Video & Transcript Research : 'rate decoupling'
Page 106 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We have a 43% transfer rate, so 43% of our students transfer to four-year universities.
- The other one was an odd formula on the tax rate in the base tier formula.
- The base tier assumes a 5-cent tax rate.
- We have less than a 5-cent tax rate; that was one of the items, but the main item was the transfer rate
- We have the lowest tax rate in the state.
Bills:
SB 49
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several higher education bills and took public testimony on each. Senate Bill 60 would let public junior college libraries donate outdated, duplicative, or valueless materials instead of treating them as surplus property; no public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 49 would expand performance-tier funding incentives so community colleges are also rewarded for student transfers to private four-year universities; it also received no public testimony and was left pending.
Senate Bill 365 would allow higher education institutions to choose a transcript lookback period between 5 and 10 years for adult undergraduates seeking to waive older transcripts. Senator Eckhardt and witness Daniel Arrevalo described how old academic records can block adults from returning to college; the bill was left pending after testimony. Senate Bill 895 would expand the FAST dual-credit program beyond public school students to include eligible private school and homeschool students, with support from the Texas Private Schools Association, the Texas Homeschool Coalition, and a coordinating board witness explaining the funding structure; it too was left pending.
Senate Bill 1400 would clarify what counts as a transfer for performance-tier funding by allowing students with 30 or fewer prior university credit hours to still be counted as transfer students when moving from a public junior college to a general academic institution. Former Representative Leighton Schubert testified that the change would address funding losses and better reflect modern student pathways; after testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Fiscal Responsibility Committee Feb 19th, 2025
Fiscal Responsibility
Transcript Highlights:
- What we've done to try to eliminate the liability hit with RSA was to change some of our interest rates
- interest rate that's whatever they're earning on bonds in your name.
- The rate is paid by the state, not by the employer.
- Yeah, that's what I'm saying about what increase of employee rate would it take to wipe out the...
- If you can add that to the member contribution rate and keep that portion of the money, I don't...
Keywords:
athlete agents, commission, state regulation, Alabama, higher education, athletics, membership diversity, catastrophe savings account, catastrophe fund, storm savings, disaster savings, hurricane, windstorm, floodwaters, hail, tornado, property insurance, homeowners insurance, insurance deductible, FORTIFIED
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee May 28th, 2025
Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- So anytime you have policy changes affecting the marginal tax rates, the standard deduction.
- So let's say over a 10 year period that they assume that Medicaid's going to grow at a 7% rate.
- That's why you see they're centering on Medicaid, and Medicaid's growing at a faster rate.
- Then the federal matching rate would be reduced by 10%.
- We better check the room rates. Are they high too? OK, well, let's see a show of hands.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Our turnover rate has dropped to 10% across the agency and just 2.3% for licensed professionals like
- on salary and wages. what was recommended, while the table on the bottom right shows the turnover rate
- As shown on page 11, the agency has faced an average turnover rate of 24.8% over the past five years,
- For example, in an electric base rate case, it's not unusual to hire four or more experts: a revenue
- Despite the uptick, we've achieved a remarkable 98% case completion rate within 75 days.
Bills:
SB1
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee met to review Article 8, regulatory agencies, and began Article 9, general provisions, before recessing for floor action. The committee first heard budget presentations from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). The PUC budget recommendation was about $5.07 billion in all funds, including an additional $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, plus funding for staffing and technology needs tied to contested cases, infrastructure resiliency, and outage mapping. PUC witnesses emphasized the agency’s growing workload, the need for more staff and modern systems, and oversight of the Texas Energy Fund. OPUC’s recommendation was about $6.9 million, with a reduction in authorized FTEs to better match actual staffing; the agency requested additional funding for salaries, expert witnesses, and budget flexibility, and members highlighted OPUC’s role representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility proceedings.
