Video & Transcript Research : 'retiree coverage'

Page 10 of 258
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Apr 2nd, 2025

Banking and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill... ...yearly limits and coverage. This bill would change that.
  • that ...will be able to afford the coverage that is being offered to them.
  • As costs go up, fewer will have this important coverage available to them.
  • Our specific population includes public employees, their school teachers, and their retirees. ... ...
  • school teachers, their retirees, and their dependents.
Keywords: 923, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 03/17/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • particular potential retiree. particular potential retiree.
  • , back someone in that role as a retiree, back someone in that role as a retiree, they<00:15:27.160
  • Section 1 revises MSRS's coverage Section 1 revises MSRS's coverage positions<00:39:54.960> to
  • coverage by the fire marshal subplan. coverage by the fire marshal subplan.
  • > for and instead requires coverage for and instead requires coverage for members<00:41:00.080
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: The commission first approved the minutes and then took up several pension omnibus items. Representative Rapinski’s item, related to an I-RAP issue, was moved ahead of the agenda and passed without further information after members noted the State Board of Investment and Minnesota State had not identified additional facts; the bill, as previously amended, was recommended for inclusion in the 2026 Pension Omnibus Bill. The committee also corrected a procedural issue on Senator Gustafson’s bill, SF 3897/HF 3703, after realizing an amendment referenced earlier belonged to a different bill; the motion was restated without the amendment reference and the bill was then recommended to pass and be incorporated into the omnibus bill. The main policy discussion centered on SF 3897/HF 3703, which would change how terminating firefighter relief association plans value benefits for firefighters under age 50. Senator Gustafson said the current statute can unfairly reduce benefits by requiring present-value discounting and that the bill would instead allow benefits to be based on accrued benefit under the plan formula, while still leaving relief associations flexibility to use present value if they choose. Staff confirmed the bill applies only to relief associations under chapter 424B, not PERA or the statewide plan. Senator Rasmussen raised concerns about consistency between SVF and non-SVF reliefs and about differing treatment on termination; the bill author acknowledged the difference. The committee ultimately voted to recommend the bill for inclusion in the omnibus pension bill. The final major item was House File 4162, as amended by an A1 amendment, which requires employers of reemployed annuitants in TRA to make employer contributions during reemployment, including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities employees covered under section 354.445. Representative O’Driscoll argued the bill would direct existing education-formula pension dollars to TRA, prevent districts from using those funds elsewhere when retirees are rehired, and keep the employee neutral because the annuitant’s benefit would not change. Supporters said the measure would help pension funding and address situations where districts rehire retired teachers, often in hard-to-fill specialties. Opponents, including Senator Rasmusson, questioned the added cost to school districts, citing an estimated $5.385 million in annual TRA revenue from the change and warning it could reduce districts’ ability to hire or retain staff. After discussion, the committee had not yet taken final action on this item in the portion of the meeting provided.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • coverage the more expensive<00:25:31.480> the<00:25:31.640> coverage<00:25:32.080>
  • All right, next up is 552, relative to coverage of children under the State Retirees Insurance Plan.
  • It says in the fiscal note, however, the cost of a dependent's coverage on the retiree plan is $1,044
  • They get the coverage.
  • So divide that by four; now you're down to $400. plan the retiree because the retiree has plan the retiree
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 733-FN, a bill concerning third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors funding lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, increases litigation abuse, and contributes to higher insurance and consumer costs. He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with guardrails and reporting requirements on specified pages of the bill. He also noted a couple of drafting fixes, including adding the word “knowingly” and incorporating a missing section later. Members raised questions about the bill’s foreign-entity language, especially the provision allowing a governor or the Department of Safety to designate a country as a threat to critical infrastructure. Representative Cole said he would have lawyers review that issue. Another member asked whether the bill would prohibit a party from obtaining outside funding for a lawsuit; Cole clarified that the bill is intended as a reporting measure, not a ban, and that disclosure would be required. He also said the bill is aimed at American citizens rather than foreign-backed financing, and that some states had considered caps on such arrangements, though this bill does not. Brandon Gratz of the Attorney General’s office testified that the enforcement language appears too limited, because it would allow only civil penalties and not broader Consumer Protection Act remedies such as injunctions or restitution. He suggested the Attorney General may not have meaningful authority under the bill as written and raised possible insurance-law issues. Commissioner D.J. Benton-Court of the Insurance Department said the disclosure could help insurers better assess risk and potentially soften the hard insurance market by improving transparency, competition, underwriting, innovation, and claims management. He also said the bill likely needs further work on jurisdiction and enforcement, and that the committee may need to coordinate with the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and possibly banking regulators. No vote was taken in the portion provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Apr 22nd, 2026

Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:
  • By requiring coverage for GLP-1 medications, SB 1089 would save lives and reduce. ...reduce health care
  • Under existing law, large employers are already required to offer affordable coverage.
