Transcript Highlights:

• on all this and we appreciate the work that you are doing.
• on all this and we appreciate the work that you are doing.
• on all this and we appreciate the work that you are doing.
• really hard on all this and we appreciate the work that you are doing.
• Thank you for your work on this. Seeing none, without objection, this rule stands reviewed.

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation. Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cicero Institute works across the country, bringing best practices from different states as well as the
• Is there an opportunity to be able to lower the burden of work that's being done by that job opening?
• constrained to having to work in the bigger opportunities.
• It needed some work, so I’m a magnanimous guy.
• So the most important part about this is that as we've been working on data...

Bills: HB2452, HB2592

Keywords: comprehensive plans, county governance, data centers, zoning, state regulations, land use, energy production, infrastructure, environmental impact, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens, 1182, all

Summary: The House Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Committee heard a presentation from Steven Garrison of the Cicero Institute on how Arizona state government could use AI to improve service delivery, reduce costs, and streamline procurement. He argued that AI should be treated as software deployed across many use cases, not just chatbots, and urged the state to identify opportunities proactively, avoid unnecessary agency-level AI rules, use existing procurement structures, and measure outcomes. Members asked about workforce impacts, agency involvement, privacy, and the balance between innovation and regulation; Garrison said AI would likely augment workers first, create new jobs over time, and should be guided by the legislature rather than broad agency rulemaking. The committee then considered HB 2592, which directs the Department of Administration to have budget units identify AI opportunities and streamline implementation, and an amendment adding reporting requirements to state leaders and the Secretary of State. After limited public testimony, the amendment was adopted and the bill received a due pass recommendation on a 4-2 vote, with one member absent. The committee next took up HB 2452, which would add data centers and small modular reactors to county comprehensive planning and adjust county land-use planning requirements, including changes related to renewable energy planning in larger counties. Supporters said the bill would help counties plan ahead for data center growth and future energy needs, including SMRs and other emerging technologies. County representatives opposed the measure, arguing it improperly singled out specific uses, blurred the line between comprehensive planning and zoning, and reduced local control by altering established public planning processes; they also raised concerns about vague standards and the bill’s treatment of renewable energy. After debate, the committee approved HB 2452 on a 4-3 vote for a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2664, domestic relations temporary. HB 2667, home buyer assistance.
• People are afraid to go to work. People are afraid kids are afraid to go to school.
• It really sucks for my kids to be in fear for Dad to go to work.
• We need to start working together. Be proud of who you are. And let's all be proud together.
• And with that, let's work. Representative Austin. Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, I rise to make a comment.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer by Deacon Ernie Gonzalez, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of Dr. Pamela Murphy as Doctor of the Day. Members also introduced guests, including local officials, Arizona Game and Fish commissioners, and advocates from the Alzheimer’s Association. A proclamation was read designating January 26, 2026, as Arizona Aviation Day, highlighting the industry’s economic impact and the role of airports, aerospace, and aviation-related jobs in the state. The clerk then recorded a large number of bills and resolutions for first and second reading, covering water and energy policy, education savings accounts and school choice, elections and campaign finance, veterans issues, public safety, housing, health care, immigration-related matters, and land and natural resources. Representative Gress also read a resolution recognizing National School Choice Week and praising Arizona’s school choice programs, including charter schools and empowerment scholarship accounts. A lengthy portion of the meeting consisted of members’ personal privilege remarks responding to violence and immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota and Arizona. Many members condemned ICE tactics, described fear and harm in immigrant communities, and called for constitutional rights, due process, and accountability; several requested or observed a moment of silence. No substantive floor votes on legislation were taken during the transcript beyond the motion to adjourn, which passed, and the House adjourned until 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The parties that work on racing and gambling and all that all worked on this.
• They work in Arizona as required to participate in the program, and with that, I'm happy to answer any
• Majority Leader Carbone, Chairman Gress, both did a tremendous amount of work on the SNAP information
• in here, and I know you worked on that too.
• The back-end work of money movements is a big deal, and upgrading these hardware and software systems

