Video & Transcript Research : 'pests control'
Page 97 of 500
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (01/22/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- And so my argument is that it's best to be in control of your drink at all times."
- And so my argument is that it's best to be in control of your drink at all times."
- And so my argument is that it's best to be in control of your drink at all times."
- And so my argument is that it's best to be in control of your drink at all times."
- Yes, anybody in the control room there? Yeah, on House Bill 302, page two...
Summary:
The subcommittee first dealt with a brew pub license bill and corrected some sponsor/subcommittee roster confusion before voting to pass it without discussion. The main item of debate was a bill allowing patrons to take purchased alcoholic beverages into restrooms. The bill sponsor argued the current ban is outdated, rarely enforced, and can leave patrons vulnerable if they set drinks down and leave them unattended; he said establishments could still post their own rules if they wished. Liquor enforcement officials said they were neutral overall, noting both the risk of drinks being left unattended and the practical concerns of underage drinking, over-service, and restroom monitoring.
Testimony split between those who saw the law as a non-issue and those who viewed it as a safety measure. One member said he had never seen anyone take alcohol into a restroom and opposed changing the law, while others cited drink-spiking concerns and suggested alternatives such as safe zones behind bars, drink covers, and alert apps. Industry representatives said many operators would prefer to keep the law as-is because it helps with policing drinking in their establishments, though they acknowledged the motivation behind the bill. Several members also raised drafting concerns, saying the wording was confusing about whether the rule applied to patrons or establishments.
The committee ultimately voted 5-2 to recommend the bill ought to pass. Afterward, members discussed amending the language to clarify that establishments could still prohibit the practice, but one member suggested a simpler fix would be to strike the word “restroom” from the prohibition entirely. The committee then unanimously voted to reconsider its action so the language could be revised later, and the amendment discussion was left for a future meeting.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Board is referred to Beverage Control Board is referred to Beverage Control Board is referred to the
- 2811, Control Board to amend sections 2811, Control Board to amend sections 2811, 28113, 28115, 28113
- those from and down, we can control those from and down, we can control those from afar.
- Controls memory Controls memory Controls memory allocation. D provides interfaces for allocation.
- Four, control and expend appropriations as may control and expend appropriations as may control and expend
PA
Transcript Highlights:
- If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary
- I strongly support local control and decision-making for approval of data centers. It is paramount.
- This bill provides for scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule III controlled substance.
- The Drug Control Act for mere possession institutes a five-year penalty.
- House Bill 268, Legal Control. House Bill 1133, Professional Licensure.
Summary:
The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests, including a student advocate and family members connected to a resolution on scoliosis awareness. The chamber first took up committee reports from Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Tourism and Recreation and Economic Development, and later Appropriations, Rules, Commerce, and Environmental and Natural Resource Protection, agreeing to the reported bills and resolutions. House Resolution 531, designating June 2026 as Scoliosis Awareness Month, was adopted 201-1 after remarks describing the condition and the advocacy of a young constituent. The House also adopted resolutions designating Diaper Need Awareness Week, directing a study on PANS/PANDAS, recognizing 717 Day, Little League World Series Week, and commemorating America 250 in Pennsylvania, with broad bipartisan support.
The House then considered several bills on final passage. House Bill 2146, updating the Sunshine Act’s 24-hour agenda notice rule after a court ruling, and Senate Bills 130, 511, 971, 972, 1181, and 1235 were agreed to. House Bill 1239, limiting HOA restrictions on rooftop solar, drew multiple amendments; some were withdrawn, and others failed on tied votes, after debate over HOA governance, native plants, and net metering. House Bill 2219, on license plates and transportation provisions, had an amendment agreed to removing indemnification language for elected officials at special events, and then passed as amended. House Bill 2558, banning non-compete agreements for broadcast workers, saw an amendment to preserve limited non-competes fail, and the bill passed. House Bill 2359, prohibiting government NDAs related to data centers, passed 171-31 after extensive debate over transparency and local control.
