Transcript Highlights:

• We consistently have a AAA credit rating as a state.
• I think in that regard I get President Curry a lot of credit for this.
• But my this is going through their annual aerospace defense audit so that the last 14 days working days
• and nights preparing for those audits is very disrupt the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in tax credit. in tax credit.
• </c> does not give tax credits. does not give tax credits.
• </c> get this tax credit? get this tax credit?
• . credit. credit.
• It's a $2,400 tax credit. And that. It's a $2,400 tax credit.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and I will be citing facts and evidence presented in that audit to really justify the common sense
• AB 25 mandates audits of voter rolls through random sampling, which will give continued reassurance to
• And in fact, this audit plan, which concerns us greatly, would... ...which concerns us greatly because
• Macedo, I would like to point out the reason why we came here with evidence in an audit documented facts
• It's about getting it right, not rushing it. verify results and audit the process.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of elections-related bills. It first approved three consent items: AB 808, AB 1029, and AB 1072. The committee then took up AB 1249, which would require non-Voter’s Choice Act counties to offer at least one Saturday early-voting location before statewide elections and allow in-person return of vote-by-mail ballots at designated county offices or satellite locations. Supporters said it would expand access for working voters and those with transportation barriers; some members raised concerns about ballot verification and added workload for rural counties. The bill passed the committee on a divided vote and was placed on call for absent members. The committee next considered AB 25, a voter ID and election integrity measure that would require citizenship verification, government ID for voting, tighter voter-roll audits, and a 72-hour ballot-counting deadline. The author and supporters argued it would restore public trust and improve election integrity, while opponents from the League of Women Voters, ACLU California Action, labor groups, disability advocates, and others said it would restrict access, burden vulnerable voters, and amount to voter suppression. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out on a narrow split and kept it on call. Members also approved AB 1164, which clarifies when voters are entitled to a replacement ballot and updates the Voter Bill of Rights language; AB 1441, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission in Merced County despite opposition from the county board over cost and local control; and AB 16, which would clarify county election officials’ authority to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots earlier and clean up outdated code. The committee also heard AB 1411, which would require non-VCA counties to prepare voter education and outreach plans and use a Secretary of State template, with the sponsor saying it would improve voter information statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Exchange allows the Health Care Affordability Fund to be used to replace the enhanced premium tax credit
• health care affordability fund to only those eligible for it. eligible for federal advance premium tax credits
• And that's the cap for advanced premium tax credits.
• These premium tax credits are what are going to help our residents have access to health insurance.
• There's also an opportunity for an audit, as we talked about this morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The City of Santa Fe has some reauths, and you know, there's a they were under the audit where they couldn't
• So now that that's public, when my wife sees that on my credit card, it was for Senator and Mr.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not part of their they can get credit for it, but it's held during the summer.
• It's not part of their curriculum, but they can get credit for it, and it's held during the summer.
• </c><04:39:21.520><c> but</c> assistant or an independent audit but assistant or an independent audit
• </c><05:21:25.600><c> The</c><05:21:25.760><c> audits</c> Foundation 9990s are public.
• The audits Foundation 9990s are public. The audits are<05:21:26.320><c> public.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Summary: The committee held a hearing on House Bill 1571, which would direct the Department of Education to review and revise statewide academic standards and curriculum and make an appropriation. Representative Kristen Noble, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to update outdated standards, especially in math, and to have the department create a list of high-quality curriculum and materials aligned to the revised standards. She noted she would likely amend the bill to change a requirement that districts “shall” select from the list to “may,” and said a misplaced crossed-out section would need to be restored and moved by amendment. She also said assessments would need to be updated to match any new standards. Testimony from Marie Banfield strongly supported the bill and the move away from a mandate, arguing that current standards are outdated and that Common Core and related standards have not improved student outcomes. She criticized the math standards for emphasizing multiple strategies and written explanations over computation, and said stronger standards would better support students, including those with learning or communication challenges. She also argued that New Hampshire should follow examples such as Massachusetts, which she said used rigorous standards successfully. Nate Green of the Department of Education did not take a position on the bill but explained that the bill would affect statewide academic standards, state assessments, and potentially federal compliance. He distinguished academic standards from minimum standards in statute, said any standards revision would require work with content experts, State Board approval, and then a corresponding assessment update that could take about two years. He estimated assessment development costs could range from about $200,000 to $500,000 for minor revisions and $1 million to $2 million for a wholesale new set of standards. He also said the bill would apply to public and charter public schools, not private or homeschool students, and that the department does not currently provide a statewide list of curriculum materials because curriculum decisions have historically been local.