  • The bill's stated purpose is to... ...workers who voluntarily choose Medi-Cal over offered coverage,
  • Public employees and retirees deserve no less, and I think, of course, we all agree on that.
  • A couple of things. that are important to provide pension benefits to our members and retirees.
Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit to help agricultural employers offset overtime premium costs for farmworkers. Senator Grove and supporters, including farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, and agricultural groups, argued the bill would restore lost hours and take-home pay after California’s agricultural overtime law reduced schedules. Opponents, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and CRLA Foundation, argued the proposal would subsidize employers with taxpayer dollars and undermine the principle that employers should pay overtime themselves. The bill was held in subcommittee until more members arrived. The committee then took up SB 1083, a cleanup bill to the prior year’s school employee misconduct database law. The author and supporters said it would add due process protections for classified school employees, require an administrative law judge review before placement in the database, and improve notice and vetting rules for contractors and non-permanent staff. School employer groups and other opponents warned the bill could slow investigations and weaken child-safety protections. The committee approved the bill 3-0 and sent it to Senate Appropriations. Members also considered SB 1089, which would require CalPERS health plans to cover GLP-1 medications and expand access through CalRX for chronic weight management and related health conditions. The author and supporters, including the American Diabetes Association and medical groups, said the drugs can prevent diabetes and improve health outcomes but remain unaffordable for many. Pharma representatives expressed concerns about the bill as drafted but said they were open to continued discussions. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar 4-0. Later, the committee heard SB 954, which would narrow and add guardrails to last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing, including environmental review near disadvantaged communities and labor standards such as prevailing wage and skilled-and-trained workforce requirements. Labor, environmental, and community groups supported the bill as a cleanup of an overly broad exemption, while business and manufacturing groups opposed it, warning it would discourage investment and worsen California’s competitiveness. The bill passed 3-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1299, a fire sprinkler fitter certification bill, was heard and passed 3-0 to Appropriations with support from the sprinkler fitters and building trades and no recorded opposition.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Feb 27th, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • in that era that have employees retirees in that era that have employees retirees in that era that have
  • we still are having funding for retirees we still are having funding for retirees we still are having
  • are out into your community and retirees are out into your community and retirees are saying uh we can
  • going to hurt some more I'm a retiree going to hurt some more I'm a retiree and I'm a fedal retiree
  • and so you know and I'm a fedal retiree and so you know and I'm a fedal retiree and so you know I know
Keywords: 1136, house, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

October 7, 2025 - 12:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • WITHIN A DECADE, PROJECTED TO BE ONLY 2.4 WORKERS PER RETIREE AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE THE
  • FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE COVERAGE ISSUES. YOU MIGHT HAVE EXCLUSIONS ON POLICIES.
  • MANY POLICYHOLDERS PURCHASE, COMMERCIAL INTEREST, CRIME COVERAGE.
  • CRIME COVERAGE PROVIDES COVERAGE FOR SITUATIONS WHERE AN INSURER HAS BEEN DEFRAUDED.
  • THERE IS OTHER EXAMPLES OF THAT, COVERAGE LANGUAGE THAT YOU THINK IS REALLY CLEAR.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Employee Benefits Programs Committee May 7th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • If those pass, those get added to the coverage and then whatever coverage ends up being final after legislative
  • fully insured coverage and self-insured arrangements.
  • So that is what someone, what the family coverage costs and what the single coverage costs.
  • Those are the types of coverage we're looking to add.
