Transcript Highlights:

• We are looking at what's practical before we penalize a coach or penalize a school.
• front end to prevent some of these things from happening, as opposed to, here's a school that got penalized
• To, here's a school that got penalized for something that happened, and it's too late if we're doing
• With that, I ask my QR codes. So with that, you can scan it.
• So right now, we don’t have the authority to even penalize the young men because they’re not part of

Summary: The Education Pre-K through 12 Committee heard a presentation from Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director Craig Damon, joined by student athletes Sydney Daniel and Taylor White. The students spoke about the value of education-based athletics, leadership, and the need for safe, equitable opportunities. Damon then discussed FHSAA issues including rising sportsmanship problems, ejections, violent incidents, recruiting allegations, transfers, mental health pressures on student athletes, and the need for qualified coaches. He said the association tries to be proactive, work with schools on discipline, and emphasize that school changes should be for academic reasons rather than athletics. Senators asked about mental health, transfer rules, and a recent Jacksonville incident; Damon explained the current transfer exceptions and said the association lacked authority over the Jacksonville football game because the schools were not in FHSAA football. The committee then heard a panel on high school coaches’ compensation led by Florida Coaches Coalition Executive Director Dr. Andrew Ramgett, with Coach Mike Hickman, Coach Charlie Ward, and superintendents from Okaloosa and Walton counties. Ramgett argued that coaching supplements are outdated, have not kept pace with the expanding year-round demands of coaching, and amount to very low hourly pay in many sports. He also said Florida’s restrictions on booster club funding and minimal certification requirements contribute to turnover and difficulty retaining qualified coaches. Hickman and Ward described coaching as a demanding, year-round profession that affects students beyond athletics, including academics and mental health. The superintendents said they value coaches but must balance compensation against limited district funds and other staffing needs; one noted Walton County uses a dedicated administrative lane for football coaching and athletic administration. Senators discussed whether booster club funding should be allowed, whether compensation should be tied to performance, and whether any increase in base student allocation would actually reach coaches. Public commenters, including Florida Athletic Coaches Association Executive Director Shelton Cruz and former coach Tyrone McGriff, urged support for coaches and emphasized their broader impact on students’ lives and school safety. At the end of the meeting, the committee took up confirmation hearings for appointments on tabs 3 through 6 and, with no appearance forms filed, voted unanimously to recommend confirmation. Senator Burgess then moved to adjourn, and the committee concluded the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:24:09.120> for<03:24:09.279> wildfire are not penalized for wildfire are not penalized
• and ensures that states aren't penalized and ensures that states aren't penalized for<04:09:48.080
• Let me be clear, health care outcome should not depend on your zip code.
• Let me be clear, health care outcome should not depend on your zip code.
• And the consequences are real. not depend on your zip code. But today, not depend on your zip code.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you don't show me that in the code. OK, great.
• This is not a voluntary process under the election code.
• Increase in the penalties, it is, um, it makes it more now consistent with the penal code.
• There's Chapter 33 of the penal code for computer crimes with with regard to modifying a DRE, a direct
• code, um.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 4, stemming from the previous cha uh, Rule 8 under Chapter 3, of the Texas Administrative Code
• Separate from the commercial pits under Schedule B and 4.113 of the of the code, uh, within that, I would
• The probate code is full of these situations. OK.
• and I, I do not hold myself out as a wills in the states or probate lawyer, but as I recall, probate code
• all of the royalty owners the correct amount, and before they pay that amount, the Natural Resources code

Transcript Highlights:

• To clarify, the last session, we passed the fire code, and LP gas was not manned to be able to do the

