Transcript Highlights:

• to say like if you want to pay a premium to say like if you want to pay a premium that<01:17:59.760
• , right, if you want to pay the premium, right, if you want to pay the premium, you<01:18:12.480>
• possible so that our insurance premiums possible so that our insurance premiums are<01:35:32.880
• <05:34:22.080> At premiums to cover those benefits. At premiums to cover those benefits.
• > for<06:02:10.320> the your premium that the premiums for the your premium that the premiums

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would clarify that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary policy for a newborn’s care unless the mother has no coverage or no employer-sponsored coverage. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure simply codifies the department’s long-standing interpretation of existing law. Representative Miles asked whether the coverage would extend to a grandchild if a young woman on her parents’ plan had a baby, and Birdsell said it would. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Senator Kevin Avard. The bill requires insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, when they change Medicare Advantage offerings. Benton Court said the bill was prompted by disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers and the department were confused by carriers exiting, changing plans, or narrowing offerings. He said the department does not regulate Medicare Advantage itself, but does license the carriers, and the notice requirement would help the department advise consumers; he also said noncompliance could affect a carrier’s license and could lead to fines. Members discussed the notice period, and the department and AHIP indicated support for changing it from 120 days to 90 days to align with federal timing. The hearing was closed with plans to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Representative Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion for pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole said the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell at a loss. Members questioned whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts, whether the bill would raise consumer prices, and whether it would mainly affect independent pharmacies. Cole and others said the issue has changed over time because PBMs now control a much larger share of the market, and that the bill would let pharmacies refuse loss-making fills and direct patients to mail order instead. The discussion also noted that the bill excludes Medicare and Medicaid and that the current proposal does not create a middle-ground option for patients to pay a premium at the counter.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in a time of rising insurance premiums and decreased accessibility of health care, these low-cost
• And I think at the end of the day, I think stabilization attracts capital. I think, To result.
• And I think at the end of the day, I think stabilization attracts capital.
• And given what I read in the paper today about DeSantis trying to reduce the premiums, that's how you
• market and bring their premiums lower.

Summary: The Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and took up several bills, beginning with SB 834 on health care sharing ministries and insurance agents. Senator Yarbrough presented the bill to repeal a recent restriction on licensed insurance agents marketing or selling faith-based health care sharing programs. Supporters argued the change restores free speech and consumer education while preserving existing consumer protections; opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could increase confusion or misuse of agents and brokers. The committee adopted a title amendment and then reported the bill favorably after debate, with Senator Pizzo raising concerns about consumer reliance and lack of guaranteed coverage. The committee then approved SB 642 on foreign and alien bail bond insurers, SB 394 on reinsurance intermediary managers, and SB 266 on public adjuster contracts. SB 266 would let vulnerable adults rescind public adjuster contracts at any time without penalty; it drew support from consumer and industry groups, with some discussion about estimates and claim work product. The committee also passed SB 832 on residential property insurance transparency, which requires rate transparency reports and a consumer resource center at OIR, and adds a provision excluding land value from homeowners coverage calculations in most cases. Testimony on SB 832 was generally supportive of the transparency goal, though insurers said some of the required cost breakdowns may be difficult to produce as written. The committee next considered SB 1028 on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, which would create a commercial lines clearinghouse to move eligible policyholders into the private market and reduce Citizens’ commercial exposure. Supporters said it would lower taxpayer risk and improve competition; a speaker suggested additional changes to deductibles, water-damage caps, and repair practices. The bill was reported favorably after a delete-all amendment and supportive debate from Senator Boyd. Finally, the committee passed SB 540 on the Office of Financial Regulation, which adds cybersecurity requirements for certain licensees, updates oversight of investment advisers and money service businesses, adjusts some charter and meeting rules for financial institutions and credit unions, and includes amendments clarifying repossession/deficiency claims, family office exemptions, and virtual credit union meetings. The meeting ended with all of the considered bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stability of family economics.
• , stability, stability, um<00:15:36.440> there<00:15:36.880> are um there are um there
• their sort of household stability. their sort of household stability.
• That stability changed in 2025.
• But stability for children requires stability in the systems that support them.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• underwriting policy servicing premium underwriting policy servicing premium billing<00:10:58.720
• Direct written premium is the amount of premium that HPIA collects for the policies written.
• and terms hopefully a favorable premium and terms hopefully a favorable premium but<00:43:31.760
• is incurred there's a minimum premium is incurred there's a minimum premium that<00:57:55.880>
• high-rise and single family the premiums high-rise and single family the premiums went<00:58:48.440

