 176, which together would prevent certain homestead tax assessment increases when owners elevate flood-prone homes, and SB 180, a hurricane preparedness and response bill that included a strike-all amendment addressing FEMA reimbursement, mutual aid, hazard mitigation, and post-disaster rebuilding issues. Supporters from emergency management, beaches, counties, and local business groups testified in favor of SB 180, and it was reported favorably. Members then approved SB 608, which renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Florida statutes, despite questions about cost and an appearance in opposition. SB 1002, dealing with utility service restrictions and local government limits on energy-related policies, drew opposition from Earthjustice and Florida for All over possible unintended consequences and fossil-fuel favoritism, but was still reported favorably. SB 466 on the Florida Museum of Black History generated extensive testimony, with strong support from St. Augustine, Florida Memorial University, pastors, local officials, and the museum foundation for locating the museum in St. Johns County; one witness argued for Eatonville instead, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 1128 on building permits for single-family dwellings after an amendment clarified local zoning review and added insurance and liability protections for design professionals. SB 582, increasing penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures, was reported favorably with support from preservation advocates. SB 1202, extending family health insurance premium benefits to firefighters permanently disabled during training exercises, also passed without opposition. Finally, SB 1242 on community redevelopment agencies prompted the most debate: supporters argued CRAs can be valuable tools for affordable housing and redevelopment, while opponents warned the bill would effectively end all CRAs by 2045 and block new projects; after extensive discussion, the bill was reported favorably. At the end, senators recorded additional votes on several tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did not pay out cities and counties any cash or any funding until 100% of everything was audited.
• But with that AI, Director, would you have a human go behind it and audit it and make sure that we're
• Again, investments that folks have made in us for technology to be able to automate audits and things
• Again, investments that folks have made in us for technology to be able to automate audits and things
• I see a day where we could potentially do a lot of our— we have to audit 100% of all records.

Summary: The Economic Development Budget Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster costs, recovery operations, sheltering, and major capital projects. He reviewed the 2024 hurricane season impacts from Debby, Helene, and Milton, explaining how FEMA public assistance and state reimbursement work, how cost shares can shift from 75/25 to 90/10 after a federal threshold is reached, and how Florida uses prior storm data and inflation to estimate recovery costs. He also described the state’s faster reimbursement timelines, crediting legislative investments in technology and digital field documentation, and said the division is working to reduce disaster closeout timelines from decades to about seven years. Members asked about debris removal, FEMA de-obligations, local preparedness, and whether regional shelters or co-located emergency operations centers could be used more efficiently. Guthrie said debris assistance is complicated and should generally remain tied to local contracts and planning, though the state will help fiscally constrained communities when needed. He explained de-obligations as FEMA clawing back previously approved funds after later review, and said Florida’s FROC program is helping local governments reduce those risks through standardized documentation, procurement review, and training. He also urged more mandatory emergency-management training for local and state officials and cautioned against weakening the FEMA 50% rule for rebuilding damaged structures. Guthrie provided updates on the new central Florida warehouse in Auburndale and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. He said the warehouse will improve logistics, include cold and ultra-cold storage, and be run by a private vendor with virtual inventory tracking, while the new EOC is designed for Category 5 conditions and expanded partner capacity. He acknowledged budget pressures that reduced the size of the EOC project and said an additional IT request was needed because those costs were not originally included. The meeting ended with praise for FDEM’s work and no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• At present, DOE only receives audits from districts but does not report to districts.
• If other legislation requires feedback on those audits from DRA, this assures that it is sent to all
• DRA has informed that their communication to districts in regards to timeliness of audit submission is
• At present, DOE only receives<01:23:16.159> audits<01:23:16.639> from<01:23:16.960>
• from DRRA, this assures that it audits from DRRA, this assures that it is<01:23:26.000> sent<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're here to say that we understand. but also post election audits are but also post election audits
• Logging and auditing. All user and system actions are logged and auditable.
• Logging<01:26:46.800> and<01:26:47.360> auditing.
• All user and Logging and auditing.
• So whatever happens on that auditable.