The committee then heard from the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), whose recommendation was just over $11.2 million. BHEC’s main requests included funding to fill vacant positions, money for continuous National Practitioner Data Bank queries, and a proposed Texas-owned psychology licensing exam in response to concerns about changes to the national exam. Agency leaders also discussed a rider request that would shift responsibility for certain judgments or settlements to the comptroller. Members asked about prior complaint backlogs, and BHEC said those backlogs had been cleared. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners followed, with a recommendation of just under $2.4 million; the board sought support for staffing, training, broadband, and salary retention, and described its work regulating chiropractors and workers’ compensation-related doctors.
The Board of Dental Examiners was the last agency heard before the committee recessed. Its recommendation was just under $10 million, and it requested a 10% salary increase for eligible staff, three additional licensing staff, one staff member to handle required background checks, an additional attorney, and an executive director salary adjustment. Dental board witnesses said licensure growth, increased complaints, and low salaries were straining licensing and enforcement operations, even though the agency reported strong performance and high case completion rates. The chair ended the hearing early because the Senate had to return to the floor, and the committee remained in recess.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 118 May 12th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Housing Committee Meeting - 2026-04-07
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:28:16.159>
have And in fact because interest rates have And in fact because interest rates - took advantage of the interest rate took advantage of the interest rate environment<00:39:20.400
- >
environment <01:10:43.280>would this interest rate environment would this interest rate - We also did interest rates will go down.
- <01:22:35.120>
of what I'm trying to get to the rate of what I'm trying to get to the rate
Bills:
SF2434
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- this bill does is it has parity so that CRNAs and physician anesthesiologists are paid at the same rate
- this bill does is it has parity so that CRNAs and physician anesthesiologists are paid at the same rate
- or not there were reductions in rates.
- Medicare and Medicaid reimburse nurse anesthetists at 100% of whatever the negotiated fee rate is.
- We charge a reasonable monthly rate for everything we do.
Summary:
The committee held a hearing on several health care access and insurance-related bills, with most testimony focused on H.1136 to improve the prior authorization process. The Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Health Care for All, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, physicians, and hospital representatives all supported the bill, arguing that prior authorization delays care, increases administrative burden, contributes to clinician burnout, and can worsen patient outcomes. Witnesses described examples involving delayed cancer treatment, diabetes care, COPD medication, shingles pain treatment, and hospital discharge delays. They said the bill would preserve prior authorization but add guardrails such as longer validity periods, continuity-of-care protections, faster responses for urgent care, clearer lists of services requiring authorization, and more transparency and standardization.
The committee also heard testimony on H.1142/S.783 regarding equitable reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), with Senator Lovely and CRNA advocates supporting parity with physician anesthesiologists. They said CRNAs provide the same services at the same standard of care, but private insurers sometimes reimburse them at lower rates than physicians, which they argued is inconsistent with federal and state policy and harms access. Senator Keenan testified in support of a bill addressing claim denials and appeals, saying insurers should provide clearer explanations, time to resubmit claims, and timely appeal responses. Dr. Lorraine Schratz supported H.1126 to align state patient disclosure requirements with federal No Surprises Act rules, and Dr. Michael Trimbley supported H.1120 to recognize direct primary care as not being insurance and to encourage primary care participation.
The committee also heard testimony on H.1140/S.801 to remove barriers to patient care by updating insurance statutes to reflect nurse practitioners’ full practice authority, and on H.1168/S.A.18 to eliminate the PCP referral requirement for specialty gynecological care. Witnesses on those bills described delays and denials affecting autism diagnosis, nutrition coverage, and endometriosis care, and said the proposals would reduce unnecessary barriers and improve timely access. After testimony and a few member questions, the chair closed the hearing; no votes were taken during the session.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Rules and Administration - 06/01/26
Rules and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- would be compared to know what that rate would be compared to uh<00:04:59.520>
the <00:04:59.680 - has been updated to match the current IRS mileage rate of 72.5 cents per mile.
- has been updated to match the current IRS mileage rate of 72.5 cents per mile.
- has been updated to match the current IRS mileage rate of 72.5 cents per mile.
- has been updated to match the current IRS mileage rate of 72.5 cents per mile.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill is only about transparency of your electricity rates.
- This bill is only about transparency of your electricity rates.