  • There was one other state that I believe had 100% for individual coverage. 100% for individual coverage
Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to approve prior minutes, hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave, and related policy issues, and then recess for lunch. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the long-standing state-paid family coverage, cost-control measures, wellness incentives, the current grandfathered PPO and high-deductible options, and the effects of recent benefit mandates such as insulin caps, prosthetic coverage, medication management, prescription copay changes, and ambulance balance-billing limits. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact of adding benefits and the possible cost of moving to a non-grandfathered plan, while PERS and HRMS emphasized that health insurance remains the top-ranked employee benefit and that any major plan changes should be considered carefully. HRMS also presented compensation comparisons showing state pay generally below private-market benchmarks, discussed targeted market equity adjustments, identified ongoing recruitment and retention concerns in fields like nursing, IT, engineering, and attorneys, and reviewed leave policies, tuition reimbursement, and family leave comparisons with neighboring states. Job Service provided labor market data showing low unemployment, high labor force participation, and wage growth that still trails some neighboring markets, and OMB explained that prevailing wage requirements apply to federally funded projects under Davis-Bacon, not to ordinary state contracts. After lunch, the committee took up the required process for health insurance mandate bills and adopted an amendment to Joint Rule 211. The amendment clarified that the deadline for submitting mandate measures is intended to allow time for all required reports, including both the cost-benefit analysis and any Employee Benefits Committee actuarial report, while leaving the existing deadline unchanged. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, with several members voting yes and a few no votes recorded. The committee then moved into its jurisdiction review of bill drafts, beginning with a bill that would automatically renew pre-tax dental and vision elections; members debated whether it had any actuarial or administrative impact on PERS or the state, and the chair explained that the committee’s role was only to decide whether further analysis was needed before later testimony and recommendations.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 23rd, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • I've been a TSCU member since 1987, and I am a retiree.
  • Retirees are...
  • But this is a very good bill for retirees.
  • About 30% of the retirees support this bill.
  • Higher education employees with TRS coverage have no 2% at all.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • coverage the more expensive<00:25:31.480> the<00:25:31.640> coverage<00:25:32.080>
  • Next up is HB 552, relative to coverage of children under the State Retirees Insurance Plan.
  • HB 552, relative to coverage of children under the State Retirees Insurance Plan.
  • It says in the fiscal note, however, the cost of a dependent's coverage on the retiree plan is $1,044
  • CU life is like that. plan the retiree because the retiree has plan the retiree because the retiree has
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted. Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition. Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators. Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The basic point is that when the state increases pensions for retirees, state retirees, it benefits the
  • cost-of-living increase for our ERS retirees.
  • And I'm an ERS retiree with 30 years of Janice Zittleman, and I'm an ERS retiree with 30 years of service
  • Same story when we came back as retirees: no funds. Ms.
  • Same story when we came back as retirees: no funds.
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Apr 16th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , the clerk will read: Assembly Bill 2233 by Assembly Member Taw, an act relating to health care coverage
  • Assembly Bill 2233 by Assembly Member Taw, an act relating to health care coverage.
  • AB 1601 is a district bill being brought on behalf of the retirees for the County of Sonoma.
  • As a result, it has been since 2008 that these retirees have seen any type of increase.
  • As a result, it has been since 2008 that these retirees have seen any type of increase, which has cut
Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer and pledge, and then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several bills to different committees and permission for committees to notice bills pending re-referral. A motion by Assemblymember Castillo to suspend the rules and take up AB 2670 immediately failed on a 18-39 vote. Assemblymember DeMaio then moved to re-refer AB 2624 back to the Privacy Committee, arguing the bill had been misrepresented in committee; the Majority Leader’s substitute motion to move to the Daily File was accepted 44-19, and the chamber proceeded to regular business. On the Daily File, the Assembly adopted ACR 120 on Positive Parenting Awareness Month after Senate amendments were concurred in 56-0. It also adopted ACR 150 declaring California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, with broad support and 62 coauthors added. Several policy bills then passed, including AB 2233 on autism treatment access and missed appointments (57-0), AB 1601 creating a pathway for a Sonoma County retiree COLA review (50-3), and AB 1801 expanding notice and transparency requirements for private detention facility approvals (45-16). The chamber also adopted H.R. 103 recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, with 60 coauthors added. Members also gave guest introductions recognizing the Greek Evzones, the Whitney High School girls cross country team, and dispatch and public safety telecommunicator guests. Additional resolutions on the consent calendar, including ACR 130, ACR 172, and H.R. 104, were added to by coauthors and then adopted along with the remaining consent calendar items, which passed 62-0. The Assembly then announced upcoming committee and floor schedules and adjourned until Monday, April 20 at 1 p.m.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Apr 16th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Assembly Bill 2233 by Assembly Member Taw, an act relating to health care coverage.
