Video & Transcript Research : 'user fees'
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MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 01/30/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- In terms of what we have for fees, how hard is it to set up all the inspections?
- know in terms of what we have for fees know in terms of what we have for fees how<00:55:49.599><
- Did their fees come out of those accounts, or is the state or local agency...
- <01:12:37.639>
that Investments and also uh any fees that Investments and also uh any fees - fact that there might be investment fees fact that there might be investment fees and<01:13:49.400
Summary:
The Health and Human Services committee heard a presentation from Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tiki Brown on the department’s 2025 budget and transition plans. Brown said the governor’s budget pairs targeted reductions with modest investments, resulting in net general fund savings, while preserving core safety-net programs. Major proposals included funding for program integrity, modernization of the child welfare SSIS system, compliance changes for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), operating adjustments, and a transition account reallocation as the new department continues moving programs from other agencies through July 1, 2025.
A large portion of the discussion focused on CCAP fraud prevention and oversight. Brown and Assistant Commissioner Diane Hy explained that the proposed statewide electronic attendance recordkeeping system would replace retroactive paper-based attendance reporting with more timely data, making it harder to falsify attendance and claim payments improperly. Brown also said the department is working with the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General and other partners on compliance and fraud controls. Senators pressed for more detail on current enforcement, whether payments can be withheld for violations, and whether recent media reports showed gaps in oversight; Brown said payments can be stopped for false attendance records, suspended or revoked licenses, or fraud allegations, but not for health and safety violations alone.
The committee also reviewed other budget-neutral policy changes, including expanding permanency support services for relative foster care and tribal equivalents, strengthening tribal child welfare grants, updating TEACH scholarship rules for early childhood educators, and adjusting the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program to create a special revenue fund and extend a 10% payment increase to tribally licensed programs and programs on tribal reservation land. Brown also described a $1.5 million annual reduction to restorative practices grants, leaving a smaller ongoing base. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 27th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Many of the assaults were recorded on video and posted online for the entertainment of users within that
- Members, SB 1036 would provide clarity under the Mitigation Fee Act by requiring that all jurisdictions
- SB 1036 will create a uniform policy that clarifies that impact fees should only be paid on the new impact
- This will reduce costs for duplicative fees and lower overall development costs.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through privileges of the floor recognizing Fresno State Ag Leadership Development Program students and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The body also approved the Senate journals and took up several gubernatorial appointments, including confirmations to the Court Reporters Board and the California Law Revision Commission, each approved by roll call vote.
The chamber then considered SCR 136 marking the 50th anniversaries of the California Coastal Act, Coastal Commission, and Coastal Conservancy. Supporters emphasized coastal access, habitat protection, public trails, and resilience, while one senator argued the commission can overrule local control and slow development. The resolution passed 27-4. The Senate also adopted SR 68 for Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with broad support focused on survivor advocacy and accountability, and SCR 130 recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, which passed unanimously. Several bills were then approved on unanimous roll call, including SB 1058 on school nutrition procurement, SB 930 on encryption for school exam proctoring, SB 917 on winery sales at farmers’ markets, SB 1002 on continuity of out-of-state telehealth care, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment, SB 1285 on juvenile record dismissals, and SB 969 on remote developmental services.
Later, SCR 131 called for an urgent, coordinated response to unsheltered homelessness, emphasizing interim shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services. Supporters said the state must stop normalizing encampments and better coordinate resources; one senator objected that the resolution did not sufficiently address self-sufficiency or alternatives to housing-first approaches. The resolution passed 34-0. The Senate also adopted SCR 157 honoring school bus drivers, approved the consent calendar, heard committee announcements, and adjourned in memory of Sandy Steers, a conservation advocate and longtime executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Jan 21st, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Florida project basically secures water supply for the foreseeable future within that area for all users
- For example, that would be permitting fees, timber sales, and then the interest we gained on our investments
- We have 461,000 acres that we either own in fee or through conservation easements.
- We have 461,000 acres that we either own in fee or through conservation easements.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from all five water management districts for FY 2026-2027: Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and how most of its spending is tied to the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Several directors noted budget reductions from the prior year largely because major projects were completed or because grant/appropriation funding is not yet fully reflected in preliminary budgets. Committee members repeatedly asked how districts project operations and maintenance costs, how projects are selected, and what share of staff and spending is devoted to core missions versus administration or regulatory work.
