Transcript Highlights:

• vagueness and closes loopholes that exist in chapters 232 and chapter 233 of the Texas Local Government Code
• These codes were enacted to regulate the number of residential units that could be built per acre of
• through setback requirements, which is in direct contradiction to chapter 232 of the local government code
• 5-foot side setback, uh, with 10 ft between homes, a standard that exceeds both fire and building codes
• of Senate Bill 2038 from last session, which amended the Chapter 42 of the Local Government court code

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE IS ONE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 890218 BY SENATOR JONES.
• AS YOU CAN SEE SINCE 2021 AND 2022 WE REALIZED A 100 PERCENT INCREASE IN CONTRACT SPENT OVER THE ENTERPRISE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But after the pandemic, those transfer rates declined through the 2022-23 academic year, which was the
• required under the master plan on a statewide, system-wide basis between academic years 2018-19 through 2022
• UC Berkeley in its computer science program, where it denied 108 transfer applicants in the fall of 2022
• academic counselors are excluded from the definition, despite holding faculty status under California Code
• academic counselors are excluded from the definition, despite holding faculty status under California Code

Summary: The committee held an oversight hearing on a state audit examining California’s community college transfer process and whether streamlining it could improve access to bachelor’s degrees. Opening remarks from legislators emphasized that California’s transfer system is central to equity and workforce development, but that only about one in five transfer-intending community college students complete a transfer within four years. Members highlighted disparities by race, region, campus, and major, and pointed to confusion created by differing requirements across the UC, CSU, and community college systems, including limits and inconsistencies in the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), TAG, and major-specific prerequisites. State Auditor’s staff said the audit found that while UC and CSU systemwide enroll more transfer students than the Master Plan target, individual campuses and high-demand STEM programs often do not. The audit identified barriers including unclear and varying course requirements, limited counseling and education plans, insufficient counselor staffing at some campuses, and weak equity plans. It also found that many students never even apply because they do not accumulate enough units or cannot navigate the process. The auditor described examples where transfer students with strong preparation were denied at selective campuses and noted that articulation alignment across systems remains limited. Representatives from UC, CSU, and the Community Colleges responded that transfer remains a top priority and described ongoing reforms. UC cited a new public dashboard, data-sharing agreements, new transfer pathways, and an ADT pilot at UCLA, while saying campus-level capacity and program differences limit how much can be standardized from the system office. CSU said it admits more than 90% of eligible transfer applicants, is expanding transfer planning tools and direct outreach, and is implementing SB 640’s Transfer Success Pathway Program. Community Colleges said transfer reform must focus on clearer credit mobility, more consistent articulation, and broader ADT adoption. Members pressed the systems on inconsistent major requirements, the need for better coordination, and whether campuses are fully prioritizing transfer students; no votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• our community faced tragedy following the racist terrorist attack at Tops on Jefferson on May 14, 2022
• Up until 2022, in order to launch a satellite, the United States was buying rockets...
• United States was buying rockets from Russia. 2022 is the last time we purchased rockets from Russia
• But when you look at the code to USC 1415, harassment is qualified to two other sections of code referring
• And he wrote this code in between rounds of chemotherapy code in between rounds of chemotherapy and surgery

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, in 2022 through 2023, CPI was 6.3%, and property tax collections increased by 12.3%.
• Next, we'll take up Amendment Code 316-788 by Senator Avila.
• It's bar code 340296 by Senator Berman. There is a late-file amendment.
• For example, public works and the care of our roads, sidewalks, parks, and even code enforcement.
• Hurricane Ian devastated Sanibel in 2022. I served as mayor.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes by lowering assessment caps on non-homestead property, expanding homestead exemptions over time, and allowing local governments to increase exemptions further. The sponsor argued the measure would provide broad property tax relief while requiring revenues to be directed to core services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resource projects, with a trust fund intended to help local governments transition. Senators raised concerns about the lack of a fiscal score, the effect on counties, cities, school districts, and special districts, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. Several amendments were debated. Senator Polsky’s amendment to explicitly authorize user fees and non-ad valorem assessments to offset lost property tax revenue failed. Senator Avila’s amendment broadening permissible uses of ad valorem revenue to include county constitutional officers and other expenditures approved by local governing bodies was adopted after debate over whether the bill would otherwise underfund essential functions. Senator Smith’s sunset amendment, which would have made the constitutional changes expire after five years, failed. Senator Smith’s amendment to allow tourism development tax revenue to support public safety and education also failed. Senator Graal’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund language was adopted, with supporters arguing the Constitution should not promise an unfunded account. Additional late-file amendments were considered. Senator Berman’s proposal to change the ballot title to more neutrally describe the measure as affecting property taxes and local community service reductions failed. Senator Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal was adopted, preserving school taxes. Senator Smith’s amendment narrowing the non-homestead assessment cap reduction to small businesses only failed. The committee then returned to the bill as amended and continued questioning the sponsor about eligibility, fiscal impacts, and whether the proposal could lead to local governments offsetting lost revenue through special assessments or other charges.

