Transcript Highlights:

• It stresses the system.
• system.
• So that system looks a lot more like our prior parole system.
• We want to, if you want to move that direction, a parole-like system that does these positive things.
• .. ...if you want to move that direction, a parole-like system that does these positive things while

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we abdigate that responsibility.
• ,<00:38:28.960> specifying electronic voting systems, specifying electronic voting systems
• So, if a school system if a system.
• So, if a school system if a school<01:06:28.160> system<01:06:29.440> does<01:06:29.680
• He requested a position, which was taken out, but we do have two positions that were granted in budget

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One is our system is broken.
• . systems. systems.
• system.
• making our systems vulnerable. making our systems vulnerable.
• one system um and then the other system one system um and then the other system isn't<00:20:45.440

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The program focused on two major Senate efforts: emergency support for Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and modernization of the state’s human services software systems. On HCMC, Senator Rich Draheim said the hospital is a critical level-one trauma center and a key part of Minnesota’s safety net, warning that its closure would overwhelm the rest of the system. He argued the state should prioritize stabilizing HCMC and other hospitals rather than expanding programs that he считает are not adequately fixed, and he opposed raising taxes such as Hennepin County’s sales tax to fund the hospital, saying property-tax and cost-of-living pressures are already too high. The Senate’s Health and Human Services Supplemental Budget Bill includes a one-time $150 million appropriation to stabilize HCMC, with accountability and reporting requirements. The segment also noted DFL Senator Ann Rest’s bipartisan Senate File 4986, which would direct Hennepin County sales tax revenues to HCMC after certain county obligations are met. Draheim and others emphasized that HCMC’s finances are strained by uncompensated care and low reimbursement rates, and that rural and metro hospitals alike are under pressure. The second half of the program highlighted Senate File 4719, sponsored by Senator Melissa Wicklund, to create a Human Services Systems Steering Committee. Wicklund said outdated, siloed Department of Human Services systems slow access to SNAP, medical assistance, and other basic-needs programs, create errors and inefficiencies, and make fraud harder to detect. She said the committee would bring counties, state agencies, and IT officials together to prioritize modernization. She also said the upgrades would be expensive, citing a child welfare system replacement estimated at nearly $80 million, but noted federal matching funds are available and that failing to modernize could lead to penalties. Wicklund also discussed a longer-term bill, Senate File 5020, to create an IT funding account and planning process for future system upgrades.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we also talked to moms, and they would like to have remote positions or part-time positions much more
• We also talked to moms, and they would like to have remote positions or part-time positions much more
• and family caregiving responsibilities.
• and family caregiving responsibilities.
• How does it fall within the overall QRIS system?

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes, then heard a presentation from Maddie San Juan of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas on the report “Holding It All Together: Working Moms and Child Care in Arkansas.” She said the report found that Arkansas moms want to work, but child care costs, inflexible schedules, inadequate paid leave, and the mental load of caregiving are major barriers. She cited survey and focus group findings showing most mothers want full-time work, 69% identified child care costs as a barrier, and many said flexible hours were the most important workplace support. She also described county-level dashboard data, the high cost of infant and toddler care, and examples from working mothers about spending most or all of their paychecks on child care. Members asked questions about labor force participation trends, the meaning of the child care cost figures, and how flexibility could be implemented across industries. The presenter and members also discussed the broader economic-development impact of child care shortages and the need for public-private partnerships. The Department of Education then gave an update on early childhood programs. Officials said they are building internal dashboards to improve transparency and data access for school readiness assistance, including enrollment, application, and provider participation monitoring. They reported that the state is still moving forward with the CLASS transition and expects to release transition funding to providers in the coming weeks using Preschool Development Grant funds. They also clarified that OEP awards based on CLASS scores are separate from OEC’s work and that the data is FOIA-able. Officials warned providers about a temporary payment delay during the transition to a new system, saying payments will stop June 30 and resume around July 14, with any owed funds processed then. Members raised additional concerns about early childhood special education funding, overpayment recovery from a child care center, audit requirements for Head Start and SRA funds, the market rate survey, and the status of local leads after a recompete. Department staff said they would follow up on special education funding levels and audit rules, noted that the overpayment case is under appeal, and said the market rate survey is still in procurement. They also reported that 23 local leads will cover all counties starting July 1, with no major job-description changes, and described a new PDG Partners stakeholder group and an upcoming June 23 QRIS webinar to gather provider and parent input. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the other model is an independent response model.
• But there's high recidivism in the criminal justice system, but also the mental health system.
• And how is that defendant treated within the court system?
• to the adult system.
• The ultimate responsibility of the citizenry falls to us.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee held its first meeting of 2025, took roll, confirmed a quorum, and heard member introductions before turning to an informational panel on how a criminal case moves through Florida’s system. The chair emphasized respectful committee process and introduced staff, then invited the panel to explain the path from arrest through prosecution, first appearance, arraignment, discovery, trial, plea negotiations, and sentencing. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described law enforcement discretion, probable cause, misdemeanor and felony arrest rules, pre-arrest diversion, jail operations, and the statewide uniform bond schedule. He also discussed jail overcrowding, supervised release, mental health and substance abuse issues in jails, and the need for better case management and diversion resources. Judge Frank Allman explained first appearance, bond setting, arraignment, trial procedures, plea colloquies, and sentencing under Florida’s punishment code, including downward departures and victim impact statements. State Attorney Jack Campbell outlined charging decisions, the higher proof burden prosecutors must meet, coordination with law enforcement, Baker Act proceedings, victim notification, informations versus grand jury indictments, and the role of diversion and treatment courts. Public Defender Matthew Mets described indigency screening, discovery, the growing volume and technical complexity of evidence, mitigation work, and the importance of treatment-based resolutions. Members asked about time-served credit for supervised release, mental health recidivism, homelessness enforcement, ICE holds, and sentencing discretion; no votes were taken and the meeting ended after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have responsibilities for bridges, even what I call off-system bridges, inspecting county and city
• It's a huge mission creep when the wall is your responsibility.
• I want a response.
• On behalf of you and the state, we're responsible.
• On behalf of you in the state, we're responsible.