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• accomplish um this sort of u stability accomplish um this sort of u stability for<01:42:53.600><
• then 19 and 20, which is the premium then 19 and 20, which is the premium subsidy<01:50:29.400><
• premium tax subsidies.
• that is reinsurance or this premium that is reinsurance or this premium subsidy<01:55:05.840>
• <01:55:45.760> tax premium tax premium tax subsidies.<01:55:47.920> Their<01:55:48.159>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of the premium tax credits that were keeping rising health care premiums lower than they otherwise
• “So the more people whose insurance premiums are paid, the more rebates the program gets.
• Overall, the insurance premiums only increased by about $150 per client.
• Last year, the cost of the premiums were about $160 million, and this year it's about $99 million.
• We want to help to ensure for the stability of this program that so many depend on.”

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard presentations on the governor’s proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget for the health and human services agencies. Kendall Kelly outlined the overall HHS budget at $48.5 billion, with AHCA accounting for the largest share, and agency heads then highlighted major proposals for Medicaid behavioral health redesign, APD waiver enrollment and facility needs, DCF child welfare, opioid, and mental health investments, DOEA funding for Alzheimer’s, home care, and community services, DOH funding for cancer research, public health initiatives, and lab capacity, and VA funding for facility improvements, cybersecurity, and medication management. Several members praised specific proposals, including increased reimbursement for private duty nursing, Alzheimer’s supports, and the Florida FIRST blood-in-ambulance initiative. Senators also questioned the proposed changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), with the Surgeon General explaining that the department expects a reduction in covered patients from about 30,000 to about 20,000 because of funding pressures tied to rebates, federal changes, and premium tax credit issues. Public testimony strongly criticized the ADAP changes, citing lack of transparency and warning that many patients could lose access to medications. Other questions focused on the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, DCF’s substance abuse and mental health data dashboard, Kids Care/CHIP expansion implementation, APD bed and facility planning, and the FX Medicaid technology project. DCF said about $7 million is set aside for the dashboard system, and AHCA said the governor’s budget includes $124.4 million for FX maintenance and continued module development, with $13.5 million to begin claims processing work. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the budget presentations and adjourned after questions and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a good plan, and that they're not paying premium dollars.
• , so the premiums were overcharged.
• The other thing is stability. They choose this to work for the state because it's stability.
• So for a lot of individuals, they want that stability.
• So somebody is taking lower wages for stability and benefits.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several procedural motions, including suspending House rules for three legislative days and replacing conference committee members on Senate Bill 2282 and SCR 4007. The chamber also recognized visiting student groups from Grafton/Pleasant Valley and Shiloh School. Later, the House agreed to several conference committee reports and moved a number of measures through final passage or final disposition. House Bill 1428, which would have created a sales tax exemption for clothing sold by thrift stores or nonprofit corporations, drew extensive debate over tax policy, revenue loss, and possible conflicts with streamlined sales tax rules. Supporters argued it would help lower-income shoppers and nonprofit thrift stores, while opponents said it created an unfair advantage and could reduce state and local revenue. The conference report was adopted, but the bill ultimately failed on final vote, 37-54. House Bill 1440, relating to cigar lounges, was amended in conference and then passed 75-17. House Bill 1460, concerning adult foster care for private-pay adults, electronic monitoring, and a legislative study, was also adopted and passed overwhelmingly, 91-1. The House then passed Senate Bill 2224, which revises gaming commission structure and gaming stamp requirements, adds Attorney General enforcement provisions, and includes a $25,000 general fund appropriation, by a vote of 88-0. Senate Bill 2327, which expands uses of the agriculture diversification and development fund and appropriates $15 million to it, passed 74-17 after a member was excused from voting due to a personal interest. Senate Bill 2267, creating a regulatory framework for on-site wastewater treatment systems and shifting licensing authority