Transcript Highlights:

• And I, I— But folks get upset when we ask for rate increases.
• And I know that Citizens is also seeking a rate increase, a big increase, right? "Yes, no.
• However, you're asking for an increase.
• To compare that to most states, it's all between 10 and 30% increases, some pretty dramatic increases
• We are allowed to, yes, we are allowed to include that in our rate filing as if we had purchased a one-in

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation CEO Tim Serio, with Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworski also answering questions. Serio reviewed Citizens’ role as Florida’s insurer of last resort, its statutory funding structure, eligibility rules, depopulation program, reinsurance obligations, and the surcharge/emergency assessment mechanisms that can be used if Citizens runs a deficit. He emphasized that recent legislative reforms, combined with lower litigation and improved market conditions, have helped the private market recover and reduced Citizens’ policy count from a peak of about 1.41 million in 2023 to 936,182 at the end of 2024, with a projected drop to about 771,000 by the end of 2025. He also said the reforms reduced Citizens’ rate need and helped avoid an emergency assessment after the 2024 storms. Members asked about Citizens’ rate increases, why Citizens still seeks higher rates despite lower litigation, how the 20% eligibility threshold works, whether Citizens should be wind-only, and whether the state or federal government could help with deficits. Serio explained that Citizens is still charging below actuarially sound rates in most areas, that rate filings reflect reduced litigation and lower reinsurance exposure, and that assessments on all Florida property policyholders are the reason Citizens tries to build surplus and depopulate. He said the depopulation program is working better than in the past, with less than 2% of takeout policies returning to Citizens, and that the Office of Insurance Regulation has been vetting takeout companies more carefully. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on claims handling after Debby, Helene, and Milton, including flood-versus-wind disputes and Citizens’ use of the Division of Administrative Hearings for some claim disputes. Serio said Citizens had received 76,625 claims from the three storms and had paid nearly $823 million in indemnity and expenses as of January 7, 2025. He said many closed-without-payment claims were either below deductible, withdrawn, duplicate, or flood-only, and that Citizens had asked its internal audit function to independently review the claims data and denials. He also described Citizens’ storm outreach, catastrophe response centers, managed-repair program, and claim review process, and said the corporation remains focused on paying valid claims while minimizing the risk of assessments on the broader Florida market.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's allowable? Sure.
• There was an increase of $53,650 for bond counsel, an increase of $17,500 for preparation of the official
• statement, an increase of $2,220 for underwriting expenses, an increase of $2,500 for a paying agent
• , and an increase of $1,000 for parity bidding.
• It was a net increase of $410.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21 with a quorum present and approved the April 16 minutes. The commission then reviewed and approved a large slate of local government and public authority financing requests, including election propositions for the November ballot, water and sewer infrastructure projects, fire protection and recreation district bonds, school board financing, and several refunding transactions. Most items were found to meet technical requirements and were approved on motions by Speaker DeVillier and seconded by Senator Talbot. Among the more notable items were the East Baton Rouge City-Parish refunding bonds for the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the City of Kenner’s retroactive approval request tied to a convention center agreement with GMB Basketball LLC, a Louisiana Housing Corporation financing increase for the Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, and preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport. The commission also approved financing for Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools/Harriet Tubman Charter School project. The Crescent City Schools item prompted questions about how MFP funds are used; staff explained that lease payments would support the bonds and that MFP funds are generally split between educational expenses and facilities-related costs. The commission received six monthly cost-of-issuance reports, which required no action, and a status update on the state debt schedule. It also approved Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund the Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. During other business, New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morel thanked the commission for its role in helping address the city’s fiscal crisis and for approving a charter amendment election item aimed at strengthening budget oversight. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's not allowed to go. You, you too. I'm not going to run with you right there.
• TEP did not allow us onto their RPAC committee for resource planning.
• TEP did not allow us onto their RPAC committee for resource planning.
• This would significantly increase that.
• Mike, how do we increase competition with the gas? I mean, ma'am, there's...

Bills: HB2014, HB2113, HB2145, HB2331, HB2340, HB2389, HB2400, HB2401, HB2428, HB2494, HB2696, HB2756, HB2795, HB2955, HCM2008

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, energy reliability, electric service providers, reliable resources, public power entity