- This bill is only about transparency of your electricity rates.
- This bill is only about transparency of your electricity rates.
- This bill is only about transparency of your electricity rates.
Keywords:
coconut trees, tax credit, natural management, Hawaii, agriculture, biosecurity, environment, coconut rhinoceros beetle, student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, pharmacy benefit managers, maximum allowable cost, drug pricing
Summary:
The joint committee on Ways and Means and Consumer Protection met for decision-making only on two agendas and took action on a large number of Senate bills, with no oral testimony heard. On the 1016 agenda, the committee recommended passage of measures including SB 2088, SB 2925, SB 2781, and several others, and passed a number of bills with amendments. Notable amendments included SB 3263, which adopted AG amendments related to the name, image, and likeness endowment trust fund; SB 2047 on pharmacy benefit managers, which incorporated Hawaii Pharmacist Association changes; SB 2087 on health insurance, which added Insurance Division clarifications; SB 2100 on pesticides, which added a blank appropriation; SB 2353 on outdoor signage, which removed provisions related to the Wiki special district; and SB 2902 on renewable energy, which clarified certification standards for portable solar devices and exempted them from certain disclosure requirements. Most recommendations were adopted without objection, though a few members noted reservations on selected bills. The committee also deferred one bill on the agenda, SB 3327.
The committee then moved to the 1015 agenda and acted on additional measures. SB 2003 was passed with amendments tied to Act 255, including a repeal trigger if deadlines are missed; SB 2497 on utility-related transparency drew the most discussion, with one member warning about litigation and costs while another argued it was simply about electricity-rate transparency, and it ultimately passed with PUC-related amendments and an exemption for utility cooperatives. Other measures were passed unamended or with technical or fiscal amendments, including bills affecting land planning, tax credits, conveyance tax language, shoreline maintenance, and community improvement projects. Several bills had appropriations blanked or effective dates deferred to 2050, and many were adopted with members noting reservations rather than opposition.
On the 1017 agenda, the committee continued approving measures, including SB 709 on crisis intervention officers and assisted community treatment, SB 2153 on defining bona fide farmer/agriculture activity, SB 2694 on water rate adjustments, SB 3025 on income eligibility limits, and SB 3085 on the Hawaii film studio, which included a five-year repeal provision if the studio has not relocated. The committee also passed numerous other bills unamended or with technical amendments, often deferring effective dates or blanking appropriations. Across both agendas, the committee’s actions were largely consistent: bills were advanced with amendments tailored to agency requests, technical corrections, or fiscal adjustments, and votes were generally unanimous or near-unanimous with occasional reservations recorded.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
April 2, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Our last bill is proposed committee bill WMC-25-01, sales tax rate reductions.
- Next we have PCB WMC-2501, sales tax rate reductions.
- in Florida, state sales tax rates, by 0.75%.
- There are also a handful of other sales tax rates that are implicated.
- I know a lot of it is affordable housing, and lowering that rate is important.
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met on April 2, 2025, with a quorum present and took up four bills. The committee first heard HB 4041, which would create the Corkscrew Grove Stewardship District in Collier County to finance and maintain infrastructure such as transportation, utilities, and stormwater systems without changing county regulatory authority. The bill drew no opposition, was reported favorably, and passed 14-0.
The committee then considered HB 1485, which repeals Florida’s aviation fuel tax provisions. The sponsor argued the change would simplify the tax code, attract airline investment, and support lower fares and more routes. Members raised concerns about the estimated recurring $22.8 million impact on the State Transportation Trust Fund and $2 million on general revenue, and airport representatives warned of reduced grant and development funding, especially for general aviation and municipal airports. Supporters said the change would increase competition and fuel sales in Florida. The bill was reported favorably on a 12-5 vote.
Next, the committee heard HB 999, which would recognize gold and silver as legal tender, allow electronic debit access to bullion accounts, and remove tax burdens on transactions involving precious metals. The sponsor and supporters described the bill as a way to protect purchasing power and provide an alternative parallel to the dollar, while opponents and some members raised concerns about consumer protections, predatory practices, privacy, and the role of the Office of Financial Regulation in rulemaking. After extensive testimony, the bill was reported favorably 19-0.
