Transcript Highlights:

• We are convening the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
• If they did a normal payment or send a check in and the check bounces, the consumer would be hit with
• the alternative being they don't take the debit transaction, they force through a check from the consumer
• the alternative being they don't take the debit transaction, they force through a check from the consumer
• the alternative being they don't take the debit transaction, they force through a check from the consumer

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing support from state boards, agencies, and industry groups. SB 102 (restaurants) had one supportive testifier and no questions. SB 1367 SD1 (installment loans) drew support from DCCA and other boards, but the chair raised concerns about a proposed $5 debit-card convenience fee, saying it seemed high and suggesting it might be amended downward; DCCA said it would check with industry on the likely impact. SB 1373 SD2 (administrative licensure action against sex offenders) received broad support from DCCA and multiple professional licensing boards, including psychology, physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, optometry, barbering and cosmetology, the Hawaii Medical Board, and HPD. The committee then heard SB 1142 SD1 (insurance proceeds), which was supported by DCCA, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, while State Farm offered comments and the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed. Testimony focused on insurance access after the Lahaina wildfires and the need to address underinsured homeowners. The committee also discussed SB 144 SD2 (stabilization of property insurance), with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, and comments from the Attorney General and DCCA Insurance Division about revising the financing structure and correcting bill language. Opponents and reservationed supporters argued the bill may not help if applicants can still obtain coverage at very high prices, while supporters said it would expand market capacity and provide a safety net as climate-related losses continue. Finally, SB 253 SD2 (condominium reserves) received support from Hawaiʻi Realtors, CI, and several individual testifiers. Supporters said it would enforce existing disclosure requirements under Act 199 and improve reserve funding transparency, while one individual argued stronger enforcement and an ombudsman-style office would be more effective. The chair reminded testifiers to stay on the bill at hand. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local processing helps in building connections with the end consumer and also helps earn a premium for
• Has there been fraud that's been found that hasn't gone to what it's supposed to go to and hasn't built
• Has there been fraud that's been found that hasn't gone to what it's supposed to go to and hasn't built
• requirements for the Office of Grants Management, so I'm quite confident that there was no rampant fraud
• confident that there was no rampid fraud confident that there was no rampid fraud happening<01:05

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unit will take a look at those a Fraud Unit will take a look at those uh<00:46:19.800> and<00
• First, I just want to say thank you for all the work that you're doing to prevent fraud.
• and being able about uh preventing fraud and being able to<01:03:24.200> have<01:03:24.440>
• There are opportunists who then slip into fraud, right?
• So really small general funding, but then we provide a set of services that are consumed unilaterally

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Resolution 102 by Representative Carver is a concurrent resolution to continue the Senior Task Force on Fraud
• number 102 by representative carver is a concurrent resolution to continue the senior task force on fraud
• Members, this bill seeks to meet the consumer where they are.

