Transcript Highlights:

• Members, you remember this bill, relating to fraud detection information and public information.
• I'm the Director of TWC's Division of Fraud Deterrence and Compliance Monitoring.
• Well, the United States Department of Agriculture did some research.
• as determined by the United States Federal Reserve Bank, federal benefits As determined by the United
• There's a standard of 26 that is across the United States.

Bills: HB112, HB199, HCR9

Keywords: school district, bond issuance, election dates, voter approval, Texas Education Code, HCR 9, Texas State Cemetery, Hill Country flood, July 4 2025 flood, Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic, memorial, monument, concurrent resolution, disaster remembrance, natural disaster, flood victims, survivors, State Preservation Board, Texas secretary of state

Summary: The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development met with a quorum and moved quickly through a long agenda, hearing testimony and taking recorded votes on several bills. Early in the meeting, HB 2214 was laid out to exempt certain short-term residential leases and leaseback arrangements from flood-disclosure requirements; Texas Realtors supported the change, and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out a series of pending measures, including HB 46, HB 186 (with a committee substitute), HB 431, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2468, HB 2488, HB 2788 (with a substitute), HB 2791 (with a substitute), HB 3260, and HCR 90, all reported favorably to the full House, with HB 1147 receiving two nays and the others passing unanimously or nearly so. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 112, which would create a Texas Science Park district and commission to support advanced manufacturing and innovation sites. The bill’s author and supporters, including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the Texas Association of Business, and the Governor’s economic development office, argued it would strengthen supply chains, attract investment, and support national security and workforce development. Testimony described interest from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies and referenced the model of foreign science parks such as Sinshu in Taiwan. HB 112 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 3698 and HB 3699, both related to unemployment insurance administration. HB 3698 would expand eligibility for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program using federal funds, while HB 3699 would tighten the definition of “last work” to help the Texas Workforce Commission investigate UI fraud. Both bills were discussed with TWC resource witnesses and left pending after the committee withdrew the substitutes. HB 1349, which would extend HOA transparency and property-rights provisions to condominiums and refine HOA rules, and HB 621, which would require HOA meeting spaces to be available for residents to reserve for qualified political candidates or elected officials, were also heard and left pending. Finally, the committee heard HCR 9 to designate the first Saturday of each month as Small Business Saturday, HB 199 to index unemployment benefit duration to the state unemployment rate, and HB 3466 to exempt certain cancelable service contracts from Texas’s in-home sales cooling-off law; each drew supportive and opposing testimony and was left pending before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• coverage on their individual units coverage on their individual units because<00:14:26.320> the
• every unit every unit owner<00:19:13.919> oh<00:19:14.159> okay<00:19:14.400> I
• <00:49:12.839> but um that has only residential units but um that has only residential units
• There are some United States reinsurers as well.
• There are some United States reinsurers as well.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened by outlining hearing procedures, including a two-minute limit for live testimony, a request not to repeat written testimony, and a reminder about decorum. The first bill heard was SB 697, which would create a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for expenses to retrofit residences with wind-resistive devices. The Insurance Division said it supported the concept but noted it may need an appropriation or outside expertise to develop certification standards, while the Department of Taxation said the bill should retain a third-party certification requirement if the Insurance Division cannot administer the credit. The Hawaii Insurers Council supported the bill, and the Tax Foundation suggested a subsidy-style program would be more efficient than a tax credit and criticized the bill’s 100% credit structure. A testifier in support argued the measure would help homeowners fortify houses against hurricanes and reduce shelter demand; written testimony from several others, including HIEMA, was noted as supportive. The committee then moved through SB 76, which would require the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to provide commercial property coverage after two private-market denials, and SB 83, which would require insurers to give advance written premium-change notices and explanations to common-interest community policyholders and the insurance commissioner, along with a report on premium increases. For SB 76, the State Insurance Division stood on its written comments, and testimony in support came from Michael Honda, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and Jessica Herzog. SB 83 drew more extensive discussion: the Insurance Division supported the need for better transparency, while the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the bill, arguing that agents—not insurers—typically communicate with AOAO boards and that the measure could worsen an already difficult market. Insurance Division staff acknowledged widespread complaints from condo associations about lack of transparency and said the division had received many calls about premium increases and nonrenewals. The discussion on SB 83 expanded into broader concerns about condo insurance, nonrenewals, surplus lines, and the difficulty of getting timely explanations for large premium increases. Committee members and testifiers described older buildings struggling to fund repairs and upgrades while facing steep insurance costs, and some urged the committee to craft baseline statutory protections for unit owners. The Insurance Division said surplus lines serve a critical gap-filling role and warned against regulating that market in a way that could slow access to coverage. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And exposed this fraud. And exposed this fraud.
• the epicenter of fraud. the epicenter of fraud.
• Fraud<00:25:48.080> is<00:25:48.200> fraud.
• is fraud.
• It doesn't matter what Fraud is fraud.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee Chair Kristen Robbins opened the meeting by explaining that the committee’s majority report had been released after the minority declined to file a minority report, though the minority later issued a statement. She said the report reflects two years of work aimed at exposing fraud, strengthening internal controls, and creating a whistleblower portal, mnfraud.com, which will remain open during the interim to receive and review tips. Robbins and several Republican members described the report as documenting how fraud in Minnesota began with earlier CCAP-related schemes and then expanded into Feeding Our Future and other programs, including housing stabilization, autism services, sober homes, adult day care, assisted living, non-emergency medical transportation, and interpretive services. They argued that fraud was enabled by weak oversight, a culture of inaction, and retaliation against whistleblowers, and said the report includes findings and recommendations for future reforms. Members also highlighted bipartisan bills already passed to strengthen whistleblower protections, internal controls, and fraud reporting. Representative Pam Altendorf and others praised the report and said it exposed widespread misuse of public funds, citing housing stabilization and autism services as examples of programs with rapidly growing costs and weak oversight. Representative Isaac Schultz said the committee had uncovered “industrial-scale” fraud and that the state had failed to hold agencies accountable. He and Robbins said the new Office of Inspector General, created by legislation passed this session and set to begin in January, will have broad authority to investigate public dollars and, later, police powers; they also noted a salary-setting provision for the office would be added to a state government bill. The members said the next governor will need to change the culture of state agencies and enforce accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• presidents like Donald Trump say, 'I would have won the state of California if it weren't for the fraud
• So President Trump is claiming over and over again that there were 3 million instances of voter fraud
• We know today that there are over 200 counties across the United States that have bloated voter rolls
• So we know that these are clear attempts to upend our elections here in California and across the United

