Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to provide you an updated debt schedule with the issuance of the GO bonds that we issued last
• Pricing, which will be dependent upon market conditions, is tentatively scheduled for June 16th, with
• Pricing, which will be dependent upon market conditions, is tend to be scheduled for June 16th with a
• “He was scheduled, but he was around late. Okay, okay. That’s the reason why. I understand.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21 with a quorum present and approved the April 16 minutes. The commission then reviewed and approved a large slate of local government and public authority financing requests, including election propositions for the November ballot, water and sewer infrastructure projects, fire protection and recreation district bonds, school board financing, and several refunding transactions. Most items were found to meet technical requirements and were approved on motions by Speaker DeVillier and seconded by Senator Talbot. Among the more notable items were the East Baton Rouge City-Parish refunding bonds for the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the City of Kenner’s retroactive approval request tied to a convention center agreement with GMB Basketball LLC, a Louisiana Housing Corporation financing increase for the Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, and preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport. The commission also approved financing for Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools/Harriet Tubman Charter School project. The Crescent City Schools item prompted questions about how MFP funds are used; staff explained that lease payments would support the bonds and that MFP funds are generally split between educational expenses and facilities-related costs. The commission received six monthly cost-of-issuance reports, which required no action, and a status update on the state debt schedule. It also approved Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund the Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. During other business, New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morel thanked the commission for its role in helping address the city’s fiscal crisis and for approving a charter amendment election item aimed at strengthening budget oversight. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• My office estimates that we are only two years away from major scheduled delays caused by a lack of near-term
• same time, it is also... ...trying to complete major procurements necessary to keep the project on schedule
• My office estimates that we are only two years away from major scheduled delays caused by a lack of near-term
• the same time, it is also trying to complete major procurements necessary to keep the project on schedule

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reports recommending that the matter be scheduled for
• The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reports recommending that the matter be scheduled for

Summary: The House first suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a petition naming the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court as the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse to the Judiciary Committee. It then took up two Ways and Means bills on election integrity: House Bill 76, renamed House Bill 5093, to protect against election misinformation, and House Bill 846, renamed House Bill 5094, to enhance disclosure requirements for synthetic media in political advertising. Supporters said both bills were a response to AI-generated deepfakes and misleading election content, emphasizing transparency, disclosure, and protection of voters without banning political speech. Opponents argued the measures could be overbroad and raise First Amendment concerns, especially for smaller campaigns and organizations. House Bill 5094 was amended to exempt certain broadcasters and streaming services when paid to air materially deceptive election-related communications, and a separate amendment to move Massachusetts primaries earlier was rejected 131-25. Another amendment narrowing the bill’s scope was also defeated 145-12. After debate, House Bill 5094 passed to be engrossed by a vote of 153-3. House Bill 5093, which prohibits deceptive AI use in the 90 days before an election, also passed to be engrossed after debate and the defeat of amendments. The House also passed several engrossed local bills to enact: a Rockland charter amendment, a Williamstown senior property tax exemption measure, and a Rochester bill allowing continued employment of Fire Chief Scott Royal. Later, the House rejected Senate amendments on a teacher preparation and student literacy bill, declined concurrence, and appointed a conference committee. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Quincy public servant Arthur Tobin before adjourning until the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Livingston, to schedule a JLBC meeting and review the $2.85 million of election items as soon as possible
• like to personally take a minute to urge JLBC, the chair in LD10, Vice Chair Rep Livingston, to schedule
• comments that were just made by my colleagues, I also am speaking in favor of the JLBC immediately scheduling
• So please do not do that and schedule this for review immediately. Thank you. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So have you tried to schedule yourself a dermatologist appointment recently?
• If they can make more money doing Botox treatments and they spend all day scheduling those, how do I
• in my practice the way I would envision it working or doing it would be when a patient is already scheduled
• You could spend all day every day under this bill scheduling Botox.