Bills: SR125, SCR70, SCR12, HB4, HB251, HB623, HB819, HB944, HB986, HB1098, HB1222, HB1257, HB221, HCR58, SCR22, SCR24, SB29, SB30, SB32, SB41, SB42, SB43, SB47, SB84, SB93, SB113, SB192, SB199, SB219, SB220, SB221, SB222, SB241, SB253, SB255, SB289, SB292, SB306, SB314, SB351, SB399, SB404, SB14, SB102, SB133, SB151, SB165, SB169, SB170, SB200, SB217, SB280, SB291, SB300, SB303, SB330, SB449, SB489, SB521, SB45, SB156, SB181, SB203, SB274, SB304, SB379, SB396, SB410, SB425, SB427, SB436, SB424, SCR61, SCR9, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, HCR31, HB296, HB299, HB322, HB364, HB519, HB535, HB538, HB568, HB571, HB622, HB635, HB676, HB772, HB784, HB1006, HB1018, HB1043, HB1070, HB1134, HB1239, HB62, HB193, HB203, HB210, HB220, HB228, HB246, HB420, HB475, HB486, HB574, HB584, HB750, HB813, HB815, HB826, HB870, HB949, HB953, HB1045, HB1092, HB1151, HB1162, HB1176, HB1177, HB1196, HB1214, HB1241, HB22, HB28, HB33, HB41, HB47, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB195, HB214, HB217, HB233, HB283, HB290, HB319, HB324, HB345, HB362, HB363, HB368, HB377, HB380, HB382, HB386, HB392, HB406, HB431, HB441, HB466, HB503, HB533, HB559, HB575, HB590, HB593, HB618, HB636, HB655, HB664, HB685, HB692, HB707, HB715, HB732, HB738, HB741, HB748, HB776, HB807, HB822, HB856, HB860, HB868, HB887, HB888, HB905, HB908, HB961, HB980, HB990, HB992, HB999, HB1000, HB1010, HB1146, HB1157, HB1233, HB1236, HB1243, HB54, HB137, HB180, HB192, HB310, HB321, HB396, HB512, HB552, HB578, HB638, HB663, HB708, HB717, HB718, HB1009, HB1082, HB1104, HB1107, HB1198, HB1246, HB1250, HB17, HB36, HB73, HB119, HB126, HB129, HB133, HB140, HB159, HB166, HB211, HB226, HB245, HB271, HB280, HB337, HB351, HB354, HB399, HB677, HB712, HB723, HB726, HB728, HB759, HB789, HB844, HB850, HB966, HB1036, SB149, SB382, SB441, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB782

Keywords: SR125, Senate Resolution 125, MUSV, Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel, MASC, Modular Attack Surface Craft, Conrad Shipyard, Morgan City, Louisiana shipbuilding, U.S. Navy, Department of the Navy, unmanned naval vessels, autonomous ships, defense procurement, military contracting, shipyard jobs, maritime workforce, advanced manufacturing, robotics, software engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• The Consumer and Public Affairs Committee will come to order. Thank you for your patience.
• If it was another check fraud, as Representative Thompson gave the example, it could continue to be a
• say they were a violent criminal, they get out, but then they do something now that would be check fraud

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• expanded authority, for example, to impose criminal penalties for severe violations like embezzlement, fraud
• expanded authority, for example, to impose criminal penalties for severe violations like embezzlement, fraud
• But you probably would be terrified to look at what your consumer profile looks like, right?

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations. Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system. The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll save the Medicare plan $100 billion in the next 10 years, probably $1.5 billion out of consumers
• What I'm going to do, listen, the New York Times just did an article last week talking about the fraud
• , the 20-year fraud. 800 fraudulent studies produced by NIH on amyloid plaques and not allowing any other

Transcript Highlights:

• the state auditor and in the performance of its statutorily prescribed duties related to the state's fraud
• related to statutoily prescribed duties related to the<00:45:03.680> state's<00:45:03.920> fraud
• the state's fraud hotline. the state's fraud hotline.
• And the history of this act consumers.
• protections for the deaf, heart consumer protections for the deaf, heart of<01:44:22.639> hearing

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• governments and strengthen protections against abuse of valuable tax benefits, because every dollar lost to fraud
• When consumer spending falls during a recession, sales tax revenue drops just as demand for public services
• from working families than from the wealthy, which means renters, small businesses, and ordinary consumers
• We warned y'all about the potential massive fraud that would take place in the voucher program while

