Transcript Highlights:

• accessory structures, and that ADUs are treated like all accessory structures, or similar to an expansion
• accessory structures, and that ADUs are treated like all accessory structures, or similar to an expansion
• accessory structures, and that ADUs are treated like all accessory structures, or similar to an expansion
• accessory structures, and that ADUs are treated like all accessory structures, or similar to an expansion
• </c><00:28:02.920><c> of</c><00:28:03.000><c> a</c> similar to an expansion of a similar to an expansion

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think your intention is to kick people off of Medicaid expansion when they desperately need it
• a lot of programs that we could do for people in those challenging environments because Medicaid expansion
• If we eliminate Medicaid expansion or fundamentally adjust it, have you done the math to see how many
• We're one of two states that Medicaid expansion is in the constitution.
• This amendment will encourage business expansion and investment.

Committee: House Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it's for new construction, new business facilities, new hires, investment, and plant expansion
• Louis metro region, I think that is a prime spot for expansion.
• The airlines will end up supporting most of that expansion.
• We've testified in favor of a number of his broadband expansion bills.
• We've testified in favor of a number of his broadband expansion bills.

Committees: House Economic Development , House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• This is related to the new requirement for work and community engagement for the expansion population
• H.R. 1 requires semi-annual redeterminations for the expansion population going forward.
• House Bill 345 also had an impact on the expansion population redetermination.
• House Bill 345 also had an impact on the expansion population redetermination.
• Add $1,868,400 for Medicaid expansion work requirements.

Summary: The committee took up a series of Idaho Department of Corrections budget supplementals and FY 2027 enhancement requests. Members approved supplemental or ongoing funding for Hepatitis C treatment authority, county and out-of-state placement costs, medical services, management services replacement items and IT hardware, state prisons replacement items, and community corrections replacement items, with several motions passing by due pass recommendation after roll calls. In community corrections, the committee approved a reduced amount that excluded some vehicle replacements. The committee also approved a technical correction to the college and university budget to restore four FTP that had been omitted from yesterday’s motion. The committee then considered several Department of Health and Welfare items. It approved a budget-neutral fund source change for substance abuse treatment and prevention, moving $650,000 from the Liquor Control Fund to the Cooperative Welfare Dedicated Fund. In the Division of Welfare, members discussed SNAP administrative cost changes tied to H.R. 1, Medicaid expansion work requirements, and Medicaid eligibility system changes; the motion to fund all three items failed in the House committee, so no language advanced. The committee also approved psychiatric hospitalization supplemental funding to shift Idaho Behavioral Health Plan revenue from federal funds to dedicated funds. For FY 2027 mental health services, the committee approved a compromise package that reduced funding for a juvenile corrections clinical transfer and restored some mental health services staffing and Idaho Behavioral Health Plan costs, while adding Allenbaugh House funding through opioid settlement dollars. It also adopted language allowing certain transfers under state law and requiring separate reporting for children’s and adult mental health spending under the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan. For psychiatric hospitalization, the committee approved ongoing fund shifts for employee benefits, the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan, replacement items, and endowment fund adjustments. The meeting ended with notice of upcoming budget-setting work and a reminder for members to get any new motions to staff by early afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is just a modest expansion of that policy, which I'm in favor of. ...bill last week.
• So this is just a modest expansion of that policy, which I'm in favor of.
• So this is just a modest expansion of that policy, which I'm in favor of.
• So this is just a modest expansion of that policy, which I'm in favor of.
• So this is just a modest expansion of that policy, which I'm in favor of.

