Transcript Highlights:

• Some families have self-funded insurance, which would not have to adhere to that legislation.
• Out-of-pocket costs still may be high, and some providers may not accept insurance.
• So, those cost barriers do insurance. So, those cost barriers do still<00:12:33.280> exist.
• insurance coverage if available. available. available.
• Commissioner Dennis. Director, excuse me, Director Taylor.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• board and I'm also a police commissioner board and I'm also a police commissioner in<00:19:18.320
• um after that I became an insurance um after that I became an insurance fraud fraud fraud investigator
• <00:31:54.519> there say there isn't fraud in Insurance there say there isn't fraud in Insurance
• tax credit which an insurance company can take against their BPT, and a bunch of others.
• there's the insurance tax credit which<03:16:30.720> a<03:16:31.120> insurance<03:16:31.600

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory Ways and Means Committee orientation led by Chair John Janigian. Members went around the room introducing themselves, with several returning legislators and several freshmen describing their backgrounds in business, education, public service, finance, transportation, journalism, military service, and nonprofit work. Janigian explained his own legislative history and professional background, and other members, including Bill Bolton, Fred Doucette, Mary Ford, Jim Tierney, Scott Brier, Thomas Oppel, Mary Murphy, Representative Spar, Susan Elberger, Dennis Malloy, Jordan Ulery, and Julius Soti, briefly described their prior experience and reasons for serving on the committee. The chair then outlined the committee’s role. He said Ways and Means is responsible for revenue estimates that Finance will use to determine how much the state can spend over the next biennium, and that the committee would spend the next five to six weeks developing its best revenue estimate, due around February 15. He also explained that the committee hears from state agencies and departments about how taxes are created, collected, and performing against expectations, and that it reviews bills affecting state revenue, including tax increases, tax decreases, tax removals, and fee-related measures. Janigian noted that the committee had five bills at the time of the meeting and expected more to be referred. He explained that most would be first-committee bills, though some second-committee bills could come over if they involved taxes or fees after passing policy committees. He used marijuana-related legislation as an example of a bill that might first go to another committee and later reach Ways and Means if it had fiscal implications. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational, and members were told how to participate in hearings and follow-up questions during regular committee work.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's great to see three of our county commissioners up on the dais. Is there actually five?
• Working with the commissioners, always appreciative. The management has been wonderful.
• We have Commissioner Barbara Baca, completing two terms as Chair of the Commission.
• Thank you, Commissioner Baca.
• We have Commissioner Walt Benson as well, and I'm going to dote on one of the commissioners because I've

Transcript Highlights:

• DHH commissioners update and Commissioner Weaver. >> Second. >> Second.
• DHH commissioners update and Commissioner Weaver. >> Uh, good morning.
• Lori Weaver, Commissioner HHS.
• Lori Weaver, Commissioner<00:06:31.120> HHS.
• For the record, I do Commissioner HHS.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including roll call and approval of the prior meeting minutes, with one member abstaining because of absence and one member opposing. The main informational items were a Department of Health and Human Services update on the rural health transformation grant and a public health briefing on vaccines, followed by a quarterly budget and staffing update and an annual report from the Permanent Subcommittee on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias. Commissioner Lori Weaver reported that the department submitted the rural health transformation grant application on November 4, described it as reflecting input from communities and providers statewide, and said CMS review and budget negotiations would follow before final approval on December 31. She said the grant could support hiring as long as administrative costs stay within the 10% cap, and that the governor’s office will oversee administration with HHS. Ian Watt then testified that New Hampshire remains committed to vaccine access, including through the universal purchase program and annual respiratory virus guidance for flu, RSV, and COVID-19. He said the state continues to use evidence-based review for vaccine policy, noted the CDC’s change regarding the combined MMRV vaccine for the first dose in young children, and said New Hampshire’s school vaccine mandates remain at nine for schoolchildren and 10 for child care, with statutory exemptions still in place. Department staff also said there have been no supply or funding problems affecting childhood vaccine access. Nathan White, the department’s CFO, reviewed the DHHS budget and vacancy trends. He said DHHS makes up a large share of the state budget, that about 31% of its budget is general funds subject to lapse, and that lapse projections are difficult because much of the budget is driven by utilization rather than personnel. He reported current projected general fund lapse of just under $20 million, compared with about $39 million in the statewide surplus statement, and explained that only about a third of DHHS general funds can actually lapse because of statutory restrictions. He also said the department has about 400 unfunded positions, contributing to roughly a $30 million general fund reduction across the biennium, and that the hiring freeze has pushed vacancy trends upward while critical direct-care positions are being prioritized. The Alzheimer’s subcommittee reported six meetings this year, presentations on state services, silver alerts, brain health awareness, and palliative/hospice care, and work toward a new state Alzheimer’s plan. The subcommittee is developing a needs-assessment survey for people living with dementia, caregivers, and service providers, with the goal of using the results and other data sources to inform the plan. Its recommendations focus on integrating Alzheimer’s and dementia materials into chronic disease and aging outreach, embedding brain health into systems of care, adding cognitive health measures to BRFSS, and continuing partnerships with statewide organizations. Members also discussed recent research and prevention efforts, and the committee noted that a separate bill is being pursued to include Alzheimer’s and dementia in existing public health awareness campaigns.