Finally, the committee considered PCB WMC 25-01, which would reduce the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lower several related taxes, including the business rent tax, nonresidential electricity tax, mobile home sales tax, and coin-operated amusement machine tax. The proposal was estimated to reduce revenue by about $5.5 billion annually. Members discussed impacts on the budget, education funding, and whether savings would reach consumers, while supporters emphasized relief for Floridians and business competitiveness. The bill passed unanimously 19-0 and was reported favorably. The chair then noted a prior procedural apology on the record, and the meeting adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Lawmakers hear proposed creation of $10 million loan program for affordable housing, HF2148 3/25/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The higher rents and the market rate rents help subsidize and pay for the entirely locally owned program
- Uh, it expands a model of affordable housing that sustains itself by using market rate rents to subsidize
- self-sustaining in terms of operating costs using a mix of deeply affordable, affordable, and market rate
- Uh, it expands a model of affordable housing that sustains itself by using market rate rents to subsidize
- self-sustaining in terms of operating costs using a mix of deeply affordable, affordable, and market rate
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- On slide 10, you can see that the forecast is for the U.S. and New Mexico unemployment rates to trend
- Rate of about 4%, which is close to where they both are now.
- Slide 11 provides some data on inflation and interest rates.
- The Fed is expected to continue to cut the federal funds rate to a target rate of just below 2%.
- Big priorities in here are continuing rating. A couple of key areas: primary care physicians.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CPC-CPN Joint Info Briefing - Tue Jan 13, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Second, rates and costs.
- <00:37:27.640>
require the rates require the rates require approval<00:37:29.359>by <00:37:32.320>The <00:37:32.720>Attorney <00:37:33.040>General's rate rate - The Attorney General's rate rate review.
- that down to a more normalized CPI rate that down to a more normalized CPI rate for<00:53:43.840
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Adjusting the MSBA reimbursement rate would address this issue.
- Adjusting the MSBA reimbursement rate would address this issue.
- So increasing the reimbursement rate for participating towns would greatly help our taxpayers.
- they spend more than that, that's called the above-foundation rate.
- So it would take the above-foundation rate...
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Education held a lengthy hearing on a large slate of bills focused primarily on charter school policy and vocational technical education. Committee members opened with ground rules for testimony, including a two-minute limit, written testimony acceptance, and a live-streamed format. The committee then heard testimony on bills to expand collective bargaining rights in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools, reform charter school funding and reimbursement, allow enrollment preferences for high-need students in charter lotteries, and require BESE to consider district impacts when approving new or expanded charters. Several witnesses, including union leaders, parents, educators, and legislators, argued that charter growth has strained district budgets and that funding formulas should be reworked to better protect public schools; charter advocates and alumni countered that charter schools serve high-need students well and should not be penalized for their success.
A major portion of the hearing focused on vocational technical education bills, including proposals to expand access and capacity, create a large grant program, and increase MSBA reimbursement rates for vocational school construction. Supporters described long waitlists, strong labor-market demand, and the higher cost of building and maintaining vocational schools, while municipal officials emphasized the tax burden on local communities. The committee also heard testimony on charter school reimbursement bills that would extend the state’s reimbursement schedule, with witnesses from districts such as Boston, Worcester, Fall River, and New Bedford describing large net losses to charter tuition and arguing for longer reimbursement periods and structural reform.
The committee took no final votes during the hearing. In one instance, the chair said a bill would be held open until a missing senator could testify. Members asked several detailed questions about charter admissions lotteries, special education placements, funding formulas, and the practical effects of proposed charter caps and reimbursement changes. The hearing remained informational, with witnesses and committee members presenting sharply different views on whether the bills would improve equity and opportunity or harm existing public school systems.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Insurance Committee Mar 17th, 2026
Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- asked to mandate a statewide rate asked to mandate a statewide rate structure<00:24:27.600>
without - Is this going to bring a competitive rate in place?