The chamber also passed House Bill 2455, granting Pittsburgh school administrators collective bargaining rights, despite objections that existing appeal protections already exist; it passed 106-96. House Bill 2460, creating hunting and trapping education provisions, passed 180-22 after debate over whether it duplicated existing law and imposed a mandate. House Bill 2499, expanding the State Workers’ Insurance Fund’s equity investment authority, passed 173-29. House Bill 2529, scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule III controlled substance, passed 198-4 amid testimony about overdose risks and concerns about criminalization. Senate Bill 604, joining the Counseling Compact, passed 188-14, and Senate Bill 1259, clarifying parole record privilege and expanding notice to denied parole applicants, passed unanimously 202-0. The House then made referrals and committee assignments, signed the two Senate bills for presentation to the Governor, and adjourned until July 1, 2026.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES Mar 12th, 2026
LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
Transcript Highlights:
- Due to multiple employees having access to the funds and a lack of proper control, we were unable to
- a fixed asset list was established, however, it did not include all additions and deletions, and control
- Fixed asset list was established, however, it did not include all additions and deletions and control
- This is a repeat. include all additions and deletions and control totals contained errors.
- So we feel with those internal control forms we have been doing that for the last couple of months, and
Summary:
The committee approved the February 12 minutes and received updates on delinquent municipal water and sewer reports for 2022 and 2023, noting continued progress toward compliance and reinstatement of turnback funds for several cities. It also deferred several matters to the June 4 meeting, including Fargo’s municipal accounting noncompliance report, Jericho’s street-fund misuse issue, Biggers and Holly Grove deferred reports, and a group of private water and sewer reports lacking proper responses.
Members then heard and filed a detailed report on the City of Strong, which involved repeat findings on undeposited receipts, improper use of solid waste funds, unsupported spending, late payroll tax payments, accounting control problems, and fund balance issues. Mayor Darrell Howell described corrective steps, including new internal controls, outside CPA assistance, repayment of misapplied funds, budget amendments, and efforts to address the findings; the committee commended the city’s efforts and filed the report. The committee also filed reports on Thornton Waterworks, Calhoun County, Salem, Briarcliffe, Compton Water Association, Montgomery County Regional Public Water Authority, Camden, Johnson County, and Sparkman, while deferring several private water reports and other unresolved items.
A major portion of the meeting focused on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District and other regional solid waste districts. The audit found issues in Pulaski County involving unapproved payroll items, missing credit card documentation, unapproved contracts, vehicle and cell phone documentation problems, lack of competitive bidding, and weak internal controls; members questioned the district’s practices and deferred the report to June while requesting district representatives appear. The committee also reviewed a statewide report on six regional solid waste management districts, with findings in Pulaski, Faulkner, and Benton counties and no findings in three others; that report was likewise deferred for Pulaski County questions. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion with Cross County Rural Water System about overdue audit posting, water quality problems, grant-funded improvements, board notice practices, and the broader challenges facing rural water systems, after which the committee filed the report and adjourned.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Committee to Study Reducing the Number of School Administrative Units in the State (10/30/25)
Transcript Highlights:
- I really want to emphasize again the link between control and funding.
- <00:30:46.000>
the <00:30:46.320>link <00:30:46.559>between <00:30:46.960>control - emphasize again the link between control emphasize again the link between control and<00:30:47.520
- something to address the out of control something to address the out of control spending<00:30:57.679
- ...more local control by school boards.
Summary:
The committee first reviewed and approved the prior day’s minutes after making several corrections, including changing references to the “majority report,” fixing wording and spelling in the special education section, clarifying language about NAPE scores, and correcting a funding figure from 2,000 to 20,000. Members also agreed to add a sentence noting that the conclusions of the special education study commission should be considered in any consolidation plan. The minutes were then adopted unanimously.
The committee then worked through the minority report, making edits to soften or clarify language. Changes included replacing “partisan” with “participation,” revising a statement about test scores so it reflected that “the minority believes” some committee members lacked a complete understanding, and adding “the minority believes” before a statement that the structure of education funding is inequitable because of its reliance on local property taxes. Members also discussed whether some wording was factual or opinion-based, and agreed to leave some comments in place or make minor wording adjustments.
