Transcript Highlights:

• Before we begin today's hearing, I'd like to briefly go over the procedure we'll be following.
• For example, we've audited Mexico's surveillance, trapping. movement program.
• And so those monthly audits that Dr.
• In our audits we work with Mexico as far as how often they're checking the traps, are the tracks dead
• I liked that. format because it for for the layperson it it helps explain pretty clearly what a procedure

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Not if the law was followed with regard to procedures and process around that emergency procedure
• provide health care services prescribe medicinal drug aside, medical drugs, or perform medical procedures
• But >> you don't think that some of the bad actions that have been taken could be resolved with the audit
• But that's, you know, a few of the examples. >> So why can't we use the tools that we have for auditing
• And and we did a study by the Joint Auditing Committee and this city has since corrected.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Consolidated and consolidating financial statements and their audited financials to the public.
• We rushed to the emergency room where Raz underwent a procedure with full anesthesia to try to fix his
• We rushed to the emergency room where Raz underwent a procedure with full anesthesia to try to fix his
• Their detailed, consolidated, and consolidating financial statements, as well as their audited financial
• He was taken to the emergency room, where he underwent a procedure with full anesthesia to try to fix

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We just want to make sure that that's clear and then some kind of procedure outlined for the courts and
• all expenditures, leaving gaps in oversight, particularly in counties with limited resources for auditing

Transcript Highlights:

• So the question that I have is there's an entire subchapter on procedures, settings, rules for litigation
• when government immunity is there's an entire subchapter on procedures, settings, rules for litigation
• These procedures address rules on venue, settlement, payment of judgments, levying taxes for paying final
• procedures in the bill. Any reason why? Senator Menendez, not being a lawyer myself as well.
• Many of our other seasoned TCASE members also engage in program reviews, audits for other...

Bills: HB4, HB20

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending. A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have multi-state audit firms.
• We have multi-state audit firms.
• We have multi-state audit firms.
• We have multi-state audit firms.
• Moving into the audit division, we separate out our auditors in kind of complexity.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, but under our current policies and procedures internally, you can—I mean, nothing says that our
• policy and procedure couldn't allow us to provide another sticker for someone.
• Next item on the agenda is engrossed House Bill 4419, requiring certain non-discretionary procedures
• and disposition of money to the credit of any sinking fund related to bonds, shall be subject to auditing

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Infrastructure Committee first returned to engrossed House Bill 4419, which would require the West Virginia Parkways Authority to hold public hearings and give notice before increasing tolls, rents, fees, or charges, and would allow legislative auditing of related revenues and sinking funds. The committee debated two amendments related to E-ZPass transponders: one from the Senator from Jefferson to clarify that the Parkway Authority would not be required to read every plate failed on a 4-4 tie, and one from the Senator from Wetzel to codify a restriction on transferring single-fee transponders between vehicles was rejected after discussion with counsel and the Parkways Authority about current policy, convenience for users, and possible effects on the bill. The committee then approved a motion to send HB 4419 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, but first be referred to Finance, and a separate motion to send it to Finance passed. The committee also considered engrossed House Bill 4563, on which Senator Randolph moved for a second reference to Finance because of fiscal concerns. After discussion of the newly filed fiscal note and the bill’s potential revenue impact, that motion failed by a 4-5 division vote. The committee then voted to report HB 4563 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 4538, which increases fines and penalties for failing to obey traffic control instructions or speeding in construction and work zones, and also references penalties tied to distracted driving provisions. Counsel noted the bill’s possible overlap with existing vehicular homicide penalties and that it had no fiscal note. Jason Pizzitella of the Contractors Association testified in support, emphasizing work-zone safety and recent fatalities, while senators from Fayette, Randolph, and Jefferson also supported the bill and discussed the need to protect workers and drivers. The committee adopted a motion to report HB 4538 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a procedure to dispute fines through Doha. Thank you.
• There is a procedure to dispute fines through Doha.
• If we are at a, if you read the report, there's a section in which they do an audit of multi-county audit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections heard SPB 7016, a bill revising Florida’s citizen initiative petition process to address fraud, voter information, and ballot integrity. The bill and its amendments would add sponsor bonds and deposit requirements, require more identifying information from signers and circulators, bar certain felons and non-citizens from circulating petitions, require circulator training, shorten the time to submit signed petitions, require notices to voters whose signatures are verified, and change how financial impact statements are handled. Several amendments were adopted, including a $1 million bond framework, 10-point font and page limits for petition forms, a ban on incentive-based pay tied to petition counts or speed, removal of a requirement that fraud be proven by criminal conviction before administrative fines, county deposit and payment procedures for supervisors of elections, invalidation of petitions gathered by ineligible circulators, training requirements within 30 days, and a prohibition on public funds being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments. Committee discussion focused heavily on implementation and fairness. Supporters, including the sponsor and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, argued the bill was needed to deter fraud, protect voter information, and ensure sponsors—not taxpayers—bear the costs of the initiative process. Supervisors of elections testified that county taxpayers should not subsidize petition verification, but also warned that some provisions would be difficult to implement quickly because of software and operational constraints. Senators raised questions about the bond cost, the 10-day submission deadline, notice to voters whose petitions are invalidated, the effect on returning citizens, and whether the bill could disenfranchise voters who sign petitions in good faith. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed. Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, NAACP Florida, Florida Rising, Equality Florida, All Voting Is Local, and other advocates said the bill would suppress grassroots participation, criminalize volunteers, create costly barriers, and favor wealthy or corporate interests. They objected especially to the bond, the new signer identification requirements, the shorter submission window, and the lack of notice when a petition is invalidated. A few supporters, including the Florida Chamber, backed the measure as a safeguard against fraud and outside influence. After debate, the committee did not reach a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, but the bill remained before the committee as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a procedure to dispute fines through DOAH. Thank you.
• There is a procedure to dispute fines through DOAH.
• If we are at a, if you read the report, there’s a section in which they do an audit of a multi-county
• audit of 13,000 validated petition forms, and they’ve determined that over 20% of those should not have

