Transcript Highlights:

• and $30 from each marriage license filing fee without the premarital education piece.
• and $30 from each marriage license filing fee without the premarital education piece.
• These amounts will not increase the overall filing fee paid by applicants.
• These amounts will not increase the overall filing fee paid by applicants.
• the amount collected from these fees the amount collected from these fees<00:55:59.760> was<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, across fee for service and your managed care.
• It's wide open fee for service members.
• It's a sliding fee scale.
• Those waiver services are in fee-for-service.
• What other services are still in fee for service.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• "Direct fee-for-service carve-out management models have their critics.
• Thank you. $28,560 again with a $0 dispensing fee $28,560 again with a $0 dispensing fee for<01:13:25.199
• So um unlike the fee for dipping.
• The offset to that would be the dispensing fees would increase to the fee-for-service dispensing fee.
• So the fee-for-service program will still continue to pay at the lower ceiling price estimate.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Jones: Gas taxes, tab fees, all those things are essentially the way we do user fees for
• , which are directly tab fees and gas fees...
• Representative Jones: Gas taxes, tab fees, all those things are essentially the way we do user fees for
• , which are directly tab fees and gas fees...
• , which are directly tab fees and gas fees.

Bills: HF1167, HF1242

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• went through a process of seeing a backlog when there was some spring cleaning, if you will, done on fees
• allow the town to use prior compliance to the conditions of their permit or any sort of outstanding fees
• allow the town to use prior compliance to the conditions of their permit or any sort of outstanding fees
• that they still. compliance to the conditions of their permit or any sort of outstanding fees that they
• H. 2273, an act authorizing the town of Sudbury to establish a fee for checkout bags.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held its first hearing of the year and took testimony on a large slate of home rule petitions and related local bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2314 for the Dukes County Regional Lockup Fund, with supporters from Martha’s Vineyard saying the island’s lockup is essential to local policing and that the fund would be supported by town assessments rather than state money. The committee also heard support for S. 21, a Nantucket bill to amend the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission, and for several local governance measures including Akushnet’s charter change to remove a two-year waiting period for former officials taking appointed paid positions, Rochester’s governance reform bill defining the town administrator’s role, Berkeley’s proposal to convert the treasurer-collector position to an appointed office, Hanson’s permitting enforcement bill, and a Wellfleet bill authorizing a lease for the food pantry. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 21 for Nantucket, with witnesses sharply divided. Supporters argued the commission needs broader representation, more transparency, and a structure that better reflects town meeting votes, citing repeated town meeting approvals and frustration with delays in bringing reforms forward. Opponents, including current commission members and staff, said the existing commission is already working on its own reform proposal, that the bill was advanced without sufficient collaboration, and that elected seats and term limits would narrow participation and complicate the commission’s advisory role. Committee members questioned both sides about the town meeting process, the commission’s responsibilities, and the timing of competing proposals. The committee also heard testimony in favor of a bill allowing the Cotuit Fire District to pursue source-water protection projects on private property with owner consent, citing concerns about aquifer contamination and rising treatment needs, and in support of legislation requiring AEDs, with a Norfolk County register of deeds describing the low cost and life-saving value of the devices. Another witness spoke in favor of a regional commission proposal for Middlesex County, arguing that local communities need stronger regional planning tools to address development and environmental pressures. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing; the chair later read many additional bills into the record and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• put on state reforestation areas, points to Article 7 of the Public Lands Law, which Establishes a fee
• Is that how much the fee would be for a solar developer to put solar panels on the state reforestation
• So is that—that's a very old fee.
• Will that be the fee that a solar company will be paying the State of New York for developing a solar
• We can get more information on that, but my understanding is the initial filing fee stands as it is.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior day’s journal, and then recognized several guest groups, including the Shenendehowa High School girls varsity cross country team and tennis champion Jolie Chichak, as well as the Downsville Central School Student Council. Senator Tedisco introduced the Shenendehowa athletes, highlighting their state and federation championships and strong academic records, and Senator Oberacker introduced the Downsville students. The chamber extended courtesies to the guests. The Senate then moved through the calendar, passing a series of bills and resolutions. Among the measures approved were a bill designating Overdose Awareness Day, a real property tax bill, a public authorities bill, several education-related bills, a private housing finance bill, a workers’ compensation bill, and a labor law bill. Some items were laid aside before later being taken up, including the cannabis bill and the environmental conservation bill. Votes were largely unanimous or near-unanimous, with a few recorded negatives on certain bills. The most extensive debate centered on Calendar 261, Senator May’s environmental conservation bill concerning renewable energy installations and transmission on state reforestation lands. Senator Walczyk and others questioned whether the bill would allow solar, wind, battery storage, tree cutting, herbicide use, and reduced environmental review, while supporters argued the bill was mainly about transmission corridors, climate goals, and preserving flexibility for DEC oversight and mitigation. After debate, the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar and passed 42-13. The Senate also passed Calendar 353, Senator Ramos’s labor law bill addressing class action wage recovery and statutory damages. Supporters said it would clarify the law so workers can recover full wages in class actions, while opponents warned it could encourage litigation against small businesses over technical payroll errors. The bill passed 47-8. The Senate then completed the calendar and adjourned until March 4, 2026, with intervening days as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• The intent was that everybody would pay that fee with regards to House Bill 1998. program, but the way
• Of that group, only two licensed types were able to contribute to... the funding through the fee, based
• One additional fee, not two? Because I thought they only paid two.
• No, it's a standard. $15 fee, but we're expanding the basket. OK, thank you. Yes, ma'am.
• I just think it's interesting that a one-time fee of making sure that your staff—I mean, we made all

