Transcript Highlights:

• We have our finance folks to keep us in check, to make sure that we're not spending more than we have
• more than we have been spending more than we have been allocated<00:17:56.840> or<00:17:57.120
• if it's got a fiscal note if it spends if it's got a fiscal note if it spends money<00:34:34.040
• Mar s that are manageable and benchmark Mar s that are manageable and<01:36:27.560> accountable
• and quality measures for with benchmarks and quality measures for our<01:39:26.800> contracts

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does do that; it bans those additional benchmarks.
• No other benchmarking is allowed in between...
• You have a hodgepodge of all these benchmarks.
• So, you said that we're eliminating benchmark testing.
• It just will by banning benchmarks.

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14, HB 8, HB 12, SB 3, HJR 1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a lot of excellent people doing a lot of excellent work spending a lot of time going through
• a lot of time excellent work spending a lot of time going<00:03:26.680> through<00:03:27.280>
• So anytime you create a tax, you should have principles or benchmarks that that tax should fit into.
• within the current system where we spend within the current system where we spend a<00:11:01.480
• That certainly is something that we spend a lot of time talking about.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no new spending, just better use of existing assets.
• It didn't cost us anything that we weren't already going to spend.
• The agency has also admitted that they have not created these benchmarks, nor implemented the benchmarks
• To say that plans would come in and only spend their money on marketing to build Membership and not spend
• The state spends a lot of money.

Bills: HB149, HB252, HB643, HB1442, HB1500, HB1672, HB1851, HB1893, HB2028, HB2768, HB2818, HB149, HB252

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, employment compensation, state agencies, salary payments, general appropriations, government efficiency, public works, contractors, payment bonds, government contracts, construction law, transparency, open meetings, government accountability, public access

Transcript Highlights:

• So my first question with these benchmarks, are there any penalties if we fail to meet those benchmarks
• So my first question with these benchmarks, are there any penalties if we fail to meet those benchmarks
• What are the ramifications of failing to meet those benchmarks?
• So these benchmarks refer to ACT scores that represent the level of achievement required...
• So these benchmarks refer to ACT scores that represent the level of achievement, required.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee received a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability, and achievement as part of the adequacy study. Staff reviewed how state curriculum and standards have evolved from the 1997 Public Education Act, the 2003 Quality Education Act, and the 2017 Educational Support and Accountability Act, including required course offerings, graduation requirements, career and technical education pathways, and recent additions such as success-ready pathways, Arkansas history, firearm safety, and fetal growth and development instruction. Members asked for a comparative chart showing how the laws and requirements changed over time, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to the federal ESSA plan and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff explained the state’s long-term goals for 2030, including 80% proficiency in ELA and math, 52% of English learners on track to English proficiency, and 94%/97% four- and five-year graduation rates. They reviewed 2025 assessment results showing proficiency rates generally in the 30s, with English learners and students with disabilities performing lowest and white students highest. They also discussed school support and improvement categories, equitable access to educators, and report card/public reporting requirements, noting that some ESSA-related measures such as the school index, equity labs, and certain 2024 report card data were not currently available or not being calculated. Members questioned whether those ESSA commitments were being met and asked staff to follow up with DESE, including whether the legislature can revise the ESSA plan. The committee also reviewed the Arkansas Accountability Act and related assessment data. Staff described the Atlas assessment system, alternate assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities, ELPA 21 for English learners, ACT results, and NAEP comparisons. They reported that no student group met the 80% proficiency goal in 2025, Arkansas’s ACT composite score declined slightly over time, and Arkansas generally trailed national and SREB averages on NAEP. Members asked for additional data, including historical highs and lows, the number of assessments students take by grade, dropout data, and comparisons with other states. The meeting ended with agreement to invite the Department of Education to a future meeting to answer questions about missing data, equity labs, report cards, and ESSA compliance.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, and I think you're also able to spend one extra night there if you want to.
• They go spend that money in the economy, create jobs, etc. so that's the economic benefit.
• If they're one year performance, 10-year performance, and those performance relative to a benchmark,
• either a short term benchmark or a long-term benchmark, and I'll get into those later.
• The policy index is a benchmark based on that asset allocation, how that fund should have was expected

Transcript Highlights:

• The Supreme Court benchmarks the interest rate.
• And the rule was tied to the wrong benchmark, the Wall Street Journal prime rate, which is a lending
• benchmark.
• It is not a savings benchmark. And when they did that, they received a windfall of money.
• not have enough money to, you know, they had all this money, but they didn't have enough things to spend