Summary: The House Education Committee met in executive session on seven bills, with a brief recognition of students shadowing Representative Steele before moving to bill action. Staff summarized measures dealing with competency-based graduation assessments (HB 2007), school-supplied albuterol and standing orders for asthma or respiratory symptoms (HB 2360), the Washington Local Food for Schools Program (HB 2369), surplus technology hardware for students (HB 2432), privacy protections for Education Ombuds complaint records (HB 2440), military family school enrollment and services (HB 2534), and special education evaluation timelines and parent access to reports (HB 2557). Several proposed amendments were discussed, including multiple null-and-void amendments tied to fiscal notes; most of those were rejected or withdrawn, while a substantive amendment to HB 2360 was adopted and an amendment to HB 2557 was adopted to adjust evaluation-report timing and related procedures. In final action, the committee reported HB 2007, HB 2360 as a substitute bill, HB 2369, HB 2432, HB 2440, substitute HB 2534, and substitute HB 2557 out of committee with due pass recommendations. HB 2007’s null-and-void amendment failed, and the bill passed 19-0. HB 2360’s withdrawn amendment and adopted substitute language led to a 17-2 vote in favor. HB 2369’s null-and-void amendment failed and the bill passed 19-0. HB 2432 passed 16-3, with some members voting no or without recommendation. HB 2440 passed 12-7 after debate over privacy versus transparency. Substitute HB 2534 passed 19-0 after a voice vote. Substitute HB 2557 passed 19-0 after adoption of the timeline amendment and rejection of the null-and-void amendment. Throughout the meeting, supporters emphasized student-centered flexibility, public health access in schools, support for local agriculture, access to surplus technology, privacy for families using the Ombuds Office, smoother transitions for military-connected students, and clearer special education timelines for parents. Opponents or cautious members raised concerns about fiscal impacts, transparency, implementation details, and whether some changes should be handled in fiscal committees rather than policy committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• As other people thought this through, it's not too expansive then, is it?
• has people thought it through on higher pay grades than mine, saying, is there any reason it's too expansive
• As other people thought this through, it's not too expansive then, is it?
• Yeah, I would say necessarily expansive to ensure that we're able to accommodate all of those entities
• It is an expansion to exactly what we need to provide coverage for everyone that could be at risk.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee first met in executive session and considered a substitute for Senate Bill 973. Members adopted an amendment that revised the bill’s title and removed language tied to “certain written disclosures” and a two-year unused-facilities requirement from related school property language. After adopting the amendment and rolling it into the House Committee substitute, the committee voted the bill do pass by a 6-3 roll call vote. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 907 and related bills, dealing with abusive website access litigation. Senator Brad Hudson said the measure targets a single plaintiff’s pattern of threatening businesses with ADA-related website lawsuits and settlements, and explained changes made to refine definitions and extend coverage to political subdivisions. Witnesses from the Missouri Chamber, NFIB, Associated Industries of Missouri, the Columbia Chamber, the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and the Missouri Broadband Providers Association testified in support, describing the suits as costly and coercive for small businesses and nonprofits. Members questioned the scope of the bill, including whether it should also cover churches and nonprofits, and whether the “good faith” standard in the Senate version was too vague or burdensome. A committee attorney explained that good faith would likely be a fact-based issue decided by a court under a preponderance standard. Several members expressed support for narrowing the bill to avoid broader tort reform, while others raised concerns about litigation costs and the lack of an early mechanism to stop abusive suits. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the end of the day, it's not an actual expansion of services that would be provided by MA; it would
• At the end of the day, it's not an actual expansion of services that would be provided by MA; it would
• At the end of the day, it's not an actual expansion of services that would be provided by MA; it would
• of this particular in this the expansion of this particular in this particular<00:48:53.720><c> bill
• </c><00:49:02.480><c> of</c><00:49:03.359><c> uh</c><00:49:03.680><c> manual</c> there's expansion of

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• AND ITS EXPANSION HOPEFULLY AND ALSO THE ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE.
• YOU LAUNCH THE EXPANSION OF REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS, PRE-APPRENTICESHIPS, AND ERAP GRANTS.
• THEY INCLUDED 10,000 SQUARE-FOOT EXPANSION OF THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH IS LAKE TECH CAMPUS
• THAT TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL, THE EXPANSION WILL
• PUBLIC SAFETY EXPANSION.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program provides essential support for State Preschools both
• So just to summarize, some of the TK expansion is happening really quickly.
• I would love to see that expansion. What is the investment requirement to get to full-day UTK?
• I would love to see that expansion. What is the what is the investment?
• I would love to see that expansion. What is the investment requirement to get to full-day UTK?

Summary: The hearing focused on California’s early learning and care system, including the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, universal preschool access, and the state’s transitional kindergarten (TK) expansion. Administration officials said California has made progress toward universal TK for all four-year-olds and expanded access for low-income three-year-olds, children with disabilities, and some two-year-olds in state preschool. The Department of Social Services highlighted ongoing work on quality improvement and a single rate structure, while the Department of Education emphasized continued investments in UPK infrastructure, inclusion, and teacher development. Testimony from advocacy groups stressed that access remains uneven, especially for infants, toddlers, and three-year-olds, and that federal threats to Head Start could significantly disrupt services in California. Witnesses and committee members discussed several policy recommendations for preschool and state preschool programs, including consolidating part-day and full-day contracts, simplifying eligibility priorities, eliminating some family and licensing fees, allowing self-attestation of income, making the two-year-old preschool option permanent, and basing funding on enrollment and the true cost of care. A parent from Contra Costa described losing child care after moving counties for safety reasons, illustrating delays and fragmentation in the system. Providers in public comment argued that reimbursement rates are too low and that better pay and retirement and health benefits are needed to stabilize the workforce. The second panel addressed the governor’s January budget proposal to fully implement universal TK and reduce TK class ratios from 12:1 to 10:1. The Department of Finance said the budget would add about $2.4 billion to serve all eligible four-year-olds and $1.5 billion for the lower ratio. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said its enrollment and cost estimates were lower than the administration’s and projected the ratio change would cost less than proposed. The Department of Education and the Learning Policy Institute reported that TK enrollment and staffing have grown, most districts now offer TK, and many are on track to meet new teacher requirements, but facilities, staffing, and expanded learning remain challenges. Committee members raised concerns about access at all school sites, the need for more full-day options, and the risk that TK expansion could crowd out CSPP and Head Start space.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the proposed expansion of the credit, opportunities do exist to explore changes in the structure
• The existence and the proposed expansion of California's tax credit program is key and is one way of
• Okay, so we've got to get it to Fox Studios when they do their expansion.
• Just to single out Fox, which is in our district, they're committed to a $1.6 billion lot expansion.
• A lot expansion that is twice as big as this tax credit is.