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• And then are any scheduled for tomorrow at this point or no, not at this time?
• /c><00:05:15.080><c> then</c><00:05:15.199><c> are</c><00:05:15.440><c> any</c><00:05:15.840><c> scheduled
• </c><00:05:16.240><c> for</c> okay and then are any scheduled for okay and then are any scheduled for

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I also have children, and I know what their schedules look like.
• , busing, which we already... ...large schools such as ours, scheduling, bus, which we already do, by
• Under the current schedule, students are tested after completing only about 75 to 80%...
• Superintendents across the board have stated that their school schedules and resource allocation are
• I've always heard from educators that the schedule is packed.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2266, which would change school release-time policy for religious instruction from permissive to mandatory for school districts and charter governing bodies. The sponsor and supporters said the bill protects parental choice, religious liberty, and constitutional release-time programs, while opponents argued it would reduce local control, pull students from instructional time, and expose schools to constitutional and social harms. After public testimony and debate over liability, indoctrination, and academic impact, the committee voted 7-5 to give HB 2266 a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 2193, a cleanup measure related to student directory information and parent organizations. The bill would allow parents of enrolled students or representatives of nonprofit organizations supporting a school to receive directory information unless a parent or eligible student opts out. Supporters from PTO/PTA groups said the change is needed so parent organizations can continue communicating with families and building school community, while members raised concerns about whether the language should be narrowed to avoid political or other misuse of student data. The sponsor said he was open to an amendment, and the committee approved HB 2193 on a 10-1 vote, with one member present. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2075, which would require public school districts to submit superintendent and other top administrator contracts or attestations to ADE and create a searchable online database of compensation details, including salary, benefits, and car allowances. The sponsor described it as a transparency measure, and the committee discussed an amendment to add more specific filing deadlines and the online database requirement. Opponents from school administrators and rural districts argued that superintendent salaries are already public, that the bill should also apply to charter and private schools receiving public funds, and that it could add burdens or distort comparisons across different public-sector labor markets. Supporters said the bill would make total compensation easier to access and reduce public records requests. The sponsor closed by saying the bill would centralize compensation information and simplify disclosure for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we we're already scheduled right.
• I remember schedule two of the revenue.
• We'll keep that on Schedule Two as is with this approved.
• We'll keep that on Schedule Two as is with this approved.
• </c> schedule two as is with this approved. schedule two as is with this approved.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 was called to order, and Legislative Budget Assistant Michael Kaine reviewed the working documents before the committee. He explained the compare report, the detailed change sheet, the HB 1 index, the HB 2 side-by-side, the surplus statement, and a revenue handout, noting that the committee would vote up or down on all detail-change items and that unresolved items on hold would be removed from the final bills. He also identified staff available to answer technical questions and noted that the committee would track the dollar impact of decisions as it proceeded. Members then turned to the revenue outlook, with discussion focused on the gap between the House and Senate budget positions. House members said their budget guidance was based on revenue estimates that were significantly below the governor’s proposal, and they discussed whether additional revenue could close part of the gap. Department of Revenue Administration Commissioner Lindsey Stepp presented updated revenue estimates based on May data, explaining the methodology and the ranges for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. She said business taxes were the largest source of uncertainty, with estimates reflecting current economic conditions, recent revenue performance, and a range of possible growth rates. Committee members questioned the assumptions behind the business-tax ranges, including why the low and high scenarios were set at 2% and 8% growth. Stepp said the range was based on historical performance and current economic factors such as inflation, tariffs, and business behavior, and she noted that June is a major estimate-payment month for business taxes. Members also discussed recent revenue trends, including the effect of tariffs and the possibility of federal tax policy changes affecting repatriated profits. The commissioner and House members also discussed other revenue sources, including rooms and meals and real estate transfer taxes, with the House side arguing that lower mortgage rates and home prices could increase real estate transfer revenue. No votes were taken in the portion provided, but the committee discussed possible upward adjustments to House revenue assumptions, including increases of roughly $70 million in total based on the updated outlook and additional insurance-related revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sorry, I don't like what you're asking, so I'm not going to schedule it.
• </c><00:27:55.880><c> for</c> declining to provide scheduling for declining to provide scheduling for
• </c> who's just a person who's a scheduler who's just a person who's a scheduler refusing<01:04:55.760
• ><c> because</c> refusing to schedule a patient because refusing to schedule a patient because they<01
• </c><01:05:05.760><c> or</c> patient to a different scheduler or patient to a different scheduler or