to the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 82-10, and Senate Bill 2276, addressing joint water resource boards for cross-county projects, passed 90-1. The most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the state employee health plan from grandfathered status to a non-grandfathered ACA-compliant plan and appropriate about $6.6 million for the transition. Supporters said it would give the PERS board more flexibility, expand preventive and other benefits, and potentially slow premium growth without charging employees premiums. Opponents warned it could raise out-of-pocket costs, add mandated benefits, and shift costs to employees, while also arguing the bill had not been adequately studied. After extended debate, the House passed SB 2160 by a vote of 55-37. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 1318, a pesticide labeling bill, and placed it on final passage, but the transcript ends before the final vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• retaining full-scope Medi-Cal for humanitarian immigrants, Item 55, and oppose the $50 monthly Medi-Cal premium
• the action for Medi-Cal mobile crisis and the placeholder trailer bill on the behavioral health stabilization
• , revenue stabilization trailer bill.
• We also appreciate the delays for dental and premiums.
• as well as monthly premiums and asset test limits for immigrant enrollees.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Human Services held its final hearing on the budget, with the chair framing the Senate’s plan as a counterproposal that rejected major cuts and preserved revenues. Public comment was overwhelmingly supportive of the subcommittee’s actions, with advocates, counties, providers, and community groups thanking members for rejecting or delaying proposed cuts to Medi-Cal asset limits, immigrant coverage and premiums, IHSS, PACE, APS, behavioral health advocacy and innovation grants, mobile crisis services, and certain dental and provider payment reductions. Speakers also urged additional funding or trailer bill changes for county eligibility work, public hospitals, indigent care, CalFresh outreach and food benefits, child care slots and COLAs, legal services for immigrants, and long-term services and supports. A major theme was the Senate’s “Be Home Soon” proposal, which many disability, aging, home care, and health care organizations praised as a way to shift care from institutions to home- and community-based settings. Testimony also supported restoring or maintaining funding for behavioral health programs, including 988/mobile crisis infrastructure, community advocacy contracts, and Title IV-E workforce funding. Several county and provider groups asked the committee to consider alternative proposals related to H.R. 1 impacts, Medi-Cal coverage losses, and county indigent care costs, while others requested continued work on public hospital support, CFAP expansion, and implementation details for child care and IHSS. The subcommittee then took three votes on grouped budget items. The first consent block, covering a large set of items, passed 3-0. The second block passed 2-1, with Senator Grove voting no. The final block passed 3-0. The hearing concluded with the chair stating the subcommittee had done its part and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our revenue forecasts have stabilized, so by spending less than we have, we continue to right-size our
• As I looked at the budget, I see that we did not fund the premium assistance program.
• Did not fund the premium assistance program. We did not restore that.
• We have $27.8 million appropriated for the KidCare/FHK premium stabilization.
• These are really important to Miami. declining enrollment stabilization fund.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, today I spoke with the actuary for OSI and asked about premiums.
• The question has come up a few times. will premiums drop?
• It's a necessary component to stabilize the access to care by allowing.
• They don't reduce premiums.
• I have would cause Premiums to drop between 6 and 16. 6 and 16.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• time when federal education funding faces ongoing political and fiscal threats, putting district stability
• The first being SED SDG Sufficiency and Stability Funding SDG funding.
• The next section is called Stability and Staffing.
• We believe that this will help stabilize and improve the overall governance of education.
• This investment directly supports recruitment, retention, and workforce stability.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:20.480> subsidy entities subject to the premium subsidy entities subject to the premium
• No premiums. 97%. That means 3% members are paying a premium on Minnesota Care.
• <02:26:52.640> No<02:26:52.960> premiums. of premiums. No premiums. of premiums.
• > there's<02:52:44.640> no there's no premiums, there's no there's no premiums, there's
• ,<03:20:04.319> but it was for stability, but it was for stability, but sadly<03:20:06.239

