Transcript Highlights:

• So my wonder is, since it's a percentage being rebated back to the company, any estimate on how much
• I believe the fund was set up at $50 million, and there's $28.3 million left for the tax credit rebate
• So effectively, since it's a rebate program, they're basically just going to offset whatever taxes...
• So effectively, since it's a rebate program, they're basically just going to offset whatever taxes.
• Since it's a rebate program, they're basically just going to offset whatever taxes they would have paid

Bills: HB3044, HB3465, HB3625, HB3704, HB3759, HB3920, HB3972, HB4191, HB4311, HB4426

Keywords: veterans, tax refund, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, capital improvement, donations, Oklahoma Emission Reduction, incentive, taxation, environment, revenue, investment, school funds, treasurer, education funding, financial policy, income tax, scholarship, tax credit, Oklahoma Tax Commission, school funding

Summary: The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee considered several House bills dealing with tax credits, fee changes, school funding, and investment authority. House Bill 4426 extended the sunset on the SIDE tax credit to December 31, 2032, and passed 7-2. House Bill 3704 elected Oklahoma into the federal income tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations and passed 9-2. House Bill 4311 raised the unclaimed property division’s administrative fee from 4% to 6% to cover increased duties and costs; it passed 8-3 after debate over whether the increase was justified. House Bill 3044 reauthorized the veterans income tax checkoff and the associated capital improvement fund, and passed 10-0. House Bill 4191 revised the Smaller Employer Quality Jobs Act by lowering job thresholds, expanding qualifying locations and industries, and changing other eligibility rules; it passed 6-4. House Bill 3465 extended the emission tax credit sunset from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2029 and passed 6-4, with opponents arguing it subsidized compliance with federal mandates. House Bill 3972, a title-off bill addressing ad valorem reimbursement issues tied to the state purchase of a prison, drew extensive debate over precedent and scope; an amendment to add a sunset failed 5-5, and the bill then passed 8-2 as amended.

Bills: SB2901, SB2902, SB2903, SB2904, SB2905, SB2906, SB2907, SB2908, SB2909, SB2910, SB2911, SB2912, SB2913, SB2914, SB2915, SB2916, SB2917, SB2918, SB2919, SB2920, SB2921, SB2922, SB2923, SB2924, SB2925, SB2926, SB2927, SB2928, SB2929, SB2930, SB2931, SB2932, SB2933, SB2934, SB2935, SB2936, SB2937, SB2938, SB2939, SB2940, SB2941, SB2942, SB2943, SB2944, SB2945, SB2946, SB2947, SB2948, SB2949, SB2950, SB2951, SB2952, SB2953, SB2954, SB2955, SB2956, SB2957, SB2958, SB2959, SB2960, SB2961, SB2962, SB2963, SB2964, SB2965, SB2966, SB2967, SB2968, SB2969, SB2970, SB2971, SB2972, SB2973, SB2974, SB2975, SB2976, SB2977, SB2978, SB2979, SB2980, SB2981, SB2982, SB2983, SB2984, SB2985, SB2986, SB2987, SB2988, SB2989, SB2990, SB2991, SB2992, SB2993, SB2994, SB2995, SB2996, SB2997, SB2998, SB2999, SB3000

Keywords: geological subsurface characterization, groundwater, geothermal resources, environmental review, Hawaii groundwater and geothermal resources center, scientific research, non-extractive, public trust doctrine, clean energy, greenhouse gas, carbon sequestration, climate change, energy policy, Hawaii state energy office, emissions reduction, sustainable development, fare-free transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, public transit, tax on petroleum