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232, which would protect health care workers’ conscience rights in connection with certain procedures, especially abortion and sterilization, and also referenced contraception. The prime sponsor, Rep. Mark Pearson, said the bill is meant to prevent medical professionals from being forced to participate in procedures that violate their beliefs, while still prohibiting discrimination against patients based on protected characteristics. He said the measure was intended to help retain health care workers in New Hampshire and noted he had added an amendment to address concerns about people taking jobs only to later refuse duties, as well as emergency situations where a provider is the only one available. Committee members raised concerns about how broadly the bill and amendment were written. Questions focused on whether the protections could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers, receptionists, or pharmacy employees; whether a provider could refuse to schedule, refer, or otherwise assist with services; and how “emergency” would be determined in practice. Several members also questioned whether the bill could affect access to contraception, including pharmacy sales and procedures such as tubal ligation, and whether the language was clear enough to prevent confusion or unintended refusals of care. Pearson said the bill was not intended to allow refusal of emergency care or general patient discrimination, and he acknowledged some language could be tweaked. Rep. Paige Boerman, a maternal-child health nurse, testified in opposition, saying she had seen pharmacists question prescriptions related to miscarriage care and that the bill could create barriers to contraception and other reproductive health services. She warned that the lack of a disclosure requirement and the broad definitions could create risks, especially in rural areas with limited providers. She also pointed to problems she said had occurred in other states, arguing the bill could lead to delayed care in emergencies. The hearing ended after questions and discussion; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't have walk-up music scheduled either, but RS 33068, I'm sure we're all aware of what happened last
• The floor time is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, so we will meet... Yes, we will meet Friday.
• The floor time is scheduled for 9 a.m.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House State Affairs Committee considered three RS drafts. RS 32875, introduced by Rep. Kyle Harris, would restore constitutional protections against suspicionless boarding of boats by law enforcement or water patrols, which he said had been overlooked in prior voter safety laws. The committee moved to introduce the bill and approved the motion. RS 32971, brought by Rep. Fay Thompson, would make it easier for voters to petition for the dissolution of certain taxing districts, especially hospital taxing districts, by removing the requirement to gather signatures from both property owners and qualified electors and instead relying only on qualified electors. Thompson said the change would better reflect actual voters in districts with many second homes and would simplify county clerk verification. The committee voted to introduce the RS. RS 33068, introduced by Rep. Joe Alfieri, was a resolution honoring battalion chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison Jr. and firefighter Dave Teesdale in connection with the Coeur d’Alene fire ambush tragedy. Alfieri asked that it go directly to the floor, and the committee agreed to introduce it and send it to the Second Reading Calendar with a do pass recommendation. The chair announced the committee would meet again Friday after floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:38.880><c> an</c> reaching out to them to schedule an reaching out to them to schedule an
• </c><01:36:49.679><c> uh</c> and their school um their schedules uh and their school um their schedules
• </c><01:39:33.040><c> are</c> instances and our schedules are instances and our schedules are constantly
• The change in the scheduling for those high school students as a whole.
• It's school scheduling. transportation. It's school scheduling.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 185, which would add timelines to Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) investigations. Senator Howard Pearl said the bill was prompted by concerns from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors about delays at the Real Estate Commission, and he explained that the proposal would require OPLC staff to make an initial determination within 30 days and, if misconduct is found, complete an investigation within 60 days. He said the goal is to improve transparency and give consumers and licensees more timely information, while preserving the board’s adjudicatory role. He also noted that the bill had been amended to delay implementation to give OPLC time to work through its backlog. Committee members questioned how the bill would work when an investigation is incomplete and whether the board could send a case back to OPLC without a firm deadline. Pearl said the board would have discretion to continue the investigation or make a final determination, and that the bill was intended to streamline OPLC’s process rather than impose a hard cap on complex cases. OPLC Executive Director Deanna Durus and General Counsel Nicholas Fry then testified that the agency has already changed its procedures under prior legislation, including a facial review of complaints and monthly board review of dismissal memos. They said the bill would substantially alter the current structure, could conflict with existing limitation periods and board duties, and would be difficult to implement without additional staff and funding. Durus said the agency’s backlog is large, that new complaints are being triaged and prioritized, and that some urgent matters are moved ahead based on risk and statutory deadlines. She said OPLC had completed a review of about 500 backlog cases that would now be dismissed under current screening standards, and that those cases are being turned into memos for board review. Board of Medicine public member Nina Gardner testified in favor of the bill but said the backlog is significant and that the agency needs more resources to make the process work effectively. She said the board is seeing progress, but not fast enough, and suggested the bill may not go far enough without additional staffing and funding. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those will be scheduled for Monday, just so you can be prepared if you do have a House Resolution or
• I spoke with the Senate President, and he said on Monday they're only scheduling House bills for their
• So you need to look and see if you have a House bill that's scheduled, especially for Monday, because
• I'm going to probably not announce that again today, but if you look at the schedule for the Senate and
• And he's scheduled to take oath again, as has been said, on May 4th of this year.