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:53.479> Cas counties to reduce staff increase Cas counties to reduce staff increase
• of putting on these educational programs and the increase in topics needed to cover.
• they deserve whatever penalty is allowed they deserve whatever penalty is allowed for<00:49:05.359
• Since 2019, the median length of stay in our jails has increased sharply.
• States and that would be a 25% increase States and that would be a 25% increase in<01:42:57.960>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to overall increase economic development.
• With a 2,000-foot bridge, it will expand over the river, allowing for an increase in access.
• An increase in trades; we need electricians.
• Again, the New Mexico Grow money that you have allows us to do that.
• Congress allowed the Affordable Connectivity Program to lapse.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stakeholder groups and entities that are neither in support nor in opposition will be allowed to give
• Thank you for allowing me to present, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you so much.
• It also increases voting and civic participation.
• We are lucky to have a couple grants that allow us to pay the students... ...time of service.
• At Cornell, medical amnesty led to a 22% increase in... ...strong results.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a series of bills focused on expanding access to higher education, addressing workforce shortages, student housing, and labor standards on campus projects. AB 662 would create a South County Higher Education Task Force to explore a mixed-use, intersegmental institution in Chula Vista; supporters said South San Diego County is a “college desert,” while the bill passed on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations. AB 885 would establish a College Access for All Fund to help make CSU and UC attendance more affordable; supporters cited student debt and affordability concerns, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 730 would provide $15 million to help establish a medical school in the Central Valley to address physician shortages, and it advanced on a due pass motion. AB 1400 would let up to 15 community college districts pilot bachelor’s degrees in nursing; supporters argued it would expand affordable BSN access and keep students local, while CSU, UC, and other higher education groups opposed it as unnecessary and inconsistent with the master plan. The bill passed to Appropriations, with members raising questions about clinical placements, faculty shortages, and possible effects on associate-degree programs. The committee also considered AB 1235, which would require CSU design-build projects to use a skilled and trained workforce, aligning CSU with other public higher education construction standards. Supporters said it would improve safety, training, and local job opportunities, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1247 would restrict contracting out of classified school and community college jobs unless workers meet training and qualification standards and would address pension and training concerns; supporters said it would protect students and classified employees, while school and college groups warned it would disrupt services and add unfunded mandates. The bill passed to Appropriations with one no vote. AB 1470, presented on behalf of Assemblymember Haney, would allow a portion of student housing revolving loan funds to be used for affordable student, faculty, and staff housing in downtown and commercial districts; it was discussed as a housing and downtown revitalization measure, but the committee held off on a motion pending more members. ACA 3, also on behalf of Haney, would require UC to offer limited down payment loans to eligible long-term support staff first-time homebuyers; it drew extensive support from UC workers and unions, while UC and business groups opposed it as costly and outside UC’s mission, and the measure was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would this allow the town manager to just make the appointments directly?
• No, it allows the director of the COA.
• Of you again for allowing me this opportunity to present today.
• And if you increase the cost on the providers and therefore increase the cost on the consumers, you're
• And if you increase the cost on the providers and therefore increase the cost on the consumers, you're

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging and Independence held a hearing on several bills, led by Chair Tom Stanley and Senate Chair Patricia Jehlen. The committee first heard testimony on H. 765/S. 487, an act relative to councils on aging, which would update outdated statutory language and allow directors of councils on aging to make staffing decisions when a council is structured as an advisory body. Representative Donahue and Betsy Connell of the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging said the change reflects how most councils now operate and would resolve conflicts like the one that arose in Sherborn. Members asked about whether the bill would affect town managers, volunteer roles, and whether the language should more clearly exempt informal volunteer help; supporters said the bill is aimed at municipal staffing structures, not unpaid volunteer assistance. The committee then took extensive testimony on H. 789/S. 470, an act to improve Massachusetts home care, which would create a statewide licensure system for non-medical home care agencies and entities. Julie Watt, Jay Krillovich, Betsy Krimmins, Lisa Gargoni, Tim Foley, and several providers and advocates supported the bill, arguing that licensure would establish baseline standards for background checks, training, service plans, insurance, complaint procedures, and labor-law compliance, while helping consumers identify legitimate providers and reducing fraud and abuse. Several witnesses described problems with unlicensed or poorly supervised providers, and family members and dementia advocates emphasized the need for dementia-specific training and better oversight for vulnerable clients. Tim Foley also raised concerns about private equity’s growing role in home care and said stronger regulation is needed to protect consumers and workers. Committee members focused on practical questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would reach informal paid helpers, volunteers, or people doing occasional household tasks, and what agency would enforce the rules. Supporters said the bill is intended to cover entities advertising home care services, not unpaid volunteer help, though they acknowledged regulators would need to work out details. John Sneeth of Tribute Home Care offered a more cautious view, saying licensure should not unduly burden smaller providers or reduce competition, and that enforcement would be key. The hearing also included testimony from the Alzheimer’s Association and family caregivers, who strongly supported the bill’s dementia-training provisions and described how trained caregivers improved safety and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. At the end of the hearing, the committee also heard support for H. 778/S. 473, regarding the Commission on LGBTQ Aging, with Lisa Krinsky urging funding for a full-time director and continued support for the commission’s strategic plan. After public testimony concluded, the committee adjourned the hearing by motion and voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we increase our skilled workforce through this program.
• So, no, we—we have increased activities.
• Testing, and we believe that allows us to start.
• We've increased census as of today. It's even higher than what I had from November.
• To get the specifics of that, I'm happy, if you would allow me, Mr.