Bills: SB2901, SB2902, SB2903, SB2904, SB2905, SB2906, SB2907, SB2908, SB2909, SB2910, SB2911, SB2912, SB2913, SB2914, SB2915, SB2916, SB2917, SB2918, SB2919, SB2920, SB2921, SB2922, SB2923, SB2924, SB2925, SB2926, SB2927, SB2928, SB2929, SB2930, SB2931, SB2932, SB2933, SB2934, SB2935, SB2936, SB2937, SB2938, SB2939, SB2940, SB2941, SB2942, SB2943, SB2944, SB2945, SB2946, SB2947, SB2948, SB2949, SB2950, SB2951, SB2952, SB2953, SB2954, SB2955, SB2956, SB2957, SB2958, SB2959, SB2960, SB2961, SB2962, SB2963, SB2964, SB2965, SB2966, SB2967, SB2968, SB2969, SB2970, SB2971, SB2972, SB2973, SB2974, SB2975, SB2976, SB2977, SB2978, SB2979, SB2980, SB2981, SB2982, SB2983, SB2984, SB2985, SB2986, SB2987, SB2988, SB2989, SB2990, SB2991, SB2992, SB2993, SB2994, SB2995, SB2996, SB2997, SB2998, SB2999, SB3000

Keywords: geological subsurface characterization, groundwater, geothermal resources, environmental review, Hawaii groundwater and geothermal resources center, scientific research, non-extractive, public trust doctrine, clean energy, greenhouse gas, carbon sequestration, climate change, energy policy, Hawaii state energy office, emissions reduction, sustainable development, fare-free transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, public transit, tax on petroleum

Transcript Highlights:

• This, the HIV vendor drug rebate funding loss replacement, this would increase appropriations by 23 million
• in each fiscal year to make up, uh, for, to replace funding from the loss of HIV vendor drug rebates
• Would it be 2 for the fund for the rebate loss for each fiscal year is that so that'd be 40 million total
• So Can we take, um, as far as the rebate option, uh, take that down by 10 or?
• How do we want to do that as far as um we can look at the rebate number I would like to keep the long

Transcript Highlights:

• However, included in the governor's budget is a cost savings where we would see an increase in rebate
• programs it's gotten more complex and we can actually save money leveraging the rebate program.
• </c> where we would see an increase in rebate where we would see an increase in rebate Revenue<02:11:
• </c> the back end is higher increase rebate the back end is higher increase rebate Revenue<02:11:57.199
• price minus the rebate is cheaper than if we ordered the generic.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began as a Division 3 work session on HB 71, but much of the early discussion focused on whether a previously discussed non-germane amendment could be considered or voted on that day. Members and the chair debated process and notice requirements, and the clerk’s guidance was that the amendment needed a separate public hearing before the full Finance Committee. The amendment was described as requiring DHHS contracts and addenda to include compliance with the Patient Bill of Rights, with a repeal date so the requirement would expire on November 30, 2026. The motion to move OTP on HB 71 with the amendment was withdrawn, and the committee agreed the amendment would be scheduled for a future full Finance hearing instead. The committee then turned to HB 71 itself and heard testimony from DHHS representatives John Williams and Jenny O’Higgins on the fiscal note and policy implications. Members questioned the estimate that the bill could put $12 million to $18 million per year in federal funding at risk, including HUD and Office of Refugee Resettlement funds. DHHS explained that the estimate was based on a broad reading of the bill’s term “specified alien,” which they said was not clearly defined in the bill, so they analyzed it using the federal definition of “alien” and assumed the bill could affect lawfully present non-citizens as well as undocumented individuals. They said the figure represented a worst-case scenario and that they were not claiming the loss was certain. Members also pressed DHHS on whether the bill could affect emergency sheltering in schools, public academies, or institutions of higher learning during disasters. DHHS said the language could create conflicts with federal funding conditions because emergency shelter programs generally cannot impose barriers on who may be sheltered, and they warned that excluding certain people could affect refugee-related and HUD funding. Questions were raised about whether the bill’s language would apply to private institutions as well as public ones, and whether the state could still use schools in short-term emergencies. DHHS said the language was broad, that they could not answer every legal question definitively, and that they would need input from public health and legal staff. No final vote on HB 71 was taken in the portion provided; the committee remained in discussion/work session mode after the amendment motion was withdrawn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Banks oftentimes will give rebates to utilizers.
• Currently OEMS is able to take ...give rebates to utilizers.
• Currently, OMES is able to take some of that rebate.
• This would allow counties to recoup the full rebate on that.