Northwest Florida Water Management District said its preliminary budget is $93.4 million, down about 15%, with 97% of spending tied to core responsibilities and a request for additional regulatory services funding. Suwannee River Water Management District presented a $70.4 million budget, emphasized its rural/agricultural character and spring protection work, and highlighted the Water First North Florida reclaimed-water recharge project; members also discussed its need for an additional FTE to handle consumptive use permit reviews tied to a new lower Santa Fe rule. St. Johns River Water Management District presented a $181 million budget, highlighted major water supply, water quality, flood protection, and land management projects such as Taylor Creek Reservoir, Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Crane Creek, and Lake Jessup restoration, and said about 93% of its budget supports core missions.
Southwest Florida Water Management District presented a $227.6 million budget, with major spending on alternative water supply, water control structure repairs, watershed projects, and land management; officials said 93.4% of the budget supports core missions and discussed rising construction costs for aging infrastructure. South Florida Water Management District presented the largest budget at $1.05 billion, focused on Everglades restoration, flood control, water supply, and ecosystem recovery; the director described major reservoirs and treatment projects, the EAA Reservoir, and ongoing efforts to improve water quality and restore flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay. The committee took no formal votes on the district budgets and adjourned after the presentations and questions.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And the key part of this bill, I don't think, y'all are the users.
- It's a $200 initial fee, and I think the renewal fee is $200, which is every two years or something on
- And so those fees can run into the thousands.
- So we charge a fee; our fee is $94.50 per year, so it's $1.89 for every two years.
- From the state licensing fee to the Texas Medical Board.
Keywords:
e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Land Grant Oct 7th, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- We implemented new fees and restructured our fee schedule, which will go into effect on January 1st,
- Our boat registration fees had not changed since 1984.
- Registration fees in the state of New Mexico are currently set at $9.50 per year.
- We did not change the fee; we actually gave free camping.
- Did you say all of October is no fees for anyone? Is that what I heard?
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Gates, with respect to exemptions for the sales tax, the franchise fees, is there the
- So it's a disposal fee as opposed to them being paid for it.
- Yeah, for one, I think that the permit fee of $2,500 and moving that to $100,000 really puts a barrier
- No, it's part of the application fee that they would have to pay.
- Instead of the permit fee being $2,500, it would be $100,000.
Keywords:
surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Health Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:00 am
Joint Committee on Public Health
Transcript Highlights:
- This is regarding an act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child's body by the Office of Chief Medical
- What this bill is going to do is so simple: it is to eliminate the fees from the medical examiner for
- And I cannot imagine how they feel that they have to pay a fee to the state, when most funeral homes
- are a vital part of that, to lower the cost of care, reaching communities and mothers and substance users
- As a colleague before had mentioned, we also support H. 2436 to eliminate fees for child under five death
Summary:
The committee hearing covered a wide range of public health bills, with much of the testimony focused on two major themes: expanding access to care and stabilizing health-related workforces and services. On House 2364, an act relative to medical health and fitness facilities, representatives from Dedham Health and Athletic Club argued for a pilot program recognizing supervised exercise as medicine, saying it could improve outcomes for chronic disease, fall prevention, and mental health while reducing costs. On House/Senate bills concerning community health workers (H. 359/S. 251), multiple witnesses from MACHW, Health Care for All, MHA, Cambridge Health Alliance, Mass General Brigham, Boston Children’s Hospital, Asian Women for Health, and the City of Somerville described CHWs as essential for navigation, trust-building, language access, and addressing social needs, and urged reimbursement by MassHealth, the GIC, and private insurers, along with workforce development measures. One pediatric neurologist also told the committee that losing grant-funded CHW support led to more avoidable ER visits and threatened clinic operations.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on hospital closures and essential services. Witnesses including Dr. Alan Sager, MNA President Katie Murphy, nurses from Brockton Hospital and Providence Behavioral Health, and local officials and legislators from Norwood described the loss of hospitals and service lines, especially maternity, pediatric, and behavioral health care, and argued current closure processes are too weak to protect communities. They supported bills such as H. 2460/S. 1503 and H. 2534/S. 1574, which would require earlier notice, community input, stronger state oversight, possible receivership, and limits on reopening or expanding after closures. Testimony emphasized the impact of Steward’s bankruptcy, the closures of Carney and Neshoba Valley, and the need to preserve access to essential services in underserved areas.