Summary: The committee heard several bills and amendments, beginning with CS/SB 498 on trust fund interest for IOTA accounts. The sponsor said a 2023 Florida Supreme Court rule sharply increased interest paid into legal aid funding, creating a windfall and making participation difficult for banks. An amendment was adopted requiring savings institutions to pay the higher of 0.25% or the highest comparable rate offered on certain non-IOTA accounts, and the bill then passed favorably after testimony from banks, legal aid representatives, and other stakeholders both supporting and opposing the measure. The committee also approved CS/SB 232, which clarifies Florida’s consumer collection law applies only to phone calls during restricted hours and not emails or text messages, after a delete-all amendment and supportive testimony from industry groups. It then approved SB 132, as amended, to designate gold and silver as legal tender and set rules for custody, audits, electronic transfer, and government acceptance of payments; supporters called it a sound-money measure, while the banking association said it still had unresolved technical concerns. Later, the committee passed SB 1466 to create a trust fund for the My Safe Florida Home Program, with an amendment funding it from 20% of collected insurance premium tax revenue. It also considered SB 1206 on transportation network company insurance, reducing coverage during the “dead-leg” period before a rider is picked up from $1 million to lower limits; the bill drew sharp opposition from trial lawyers and support from insurers and some business groups, and the committee adopted a clarifying amendment before reporting the bill favorably. Finally, CS/SB 924 on fertility preservation for cancer patients was amended several times to narrow scope and clarify coverage rules, then passed favorably after debate over cost, preauthorization, and post-treatment storage obligations. The committee adjourned after allowing technical and conforming changes to implement the adopted amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Find some benchmarks, you know, to start getting some of this money released.
• So you've mentioned benchmarks a couple of different times.
• So you've mentioned benchmarks a couple of different times.
• In our opinion, That's a pretty good benchmark.
• But I think we've got a pretty good benchmark out there. Is it? A very good point.

Summary: The committee held an interim study on retainage in public construction projects, with representatives from the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma, the Subcontractors Association of Oklahoma, and construction firms discussing how retainage works and whether current law should be changed. AGC speakers said retainage is a statutory tool that helps ensure completion and closeout, and warned that eliminating it could create more problems by shifting leverage to owners or general contractors and leaving contractors with fewer remedies. Subcontractor representatives said retainage often functions as delayed profit, can tie up cash flow for one to two years, and can be especially burdensome for early-phase trades such as dirt work, concrete, and demolition. Several participants explained that retainage is typically withheld from monthly progress payments and paid at final closeout, with current law generally allowing retainage to drop from 5% to 2.5% after 50% completion on public projects. Subcontractors said that in practice they often still have to fight to get the reduced rate applied, and that some owners or construction managers do not follow the statute consistently. They also noted that bonding companies are a last resort but still an important enforcement tool, while AGC cautioned that bond claims and litigation are not ideal substitutes for a workable retainage process. The discussion focused on possible benchmarks or compromise approaches, including line-item or trade-specific release of retainage when work is complete, especially for demolition or other early-finish subcontractors. Committee members emphasized that owner, GC/CM, and subcontractor issues may need different solutions and that the study was intended to gather perspectives rather than produce immediate legislation. No vote was taken, and no formal action was announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• We benchmark them nationally.
• We benchmark them nationally.
• We benchmark them nationally.
• We benchmark them nationally.
• We benchmark them nationally.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• then lastly, they have a commitment to investment transparency, meaning that they meet certain benchmarks
• We use a benchmark of 90% for our work.
• And then on the savings rate side, both are meeting our retirement readiness benchmark for annual salary
• This benchmark cost predictability was one of those slides that I showed earlier, and there are five
• That now meets our benchmark for what analyses we believe budget makers and lawmakers need to have in

Transcript Highlights:

• It bans those additional benchmarks.
• Again, no other benchmarking is allowed in between.
• So Representative Gervin-Hawkins: You said that we're eliminating benchmark testing.
• It bans benchmark testing except for what's required. Every school is different, okay?
• But we don't limit the amount of time that a student can spend on an exam.

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• If helpful, the benchmark from the Annie E.
• How did you spend it and what were the results? 1.5 for foster family, so I need my classes.
• So, what percentage of the time is your staff spending in meetings?
• NIEER estimated that New Mexico would need to spend only $25 million to meet that final benchmark.
• interacting with their students and students spend interacting with each other.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I refer to that as the majority benchmark.
• so it was that as the majority Benchmark so it was the<00:04:46.440> idea<00:04:47.160> that
• The older that benchmark is, the less accurate it becomes at reflecting the current cost of care.
• which means that the or wage benchmarks which means that the elderly<00:49:06.599> waiver<00:
• <00:59:18.680> substantially will increase spending substantially will increase spending substantially

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you 2026 business benchmarks report.
• > report<00:08:36.000> for annual business benchmarks report for annual business benchmarks
• highlight in this 2026 benchmarks highlight in this 2026 benchmarks report.<00:14:25.120> Um<
• benefit from that increase in spending benefit from that increase in spending kind<00:36:44.480>
• So, um, specific area of of spending.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are currently, as a state, spending more money on reading than Mississippi does, which is important
• But what this does is make sure as well that we have a statewide system in terms of benchmarking.
• But another thing this bill does is make sure that whatever instrument that we use for that benchmarking
• Now, you can have those earlier benchmarks and those assessments and those conversations with parents
• And I know administrative spend. You know, we that gets talked about.

