Transcript Highlights:

• We were isolated, manipulated, and aware of our rights to report a crime.
• She wanted to report him. She wanted to be safe.
• Victims are afraid to call 911 or report abuse.
• When victims don't report crimes, perpetrators remain free.
• obligations thereby frightening other immigrants into staying home and violating those reporting obligations

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on the Safe Communities Act, House 2580 and Senate 1681, along with related proposals to limit local and state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, prohibit 287(g) agreements, and expand legal defense for immigrants. Most testimony came from advocates, attorneys, labor leaders, health care professionals, educators, and community members who argued that fear of ICE discourages immigrants from reporting crimes, seeking medical care, attending school, or cooperating with courts, and that a clear statewide policy would improve public safety, due process, and trust in institutions. Several speakers described personal or client experiences involving domestic violence, trafficking, workplace abuse, or children affected by deportation, and many emphasized economic harms to workers, families, and small businesses. Health care witnesses said immigration enforcement is causing patients to miss appointments, avoid emergency rooms, and delay preventive care, with resulting public health consequences. Labor and education representatives said immigrant workers and students are increasingly fearful, and that the state should not allow local police to act as ICE agents or enter 287(g) agreements. ACLU and coalition witnesses cited examples they said showed existing or recent collaboration between local agencies and ICE, including courthouse alerts, vehicle stops, and use of municipal spaces, while also arguing that the bill would still allow cooperation on criminal matters and public safety emergencies. One witness opposed the bill, arguing that serious criminal offenders should be deported and defending ICE’s role. Committee members asked several questions about whether the harms described were widespread or anecdotal, and about the distinction between assisting ICE in civil immigration arrests versus responding to violent or public safety emergencies. Witnesses said the bill was aimed at civil immigration enforcement, not criminal investigations or emergency situations. At the end of the hearing, a committee member requested a study on immigration enforcement’s effect on emergency room wait times, and the committee then adjourned without taking a vote on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• favor report say I. favor report say I. >> All<00:09:57.920> opposed.
• Bill gives a favor report. >> All opposed. Bill gives a favor report.
• Favor report. with the two amendments? Favor report. >> So<00:24:06.400> moved.
• Bill gets a favor report. Thank you. Bill gets a favor report. Thank you.
• a favor report, please say I. a favor report, please say I.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The report is adopted.
• The report is adopted. negative. The report is adopted.
• The committee report is negative. The committee report is adopted.
• It's not in the report.
• be committed report Motion be committed report report<07:30:04.760> of<07:30:04.880> ought

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The CMS-64 reports are quarterly expenditure reports that are filed by DHS with the federal grantor.
• in the Departmental Financial Audit Report for DHS.
• We also issue quarterly reports as well as an annual report, and those are available online at our website
• For example, if you were to look at our 2025 annual report or our most recent annual report, you'll see
• The number is definitely in our annual report and in our quarterly reports.

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to receive a primer on the subcommittee’s history and on how Medicaid oversight works in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s origins in response to earlier Medicaid audit concerns and explained that Medicaid is audited every year in the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk, large federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including issues with eligibility controls, data matching, contractor charging, incarcerated juveniles’ coverage handling, provider eligibility support, and the state’s Medicaid recovery audit contractor exception request. They also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for possible prosecution. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of the Medicaid program, describing eligibility groups, delivery systems (fee-for-service, managed care/PASSE, and premium assistance for expansion adults), the size of the program, and the agency’s budget and provider base. DHS also outlined the difference between state plan amendments and waivers and said other committee materials would be sent to members. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, explaining that it investigates suspected intentional fraud, suspends providers when there is a credible allegation of fraud, recovers improper payments in mistake cases, and recommends policy changes when trends are identified. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, handles neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases in long-term care settings, and works with DHS, OMIG, and federal partners. Members asked about where cases are filed, how provider suspensions work, whether beneficiary fraud is investigated, and how education is provided to providers. DHS confirmed that beneficiary fraud cases are referred to local prosecutors and said the expansion population will move toward community engagement/work requirements under federal changes, with a soft launch planned before full implementation. The meeting ended with no formal votes beyond adoption of the prior minutes and no other committee actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This year's CIP budget includes about $1.9 billion in general obligation and general obligation revolving
• This year's CIP budget includes about $1.9 billion in general obligation and general obligation revolving
• This year's CIP budget includes about $1.9 billion in general obligation and general obligation revolving
• This year's CIP budget includes about $1.9 billion in general obligation and general obligation revolving
• This year's CIP budget includes about $1.9 billion in general obligation and general obligation revolving

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing and seeing none, let HB 1033 be reported favorably.
• Hearing and seeing none, let 1034 be reported as amended.
• Thank you. before be reported as amended. Thank you so much.
• We have a motion by Vice Chair LaFlor to report HB 2525 as amended.
• This bill includes reporting requirements and a sunset date.