Summary: The committee first recognized Mark Roper of the Economic Development Department for his long service and retirement, with members and the secretary praising his work on economic development across the state. Secretary Rob Black then presented EDD’s budget and special appropriation requests, describing strong recent job and income growth and outlining the department’s strategy around science and technology, site readiness, workforce development, foreign direct investment, and rural/community programs. He highlighted wins in advanced energy, quantum, space and defense, and biosciences, and asked for funding for quantum/DARPA matching funds, additional site readiness work, LIDA closing funds, JTIP training support, New Mexico Partnership, and healthy foods and other community programs. Members asked detailed questions about the quantum proposal, site readiness, the new mapping tool for industrial sites, workforce participation, trade missions, foreign investment, tariffs, water and produced water, tribal site evaluation, and public engagement on major projects. Black said the quantum request was intended to match federal dollars and build a workforce pipeline, that the site-readiness software would be a set enterprise license, and that the department was working with tribes and local partners on future site evaluations. He also said tariffs have created uncertainty but New Mexico’s infrastructure and foreign trade zones could help attract manufacturing, and he acknowledged concerns about transparency and community input while noting that some projects, such as Pacific Fusion, had gone through extensive public processes. The committee also discussed specific projects and funding balances, including Mantis Space’s move to Albuquerque, the status of Virgin Galactic’s spaceport lease, and the current LIDA fund balance and encumbrances. Black and Deputy Secretary Isaac Romero said the department was trying to use State Investment Council-backed venture funds to attract companies and that the new investments were already producing deals and jobs. Members generally supported the department’s direction but pressed for more targeted expertise, faster deployment, and stronger community involvement in future economic development decisions. Later, Secretary de Blassie of the Department of Health presented the department’s budget request and progress report. He said DOH had improved revenue cycle management, reduced old Medicaid-pending cases, increased census at facilities, improved budget and contract timeliness, and responded effectively to the measles outbreak. The department requested additional base funding for epidemiology and response, the DOH helpline, the Vital Records Virtual Vault, state labs, and the veterans home, along with special requests for respiratory vaccinations and marketing and lab equipment replacement. He also noted progress on MOUD and the medical psilocybin program, and said the department was not seeking to launch new programs given the limited time left in the administration.

Transcript Highlights:

• In January 2025, PSCOC adopted new adequacy standards that increase allowable gross square footage by
• would hope to receive that increase.
• Their increase for recurring is about a little less than 2.
• It has increased tremendously.
• The language is in there, will expand will increase, will provide.

Transcript Highlights:

• the city to make sure that they had a pretreatment system at their plant in place to deal with the increased
• Right, because anti donation doesn't allow for us, and FEMA policy doesn't allow for us expanding into
• So, a three-foot by three-foot area across these burn patches to increase survival.
• They just allow other landowners to come and pick it up.
• We think this will also allow them to get back into the open market.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you increase the intervals for which those peaks occur?
• We also use it to allow the capacity for Mr.
• They've increased police and EMS force.
• to expand those allowances for load.
• It allows you not to recreate the wheel.

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss data centers and their impact on Texas's energy infrastructure. The meeting featured testimony from key representatives of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, who outlined the evolving landscape of energy generation and the challenges posed by the rapid growth of data centers. Notably, ERCOT reported over 450,000 MW of generation resources planned for connection, with a significant portion attributed to data centers, which now represent around 87% of new large load interconnection requests. The committee explored proposed changes to the interconnection process, including a new 'batch study' approach aimed at streamlining the approval of multiple projects simultaneously. This change is intended to address the challenges of managing numerous simultaneous requests and to provide more certainty for developers regarding their energy needs. Testimonies emphasized the importance of ensuring that the costs of infrastructure upgrades are borne by the data centers rather than residential ratepayers, with discussions around the financial commitments required from developers. Several data center developers also provided testimony, highlighting the economic benefits of their projects, including job creation and increased local revenues. They expressed concerns about the potential for a moratorium on future growth due to the new interconnection rules and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address water usage and environmental impacts. The committee plans to continue discussions on these topics in future hearings, with a focus on balancing economic growth with energy reliability and resource management.