- >
actually <00:29:52.399>be reimbursement rate will actually be reimbursement rate will - How long has have a competitive rate.
- <00:31:01.279>
in would this bring a competitive rate in would this bring a competitive rate
Keywords:
HB424, Montgomery County, sheriff, county sheriff, salary increase, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, public official compensation, law enforcement pay, elected official salary, Montgomery County legislation, sheriff compensation, term-based salary, immigration, law enforcement, fingerprints, DNA collection, illegal aliens
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, previously that was a forecasted rate that was calculated annually.
- Uh, previously that was a forecasted rate that was calculated annually.
- Uh, previously that was a forecasted rate that was calculated annually.
- >
was <00:15:55.199>calculated forecasted rate that was calculated forecasted rate that - The first is a rate increase from 10% to 15%.
Bills:
HF9
Keywords:
energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- policy to charge resident tuition rates policy to charge resident tuition rates for<00:42:37.040
- There are situations where the program is paying for higher non-resident rates.
- There are situations where the program is paying for higher non-resident rates.
- rate or the<00:48:58.319>
negotiated <00:48:58.880>rate <00:48:59.280>depending - But um they negotiated rates there.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Education Committee Apr 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Fine here is: is the 2.3% interest rate...
- I get that, but if someone gets a rate of, like... ...5% at the market at that time, the rates were that
- high, and so the rate was set at 5%.
- Is the interest rate design?
- rate.
Summary:
The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes.
The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously.
Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama Joint Mobile County Legislation Committee Feb 11th, 2026
Mobile County Legislation
Transcript Highlights:
- rate.
- rate, which is 63%.
- We would like to see that be above, just like our unemployment rate is. Now, why is that happening?
- I've been using 2021 for a while, and so now we have new rates which show that more are enrolling in
- “What’s the labor participation rate go up, which is not what we want.
MS
Transcript Highlights:
- This is also about 52% of the current Medicare rate.
- These rates have virtually been the same since 2020. a 90% response rate and one in five a 90% response
- <00:27:39.279>
23,221 reimbursement rates for VNS? 23,221 reimbursement rates for VNS? - uh 52% of the current Medicare rate. uh 52% of the current Medicare rate.
- I think Jennifer made the point of rate.
Summary:
The committee heard presentations on several Medicaid-related topics. First, a pharmacy representative discussed nonopioid pain medications as a way to reduce opioid dependence and overdose risk, emphasizing that options such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and topical diclofenac can be useful for pain management. She cautioned that nonopioids can still have risks and said any policy should avoid requiring patients to step through opioids before accessing safer alternatives, while still allowing reasonable step therapy among nonopioid options. The presenter said the goal is to keep patients from being pushed toward opioids by cost or insurance design.
The committee also heard emotional testimony from parents of a child with Prader-Willi syndrome, who described the condition as a rare genetic disorder that causes severe, lifelong hyperphagia and requires rigid supervision and ongoing treatment. They argued that alternative funding programs can disrupt access to medically necessary drugs such as human growth hormone, forcing families into costly and uncertain coverage gaps. They asked lawmakers to ensure insurance coverage remains stable for rare disease patients and thanked Senator Blackwell for prior support of rare disease legislation.
Next, a Livanova representative urged the committee to support higher Medicaid reimbursement for vagus nerve stimulator surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy. He said inadequate hospital reimbursement has reduced access in Mississippi, causing patients to travel long distances or go without treatment, and argued that better reimbursement would improve outcomes and save money over time. He cited studies showing seizure reductions, lower ER use, and a projected $2.8 million in five-year savings for Medicaid based on 40 patients, and asked that hospitals be reimbursed at 100% of Medicare rates for the procedure codes.
Finally, a Medicaid official gave a broad overview of hospital payment structure, including fee-for-service, managed care, MHAP, DSH, UPL, provider taxes, and related funding mechanisms. She explained that hospital payments are interrelated and have shifted over time, with major changes tied to managed care, MHAP/UPL increases, and provider taxes. At the end of the discussion, the committee was running short on time and asked her to skip ahead to the provider tax component; no votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.