  • Assembly Bill 2233 by Assembly Member Taw, an act relating to health care coverage.
  • AB 1601 is a district bill being brought on behalf of the retirees for the County of Sonoma.
  • As a result, it has been since 2008 that these retirees have seen any type of increase.
  • As a result, it has been since 2008 that these retirees have seen any type of increase, which has cut
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and then handled a series of procedural motions. Members approved several re-referrals and committee notices, but a motion by Assemblymember Castillo to immediately take up AB 2670 on Medi-Cal fraud failed on a 18-39 vote. A later motion by Assemblymember DeMaio to send AB 2624 back to the Privacy Committee was replaced by a majority substitute motion to move to the Daily File, which passed 44-19. On the floor file, the Assembly considered several measures and resolutions. ACR 120 on Positive Parenting Awareness Month was concurred in 56-0, and ACR 150 declaring California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week was adopted after 62 coauthors were added. AB 2233 on autism therapy access passed 57-0, AB 1601 creating a pathway for a Sonoma County retiree COLA study passed 50-3, and AB 1801 on notice and transparency for private detention facilities passed 45-16. HR 103 recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week was also adopted after 60 coauthors were added. The chamber also heard guest introductions recognizing the Evzones, Greece’s presidential guard, and the Whitney High School girls cross country team, along with remarks honoring several members’ birthdays. The second-day consent calendar was then adopted 62-0, including multiple bills and resolutions, and the Assembly adjourned until Monday, April 20 at 1 p.m.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Sep 23rd, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • We were mandated by the legislature to increase biomarker coverage, ensuring very broad coverage of what
  • For the retiree health care outpaces the growth in personal income tax revenue.
  • Retiree health care distributions.
  • But where does that merge with the actual costs for retirees' health care?
  • They tend to stay on longer for healthcare, their coverage through Medicaid.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Legislative Session Day 35 (2-26-26) - Reupload

Kentucky House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This amendment would extend the 13th check to our state retirees.
  • This amendment would extend the 13th check to our state retirees.
  • This amendment would extend the 13th check to our state retirees.
  • paycheck for state retirees. Thank you. paycheck for state retirees. Thank you.
  • for coverage. for coverage.
Summary: The House convened with 97 members present, declared a quorum, approved excusing absent members, and suspended the rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The journal for February 25, 2026 was approved. The clerk also reported that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 98 and 122 and requested concurrence. The House then received second-reading reports on a range of bills, including measures on prison educational programs, respiratory care, dietitians, wildlife depredation, temporary structures, military families, civil rights, local boards of education, light pollution, controlled-substance prescribing licenses, youth health services, class sizes for exceptional children, the athletic trainer compact, limited commercial driver’s licenses, and Senate Bill 145 relating to the Department of Agriculture and Alcohol Beverage Control. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including the main budget bills House Bill 500 and House Bill 504, along with measures on workforce investment, data centers, domestic violence, guardians ad litem, domestic relations, health delivery and “food is medicine” initiatives, state personnel, open records, and fish and wildlife resources. House Bill 500 and House Bill 504 were taken from the Rules Committee and placed on the orders of the day. House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill, was then taken up for third reading and explanation. Members presented extensive floor explanations of House Bill 500 and House Committee Substitute 1, describing it as a “good first draft” of the executive budget. Supporters said the proposal emphasizes restrained spending growth, base reductions with exemptions for key areas, employee salary increments, and deposits to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future one-time investments. They highlighted funding for K-12 education, postsecondary aid and workforce training, Medicaid and behavioral health, public health infrastructure, pensions, veterans, public safety, economic development, tourism, and state technology and facility maintenance. The budget substitute was adopted by voice vote, and the discussion continued with detailed descriptions of the bill’s provisions; no final passage vote was shown in the excerpt.