Bills: SB2130, SB2135

Keywords: municipal finance, audit exemption, biennial reporting, local government, transparency, county purchasing, purchase card, government accountability, emergency expenditures

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard two bills. Senate Bill 2135, as amended, would let county purchasing agents obtain purchase cards through a local bank instead of only through the current state program, while keeping existing competitive-bidding and other guardrails. Senator Reinhart said the amendment was developed with the State Auditor’s Office to add protections, and committee questions focused on sealed bids, public award of contracts, spending limits, and how the bill aligns with current state P-card rules. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill then advanced on a 10-0 roll call vote. The committee also considered Senate Bill 2130, a constituent-request bill aimed at helping very small towns qualify for grants by easing pre-grant audit requirements. Senator Murdoch explained that towns of 500 people or fewer with $50,000 or less in total funds would be exempt from having to obtain an audit before applying for a grant, though customary audits would still apply otherwise. Members discussed whether the bill could weaken fiscal oversight, whether other audit requirements would still apply, and whether agreed-upon procedures engagements might be a cheaper alternative. The chair and several members supported the measure as a way to help struggling rural communities, and the bill advanced on a 9-1 roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have distributors, you have rebate aggregators, you... have managed care organizations.
• Many of them really deal with additional rebates, but they also deal with joint purchasing.
• They also very often own the specialty drug providers, they own the rebate aggregators, and they own
• Or rebate program.
• Or do we then set up our own drug purchasing board that I would Recommend has no rebates and uses our

Transcript Highlights:

• These rebates are integral to the operations of both exchanges and the members.
• However, under current Texas franchise law, these transaction rebates may be included in the total revenue
• of the Texas Tax Code to exclude certain securities transaction payments, specifically transaction rebate
• We want to make sure that, to your earlier point, we clarify the fact that these rebates... for just
• We expect to receive about $500,000 of that million dollars this year, which is about a 15% rebate.

Bills: HB511, HB972, HB 1035, HB2481, HB2723, HB2742, HB2894, HB2962, HB3077, HB3093, HB3307, HB3684, HJR67, HJR72

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, caregiver exemption, Medicaid, long-term services, tax relief, assisted living, housing support, property tax exemption, caregiver support, residence homestead, tax exemption, unpaid caregiver, state tax code, property tax, caregiver, waiting list, intellectual disability, developmental disability, ad valorem tax, family support

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:54.320><c> on</c> rateayers in the form of rebates on rateayers in the form of rebates on
• </c><00:52:27.280><c> like</c> states uh do do consumer rebates like states uh do do consumer rebates
• A lot of the other rebates directly.
• <c> be</c><01:38:37.920><c> beginning</c> The rebate programs will be beginning The rebate programs will
• </c> those rebates will be at point of sale. those rebates will be at point of sale.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Revenues are received from premium contributions, pharmacy rebates, refund of claims overpayments, and
• one of the slides as well, you had other revenues estimated at $388 million, which is refunds and rebates
• And before you answer, I'd like to... ...to be on the formulary with best rebate pricing.
• So have we looked at, in the formulary, creating those where we get best rebate prices?
• ...looked at in the formulary, creating those where we get best rebate prices and eliminating some of