Transcript Highlights:

• This issue became so prevalent that in May 2022, the Boston Police Department issued a community alert
• My name is Ella McDuff, and on December 21, 2022, I went to a Bruins game with my ex-boyfriend.
• "My name is Ilana Katz Katz, and I was drugged at the Sinclair in Cambridge in late 2022 at age 56.
• Fact: more than 100 venues in the Boston area alone have drugged drink reports since May of 2022 by the
• We've been providing protected drink covers with QR codes so that we can inform the general public on

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of public health and emergency services bills, with many speakers focusing on EMS system failures, hospital service closures, trauma preparedness, epilepsy awareness, drink-spiking response, sudden cardiac arrest, and survivor financial assistance. Several legislators and advocates described the EMS system as underfunded and overstretched, citing long ambulance waits, staffing shortages, and the need for statewide oversight, a special commission, and clearer recognition of EMS as an essential service. A number of speakers also supported bills to preserve essential hospital services after closures such as Nashoba Valley Medical Center and birthing services in Leominster, arguing that current closure rules lack enforcement and leave communities without critical care. Multiple panels testified in support of bills requiring trauma kits in public buildings, public education on SUDEP and epilepsy mortality, and improved cardiac arrest response. Supporters of the trauma-kit bill said public buildings should have bleeding-control kits and trained staff, comparing them to AEDs and first aid supplies. Epilepsy advocates, clinicians, and grieving parents urged a public health campaign on SUDEP, saying families are often not warned about the risk and that awareness could improve medication adherence, reduce guilt, and save lives. On cardiac arrest, EMS professionals and the American Heart Association backed measures to improve telecommunicator CPR, create an AED registry, and strengthen dispatch and training standards. The committee also heard extensive testimony on a bill addressing illicit drink spiking. Senators, city officials, victims, physicians, and an international anti-spiking advocate described cases in which hospitals refused toxicology testing unless a sexual assault was reported, and argued for standardized testing protocols, better data collection, and coordination with law enforcement and licensed venues. Another bill drew a sharp exchange over local public health control and the SAFE 2.0 law, with one senator arguing for more local approval and voluntary participation, while committee members defended the earlier law as a response to inequities in local public health capacity. Finally, advocates from Jane Doe, Inc. supported legislation to provide flexible financial assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, saying unrestricted cash helps survivors meet basic needs, escape abuse, and rebuild stability.

Transcript Highlights:

• ag as a state president for 4-H, moved on to other roles of agricultural importance, and retired in 2022
• email today that the fifth case of screwworm was found in Mexico, so you know, at... and retired in 2022
• to go back to his and retired in 2022 to go back to his ranch.<00:21:10.480> And<00:21:10.720
• As an example, nearly every time we bring somebody to Kauai, be it somebody from our Code L, some of
• As an example, nearly every time we bring somebody to Kauai, be it somebody from our Code L, some of