After discussion, the committee voted on the final report of the majority of the committee, with edits and appendices, and approved it by a 5-2 vote. Representatives Damon and Bricky voted no. Members noted that a minority report would also be included in the final materials. Finally, the committee authorized the committee assistant to make technical corrections, fix remaining typos, and include the minutes of the meeting, and then adjourned.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine children's safety in the digital era, focusing on strengthening protections and addressing legal gaps. Feb 19th, 2025 at 09:15 am
Senate Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- Poor moderation, the lack of parental controls in relation to age identification, and inadequate safety
- You can and must do better to publicize and promote those controls and tools.
- In fact, when I'm going through some of the controls.
- Mention parental controls, if there was a framework for a parent just to shut the spigot off and make
- In your testimony, you observed that these controls would better serve minors and their guardians if
Summary:
The committee meeting focused on the pressing issues surrounding child safety online, with a particular emphasis on recent legislative efforts aimed at curbing child sexual exploitation and harmful content accessible through social media platforms. Senators engaged in a heated discussion regarding the implications of Big Tech's lobbying efforts against vital bills such as the Stop CSAM Act and the Kids Online Safety Act. Noteworthy testimonies highlighted real-life impacts of online dangers, including tragic cases of child exploitation and drug-related fatalities linked to social media interactions. The bipartisan nature of the committee's commitment to address these issues showcased a collective determination to make the digital environment safer for the younger generation.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- methods, allowing the agency that's constructing this project to deliver levee repairs and flood control
- procurement methods have shown to reduce project costs, expedite completion, and ensure better quality control
- We also respectfully request language that keeps the air pollution control district within the county's
- I serve as the Air Pollution Control Officer to the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District.
- I also respectfully ask that the bill preserve the air pollution control district's county administrative
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee Jul 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- procurement methods allowing the agency that's constructing this project to deliver levee repairs and flood control
- procurement methods have shown to reduce project costs, expedite completion, ensure better quality control
- We also respectfully request language that keeps the air pollution control district within the county's
- I also respectfully ask that the bill preserve the air pollution control district's county administrative
- I also respectfully ask that the bill preserve the air pollution control districts in the county administrative
Summary:
The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on July 1, 2026, and first heard SB 1055 by Senator Laird, which would authorize additional construction procurement methods for the Pajaro River levee/flood control project to speed delivery, improve quality control, and reduce costs after prior flooding and evacuations. The Nature Conservancy testified in support, and there was no opposition or committee questioning. The bill was later moved out of committee, with Republicans not voting and Assemblymembers Dixon and Tangipa voting no.
The committee also heard SB 1000 by Senator Becker, a follow-up to California’s AI Transparency Act. The bill would update content provenance and disclosure rules for AI-generated and non-synthetic content, remove a user threshold for covered systems, add privacy protections, and create guardrails for third-party licenses, with the goal of aligning California’s rules with international standards. Adobe and Google supported the measure, and it was sent out on a roll call with Mr. Ta not voting.
SB 1229, presented on behalf of Senator Allen, would limit an existing Coastal Act disaster-rebuild exemption to prevent speculative development from using the exemption to reduce public access to the coast. The Nature Conservancy supported the bill, there was no opposition, and it was moved out of committee. The committee also approved several bills on the consent and suspense calendars, and public comment included Imperial County concerns about SB 675, including board representation, implementation timing, county administrative control, and funding for mandated changes.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Commerce and Small Business Committee Feb 3rd, 2026
Commerce and Small Business
Transcript Highlights:
- It defines who a processor is, who a controller is, because there's some technical aspects that need
- It defines who a processor is, who a controller is, because there's some technical aspects that need
- It defines who a processor is, who a controller is, because there's some technical aspects that need
- This right now there is no regulations or requirements controlling this.
- This right now there is no regulations or requirements controlling this.
Keywords:
ad valorem tax, road funding, local government, referendum, Choctaw County, Tuskegee University, education funding, Alabama Education Trust Fund, appropriation, agricultural research, data privacy, consumer rights, personal data, data protection, Alabama Personal Data Protection Act, peer-to-peer car sharing, vehicle insurance, liability, shared vehicles, taxation
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES Feb 12th, 2026
LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
Transcript Highlights:
- On the initial, on number one, with the garbage bag receipts, we have implemented the internal controls
- And so we've implemented some internal control to make sure that we're monitoring and making sure those
- On the initial, on number one, with the garbage bag receipts, we have implemented the internal controls
- We have implemented the internal controls on that.