Several end-of-life and professional regulation bills were also discussed. On H. 2436, Representative Omar Gomez and funeral industry witnesses supported eliminating Office of the Chief Medical Examiner fees for the removal of a child’s body in cases involving children five and under, describing the bill as a small but important relief for grieving families. On H. 2444 and related Senate bills, cemetery and consumer advocates supported legalizing alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction as environmentally friendly after-death options, while cemetery representatives opposed H. 2360, which would allow funeral establishments to operate crematories, arguing cemeteries should retain that role. The committee also heard support for H. 2382, which would exempt dentists and oral surgeons from a new office-based surgical center framework, and for H. 2461, which would create hospital efficiency standards; employers and retailers backed that bill as a way to address rising health care costs.
Finally, the committee heard testimony on autism services and hospital governance. On S. 1414, behavior analysts and school representatives said Massachusetts already licenses assistant-level ABA providers but MassHealth does not reimburse them, causing long waitlists and limiting school and family access; an actuary testified that a three-tier ABA reimbursement model could reduce MassHealth costs by up to 6% per child served. Senator Lovely also testified in support of S. 1572, which would require at least one registered nurse on each acute care hospital governing board, arguing nurses’ frontline perspective would improve quality and retention. No votes were taken in the hearing excerpt, but many witnesses urged favorable reports on their respective bills.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Apr 29th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- as ancillary providers under health plans to address billing disparities, address license renewal fees
- staff to incorporate the board's proposed legislative changes, including adjustments to the board's fee
- And the last thing is we feel that we've supported the need for a fee increase, and we've been dealing
- Where we do have concerns, as the chair knows, is with the 48% fee increase.
- Consumers are often quoted one price, but ultimately pay much more after hidden fees and surcharges.
Summary:
The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a full agenda of bills focused on reproductive health, professional licensing and sunset reviews, consumer protection, and business regulation. Early testimony centered on AB 260, which would protect access to medication abortion, mifepristone, and telehealth reproductive care in California; supporters emphasized state protections against federal restrictions, while an opponent argued the bill removed safety safeguards. The committee also heard AB 714 on closing a loophole in regulation of low-cost commercial driving schools, AB 968 on allowing pharmacists to prescribe non-hormonal contraception, AB 671 on streamlining restaurant permitting, AB 1027 on strengthening cannabis product testing oversight, AB 1271 on broadband pricing and speed transparency, and AB 1332 on narrowly allowing medicinal cannabis shipments for seriously ill patients. Several sunset bills were also taken up, including AB 1482 on animal shelter and breeder transparency, AB 1501 on the Podiatric Medical Board and Physician Assistant Board, AB 1502 on the Veterinary Medical Board, AB 1503 on the Board of Pharmacy, and AB 1504 on the Massage Therapy Council.
Testimony was largely in support of the measures, with many bills drawing co-sponsors or support from industry, consumer, or professional groups. AB 1503 generated the most sustained opposition, with nurses, physicians, and drug industry representatives objecting to expanded pharmacy technician ratios, standard-of-care language, and therapeutic interchange authority; supporters argued the bill would modernize pharmacy practice and expand access. AB 1504 also drew mixed testimony, with massage therapy groups supporting continuation of the council but raising concerns about proposed public records and governance provisions. AB 1271 drew a policy dispute over whether broadband reporting requirements duplicated federal FCC processes, while supporters argued California needed its own consumer-facing data and complaint system.
After quorum was established later in the hearing, the committee began taking roll-call votes. AB 1271, AB 1332, AB 1482, AB 1501, and AB 1502 were all reported out on due-pass motions, with AB 1271 amended and the others generally amended or as introduced as noted. Earlier bills including AB 260, AB 671, AB 714, AB 968, and AB 1027 also received motions and were approved once the quorum was present. The chair repeatedly noted the lack of quorum during the hearing, but once one was secured, the committee completed votes on the agenda items and advanced the measures to Appropriations.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
FIN Info Briefing - Mon Jan 13, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- and landing fees.
- fees and what Landing<01:49:11.199>
fees <01:49:12.119>and <01:49:12.199>so <01: - So that's the push toward our road user charge program.
- Electric vehicles right now, they pay their $50 on top of their registration fee.
- and<04:50:31.200>
you <04:50:31.400>guys fees targeted impact fees and you guys fees
Summary:
The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center.
Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu.
A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- We establish fees to go into that fund.
- administrative and marketing purposes. that's when the fee is paid. that's when the fee is paid.
- So it's not terribly user-friendly the way it is now.