Transcript Highlights:

• JBC's been asking questions for years, considered a whole audit. Audit came out recommendations.
• JBC's been asking questions for years, considered a whole audit. Audit came out recommendations.
• JBC's been asking questions for years, considered a whole audit. Audit came out recommendations.
• audit.
• Audit came out considered a whole audit.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Industry leaders and completed an audit Industry leaders and completed an audit of<00:37:22.480>
• But I disagree on the fact that it's the same as a credit card because your credit card has protections
• You can call the credit card company.
• But I disagree on the fact that it's the same as a credit card because your credit card has protections
• Credit card has protections. You can call the credit card company.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The department does not currently audit The department does not currently audit retailers retailers
• </c><01:18:00.640><c> and</c><01:18:01.360><c> uh</c> follow up with auditing and uh follow up with auditing
• </c><01:27:38.400><c> that</c> monitor that activity and audit that monitor that activity and audit that
• Earned income tax credit. This family. Earned income tax credit.
• Um child tax credit, check for $20,000."

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs heard HB 1790-FN, which would address involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder. Representative Lucy Weber introduced the bill for Representative Long, and the committee heard extensive testimony both in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Opponents, including John Burns of SOS Recovery and Jake Barry of New Futures, argued that involuntary commitment is not well supported by research, can retraumatize people, may increase overdose risk after release, and could undermine New Hampshire’s existing recovery and harm-reduction efforts. They emphasized that treatment should be voluntary, trauma-informed, and paired with housing, recovery supports, and other community-based services. Representative Long said he was willing to accept DHHS’s request to amend the bill into a study commission, though he expressed concern that a prior state study had not led to action. He said the commission should focus on implementation details, including where people would be placed, staffing, withdrawal management, elopement prevention, length of commitment, and aftercare. He described involuntary commitment as one tool for people with severe dangerous addictions, distinct from drug court, and said it could help avoid criminal records. Committee members asked about capacity at New Hampshire Hospital and how the proposal would work in practice. DHHS officials Katya Fox and Cynthia Pabonis testified that the bill raises major policy and fiscal concerns. They said New Hampshire’s current system has benefited from investments in naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, recovery centers, and community-based services, and that those investments have helped reduce overdose deaths. They estimated the bill would require a new 70-bed facility costing about $40 million to build and about $33.3 million annually to operate, with only a small portion offset by insurance, plus more than $600,000 in annual legal costs and additional staffing and system changes. They also said New Hampshire Hospital has 185 beds, with about 100 patients typically ready for less restrictive settings, and that housing shortages are a major bottleneck. NAMI New Hampshire also testified in opposition, saying families often want any possible treatment for loved ones but still opposed the bill. No vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The internal audit office will begin the audit work.
• The first audit on the list is a statewide single audit.
• Most of these audits are, they don't use state funds, so we wouldn't audit them, but ...audits.
• the audit.
• of an audit and in performing an audit.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to hear interim charges on higher education transparency and on preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. The chair emphasized accountability for taxpayer dollars and asked witnesses to address financial reporting, audit practices, and whether more frequent or comprehensive audits would improve oversight. Legislative Budget Board staff described how public university systems and most community colleges respond to requests about internal audit practices, noting that university systems generally follow a similar annual audit timeline and that community colleges use a more varied mix of internal and external audit arrangements. Members focused on gaps in reporting, especially Texas Southern University’s missing submissions for several years and Collin County Community College’s nonresponse to the LBB survey. The State Auditor’s Office then outlined its higher education audit work, including mandatory statewide single audits, DEI compliance audits, HUB and State Use Program audits, benefits proportional audits, and discretionary audits based on risk. The auditor said the office has released 43 higher-ed audit reports since fiscal year 2021 and has two audits in progress, and explained that internal audit reports from institutions help guide future audit selection. Senators pressed the office on the lack of enforcement authority, the value of internal auditors at each institution, and whether community colleges should have more standardized reporting and audit requirements. The auditor and general counsel said the SAO can refer suspected fraud to law enforcement but cannot itself enforce findings, while several senators suggested stronger clawback authority and more robust internal audit structures. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board explained that it collects annual financial reports, sources-and-uses data, and community college finance reports, and uses them for funding formulas and other reporting. It also trains governing board members and said it has limited regulatory authority, though community colleges must certify compliance annually and can lose eligibility for state funds if they do not. Members questioned the reliability of self-attested data, the adequacy of board training, and whether a single reporting structure would be more efficient. During public testimony, a ScholarShot representative argued for clearer, student-facing financial transparency so students can see total cost of attendance and the gap they must cover before enrolling.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate must take up the three-year ACA tax credit extension to address healthcare costs.
• </c> cuts to Medicaid, the ACA tax credits cuts to Medicaid, the ACA tax credits expiring,<00:13:18.320
• ACA tax credit extension to address<00:13:26.320><c> healthcare</c><00:13:26.720><c> costs.
• </c><05:03:33.520><c> And</c><05:03:33.760><c> House</c> audits and investigations.
• And House audits and investigations.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> benefit with delayed retirement credits benefit with delayed retirement credits in<01:12:41.120>
• So closing the BBCE loophole...” audits. The math done up front versus audits.
• It just cuts off this tax credit for folks in the fourth income tier.
• It just cuts off this tax credit for folks in the fourth income tier.
• It just cuts off this tax credit for folks in the fourth income tier.