Summary: The meeting covered a series of fiscal year 2027 budget and budget-related bills, beginning with the general appropriations and tax package. Staff and the chair highlighted a budget built around about $1.4 billion in tax cuts, a one-time 2.5% agency reduction, major funding for state employee health insurance, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, and other supplemental appropriations. The chair repeatedly urged support for the package, emphasizing the size of the tax cut and noting that the committee’s joint vote had only three no votes out of 28 members. Members then reviewed several smaller budget implementation bills affecting racing and gambling, capital outlay, commerce and defense innovation, corrections, environment and water policy, higher education, human services, K-12 education, county finance, tax administration, state data governance, and state office rent rates. Key provisions included extending or modifying funds and fee structures, transferring surplus or unneeded monies, creating or revising oversight boards and pilot programs, increasing K-12 funding by 2% for inflation, adjusting university retention limits, expanding SNAP and housing-related requirements, and changing tax conformity and credits. Several members asked clarifying questions about specific items such as electric vehicle charging funds, mobile home relocation payments, university funding, and the new health insurance oversight board. The chair also explained the tax bill’s major changes, including conformity to federal tax law, a larger dependent tax credit, changes to deductions, repeal of certain tax credits, veteran property tax relief, limits on data center tax incentives, and provisions affecting manufacturing infrastructure and unemployment insurance administration. The committee discussed the Budget Stabilization Fund, debt repayment, and education rollover balances, with the chair arguing for using surpluses to pay down debt. The final item discussed was a behavioral health bill creating a home and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with a stated FY 2027 total fund appropriation of $7.8 million contingent on federal approval and matching funds. The meeting ended with a reminder that floor action would begin the next day at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank the Assembly and the administration for working to put this together, and also my vice
• The first one just lays out how reserves work and what reserves are intended to achieve, which both the
• Turning to page three, this figure lays out how Proposition 2 works.
• Turning to page three, this figure lays out how Proposition 2 works.
• Hope that works with everybody that asks questions. Yeah, thank you.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The parties that work on racing and gambling and all that all worked on this.
• They work in Arizona as required to participate in the program, and with that, I'm happy to answer any
• Majority Leader Carbone, Chairman Gress, both did a tremendous amount of work on the SNAP information
• in here, and I know you worked on that too.
• The back-end work of money movements is a big deal, and upgrading these hardware and software systems

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for recovery residences and a work for recovery residences and a work group.
• If you are work with all of you.
• work of age friendly Minnesota Council. work of age friendly Minnesota Council.
• Uh I do hope we can work care.
• And so the two working parents.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so they'll take on that work.
• it's working for now. it's working for now. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.
• And working with DCR.
• And how does that approval work?
• available to the youth to work. available to the youth to work.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a steering committee and work groups of psychologists from across the country work with us to
• In addition to our work to increase kinship placements, we are engaged in work to...
• temporary ID is an actual ID.
• We work with HHSC to fix them.
• So how would that work?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is doing excellent work. Uh humming. It is doing excellent work.
• clear, this work must get done. clear, this work must get done.
• and mapping work continues. and mapping work continues.
• The um work.
• contractors working in Minnesota. contractors working in Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to say that this work is hard, serious work.
• And I want to say that this work is hard, serious work.
• And I want to say that this work is hard, serious work.
• And I want to say that this work is hard, serious work.
• I want to say that this work is hard, serious work.

Bills: HF3542

Keywords: data privacy, investigative data, welfare system, public funds, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My colleague, the chair of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, there's a little bit more work that
• a pilot program authorizing the installation and use of automated traffic enforcement systems in temporary
• Go ahead and put them in the vote, and we'll see if it works. Senator Lange? There we go.
• While things are still working, I want to quit while we're ahead and move to recess until the call of
• There's been a lot of stakeholders working on this for a long time.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• switching the money around work? switching the money around work?
• to work work with those going to be able to work work with those commui<03:11:52.720> communities<
• This is a work session.
• This is a work session.
• This is a work session.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:23.360> furlow $3 million for the locker work furlow $3 million for the locker work
• appreciate all the work you're doing. appreciate all the work you're doing.
• It's tough work. >> Sure. It's tough work. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.
• Then we're also how it works out.
• No, it doesn't work that way.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But by and large the system works. It works for everyone. We've given it a three-year sunset.
• It But by and large the system works. It works<00:14:03.720> for<00:14:04.000> everyone.
• We've given it a works for everyone.
• <00:15:02.400> It<00:15:02.680> won't work through. It won't work through.
• They decided to work<00:42:29.840> with<00:42:30.040> the work with the work with the Office