Transcript Highlights:

• crash after running through a stop sign or after running through a red light must carry enhanced insurance
• May I disabuse of the notion this is Chair: an insurance fact or a bar related fact?
• I'd be surprised if any trial bar or insurance lobbyists are registered on this bill.
• It is an extremist approach and it allows for duly elected city and county commissioners to be removed
• We have problems with housing, property insurance, childcare, cost of goods rising, and those are the

Transcript Highlights:

• > the the deputy commissioner of the the deputy commissioner of the Department<00:24:43.600>
• On line three, it says the commissioner, starting on line two, it says the commissioner shall at such
• And I believe that this is a model act created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
• <04:10:17.600> Commissioners, Association of Insurance Commissioners, Association of Insurance
• We have a private insurance.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4965, relating to patient-centered treatment flexibility within the Public Employees Insurance
• It changes the threshold at which the tax is reduced and changes the date by which the tax commissioner
• These commissioners could do a number of things to ease the existing workload on our circuit court judges
• These commissioners are modeled after a similar pilot program that was successful in Texas and ultimately
• It is anticipated that three to five commissioners would be utilized in different regions of the state

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 11, 2026, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest and page introductions, including school groups, prayer caucus visitors, and advocates for Home Family Education Day and Women in Blue Day. The chamber then took up committee reports and a large number of House bills, most of them on third reading, along with several resolutions and referrals. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was adopted after remarks emphasizing the value of athletic trainers in preventing injuries and tragedies in school sports. Several other resolutions and concurrent resolutions were referred to the Committee on Rules or laid over under the rules. The Senate passed a wide range of bills addressing economic development, public safety, health, licensing, and state administration. Measures approved included bills on the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University, the Business Ready Sites program, volunteer fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure, work zone fines, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement law, the Right to Try Act, quick claim deed tax exemptions, an ibogaine drug-development grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide sentencing, 529 savings plan definitions, opportunity zones, barber apprenticeship, municipal and county hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, intimate image disclosure remedies, executor training materials, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS information, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, capitation rate review expansions, convention and visitors bureau board membership, peer support services, cosmetology licensure compacts, natural resource police retirement, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program, oil and gas well plugging and carbon capture-related provisions, DUI technical changes, abuse intervention program terminology, and a youth summer employment and career readiness program. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, with a few closer votes, including the Load Forecast Accountability Act and the DNR fee-indexing bill. Several bills were amended on the floor, including title amendments and strike-and-insert changes. The Senate also debated the work zone penalty bill, with supporters citing worker safety and fatalities and opponents arguing the bill increased fines too much without requiring removal of outdated work-zone signs. On the energy-related load forecast bill, senators discussed the inclusion of provisions from Senate Bill 420 and concerns about coal plant utilization and utility impacts. After debate, the Senate adopted amendments and passed the bill. In most cases, after passage the Senate ordered the bills communicated to the House, and for a few measures it also adopted title amendments or made bills effective from passage or on a specified date.