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard gubernatorial nominations for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. For GM 615, Matthew Liam was nominated to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, CGAPS, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in strong support, citing his landscape industry leadership, pesticide training background, and prior service. Members asked about his experience in Australia and his approach to restricted-use pesticides; he said he avoided using restricted-use pesticides in his landscaping business but applied related safety and recordkeeping practices. Testimony was unanimous in support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 616, N. Young was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Support testimony from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council highlighted his experience with Lanai agriculture, Sensei, the Food Basket, Pacific Gateway Center, Kamehameha Schools, and institutional purchasing. In response to questions, he discussed balancing public and private funding, the need for adequate capitalization of agricultural projects, and using financial tools to help farmers and accelerate agricultural income streams. He also said the board should focus on making agricultural land productive and strengthening food security. The nomination drew strong support, with no opposition or comments. For GM 617, Jason Moniz was nominated to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council supported him, emphasizing his decades of veterinary and animal disease control experience, ranching background, and knowledge of biosecurity, leases, and livestock issues. Moniz said his priorities would be preserving agricultural land and water resources, improving biosecurity, supporting farmers and ranchers, and increasing food production in Hawaii. He also said he would be willing to speak up for agriculture and not let the department be sidelined. The nomination received 29 written and oral supports, with no opposition or comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I submitted a color, a color-coded chart that's probably very hard to digest just by glancing at it
• And then in 2022, we created the split again. We bumped it up again for violent felons.
• And so that's where we've been since 2022: six years for violent felons, three years for nonviolent felons
• So it was 18 months in 2022 for violent. It went up to six years for non-violent, three years. Mr.
• So there's still about five or six huge contradictions in the code that we kind of left to the side the

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals
• Further, a GAO audit spanning 2019 to 2022 showed that the U.S.
• The Clerk will report the title of the bill. >> H.R. 1663, a bill to amend Title 38, United States Code
• In 2022, I helped pass the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, allowing drug developers to use modern animal-free
• In 2022, I helped pass the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, allowing drug developers to use modern animal-free

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, on September 2, 2022, then Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services Dr.
• John Hellerstedt sent a letter to the governor stating that the 2022 Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
• Under the health and safety code.
• In fiscal years 2022 to 2023, the grant program awarded 608,671 out of the 667,000 that was available
• It's in the, it's in the code that's under HHSC. OK.

Bills: HB163, HB 296

Keywords: judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections

Transcript Highlights:

• but for those of you that haven't heard this before I'm going to lay it out again on September 2nd, 2022
• John Hellerstedt sent a letter to the governor stating that the 2022 Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
• Let me find the words here. under the health and safety code that just says this case information is
• It's in the code that's under HHSC. OK. And then, would HHSC?
• And so, back in 2022.

Bills: HB713, HB827, HB932, HB499, HB510, HB163, HB296, HB879, HB913, HB163, HB296

Keywords: healthcare, maternal health, reporting requirements, Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, health provider immunity, workplace violence, nurses, grant program, healthcare facilities, safety measures, safety, nursing, grants, healthcare safety, verbal abuse, physical abuse, nurse empowerment, occupational therapy, licensure, interstate practice

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, so we've discussed the bill. with HHSC and we would rely on their billing code data so when there's
• to attempt suicide compared to children in the general population. this bill changes how the family code
• This is in contrast to the current. model of addiction treatment, which in 2022 Kentucky Medicaid dollars
• the summaries are confidential and exempt from public disclosure under Chapter 552 of the Government Code
• Policy already requires this federal law. but I think by putting it in the family code, it's going to