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Faith in each other, faith in our united crusade.
• Faith in each other, faith in our united Faith in each other, faith in our united crusade.<00:05
• allegiance to the flag of the United allegiance to the flag of the United States<00:06:46.880>
• is the United States Congress. is the United States Congress.
• ,<07:10:39.120> election our vulnerability to fraud, election our vulnerability to fraud,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• Any numbers given out are based on fraud then because they can't factually give these numbers out.
• “There are many organizations like NDIRF across the United States operating as governmental risk pools
• Say, a unit of government. Thank you. Senator, Senator Hogue, are you calculating?
• Stark County committing fraud? Is that how that works there? Let's be section 54-123.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• act and they New Jersey Consumer Fraud act and they better<00:15:18.519> stop<00:15:18.800>
• They’re years ahead of us, where some of the same casinos that in the United States have voluntarily
• They’re years ahead of us, where some of the same casinos that in the United States have voluntarily
• States is following it's in the United States is following it's in the UK<00:25:24.120> it's<
• <00:25:29.039> States<00:25:29.320> have that in the United States have that in the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:06.319> We<00:43:06.480> are<00:43:06.640> not across the United States
• We are not across the United States.
• that I think could have kept of fraud that I think could have kept our<01:41:47.520> roads<01
• <01:51:32.239> in key and others there is so much fraud in key and others there is so much
• There is that much fraud. budgets. There is that much fraud.