Bills: HB2979, HB3790, HB3142, HB3463, HB4143, HJR1086, SB392, HB3087, HB3037, HB3581, HB4058, HB2959, HB4227, HB2997, HB4125, HB1453, HB3521, HB3691, HB2015, HB2940, HB1016, HB3267, HB3695, HB3697, HB3045, HB3662, HB3453, HB3053, HB3301, HB3495, HB3584, HB3586, HB3587, HB3845, HB4198, HB4425, HB2970, HB3338, HB3443, HB3783, HB3800, HB3818, HB1242, HB1752, HB2961, HB2967, HB2973, HB2988, HB3031, HB3240, HB3047, HB3052, HB3066, HB3086, HB3175, HB3177, HB3178, HB3429, HB3548, HB3638, HB3404, HB3704, HB1590, HB3759, HB3831, HB3904, HB4092, HB1979, HB1983, HB1250, HB2952, HB3671, HB3920, HB4118, HB3944, HB3969, HB3973, HB3975, HB3976, HB3978, HB3983, HB3984, HB3942, HB4203, HB2588, HB3024, HB3383, HB3279, HB3919, HB3883, HB4193, HB3431, HB3435, HB4352, HB4484, HB1245, HB3172, HB3306, HB4294, HB3880, HB2929, HB3128, HB2956, HB3015, HB3114, HB3567, HB3749, HB4229, HB4237, HB4253, HJR1046, HJR1084, HB3411

Keywords: HB2979, Talyn Bain Act, school zone, school safety, speed limit, 45 mph, state highway, Department of Transportation, ODOT, flashing beacons, traffic enforcement, speeding violation, public school, private school, K-12, drop-off, pick-up, highway safety, municipal maintenance, county commissioners