Bills: HR192, HR193, HR194, HCR80, HCR81, HCR82, HCR83, HCR84, HCR85, HR188, HR189, HR190, HR191, SB134, SB140, SB281, SB331, SB384, SB389, SB415, SB451, SB458, SB479, SB504, SB523, HR38, HR96, HR160, HCR31, HCR61, SCR19, HB316, HB549, HB578, HB646, HB748, HB798, HB824, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1032, HB1081, HB1108, HB1129, HB1140, HB1157, HB1186, HB1192, HB1195, HB1198, HB1222, HB1244, SB73, SB89, SB128, SB149, SB191, SB196, SB238, SB318, SB340, HB225, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HCR32, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, HB12, HB42, HB205, HB222, HB267, HB324, HB325, HB350, HB478, HB610, HB617, HB745, HB749, HB752, HB797, HB807, HB821, HB896, HB979, HB992, HB1000, HB1024, HB1050, HB1166, HB1172, HB1173, HB1207, HB1218, HB1223, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, SB256, HB911, HB306, HB366, HB1161, HB1230, HB59, HB481, HB772, HB897, HB1003, HB1008, HB1112, HB1180, HB1189, HB181, HB1118, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB458, HB459, HB525, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB773, HB864, HB996, HB1035, HB1058, HB1082, HB1113, HB1234, HB1240