Bills: HB59, HB74, HB159, HB167, HB175, HB255, HB330, HB364, HB458, HB525, HB568, HB656, HB1033, HB1034, HB1070

Keywords: public defender, funding, district court, East Baton Rouge, judicial expenses, Autism Spectrum Disorder, missing children, law enforcement, public safety, Spectrum Alert, inmate documentation, post-release employment, special identification card, Louisiana Department of Public Safety, reentry services, veterans, veterans services, lottery proceeds, special fund, grant board

Summary: The committee met on April 15, 2026, and first voluntarily deferred HB 656. It then heard HB 74, which would create a Louisiana Spectrum Alert for missing persons with autism. Representative Eccles said the alert would be modeled on Amber and senior alerts and could be absorbed within existing resources. The committee heard strong support from a mother of an autistic child, who described the dangers of elopement and drowning risk, and from members who said the bill could help save lives. HB 74 was reported favorably. Members then considered HB 1033 and HB 1034 by Chairman Bacala. HB 1033 expands the definition of critical infrastructure to include additional facilities such as airports, teleports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, mass transit, government facilities, military installations, and oil and gas exploration platforms; it was reported favorably. HB 1034 authorizes temporary protection zones for up to 72 hours when needed for public safety, with an amendment clarifying that the zones cannot be used in a way inconsistent with state firearms preemption law. The ACLU raised concerns about vagueness, possible overreach, and repeated renewals, while supporters said the bill was meant to address public safety events. The bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee also heard HB 59, which would require East Baton Rouge Parish and its municipalities to fund the 19th Judicial District public defender’s office in a manner similar to the district attorney’s office. The author, the public defender, and the district attorney argued the bill would stabilize funding and prevent future political changes from crippling the office, while several members questioned whether it created an unfunded mandate and whether the language was too broad. Despite those concerns, HB 59 was reported favorably. HB 175 was then amended to replace a proposed veterans scratch-off lottery game with a Veterans Service Grant Fund financed by $500,000 annually from lottery net proceeds; supporters said the money would support veteran services and treatment programs, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee passed HB 568, which increases penalties for drug-free school zone violations involving open marijuana use, vaping, or smoking, especially near schools and large events. Supporters said current penalties are too weak to deter visible drug use around children, while opponents warned of over-criminalization and enforcement problems. HB 525, requiring DPS&C to publish incarceration-related data online, was amended to remove parish jail census data after the department said it would publish the rest of the information voluntarily; it was then reported favorably as amended. The committee then began HB 159, a Caddo Parish pretrial incarceration alternative pilot program, with discussion focused on adding language to ensure electronic monitoring providers comply with existing state requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Madam Chair, Representative Lujan, we do receive reports.
• We do save those malpractice reports in our Board, our NMNB board does review those reports.
• Those are reported. That is good to know.
• So our obligations... ...would remain the same.
• Her obligations and responsibilities would remain the same.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The subgrantee has to provide monthly reports, activity reports that are going on.
• and the reporting regarding um reporting and the reporting that<00:21:23.360> we're<00:21:23.600
• annual report to to ensure transparency. annual report to to ensure transparency.
• to rise and report. to rise and report.
• >> Rise and report.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard a proposal to consolidate small or outdated Treasury and agency accounts into pooled investment accounts so idle balances could earn interest and administrative costs could be reduced. Senator DuPree asked whether the change would also eliminate old accounts, and the sponsor said it would close outdated accounts and move funds where they could earn interest. The committee then voted title sufficient, do pass. Senate Bill 2694, described as the biomarker bill, would require mandatory biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, and monitoring of certain conditions when supported by medical and scientific evidence and nationally recognized clinical guidelines. The bill would apply to health insurance policies written in the state after September 1, 2026, require written reasons for denials, and include reporting requirements back to the Legislature. The sponsor estimated a total cost of about $5.2 million, with roughly $1 million as the state share, and the committee voted title sufficient, do pass. The committee then took up the ARPA bill, which would accelerate the spending deadline from December 31 to September 30 and create three buckets for remaining funds: $100 million for MDOT, about $62 million for lost revenue to help offset insurance costs, and any additional funds to be handled by DFA under the governor’s discretion within ARPA rules. Senators asked about lists of projects, the risk of rushing money out the door, and whether local city and county projects could be repurposed; sponsors said the bill is aimed at keeping funds from being returned to Washington and that projects already in process should be nudged to completion, while unused funds could be clawed back after missed reporting or reimbursement requests. The committee also discussed prior technical problems with some completed projects and said those cases would likely require separate legislative action. The committee voted title sufficient, do pass, committee sub. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 2578, which creates a small municipality match fund to help cities under 10,000 population meet the 20% local match needed for discretionary federal and state grants. The chair clarified that the bill establishes the fund but does not create a funding source, and the sponsor confirmed that point. The committee then voted title sufficient, do pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• incident-based reporting system, and other state-mandated data and compliance obligations, where we
• What's good, wrong, or bad with this report? They have the ability to say, this was a good report.
• It doesn't obligate state funds, doesn't obligate any kind of hiring, doesn't obligate county funds beyond
• be obligated in a normal what would be obligated in a normal budgeting<02:58:07.359> process.
• Can I ask you to report? Smith. Can I ask you to report? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When I say we are the ones that are responsible, it's not just an ethical obligation.
• It is a legal obligation.
• obligation obligation not<01:01:40.559> only<01:01:40.720> from<01:01:40.960> a
• obligation. It is a legal obligation. obligation. It is a legal obligation.
• Not only do we have an obligation to take care of this issue and look at it, we have a legal obligation