Bills: HF3831 , HF3603 , HF1900 , HF495 , HF3750 , HF4316 , HF2136 , HF4384

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> And uh we have a policy review and equity audits, and uh our board oversees all of that.
• uh we have a policy review<00:04:29.919><c> and</c><00:04:30.160><c> equity</c><00:04:30.560><c> audits
• </c><00:04:31.040><c> and</c><00:04:31.440><c> uh</c><00:04:31.600><c> our</c> review and equity audits
• and uh our review and equity audits and uh our board board board oversees<00:04:34.000><c> all</c><00
• </c> credit and uh dual enrollment. credit and uh dual enrollment.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the September meeting minutes, and heard presentations from Carter G. Woodson Academy in Lexington and related school programs in Fayette County Public Schools. School leaders described the academy as an all-male public school option focused on culture, belonging, and opportunity, with a mission to educate, empower, and equip young men academically, socially, and morally. They emphasized culturally responsive instruction, restorative practices, mentorship, brotherhood circles, and access to advanced coursework, dual enrollment, and career pathways. Student speakers highlighted school culture, leadership opportunities, and clubs such as SGA, Beta Club, FFA, and the Bow Tie Club, along with service and community engagement. Presenters said the academy began in 2012, is housed with Frederick Douglass High School, uses an application and lottery process, and can serve up to about 350 students but is intentionally kept near 300 because of space. They reported 302 enrolled students, about 38 seniors, a 100% graduation rate, 95% average attendance, 100% postsecondary success, and $1.8 million in scholarship offers last year. They also shared demographic and achievement data, noting growth in MAP scores, strengths in reading and writing, and math as an ongoing focus area. The school said 90% of high school scholars are taking at least one dual credit class this year, and some students have earned opportunities at selective programs such as Gatton Academy and Craft Academy. Committee members praised the school’s results and asked about enrollment, funding, and whether the model could be replicated statewide. School leaders said the program is fully funded through Fayette County Public Schools, could be replicated with committed staff and training, and that teachers receive preparation through the Gearing Institute to better understand how boys learn. They also noted that Fayette County has other specialized programs, including girls’ academies and other options for underrepresented students. Members expressed interest in long-term tracking of graduates, and the school said it is preparing to study outcomes as the first graduating class approaches its 10-year anniversary.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, Minnesota pioneered the first research and development credit in 1981.
• Minnesota pioneered the first research and development credit in 1981, and today 35 states have R&D credits
• the largest concentrations of data centers in the country, a review by the state's Joint Legislative Audit
• after President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which, among other things, ended the credits