Bills: HB4420, HB3974, HB3016, HB3062, HB3021, HB3145, HB4128, HB3131, HB3015, HB3472, HB3453, HB1638, HB4126, HB2696, HB2710, HB3552, HB3031, HB3544, HB3521, HB4490, HB4488, HB1746, HJR1069, HB4428, HB4429, HB1170, HB3538, HB4124, HB3904, HB4106, HB2999, HB3982, HJR1077, HB3464, HB2588, HB3462, HB4440, HB3674, HB3345, HJR1067, HB4326, HB4331, HB4337, HB4338, HB4359, HB4392, HB3557, HJR1076, HB4003, HB3495, HB3497, HB3501, HB3505, HB3749, HB3011, HB4336, HB4346, HJR1087, HB3240, HB3647, HB3796, HB3969, HB3972, HB3983, HB3984, HB3989, HB3383, HB3130, HB4358, HB3327, HJR1055, HB3386, HJR1089, HB3087, HB2970, HB3314, HB4129, HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Transcript Highlights:

• committee substitute in front of you proposes that only those judges who are not meeting specific benchmarks
• The bill rightfully places that task to the Texas Supreme Court to develop those benchmarks.
• So if a judge spends all of his or her time on the bench, all of the parties who are trying to move their
• If judges have to track the hours that they spend on the bench, I imagine that they will be very reluctant
• As was mentioned earlier, raising the benchmark.

Bills: HB4011, HB2680, HB4325, HB4327, HB4944, HB1761, HB4688, HB3453, HB40, HB1707, HB4749, HB2322, HB3647, HB4139, HB4081, HB2203, HB2100, HB4170, HB3104, HB4623, HB40

Keywords: partition, heirs' property, real estate, co-ownership, family property, non-heir cotenant, right of first refusal, pilot services, liability limitation, maritime commerce, Matagorda Bay, Lavaca Bay, transportation code, maritime industry, civil liability, barratry, penalties, legal actions, damages, wrongful death

Transcript Highlights:

• In the governor's budget, she pegged growth to what's Health Policy Commission benchmark for this current
• we meet, as Leslie pointed out, we're going to take a look at how appropriate is that particular benchmark
• CommonHealth or what percentage of PCA spend is attributed to CommonHealth members, it's only 5.3% of
• the spend, actually.
• The largest driver of PCA spend is not the CommonHealth program.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with MassHealth LTSS Chief Leslie Darcy to review the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program and the legislative work group focused on its long-term sustainability and cost containment. Darcy and Charlie described the work group’s five meetings and three consensus recommendations: enforce the 66-hour overtime cap, address fraudulent activity in the PCA program, and eliminate MassHealth handling of PCA paperwork/administrative work for members without a live-in exemption because those members are subject to EVV. They explained EVV as an electronic visit verification system replacing paper timesheets, and noted the rollout is expected to be completed this fall. The group estimated about $7 million in savings from the consensus recommendations and agreed to continue meeting through June to consider additional ideas. Darcy presented data showing the PCA program served about 56,000 members in state fiscal year 2024 and has grown from $1.2 billion in FY20 to $1.6 billion in FY24, with projections near $2 billion by 2027. She said much of the growth is driven by wage increases and older adults using more services, and compared PCA costs with other LTSS programs. The discussion also covered overtime spending, the role of federal financial participation, and how Massachusetts’ PCA program differs from other states because it has no hard caps on hours or activities. Several members emphasized the program’s value for independent living and community participation, while also acknowledging the need to control growth without undermining services. Members asked about undocumented immigrants and MassHealth funding, and Darcy explained that some eligibility categories are state-funded only and do not receive federal matching funds. Another member asked about workforce recruitment and wage pressures; Darcy said recent collective bargaining agreements raised PCA wages, with some workers eventually reaching $25 per hour and the entry wage reaching $20. The group also discussed whether IADL hours are disproportionately high compared with ADL needs, and reviewed data suggesting potential savings if IADL hours were limited relative to ADL hours, though no consensus recommendation was made on that point. The meeting ended with approval of the prior minutes by roll call vote, an update that the next health equity informational hearing is scheduled for May 19, and a motion to adjourn carried unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:52.360> Beyond would also allow us to Benchmark Beyond would also allow us to Benchmark
• Benchmark national assessments already exist, like the ACT and SAT, and these are things that colleges
• We more so are focusing on athletics and academics and other benchmark assessments like I previously
• We more so are focusing on athletics and academics and other benchmark assessments like I previously
• By adopting the ACT, we ensure that the time students spend on testing directly supports their future

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so by having judges publicly disclosing the number of hours that they spend sitting on the bench,
• And so by having judges publicly disclosing the number of hours that they spend sitting on the bench,
• But as was mentioned earlier, raising the benchmark salary doesn't just impact a lot of different judges
• But again, increasing the base judicial benchmark will just continue to build on those good changes that
• They need to be able to manage how much time they are spending on the bench in relation to the work that

Bills: HB40

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges. Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets. There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:09.919> real had strong consumer spending real had strong consumer spending real spending
• consumer spending. consumer spending.
• And for the past few years, we have been comparing or benchmarking our tourism arrivals and spending
• And for the past few years, we have been comparing or benchmarking our tourism arrivals and spending
• Um, it's not spending on hotels. It's spending on transportation.

Keywords: 910, house, all