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:08 26RS SB 3: 0:02:50 26RS SB 1: 0:21:12, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 3, which would expand financial transparency requirements for Kentucky school districts. Sponsor Senator Lindsey Tichenor said the bill would require public access to budgeting and spending information, including final working budgets, monthly credit card statements, superintendent contracts and compensation, audits, and related financial reports posted on district websites. A committee amendment correcting citations was adopted by voice vote. Supporters, including Laura O’Brien, described examples of district spending they viewed as excessive and argued that more detailed public disclosure would help taxpayers and school boards identify misuse of funds. Senator Higdon and others voiced support for transparency, while Senator Meredith said he supported the intent but wanted the bill to go further. The committee passed SB 3 with 11 aye votes and one no vote, with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator David Givens, which would restore and clarify governance changes for Jefferson County Public Schools by defining the roles of the school board and superintendent. Givens said the bill responds to a state Supreme Court ruling and includes 42 stated reasons for the governance changes. Opponents, including Jefferson County Teachers Association president Maddie Shepard, JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood, and board member James Craig, argued the bill would weaken local democratic control, concentrate authority in one administrator, and reduce community voice. Yearwood said he works collaboratively with the board and that the bill is about adults and governance rather than students, while Craig said the district needs stronger oversight, not less. Supporters of the bill argued that the current structure has not produced adequate results and that the changes are needed to improve outcomes and accountability. The transcript ends during the SB 1 testimony and discussion, before a final vote is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 646 will be reported favorably to the full Senate. Thank you.
• Conduct must be reported, which is really kind of surprising that it wasn't already in there.
• There being 11 ayes and zero nays, Senate Bill 1998 will be reported favorably.
• Senator Hagen moves that Senate Bill 1418 be reported to the floor.
• Senate Bill 2788 will be reported favorably. Forwarded favorably to the full Senate.

Bills: SB2920, SB2929, SB2398, SB865, SB401, SB2619, SB2927, SB1395, SB1972, SB2540, SB1635, SB1581, SB2008

Keywords: steroids, student athletes, athletic competition, University Interscholastic League, medical purpose, gender transition, school athletics, spectator conduct, referees, ejection policy, extracurricular activities, concussion, brain injury, school policy, academic accommodations, student welfare, cardiac arrest, emergency response, CPR training, automated external defibrillators

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the division has $14.2 billion obligated with over 22,000 projects and over 1,500 applicants
• Some of the upcoming key performance enhancements include the expansion of data reporting capabilities
• We are also modernizing the subsystem that supports fuel use reporting by motor carriers, as well as
• Also, to identify enhancements or modernization efforts that improve service delivery and reporting.
• bodies to make sure that the budget is on track to fulfill that financial obligation.