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 822, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 1, relating to the landlord tenant code.
• We generally don't practice in the area of the residential landlord tenant code.
• the residential landlord tenant code. the residential landlord tenant code.
• <02:33:05.200> code.
• phrase being used in the penal code. phrase being used in the penal code.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several housing, landlord-tenant, and condominium-related measures. Senate Bill 62, relating to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, would allow HPHA-owned parcels and related areas such as parking lots to be closed to the public with posted signage; HPHA strongly supported the bill, saying it would help reduce loitering, drinking, and other problems, and no further testimony was offered. Senate Bill 822, relating to the landlord tenant code, would create a three-year working group in the Department of the Attorney General to study and improve the residential landlord-tenant code. The Judiciary supported the measure but said the scope should be narrowed; the Attorney General opposed leading the group and suggested another agency should do so; Hawaii Realtors and the Hawaii Worker Center supported the concept and suggested moving the chairmanship to the Judiciary and including Legal Aid participation. The Judiciary said it could chair the group if the bill were narrowed to matters within the court’s purview. Senate Bill 38, relating to housing, would limit counties from imposing stricter conditions, AMI requirements, or fee-waiver reductions on certain affordable housing proposals if those changes would increase project costs. HHFDC supported the bill, saying county changes after state approval create uncertainty for developers, while the Hawaii State Association of Counties opposed it as an intrusion on local authority and a restriction on county safety and infrastructure conditions. Members asked about whether existing county review periods were sufficient, and the county association said the main concern was the bill’s language limiting counties from making cost-increasing conditions. Senate Bill 146, relating to condominiums, would revise alternative dispute resolution procedures for condo disputes, including evaluative mediation and binding arbitration. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission said it took no position overall but supported a $150 mediation fee and asked for a similar arbitration fee; Community Associations Institute supported the bill with suggested amendments; however, most testimony was strongly opposed by condominium owners and advocates, who said the bill had been changed to the detriment of owners and would increase costs and reduce protections. The committee noted 44 testimonies on the bill, with 2 in support, 37 in opposition, and 2 with comments. Senate Bill 253, relating to condominium reserves, would require a detailed budget summary to stand on its own, remove a good-faith defense for certain noncompliant budgets, and clarify standing and the association’s burden regarding substantial compliance. Hawaii Realtors and Community Associations Institute supported the measure as improving transparency and giving owners and buyers a clearer picture of association finances. Greg Msakian also supported it, arguing it would help owners and describing problems he experienced with budget committee exclusion and budget noncompliance in his own association. The discussion ended while testimony on the bill was still underway, with additional witnesses expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because conduct requirements are housed in the Penal Code rather than the Insurance Code, CDI, the Department
• Today, again, the conduct rules are in the Penal Code, meaning that CDI cannot act unless there is a
• Otherwise, ...the Penal Code, meaning that CDI cannot act unless there is a criminal conviction.
• That is contrary to existing provisions in the Insurance Code, Section 533.
• It's contrary to longstanding California public policy and Civil Code Section 1668.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1209, which would give the Insurance Commissioner new authority to require insurers to carry out corrective actions identified in market conduct and financial examinations, and to impose penalties when companies fail to comply. Supporters, including Commissioner Ricardo Lara and his deputies, said the bill would close an enforcement gap that lets harmful practices continue and would help ensure insurers provide requested financial records and fix violations. Industry opponents argued the bill expands CDI authority too far, could duplicate existing penalties, and should be limited to legal violations rather than recommendations; members and the author discussed amendments to narrow the bill to legal violations, apply penalties per exam rather than per policy, and clarify other language. The committee then voted the bill out on a due pass motion to Appropriations, with some no votes and the item placed on call. The committee next took up SB 1301, which would require more detailed and earlier notice before a homeowner, condo owner, or renter policy is non-renewed, give policyholders an opportunity to fix correctable property issues, and prohibit certain non-renewal reasons such as claims below deductible or claims not covered by the policy. The author and supporters, including a consumer who described spending thousands on roof repairs before being dropped anyway, said the bill would improve transparency and give families a real chance to keep coverage. Opponents said California already has long notice periods, that the bill could force insurers to make decisions too early, and that some underwriting factors are not property-specific; they also raised concerns about roof-age standards and reporting burdens. The author indicated willingness to reduce the notice period to three months and work on a bifurcated process for mitigation, and the committee passed the bill on a due pass motion to Appropriations, with the item placed on call. The committee then heard SB 1026, a bill to reform regulation of bail fugitive recovery agents by allowing the Department of Insurance to suspend or revoke licenses without waiting for a criminal conviction, tightening conduct rules, and requiring continuous liability coverage and proper notice of appointment. The author and Commissioner Lara said the measure responds to complaints about bounty hunters breaking into the wrong homes, impersonating law enforcement, and operating without adequate oversight. Opponents from the bail industry and related groups said the bill is not workable as written, especially provisions requiring insurance for willful acts, use of admitted carriers, and a residency requirement they said is unconstitutional; they also warned it could reduce the availability of recovery agents and delay justice for crime victims. The department said it was still working on language changes, and the committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a due pass motion, with the item placed on call. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 982, which would authorize the Attorney General to seek recovery from fossil fuel companies for climate-related costs affecting the FAIR Plan and private policyholders, with the author framing it as a way to shift some wildfire and flood costs from Californians to the industry that helped drive climate change. Supporters, including flood and wildfire survivors, climate advocates, and an economist, said Californians are bearing rising insurance and disaster costs and that the bill would help fund recovery and resilience. Opponents argued the bill imposes unfair strict liability, raises due process and preemption concerns, and could harm the broader business climate and energy sector. The transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on SB 982.

Bills: SB2169, SB2263, SB2360, SB2359, SB2031, SB2796, SB3090, SB3091, SB3092, SB2120, SB2593, SB2751, SB2135, SB2024, SB2872, SB3179, SB2308, SB2392, SB2470, SB2398, SB2902, SB2841, SB2436, SB2806, SB2691, SB2824, SB2645, SB2384, SB2697, SB3153, SB3156, SB888, SB2423, SB2746

Keywords: business competitiveness, economic development, DBEDT, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, business climate, regulatory reform, permitting, economic ranking, state ranking, top 10 states, business climate improvement working group, business revitalization task force, CNBC America’s Top States for Business, Hawaii business climate, workforce development, infrastructure, cost of doing business, tax competitiveness, labor unions, private sector

Transcript Highlights:

• They're somewhat limited in codes and such there.
• They're limited on codes and such there.
• Chair: ...limited on codes and such there.
• Chair: ...and they're limited on codes and such there.
• Again, the codes are mostly local jurisdictional codes, except when you get out into the county.