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider SPB 7016, a major bill revising Florida’s constitutional initiative petition process. Senator Grall presented it as a fraud-prevention and ballot-integrity measure that would add sponsor training, stricter circulator rules, more voter identification information, faster submission deadlines, notice to voters whose signatures are verified, and additional civil and criminal penalties. The committee also considered several amendments, including a $1 million bond requirement, font and page limits for petition forms, restrictions on incentive-based circulator pay, removal of a criminal-conviction prerequisite for certain fines, deposit and reimbursement procedures for supervisors of elections, invalidation of petitions gathered by ineligible circulators, mandatory circulator training, and a prohibition on public funds being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments. All of the amendments were adopted, with some roll-call votes recorded and most passing on party-line or near party-line splits. The bill drew extensive questioning from senators, especially about the practical effects of the new requirements. Senator Polsky and Senator Rouson raised concerns about disenfranchising voters, burdening grassroots volunteers, the cost of bonds and deposits, the 10-day return deadline, and whether voters would be notified if a petition they signed was later invalidated. Grall said the measures were intended to protect the constitutionally significant initiative process, reduce fraud, and ensure sponsors—not taxpayers—bear administrative costs. Dave Ramba, speaking for supervisors of elections, supported the deposit and reimbursement concepts but warned that the bill’s implementation would be operationally difficult and that software vendors might not be ready for the changes by the effective date. He also said the process should avoid subsidizing petition drives with county taxpayer money. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers from Common Cause Florida, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP Florida State Conference, Florida Rising, Equal Ground, Voices of Florida, and other civic groups arguing the bill would suppress direct democracy, criminalize volunteer activity, impose excessive costs, and create confusion and litigation risk. One speaker from the Florida Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, saying the initiative process should be protected from fraud and outside interests. During debate, Senator Polsky argued the Legislature has steadily made the initiative process harder after recent citizen-led amendments succeeded, while supporters framed the bill as a necessary integrity measure. The committee had not yet taken final action on the bill itself by the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Establishes an impasse procedure to be applied when an employer fails to initiate the negotiation or
• Repeals existing law that requires a different impasse procedure to apply in those situations.
• Repeals existing law that requires a different impasse procedure to apply in those situations.
• procedure to apply in those situations. procedure to apply in those situations.
• It's audited. There's all sorts of regulations.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several measures. SB 2245 would tighten revolving-door restrictions for state employees by barring new employees from acting on matters they worked on before state service and imposing a 12-month post-employment restriction for certain former Governor and Lieutenant Governor staff; the Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters supported it, and the committee later passed it as is. SB 99 would allow certain retirees to return to work as school resource officers or investigators without losing retirement benefits; the Attorney General supported the investigator portion, ERS and other agencies offered comments and suggested amendments, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including changes from the Attorney General, ERS, and the Department of Law Enforcement, plus a far-future effective date. SB 2304, which would expand identity theft law to cover AI/deepfake or materially deceptive media impersonation, drew opposition from the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor over prosecution burdens and First Amendment concerns, while some prosecutors and others supported it; the committee deferred the bill. SB 2115, dealing with collective bargaining impasse procedures for repricing public employee classes, drew opposition from human resources officials who said arbitrators lack the technical expertise needed, while unions and HGA supported the measure; the committee deferred decision-making to a later hearing. The committee also heard SB 1036, a net neutrality bill that would bar broadband providers from blocking, prioritizing, or zero-rating traffic. Supporters argued Hawaii needs stronger consumer protections, while the Hawaii Broadband Office said it saw no current problem in Hawaii and warned the bill could affect federal BEAD funding unless exempted; the committee deferred the measure. SB 1163 would prohibit the sale of geolocation and browser data and data collected through microphone-based background apps; Consumer Protection supported the intent but urged a broader privacy framework, and the Honolulu Prosecutor sought an exemption for lawful law-enforcement investigations, which the committee later accepted along with Hawaiian Telecom’s proposed amendments before passing the bill with amendments. SB 2076 would update publicity-rights law to address AI/deepfake uses of a person’s likeness; testimony supported the goal and amendments from the Recording Industry Association of America, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including replacing references to AI/deepfake with “digital replica.” After hearing testimony, the committee recessed briefly to obtain quorum and then reconvened for decision-making. It adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 2245 as is, passed SB 99 with amendments, deferred SB 2304, deferred SB 2115 to a later hearing, deferred SB 1036, passed SB 1163 with amendments, and passed SB 2076 with amendments. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• THEIR RELAPSES IN REPORTING PROCEDURES AND THE FOUNDATION WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH THE STAFF AND SUPPORT
• BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE BOARD MEETING WILL BE LOOK AT MONITORING PROCEDURES AND HOW BUT WHAT I
• CAN SAY IS THAT THE BOARD MEETING WILL BE LOOK AT MONITORING PROCEDURES AND HOW WE CAN ENHANCE THOSE
• THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN USE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PROCEDURES AROUND MONITORING WITH THE FUNDS ARE USED
• WE HAVE NO MONITORING PROCEDURES NO STAFF ON A CHAIR IN A VOLUNTEER CAPACITY JUST AS THE OTHER BOARD