Summary: The House took up the special order calendar for a proposed constitutional amendment on property taxes, CS/HJR 1F, which would create a new homestead exemption for non-school taxes, lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property, and restrict how counties and municipalities may use ad valorem tax revenue. The sponsor, Rep. Overdorf, said the measure would give homeowners tax relief and argued local governments could adjust spending or use other revenue sources. Opponents repeatedly questioned the ballot language, the lack of a fiscal estimate or backfill, and the potential impact on local services, public safety, and debt obligations. The House adopted the special order report and then debated the resolution and a series of amendments. Several amendments were offered to carve out or protect specific services from the tax changes. Rep. Bartleman’s amendment to protect Children’s Services Councils and Children’s Trusts was supported by members who said those entities fund early learning, mental health, aftercare, and other services for children and working families, but it failed 25-74. Rep. Cross offered an amendment to include water management districts in allowable ad valorem uses, warning of impacts on flood control, water quality, Everglades restoration, and water supply; that amendment also failed. Rep. Eskamani offered an amendment requiring the Legislature to backfill public safety funding if local revenues fall, arguing police and fire services, staffing, and response times would be at risk; it failed 25-71. The chamber then rejected Rep. Woodson’s amendment to require state backfill for senior services, with supporters citing Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day care, and other local senior programs, and opponents saying the proposal was outside the bill’s scope. Finally, Rep. Gant offered an amendment to protect veteran services, saying local governments fund housing, mental health, transition, and family support programs for veterans; debate emphasized the importance of honoring veterans and avoiding cuts to those services. The transcript cuts off during debate on that amendment, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• governments and strengthen protections against abuse of valuable tax benefits because every dollar lost to fraud
• When consumer spending falls during a recession, sales tax revenue drops just as demand for public services
• from working families than from the wealthy, which means renters, small businesses, and ordinary consumers
• We warned y'all about the potential massive fraud that would take place in the voucher program while

Summary: The House met in special session, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber then took up CS/House Joint Resolution 1F, the Governor’s property tax proposal, which would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes, lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and restrict county and municipal ad valorem revenue to public safety and certain other uses. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf said the measure would return money to homeowners and give local governments flexibility, while opponents repeatedly argued the ballot language was misleading and that the proposal could create large local revenue shortfalls, shift costs to other taxpayers, and threaten local services and debt obligations. Members debated a series of amendments aimed at protecting specific programs from the bill’s effects. Rep. Bartleman’s amendment to exempt Children’s Services Councils and Children’s Trusts was defeated 25-74 after supporters said those entities fund child care, mental health, aftercare, and family support, while opponents said local governments could still choose to fund them. Rep. Cross’s amendment to include water management districts in allowable uses of ad valorem taxes was also defeated, despite testimony that the districts are essential for flood control, water supply, Everglades restoration, and drought response. Rep. Eskamani’s amendment to require the Legislature to backfill public safety funding failed 25-71 after debate over whether the proposal could reduce police and fire budgets and response times. The House then rejected Rep. Woodson’s amendment to require state backfill for senior services, with supporters citing Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day care, and other aging services, and opponents saying the state already funds senior programs. Finally, Rep. Gant’s amendment to protect veteran services was introduced and debated, with members emphasizing housing, mental health, transition assistance, and homelessness concerns for veterans; the transcript cuts off before the vote on that amendment. Throughout the debate, sponsors and supporters of the main resolution maintained that local governments would retain spending discretion and could use other revenue sources, while critics argued the measure lacked clear backfill provisions and could force cuts or tax shifts at the local level.

Transcript Highlights:

• governments and strengthen protections against abuse of valuable tax benefits, because every dollar lost to fraud
• When consumer spending falls during a recession, sales tax revenue drops just as demand for public services
• from working families than from the wealthy, which means renters, small businesses, and ordinary consumers
• We warned y'all about the potential massive fraud that would take place in the voucher program while

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The maximum increase is the annual rate of increase in the consumer price index, plus an additional 3%
• diagnosis code, but they think that they might be committing malpractice or, excuse me, insurance fraud
• . ...code, but they think that they might be committing malpractice or, excuse me, insurance fraud, because
• But I’m only allowed to charge my residents based on what they consume, and they’re paying like $2 for

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 426 by Representative Lee regarding title fraud is referred to the Judiciary Committee.
• House Bill 586 by Representative Wilcox regarding consumer protection is referred to the Committee on