Transcript Highlights:

• allow members to be here for decision-m. allow members to be here for decision-m.
• With each reinfestation, we have the potential of actually increasing the host and increasing the spread
• <01:02:18.319> the increasing the host and increasing the increasing the host and increasing
• We have Mokai Drugs in support on Zoom. just from increasing the lensure fees of just from increasing
• about their own cases and would allow about their own cases and would allow these<01:40:22.880><

Bills: HB1183, HB1656, HB1658, HB1661, HB1663, HB1664, HB1859, HB2116, HB2271, HB2276, HB2335, HB2360, HB2387, HB2472, HB1805, HB2469, HB1815, HB1860, HB2117, HB2118, HB2437, HB2438, HB2604, HB1590, HB2156, HB2268

Keywords: retirement, pension, law enforcement, public safety, Hawaii Revised Statutes, indebtedness, salary recovery, employee compensation, deductions, financial management, collective bargaining, employee relations, impasse procedures, arbitration, public employment, HB1661, cafeteria plan, Section 125, Internal Revenue Code, flexible spending account

Transcript Highlights:

• to 4.4% and that start increasing to 4.4% and that increases<00:26:46.080> over<00:26:46.400>
• So, um increasing bonding revenue.
• If you would like to increase it, I don't think it would, depending on how much the increase would be
• um if it's a significant increase um if it's a significant increase obviously<00:30:08.240> will
• Thank you. building going to allow us to move more building going to allow us to move more in.<00:42:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Signs are not allowed in the committee room.
• <00:53:08.920> to threat group the only people I allow to threat group the only people I allow
• just put hard wire phones in and allow just put hard wire phones in and allow people<00:59:32.440
• reducing barriers and an increasing reducing barriers and an increasing housing<01:45:40.599>
• <01:46:20.560> any<01:46:20.800> funding increase any funding increase any funding we<01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• With the increased prominence of sports betting, the current penalty is no longer adequate.
• This bill allows them to access the tools to make sure that anybody, anybody who is an abuser truly gets
• punished at the level they should by allowing for consecutive sentences.
• Chair and members for allowing me to lay out this bill and, and Representative Little.
• So, um, have you seen an increase in this in, in like, over what time period?

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a 27% increase in revenue per user.
• I mean, this would allow a callback.
• Price increases are not acceptable.
• This bill will reduce competition and increase market consolidation.
• This bill will reduce competition and increase market consolidation.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We all know about increasing severity. I want to go through all these stats.
• We all know about increasing severity and impact of fires.
• That increases the likelihood of delay in litigation.
• So it allows local government to apply design standards.
• So it allows local government to apply design standards as long as they allow for the designated floor

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We all know about increasing severity. I want to go through all these stats.
• We all know about increasing severity and impact of fires.
• That increases the likelihood of delay in litigation.
• So it allows local government to apply design standards.
• So it allows local government to apply design standards as long as they allow for the designated floor

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on wildfire resilience, land use, and local government transparency. SB 911 by Senator Becker would require notification to fire enforcement agencies when a home in a high fire severity zone is sold with an agreement for the buyer to bring the property into defensible-space compliance; the California Association of Realtors said it would drop opposition if the bill is amended to use the preliminary change of ownership report, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 994 by Senator Cabaldon would bar local officials from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from sharing information with the elected decision-makers of their jurisdiction; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it also passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1041 by Senator Riggins would expand PACE financing for wildfire home-hardening improvements and add consumer protections, but it drew strong opposition from homeowner advocates, county treasurers, bankers, and others over predatory lending and lien concerns; it passed 3-2 and remained on call. The committee also considered SB 1075 by Senator Reyes, which would require local governments in AB 617 communities to consider air-quality reduction measures in land-use approvals for industrial and commercial projects. Environmental justice groups supported the bill as a way to implement community air plans, while counties, cities, business groups, builders, trucking interests, and others opposed it as duplicative of CEQA and a barrier to investment and jobs. After debate over local control and environmental justice, the bill passed 3-2 and remained on call. SB 958 by Senator Cabaldon would advance the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego, replacing a former arena and parking lots with housing, affordable units, parks, and a new entertainment venue; with no opposition voiced, it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. Another wildfire-related measure, SB 1182 by Senator Allen, would require local governments to consider insurance availability in safety planning for development in high fire hazard areas and direct state technical guidance on the issue. Supporters said insurance access is now a key indicator of risk, while some members questioned whether the bill would add useful information or burden local governments; the bill received a 1-1 vote and remained on call. The committee then began hearing SB 1116 by Senator Caballero, a starter-home/infill housing bill creating a streamlined ministerial path for small projects up to 10 units, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or a vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes it harder for things like a minimum wage increase to pass.
• This bill allows more managed care organizations to bid on Access contracts.
• Deaths and car accidents increased next... We're turning right on red.
• I think we are allowed to explain our votes without being impugned.
• outbreaks, increase health care spending, and, more importantly, increase the need for government involvement

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Increasing the time to allow that to happen is an inherent violation of our natural rights.
• Increasing the time to allow that to happen is an inherent violation of our natural rights.
• Increasing the time to allow that to happen is an inherent violation of our natural rights.
• Increasing the time to allow that to happen is an inherent violation of our natural rights.
• Increasing the time to allow that to happen is an inherent violation of our natural rights.

Keywords: 1189, house, all