Bills: SB1

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• and also violated the Education Code.
• In the lobby code, there is an exception. Generally, travel is not permitted.
• There are some exceptions here in the code on Section 305.04.
• There are Penal Code prohibitions that prevent someone from accepting, and it applies to members of the
• It doesn't say it's a per se violation of the Penal Code prohibitions, but it does go on to say that

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission met on March 11, 2025, first in executive session and then in open session. The chair announced that, in light of Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-484, the commission would conform its practices to the opinion and move to repeal tolling rules for sworn-complaint deadlines. The chair also said the commission would dismiss 36 pending sworn-complaint cases in which the 120-day settlement deadline had been exceeded, even though the delay had been tolled under prior TEC rules. The commission then set future meeting dates for June 12 and September 17 and approved prior meeting minutes. The commission adopted a new criminal-referral rule clarifying that, once jurisdiction over a complaint is accepted, commissioners may vote to make a criminal referral. It also adopted revised advisory-opinion rules, with a clarifying amendment from a commenter, and republished proposed changes to the definition of “principal purpose” for political committees after staff recommended a 49 percent political-activity threshold and further public input. The commission published for comment proposed changes to ethics training rules, facial-compliance review procedures, late-filing waiver and reduction rules, and sworn-complaint procedures, including tighter discovery limits, a default-order set-aside process, and removal of tolling language inconsistent with KP-484. It also republished Chapter 28 rules on Speaker-candidate reporting. The commission adopted several advisory opinions. It declined to give an affirmative defense on whether certain school-district communications were political advertising because related litigation had already addressed the issue. It reaffirmed that a House member may use donated district-office space if it is not reimbursable with public funds and was accepted before the contribution moratorium. It also concluded that a judge may use political funds for travel to a Navy-hosted event as a local dignitary, that legislators’ use of a corporate aircraft for a border-region fact-finding trip could be permissible but would likely trigger reporting obligations, that a TCEQ commissioner’s revolving-door restrictions apply only to matters actually placed before the commissioner, and that a part-time legislative staffer may not take outside employment assisting a registered lobbyist. The commission then heard and acted on numerous fine-waiver appeals, granting several full waivers or reductions and approving staff recommendations on others, and terminated a number of inactive campaign treasurer appointments. Finally, the executive director briefed the commission on the 2025 legislative session, noting that staffing requests are tied to Sunset recommendations and that the House had preliminarily recommended about half of the commission’s appropriations requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, an observation is, is there something that would incentivize or penalize insurance companies
• Actually, an observation is, is there something that would incentivize or penalize insurance companies
• And, you know, thirdly, really thinking about the risk coding and recognizing that this risk coding will
• I can tell you, risk coding is a massive pain for us in primary care.
• And actually, we're coding for things that don't impact patients' lives, nor do they make a difference