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• Certain fees and charges by a landlord, for the Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development
• HB 4309 by Busey, relating to the filing fee for a nomination by convention, referred to the Committee
• HB 4313 by Bella Montgomery, relating to the authority of a political subdivision to impose a fee to
• HB 4363 by Money, relating to battery energy storage facilities and authorizing fees, for the Committee
• HB 4364 by Money, relating to collective re-amendments and transfer fees. ...of enhancing border security

Bills: HJR4, HJR6, HB195, HB 13, HB143, HB135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• for 19 FTEs and the criminal Investigations Division and then item five is a new rider for contingent fee
• untracked payments that would allow the agency to pay contingent fees based on. on recovered amounts
• Item nine is an agency request for new Writer that would provide the authority to charge a rental fee
• At that time, there was a $2 fee assessed on each transaction that went through the Texas.gov account
• The bill that got rid of those the inspections now that same $2 fee goes directly to GR So it bypasses

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fee, and some evidence that that fee has been audited, presumably by somebody independent selected by
• , AND THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE, AND SOME EVIDENCE THAT THAT FEE HAS BEEN AUDITED, PRESUMABLY BY SOMEBODY
• You take your paint to a store, they charge you the fee.
• collecting that fee, you will be violating that law.
• interest in ensuring that fee is properly collected.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on June 3, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through a long list of discharge motions and substitutions to place many bills on the third reading calendar. The chamber also adopted Resolution J.2314 honoring the New York chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with remarks emphasizing domestic workers’ role in care work, labor organizing, and protections such as paid sick leave and family leave. Another adopted resolution, J.2298, mourned labor and social justice advocate Minerva Solla, with senators highlighting her work with 1199, the Young Lords, Puerto Rican solidarity efforts, and women’s organizing. A third resolution recognized Olympic curler Daniel Casper for representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Games. The Senate then confirmed a large slate of judicial and executive nominations. It accepted the Judiciary Committee report and confirmed four interim Supreme Court justices, seven Court of Claims judges, and 21 reappointments/extensions by a vote of 44-12. The Finance Committee report was also accepted, and the Senate confirmed a broad set of appointments to state boards and authorities, including the MTA, State Commission of Correction, Power Authority, NYSERDA, Financial Control Board, public health councils, SUNY and Cornell boards, gaming and bridge authorities, and others. One notable confirmation was Alexander Dockery to the State Commission of Correction; supporters called it the first time a formerly incarcerated person had been confirmed to that commission, while Senator Murray criticized the practice of voting on large nomination blocks rather than individually. The chamber then took up and passed many bills, mostly by wide margins, covering labor, health, education, transportation, public service, criminal justice, municipal, tax, insurance, and environmental topics. Several members explained their votes on major measures: Senator Ramos supported a bill modernizing temporary disability benefits and another protecting construction workers from lost pay when jobs are canceled; Senator Baskin spoke about a correction bill tied to the death of India Cummings; Senator Skoufis described a family-court custody bill intended to prioritize child safety; Senator Mayer backed a proposal to reimburse parents of medically fragile children for providing care; and Senator Hinchey defended a bill requiring employers to report AI-related job impacts, while Senator Borrello opposed it as burdensome. Most bills were passed, some were laid aside, and the session concluded with multiple roll-call votes and confirmations before adjournment-related business.