Transcript Highlights:

• to do that and you also need insurance to do that and you also need insurance to do that and that's
• reasons they want you to have insurance reasons they want you to have insurance they want you to have
• they don't have per have insurance they don't have per have insurance they don't have per permission
• for the events and they have insurance for the events and they have insurance for the events and they
• you see liability the insurance you see liability the insurance you see that yes ma'am which should

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we've got mortgage insurance, we've got property tax, and you've got homeowners insurance, and I
• I don't know how we give them a break on insurance, because we're not providing the insurance.
• Insurance, because we're not providing the insurance. That's the market rate.
• The commission is made up of commissioners from all over the state. Dr.
• Carol Cloor, The commission is made up of commissioners from all over the state. Dr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill and empowering the um Commissioner Bill and empowering the um Commissioner of<00:15:55.040>
• <00:49:01.319> and the track record of the commissioner and the track record of the commissioner
• career I'm regulated by the insurance career I'm regulated by the insurance department<00:50:04.240
• Our advice is call the commissioner or call Miss Fenton and flush it out that way.
• function um and so the insurance function um and so the insurance department<03:21:18.880> for

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met to hear House Bill 520, which would authorize the Department of Education to issue subpoenas in investigations and hearings involving the code of conduct for New Hampshire educators. Representative Lynn, the bill sponsor, said the measure was intended to give the department standard subpoena power during investigations and in later adjudicatory proceedings, with a process for challenging overbroad subpoenas. He argued that agencies with investigative and hearing authority should also have the power to compel witnesses and documents, and said the bill was narrowed from an earlier broader draft to focus on teacher credentialing and address concerns about scope. Members raised several concerns about whether the department already has enough authority, whether the Attorney General could handle subpoenas instead, and whether the bill creates an imbalance by giving subpoena power mainly to the investigating side. Representative Burroughs said she did not feel she had enough information and was uncomfortable with the bill, especially regarding who bears subpoena costs. Representative Biron questioned the trial analogy and whether both sides truly have equal subpoena rights. Lynn responded that the investigative stage is like a grand jury process, where only the investigating body subpoenas witnesses, while the adjudicatory stage allows both sides to seek subpoenas through the hearing officer. Other questions focused on the bill’s scope. Representative Andreos asked what investigative authority the Department of Education already has, and Representative Organ questioned why the bill is limited to educators rather than also covering vendors, charter school boards, or the EFA scholarship organization. Lynn said the limitation to educators was deliberate, because earlier broader versions drew objections for being too expansive. Representative Tur asked whether the Attorney General could already handle such matters, and Lynn said that while the AG might be able to pursue some investigations or court subpoenas, agencies should be able to conduct their own internal investigations. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of House Bill 38, a bill amending sections of the Health Care Purchasing Act and the New Mexico Insurance
• of House Bill 38, a bill amending sections of the Health Care Purchasing Act and the New Mexico Insurance
• drafting number 233159, a bill enacting a new section of the Prior Authorization Act to require health insurers
• the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, providing for the appointment of New Mexico Compact Commissioners
• Compact, providing for the appointment of New Mexico Compact Commissioners, requiring the public posting

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioners from newly issuing a Class Commissioners from newly issuing a Class A<00:23:57.680>
• A co-payment, co-insurance, or deduction requirement on coverage for services provided in accordance
• Fund must pay to an insurance producer that issues insurance policies on behalf of the fund.
• Insurance Fund must pay to an insurance Insurance Fund must pay to an insurance producer<00:42:02.720
• > producer that issues insurance policies producer that issues insurance policies on<00:42:04.920>