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket focused on primary care, workforce development, and medical debt. Chairs Cindy Friedman and John Lawn outlined hearing procedures and noted that testimony would be taken on 17 matters. The committee first heard testimony on bills to establish a community health center nurse practitioner residency program and to strengthen mental health centers. Senator Keenan, Rep. Keefe, and health center leaders described the Worcester nurse practitioner residency as a successful pipeline and retention strategy, citing workforce shortages, training needs in community health centers, and the cost of the program. Rep. O’Day also supported the mental health centers bill, saying it would raise payment rates, improve reimbursement for behavioral health services, and help clinics retain staff and expand access. The committee then took testimony on bills to address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform. The Attorney General’s Office, Health Care for All, Health Law Advocates, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and individual patients supported the measure, arguing that hospital financial assistance policies are inconsistent, hard to find, and difficult to navigate. Witnesses said the bill would standardize eligibility criteria, create a uniform application, improve notice requirements, and expand access to discounted care up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Several personal stories described medical bills being sent to collections, confusion over insurance billing, and the burden of debt on low-income and chronically ill patients. Committee members asked about hospital concerns, the role of the health safety net, and whether the bill addressed root causes of medical debt; testimony emphasized that the proposal was meant to improve transparency and access rather than replace broader insurance reforms. The hearing also focused heavily on “Primary Care for You” legislation, H. 1370 and S. 867, which would increase primary care investment and create a new payment model. Rep. Haggerty, physicians, a patient, community health center leaders, and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers described a primary care crisis marked by low reimbursement, staffing shortages, long waits, burnout, and difficulty recruiting clinicians. Supporters said the bills would shift spending toward preventive, team-based care, improve access and equity, and reduce long-term costs. The Massachusetts Association of Health Plans said it was directionally supportive of increased primary care investment but warned that any new spending must stay within the cost growth benchmark and preserve existing contracting structures. The hearing ended with additional testimony on a community health center workforce and loan repayment grant bill from Rep. Stanley, and with further discussion from Dr. Alan Garo about the need for payment reform in primary care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most but not all petitions simply refer to the Education Code statutes with respect to the audit process
• , specifically the Education Code statute. 14500 and 41020 at all.
• This is true no matter the zip code, background, home language, neurodiversity or other factors that
• They shouldn't have to be penalized. At the same time, you know, like Mr.
• the state penalizes them for attending a charter school.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hand, the boot goes on, you get there, you see the boot, and you simply go get on the app or the QR code
• So you're telling me that based on people's zip codes is where insurance rates are determined, and so
• Chair, Madam Vice Chair, I may have misspoken on the zip codes.
• zip codes now.
• To clarify my comments, I don't know that it's by zip code.

Bills: SB1010, SB1024, SB1205, SB1232, SB1366, SB1552, SB1624, SCM1002, SCM1006, SCR1004

Keywords: Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, motor vehicle booting, private property, fees, dispute process, regulations, outdoor advertising, military compatibility, zoning, electronic signage, permitting

Summary: The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard a series of transportation, traffic enforcement, and memorial bills. SB 1024, dealing with licensing and registration for roadable aircraft, drew a question about where vehicle license tax revenue would go, but with no sponsor present the committee still advanced it on a do pass recommendation by a 3-2 vote. SB 1205, which creates rules for private-property vehicle booting, was supported by industry and sponsor testimony as a consumer-protection framework modeled on towing laws; it passed 5-0 after discussion of time limits, recordkeeping, dispute resolution, and penalties. SB 1366, creating a temporary study committee on public-property towing and impound practices, was presented as a bipartisan, data-gathering measure and passed 5-0. SB 1232, a billboard/outdoor advertising zoning bill tied to military compatibility and ADOT permitting, was described as a technical cleanup measure negotiated with ADOT and local stakeholders; it passed unanimously 6-0. The committee spent the most time on SB 1624, which would cap photo-enforcement civil penalties at $75 and limit the effect of photo-radar violations on licensing and insurance. Supporters argued the bill would simplify enforcement and reduce reliance on cameras, while opponents from insurers and local governments warned it would mask risk, shift costs to other drivers, and reduce revenue for several state funds and local programs. An amendment was adopted to treat excessive speeding caught by photo enforcement as a class 3 misdemeanor and direct $15 of the penalty to the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund. The amended bill then passed 4-2, with members citing concerns about school zones, revenue impacts, and the role of photo enforcement. The committee also advanced SCR 1004, a voter referral that would let Arizona voters decide whether cities may continue using photo enforcement; it passed 4-2 after testimony that it was a negotiated compromise preserving local control while requiring a future local vote in affected cities. The final items were memorials naming highways. SCM 1002 would rename a portion of State Route 77 the L.F. Quinn Memorial Highway, and SCM 1006 would rename a portion of U.S. Route 70 the PFC Michael A. Nolene Memorial Highway. Both were described as constituent-driven and appropriate under naming procedures, with members noting Quinn’s long-ago death and Nolene’s service as the first Native American to die in the Gulf War. Both memorials passed unanimously 6-0. Earlier in the meeting, SB 1010 and SB 1552 were announced as held, and the committee adjourned after completing the remaining agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senator Krueger moves to discharge from the Committee on Codes and substitute the identical Senate
• >> SENATOR KRUEGER MOVES TO DISCHARGE FROM THE COMMITTEE ON CODES AND SUBSTITUTE THE IDENTICAL
• >> Secretary will read. >> Calendar 199, Senate Print 54A, Senator Fernandez, an act to amend the Penal
• Law. >> Lay aside. >> Calendar 797, Assembly 2239, Assembly Member Braunstein, an act to amend the Penal
• >> >> CALENDAR 797, ASSEMBLY 2239 ASSEMBLYMEMBER BRAUNSTEIN, AN ACT TO AMEND THE PENAL LAW