- And so we've implemented some internal control to make sure that we're monitoring and making sure those
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (03/05/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:35:58.079>
officer they have like an animal control officer they have like an animal control - <00:36:03.480>
officer dog there was no Animal control officer dog there was no Animal control - had an animal control had an animal control officer<00:36:13.960>
uh <00:36:14.480>that - <00:37:07.200>
of was on a leash and under the control of was on a leash and under the control - We don't have an animal control officer.
Summary:
The committee held a work session on a bill arising from the Lee case involving animal seizures and humane society involvement. Members and the commissioner discussed concerns about due process, lack of clear notice to animal owners, the need for owners to understand when they are surrendering ownership, and whether humane agents should have additional training or certification. Several members also questioned the role of the NH SPCA and humane societies, the absence of oversight, and whether there was any financial or policy conflict in their involvement. The commissioner said the Department of Agriculture does not have a direct relationship with humane societies, but does coordinate with police on seizures, and noted that problems tend to arise when agencies do not consult the department first.
Testimony and discussion focused on possible fixes to the bill, including clearer written notice of rights, requiring a third-party qualified veterinarian or other neutral evaluator, establishing the condition of animals at the time of seizure for later court proceedings, and possibly using teleconferencing with a veterinarian in limited circumstances. Some members suggested the bill may need a broader study committee, while others said it should be amended now rather than delayed. The chair said the bill would be worked on further and sent to the subcommittee for more detailed review.
The committee then opened a hearing on HB 250, which would allow local governing bodies to regulate dog muzzling. Representative Jodi Newell testified that the bill was intended to let municipalities respond to dangerous dogs, citing Keene’s attempt to require muzzling after a serious incident but lack of clear authority under current law. Deborah LeBlanc also testified about a dog attack that seriously injured her dog and said a muzzle requirement could have prevented the attack. Committee members asked about the incident, existing dog-control laws, and whether the dog had been leashed; the discussion suggested the bill was meant to clarify local authority over muzzling as a public safety measure.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- of debate equally divided and controlled of debate equally divided and controlled by<02:23:24.319
- of debate equally divided and controlled of debate equally divided and controlled by<02:25:53.920
- This does not simply controllable.
- Pallone, each control 20 minutes.
- Palone, each will control 20 minutes. Palone, each will control 20 minutes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee May 13th, 2026
Privacy and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- That makes a minimum-age account restriction not only an access-control policy for youth, but one we
- over their experience online, and having that control be meaningful.
- In a more recent California-based randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 900 Los Angeles-based Black
- At the same time, the community-controlled LGBTIQ+ sector worked to mitigate impacts by development.
- In control studies that I think I'm going to, and Dr.
Summary:
The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of social media on LGBTQ-plus youth, focusing on benefits, risks, and possible safeguards. Chair Bauer-Kahan and Assembly Member Ward opened by noting that social media can be a lifeline for LGBTQ-plus youth seeking identity, community, and support, but also exposes them to cyberbullying, hate speech, exploitation, misinformation, and addictive design. They framed the hearing as a way to inform future policy without relitigating prior bills, and emphasized the need for a balanced approach that reduces harm while preserving access to affirming resources.
The first panel featured lived-experience testimony from Madi Roby of the Alliance for Trans Youth Rights, Shea Gardner of LGBT Tech, and Casey Pick of the Trevor Project. Roby described how social media helped her understand her trans identity, find community, learn safety information, and access crisis support through the Trevor Project, while also exposing her to harassment and threats. Gardner argued that lawmakers should regulate harms more precisely rather than impose broad access restrictions, warning that age-gating and account bans could exclude vulnerable youth and adults who rely on pseudonymity, while supporting privacy-preserving protections, targeted platform accountability, and digital literacy. Pick testified that LGBTQ-plus youth are more than three times as likely to attempt suicide as peers, cited Trevor Project research showing social media is both positive and negative for most youth, and said supportive online spaces can lower suicide risk and anxiety; she also described Trevor Space as a moderated, non-addictive platform with forums, direct messaging, and strong community norms.