Bills: SB 1

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

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Focus on system movement throughout prison system.
• Focus on system movement throughout prison system.
• And I think that we are the system is somewhat responsible for the bottlenecks that happen there and
• And I think that we are the system is somewhat responsible for the bottlenecks that happen there and
• And I think that we are the system is somewhat responsible for the bottlenecks that happen there

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Bradley: [No response recorded.] Senator Grohl: [No response recorded.]
• Senator Russo: [No response recorded.] A quorum is present. The meeting is called to order.
• Would this bill prohibit state or county governments from contracting with an election systems vendor
• if any component in the system, even minor hardware parts like LCD screens, capacitors, or resistors
• How would that interact with your bill?

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 1178, the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act. Senator Grohl explained that the bill expands state restrictions and disclosure requirements related to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including foreign-agent registration, gift bans for public officials, ethics training, procurement limits for IT and critical infrastructure, restrictions on sister-city/sister-state affiliations, changes to linkage institutes and in-state tuition provisions, and new criminal penalties for certain offenses committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist organizations. Senator Polsky raised questions about higher education, election technology, federal FARA overlap, and whether the bill would affect candidates or events involving CARE; the sponsor responded that the bill focuses on foreign countries of concern, ownership/control, and gifts, and does not prohibit speaking at events. An amendment clarifying definitions, willful violations, and ethics-training content was adopted, and after supportive testimony from Kelly Curry and Robert Pierce, the committee reported CS for SB 1178 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1622, which provides a one-time waiver of the automatic fine for a late-filed financial disclosure if the filing is made before the maximum fine accrues and the filer has not previously received such a waiver or accrued the maximum fine in prior years. Carrie Stillman of the Commission on Ethics testified that the bill supports transparency and makes the fine and appeals process more efficient, noting it was a commission recommendation. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee held confirmation hearings on appointments in Tabs 3 through 26. No senator requested separate votes on any appointee, no public testimony was offered, and the block of appointments was approved and recommended favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Very thoughtful responses. I'm going to move To our third question.
• Chairman and all of you, for the responses.
• When are parents going to be responsible for their own kids?
• I don't think we've had any response from it yet.
• We've moved all of our financial systems to The cloud, all of our systems, just to add security, but