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• More concerning, however, is the requirement that these audits be made public.
• More concerning, however, is the requirement that these audits be made public.
• We strongly suggest removing the public posting requirements from these audits.
• It is related to the audits being... ...is a valid concern.
• It is related to the audits being twice a year and having the third-party requirement, an independent

Summary: The committee first heard AB 56, which would require social media platforms to display a warning label about potential mental health harms from prolonged use, with amendments shortening the initial warning and allowing immediate access to the platform. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost a daughter to suicide and a therapist, argued that social media contributes to teen anxiety, self-harm, and other harms and that families need clearer public health information. Opponents from tech and civil liberties groups argued the bill would be ineffective, burdensome, and likely unconstitutional, saying it would create warning fatigue and should be replaced by more targeted tools and digital literacy measures. Several members discussed emergency access concerns, language access, and whether the warning should be more actionable; the bill was moved on a 9-0 vote to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then took up AB 358, which would amend CalECPA to allow law enforcement, with the victim’s consent, to inspect certain abandoned tracking or surveillance devices found in a victim’s home, vehicle, or personal property without first obtaining a warrant. The author and a San Diego prosecutor said the bill is narrowly tailored to devices used solely for spying and is intended to help stalking and domestic violence survivors act quickly before evidence is lost. Opponents from EFF and the ACLU warned the bill would weaken warrant protections, create a loophole around CalECPA, and reduce transparency and accountability. Members debated Fourth Amendment issues, abandonment, and the practical need for rapid access; the bill passed the committee on a 9-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1137, which builds on last year’s CSAM reporting law by allowing any user to report child sexual abuse material, requiring clearer reporting mechanisms, adding human review in some cases, and mandating third-party audits and public reporting. Supporters, including survivor advocates and a parent of a child victim, said the bill would reduce the burden on survivors and improve removal of abusive content. Tech industry opponents said they support the goal but objected to the human-review mandate, public audit disclosures, and enforcement provisions, arguing they could create security risks and compliance burdens. Members generally supported the bill’s intent but raised questions about audit frequency and human review; the bill was moved on call with seven votes at the time of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• required quarterly and annual reporting for the program, in addition to regular state and federal audits
• We had a testifier who said that this report is an audit.
• I would like to see if there's actual evidence where you can show on that the audit may be an error that
• um have you seen this report an audit um have you seen this report and<00:46:53.119> can<00:46
• <00:47:51.240> may you can can show on that the audit may you can can show on that the audit

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• first item on the agenda is SCR 137, requesting the Office of the Auditor to conduct a performance audit
• The first one is SCR 137, requesting the Office of the Auditor conduct a performance audit on the University
• 07:15.360> conduct<00:07:15.680> a<00:07:15.840> performance<00:07:16.280> audit

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education, meeting jointly at points with the Committee on Health and Human Services, heard testimony on SCR 137, which asks the Office of the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, and on SCR 203/SR 163, which asks the University of Hawaiʻi to explore establishing an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and to identify requirements for federal funding from the National Institute on Aging. The meeting also noted that it was being streamed live and could be recessed or adjourned due to technical issues, with any unfinished business to be taken up later. For SCR 203/SR 163, Kobe Chop of the Alzheimer’s Association testified in support, saying the measure would help get the process started for an ADRC in Hawaiʻi and that recent federal action had kept funding available long enough to clarify next steps. Another supporter said the state’s diverse population and research opportunities made the proposal worthwhile. No opposition testimony was recorded, and the committees moved the measure to decision-making. In voting, the joint committees recommended passage of SCR 203/SR 163 as is, with members voting aye and the recommendation adopted. The Higher Education Committee then took up SCR 137 and likewise recommended passage as is; one member stated an intent to vote no while the chair and others voted aye, and the recommendation was adopted. The committee then adjourned/recessed after completing the agenda items.

Transcript Highlights:

• continuing on to the next page, allows the Comptroller General to conduct performance and financial audits
• . ...and financial audits for any non-state agency that receives grant and aid funds, and also allows
• Section 9, on page 22, line 17, details the submission of audits or other financial statements with agency
• costs associated with each county's paramedic service program, and also states that funds are to be audited
• The report shall include corrective actions, any governance changes, personnel actions, and audit plans