• At 10:20, amending the credits for conveyance of property for conservation and preservation purposes.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its fourth meeting, held October 27-28 in Santa Fe, with Representative Duncan moving approval and no opposition. The chair then introduced a panel on the cost of providing medical care in New Mexico, focusing on physician shortages, rising practice costs, and access problems, especially in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces. Panelists included family physicians, a pediatrician, a cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and a community health center medical director, who described their backgrounds and practices before turning to the policy discussion. The doctors argued that New Mexico is losing physicians because of three main pressures: medical malpractice exposure, gross receipts tax on medical services, and low Medicaid reimbursement. They said malpractice premiums are much higher than in neighboring states, punitive damages and venue shopping increase risk, and the patient compensation fund and attorney fee structure create additional costs. They also described administrative burdens from insurance billing and referrals, the high debt and long training period for physicians, and the effect of corporate medicine and private equity on practice decisions. One panelist emphasized the economic impact of each physician on jobs and local spending, while another noted that shortages force patients into emergency rooms and delay specialty care. The panel presented a list of proposed solutions: reform punitive damages, limit venue shopping and stacking, restore lifetime medical payments from the patient compensation fund, enact apology protections, cap attorney fees, continue Medicaid funding improvements, and eliminate gross receipts tax on medical and dental services. Committee members generally agreed the presentation was thorough and useful, but several noted that some proposals fall outside this committee’s jurisdiction and would likely need to move through other committees, especially judiciary and tax. Some members supported drafting legislation or working on separate bills, while others urged caution, requested more input from hospitals and economists, and raised concerns about local government revenue impacts from GRT changes. The chair concluded by encouraging members to continue discussions offline and noted that the tax-related issue would be taken up further in the next day’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I can tell you from experience, number one, there needs to be an internal audit done at the Railroad
• Well, I think an audit, to your point, would show that. Well, it might possibly show that.
• I don't want to claim credit for Jason not cussing. I am proud to represent ranchers like him.
• The perceived risk around wildfires by the insurance community, the credit community, the investors.
• And all the credit to the men and women out in the field doing the job. But thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB 13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145 , HB366 , HB470 , HB805 , HB912 , HB13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><05:03:34.718><c> financials</c> provide two years of audited financials provide two years of audited
• <05:48:56.558><c> when</c><05:48:56.878><c> a</c> credit bureaus are notified when a credit bureaus are
• </c> institution, a federally insured credit institution, a federally insured credit union,<05:49:44.638
• </c> inundated by abusive mortgage credit inundated by abusive mortgage credit trigger<05:50:10.958><
• report and then the get your credit report and then the credit<05:52:35.840><c> bureau</c><05:52:37.040

Transcript Highlights:

• And I credit Judge Hanna at the time. He was our Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
• So, you know, some of them, we're just not going to have long enough to be able to earn the credits,
• and they typically are way behind in the number of credits they need to graduate.
• We're audited. I wanted to kind of highlight one of my last pages here.
• , and them them trying. are dropout prevention, kids that are so far behind in their credits, and them

Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth met to approve prior minutes, confirm Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee, and receive several presentations. The Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review team reported on unexpected child deaths in Arkansas, saying its 2023 review covered 148 of 170 non-natural deaths, with the remainder unavailable due to criminal investigations or missing records. Of the reviewed deaths, 69 were accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined, and members discussed how the report’s recommendations could be used by agencies and nonprofits for prevention work and grant applications. Committee members also asked about age breakdowns and how the data could be shared without identifying individual cases. The committee then took up HCR 1010 and a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Representative Shepard said the resolution was intended to confront data on juvenile incarceration and system outcomes. Senator Missy Irvin, judges Troy Braswell and Kathy Hess, and AOC Juvenile Division Director Burke Steen described the state’s long-running reform efforts, including the SAVRY risk assessment, diversion programs, and efforts to keep more youth in their communities. They said the reforms have reduced delinquency filings, DYS commitments, and revocations, while increasing diversions, but also emphasized ongoing gaps in mental health, substance abuse, and school-based supports. Members raised concerns about school data sharing, behavioral health access, and how to better identify youth with disabilities or trauma earlier. Judge Braswell and others stressed that many youth in the system have significant trauma, family instability, or unmet treatment needs, and that judges need individualized information to make decisions. Several members discussed the role of schools, the school safety dashboard, and the need for stronger community providers, especially in rural areas. The committee then heard from DYS Director Michael Crump, who provided data on commitments, facility use, demographics, offense levels, length of stay, education outcomes, recidivism, dual DCFS/DYS custody, and costs. He said commitments rose after the pandemic and then began to decline, while secure and detention costs increased with the need for more beds; he also noted that most youth in custody have behavioral health needs and that DYS works closely with DCFS, courts, and providers. No final action was taken on HCR 1010 during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I credit Judge Hanna at the time. He was our Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
• So, you know, some of them, we're just not going to have long enough to be able to earn the credits.
• And they typically are way behind in the number of credits they need to graduate.
• But they might come as a junior and we do credit recovery and we do all the things we can to catch them
• We're audited. I wanted to kind of highlight one of my last pages here.

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then approved Representative Bentley’s appointment to the Child Maltreatment Oversight Committee. Members then received the Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review annual report, which covered unexpected child deaths in 2023. Reviewers said 170 non-natural deaths were identified, but 22 could not be reviewed because of criminal investigations, prosecutions, or missing records. Of the 148 reviewed deaths, 69 were accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 were undetermined causes, including sudden unexpected infant death. Members asked how the report’s recommendations could be used, and presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies, nonprofits, and others; they also noted that child abuse prevention grant applications are being shaped by the report’s recommendations and offered to share the RFP with the committee. A question about suicide and homicide data by age was answered by pointing members to the age breakdown in the report, with most of those deaths concentrated among 15- to 17-year-olds. The committee then took up HCR 1010 and a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Representative Shepard said the resolution was meant to confront data on juvenile incarceration and the cost of the system, while Senator Irvin, Judge Troy Braswell, Judge Kathy Hess, and AOC Juvenile Division Director Burke Steen described years of reform efforts built around validated risk assessments, diversion, and community-based services. They said Arkansas adopted tools such as SAVRY, the MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening to individualize juvenile court responses, and they emphasized that the goal is to keep children at home and in their communities when safe to do so. Members discussed the need for more mental health and substance-abuse services, better school collaboration, and the role of school safety dashboards and FINS/truancy cases in identifying problems earlier. Judges and staff said the reforms have reduced delinquency filings, DYS commitments, and revocations, while increasing diversions, though they noted data gaps in some counties and the need for better reporting. They also stressed that some serious offenses still require detention or commitment, and that judges must balance public safety with rehabilitation. Representative Barnes and others asked whether the numbers might be worse without judicial discretion and community programs, and the presenters agreed that individualized decision-making and graduated sanctions matter. Representative Inatt asked about tracking youth with disabilities, and the presenters said that specific diagnoses are not currently tracked but that national court data efforts may soon add behavioral-health data points. The committee then heard from DYS Director Michael Crump, who provided detailed data on DYS commitments, secure and community-based placements, detention-center use, demographics, offense levels, average length of stay, education outcomes, recidivism, dual DCFS/DYS custody, costs, and interagency coordination. He said commitments fell sharply during COVID, have since risen and then begun to decline, and that the system is working to reduce detention use, improve education and treatment, and expand community-based providers statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's community built among the young people that we work with in the schools as a credit-bearing class
• There's community built amongst the young people that we work with in the schools as a credit-bearing
• , right, so that when you... ...development, or you need to have had accrued business credits, right,
• Probation must be audited and downsized to meet the current population under their so-called care.
• Probation must be audited and downsized to meet the current population under their so-called care.

Transcript Highlights:

• for incentives that under the current version of the bill would be funded through the gas climate credit
• The current version of the bill would be funded through the gas climate credit.
• Under current practice, this money is used to provide straight-up bill credits to customers.
• In 2026, customers were getting a bill credit of between $32 and $46.
• Taking $50 million away from the credit would increase a customer bill by $3 to $5.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications