Transcript Highlights:

• I can come up with a code where it takes me 30 seconds. That's a good question.
• cannot create a workaround where, okay, I'm on the phone for 30 seconds because I've created this code
• The other side of it is research and extension, which is code word for outreach.
• Governor's Letter Number 17, which is a request to amend Senate Bill 19, which is the Department of Inspector
• The request is to delete three separate appropriations for the appraisers, abstracters, and home inspectors

Summary: The committee first received a report on the executive protection detail, which was filed without questions. Members were then given a long advance list of House and Senate bills ready for consideration, followed by several amendment requests from agencies. The committee adopted amendments for the Auditor of State to increase special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and several other items including local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, and local law enforcement funding. It also held one amendment on House Bill 1034 and moved a Northwest Arkansas Community College cash fund increase tied to tornado-related campus repairs. The committee then considered a series of member amendments and appropriation items, including increases for the Public Defender Commission and deputy prosecuting attorneys to cover higher bar license fees, and a $12 million federal appropriation-only item. A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal from Senator Wallace and Representative Tosh to fund a pilot program for prison cell-phone detection/jamming technology at two correctional facilities. Sponsors and Department of Corrections officials said the system would target illegal contraband phones, would be procured through an RFP, and would be a two-year pilot; members raised questions about legality, cost, scope, data, and whether the department should use existing budget authority. The committee ultimately advanced the item by motion. The committee also took up an amendment from Senator Caldwell for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, seeking a $4 million appropriation increase. Testimony emphasized that the division’s extension offices and research functions are underfunded, that salaries are not competitive, and that the request would help with staffing and flexibility; other members questioned why the division needed more appropriation authority when it already had room under current limits and noted that the request exceeded the higher education board’s recommendation. The amendment was adopted after extended debate. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a $150 million increase to the homestead property tax credit, a $23,000 reallocation for the Insurance Department’s conference costs, $100,000 for property appraisal review work, $1.5 million for career and technical education professional development, $300,000 for DFA regulatory federal spending, $5 million for Inspector General fraud investigations, a consolidation of appraiser/abstractor/home inspector appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee readiness center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation for corrections capital projects that would add special language restricting use of the $73.7 million prison-expansion reappropriation. The committee also heard a summary of a supplemental appropriations package involving fund transfers for pregnancy resource centers, senior centers, assistance grants, used tires, and UAMS pregnancy/stroke programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1915 will support California's neighborhood restaurants by modernizing California's food facility code
• It removes hidden costs embedded in outdated building and health code requirements that no longer reflect
• It updates outdated parts of our food code to reflect modern operations, including temperature monitoring
• AB 1915 is also the result of meaningful collaboration with health regulators to identify where the code
• That contractor then schedules an inspector. Hire a licensed contractor to pull the permit.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The code section's open to do what we need to do to try to protect Mississippi as much as we can. >>
• I know that there are plenty of<01:25:36.560> code<01:25:36.880> sections<01:25:37.280>
• sections open right now to to do of code sections open right now to to do what<01:25:40.320> what
• The code section's be able to have that.
• how many compliance inspectors?

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 21 January, 2026: 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks present its FY27 budget request and discuss accomplishments from prior appropriations. The commissioner highlighted improved conservation officer retention after salary increases, continued training and wellness efforts, upgrades to state parks and cabins, expansion of tiny homes, fisheries stocking and youth fishing programs, ongoing chronic wasting disease testing, and the Museum of Natural Science’s recent accreditation. The agency said it wants to maintain parks and facilities so they do not deteriorate again, and it emphasized tourism and public access benefits. Budget staff then outlined the request: $21.7 million in general funds, including increases for state parks, the museum, law enforcement, and chronic wasting disease; $23.2 million in state support capital and education funds; and $86.99 million in special funds authority. Major capital requests included $18.8 million for state parks projects at several parks, $1.25 million for law enforcement facilities, $2 million for Lake Lamar Bruce improvements, and $1.125 million for mobile teaching vans. Members asked for more detail on general fund increases, proof that law enforcement salary enhancements reached field agents, more information on the tiny home program and its return on investment, the source of motor vehicle funds, and a breakdown of requested pins and vacancies. The committee also questioned the agency about chronic wasting disease, with the department saying the $400,000 request supports testing and research and that live testing is not yet reliable. Members raised concerns about prioritization of lake and park maintenance, especially Lake Claude Bennett, and whether the agency is too reactive rather than proactive in addressing deteriorating facilities. The department said funding limitations and federal restrictions on certain lake dollars drive its priorities, and that it focuses on the most-used parks and lakes. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of you, we don't see heinous words, the R-word, contained in our code anymore.
• Originally, this just lived in a different place in the code. It was in a definition section.
• An act to amend Title 14 of the Delaware Code relating to local school taxes.
• Last year, the ATF lost a quarter of its inspectors nationwide.
• An act to amend Title 16 of the Delaware Code relating to backflow.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• expressly authorizes personal representatives to initiate enforcement proceedings under the probate code
• Jennifer Ashen, waiving in support, International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
• And we have Jennifer Ashen, International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, waiving in support

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and heard a full agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and passed without objection after supportive testimony from banking and credit union groups. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program; the sponsor described it as a way to move emergency out-of-network payment disputes away from costly litigation and into an independent dispute resolution process modeled on the federal No Surprises Act. A proposed amendment drew significant questions from senators and concerns from the Florida Insurance Council about confusion over state versus federal eligibility and possible effects on contracted rates, and the sponsor ultimately withdrew the amendment. The underlying bill was then supported by health care and insurance stakeholders and reported favorably. SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels also passed, with Progressive Insurance waiving in support. The committee next approved CS/SB 158 on pet insurance, which requires continuing education for agents, clearer consumer disclosures, and annual reporting to OIR; the amendment was technical and adopted. SB 1494 on breast cancer screening coverage was presented as expanding required coverage for mammograms and supplemental screenings for certain insurance products, and it passed with support from cancer and radiology groups. CS/SB 314 on digital asset issuers was amended to create a Florida framework for payment stablecoin issuers consistent with the federal GENIUS Act, allowing state-level regulation as an alternative to federal supervision, and was reported favorably. SB 1500 on uncontested probate proceedings, including higher small-estate thresholds and clearer authority for personal representatives, also passed after a banking-related amendment requiring letters of administration for safe deposit box access was adopted. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance, which raises the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ comp policies from 10% to 20% and adjusts the Florida Workers’ Compensation Guarantee Association board membership; a carrier representative testified that the change would help keep more high-risk accounts in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 on a Florida Stable Coin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for DFS to create a Florida coin, limit the pilot to existing stablecoins with at least $1 billion market capitalization, and require qualified public deposit handling; it then passed. CS/SB 838 on electronic payments for retail installment contracts clarified that convenience fees for electronic payments are permissible while preserving a fee-free option, and it was reported favorably after questions about consumer access to free payment methods. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, made a wide range of administrative changes affecting My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, licensing, bail bonds, and other DFS functions; a late-filed amendment on title insurer appointments was adopted, and the bill passed. The committee also approved SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting condo hardening assistance to owner-occupied units meeting income and occupancy criteria, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which the sponsor and industry witnesses said would modernize Florida law and promote insurance competition and economic activity. The meeting ended with all bills on the agenda reported favorably and the committee adjourning without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• IT APPLIES TO PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, APPLIES TO BUILDING INSPECTORS, ANYTHING THAT A GOVERNMENT HAS THAT
• WE USE BUILDING INSPECTORS AND OBVIOUSLY LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY THING THIS RECOVERY SUPPORT.
• BUILDING CODES AND STANDARDS, NOT BUILDING IN A FLOODWAY, NOT BUILDING A HIGH HAZARD AREA, IT'S GOT TO

Transcript Highlights:

• Human Services, Office of Inspector Human Services, Office of Inspector General.<00:12:21.680>
• The inspector motans are protected.
• um actually the office of inspector um actually the office of inspector general<00:44:41.200>
• Inspector General would not have the Inspector General would not have the jurisdiction<00:57:34.400><
• <00:58:22.000> I purview of the inspector general. I purview of the inspector general.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madisonville, as I mentioned far to the west, has eight inspectors.
• Madisonville, as I mentioned far to the west, has eight inspectors.
• <00:02:59.480> sometimes ourselves inspectors sometimes ourselves inspectors sometimes so<
• <00:03:18.280> Pikeville the West has eight inspectors Pikeville the West has eight inspectors
• In 2017, we had a total of 56 inspectors.

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:30 Energy and Environment Cabinet 18:56 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Tourism and Energy committee received a presentation from Gordon Sloan, Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, and Deputy Commissioner David Fields on the Division of Mine Safety. They outlined the division’s structure, saying it has four branch offices in Madisonville, Harlan, Hazard, and Pikeville, with 36 inspectors total, plus administrative staff and several headquarters specialists. They also explained that four additional inspectors are on sick leave or workers’ compensation and will not be backfilled, and confirmed that inspectors work from offices rather than from home. The presentation focused on mine safety duties and staffing needs. Sloan said underground licensed mines must receive six inspections annually, including mine safety analyses, an electrical inspection, roof inspections, and regular inspections of airways, returns, belts, and miner safety equipment. He also described the division’s mine rescue responsibilities, including providing rescue coverage where operators do not have their own teams, maintaining teams within an hour’s drive of mines, and supporting training and certification. The division also conducts 17 training courses and about 8,000 to 9,000 trainings per year. Members were given updated mine and employment figures. Sloan reported 126 licensed mines in 2024 across the branch areas, with 61 active all year and others idle or later abandoned. He said Kentucky had 4,683 miners in 2024, with average employment of 4,509, and noted that the state had gone 34 months without a mining fatality since March 2022. He also said the division provides rescue services for 16 underground rock quarries, three highway tunnels, and three underground military training sites. In response to questions, Sloan said the division does not plan to refill the four vacant inspector positions because staffing is adequate statewide, and he said he would provide additional historical mine data later. The committee took no formal action and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a code that was billed every year, and it was consistently within $50 or $60 million yearly.
• of program integrity functions does not supersede the duties and responsibilities of the Access inspector
• yesterday, and we added that in because we don't want to take away rules that belong to the Office of Inspector
• retaliation situation I'm describing, and I won't share who that happened to, but Access surveyors and inspectors
• Access surveyors and inspectors have been retaliatory. They have been punitive.

Bills: SB1086, SB1193, SB1318, SB1345, SB1346, SB1451, SB1496, SB1611, SB1630, SB1631, SB1632, SB1672

Keywords: reimbursement, healthcare, laboratory services, noncontracting providers, Arizona health care cost containment, personal identifying information, PII, privacy, confidential records, public records exemption, commercial disclosure, data privacy, licensure, certification, health professions, health care licensing, Arizona Department of Health Services, ADHS, emergency medical care technician, EMCT

Summary: The committee first approved the February 4 minutes and then heard Senate Bill 1086, which would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse non-contracting providers for certain laboratory services when a member was referred by a contracting provider, and would bar prior authorization for diagnostic services and retaliation tied to such referrals. AHCCCS testified neutral but warned the prior-authorization ban could increase utilization and create fiscal and federal compliance concerns. The committee adopted the Warner amendment limiting non-contracting reimbursement to no more than contracting-provider rates, then passed SB 1086 as amended on a 4-2 vote. The committee next took up Senate Bill 1611, an emergency measure to require AHCCCS to contract with an administrative services organization for program integrity and case management functions for the American Indian Health Plan, while keeping AHCCCS ultimately responsible. The chair’s amendment expanded the ASO’s duties to include provider support, quality improvement, and data analytics, removed AHCCCS claims payment authority, added more tribal observers, and exempted IHS and tribal facilities. Testimony strongly supported reforming the system after fraud and overcorrection harmed Native members and providers, but AHCCCS raised concerns about the fast timeline, possible duplication of fraud-fighting functions, and the need for 45 days of tribal consultation. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1611 as amended on a 5-2 vote. Senate Bill 1630 would create a Medicaid-funded home and community-based services program for adults with serious mental illness, capped initially at 250 members under the Angius amendment, with semiannual reporting and a process for future expansion only if costs are reduced or neutral. Supporters said the bill would help the sickest SMI patients avoid repeated hospitalizations, jail, and homelessness, and could save the state general fund by shifting costs to federal Medicaid funding; AHCCCS was neutral and said it was finalizing the fiscal estimate. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1630 unanimously. The committee also passed SB 1193, protecting emergency medical care technician personal information from disclosure; SB 1318, repealing an outdated state dense-breast notification requirement to align with FDA language; and SB 1345, restricting anonymous complaints against health care institutions, though AHCCCS warned that federal law may still require investigation of complaints from any source and that the bill could reduce reporting and invite litigation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the whole reason for the procurement Code in the first place.
• Building codes and infrastructure mandates.
• IBC and IECC codes are not suitable for agricultural builds.
• We need agricultural building exemption codes for meat processors.
• That code is NMAC 1479. You have to have an EV charger for three or more parking spots.

Transcript Highlights:

• projects, this sheet that's got all the projects listed on page four, item 317, McKinley County Navajo Code
• they have just by the longer description, and then they have the list that just includes the agency code
• We also had the issues about the inspector coming out because of the multiple jurisdictions, whether

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The office of Inspector General in this bill is set up as an executive agency, but the Inspector General
• Section three, Office of the Inspector General, creates an independent Office of the Inspector General
• office of Inspector office of Inspector General<00:16:09.519> subdivision<00:16:10.160>
• General's office Inspector inspector General's office Inspector General<00:27:22.799> to<00:27
• has an inspector general, and Department of Education has an inspector general.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one thing it did allow us to do in the budget, we got 10 more additional compliance officers or inspectors
• But we're first of all, we're going to bring on 10 additional compliance officers or inspectors.
• to put individuals and how we're going to do it and how we're going to monitor it and keep these inspectors
• And initially they may go with inspectors to look at retailers and get comfortable with it, but there's
• We get them from inside inspectors, so they'll be coming from everything.

Transcript Highlights:

• What the Office of Inspector happen.
• available to the office of inspector available to the office of inspector general<00:08:35.200><
• inspector general himself or herself? inspector general himself or herself?
• the state just be without an inspector the state just be without an inspector general<00:17:20.079
• standing office or statewide inspector standing office or statewide inspector general<00:17:29.919