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several state technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Enterprise Business Solution (DEMS). FDEM said DEMS is about 50% complete, with some grants and finance functions already live, and is intended to replace manual disaster and grants processing with a cloud-based system. Officials described faster reimbursement timelines after recent storms, major return-on-investment claims, and a planned final phase focused on design, testing, communications, data governance, and additional functionality. Members asked about the total cost, the role of Florida Digital Service, deliverables-based contracting, and how much of the system is live; FDEM said the project is expected to cost about $16 million to $16.8 million and finish by June 2027, with some follow-up information to be provided. The Department of Legal Affairs presented its Office of Attorney General Modernization Program, a follow-up to an earlier effort that failed after spending about $26 million. Acting Attorney General John Gard said the department has now moved to an off-the-shelf case management product, LawBase, and is in development and testing, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution already live and full implementation expected by the end of the fiscal year. The request includes funding for staff augmentation, cloud storage, the LawBase license, redundancy through a backup site in Orlando, and OnBase support. Members questioned the prior failure, the use of Florida Digital Service standards, data location and cloud migration, and the redundancy plan; Gard said lessons learned included better scoping and that the current effort is on track. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then updated the committee on Motorist Modernization, including the Orion system and the MyDMV portal. Officials said Phase 1 and Phase 2 have modernized driver license and motor vehicle services, with Phase 2 statewide rollout scheduled to begin in April 2025 and Phase 3 proposed at $16.5 million for dealer services, data warehouse improvements, and call center modernization. Members asked about payment options, organ donor questions, staffing, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and the digital driver license program. The agency said the portal already allows some sanctions to be cleared online, an ACH option is being developed, the digital driver license vendor has changed with a fall go-live anticipated, and the department is using security testing and a managed security service provider. Officials also said the system is currently on an on-prem private cloud, with future workloads expected to move to public cloud where appropriate. Finally, Florida Commerce presented on the Reemployment Assistance modernization system, Reconnect, and the FLWINS workforce system. Commerce said Reconnect is hosted in the Azure Government Cloud, has reduced claim filing time, improved fraud detection, and increased appeals capacity, and now needs $4.9 million in recurring funding to cover ongoing operations, cloud hosting, licenses, and staff augmentation. Members asked about adjudication issues, wait times, fraud prevention, and whether the system stores caller identifiers; Commerce said the average wait to speak to a representative is about 18 minutes and claims are generally processed in four to six weeks. The committee then began hearing about FLWINS, which is intended to create a “no wrong door” workforce portal under the REACH Act, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there reports of committees? None on the desk, Mr. President.
• The DOT is also tasked with incorporating these reporting obligations into state grant agreements.
• I think it's not just based on one complaint, right, or one report.
• These findings based on research and reports, you can't find the reports.
• And reports, you can't find the reports.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including visiting student groups, chambers of commerce, and apprenticeship participants. Senators also observed a moment of silence for a fallen Walton County deputy and later for the late John Pasadoma. The chamber then moved through a long third-reading calendar and special order calendar, with most bills passing overwhelmingly and several amendments adopted along the way. Among the major measures, SB 234 on criminal offenses against law enforcement officers passed 37-0 after debate and an amendment clarifying “good faith” in an officer’s duties; SB 7020 on open government and cybersecurity information passed 37-0; SM 1488 urging Congress to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund was adopted by voice vote; SB 944 reducing insurance overpayment claim deadlines for psychologists passed 37-0; SB 878 expanding misdemeanor probation treatment provisions to controlled substances passed 36-1; SB 538, the state court system package, passed 37-0; SB 480 on nonprofit agricultural organization medical benefit plans passed 32-4; SB 472 on correctional-facility education credit for licensure passed 37-0; and SB 56 on geoengineering and weather modification passed 28-9 after extensive debate about enforcement, federal preemption, and the bill’s purpose. Later, the Senate passed CS/HB 421 on peer support for first responders 37-0 after substituting the House companion, and SB 164 on vessel accountability advanced with a technical amendment. SB 166 on administrative efficiency in public schools drew the most extended debate and multiple amendments; it changes testing, promotion, teacher evaluation, certification, and facilities rules, and passed 37-0. The chamber also passed SB 282 on warranty association financial requirements 36-0, SB 316 creating series LLCs 35-1, and SB 384 on annexing state-owned lands 36-0. At the end of the day, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify all passed bills to the House, received budget schedule guidance from Appropriations Chair Hooper for SB 2500 and SB 2502, and adjourned until April 9.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> The clerk will report the motion.
• clerk will report the motion. clerk will report the motion.
• The chief clerk will report the amendment.
• The chief clerk will report the bill.
• The chief clerk will report the amendment.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House began with a point of personal privilege honoring Master Sergeant Nicole M. Amimer of White Bear Lake, including a House resolution recognizing her military service and sacrifice and a moment of silence. Members then took up House File 4987, which would rename a highway in White Bear Lake as the Master Sergeant Nicole M. Amimer Memorial Highway. The motion to suspend rules and advance the bill prevailed, and the bill later passed 126-0 after supportive remarks from Representatives Olsen and Curran about honoring Amimer and her family. The chamber then considered Senate File 476, the human services policy bill. Representative Noor described it as a broad package covering direct care and treatment, Department of Health policy, aging and disability services, behavioral health, vulnerable adult maltreatment, continuity of care, and miscellaneous policy changes. Representative Schumacher said the bill reflected stakeholder work and added guardrails, especially around fraud and provider processes. Several amendments were offered and adopted, including a technical A13 amendment; an A8 amendment was withdrawn; and an A1 amendment on individualized home supports was also withdrawn. The bill passed 93-39. Finally, the House took up House File 4546, the forecast adjustment bill for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Representative Noor said it was a routine biennial adjustment to align spending with the February forecast. Representative Johnson W offered an amendment on foster family information-sharing but withdrew it after concluding it was not germane. Debate focused heavily on the size of the forecast increases, especially in medical assistance and housing supports, with Representative Schultz arguing the bill reflected large cost growth and urging a no vote. Noor responded that the increases were driven by forecasted utilization, eligibility, rate changes, and program integrity changes. The bill passed as amended 93-39.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh in our materials there's a report uh in our materials there's a report from<00:04:03.680>
• <00:32:28.480> I that in their um annual report. I that in their um annual report.
• I could get the of the full report.
• your uh report looking at other funds. your uh report looking at other funds.
• Um, so we don't have that reporting. We do have to do reporting after those monies are spent.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, a couple years ago, New Hampshire Housing came out with this really well-done report.
• I saved a bunch of trees today and did not print the full 70-page report.
• I not print the full 70 page report I printed<00:55:42.200> the<00:55:42.319> executive
• They have no obligation to do that.
• <01:41:56.119> to understanding that it's not obligated to understanding that it's not obligated