Keywords: ACOG, maternal health, healthcare professionals, patient-physician relationship, obstetrics, gynecology, condolences, military service, veteran, community, memorial, visual acuity, student health, de-identified data, longitudinal analysis, education policy, property rights, carbon dioxide sequestration, expropriation, Landowner Bill of Rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Small disruptions caused by family wellness issues, work-schedule modifications, or eligibility changes
• I'm told that they do have a hearing scheduled, but I still don't know if this request is going to be
• I'm told that they do have a hearing scheduled, but I still don't know if this request is going to be
• I'm told that they do have a hearing scheduled, but I still don't know if this request is going to be
• No additional time in the master schedule.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 1067, which would require annual early math screening for K-2 students beginning in 2028-29 to identify learning gaps and connect students to evidence-based support. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice and UC Davis researcher Dr. Charles Wilkes, argued that California’s low math performance and persistent achievement gaps justify early identification and intervention. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and CTA, said the bill could create a new mandate, encourage narrow skill-based instruction, and divert attention from implementing the California Mathematics Framework and investing in teacher training and coaching. Committee members discussed how the screener would work, whether it would identify disabilities or simply flag students needing further evaluation, and cited examples of districts already using early screening tools. No vote was taken because quorum had not yet been established at that point. SB 1110, a child care subsidy administration bill, was presented next. Senator Becker and co-sponsors from the Child Care Resource Center and EveryChild California said the measure would stabilize the child care system as the state moves to enrollment-based funding by clarifying funding for administrative and family-service functions and helping providers maintain staffing, payment timelines, and compliance. There was support from several child care and education organizations and no opposition testimony. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked quorum. After recess, the committee heard SB 1374, which would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders on their own behalf when they face credible threats of violence. The CSU Chancellor’s Office and San Diego State police described incidents where threats were directed at campuses broadly rather than specific individuals, leaving institutions without a legal remedy under current law. UC and independent colleges supported the bill, and there was no opposition. The bill was held on call pending quorum. The committee then took up SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial course use and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses. Senator Nila and supporters argued that recent UC San Diego data show severe gaps in incoming students’ math preparation and that the audit would help assess admissions and placement practices; there was no opposition testimony. Members raised concerns about the scope and timing of the audit request, and the bill was held on call. The committee also heard SB 1086 on microschools, which would define microschools in statute and direct model ordinances for local land use regulation. Supporters said microschools are growing but face inconsistent zoning treatment, while some members questioned whether the Legislature had enough information to define the model or direct state guidance without more study. After quorum was established, the committee voted SB 1086 out on a 4-1 vote to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with Senator Perez voting aye, Senator Ochoa Bogh aye, and Senator Cabaldon no; the remaining votes were not fully recorded in the transcript. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a voluntary pilot program in Central Valley counties to allow schools to share credible safety concerns with regional threat assessment centers. Senator Hurtado and supporters, including the mother of a student killed in a shooting and Corcoran High School students, said the bill would improve early intervention and communication around threats. Members expressed support while also raising privacy and federal-sharing concerns about fusion centers; the bill was discussed but no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a window of time, and they schedule during that window of time.
• They have a window of time, and they schedule during that window of time.
• If they call to schedule, they coordinate the nursing home coordinates with the registrar.
• by Representative Fontenot provides that bond and tax elections shall be held only on regularly scheduled
• You're saying that the election can be held only during a regularly scheduled primary election.

Bills: HB117, HB228, HB250, HB260, HB393, HB400, HB446, HB534, HB551, HB576, HB842

Keywords: Department of State, statutory entities, re-creation, termination, Louisiana laws, Department of State Civil Service, Louisiana legislation, government re-creation, authority termination, financial disclosure, public servants, ethics, immediate family, transparency, legislators, transportation, foreign travel, cultural exchange, public service, HB393

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, I'm wondering about why it's scheduled two instead of Schedule One, but that was a policy decision
• ><00:25:08.040><c> about</c><00:25:08.960><c> why</c><00:25:09.200><c> it's</c><00:25:09.480><c> scheduled
• </c> I'm wondering about why it's scheduled I'm wondering about why it's scheduled two two two instead
• <00:25:12.240><c> of</c><00:25:12.360><c> schedule</c><00:25:12.920><c> one,</c><00:25:13.560><c> but
• </c><00:25:14.160><c> that</c><00:25:14.360><c> was</c><00:25:14.600><c> a</c> instead of schedule one

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, you have a full schedule. You know, there's very high expectations of you.
• Like, you have a full schedule. You know, there's very high expectations of you.
• Like, you have a full schedule. You know, there's very high expectations of you.
• Like you have<00:44:11.920><c> a</c><00:44:12.079><c> full</c><00:44:12.319><c> schedule.
• I want to just remind members that our next scheduled meeting is March 3rd.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next steps, as the secretary said, on the schedule is that major renovation bid is going to be due
• The next steps on the schedule is that the major renovation bid is going to be due May 23rd.
• We are still working on those schedules based on the bids coming in.
• We are still working on those schedules based on the bids coming in.
• </c> time on the equipment you know schedules time on the equipment you know schedules you<00:26:39.039