Summary: The Budget Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. HB 677, relating to state-covered fertility preservation for employees undergoing cancer treatment, was introduced as coverage for egg and sperm preservation for up to three years, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $813,000. After brief questions and no public testimony or amendments, the bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS/HB 59, which would reform Florida’s wrongful incarceration compensation process by extending the filing deadline from 90 days to two years, removing the clean-hands requirement, and allowing exonerees to choose between the state compensation process and a civil lawsuit; it was supported by the City of Flagler Beach and passed unanimously. CS/HB 1313, which recreates the Resilient Florida Trust Fund in the Department of Environmental Protection before its scheduled termination in 2025, also passed unanimously after supportive testimony from advocacy groups. The committee received a lengthy presentation from the Department of Management Services on the State Group Insurance Program and the recent Revenue Estimating Conference. The presentation covered enrollment, revenues and expenditures, rising medical and pharmacy costs, emergency room utilization, GLP-1 drug spending, and options for tighter formulary and utilization management. Members asked about ER cost growth, GLP-1 coverage and copays, PBM oversight and potential conflicts, avoidable ER visits, cancer screening claims, dental and vision costs, specialty drug biosimilars, and possible savings from more restrictive pharmacy models. DMS said it would follow up on several questions and noted ongoing work on cancer coordination, preventive screening, biomarker testing, and a proposed member-facing benefits platform. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 301, which would raise sovereign immunity caps from $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident to $1 million and $3 million, align limitations periods with private claims, and allow government entities to settle above the caps without a claims bill. Local governments, school-related entities, and county and city associations opposed the bill, warning of major fiscal impacts, higher insurance costs, and pressure on services; several speakers urged smaller increases or a tiered approach. Proponents, including families affected by catastrophic injury or death, argued the current caps are too low and the claims bill process is inefficient and unfair. After debate, the bill passed on a recorded vote, with some members voting no, and was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the rebate that would come back to them. the rebate that would come back to them.
• </c> innovation and then it would be rebated innovation and then it would be rebated back<00:16:46.560
• to the uh, rebated back to the<00:19:06.000><c> rateayers.
• money would be rebated back to the<00:20:46.240><c> rateayers.
• </c> law that affects uh the uh rebates law that affects uh the uh rebates and<00:25:44.400><c> I'm</

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The way we do that is by doing rebates.
• Every time we pay a customer a rebate, that's how we prove that energy was saved.
• </c> The way we do that is by doing rebates. The way we do that is by doing rebates.
• ,</c> Every time we pay a customer a rebate, Every time we pay a customer a rebate, that's<00:20:54.000
• </c><00:21:05.840><c> on</c> 100 watt and we give you a rebate on 100 watt and we give you a rebate on

Bills: HF3296, HF3802

Keywords: energy conservation, data centers, electric sales, energy optimization, utility regulations, energy regulation, certificate of need, renewable energy, power production, energy efficiency, Minnesota statutes, 1183, house

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Byboard last year rebated $13 million back to its members over the course of the rebate program.
• revenue from by board from the cooperative rebates yes to rebates uh...
• Or they will get a rebate. So when you talked about the $4.1 million that went to TASB.
• And then rebate that excess back to the member.
• So we would rather... keep the vendor honest, so to speak, and rebate it back to members.

Bills: HB10, HB 12, HB675, HB10, HB12

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• How can we realistically believe that these companies, who, based on the rebates they receive from the
• Most importantly, the proprietary piece is what percentage rebate... ...the proprietary piece is what
• percentage rebate, you know, pharmacists call it kickback, but what percentage rebate are these companies
• You say that Pharma in your letter is increasingly concerned about the substantial rebates and discounts
• , if they're concerned about it in a real way, then why don't they put limits and conditions upon rebates

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a broad set of health care bills focused on cost, market oversight, pharmaceutical access, transparency, hospital closures, and pharmacy access. Chairs John Lawn and Cindy Friedman opened by emphasizing recent health care reforms and the need for further action on the drug supply chain, PBMs, private equity, and affordability. The committee heard testimony on several measures, including a Betsy Lehman Center bill to make technical changes and create a permanent trust account for federal and private funding, and bills on hospital profits and fairness, hospital closures and health planning, pharmacy deserts, and health care market oversight and pharmaceutical access. No votes were taken during the hearing. On the hospital profits bill, physicians and labor advocates strongly supported capping hospital CEO compensation at 50 times the lowest-paid worker, requiring greater financial transparency, and directing penalties from high-margin public hospitals into a Medicaid reimbursement fund. Testifiers argued that executive pay is excessive while frontline staff and safety-net services are under strain. Committee members raised concerns about unintended consequences, including whether hospitals might shift workers to contract status or lose executive talent, and whether the bill would actually direct money to the safety net. Supporters responded that the measure is one piece of a larger effort and that the bill’s Medicaid reimbursement provisions would help underserved hospitals. Testimony on market oversight and pharmaceutical access centered on rising health care and drug costs, PBM practices, and the proposal to give the Health Policy Commission authority to set upper payment limits for certain drugs. Consumer advocates, disability advocates, an independent pharmacist, the Attorney General’s office, and others supported stronger oversight, citing premium increases, affordability problems, and the impact of high drug prices on patients and community pharmacies. Pharma and some industry witnesses opposed parts of the bill, warning that upper payment limits could disrupt access, create legal issues, and fail to address the broader supply chain. The committee also heard support for stronger hospital closure notice and public hearing requirements, and for a pharmacy deserts bill aimed at identifying and addressing closures like the one in Roxbury that affected thousands of patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, pretty much a trivial amount being rebated if this bill goes through.
• </c> people who take advantage of the rebates people who take advantage of the rebates or<00:57:34.520
• >> Rebates, thank you. I should know this.
• >> Rebates, thank you. I should know this. I should know this.
• </c><01:11:23.760><c> in</c> and butter area having these rebates in and butter area having these rebates