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with a prayer, pledge, and roll call establishing a quorum of 30 senators. The chamber approved excusing absent senators, dispensed with reading the prior journal, and agreed to allow bill introductions and committee reports throughout the day. Several guests were recognized in the gallery, including local officials, construction representatives for the new statehouse, and advocacy groups. A series of House messages were received and referred to committees, including local bills and constitutional amendments for Macon, Winston, Perry, Montgomery, Mobile, Jefferson, Marengo, Covington, Tuscaloosa, and Madison counties, along with measures on campaign finance, title fraud, public health, workforce, income tax, legal tender, consumer protection, seafood products, carbon dioxide injection wells, and boards of registrars. Committee reports included favorable reports on Senate Bill 374 and House Bill 432 from the Committee on Local Legislation. The Senate also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 97 commending the University of Alabama on its planned ROTC facility and Student Veteran Center, and Senate Joint Resolution 98 naming a portion of Highway 9 in Elmore County the Lamar S. "Bubba" Woodham Jr. Highway. During personal privilege, Senator Smitherman urged attention to the lack of septic systems in parts of the state and suggested the Senate may need to study the issue, possibly through a resolution or task force. Senator Orr submitted a notice in writing regarding proposed Senate rules changes. The Senate then took up local legislation, adopting budget isolation resolutions and passing multiple local bills and constitutional amendments, including House Bill 569 (Autauga County), House Bill 337 and Senate Bill 371 (Madison County), House Bill 576 (Mobile County), House Bill 529 (Class 2 municipalities), Senate Bill 369 (Lauderdale County), House Bill 612 (Covington County), and House Bill 514 (Tuscaloosa County), with votes largely unanimous or near-unanimous. The Senate recessed until 1:00 p.m. after completing the local calendar items.

Transcript Highlights:

• we wanted to make sure that the bad actors that did participate in the $2.8 to $8 billion Medicaid fraud
• provider to obtain criminal history record information for new employees who have direct contact with consumers

Bills: SB1113, SB1115, SB1122, SB1123, SB1125, SB1165, SB1188, SB1193, SB1243, SB1318, SB1477

Keywords: mental health, involuntary evaluation, service of process, court-ordered treatment, evaluation agencies, AHCCCS, remote work, state agency, employment, public health, healthcare, behavioral health, prior authorization, American Indian health program, medicaid, medical examiner, death investigation, body disposal, autopsy, veteran burial

Transcript Highlights:

• EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE LIMITED RESOURCES FOR STATE EDUCATION FUNDING AND WILL CURB THE POTENTIAL FOR FRAUD
• MOBILITY ACROSS THE STATE SYSTEM IN EDUCATION, THE CROSSCHECK PROCESS HAS BECOME MORE COMPLEX AND TIME-CONSUMING

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
• as he may consume. as he may consume.
• <04:43:26.878> Chair, as he may consume. Thank you, Mr. Chair, as he may consume.
• I may consume. I may consume. >> So<05:16:37.440> move. >> So move.
• Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman is recognized.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I co-sponsored Senate Bill 482 establishing consumer protections for digital asset transaction kiosks
• Fraud schemes playing on victims through these kiosks are real, and Granite Staters, especially older
• <05:25:26.000> protections<05:25:26.638> for establishing consumer protections for
• establishing consumer protections for digital<05:25:27.440> asset<05:25:27.840> transaction
• victims<05:25:55.760> through Fraud schemes playing on victims through Fraud schemes playing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've worked carefully with consumers We've worked carefully with consumers and<00:58:43.760>
• <02:18:03.080> soy<02:18:03.320> sauce consumers soy sauce consumers soy sauce unless<02
• I think that's on us as consumers to ask the businesses for what we want and what we need.
• I think that's on us as consumers to ask the businesses for what we want and what we need.
• <03:09:31.000> are farmers market where consumers are farmers market where consumers are selecting

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The policy values that the consumers have are typically reduced anywhere from 20% to 80% in value.
• The policy values that the consumers have are typically reduced anywhere from 20% to 80% in value.
• that that the consumers have are typically<00:09:30.640> reduced<00:09:31.120> anywhere
• They were engaged in illegal in fraud.
• Our preference would be to tie this to the Consumer Price Index so it actually reflects inflation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, the fraud and abuse that we saw in NEMT, this is these kids.
• There has been rampant fraud.
• The good There has been rampant fraud.
• That was a huge source to get a hold of the fraud and I think to get a hold of the fraud and I think
• That was a huge source of the fraud.

Keywords: 981, all