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:48.400> responsibilities specific duties. responsibilities specific duties. responsibilities
• Because when we think about suicide response, we lean into our public safety response mechanism.
• balances innovation and responsibility. balances innovation and responsibility.
• . system. system.
• in this system. in this system.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. The journal was approved as corrected, several Senate files were given second reading, and House files 5099 through 5102 were introduced. The Rules and Legislative Administration report placed a large group of bills on the May 4 calendar with pre-filing requirements for amendments. The first major floor bill was House File 3426, the annual LCCMR bill appropriating about $102.036 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for 108 projects, including a new community grants program. Members spoke in support, emphasizing natural resources, outdoor recreation, and added integrity safeguards; the bill passed 117-15. The House then passed House File 4151, a bipartisan occupational licensing bill for private detectives and protective agents. It ends partnership detective licenses and requires background checks for controlling officers and qualified representatives, while preventing licensure of people with disqualifying offenses from other states or federal law. The bill passed 133-0. After that, the chamber took up Senate File 4760, a public safety package incorporating multiple previously heard House bills and additional provisions. The package included items on recognizing Canadian protective orders, sextortion penalties, gift card fraud, firearm age restrictions, restitution, juvenile detention licensing, corrections data and terminology, chemical irritant disclosure, victims’ rights, BCA fraud statutes, and the private detective bill. Several amendments to Senate File 4760 were adopted, including one inserting House language, one changing the effective date for public-employer discretion provisions, one allowing the Office of the Legislative Auditor to request BCA fingerprints for federal tax information compliance, and one clarifying jail medication provisions. Another amendment, A3, drew a roll call after Representative Duran argued it would keep the current juvenile delinquency age and allow more time to build infrastructure; Representative Feist urged a no vote, citing opposition from other stakeholders. The transcript ends during discussion of that roll call, before the final outcome on A3 or the overall public safety package is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what is the interaction? Commissioner Schneider?
• There has been some positive movement here because of the implementation of the program.
• What tells me that this was effective was the response by systems within other neighboring states, as
• Unfortunately, in the last few years, our financials overall are in a lost position.
• same type of controls for our academic affiliation that we use in our system.

Transcript Highlights:

• and responsibilities.
• Over decades, leading to a complex web of systems and responsibilities that don't always align with today's
• And that's doing our work through the educational system, whether that's with the university system,
• They're responsible for it.
• That doesn't alleviate the agency from being responsible for their systems.

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to examine Florida’s information technology governance, budgeting, cybersecurity, data management, and telecommunications operations. Chair Schneider and other members framed the panel as a new joint policy-and-budget forum focused on reducing jargon, improving accountability, and asking whether technology investments are feasible, aligned with state goals, cost-controlled, and secure. State Affairs Chairman Will Robinson and members emphasized that the committee should avoid buying “shiny new objects” without clear business cases and should focus on long-term value, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency. Florida Digital Service and Department of Management Services leaders provided an overview of the state IT enterprise. Secretary Pedro Allende described DMS as the state’s business, workforce, and technology service provider, while State CIO Warren Spanholz outlined Florida Digital Service’s four core areas: cybersecurity, project success, data interoperability, and enterprise architecture. Chief Data Officer Ed Ryan said the state data catalog is about 400,000 elements and roughly half of agencies are participating, and he described efforts to identify authoritative data sources and improve interoperability. Chief Information Security Officer Jeremy Rogers discussed the state cybersecurity operations center, enterprise risk management, incident response exercises, and a recurring $35 million cybersecurity resiliency budget. Chief Technology Officer Leo Schoonover described oversight of major IT projects over $10 million, updated project management standards, and a shift toward smaller phased implementations and more flexible methodologies to reduce delays and overruns. Other presenters covered telecommunications, data center operations, and cybersecurity workforce development. Director Denise Atkins said the Division of Telecommunications manages Suncom and MyFloridaNet, with nearly $336.9 million appropriated for fiscal year 2024-25, and is procuring the next network contract while emphasizing security controls and vendor flexibility. Tim Brown said the Northwest Regional Data Center operates on a chargeback basis, serves state and local customers, and returned surpluses to customers in recent years. Cyber Florida Director Ernie Ferraroso described training, workforce pipelines, K-12 outreach, a cyber range, and research programs aimed at building Florida’s cyber workforce and improving public-sector readiness. Members asked about budget setting, project delays, change orders, cybersecurity reporting, data catalog participation, interoperability, and expanding cybersecurity operations centers. Officials said chargeback rates are based on actual direct and indirect costs, project delays often stem from unclear scope and insufficient upfront planning, and cybersecurity success is measured by mean time to detect, respond, and recover. They also said the state is moving toward more modular project delivery, broader agency participation in shared cybersecurity services, and expanded CSOC locations within existing staff and budget where feasible.

Transcript Highlights:

• The oversight responsibilities are divided among multiple positions under both the Center for Access
• So I wouldn't want to say that I'm saying that we're not responsible; we are highly responsible.
• Who is ultimately responsible for this?
• also have contact with the juvenile justice system.
• That's another part of the system that isn't working.