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened on March 10, 2026, established a quorum, and began with an invocation by Reverend Damien Flowers, which was journalized without objection. The chamber then recognized several guests and honorees, including Dr. Courtney Glickman for being named 2025 Play Therapist of the Year, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Dr. Sonja B. Santelises for her leadership of Baltimore City Public Schools, students shadowing legislators, Navy Alliance representatives, the Maryland Alliance for Advocacy for Sickle Cell, and Ms. Kimberly Body for her lupus advocacy. The Senate also journalized prior remarks about the 6888 regiment. The Finance Committee report then moved several bills forward. Senate Bill 348 would allow hospitals and freestanding birthing centers to contact, rather than only call, patients after high-risk pregnancies; its amendments were adopted and the bill was ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 390 on Wicomico County liquor licenses was laid over under the rule. Senate Bill 492, addressing massage therapy advertising and prohibiting misleading sexual-service advertising, was amended and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 562, concerning pharmacist-prescriber agreements for opioid use disorder treatment, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 773 would let pharmacists order certain vaccines, including intranasal flu vaccines, for self-administration and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 53, on Maryland Port Administration land acquisition notice in Anne Arundel County, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 428 would bar cost-sharing for collaborative care model services under Medicaid and private coverage and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 473 would require human trafficking awareness training for for-hire and transportation network drivers; its amendments were adopted and it was sent to third reading. Senate Bill 585 would shift administration of the human relevant research fund from Health to Agriculture and was advanced. Senate Bill 606, the Easy Pass Commuter Fairness and Transparency Act, would require an MDTA report on commuter plans and unused trips; its amendment was moved as the transcript ended. During debate on Senate Bill 917, which would expand the definition of audiology practice to include certain screenings and non-radiographic imaging, a senator questioned whether the bill would make Maryland the only state restricting a health occupation from performing Medicare-required screenings. The floor leader said the committee had heard that claim in testimony but had not verified it, and the senator moved to special order the bill for amendment, which was granted without objection. Most other bills were reported favorably, with committee amendments adopted without objection and several bills ordered printed for third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, I am Wendy Underwood, Deputy Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health.
• We provide six months unemployment and six months contribution to insurance.
• We provide six months unemployment and six months contribution to insurance.
• We provide six months unemployment and six months contribution to insurance.
• So, uh we are rapidly uh insurance.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• example, when I asked the insurance example, when I asked the insurance company<00:48:18.560>
• Chair." lensure by um the commissioner and that lensure by um the commissioner and that they<02:12:32.159
• Commissioner Schnell.
• Commissioner Schnell.
• Commissioner Schnell. Uh, inclusion. Commissioner Schnell.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > who's<00:05:24.640> no The prior uh commissioner, who's no The prior uh commissioner,
• still So, the commissioner can still So, the commissioner can still have<00:06:59.400> a
• lines 14 and 15 gives the commissioner lines 14 and 15 gives the commissioner specific<00:10:22.000
• do and that the commissioner there do and that the commissioner there probably<00:13:05.680> looks
• :53.720> taxes<00:59:54.760> is think it's insurance insurance taxes is think it's insurance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and 12 that have successfully completed major milestones in transitioning the current unemployment insurance
• 12 that have successfully completed major milestones and transitioning the current unemployment insurance
• I mean, I’ll just read you—I’m not a lawyer—but it says, ‘The board shall employ a commissioner subject
• The commissioner of the board... ...commissioner of the board of the division of this DSB shall report

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AG, insurance.
• They're competing for the same insurance dollars.
• Or insurance. Or insurance. Yes, I was going to say, or insurance can be procured for it.
• I guess in one sense it's up to their insurance limits and then to what they choose to pay.
• Or is it that we have to pay up to what insurance we voluntarily get?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance be referred to workman's comp? insurance be referred to workman's comp?
• insurance or they're aware of before. insurance or they're aware of before.
• not buying insurance. not buying insurance.
• of these people who have no insurance. of these people who have no insurance.
• it an insurance program of some sort? it an insurance program of some sort?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• conversation, you know, And so this conversation around all the increase in the cost, transportation, insurance
• But not only that, the allotment, the new buckets, the allotments for offsetting insurance and costs.
• they have in that, but not only that, the allotment, the new buckets, the allotments for offsetting insurance
• does not allow for the governor, lieutenant governor, or a legislator to communicate with TCEQ commissioners
• , transmit the communication to the commissioner.