Transcript Highlights:

• This building, the expansion, our research building were all built with support from the legislative
• This facility, with the latest expansion with your support, the 50,000 square foot facility that's going
• If we return to pre-Medicaid expansion times, it will rise to $24 million by today's calculations.
• And for this expansion, we broke ground on December 14. Next slide, please.
• So also in this expansion, we will grow our bone marrow transplant and cell-based therapy program.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, subsequently, there might have been expansions.
• This Ford plant is competing with another Ford plant for an expansion, for a new line.
• This Ford plant is competing with another Ford plant for an expansion, for a new line.
• Yeah, I believe the Boeing was for new expansion that they have, so it's increasing their load.
• With the potential increase in the penalty to trespassing, with the expansion of the definition, do we

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Committee on Utilities first took up House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2762, 2816, and 2402, a solar-energy measure. The committee substitute combined the bills’ titles and focused on three main areas: a taxation framework for solar projects, setback requirements from occupied dwellings and property lines, and a decommissioning/bonding framework for project cleanup. Supporters said the bill would create baseline rules for a growing industry, protect neighboring landowners, and ensure land is restored after projects end. Members asked about Chapter 100 agreements, the setback distances, county rulemaking authority, and how reclamation and bonding would work. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a new substitute, and then voted the substitute do pass by 18 ayes and 2 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 2248, which would change Missouri’s economic development electric rate structure and close a loophole that could allow data centers under 75 megawatts to receive reduced rates. The sponsor and utility witnesses said the bill would make incentives more predictable by replacing a variable formula with a fixed discount for qualifying new industrial projects, while still requiring customers to pay full cost to serve and meet load-factor and other requirements. Witnesses from Evergy, Ameren Missouri, the Missouri Chamber, and Ford discussed the value of incentives for manufacturing, the difference between new load and retention of existing large users, and whether the bill should also address retention discounts. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. Finally, the committee heard Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 903, which would expand critical infrastructure protections. The bill adds wireline and broadband facilities to the definition of critical infrastructure, increases penalties for damaging or tampering with such facilities, and creates an offense for unauthorized possession of certain stolen materials such as copper and related telecom materials. The sponsor and witnesses from AT&T, Verizon, cable, railroad, electric cooperative, recycling, municipal utility, and chamber groups said the measure responds to rising theft and vandalism, including copper theft and fiber cuts that disrupt 911 and other services. Members asked about scrap dealers, fiber versus copper, trespassing concerns, and whether harsher penalties would deter theft. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• have a bit of a review of the career and technical education, the CTE program that we have, its expansion
• It’s expansion, hopefully, and also the enhancement initiative.
• This expansion will allow for additional cohorts and advanced training opportunities.
• Public safety campus expansion. We have one of the largest CDL facilities in the state of Florida.
• But our public expansion grant, this facility has educated over 162 students in CDL over the past two