Transcript Highlights:

• Should you select to waive your speaking time, your position will be included in the committee meeting
• The study must examine how a system could enable real-time data sharing with law enforcement.
• And so we can make this into law and become a leader in the country in domestic violence response.
• The entire interaction took less time.
• Thank you for your response and responding to my question. I appreciate it. Thank you. Okay.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met with several members excused and first took up SB 350, which clarifies public records protections for crime victims and extends temporary confidentiality to law enforcement officers involved in use-of-force incidents for 72 hours, with a possible written extension up to 60 days. Senator Graal said the bill was intended to align with the Florida Constitution’s victim definition and to address privacy concerns without allowing indefinite withholding. Testimony from Marsy’s Law and the Florida PBA supported the measure, though there were questions about the 60-day period. The committee reported SB 350 favorably. The committee then considered two domestic violence-related bills by Senator Berman. CS/SB 296, after a delete-all amendment, directs a study of a secure web-based alert platform that would give domestic violence victims a unique phone number and code-based emergency alert system, and it expands Florida’s address confidentiality program to dating violence victims. Several speakers, including survivors and advocates, described the need for safer ways to seek help without alerting abusers. The bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 298 similarly expanded confidentiality protections for the Haven Coordinating Council records to cover dating violence victims, and it was also reported favorably. Later, the committee heard SB 398, which updates Florida statutes by replacing the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” including conforming changes to the offense severity ranking chart. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 156, the Jason Raynor Act, which changes resisting-an-officer language, removes references to lawful or unlawful duty in favor of “any duties,” and adds manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses requiring a life sentence. Law enforcement groups supported the bill, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers raised concerns about removing judicial discretion and eliminating a statutory protection against force when an officer knows an arrest is unlawful. Despite those objections, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 168 on public nuisances, which expands nuisance law to include gambling houses, increases penalties, allows attorney fees, and authorizes foreclosure for unpaid fees, and CS/SB 54, which after amendment focuses on medical examiner procedures and reporting related to violent offenders and toxicology/psychotropic drug review. Both bills were reported favorably. The meeting ended after members recorded additional affirmative votes and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that added to in a tough position.
• recommended that our funding system recommended that our funding system reflect<00:25:25.679>
• Um, House File 3470 is a very practical and fiscally responsible proposal.
• public school system. public school system.
• about this kind of strange interaction about this kind of strange interaction between<01:21:04.560

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• Assigned student responsibility and the assigned family responsibility.
• :42:49.760> house governor's position in the house governor's position in the house position<00
• position on this. position on this.
• positions as well. positions as well.
• the assigned family responsibility the assigned family responsibility first?