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Pro-eating-disorder content creators speak in code words that fly under the radar of restrictions.
• So Vermont recently enacted an age-appropriate design code that actually a portion of that law now is
• design code goes a bit further to... ...age-appropriate design code, but the Vermont age-appropriate
• design code goes a bit further to more broadly regulate abusive data design practices for minors in
• We're never going to look at their code.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee. Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, Starting from scratch on expedited licensing.
• I literally had some color-coded papers, and we started with the amendments from last year.
• We're dealing with the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, and we're dealing with the
• And if I may, Madam President, the mental health code is in the developmental disabilities code.
• And if I may, Madam President, the mental health code is in the developmental disabilities code.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill contains numerous minor updates to various code sections within the jurisdiction.
• This bill contains numerous minor updates to various code sections within the jurisdiction of this committee
• Among the provisions of this bill, it repeals obsolete provisions of the Government Code, which have
• And as mentioned, there is labor code already that prohibits an employer requiring an employee to pay
• Our son, Najee, was shot and killed just a couple of blocks from here on the 4th of July 2022.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 1521, the Judiciary Committee’s civil law omnibus measure. The bill makes a number of minor, mostly clarifying changes, including repealing obsolete Government Code provisions, allowing juvenile courts to hear petitions to establish records of birth, death, or marriage, requiring notice of probate petitions to the Department of Child Support Services, and correcting typos in existing law. It had no opposition and was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, though it was later placed on call pending additional votes. Members then heard AB 57, which would reserve at least 10% of California’s Home Purchase Assistance Program funds for descendants of formerly enslaved people. The author and supporters framed it as a reparative, race-neutral-by-lineage effort to address historic housing discrimination and the racial wealth gap, while opponents argued it was an unconstitutional racial proxy and should instead be based on individual injury. The bill drew strong support and opposition testimony, was amended, and was approved on a do-pass as amended vote to Appropriations, then placed on call. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, was heard next. The bill would expand and standardize caregiving and guardianship tools for families facing immigration-related separation, including broader use of caregiver authorization affidavits, recognition of non-relative extended family caregivers, and a new short-term guardianship process that preserves parental rights. Supporters said it would reduce trauma and help children remain with trusted caregivers; there was no opposition testimony. The committee approved it on a do-pass to Human Services vote and placed it on call. The committee also heard AB 392, which would address non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit media by requiring uploader consent certifications, faster takedown procedures, and civil remedies against uploaders and hosting sites. A survivor testified in support, and members discussed implementation details and possible amendments; the bill was moved on a do-pass as amended basis to Appropriations and placed on call. AB 692, which would prohibit employer “stay-or-pay” debt agreements that require workers to repay training or other costs if they leave or are terminated, also advanced despite opposition from business and industry groups concerned about impacts on signing bonuses and voluntary training programs. It was sent to Appropriations on a do-pass as amended vote and placed on call, along with AB 1234, a wage-claim enforcement bill aimed at reducing Labor Commissioner delays and adding consequences for employers who fail to participate in the process. The committee also heard AB 394, which expands protections for transit workers and allows transit agencies to seek restraining orders against violent riders; it received broad support, some concern about system-wide bans, and was discussed with amendments that preserved judicial discretion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This increase reflects the consistent trends we've seen each year since 2022. 77% of the patients we
• 70 77% of the patients we see 2022 70 77% of the patients we see boarding<00:10:49.800> in<00
• He said about 9,000 to 10,000 codes use this payment methodology.
• Medicaid using collaborative care codes Medicaid using collaborative care codes establishes<01:36
• <01:38:05.199> that model has designated billing codes that model has designated billing codes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But due to COVID and other factors, funding wasn't released until 2022, so the office itself wasn't open
• until July 2022, when I started, and that's when the work really began in earnest, when we started putting
• office<00:02:59.200> itself<00:02:59.599> wasn't<00:02:59.840> wasn't 2022
• <00:03:00.560> July<00:03:00.920> 2022<00:03:01.720> when<00:03:01.879> I
• We're trying to get signs on the rail system with a QR code. So we're doing a lot.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 46:45.040> QR feel free to, um, take note of this QR feel free to, um, take note of this QR code
• and you can access our handbook of code and you can access our handbook of 101<00:46:49.119> realw
• And the retailers who receive a 3 2022.
• <01:58:25.599> uh<01:58:25.679> which<01:58:25.920> has guardian in uh 2022
• uh which has guardian in uh 2022 uh which has expanded<01:58:26.719> now<01:58:26.960> to

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Stable Token Study Commission held its first regular meeting, welcomed all remaining appointed members, and completed brief introductions from legislators and agency designees. The chair outlined the commission’s plan to use the first part of the enabling legislation as a “level-setting” discussion, focusing this meeting on the basics of blockchain, the current landscape for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets, and leaving blockchain-based trust for a later meeting. No votes were taken. The main presentation came from Deanna Bario Zales of the Global Blockchain Business Council, who described stablecoins as increasingly converging toward fiat-backed or asset-backed models, with algorithmic designs viewed more cautiously. She said stablecoins are being used for payments, remittances, DeFi activity, cross-border transfers, retail use in high-inflation markets, and treasury functions, while noting risks such as peg instability, reserve transparency, counterparty and network risk, and possible capital flight from weaker banking systems. She cited growth in supply, wallet activity, and transfer volume, and said U.S.-pegged stablecoins dominate the market, with USDT and USDC leading. Zales also discussed tokenized real-world assets, describing them as digital representations of physical assets that can enable fractional ownership, liquidity, and faster settlement. She said the market is growing quickly, with institutional participation from firms such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, and projected continued expansion. She closed with an overview of regulatory developments, emphasizing the new U.S. stablecoin framework under the Genius Act, the proposed Clarity Act, OCC guidance, and similar regimes in the EU, UK, UAE, Singapore, Japan, and elsewhere, all of which she said are shaping compliance requirements and market development.