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:05 Capitol Renovations Update 00:00:40 Damage from Recent Disaster Discussion 00:33:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its third meeting of the session and received an update on the Capitol renovation project from Finance and Administration Secretary Holly Johnson and State Budget Director John Hicks. They reported the project budget remains $291.52 million, with Messer Construction as construction manager, and said the temporary legislative chamber completion has slipped into 2025 because of wiring, voting machine, KET camera, and canopy work. They outlined the current bid schedule: site and utility bids due February 27, 2025; roofing and fourth-floor structural work due April 24; major renovation bids due May 23; bid review in late May and early June; roofing and fourth-floor work beginning in late June; and overall construction starting July 7, 2025. A major focus of the discussion was the project contingency, which officials said is only $10.8 million for an older building with significant unknown conditions. They explained that earlier investigations led to about $60 million in value engineering cuts, including more than $40 million tied to unexpectedly extensive terrace damage on the north, south, and east sides. The terraces were originally expected to need only minor work, but officials said investigations showed reconstruction would eventually be necessary and could not be handled by simple restoration. They also said the mechanical equipment plan changed from a basement location to a vault under the east parking lot, and that the west terrace will still see some ADA-related work. Committee members questioned why the terrace work was not included in the current budget, whether doing it later would cost more, and why bids and construction planning had taken so long. Officials said the terraces were left out because of cost, that future work would likely be more expensive because of market escalation, and that the timing reflected extensive investigation needed to produce reliable bids. Members also raised concerns about scaffolding and the temporary chambers; officials clarified that the scaffolding discussed was for the separate Capitol Dome project, not the chamber project, and said the Dome scaffolding is part of that project cost and is expected to come down in early 2027. They said the temporary chambers are expected to be used for three sessions, through the 28th session, with a return to the Capitol planned for the 29th session, and that public tours of the Capitol would likely end around June depending on the bid results and construction schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over half of the women we talked to cited inflexible schedules as standing between them and a fuller
• Over half of the women we talked to cited inflexible schedules as standing between them and a fuller
• A lot of that is around their kids' schedules, so we talked to a lot of women who actually took jobs
• We see that a lot just because the hours matched up with their kids' schedules better, even if they said
• So, in order to keep my insurance, I had to work a two-thirds schedule, which I believe was 26 hours

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:

• Over half of the women we talked to cited inflexible schedules as standing between them and a fuller
• Over half of the women we talked to cited inflexible schedules as standing between them and a fuller
• A lot of that is around their kids' schedules, so we talk to a lot of women that actually took jobs in
• We see that a lot just because the hours matched up their kids' schedules better, even if they said they
• So, in order to keep my insurance, I had to work a two-thirds schedule, which I believe was 26 hours

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and 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 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 flexible hours were the most requested workplace support, 69% of moms identified child care costs as a barrier, and many families spend a large share of income on care. Members asked about labor force trends, what flexibility means in practice, and the cost and age structure of child care assistance programs. The presenter also noted child care affects economic development and workforce recruitment, and mentioned a Department of Commerce option that may help pay child care for people seeking training. Department of Education and Office of Early Childhood staff then gave updates on internal dashboards for enrollment, applications, and provider participation in School Readiness Assistance (SRA), saying the tools are now live for internal use and should improve transparency and data access. They said CLASS transition funding from the PDG grant would be released soon to providers who completed observations, and clarified that OEP awards based on CLASS scores are separate from OEC’s work. They also warned providers about a payment interruption during the transition to a new system: June 26 would be the last day to submit SRA payments for processing, payments would stop June 30, and billing would continue without processing from July 1 to 13, with back payments expected when the system resumes around July 14. Members raised concerns about provider cash flow, early childhood special education funding, an overpayment appeal involving a child care center, and whether CLASS data would be public; staff said the data is FOIA-able but not used by the department to set current quality or rates. The department also said it is reviewing audit requirements tied to Head Start and SRA, that Early Head Start children remained in their facilities after a closure, and that a market rate survey/cost analysis is still in procurement. Staff reported that the QRIS process will begin with a June 23 webinar and that CLASS will be part of a broader quality system still being developed with provider and parent input. They also said the local lead network was re-competed and will cover all counties starting July 1 with 23 local leads, and that the PDG partner group has been formed to provide ongoing stakeholder feedback. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over half of the women we talked to cited inflexible schedules as standing between them and a fuller
• And this quote, I think, sums it up perfectly here. of the women we talked to cited inflexible schedules
• A lot of that is around their kids' schedules.
• We see that a lot just because the hours matched up their kids' schedules better, even if, and they said
• So in order to keep my insurance, I had to work a two-thirds schedule, which I believe was 26 hours a

Keywords: 1204, all