Transcript Highlights:

• or the yeah, could the the um the fee or the yeah, the<01:38:36.200> fee<01:38:36.440> could
• <01:50:37.160> I attorney's fees. Is just a suggestion. I attorney's fees.
• the the filing fee.
• Was referencing the the filing fee.
• <01:55:08.600> and um and reasonable attorney's fees and um and reasonable attorney's fees

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to pay fees to be able to, for an industry, to take responsibility.
• You said the fee's going to follow that directly, or what's the fee going to be?
• So it would be like a license fee.
• You pay a license fee for gaming fish to be able to fund them to regulate them.
• So is it a set fee, or is it based on a percentage of the usage? It's percentage.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulation Commission Act, creating the utility oversight fund, changing distribution of collected fees
• and penalties, and providing for the enforcement of fees by the Public Regulation Commission.
• Regulation Commission Act, creating the utility oversight fund, changing distribution of collected fees
• Changing distribution of collected fees and penalties, providing for the enforcement of fees by the Public
• and Duncan, an act relating to labor, requiring the Health Care Authority to set a minimum Medicaid fee

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• that there is reason to believe that in the lower-market communities that are more reliant on impact fees
• to fund that in the lower-market communities that are more reliant on impact fees to fund infrastructure
• and that may lose them from the changes in the in need of impact fees and that may lose them from the
• I would emphasize here that I think those infrastructure fees should be focused in those lower-market
• , it might not be on road or vehicle throughput the way you would conventionally think of an impact fee

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard a series of work-session presentations focused on transit-oriented development, commercial-to-residential redevelopment, building code implementation, housing market trends, and the Covenant Homeownership Program. The first presentation, from the Urban Institute, reviewed research on HB 1491 and TOD feasibility, arguing that Washington has made major progress but faces diverging conditions across transit areas. The presenter said rising construction costs, higher interest rates, and lower rents in some markets have made many projects less feasible, and recommended targeted infrastructure funding for lower-market communities, adjustments to MFTE and affordability requirements by local market conditions, more support for very low-income housing in high-market transit areas, minimum density standards near stations, expanded public land/joint development tools, and better tracking of TOD outcomes over time. Committee members asked about AMI calculations, immigration’s effect on construction labor, developer input, and whether a tracking mechanism had been removed from the bill. The Department of Commerce then outlined implementation of HB 1491 and demonstrated the new Washington Zoning Atlas, which is live and intended to help visualize zoning, overlays, and station-area conditions. Commerce said local governments will designate station areas, update zoning and MFTE policies, and handle anti-displacement measures, with Vancouver and Spokane first to implement and Puget Sound following later. Staff described a timeline for updated MFTE guidance, station-area implementation guidance, a TOD model ordinance, and later rulemaking on variances. The committee also heard from the Lieutenant Governor’s office on a report about converting commercial properties to housing, which found substantial potential for redevelopment on vacant or underused commercial land, especially near transit, but noted barriers such as ground-floor retail mandates, affordability requirements, infrastructure costs, private covenants, and slow implementation. The office urged by-right residential use on commercial land and faster rollout of new housing laws. The State Building Code Council updated the committee on its three-year code cycle and several legislatively directed actions, including minimum dwelling size, emergency shelters, and especially single-exit stairs and multiplex housing. Council staff said those code changes are nearing completion and will provide prescriptive solutions, while noting that elevator size and requirements were not changed and would require separate legislative direction if the committee wanted to revisit them. Members discussed the cost impacts of building and energy codes and the council said it is required to consider economic impacts and is increasingly looking at performance-based approaches. Later, the Washington Center for Real Estate Research presented its annual housing report, showing that higher mortgage rates have sharply reduced affordability, flattened house prices in many cities, and slowed single-family permitting and completions, while multifamily construction has recently cooled after a prior surge. Finally, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission reported strong first-year results for the Covenant Homeownership Program, which provides zero-interest down payment assistance to eligible first-time buyers with family ties to Washington before 1968; the program assisted 547 homebuyers in its first fiscal year, with more than $60 million loaned, and the agency said participation has continued to grow after income-limit changes enacted in 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to use Medicare fee-for-service data. That's the only source of data we have.
• , but not defendant's attorney's fees.
• In Med-Mal cases, the percent of attorney's fees is most often a third.
• I don't think capping plaintiff's fees, or plaintiff's percentage, is the way to go.
• We did have Senate Bill 176, which was proposed to cap attorney fees in medical malpractice.