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion to suspend Rule 5.14 and move the intent calendar deadline to 6 p.m. that day. It then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order of business and the constitutional three-day rule. HB 1866 gave limited Texas peace officer authority to National Park Service law enforcement officers within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park; HB 4996 increased the penalty for refusing to release a fraudulent lien when the victim is a public servant; and HB 5033 created a trigger mechanism for ending vehicle emissions inspections if federal law changes. HB 1533 made a range of appraisal and property tax procedure changes, HB 2282 raised the arrest warrant reimbursement fee from $50 to $75, HB 3421 updated probate and estates procedures, and HB 4263 revised Texas Juvenile Justice Department grievance procedures. Each of these measures advanced through second reading, third reading, and final passage, with recorded votes generally showing strong support and some opposition on a few bills. The chamber also considered major policy bills. HB 2, the large public education and school finance package, drew extensive floor discussion and multiple amendments. Senators emphasized its $8.5 billion investment, including teacher and staff pay, school safety funding, special education, charter and traditional school funding changes, and other allotment adjustments. Several senators praised the bill as historic and collaborative, while also noting the need to monitor implementation and future effects. After adopting amendments and hearing supportive remarks from multiple members, the Senate passed HB 2 on final vote, 31-0. Other debated measures included HB 143, which codified cooperation between the Railroad Commission and the Public Utility Commission to address electrical safety hazards at well sites and related facilities, and CS SB 3074/3070, which allowed limited written communications from the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators to TCEQ commissioners about permit applications, with disclosure and response requirements. Senator Johnson raised concerns that the TCEQ bill could politicize an apolitical permitting process and potentially affect federal delegation, but the bill was amended and passed 28-3. The Senate also passed HB 4426 on Railroad Commission permits for commercial surface disposal facilities, HB 3161 giving TMRS cities more flexibility on employee contribution rates, and HB 2712 allowing future test years for certain water and sewer utility rate-making, with an amendment to protect ratepayers if projections overcharge them. At the end of the session, the Senate handled several procedural motions, including re-referring HB 1904 from Criminal Justice to State Affairs and suspending posting rules so committees could meet later that day. The chamber then recessed until 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025, for a local and uncontested calendar, and planned to adjourn until 5:00 p.m. that same day after that calendar concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've also suggested that the representative have a discussion with the commissioner of the Department
• of Insurance and work through that way as well, because they're supposed to be overseeing that.
• of the department with the commissioner of the department of<00:49:12.319> insurance<00:49:12.960
• ,<00:50:43.760> probably it's department of insurance, probably it's department of insurance
• insurance regulation.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Performance Audit and Oversight Committee met to accept prior minutes and receive updates on ongoing audits. Audit staff reported progress on three education-related reviews: special education (34 of 71 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), education freedom accounts (22 of 41 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), and the doorway program (5 of 13 observations completed, draft expected by the end of February and final by April or May). No committee questions were raised on the audit status update. The committee then discussed possible future oversight topics, beginning with SNAP and concerns about fraud and work requirements. Members suggested inviting DHS officials and contract administrators to explain program operations and compliance, and also discussed whether the Department of Justice Medicaid fraud unit or other experienced officials could provide useful context. Members noted New Hampshire’s existing oversight layers, including the Executive Council and the joint HHS oversight committee, while also expressing interest in hearing more directly from department staff about staffing and contract management capacity. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on whether to pursue an audit of special education at the local school level. Members debated whether to wait for the ongoing statewide special education review and a legislative study commission report, or to begin scoping a local audit now so work could start sooner. Supporters argued that local-level spending, identification rates, and effectiveness vary widely by district and that an audit should examine both costs and outcomes; others cautioned that the scope would need to be manageable given limited audit staff and that the statewide report may help narrow the focus. The committee also briefly discussed a potential audit of the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, but no decision was made on that item.