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislature adopts that new code.
• c><04:04:25.920> code.
• that new code. that new code.
• That is a letter from Dean Hunter, who is the chief electrical inspector of the construction codes and
• That is a letter from Dean Hunter, who is the chief electrical inspector of the construction codes and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The rule is amending Arkansas Code, part 60, to formalize special language.
• The rule is amending 15 Arkansas Code, part 270, to help conform to the national standards set forth
• Lindsay Moore, Director of Code Enforcement, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing.
• Scott McKinnon, chairman of the Board of Appraisers, Abstractors, and Home Inspectors.
• This rule creates a public-private partnership program that is authorized under the code.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed a long agenda of agency rules, with most items approved without objection after brief presentations and no public comment. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s electronic odometer disclosure rule, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and RV parks, lead-based paint, counseling board revisions, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental examiners, nursing, pharmacy, medical board, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these changes were described as updates to match recent acts, federal standards, compact participation, fee adjustments, or cleanup/clarification, and the committee repeatedly approved them without objection. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing’s broad set of rule changes implementing multiple 2025 acts. Those changes included creating a dialysis patient care technician registry, updating contact information requirements, expanding APRN authority to delegate certain tasks, clarifying death certificate and pronouncement authority, allowing substitution of therapeutically equivalent medications, permitting purchase of compounded products, and updating certified medication assistant rules and training standards. Members asked detailed questions about the meaning of therapeutically equivalent substitutions, delegation limits, compounded products, and how often medication lists would be updated; the board said it would review rules annually and use future rulemaking as needed. The committee also approved new nursing rules for declaratory orders and the new dialysis registry. The Department of Education’s rules drew the most discussion, especially the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify eligible expenses, and streamline approvals. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting certain technology purchases and requiring extra justification over $1,000, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about oversight, appeal timelines, sports equipment, provider credentialing, and whether the rules were too restrictive; department officials said the rules were meant to protect taxpayer funds while preserving flexibility, and they noted the program had received extensive public comment. The committee also approved Education rules for scholarships, residency classification, teacher programs, accelerated learning, and graduate medical education, as well as Labor and Licensing rules on wage and hour standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• So PRC, that's the agency code 430, so it should be behind tab 4.
• One is an additional person to assist as a fire prevention coordinator, more code enforcement inspectors
• All these buildouts are awesome, except they do require more code enforcers and enforcement inspectors
• Second is our code enforcement.
• Second is our code enforcement.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who he wants to be the inspector who he wants to be the inspector general?
• inspector general advisory commission. inspector general advisory commission.
• House to remove the inspector general. House to remove the inspector general.
• not have their own inspector general. not have their own inspector general.
• any central inspector general office. any central inspector general office.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate File 856, a bill to create a statewide Office of Inspector General to combat fraud. Representative Norris presented a delete-everything amendment that would keep most of the Senate bill but add more emphasis on fraud prevention, fully fund the office, avoid duplicating work already done by the BCA’s financial crimes division, and preserve subject-matter expertise by keeping some existing inspectors general in their agencies. He said the amendment would retain strong investigative powers, including subpoenas, while using the BCA for arrests, and he acknowledged his original version was likely too broad, so he planned to offer smaller amendments if needed. Chair Nash and other members challenged the DE on both process and substance. Nash said the amendment had not been shared with key stakeholders, noted that the Senate author had publicly distanced herself from it, and pointed to a governor’s office document saying the administration wanted a different approach than the Senate bill. He argued the Senate bill was a bipartisan, bicameral product and said the committee should be careful about accuracy and process. Representative Davis questioned Norris about the claim that the Senate bill was underfunded and about the governor’s role in selecting the inspector general, arguing that the governor should not have broad control over the office. Norris responded that the Senate bill’s fiscal note estimated roughly $12 million for the biennium, but the bill appropriated less than that amount, and he said the Constitution requires the governor to appoint the inspector general if the office is in the executive branch. He said the DE tried to preserve independence through a bipartisan advisory commission, Senate confirmation, a five-year term, restrictions on partisan activity, and removal only for cause with a public hearing. After debate from several members, the committee held a roll call and the DE failed on a 7-7 tie, so it was not adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• the broad language here does provide for potential abuse in the future by someone looking at this code
• the broad language here does provide for potential abuse in the future by someone looking at this code
• the broad language here does provide for potential abuse in the future by someone looking at this code
• so I would be more looking at this code so I would be more comfortable<00:14:51.160> signing<
• As many of you may know, Minnesota has a huge marriage penalty built into our tax code.

Bills: HF1698, HF632, HF1352, HF2197, HF618, HF1248, HF1697

Keywords: property tax, exemption, leased land, public use, commercial property, HF632, Minnesota property tax, conservation easement, conservation restriction, assessed value, property valuation, tax assessment, real property, land conservation, farmland preservation, natural areas, riparian buffer, water quality, water quantity, county assessor

Transcript Highlights:

• The inspector ended up cancelling.
• The inspector time, and other things.
• The the inspector get into a bedroom.
• 38.719> strapped<00:08:39.039> to inspector noticed a hatchet strapped to inspector noticed
• mode. this inspector was move into exit mode. this inspector was able<00:08:44.320> to<00:08:

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 4141, which would amend Minnesota Statutes 609.2231 to add housing and redevelopment authority (HRA) employees and agents to the list of public employees receiving enhanced criminal penalties for assault while performing official duties. Representative Johnson said the bill does not create a new crime, but simply extends existing protections to HRA staff who work in high-contact, high-stress settings such as inspections, enforcement, benefit decisions, and evictions. Testifiers Melissa Taporn and Terry Smith, both representing Minnesota housing authorities/NARO, supported the bill and described numerous incidents of threats, assaults, and weapon-related confrontations involving HRA staff across the state, arguing the change is needed for worker safety, retention, and continued delivery of housing services. Committee members expressed support for the proposal, with Vice Chair Dos saying it would create reasonable guardrails to help keep workers and residents safe. Discussion also noted that repeated or unsafe inspections can add costs back onto housing operations. The chair said the bill would likely be incorporated into the committee’s broader housing policy work with possible tweaks. No vote was taken; House File 4141 was laid over for possible inclusion.