Transcript Highlights:

• Those people audited these places and said they were super, super impressed.
• Are the same auditing happening at Planned Parenthood?
• Auditing has happened from 2005 to 2017, or 2023, for 17 years.
• But the fact is the system had controls to have audits for compliance.
• But the fact is the system had controls to have audits for compliance.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So in my mind this bill is simply a procedural complement to the current law.
• First, the bill addresses an important procedural question for town meeting governance applicable to
• as to how to properly apply procedure as to how to properly apply tax<00:56:00.880> and<00:56
• my mind this bill is simply a procedural my mind this bill is simply a procedural complement<00:
• question for town meeting procedural question for town meeting governance<00:56:21.280> applicable

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Administrative Procedures Act. to the Administrative Procedures Act.
• House Bill 85 engrossed: Post-election audit procedures, sponsored by Management Audit.
• <03:04:30.160> procedures<03:04:31.279> sponsored postelection audit procedures sponsored
• postelection audit procedures sponsored by<03:04:32.160> management<03:04:32.800> audit
• sponsored by management audit sponsored by management audit passed<03:05:01.279> third<03

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did hear this audit. Very, very troubling.
• We did hear this audit. Very, very troubling.
• We did hear this audit. Very, very troubling.
• We did hear<01:22:12.160> this<01:22:13.160> audit.
• hear this audit. Very, very troubling. hear this audit. Very, very troubling.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They need to have the knowledge of proper procedure for these types of ultrasounds.
• So it's a very specialized procedure.
• And despite this, we still use the same regulations when we're doing this procedure.
• And that federal indirect rate was looked at very closely; it was audited, and it was 21%.
• Importantly, it does not impose CVDMP's procedures such as... ...AB 1129.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health bills focused on access to preventive care, behavioral health, hospital services, and patient safety. Early items included AB 554, which would expand and protect access to HIV prevention drugs like PrEP, including injectable forms and coverage protections; supporters said it would shore up access amid federal threats, while insurers opposed it as a costly benefit mandate. AB 577 would limit insurer and PBM practices that steer medications away from physician offices and require more transparency and patient consent; doctors and patient advocates supported it, while health plans and insurers warned it could raise drug costs and disrupt specialty pharmacy networks. AB 546 would require coverage for portable HEPA purifiers for vulnerable enrollees during declared emergencies, especially wildfire smoke events, with support from air quality and public health groups and opposition from insurers concerned about benefit expansion and cost. The committee also heard AB 224, which would codify California’s updated essential health benefits benchmark plan after a public review process, adding infertility treatment, hearing aids, and durable medical equipment if approved by CMS for the 2027 plan year. DMHC said the state had completed the review and needed legislation to meet federal timing, and the measure drew broad support. AB 1032 would require plans and insurers to reimburse up to 12 additional behavioral health visits for enrollees in wildfire-affected counties for a limited period after an emergency; supporters argued it would fill gaps in trauma care after disasters, while insurers said existing parity and continuity-of-care rules already address the issue and that the bill could create inequities. AB 849 would require trained chaperones for sensitive ultrasound exams and training on how to observe and intervene; it was backed by a survivor and patient advocates, with hospitals and health districts raising staffing concerns. Later, AB 1196 would direct the Department of Public Health to update outdated rules requiring three surgeons for certain heart surgeries using cardiopulmonary bypass; supporters said the rule no longer reflects modern practice and strains staffing, while cardiology representatives had no formal opposition but wanted to review amendments. AB 1113 would codify a right to wear a mask for health reasons in public spaces, with support from disability and public health groups. AB 1386 sought to add perinatal care to the list of basic hospital services, prompting testimony about maternity ward closures, workforce shortages, and rural access; the author said the bill would be amended further and that the committee would need to revisit timelines and implementation details. The committee also heard AB 1429, which would address Kaiser’s repeated mental health parity violations and improve access to behavioral health care, though the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill is shown. Several bills were moved with motions and seconds, but many were held for quorum; AB 1196, AB 1113, and AB 1386 were among the measures advanced to a roll call or held on call, and the committee repeatedly noted that final votes would occur when quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• If the circuit court fails to follow proper sentencing procedures.