Transcript Highlights:

• The permanent laws of the state are collected in the statutes and the code.
• It's a code that's 18 digits long for each transaction, but essentially it allows us to group school
• And at that time, prior to 2022, SNAP was the largest DHS program that the matching was done on.
• In 2022, that count was the first count to include matching on medical assistance as well.
• snap was the that time prior to 2022 snap was the largest<00:37:59.400> EHS<00:38:00.119>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the January 21st minutes by voice vote. Members then resumed a school finance overview focused on how Minnesota’s “base” budgeting system works and how future committee targets are set above or below that base by the Ways and Means chair, in consultation with fiscal staff. Staff emphasized that school funding decisions are tied to the state budget base and that changes made by the tax committee can affect school levies and school finance more broadly. The presentation then turned to property tax fundamentals. Staff explained that roughly 65% of school district revenue comes from state aid and about 20% from property taxes, with property tax revenue applying to school districts rather than charter schools. They reviewed the two main school tax bases—referendum market value and adjusted net tax capacity—along with class rates, sales ratios, and equalization. They also described tax credits, especially the school building bond agricultural credit, which helps reduce the property tax burden on agricultural land in Greater Minnesota. Members discussed student choice programs and how funding follows students. In response to questions from Representative Quam, staff explained postsecondary enrollment options (including direct enrollment and College in the Schools) and online learning, noting that funding generally follows the student to the serving institution or district. Staff also reviewed Minnesota’s pupil-counting system, including average daily membership and pupil weighting, and explained that students attending charter schools, other districts through open enrollment, or online programs are counted where they are served. The presentation concluded with broader school finance context: funding sources, equity and adequacy goals, constitutional and statutory authority, and the state’s school data systems (EUP/FARS, MARS, and STARS). Staff also began reviewing long-term enrollment trends, noting the impact of the baby boom, later growth from the mid-1980s through about 2000, and projected modest declines in public school enrollment through 2029.

Transcript Highlights:

• , like if you have diagnosis codes, that will be it.
• If we know from claims data that they or ICD-10 codes or CPT codes that they have qualifying conditions
• If we know from claims data that they or ICD-10 codes or CPT codes that they have qualifying conditions
• So, the ones that have been doing this since 2022, their match rate is 80/20.
• , that have been doing this since 2022, that have been doing this since 2022, their<01:50:42.480>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board reconvened and heard a presentation from the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control unit. AG staff described the unit’s structure and work: it investigates and prosecutes Medicaid provider fraud, and also handles abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases involving vulnerable adults in facility settings when asked to assist. They said the office has prosecutors, detectives, auditors, and support staff, works with federal partners, Commonwealth’s attorneys, CHFS, DMS, OIG, and MCOs, and uses a hotline and referral line for complaints. They also explained the MCO referral process, including monthly meetings, stand-down lists, and review of referrals for a “credible allegation of fraud” before the AG office decides whether to open a criminal or civil investigation. The presentation focused heavily on current fraud trends. Staff said behavioral health is a major concern, along with participant-directed waiver services, medically assisted treatment, cash billing for services, controlled-substance billing, and vision and dental fraud. They gave examples such as duplicate time sheets for family caregivers, questionable Suboxone counseling and urine drug screening practices, and a prior optometry case involving false claims for children’s glasses. They also discussed CMS’s estimate that about 5% of Medicaid payments are improper, noted that most improper payments are at the fee-for-service level, and said there is no reliable overall fraud-rate estimate. They highlighted a sharp shift in behavioral health billing after the cabinet’s November 1, 2024 policy changes, saying individual psychotherapy spending dropped while group billing increased, suggesting providers may have moved billing to different codes. Members asked about the scale and timing of cases, how MCO referrals are screened, and whether the data reflected more people being served or just higher spending. The AG office said investigations can take years, with some federal cases still awaiting sentencing from 2018 and 2019 matters, and that they currently had nine individuals awaiting sentencing in federal court. They also reported 58 hotline reports during the referenced period, six cases opened from MCO referrals, and four additional MCO referrals not accepted for active cases. Several members raised concerns about home-based services and the risk of abuse or fraud when family members are reimbursed, and asked whether the process could be streamlined; the AG office said it had no immediate recommendations but would be willing to return with suggestions after further review.