Transcript Highlights:

• often involves adherence to local regulations and standards regarding right-of-way usage, including fees
• is to file the application with the appropriate agency, including all necessary documentation and fees
• has its own specific rules regarding placement of utility within the right-of-way, including permit fees
• anyway, those revenues were absorbed in the communication services tax, and because of that, permit fees
• anyway, those revenues were absorbed in the communication services tax, and because of that, permit fees

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee met with a quorum present and first heard HB 11 from Representative Robinson. The bill would address an unintended consequence in Florida’s municipal utility surcharge law by requiring the same water/utility rate for residents when a utility facility is physically located within one municipality but owned by another, rather than allowing the owning municipality to impose a 25% surcharge. The sponsor and several members described it as a fairness issue affecting residents who do not receive local tax support for the facility but still bear the surcharge. Public testimony included support from AARP and Miami-Dade County and opposition from North Miami Beach. The bill was reported favorably on an 18-0 vote. The committee then held a panel discussion on utility use of public rights-of-way and utility relocation. Panelists from FDOT, county government, gas, water, electric, and communications sectors described the permitting process, noting that FDOT uses a detailed utility accommodation manual and that local governments may use permits, franchise agreements, or ordinances depending on the utility type. They emphasized that utilities often must coordinate early with agencies using long-range work programs and project plans, and that the process differs by utility and jurisdiction. Communications witnesses discussed Chapter 337 and the 60-day local permitting shot clock, while others noted the role of Sunshine State One Call in locating facilities before excavation. A major focus was who pays for relocations when road or infrastructure projects require utilities to move. FDOT and several panelists said utilities generally bear the cost when they are in public right-of-way, with exceptions such as certain interstate/interchange projects and easement impacts. Utility representatives said relocations are often effectively new builds, can be costly, and are ultimately reflected in rates or customer costs. Members also asked about easements versus right-of-way, damage and disputes during construction, broadband workforce needs, and whether legislation could improve coordination. Panelists largely said the existing process works best when agencies, contractors, and utilities communicate early and continuously, and that more legislation may not be necessary compared with better planning, staffing, and use of technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a policy decision on the legislature on setting filing fees.
• I can say that those filing fees both support the clerks of court, which retains some of the fees, and
• But we don't have a policy group that recommends the changes to the filing fees.
• I can say that those filing fees both support the clerks of court, which retains some of the fees, and
• But we don't have a policy group that recommends the changes to the filing fees.