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received an overview of Florida’s career and technical education (CTE) system from Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell, who described the state’s CTE pathways, program types, enrollment and completion growth, quality audit metrics, and the Master Credentials List used to identify credentials of value. He highlighted record postsecondary CTE enrollment and completions, strong statewide performance in talent attraction, and several funding tools supporting expansion, including Open Door, the Florida First Responder Scholarship, Workforce Development Capitalization grants, Perkins funding, CAPE performance incentives, and apprenticeship grants. Senators asked about eligibility for Open Door and first responder aid, top industry certifications, and the teacher apprenticeship initiative. A panel of college and technical school leaders then described how state and federal funding has supported local program growth and facility expansion. Santa Fe College, Palm Beach State College, North Florida Technical College, Lake Technical College, Florida Gateway College, and Manatee Technical College each cited increases in enrollment, high placement or licensure pass rates, and new or expanded programs in nursing, welding, CDL, automotive, manufacturing, public safety, and apprenticeship. Several speakers emphasized partnerships with hospitals, employers, school districts, and local governments, and noted that grants helped fund equipment, renovations, and new training hubs. Palm Beach State also raised a request to broaden line funding beyond nursing to other health science fields, and multiple presenters asked for more flexibility, multi-year support, and continued or increased funding to sustain growth. Members discussed broader challenges, including the difficulty of sustaining grant-funded growth after initial awards, the lag between enrollment growth and funding formulas, and alignment problems for dual enrollment and technical programs with high school schedules. Senators also noted the need to balance support for high-demand core programs like nursing and welding with the ability to respond quickly to emerging industries such as AI and space. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond adjournment after Senator Davis moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second part I'm speaking about, though, is treatment, and that's the expansion of medications for
• </c><00:50:18.160><c> of</c> treatment and that's the expansion of treatment and that's the expansion
• We have seen expansion of what we call collocated treatment.
• You've been seeing an expansion across the country of certified community behavioral health centers.
• </c><00:58:19.599><c> across</c> you've been seeing an expansion across you've been seeing an expansion

Summary: The committee met on January 23, 2026, to approve prior minutes and receive an update from the Department of Health and Human Services. The main presentation focused on “Project Compass,” an internal cross-department effort to prepare for changes to Medicaid and SNAP eligibility. Department staff said the goal is to maintain continuous coverage for eligible people, align policy, operations, communications, legal, finance, and eligibility work, and use the new integrated New HEIGHTS system to streamline implementation. They emphasized outreach to beneficiaries, providers, managed care organizations, and other partners, and said temporary manual workarounds had already been used to stay in compliance with fast-moving SNAP changes. Members questioned how the department would avoid repeating the costly outreach effort used in a prior Medicaid work-requirement rollout. Department officials said they are focusing on ex parte processes, sharing eligibility information across programs, and using community partners to reduce duplicate contacts and paperwork. They also said the department is monitoring the SNAP error rate closely, expects automation and a planned system contract amendment to help reduce it, and noted that current error rates are trending downward and remain below the national average. Questions were also raised about possible future SNAP restrictions on certain foods; the department said it can implement whatever the legislature directs, but that defining and administering such restrictions would be complex. The commissioner and CFO then outlined the department’s budget reduction plan. They said the department has begun implementing required “back of the budget” reductions for fiscal year 2026, using contract savings and not cutting existing services where possible. Examples included dental and home-visitation contracts, where spending was adjusted based on utilization and projected need. Officials said they had already written down a little over $15 million in prior-year encumbrances, but that this one-time source will not be available next year, making fiscal year 2027 more difficult. They also explained the difference between legally required back-of-budget cuts and lapse, and said staffing remains a major challenge because vacancies have increased and customer-facing service levels are strained. Dr. Jonathan Ballard then began an update on opioid overdose fatalities, presenting the latest medical examiner data and describing the long-term rise in deaths after fentanyl entered the illicit drug supply, with a peak in 2017 and a later increase in 2022. The transcript cuts off before his full presentation and any further committee action beyond discussion of the minutes and receipt of the department updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is related to the expansion of the California... Food Assistance Program.
• But on these topics for the moment, on number 17, the CFAP expansion. trigger.
• The expansion is specific to serving individuals regardless of their immigration status.
• Yeah, CFOP expansion was posted to our site last night. Okay, awesome.
• We urge you to renew our commitment to the CFAP expansion and not weaken it.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is an expansion. It's not so much a RIF.
• We want to be able to continue the expansion of those services to veterans.
• So this is an expansion. It's not so much a RIF. So these are positions. Cemeteries.
• So this is an expansion. It's not so much a RIF.
• We want to be able to continue the expansion of those services to veterans.

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee first reviewed several personnel actions. It approved the Arkansas State Police request to swap three corporal positions for three lieutenant positions to supervise increased trooper staffing along the I-40 corridor, with no net increase in positions and an estimated cost of $89,000 from general revenue. It also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for three project/program administrator pool positions to support the new College of Veterinary Medicine, and approved the Department of Commerce Economic Development Commission’s request for an extra help position tied to Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act work. One item was pulled from consideration. The committee then received a report on a reduction in force at the Department of Veterans Affairs that eliminated six positions. Senator Petty asked for reassurance that veterans’ services would not be harmed, and VA Secretary Colonel Rob Ader explained that the action was part of a broader restructuring rather than a simple cut, intended to realign the agency, free resources, and expand services such as a new continuum-of-care program, veteran employment support, and stronger coordination with employers as veterans transition out of service. He said the agency also expected to save money. Members also questioned VA officials about the impact on county and district veteran service officers and about severance and retirement implications for affected employees. VA officials said the county VSO program remains in place, with efforts underway to improve training, supervision, and consistency across counties, including reporting to county judges. They also explained that severance is based on years of service, is not recouped if an employee later takes another state job, and that retirement eligibility and early-retirement penalties would still apply under existing rules. The committee took no further action after the reports and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant program. ...increases to 58 LEAs with existing inclusive early education expansion grant program
• This is related to the expansion. This is a trigger proposal.
• This is related to the expansion of the California Food Assistance Program.
• Yeah, CFAP expansion was posted to our site last night. Okay, awesome. And IHSS, yes.
• And so we urge you to renew our commitment to the CFAP expansion and not weaken it.

Summary: The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored. Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants. The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services. Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this is for expansion this is for expansion Medicaid<00:25:07.360><c> population</c><00:25:08.159
• ><c> expansion</c><00:25:08.880><c> doesn't</c> Medicaid population expansion doesn't Medicaid population
• Both parents are eligible for Medicaid expansion. The dad is working.
• It's not included in here because he's not expansion, but he works.
• ,</c> because he's not expansion, because he's not expansion, but<01:08:16.080><c> he</c><01:08:16.400

Committee: House Appropriations & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• We have approximately 450 Medicaid expansion members.
• </c> may say it's it's the expansion may say it's it's the expansion population<00:15:22.160><c> that
• Uh, community engagement will be applicable to all Medicaid expansion members.
• Uh, community engagement will be applicable to all Medicaid expansion members.
• And so if you person on the expansion.

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met for an overview of the Department for Medicaid Services budget. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal described Kentucky Medicaid enrollment at about 1.4 million members, including more than 600,000 children, and said the agency’s 2025 total budget was $20.6 billion. They reviewed enrollment trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, noting that redeterminations begun in 2023 reduced enrollment from its peak but that total membership remains above pre-COVID levels. They also explained the difference between the fee-for-service population, which includes long-term care and waiver members, and managed care members, and gave examples of the kinds of services and diagnoses seen in each group. A major focus was the governor’s recommended Medicaid budget and the department’s forecast process. Lee said the budget is split into benefits and administration, with benefits covering fee-for-service services, managed care capitation, transportation, and Medicare premiums, while administration covers contracts, personnel, operating costs, and IT-related advanced planning documents. She said the department uses a consensus forecasting group and actuary input, and that its forecasts have been within 1% of actual spending in recent years. The department also said the governor’s budget includes new waiver slots to address waiting lists, a 2% staff COLA, and a 10% phase-down on state-directed payments beginning in January 2028. Much of the discussion centered on House Resolution 1 and the funding needed to implement its Medicaid-related provisions, including community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, and future cost sharing. Lee said the department requested about $35 million in total funds for fiscal 2027, including about $8.2 million in general funds for system changes to the integrated eligibility system, claims processing, notices, and monitoring; and about $11 million in fiscal 2028 for ongoing maintenance, with about $1.6 million in general funds. She said the department expects to seek federal APD matching funds for the IT work. In response to questions, she explained that community engagement would apply to Medicaid expansion members, with qualifying activities including work, school, volunteering, or equivalent income, and that certain groups such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives, and some people with chronic disease or substance use disorder would be excluded. She said the department identified roughly 70,000 expansion members who could be subject to the requirement. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• already aging infrastructure. which in turn faces funding gaps. last report in 2021, along with expansion
• We cited highly rated airfield infrastructure, pavement conditions, and expansion project under review
• A new light rail expansion project, called Project Connect, that is going to help. move people around
• our city more efficiently, reduce congestion on those roads. the expansion of our airport.
• Coupling that with the growth in artificial intelligence and the expansion of data centers state-wide

Keywords: Texas, Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE, population growth, climate change, investment, public safety, engineering standards

Summary: The meeting focused on the release of the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting key findings and recommendations for improving infrastructure across various sectors in the state. Julie Jones, Vice President of ASCE Texas, opened the session by introducing key speakers, including Dr. Art Wood and committee co-chairs Griselda Gonzalez and Austin Mazzarelli. Throughout the discussion, the report's grades were revealed, showing the state's infrastructure received an overall grade of 'C'—adequate but requiring significant attention and investment. Emphasis was placed on the rising challenges posed by climate change and increased population growth, underscoring the need for strategic investments in infrastructure to support Texas' economic growth and public safety.