Bills: HF3694, HF3844, HF4006, HF3785, HF3849, HF4102, HF3441, HF3507, HF3562

Keywords: transportation, tow trucks, variable message signs, road safety, emergency service, optometrist, window glazing, motor vehicle regulations, medical prescriptions, transportation safety, infrastructure, construction, appropriation, state project, motorized bicycles, motorcycles, electric vehicles, transportation regulations, safety standards, dealer license

Transcript Highlights:

• On the back end, if they're having trouble, it could be someone at DOJ in the election unit, or someone
• And it adds who is a United States citizen of 18 years of age and upwards.
• <04:51:39.280> the United States or not, we don't know.
• <05:16:41.040> cases today, nonsitizen voting fraud cases today, nonsitizen voting fraud cases
• We already referenced DMV as how we're going to root out any potential fraud.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands
• It requires COAs and HOAs with 50 units or more to transmit a disclosure packet, as prescribed, after
• United Food Banks, $3 million. Civil legal aid, $3 million in 2027, but not in 2028.
• United Food Banks, $3 million. Civil legal aid, $3 million in 27, but not in 28.
• Public schools are not protected, which means fraud, waste, and abuse is protected.

Summary: The meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a guest introduction for Deputy Frank Sloop. The Senate then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and, in several cases, floor amendments. Topics included public records, capital outlay review, local government, taxation, state budget implementation, higher education appropriations, utility regulation, towing regulation, homeowners association disclosures, nursing board regulation, veteran services, criminal justice, human services, K-12 education, state property management, and the continuation of the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Several bills were amended on the floor before receiving favorable recommendations. House Bill 2114 on motorcycle-related provisions was amended to require that at least one registered owner be legally licensed to operate a motorcycle in Arizona. House Bill 2397 on HOA/condominium disclosures was amended to change disclosure timing and fee rules and make other conforming changes. House Bill 2408 on nursing board regulatory action was amended to remove a clear-and-convincing-evidence burden in disciplinary matters and clarify complaint-sharing procedures. House Bill 2957 on driver’s license/handheld provisions, House Bill 2305 on towing regulation, and House Bill 2321 on DCS-related reporting also received amendments before do-pass recommendations. The largest item was Senate Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act. Senators offered extensive floor amendments affecting agriculture, corrections, criminal justice, school safety, law enforcement equipment, vehicle theft task force funding, liquor licensing, and other budget items. During third reading and debate on the budget, Democratic senators praised negotiated gains such as funding for aging services, food assistance, civil legal aid, school meals, heat relief, and a three-year moratorium on new data center tax incentives, while criticizing border-related funding, ESA/voucher policy, and cuts to higher education and adult education. One member’s remarks were ruled dilatory after repeated off-topic comments, and the ruling of the chair was sustained by a 16-12 vote. The transcript ends with additional budget-related explanation of votes continuing after the budget’s third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• Integrity Unit, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
• We have a YDC unit right now that's a temporary unit, but we think of it as its own unit.
• <06:00:27.240> carries unit the charitable trust unit carries unit the charitable trust unit
• Is this YDC unit new for the case, or is that something else? Yeah, the YDC unit is something else.
• We added a new public integrity unit that's a new unit in the last five years.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moreover, the bill lacks adequate protections against fraud.
• This bill raises significant concerns and questions about security, fraud, and implementation costs without
• California's Roadmap Home Report, we need to be building about a hundred and twenty thousand affordable units
• The solution to unlocking more units is multifaceted, but a big part of that is funding.
• From my perspective, overseeing the county's Levine Act unit, I see a clear opportunity to enhance efficiency

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• saying, "Oh, no, there's no fraud." saying, "Oh, no, there's no fraud."
• Nash. aspect of fraud is looked at. Nash. aspect of fraud is looked at.
• <00:15:34.800> So, potential fraud. So, potential fraud.
• that politicize fraud are voted for. that politicize fraud are voted for.
• comes to fraud? comes to fraud?