Committee members then questioned the panel about algorithmic feeds, addictive design, age verification, and whether platforms should be required to provide safer defaults and better moderation. Several members distinguished between personalized feeds and addictive or incendiary engagement loops, and discussed the risk that age-verification systems could require sensitive data or restrict access to helpful content. Witnesses repeatedly said the problem is not online community itself but platform design choices and weak enforcement, and they urged more precise regulation of harmful features rather than exclusionary bans. The committee then moved on to panel two, which was introduced as a discussion of LGBTQ-plus-specific online resources and research on LGBTQ-plus youth and social media.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security 1/13/26 - Part 2
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:02:40.160>
screening <00:02:40.560>and the finding access control screening and - Sorry, the access control and visitor management.
- Access control screening and visitor management. 5.11."
- "Sorry, the access control and visitor management.
- Access control screening and visitor management. 5.11. Thank you very much." Senator Liur: No.
Summary:
The committee reconvened in open session after a closed discussion of sensitive security details and reviewed the public executive summary of the Minnesota State Capitol Complex Security Assessment by Axtel. Members discussed weapon screening and access control at length, including testimony from Capitol security and judicial center staff about screening procedures, prohibited items, and how screening is managed for visitors and authorized personnel. The chair emphasized that the committee was voting on high-level recommendations to be included in the final ACAST report and that the Department of Public Safety and Department of Administration would be encouraged to pursue the necessary work, including any legislative or budget requests.
The committee then took a series of roll-call votes on the Axtel recommendations. Access control screening and visitor management (5.11) passed 4-2, while authorized access control and credential oversight (5.12), internal circulation and zoning controls (5.13), perimeter and exterior grounds (5.14), staffing models/post orders/operational readiness (5.15), technology and system integration (5.16), and protective intelligence (5.18) all passed unanimously 6-0. Each approved item was added as a recommendation in the final report.
After the votes, the Department of Administration, Department of Public Safety, and House and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms offices walked through the draft final report. They highlighted staffing improvements, security infrastructure already installed, and remaining needs, including an estimated $41.008 million request for future enhancements such as kiosks, glass-resistant film, door access controls, cameras, lighting, bollards, and an updated distributed antenna system. The report also includes recommendations on trauma-informed safety drills, conduct rules for hearings, and designating the Minnesota State Patrol Capital Security Division as the primary investigative authority for potential criminal activity on Capitol grounds.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Indian Affairs Jul 18th, 2025
House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- My second question is regarding local control.
- It empowers local control to design and implement education programs.
- If local control in our community is for the school that we're at and we have total control over everything
- Who holds the local control?
- So yes, when we talk about local control, we really mean Pueblo tribe and nation control, right?
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Fiscal Policy Mar 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- AND 44% OF THE URINE CASES WERE NOT CONTROLLED.
- THERE'S A REASON WE LIST OUT ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES UNDER EIGHT 9303 AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
- I BELIEVE THAT PARENTS HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OF THAT MANDATORY BEDTIME.
- IF I'M PAYING THE LIGHT BILL, THE TELEPHONES I HAVE CONTROL OF WHEN THEY GO HOME ALL THE TIME.
- AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GETTING UP EARLY IN THE REAL WORLD WE DO NOT CONTROL WHAT TIME WORK STARTS.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I know she's got to go from here to another space, so air traffic control has cleared that for us.
- So we’re bringing forward some policy language to make sure that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
- So, initially, it'll fall under conventional air traffic control, general aviation rules of the sky.
- So, initially, it'll fall under conventional air traffic control, general aviation rules of the sky.
- So, initially, it'll fall under conventional air traffic control, general aviation rules of the sky.
Summary:
The Transportation Committee took up several bills and agency priorities. SB 44, as amended, increased penalties for operating a vehicle with unauthorized red or blue lights and for obscuring a license plate, including new penalties for using, possessing, manufacturing, or selling license-plate obscuring devices. The sponsor and supporting law enforcement witnesses said the bill addresses widespread plate obstruction and enforcement problems; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 654, designating a railroad overpass in Starke as the Heroes Memorial Overpass, and SB 620, creating a Miami-Dade College specialty license plate with proceeds supporting scholarships and limited administrative/marketing costs.