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Higher Education Conference Committee reviewed differences among the Governor’s, House, and Senate proposals for state grant parameter changes and their effects on state grant spending, North Star Promise spending, and average student awards. Nonpartisan staff explained that the proposals use different combinations of parameter changes, with the Governor’s and Senate plans modeled to avoid or minimize rationing, while the House plan would require rationing to balance the program. Staff reported projected biennium balances of a positive $29.836 million for the Governor’s proposal, a negative $60.758 million for the House proposal without rationing, a positive $994,000 for the House proposal with rationing, and a positive $3.623 million for the Senate proposal; North Star Promise balances also varied, with the Senate showing a positive balance and the Governor and House with rationing showing negative balances. Staff also said the Senate proposal would extend availability of the state grant appropriation and suspend surplus procedures through fiscal year 2029, allowing the balance to carry forward. The committee then focused on the House-only tuition and fee cap provision, which would limit the tuition recognized for state grant purposes for four-year programs to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities level, with 1% annual increases in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. House members said the cap was intended to address rising tuition, especially at the University of Minnesota, and to produce savings in the state grant program. The governor’s office confirmed the provision was not included in the Governor’s bill. Representatives from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Private College Council opposed the cap, arguing it would reduce awards for low-income students and shift costs to students rather than address underlying tuition pressures; they also said it could discourage enrollment at higher-cost institutions. Supporters from Minnesota State argued the cap would improve fairness because students at lower-tuition institutions are effectively capped lower, while students at more expensive institutions receive larger awards, and they said the legislature should intervene in a variable that has grown substantially over time. Committee members questioned how the cap would work and whether it was tied to the Twin Cities campus rate. Testifiers clarified that the state grant formula is tied to the University of Minnesota level, but because Minnesota State institutions are below that level, the cap effectively limits their students to their own lower tuition while allowing higher awards at the University of Minnesota and private colleges. No formal vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated the committee would continue with item-by-item review of the remaining parameter changes and hear additional testimony from agencies and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that was an ham operating system And that was an ham operating system that<00:28:46.880>
• operations or abusing the system. operations or abusing the system.
• two-plate system for a couple years now. two-plate system for a couple years now.
• interaction and he did great.
• interaction and he did great.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:19:15.520> a instructional and behavioral systems, a instructional and behavioral systems
• :17.440> teacher positive school climate, and teacher positive school climate, and teacher working
• available in an online interactive available in an online interactive version<00:27:02.480> of
• Here's where you can find previous interactive versions and where the 2024 interactive will be posted
• <00:40:17.760> As for teacher retirement system. As for teacher retirement system.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:09 Roll call 00:00:24 Election of Co-Chairs 00:01:11 Office of Education Accountability Annual Report 00:04:41 Office of Education Accountability District Data Profiles, School Year 2024 00:23:50 Update from the Education Professional Standards Board 00:58:19 Adjournment 01:08:00, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting with roll call and procedural business, including elections of co-chairs. The House elected Representative Truett as House co-chair, and the Senate elected Senator Denine as Senate co-chair. After the organizational votes, the committee heard the Office of Educational Accountability’s annual report, beginning with Brian Jones and Deborah Nelson describing OEA’s investigations and research divisions and recent staffing turnover. On the investigations side, OEA said it handled complaints only when submitted in writing and generally opened cases only when it had enough facts to evaluate. Jones reported complaint volume declined from 805 in 2023 to 738 in 2024, with 325 in the first half of the current year. He outlined the kinds of matters OEA investigates, including school-based council issues, open meetings, board eligibility, nepotism, conflicts of interest, certification, activity funds, and surplus property, while noting that routine personnel matters, bullying, child interviews, and cases tied to litigation are generally handled locally or referred elsewhere. He also said OEA refers special education, assessment/testing, discrimination, and serious misconduct matters to the appropriate agencies, and that he did not see a need for statutory changes to improve OEA’s work, though he said cases should move more quickly. The research division presentation focused on OEA’s district data profiles and annual research agenda. Nelson explained that OEA reviews KDE-reported data and underlying datasets to verify accuracy, analyze trends, and produce reports for the General Assembly. She highlighted 2024 publications on district governance models and student achievement, and said this year’s agenda includes district data profiles, student discipline analysis, and a review of early childhood regional training centers. She also noted OEA received an NCSL notable document award for its 2023 staffing shortages report, its 10th such award. Sabrina Smith then walked through the district data profiles, which compile demographic, staffing, finance, and performance data for all 171 districts, plus statewide and comparative data. She noted changes in the report format, the continued availability of an online interactive version, and several trends: adjusted average daily attendance declined statewide from 2015 to 2024; the counselor-to-student ratio has improved but has not yet reached the statutory goal of one counselor per 250 students; the share of teachers moving from rank three to rank two has declined; special education identification has risen from 13% to 16%; and starting teacher salaries vary widely by district, with Kentucky’s average starting salary around $40,000 ranking near the bottom compared with surrounding states and the nation. Members asked about the history of the research division and whether the paper copies of the district profiles would continue, and staff said the printed versions would continue unless legislators asked otherwise.

Transcript Highlights:

• They filed in a current system, I understand it.
• Chair, I would posit that when they get passed, it's because there is a great need.
• Bonds can be used for repairs for HVAC systems, security systems, and accessibility improvements.
• Bonds are can be used for repairs for HVAC systems, security systems, accessibility improvements.
• A social credit score is a system that...

Bills: HB2016, HB2104, HB2105, HB2174, HB2256, HB2289, HB2477, HB2903, HB2939, HB2979, HB2996, HB4103

Keywords: tax penalties, filing, tax returns, administration, Arizona Revised Statutes, agricultural property, classification, county assessor, property inspection, appeal process, property tax, agricultural classification, Department of Revenue, property valuation, inspection notice, inspection report, on-site inspection, full cash value, rural land, farm land