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to fulfill certain obligations.
• They have a quarterly reporting cycle with us.
• They're also reporting quarterly progress data.
• The full report is available on page 13 of this packet.
• So you have a report? You got a timeline on it?

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of those funds are obligated to specific projects.
• you guys to be able to obligate it?
• So they've spent and obligated about $100 million.
• Chairman, I move the adoption of the Subcommittee B report.
• I move adoption of the Subcommittee C report.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the report<01:18:13.920> here.
• was just reading in the minority report was just reading in the minority report that<02:32:17.200
• Uh and I'm glad to report to you bill.
• <02:45:47.120> to professional and a legal obligation to professional and a legal obligation
• <02:48:10.560> to every time we have the obligation to every time we have the obligation to

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But these are obligations.
• But these are obligations. have put in. But these are obligations.
• We don't use court reporters.
• We don't use court reporters.
• We don't use court reporters.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary met without a quorum and heard an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on the judicial branch budget. AOC Director Zach Ramsey and budget director Carol Henderson outlined the branch’s current funding structure, noting that fiscal year 2026 general fund support is about 2.77% of the state general fund, below the National Center for State Courts’ typical 2% to 4% range. They emphasized Kentucky’s unusual responsibility for courthouse facilities, with the judicial branch directly involved in construction, maintenance, and operations across 229 facilities in all 120 counties. AOC said nearly 91% of its general fund is spent on personnel and other non-discretionary costs, and that the branch has long relied on agency revenue, restricted fund carryforwards, and vacancy credits to balance court operations. Members were told that Senate Bill 25 required a $34.5 million transfer into a reserve account, part of which was used to purchase the Chamberlain Avenue building in Frankfort. AOC reported that only $11.9 million remains in restricted funds, while it projects needing about $13.5 million to cover fiscal year 2026 obligations, not including roughly $9 million in flood-related remediation costs for Hardin and Franklin counties, much of which it expects to recover through insurance and FEMA. Looking ahead to the next biennium, AOC said it will seek full funding of court operations at $341 million annually, a $13.5 million increase to bring current services into the base appropriation rather than relying on reserves. It also previewed additional requests, including a 15% across-the-board pay parity plan for Kentucky Court of Justice personnel, replacement of declining master commissioner fee revenue tied to 141 deputy circuit court clerk positions, funding for technology subscription and case management system costs, JAV audiovisual system upgrades, AEDs and medical kits for courthouses, and other staffing and operational needs. Senator Funky Frommeyer asked whether the 15% salary proposal was included in the $13.5 million increase; AOC said it was not, and that it would be an additional request. No votes or formal actions were taken.