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3683, which would require the state budget forecast to estimate the budgetary impacts of fraud committed against state programs. Chair Nash argued that fraud has real fiscal effects on the state, that those costs should be quantified in the forecast much like inflation was previously incorporated, and that doing so would help lawmakers understand the true cost of money lost to fraud. He also said the bill was intended to give MMB direction to develop a way to forecast fraud’s impact and that the issue should be treated as part of the state’s fiscal outlook. Deputy Commissioner Anna Mingy of Minnesota Management and Budget testified in opposition to the bill’s approach, saying fraud is unacceptable and MMB is committed to combating it, but that the twice-a-year forecast is not the right tool for this analysis. She said forecasts are forward-looking budget tools based on projected revenues and spending, while fraud analysis is retrospective and involves legal definitions and processes. She also warned that requiring MMB to consult with legislative chairs on fraud estimates before public release could politicize the forecast and would be a departure from current practice. Members raised concerns about how fraud would be defined and quantified, whether the bill would cover known or potential fraud, and whether it would duplicate existing budget adjustments. Chair Nash responded that the bill was modeled on prior inflation-forecast language and said fraud’s fiscal impact should be estimated even if the exact number is debated. Other members questioned whether the proposal would add value or create subjective numbers, while supporters said audits and program integrity data provide a basis for estimating a range. Deputy Commissioner Mingy also answered questions about bond ratings, saying Minnesota maintained its AAA rating and that rating agencies focus on governance and long-term obligations, not specific fraud estimates. She later said the administration’s anti-fraud package includes permanent bans on state contracts and grants for individuals convicted of fraud. The discussion ended without a recorded vote or final action in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeing a lot of news stories about fraud in some states.
• But I would dare say... ...a lot of news stories about fraud in some states.
• would dare say that if you looked nationally, I think the issue of inefficiency is even bigger than fraud
• drive-thru, again, the same Big Mac, fries, Diet Coke that you would get here in the continental United

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I understand was raised at the dais was questions around fraud, misuse of government funds, and
• The United States exists at the permission of the states.
• Our business is to protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Our business is to protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items related to local government accountability. The committee heard requests for operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member cited concerns about transparency, financial management, or compliance with state law. Representatives from Delray Beach DDA testified that an internal audit had already been completed, that findings were limited, and that they were working to cure issues such as procurement, credit card, and disbursement policies; the DDA chair also said the organization was willing to cooperate and was considering transitioning out of operating Old School Square. For Daytona Beach, the sponsor pointed to excess building permit revenues, vehicle purchases, and reported P-card irregularities as reasons for a broader audit. The committee approved all three audit requests, directing the Auditor General to finalize the scope while considering the stated concerns. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide performance reviews of 21 neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 districts were active and six inactive, with common issues including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and recommended that several districts be reviewed to determine whether they were still needed. Members asked about staffing, inactivity criteria, and how the districts were administered, and staff explained that city or county liaisons often supplement district staffing. Later, staff reviewed enforcement actions for local governments that failed to file required financial reports or omitted required information from submitted audits. The committee discussed a list of noncompliant counties, municipalities, and special districts, including the town of Rayford, which staff said had long-standing reporting problems, no apparent municipal services, and no response to repeated outreach. The committee voted to send a letter to the Union County legislative delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve Rayford. It also approved staff recommendations to proceed against entities still missing required filings or missing audit information, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is later provided in good faith.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I understand was raised at the dais was questions around fraud, misuse of government funds, and
• The United States exists at the permission of the states.
• Our business is to protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Our business is to protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee met to consider several audit requests and enforcement items involving local governments and special districts. The committee approved operational audits of the City of Miami Beach, the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Daytona Beach. In each case, the requesting member described concerns about transparency, financial management, or internal controls, while local officials or representatives generally said they were willing to cooperate and, in Delray Beach’s case, noted that an internal audit had already been completed and that some issues were being corrected. The committee also received a presentation on the statewide review of neighborhood improvement districts. The reviewers reported that 15 of 21 districts were active and six inactive, with common findings including outdated or missing performance plans, weak web presence, inadequate meeting notices, and limited management mechanisms. They said staffing levels often correlated with the ability to meet statutory requirements, and they recommended updates to district governance and transparency practices. On enforcement, staff reviewed local governments and special districts that had failed to file required financial reports or had submitted audit reports missing required information. The committee approved staff recommendations to proceed under the statutory enforcement process for the noncompliant entities, with flexibility for the chair and vice chair to delay action if additional information is provided in good faith. The committee also voted to send a letter to the Union County Legislative Delegation encouraging a local bill to dissolve the Town of Rayford, based on staff’s view that the town lacked employees, services, debt, and a clear reason to continue existing as an incorporated municipality.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires that all disputes be resolved in courts established by Texas or the United States.
• Election fraud cases are exceedingly rare, yet this bill is expanding the Attorney General's power to
• Election fraud cases are exceedingly rare, yet this bill is expanding the Attorney General's power to
• Despite the 2021 ruling restricting the Attorney General's unilateral authority to prosecute voter fraud