Summary: The committee first approved the March 9, 2026 minutes and held House Bills 29 and 2939 at the sponsor’s request. It then took up House Bill 2016, which would eliminate the late-filing penalty for taxpayers with zero income tax liability; after discussion about whether taxpayers still need to file to establish that they owe nothing, the committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill to income tax filers and passed the bill 4-3. The Department of Revenue said it was neutral on the bill but supported the amendment. The committee next heard House Bill 2289, which updates the property-value examples used in bond/override election pamphlets and truth-in-taxation notices from older low values to $300,000. Supporters said the figures are outdated and should better reflect current home values; opponents questioned whether $300,000 was the best benchmark and whether adding another example would confuse voters. The bill passed 4-3. The committee also approved House Bill 4103, which bars school districts from calling bond elections if enrollment is below 50% of capacity. Supporters argued districts should use or monetize excess space before asking taxpayers for more debt, while school administrators and others said the measure would block needed maintenance, safety upgrades, and local decision-making. It passed 4-3. Two related agricultural property bills, House Bills 2104 and 2105, were both amended and passed 4-3. HB 2104 creates a four-year period after a successful agricultural property tax appeal during which assessors generally may not reclassify or reinspect the property absent changes in use, ownership, splits, or improvements. HB 2105 requires advance notice of inspections and inspection reports and provides a three-year inspection exemption after the most recent inspection, with similar exceptions. Farm and ranch groups said the bills provide fairness and certainty after successful appeals; county assessors opposed them as limiting oversight and creating unequal treatment. The committee also passed House Bill 2256 unanimously, which sets notice and title procedures for salvage auction dealers when insurance claims are denied or unpaid, and House Bill 2979 unanimously, which updates credit union regulatory timelines and procedures. Later, the committee passed House Bill 2996 unanimously, clarifying that certificates of insurance are informational only and cannot expand coverage or rights, with penalties for misrepresentations. It also heard House Bill 2174, which renames and updates regulation of insurance modeling and data organizations, requires model filings, and revises related reinsurance provisions; the discussion focused on how DIFI would regulate models versus the companies that create them, but no vote was taken in the portion provided. Finally, House Bill 2477 was introduced to conform Arizona’s 529 plan to federal law by increasing the K-12 withdrawal limit to $20,000, adding post-secondary credentialing expenses, and allowing rollovers to ABLE accounts and Roth IRAs if requirements are met; the sponsor and Treasurer’s Office supported it as a cleanup/conformity measure, and discussion began on how the new rollover options would work.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we also talk to moms, and they would like to have remote positions or part-time positions much more
• So we also talk to moms, and they would like to have remote positions or part-time positions much more
• So it’s an interactive dashboard.
• and family caregiving responsibilities.
• How does it fall within the overall QRIS system?

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes, then heard a presentation from Maddie San Juan of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas on the report “Holding It All Together: Working Moms and Child Care in Arkansas.” She said the research found Arkansas moms are working and want to work, but face major barriers from inflexible schedules, high child care costs, and the mental load of balancing work and caregiving. The report cited survey and focus group findings showing most mothers want full-time work, with flexibility as the top requested workplace support. It also highlighted that child care costs can consume a large share of family income, with one infant care averaging about $8,900 annually and infant-plus-toddler care about $17,500. She also discussed paid leave, noting many mothers returned to work before six weeks after birth, and shared a personal story from a working mom in Monticello to illustrate the strain families face. Committee members asked about labor force data, flexibility examples, child care voucher changes, and whether state or employer policies could help. San Juan also referenced partnerships with Excel by 8 and business leaders to address child care as both a family and economic development issue. The committee then received an update from the Department of Education’s Office of Early Childhood on several administrative issues. Officials said new internal dashboards had gone live to improve transparency and data tracking for school readiness assistance, including enrollment, applications, and provider participation. They also said the state is continuing the CLASS transition and expects to release transition funding to providers soon, while emphasizing that OEP awards based on CLASS scores are separate from OEC’s work. They warned providers that a system transition from ACE to a new platform will likely delay payments from June 30 through about July 13, with payments owed during that period to be processed once the system is back online. Members also asked about Head Start audit requirements, market rate survey work, and an overpayment case involving a child care center that is under appeal. Additional updates covered early childhood special education funding, with one member raising concerns that inflation has eroded the value of the funds and that rural areas need more early intervention support. Department officials said they would follow up with special education staff to review funding sources and needs. They also discussed the upcoming QRIS work, including a June 23 webinar, and said the local lead network has been recompeted and will consist of 23 local leads covering all counties starting July 1. Officials said the local leads’ job duties remain the same, and that a new stakeholder group has been formed to provide ongoing feedback on PDG and broader early childhood issues. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.