The committee then considered SB 594, which would allow Florida deep-water ports to seek Fish and Wildlife Commission approval for no-anchoring/no-mooring buffer zones adjacent to port channels and turning basins. An amendment clarified the application process, review timeline, rulemaking, and enforcement. Port representatives supported the bill as a way to protect channels and commerce, while several boating and cruising advocates opposed it, arguing the 5,000-foot buffer was excessive, could create safety issues, and would displace anchored vessels without adequate alternative dockage. Despite the opposition, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably.
The committee also heard a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on its 2025 legislative priorities, including stricter proof-of-address and identification requirements for vehicle registration, changes to tank vehicle and IFTA rules, a higher crash-report damage threshold, and electronic notice options. Secretary Perdue then outlined FDOT priorities focused on workforce development, research, rural road funding, small business participation, consistent traffic-control standards, modal infrastructure, transit accountability, spaceport support, advanced air mobility, and shifting some power-consumption revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund to offset electric vehicle impacts. No votes were taken on the agency priorities, and the meeting adjourned after members recorded additional affirmative votes on SB 44 and SB 654.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- the interests of local control. the interests of local control.
- New Hampshire has long valued local control of education.
- Has valued local control of education.
- long valued local control of education. long valued local control of education.
- Local control, the decision thing clear.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Transit operation consolidation 3/11/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, the benefit though local control produces better service.
- The argument I've heard is local control, better focus, better responsiveness.
- There should be more local control. There should be more local input.
- Um there should be more local control. Um there should be more local control.
- >
they <00:58:20.840>have is local control that they have is local control that they have
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Republican Members Propose New Legislation Addressing Fraud - 02/19/26
Transcript Highlights:
- And I hopefully they won't be wasting time on things that we can control.
- And I hopefully they won't be wasting time on things that we can control.
- And I hopefully they won't be wasting time on things that we can control.
- Uh but it seems like that's the control.
- Would your Medicaid fraud control unit.
Summary:
Senate Republican leaders held a press event to roll out a package of anti-fraud proposals focused on state welfare and human services programs. Mark Johnson opened by citing recent fraud scandals, including a shuttered housing program and reports of vulnerable adults being left without care while providers billed for full services, and said Republicans want top-down reform, stronger accountability, new technology, and tighter oversight of taxpayer dollars. Michael Kreun said Republicans support an independent Office of Inspector General and argued the Senate-passed bill should not be weakened in the House; he also said the Senate should restore its role in confirming agency commissioners, especially at DHS, which he described as central to the fraud problem.
Jordan Rasmusson outlined a plan to stop “blank checks” for DHS and DCYF services by requiring legislative audit review when a program exceeds budget by 5 percent and legislative approval for additional spending at 10 percent over budget. He also said DHS should adopt basic integrity tools such as electronic visit verification and client sign-off. Steve Drazkowski described two bills: a statewide “do-not-pay” list to block payments to ineligible people or entities, and an “I’m Not a Robot” proposal for Medicaid managed care that would require enrollee verification forms, with a 2 percent payment withhold used to encourage compliance and potentially fund county system upgrades. Mark Krueger said the state should improve technology and data use for eligibility determinations, citing other states’ rapid fraud-fighting systems, and proposed penalties for false reporting to the Legislative Auditor after a DHS audit found falsified site-visit records.
Steve Gruenhagen said his bill would require DHS and DCYF to resume annual fraud-prevention and oversight reports to the legislature, which he said had stopped after 2017 despite rising fraud cases. Michael Holmstrom proposed unannounced site visits for all DHS and DCYF providers before enrollment, reenrollment, and revalidation, funded through provider service fees, and cited a recent case involving a woman with autism who was billed for far more care than she received. In the Q&A, Kreun said House Democrats’ delete-everything amendment to the inspector general bill removed the law enforcement division and stripped the bill of its “teeth,” and he suggested the governor’s office may have been involved in efforts to replace the bill with a weaker coordination council model. No votes were taken in the press conference.