Summary: The Joint Finance Committee met to review and vote on the fiscal year 2027 Grants and Aid Act, which was expected to be pre-filed as Senate Bill 337. Members first reviewed Section 1, covering county seat payments, paramedic operations, senior center allocations, senior center transportation, and Homeland Security grants. They approved Section 1 after discussion of how senior center transportation is being moved from DART to grant-in-aid and how some organizations can appear in both the senior center formula and the general aging category. The committee then worked through Section 2, which included one-time appropriations and the various grant categories for aging, arts/historical/recreation, economic housing or labor services, family and youth services, health or disability services, and neighborhood and community services. Members discussed several specific items, including New Castle County reassessment-related funding, Friends of Cooch’s Bridge, Slaughter Neck Community Action Organization, Plastic-Free Delaware, Love, Inc. of the Delmarva, and the Southern Delaware Horse Retirement Association. One aging line for Slaughter Neck was reduced back to flat funding after members questioned a large increase, and the revised category total was adjusted accordingly. Each of the Section 2 subcategories was then adopted. Section 3, covering fire companies and public service ambulance companies, was approved with increases across apparatus, ambulance, rescue truck, aerial truck, rescue boat, substation, and insurance rebate equalization funding. Section 4, for veterans organizations and youth programs such as Boys State, Girls State, and Trooper Youth Week, was also adopted. The committee then approved the epilogue sections, which included eligibility, audit, payment, and reporting rules; special provisions for the Wilmington Senior Center contingency; conditions tied to several one-time appropriations; withholding funding from Merri-Dell Volunteer Fire Company pending a corrective report; and reprogramming $1,485,000 from a prior SMART food program appropriation toward SNAP/WIC-related food access initiatives. The meeting ended with remarks thanking staff and noting that it was likely the last JFC meeting for two members, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• you have ever had a business where you've had the federal government come in and do a federal labor audit
• The other way is through the Department of Labor, whether they choose to do some sort of random audit
• or if they have had complaints against your business. ...some sort of random audit or if they have had
• complaints against your business, then they could come in and do an audit based on a complaint.
• It is not something that triggers additional inspections or audits or anything.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed House Bill 4245, the Department of Revenue rules bundle covering 27 rules from six agencies. Members withdrew the committee amendment, adopted a floor amendment making changes to two lottery rules and one tax rule related to pre-need cemetery companies, then passed the bill 30-1. The Senate also adopted a title amendment and made the bill effective from passage by a 31-0 vote. Later, when the House rejected the Senate’s amendments, the Senate receded from its amendments and again passed the bill, making it effective from passage. The chamber also adopted several concurrent resolutions from the Rules Committee, including studies on school finance transparency, divorce grounds, the Southern West Virginia water crisis, athletic trainer access in public secondary schools, the eastern gray fox population, upland game bird stamp purchases, and the Public Service Commission. Senate Concurrent Resolution 50, calling for a study of the PSC, was also adopted. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 5381, which expands the Office of Energy’s role to develop a comprehensive energy policy and grid stabilization plan, and House Bill 5412, the Future Ready Education Act, after amending it to require annual vocational and agriculture offerings unless not viable and to set science-of-reading training requirements for K-5 literacy teachers by 2028-29. The Senate passed House Bill 845, a supplemental appropriation to the Governor’s Office Civil Contingent Fund, after concurring in a House amendment that reappropriated federal match grant funds and increased the civil contingency surplus fund from $15 million to $25 million; it was made effective from passage. The chamber also concurred in House amendments to House Bill 4106 on constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program, House Bill 5453 revising the school aid funding formula for special education weighting, and other measures including House Bill 4009 on portable benefits, Senate Bill 164 on substitute teacher definitions, and House Bill 4606 on pretrial release for certain felonies. A lengthy debate centered on House Bill 4198, the E-Verify Safe Harbor Act. The Judiciary Committee amendment would have required public and certain private employers to use E-Verify, while a further amendment from the Senator from Randolph would have limited the mandate to public employers and made E-Verify optional for private employers with liability protections for good-faith use. After extensive discussion about small business impacts, federal-state conflicts, and enforcement, the Senate adopted the Randolph amendment and then passed the bill 31-3, with a title amendment also adopted. The Senate later refused to concur in House amendments to House Bill 4010, concurred in House amendments to House Bill 5438, receded from amendments to House Bill 4765, and adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is David Osman, and in my role at Gibson Consulting Group, I lead assessment audits in districts
• Our audits consistently show that students experience a large number of assessments.
• These audits show that teachers have great concern about these locally created assessments often more
• In one district that we audited, middle school students participated in about 29 different benchmark
• In one audited district, we found an assessment where it only identified 50% of students who later failed

Bills: SB8, SB 8

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• BECAUSE IS NOT JUST ABOUT ENROLLMENTS OR COMPLETIONS BUT WE WANT EQUALITY THROUGH THE CTE QUALITY AUDIT
• ON THE POSTSECONDARY AUDIT METRICS THE FIRST IS ARE WE RETENTION RATE OR SUCCESS RATE?
• WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE AUDIT RESULTS BUT FOR THE IN DEMAND OCCUPATIONS WE USE AGAIN THE CRITERIA THAT
• TAKING ALL THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE WE RUN THOSE THROUGH THE CTE AUDIT METRICS WHERE WE LOOK AT THE RETENTION
• SO THE CHANCELLOR SPOKE ABOUT THE AUDIT PROCESS THAT HE DOES WITH HIS DEPARTMENT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on different size more small and audits on different size more small and mediumsiz<01:27:28.560>
• going to be uh relief of of audit going to be uh relief of of audit expense<01:27:50.480> uh<
• Um, we've heard that those audited financial statements are around $25,000 down to $7,500.
• <01:29:42.080> financial that move from an audited financial that move from an audited financial
• 29:45.280> financial heard that those audited financial heard that those audited financial statements