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Stability is about confidence and positivity.
• So first question is, has placement stability improved since 2018, eight years ago?
• This reflects a broader statewide and nationwide crisis impacting placement stability.
• It is a support system, a crisis response partner, and a key source of stability.
• Our team did everything they could to protect stability, and I'm proud of that.

Summary: The hearing covered several child welfare, human services, tribal housing, child care, and long-term care bills. SB 1099 would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA; SB 1190 would regulate private youth transport services by requiring permits, background checks, training, and bans on blindfolds, hoods, restraints, and overnight pickups; SB 1322 would streamline tribal access to Community Care Expansion housing grants and better align the process with tribal sovereignty; SB 1109 would require an annual license renewal review for STRTPs with five or more Type A citations in a year; SB 1234 would require fentanyl testing in juvenile dependency cases when a court finds a risk of fentanyl use; SB 991 would require DSS to identify the specific type of abuse on its public licensing database; SB 1200 would redefine “infant” for family child care ratio purposes as under 18 months; and SB 1345 would strengthen foster youth rights regarding access to and dignified transport of personal belongings. The committee also approved a consent calendar including SB 534, SB 1410, and SB 1421. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, often from authors, advocates, county officials, and people with lived experience. Supporters of SB 1190 described traumatic youth transport practices and argued for basic safety standards. SB 1322 supporters said tribal grantees face unnecessary delays and collateral demands that conflict with sovereignty. SB 1109 drew support from county probation officers who cited repeated serious violations and public safety concerns at STRTPs, while the chair ultimately opposed the bill as duplicative of existing CDSS authority. SB 1234 drew emotional support from a grandparent who lost a child to fentanyl, but also opposition from the Drug Policy Alliance and a dependency attorney, who argued the bill was redundant, vague, and could create biased or unnecessary testing; amendments were accepted to narrow the standard. SB 991 supporters said the public needs more specific information about abuse findings, SB 1200 supporters said the change would expand infant care capacity and help working families, and SB 1345 supporters said foster youth deserve dignity rather than having belongings packed in trash bags. Votes were taken after quorum was established. SB 991, SB 1200, SB 1345, SB 1190, SB 1234, SB 1322, and SB 1099 were all reported out of committee, most on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 1234 passed 6-0 as amended to Appropriations, and SB 1099 later had a vote change recorded, ending 5-1. SB 1109 did not advance after the motion failed for lack of a second, and it was held in committee. The committee then adjourned and transitioned into an oversight hearing reviewing the outcomes of AB 2247 (placement stability and notice protections for foster youth) and AB 2496, with presenters discussing how the earlier foster youth placement law has changed practice and the importance of dignity, notice, and youth voice in placement decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 47 is to provide educators and public school employees the 80-20 insurance premium split that
• We're basically just getting hammered with premiums.
• In the middle of the year, they would raise their premiums or they would reduce benefits in order to
• We have taken multiple steps to stabilize our funding as a state.
• Chair and Senator, health insurance premiums are going to be...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to the next proposal: the $1 premium subsidy program.
• Moving on to the next proposal, the $1 premium subsidy program.
• We have the state premium subsidy program.
• Some people have much higher premiums, and people have lower premiums.
• Premium tax on the commercial markets is a vastly different animal.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health heard presentations on several May Revision proposals, beginning with an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance on the state’s budget condition and the administration’s efforts to reduce out-year deficits through a mix of revenue measures, fund shifts, and program reductions. The chair expressed support for some administration proposals, such as added health IT funding, county administration support, a delay in Medi-Cal cuts for some immigrants, and additional Covered California subsidy backfill, but also criticized proposed Medi-Cal premiums, changes to senior eligibility, the lack of a Medi-Cal dental solution, and other cuts affecting counties, workforce, and rural access. The LAO said the budget still relies heavily on reserves and borrowing and urged more reserves and caution on new commitments. The Department of State Hospitals presented several proposals, including reduced county bed billing authority, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscriptions, reversion of unspent prior-year funds, additional lease revenue authority for the Metro Central Utility Plant replacement, funding for electronic health record implementation, and a shift of workforce development costs to Behavioral Health Services Act funds. The department also described savings and realignments in its IST and CONREP programs, including making the Independent Placement Panel permanent and adjusting funding for jail-based competency treatment and conditional release services. Members questioned the BHSA workforce funding swap, and the administration said it was part of a broader General Fund offset strategy. The Emergency Medical Services Authority requested funding for statewide behavioral health crisis response guidance and for continued operation of its enterprise systems, and the Department of Managed Health Care sought funds to modernize its complaint system and claims settlement data systems. The largest debate centered on the administration’s proposed use of Behavioral Health Services Act revenues to offset General Fund spending and fund state-directed behavioral health programs. The Department of Finance said the proposal would support population-based prevention, workforce programs, mobile crisis services, and other state-directed uses, while the LAO said it was still reviewing whether the uses comply with Proposition 1 and whether the non-supplement and eligible-use requirements are met. The Commission for Behavioral Health strongly opposed proposed cuts to its Innovation Partnership Fund and community advocacy grants, arguing that both programs are central to community voice, culturally responsive services, and statewide innovation. Commissioners and many public commenters said the cuts would reduce grants to community-based organizations, tribal groups, veterans, LGBTQ communities, youth, and other underserved populations, and that the advocacy program helps communities participate in local planning and access services. The Department of Finance defended the reductions as a way to prioritize direct services and said the programs fit within Proposition 1, but members criticized the proposal as a midstream shift that would weaken community engagement and redirect funds away from prevention and advocacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stability is about confidence and positivity.
• Ultimately, this ...procedural hurdles that may prolong placement and stability.
• This reflects a broader statewide and nationwide crisis impacting placement stability.
• It is a support system, a crisis response partner, and a key source of stability.
• Our team did everything they could to protect stability, and I'm proud of that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• years, we've had our insurance premiums years, we've had our insurance premiums rise<00:34:41.679
• This last year, our premiums were 15%.
• the premium is 30% of our take-home pay. the premium is 30% of our take-home pay.
• It took a year, but the doctors found a way to stabilize it.
• Care, but the premiums are very, very expensive.