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually had fun with the e-bike bill, and so we redid the, um, the, there was e-bike rebates, and
• And so there was a program where you could get a $1,500 rebate on an e-bike if you just signed up.
• And so there was a program where you could get a $1,500 rebate on an e-bike if you just signed up.
• And so there was a program where you could get a $1,500 rebate on an e-bike if you just signed up.
• There was a program where you could get a $1,500 rebate on an e-bike if you just signed up.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state borrowed $900 million from the ADAP rebate fund on the condition that it be repaid when there
• Finally, we support the comments on the proposed use of the ADAP drug program rebate funds.
• We urge this legislature to take action on the rebate fund in both supporting the repayment of funds
• is worsening among an ADAP drug program rebate funds.
• We urge this legislature to take action on the rebate fund in both supporting the repayment of funds

Summary: The subcommittee held an oversight hearing on federal actions affecting California’s public health and family planning systems, focusing first on the freeze to Title X family planning funds and then on broader CDC/public health grant terminations. Chair and members described the cuts as abrupt, harmful, and likely to create major gaps in disease surveillance, vaccination, contraception, STI testing, and other preventive services, while also criticizing the federal administration’s explanation that the actions were tied to DEI or civil-rights compliance. The chair thanked Attorney General Bonta for legal action and said the hearing was intended to document the real-world impacts and inform state budget responses. Witnesses from Essential Access Health, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a Central Coast clinic, and other providers said California’s Title X network serves more than half a million low-income patients annually and relies on the funds for staffing, outreach, training, mobile and school-based clinics, and confidential care. They warned that the freeze has already forced reserve spending, delayed services, and could lead to layoffs, reduced hours, longer waits, and fewer appointments, especially for sexual and reproductive health care. Public comment included support for a proposed state backfill of Title X losses, with advocates emphasizing impacts on low-income, LGBTQ+, and communities of color. On the public health side, CDPH, county health officials, and local health officers testified that the CDC’s rescission of $11.4 billion in grants would affect California by an estimated $840 million and threaten lab capacity, immunization programs, health disparities work, and data systems such as CalConnect and vaccine registries. Sacramento County and others described how the grants supported outbreak response, sequencing, community vaccination clinics, and equity-focused partnerships, and said terminations had already led to canceled appointments, stopped contracts, and layoffs. Several speakers urged the Legislature to preserve and expand state “future of public health” funding and to backfill federal losses, while public commenters from HIV, immunization, labor, and county organizations echoed concerns about workforce losses and worsening health outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill creates a geothermal rebate program focused on commercial buildings. I do, Mr.
• </c> um, a bill to create a geothermal rebate um, a bill to create a geothermal rebate program<00:19:
• This rebate program will allocated.
• A similar rebate program already owner.
• ,</c> rebates for geothermal systems, rebates for geothermal systems, Minnesota<00:22:36.559><c> building

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• available to data centers, when this tax rebate was adopted in 2011, an estimated fiscal impact of $5
• million annually, the existing tax rebate would dwarf this cost in 2025 and beyond.
• million annually, the existing tax rebate would dwarf this cost in 2025 and beyond.
• Worse is the conversion of this rebate to an upfront exemption.
• Worse is the conversion of this rebate to an upfront exemption.

Bills: HF1277, HF1006

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, property tax, abatement, land bank, redevelopment, political subdivision, 1183, house