** REVISION ** — SENATE — NOTICE — OF PUBLIC HEARING

** REVISION **
SENATE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

COMMITTEE:     Finance 

TIME & DATE:   9:00 AM, Tuesday, July 28, 2026 

PLACE:         E1.036 (Finance Room) 
CHAIR:         Senator Joan Huffman 

The Senate Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM to hear invited and public testimony on the following interim charges:

· Higher Education Transparency: Examine the current financial reporting and disclosure practices of public institutions of higher education. Evaluate the adequacy of existing transparency standards regarding the use of state appropriations, tuition revenue, and designated funds. Assess the frequency and scope of state audits and study the feasibility of requiring more frequent, comprehensive audits to ensure fiscal accountability. Make recommendations to strengthen reporting requirements, increase public access to institutional financial data, and provide greater oversight to ensure the efficient and transparent use of taxpayer and student funds.

· Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: Review state agencies' strategies to detect and mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse. Quantify the fiscal impact of financial impropriety on the state budget. Identify high-risk areas such as entitlement programs, contracted services, and technology contracts. Assess prevention and recovery efforts, including data analytics, reporting mechanisms, financial recoveries, and prosecutions. Make recommendations to strengthen oversight and better protect public funds.

Public testimony is limited to 2 minutes. Witnesses that wish to provide oral testimony need to fill out a paper witness registration card and submit it to the clerk. Witnesses that wish to register a position only, or only submit written testimony, should register electronically on the kiosk located outside of the hearing room. If submitting written testimony, please provide 40 copies, with your name on each copy, to the committee during the hearing.

** See Committee Coordinator for previous versions of the schedule **

NOTICE OF ASSISTANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO PLAN TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER OR PERSONAL ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES, ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE SENATE COMMITTEE COORDINATOR AT 512/463-0070, 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.