Bills: HF238, HF3381, HF3754, HF1049

Keywords: microenterprise home kitchen operation, cottage food, home-based food business, home kitchen license, homemade food, prepared food, food entrepreneur, small food business, cottage food law, food safety training, ServSafe, food handler license, agriculture department, Minnesota food law, residential kitchen, local zoning, consumer labeling, allergen labeling, unpasteurized juice, time/temperature control for safety food

Transcript Highlights:

• Not to ride the roller coaster anymore, but prepare to stabilize our budgeting, stabilize our economy
• Everybody's premium through the exchange. Is that the plan?
• $17 million won't pay everybody's premium, so it's only a percent of the premium, I'm sure, Mr.
• New Mexicans are going to see a 36% increase in their health care premiums.
• People pay a hundred percent of the premium. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• increase in premium.
• So we're talking about dollar 25 premium So we're talking about dollar 25 premium increase<00:21
• Dollar 25 premium.
• It protects market stability and premium predictability.
• :47.160> premium protects market stability and premium protects market stability and premium predictability

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• security plan account into the premium security plan account the<00:06:30.000> special<00:06:
• <00:06:47.840> security<00:06:48.240> plan existing in the uh premium security plan
• existing in the uh premium security plan account<00:06:49.440> and<00:06:49.919> federal
• The task force is regarding insurance, and their task is to work on stabilizing and strengthening the
• The task force is regarding insurance, and their task is to work on stabilizing and strengthening the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all