Bills: HB842, HB1907, HB2844, HB2892, HB3439, HB4211, HB4536, HB5111, HB5138, HB5182, HB5247, HB5269, HB5323, HB5435, HJR201, SB871, HB3896, SJR40

Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• What safeguards are in place to prevent fraud and abuse within the program? Thank you.
• We do have some fraud protection within our application, so we have a third-party vendor that is able
• to verify business—” “—identity, run it through potential fraud databases, and we found that to be pretty
• watch everything that everybody is doing live in the state EOC and in our emergency support function unit

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met to continue its review of hurricane impacts and state response. The committee first heard from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which described its four core functions—preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation—and highlighted its 24/7 State Watch Office, regional training efforts, and disaster assistance work. Deputy Executive Director Keith Pruitt detailed the state’s 2024 storm response, including Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, citing large-scale mission support, flood-control deployments, meal and water distribution, power restoration, debris removal, and billions in disaster funding and mitigation dollars. He also discussed debris management challenges and recommended that local governments update and exercise debris plans and maintain contingency contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• fraud and misuse, and that has been a bipartisan effort, working with Chair Pinto, my lead on the fraud
• fraud and misuse, and that has been a bipartisan effort, working with Chair Pinto, my lead on the fraud
• fraud and misuse, and that has been a bipartisan effort, working with Chair Pinto, my lead on the fraud
• Fraud and Abuse and I want to be clear Fraud and Abuse and I want to be clear on<00:05:09.680> this
• um so they can report to us about fraud um so they can report to us about fraud um<00:09:24.720>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: State Representative Jim Nash and Representative Kristin Robbins discussed a package of fraud-prevention bills, centered on House File 3 and a separate whistleblower-protection measure. HF 3 would require annual reports based on Office of the Auditor (OA/OLA) findings to be sent to ranking members of relevant committees, with the goal of giving appropriators more information about internal controls and follow-up on audit recommendations. Nash said the bill is intended to help reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, cited the Feeding Our Future case as an example of weak controls, and noted that the OA helped draft the proposal and supports it. He also said the bill’s language is modeled in part on Colorado and on earlier recommendations for more information to be shared with decision-makers. Robbins said her bill would expand whistleblower protections for state employees, including unclassified employees, and add new protected reporting channels and definitions. She said employees are often afraid to come forward because of job and career concerns, and that the bill would better protect reports made to legislators, the OA, governmental bodies, and law enforcement. She and Nash said they were working with DFL members and committee chairs on bipartisan amendments to define “fraud” and “misuse,” and to align the language with the Inspector General bill and prior law. In questions, Robbins explained that current law protects only certain employees and that her bill would broaden coverage and make it easier for employees to report concerns without fear. She said the OA supports the effort and that the added reporting pathways would help with follow-up on agency recommendations. Nash and Robbins both emphasized that the measures are part of a broader fraud-fighting package and expressed hope for bipartisan support, though Nash criticized DFL leadership for not backing the bills more openly. No votes or final actions were taken in the exchange shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fraud needs to end in the state.
• Fraud needs to end in the state.
• Fraud needs to end in the state.
• Fraud needs to end in the state.
• though, fraud is not a partisan issue. though, fraud is not a partisan issue.

Keywords: 1183, house