• The bill also maintains procedures and requirements for sentencing in capital cases as provided within
• So all those procedures have to have to go through the guilt phase and then the penalty phase in order
• So this is a procedure.
• It also establishes policies and procedures for responding to a reported missing child emergency.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• EPA, in 2018, wrote a self-audit on those lax regulations and said that they do not fully protect human
• process<00:22:32.720> or then there's a normal process or then there's a normal process or procedure
• <00:22:34.559> But<00:22:34.720> this procedure that they go through.
• But this procedure that they go through.
• Maybe I need to talk to them and see what their procedures and practices are and how do they envision

Bills: SB71, SB71

Keywords: environmental regulation, federal standards, scientific evidence, water quality, administrative law, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees

Transcript Highlights:

• Changes to the voting procedures during an election should be avoided.
• Changes to the voting<00:07:33.680> procedures<00:07:34.000> during<00:07:34.240> an
• <00:07:34.400> election voting procedures during an election voting procedures during an election
• work you’ve done to ensure our elections are both fair, free, and secure, especially your work in the audit

Keywords: Discussion of HR 7 00:05:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, established a quorum, and opened with the pledge and prayer. Members then made several brief introductions of interns and guests from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. The chair also reminded members about microphone use, cell phones, and the 24-hour rule for committee amendments and substitutes. The sole substantive item was House Resolution 7, sponsored by Representative Hodgson, which set out guiding principles for Kentucky elections. Hodgson described principles including fair and secure elections, accessibility balanced with security, citizen-only voting, stability and uniformity in election procedures, prompt and accurate results, transparency, accountability, and preservation of state control over elections. Members generally supported the resolution; Representative Marzian asked whether Kentucky already follows these principles and raised the issue of low poll-worker pay, while Representative Hancock asked about protecting voter registration data and privacy. Hodgson responded that transparency applies to the process, not personal information, and that Kentucky protects ballot secrecy and voter data. Representative Chester Burton also asked about election security, and Hodgson said Kentucky’s system relies on bipartisan poll workers and mutual oversight at polling places. Representative Marzian asked whether Social Security numbers are still required for voter registration, and members indicated they are, with a follow-up promised to the committee. The committee then voted 15-0 to pass the resolution with favorable expression. Before adjournment, Hodgson encouraged additional co-sponsors, and the chair noted the committee would likely meet again the following Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• To this procedural request, therefore, the evidence submitted by enforcement staff at the preliminary
• If you recall, last time we changed our procedures and set dates for two meetings in advance.
• includes establishing a point of contact with our financial... ...department and obtaining contribution audits
• I have also implemented some procedures so that when my tenure comes to pass, I can transfer to the next
• person and so on without an interruption, according to all of the reports and the procedures provided

Keywords: Texas Ethics Commission, legislative recommendations, general counsel appointment, foreign lobbying, political contributions, quarterly meetings, public testimony, rule amendments

Summary: The meeting focused on the Texas Ethics Commission's (TEC) evaluation of legislative recommendations and personnel updates, including the appointment of a new general counsel and discussions about upcoming quarterly meetings. Commissioner Schmidt reported on the progress of various bills, including amendments to existing laws, the need for increased regulation on foreign lobbying, and the publication of new rules in the Texas Register. Public testimonies were heard regarding compliance issues and proposed changes in political contribution regulations. The Commission agreed to schedule further review on the legislative items discussed and the proposed rule amendments.