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and adopted a resolution calendar with several exceptions before taking up a series of ceremonial resolutions and bills. Members welcomed student visitors from the YWCA of White Plains’ Voices Unfiltered Policy Program, then adopted resolutions honoring Senegalese independence and the Senegalese community, MWBE Advocacy Day, John Coltrane’s 100th birthday, the Sing Sing Prison Museum, I Love My Park Day, Animal Advocacy Day, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month, and Denim Day. Speakers emphasized cultural recognition, public service, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, rare disease awareness, and support for survivors of sexual violence; each resolution was adopted. The chamber then moved through the regular calendar, passing a number of bills on broad roll-call votes. Among the measures approved were bills amending the Penal Law, Executive Law, Public Housing Law, Retirement and Social Security Law, Social Services Law, Environmental Conservation Law, General Municipal Law, Railroad Law, Election Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills passed unanimously or nearly so, while a few drew notable opposition, including a public health measure that passed 39-19 and the labor-related bill on ghost job postings that passed 39-19 after extended debate. The most detailed floor debate centered on the Labor Law bill addressing “ghost jobs,” requiring employers with 100 or more employees to disclose whether postings are for current vacancies, expected future openings, or general resume collection, with Department of Labor enforcement and civil penalties. Supporters argued it would protect job seekers from deceptive postings; opponents said it was unnecessary, burdensome, and could invite litigation or penalties disproportionate to the problem. The Senate also debated and passed a bill expanding election-language assistance under the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act to Haitian Creole and Middle Eastern and North African communities, with supporters citing growing language-access needs and opponents raising concerns about scope and local costs. The Senate then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• timelines and accountability measures, and we need to provide detailed PARIS system data with the zip code
• But we cannot continue to use unlicensed activity and fraud as justification to penalize the good behavioral
• health and sober living... ...and fraud as justification to penalize the good behavioral health and
• Now we have, in this current environment, licensed operators are being scrutinized and penalized with
• So on January 3rd, 2025, claims using code S9480 were subject to a prepayment review process.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held a fourth hearing in its ongoing review of alleged fraud, waste, and abuse involving AHCCCS/Access and DHS, with a major focus on Medicaid eligibility verification for the aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) population, behavioral health and sober living oversight, and payment delays to providers. Senator Shamp presented findings she said showed major gaps in ABD asset verification, including claims that only a fraction of enrollees were checked and that many ineligible members may remain on the rolls. She urged referrals to law enforcement, tighter verification requirements, better PARIS data sharing, and legislative changes to close what she described as a compliance and taxpayer-risk gap. Reva Stewart also testified that patient brokering and fraudulent recruitment of vulnerable people, including Native Americans, continues through social media and other channels, and she called for stronger enforcement and transparency. Heather Dukes, representing behavioral health and sober living operators, argued that the state’s response to fraud has become overly punitive toward legitimate providers. She said ADHS often sends technical paperwork deficiencies straight to enforcement instead of allowing plans of correction, that zoning approvals are being questioned despite not being within ADHS authority, and that long Access approval timelines are creating licensing and billing delays. ADHS Deputy Assistant Director Tiffany Slater said the department has seen a large volume of unlicensed complaints, that it is trying to improve staffing and data systems, and that some enforcement tools have been expanded for sober living homes. She also said many sober living operators are in recovery themselves and provide low-cost housing and support rather than direct billing to Access. Access Director Virginia Roundtree said the agency is trying to balance fraud prevention with support for legitimate providers. She reported steps such as daily internal huddles, live dashboards, added project management support, an outside review of the Division of Fee-for-Service Management, and a new external claims vendor to help reduce backlogs. Senators pressed her on a specific provider’s long-delayed payments and prepayment review, and she said the agency would provide answers early the following week. Access staff also described provider resolution roundtables and said unadjudicated claims had been reduced to zero, though members questioned whether that was due to denials rather than resolution. The hearing ended with the chair announcing legislation to preserve the American Indian Health Plan as a fee-for-service option while requiring Access to contract administrative and care management functions to another entity, citing structural failures in Access’s ability to operate the plan safely and effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CODE ENFORCEMENT.
• WE ALREADY SET TIME FIRMS I KNOW WE ARE SAYING IF YOU DON'T MEET THE TIME FRAMES WE ARE GOING TO PENALIZE
• BELIEVE AS A WHITE MALE OFFERING A GOOD PRODUCT OR SERVICE AT A PARTICULAR PRICE I SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED
• WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS WE WANT TO PENALIZE COUNTIES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR HAVING THE WHEREWITHAL TO
• REFINING FOR THE PROHIBITION ON INITIATIVES OR REFERENDUM PROCESSES FOR LAND-USE REGULATIONS INCLUDE CODE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said it is more effective to address the root causes of criminal behavior than simply penalize it,
• <01:07:21.280> And behavior than simply penalize that.
• And behavior than simply penalize that.
• So is this then extending beyond that current code for a singular case?
• So is this then extending beyond that current code for a singular case? >> Representative Pinto?