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by the University's Office of Internal Audit.
• by the University's periodic audits by the University's office<00:51:32.880> of<00:51:33.040>
• internal<00:51:33.480> audit<00:51:34.280> and<00:51:34.400> I'll office
• of internal audit and I'll office of internal audit and I'll address<00:51:35.000> the<00:51:
• Finally, at a deeper level, we have an office of internal audit that reports to our Board of Regents.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe the monitoring and this auditing is extremely important if we're ever going to undo where
• I am not in any way objecting to the idea of collecting data and monitoring or auditing how we're using
• how we're using monitoring or auditing how we're using our<00:39:58.880> special<00:39:59.280
• You would need to make it so that, if you're going to audit it, there should be auditing in these things
• You would need to make it so that, if you're going to audit it, there should be auditing in these things

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Undertake any kind of an audit or investigation as a result of what he uncovered.
• Was that audit ever completed? No, sir. What is the status of that audit? It's... It's still open.
• Because it's an open audit and any information associated with that audit is considered working papers
• this audit that myself and many members of the legislature have requested of you.
• Again, because it's an open audit, I'm not allowed to comment publicly.

Keywords: budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• This morning, one of the things we're going to do today is kind of look at the audit that the Alliance
• So if you guys can look in this report and the audit starting on page eight, I love when we're looking
• No, but we have just looked at, you know, if we look at the audit here, if you go through and see how
• and they are members of the Georgia Center for Opportunity team that assisted you and completed the audit

Summary: The committee met to review an audit and recommendations from the Alliance for Opportunity as part of a broader study of social service and workforce development reform under Act 145 of 2025. Members discussed creating a more integrated, regional, and “one door to work” system that would combine eligibility screening, service delivery, and workforce connections across DHS, workforce, and related programs. Much of the discussion focused on reducing administrative overhead, improving coordination, and using tools such as AI and centralized databases to help applicants learn about benefits, training, and job opportunities while still preserving case managers and in-person help for people without digital access. Members also emphasized targeting groups with low labor-force participation, including people in generational poverty, rural residents, individuals reentering from prison, and people involved in the court system who may be employable but are not currently connected to employers. Several members raised concerns about benefit cliffs, the burden of repeated paperwork across agencies, and whether the system should include performance measures tied to cost per person served and return on investment. The committee agreed that quantifiable savings and outcomes should be part of the study and future recommendations. The committee then considered and discussed a draft consultant services agreement with Work Ed Consulting LLC, represented by Mason Bishop, to assist with the study. Bureau of Legislative Research staff explained that the contract would run through June 30, 2027, with a maximum amount of $158,000, billed on actual hours and expenses, and could be expanded by up to 10% if needed. Bishop said he could provide ongoing ROI updates and technical assistance based on his experience in other states. After discussion, the committee voted to move forward with the contract, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They audit us and go through and make sure all our processes and everything look right.
• Secretary of Education Hamlin and I discussed an audit he's doing.
• He's doing a quality audit.
• You know, something you could argue NCTQ is already doing, but he's doing an independent audit and really

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Joint audit and evaluation committee. Honorable Jared Solomon, House Chair, Honorable Steven J.
• committee following joint statutory committee appointments.<00:03:17.120> Joint<00:03:17.360> audit
• Joint audit and evaluation appointments.
• Joint audit and evaluation committee.<00:03:19.040> Honorable<00:03:19.680> Jared<00:03

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, January 22, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in session with 127 members initially present, opened with prayer and the journal reading, and then took up introductory business. House Bills 394 through 444 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, and Introductory House Bond Initiatives Number Two was referred to Appropriations. The Speaker also announced and the House adopted appointments to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics and the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. Most of the meeting consisted of committee and delegation announcements. Appropriations, Environment and Transportation, Health, Judiciary, and Ways and Means all announced briefings later that day, while several other committees said they would not meet. Delegations from Frederick, Anne Arundel, the Eastern Shore, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Charles, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Southern Maryland announced upcoming meetings, many by Zoom. A Montgomery County delegate also announced a Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee briefing on the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The floor included multiple guest and caucus recognitions. The Women’s Caucus promoted a service drive for hygiene, baby, and women’s products for the YMCA Druid Hill pantry, and the Legislative Black Caucus announced new leadership, with Chair N. Scott Phillips and Senate Vice Chair Shaneka Henson. The House welcomed visitors for Maryland Bankers Association Day, Transportation Association of Maryland advocacy day, the Maryland chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies, CPA Day, and sportsmen and sportswomen day, along with student visitors and a guest of a Prince George’s County delegate. No substantive debate or recorded votes occurred beyond the adoption of committee appointments, and the House adjourned until Friday, January 23 at 11:00 a.m.