Summary: The Justice Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the justice budget and the major agencies within it. Chair Maney explained that the committee would hear broad presentations rather than detailed budget questions, and the first panel included the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, Commission on Offender Review, Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the State Courts Administrator, and the Attorney General’s Office. Each agency described its mission, staffing, budget, and major responsibilities, with repeated emphasis on public safety, rehabilitation, staffing shortages, technology needs, and the importance of mental health services and education in reducing recidivism. Secretary Hall described DJJ’s prevention-to-aftercare continuum, including civil citation, detention, probation, and residential commitment programs, and highlighted reductions in juvenile arrests and commitments. Secretary Dixon said DOC’s biggest issues are staffing, overtime, and inflation, while noting progress in education, reentry, and a low recidivism rate. FDLE Commissioner Glass outlined the agency’s investigative, forensic, intelligence, and protective functions, including work on fentanyl enforcement and crime reporting systems. The State Courts Administrator emphasized the judiciary’s constitutional role, case volume, and challenges in providing interpreters, experts, and technology support. Chief Deputy Attorney General Guard described the office’s litigation, criminal appeals, consumer protection, and opioid recovery work, especially defending state laws and recovering opioid settlement funds. Members then asked questions about prison conditions, immigration enforcement, court filing fees, crime reporting, staffing ratios, and transnational gangs. Agency leaders responded that they were not aware of ICE contracts in some cases, that FDLE works with immigration authorities and detention facilities under existing authority, and that filing fees are a legislative policy decision. The committee also heard from the Justice Administrative Commission, prosecutors, public defenders, guardian ad litem, regional conflict counsel, and capital collateral regional counsel, who focused on indigent representation, dependency and death penalty cases, and persistent staffing and retention problems. No votes were taken, and the meeting concluded after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• the amendment, is take the decal fee the amendment, is take the decal fee down<01:06:00.319>
• fees.
• So if it is 100 different fee fees.
• determine what a reasonable fee here is. determine what a reasonable fee here is.
• President. reasonable attorney fees. Uh that reasonable attorney fees.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid fee schedule. I'd like to Medicaid fee schedule.
• referred to, the the Medicaid fee referred to, the the Medicaid fee schedule<01:06:21.760> that
• fee schedule? fee schedule?
• is to try to tether us tether our fee is to try to tether us tether our fee schedule<01:06:38.000
• significant improvement in the fee significant improvement in the fee schedule<01:07:00.079>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to begin work on HB 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and more broadly to study special education aid/differentiated aid and related costing issues. The chair said the group was starting early because the issue has been debated for years without resolution, local districts are being forced to absorb prorated costs, and the committee wants to send the Department of Education and HHS Medicaid a clear request for data and recommendations before retained bills return in the fall. A committee clerk was also selected, with Representative Reverend volunteering to take notes for the meeting. Members reviewed background materials on special education enrollment, high-cost students, and possible funding formulas, including data on students in high-cost brackets and prior ideas such as category-based funding and caseload-based approaches. The chair also referenced research on other states, including Arkansas, which uses a different special education funding structure and audits IEPs. The committee emphasized that it was focused on the funding mechanics and costs, not on questioning whether services should be provided. Henry Lipman of HHS explained how Medicaid-to-schools currently works in New Hampshire. He said 172 school districts participate, but utilization dropped during the pandemic and remains below historical levels, in part because districts need the capacity to bill Medicaid. Under the current system, schools receive reimbursement based on half of the Medicaid fee schedule, with the school district effectively providing the state share. He said the federal government is requiring a shift by July 1, 2026, to a true certified public expenditure model based on actual costs, which should allow schools to recover 50% of their true costs and some administrative overhead. The department has received a roughly $2.5 million grant to hire a vendor and support districts through the transition, and an RFP and stakeholder meetings are underway. Committee members asked about how costs would be determined, whether the new system would use actual district-specific costs rather than averages, and how the department would support districts that do not currently participate. Lipman said the cost model would be based on each district’s own reasonable costs, subject to audit standards, and that the department expects to provide templates and technical assistance through the vendor because its staff is limited. He also said about one in four New Hampshire children are enrolled in Medicaid, that child enrollment has been relatively stable, and that continuous coverage rules should reduce churn. No votes or formal actions on HB 742 were taken during the meeting beyond organizing the subcommittee and beginning testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Taxpayers, student fees.
• Our infrastructure is right now. 1430 would reduce fuel taxes, vehicle fees, and road uses fees for four
• We've collected additional fees for HUTF from deliveries.
• , In taxes, in sales tax, in gas tax, in fees, fees on their motor vehicle registration, which in their
• So they accept the credit, the fee to do this work.

Keywords: 981, all