Bills: HF3465, HF3782, HF4075, HF391, HF3946, HF2976, HF3350

Keywords: theft, vulnerable adults, public safety, penalties, Minnesota statutes, chemical irritants, law enforcement, transparency, building owners, tenant rights, notification, remediation, firearm restrictions, domestic violence, court orders, criminal convictions, firearms prohibition, gun surrender, order for protection, protective order

Transcript Highlights:

• prosecutor so we're not penalizing prosecutor so we're not penalizing somebody<00:52:38.720>
• And they may not know about the Code of Federal Regulations. There's no notice whatsoever.
• /c><01:05:14.279> know<01:05:14.480> about<01:05:14.680> the<01:05:14.799> code
• <01:05:15.000> of they may not know about the code of they may not know about the code of
• anything like that it just penalizes anything like that it just penalizes potentially<02:32:21.399

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, HB 4877 makes technical and clarifying changes to chapter 462 of the Insurance code relating to the
• And maintains insurance code authority for TDI to investigate insurance fraud.
• Code.
• They code them 1 through 5, right? End of the day, it was just indigestion.
• OK, but isn't there other sections of the code that allow you to do that? No, sir, there's not.

Transcript Highlights:

• So really, they're being penalized, but they're not the ones labeling it, right?
• This arguably penalizes the very people the 1D1 agricultural valuation was supposed to support.
• interfere with land management along public right-of-ways, amend Section 251.0555 of the Agricultural Code
• The Agriculture Code effectively eliminates the only program for young farmers in Texas.

Bills: HB43, HB519, HB1275, HB1592, HB2842, HB3088, HB3479, HB4163, SB823, HB609

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, bovine producers, dairy farms, permits, bovine tuberculosis, public health, wildlife management, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, white-tailed deer, public safety