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our<01:05:38.240> work<01:05:38.760> in Our work in Our work in Our<01:05:39.760> work
• temporary exemption process. temporary exemption process.
• of this work. of this work.
• Worked together.
• routinely work with victims of abuse. routinely work with victims of abuse.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going start working the SSI cases.
• c> abandoned minand works.
• We work in the abandoned minand works.
• I'm under the weather today and working from home.
• <00:59:30.079> And work in healthc care facilities. And work in healthc care facilities.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the October 13 minutes and then moved through a large agenda of contracts and agreements, including a deferred list from the September 2025 agenda. Members questioned several agencies about the purpose, cost, and duration of the items before them, with repeated motions to consider the contracts reviewed without objection passing by roll call. The Office of Energy Policy and Energy and Environment Cabinet presented a solar-and-battery program. Members asked about panel and battery lifespan, warranty coverage, who would pay for replacement or disposal, and whether the program made sense in Kentucky. The agency said panels and batteries generally last 25 to 30 years, warranties would cover replacement during the warranty period, EPA guidance would govern disposal, and federal funds would cover program expenses. Officials estimated the program could reduce participating homeowners’ utility bills by about 70%, with a minimum required savings of 20%. The Department for Community Based Services explained a new vendor contract for SSI initial and redetermination work for children in out-of-home care, saying the work is federally required, the department lacks in-house capacity, and the contract replaced a prior vendor after an RFP protest and rebid. The Department of Highways described umbrella traffic engineering contracts for smaller highway safety projects, noting they are used for spot improvements and are nearing full utilization. The Kentucky Historical Society said its contract funded a temporary exhibit tied to 250th anniversary programming, and the Board of Medical Licensure discussed an amended audit contract, explaining that annual audits were adopted after an auditor’s recommendation and that the board is funded by state allocation plus fees and fines. The Department for Natural Resources/Abandoned Mine Lands gave the most extensive presentation, describing a $5 million engineering services contract as part of a much larger workload increase driven by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, with projects prioritized by citizen complaints and safety impacts; the agency said the contract supports design and oversight for community-scale mine reclamation projects that exceed in-house capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were wonderful to work with and showed amazing patience to work with somebody like me.
• Let's work together. Rep.
• with people, we've worked with people, we've worked with people, this has been vetted.
• We will work through what we're working through.
• An honor to work on housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• They work with their prioritized.
• account and make them work for everyone. account and make them work for everyone.
• We cannot easily redistribute the work or bring in temporary replacements without significant cost and
• I like to be out working the farm, working with the turkeys, and working with the employees one-on-one
• 44:43.560> working<00:44:44.160> working out working the farm, working working out working

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not the way this works.
• I work with Unity the past 20 years. I've been doing this work over 30 years.
• And we work with two other agencies in our COC who also do all of their own work.
• So we worked along with them.
• So we worked along with them.

Bills: SB237

Keywords: child welfare, Department of Children and Family Services, mandatory reporting, abuse prevention, investigative teams, child ombudsman, forensic interviews, confidentiality

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 20, 2026, with eight members present and approved the May 13 minutes. The committee quickly reported several bills favorably, including SB 1224, which requires DCFS review when a pregnancy involves a child under 17 and makes children under 12 a child in need of care; SB 1100, which repeals an old statute on unenriched bread; HB 1220, a continuation of prior work to codify certain provisions related to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners; HB 1231, clarifying that continuous glucose monitoring is covered through Medicaid for any insulin-dependent diabetic, including gestational diabetes; and HB 198, setting reimbursement rates for ambulatory surgery centers for certain Medicaid procedures. The committee also adopted a personal privilege welcome for physicians on White Coat Day and repeatedly noted that several bills were being advanced with the understanding that further work might continue before floor debate. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 1160, which would create a streamlined restricted license pathway for qualified international medical school graduates, especially for rural and shortage areas. Committee members pressed the Board of Medical Examiners about delays in promulgating rules under an earlier 2024 law and objected to rule language they said went beyond the statute. Board representatives acknowledged a misunderstanding about the original bill’s intent and said the program had been operating, but members warned against agencies writing rules that contradict enacted law. Despite the criticism, HB 1160 was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably HCR 67, which creates a task force to study gaps in acute care for special-needs adults and children, following emotional testimony from the sponsor about her son’s death and the lack of appropriate care options. The committee then approved HCR 27, calling for a coordinated statewide evaluation of autism services by the Department of Health and Department of Education, with testimony emphasizing rising diagnosis rates, rural provider shortages, and the need for better data and coordination between medical and school-based services. HCR 28, which would study school nurse orientation and training, was also reported favorably after school nurses described the lack of standardized onboarding for new graduates and the risks of placing them alone in schools without adequate supervision. HB 469, which would have allowed pharmacy license renewal fees to be directed to Xavier University’s pharmacy school as well as public schools, was deferred after concerns about diverting funds from public institutions and the absence of testimony from affected schools. The committee also took up HB 223, which recreates DCFS, and adopted an amendment shortening the sunset date and requiring law enforcement reports to be accepted through a secure web-based platform; the bill was then reported favorably as amended. Another major discussion centered on HB 457 and HB 616, both tied to homelessness. HB 457, establishing minimum standards for shelters and related facilities, was reported favorably as amended after sponsor testimony and support cards. HB 616, which would allow the legislative auditor and local officials access to records and databases for audits of homelessness initiatives, drew extensive debate over privacy, federal funding, and accountability. Supporters cited a 2025 audit showing more than $216 million in federal homelessness spending in New Orleans and argued that auditors need access to performance data to detect waste and abuse; opponents warned about client privacy and the impact of funding cutoffs. The committee adopted an amendment changing permissive language to mandatory language for enforcement and then continued hearing testimony, with the discussion still centered on balancing oversight with confidentiality.