- they pay a 3 and 1/2 cent handling fee they pay a 3 and 1/2 cent handling fee for<03:20:35.560><
- handling fee The container handling fee has<03:21:02.920>
remained <03:21:03.240>constant<
Summary:
The House first suspended the rules briefly to make announcements, including welcoming former representative Doug Gage to the gallery. It then returned to House Bill 211 on data brokers and personal information, where the Appropriations Committee explained a $50,000 appropriation to the Secretary of State for a consultant-led study on an accessible deletion mechanism for consumers to delete personal data held by data brokers, with interim and final reports due in 2027 and 2028. The committee reported a 9-0-2 vote in favor, and the House agreed to the Commerce and Economic Development Committee’s amendment and ordered third reading.
Floor debate on H. 211 focused heavily on the bill’s deletion and exemption framework. Supporters argued the bill is needed to give Vermonters meaningful control over their data and to prevent data brokers from commingling information for unrelated uses. Opponents warned the bill could conflict with existing federal frameworks such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and could make credit, banking, insurance, fraud prevention, and identity verification harder. In response, the sponsor said the bill uses use-case-based exemptions rather than broad entity-level exemptions, noted testimony from banks, insurers, a data broker, a former data broker employee, and the Attorney General, and said no constitutional concerns were raised. The House ultimately adopted the amendment and advanced the bill.
After H. 211, the House moved to House Bill 577, establishing the Vermont Prescription Drug Discount Card Program. Committee reports from Health Care, Ways and Means, and Appropriations were read into the record, and the Colchester member described the bill as a way to lower prescription drug costs by joining the multi-state Array Rx program. The bill would let any Vermont resident obtain a free discount card for FDA-approved prescription drugs, with claimed savings up to 80% on generics and 20% on brand-name drugs. The House then proceeded to second reading on H. 577.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:15:03.920>
for <00:15:04.079>non-resident fishing license fees for non-resident - fishing license fees for non-resident students<00:15:05.440>
enrolled <00:15:05.920>in - <00:15:32.800>
revenue, <00:15:33.440>introduced <00:15:33.920>by license fee - revenue, introduced by license fee revenue, introduced by Senator<00:15:34.639>
Brennan. - S. 289, an act relating to reimbursing the Department of Fish and Wildlife for lost license fee
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 01/23/25
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- It is really all either fee funding or related to that portfolio of services.
- funding it is really all uh either fee funding it is really all uh either fee for<00:33:38.880><
- 37.359>
the protect and I mean you've got to be the protect and I mean you've got to be the user - 06:38.960>
to <01:06:39.079>have <01:06:39.200>a <01:06:39.400>business user - and you have to have a business user and you have to have a business need<01:06:40.880>
uh <01
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 04/07/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- They're more efficient because they're closer to their users.
- /c> efficient because they're closer to efficient because they're closer to their<00:57:51.920>
users - They're<00:57:52.960>
more <00:57:53.200>secure <00:57:53.599>because their users - They're more secure because their users.
- Our hope is that if you make this decision to ease the entry of these enormous energy users, all of whom
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Mar 26th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- It requires AHCA to develop a user-friendly consumer satisfaction survey to capture resident and family
- directs DCF to establish a methodology to determine daily room and board rates rather than establishing a fee
Summary:
The Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee met to review and advance the Senate’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget proposal for the committee’s portfolio. The presentation highlighted a $1.8 billion increase over the current base budget, including full funding for Medicaid and KidCare, investments in IT modernization, Medicaid provider rate increases, mental health and substance use services, opioid treatment, foster care and guardian assistance, elder care, veterans’ services, cancer research, school nurse staffing, and other public health initiatives. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical adjustments and then approved the budget proposal to be reported to the full Senate Appropriations Committee.
The committee then heard and voted on several bills. SB 152 on surgical smoke protection required hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt smoke evacuation policies; nurses testified in support, citing workplace and patient safety risks, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 958 on early detection of type 1 diabetes required the Department of Health to provide educational materials to schools and, by amendment, early learning coalitions; it was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home oversight added consumer satisfaction surveys, reporting requirements, quality incentive changes, and financial reporting penalties, with an amendment exempting state-operated homes and directing a study of best practices; it passed after questions about dementia, language access, and retaliation protections. CS/SB 738 modernized child care regulation by streamlining DCF processes and reducing obsolete requirements, and was reported favorably without opposition.
The committee also approved CS/SB 1356 creating the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU and a Sunshine Genetics pilot to expand rare-disease screening and research, with support from members emphasizing early detection and data collection. SB 1370 separated ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute, with testimony that the change would better reflect the industry and help avoid burdensome regulation; it passed favorably. Finally, CS/CS/SB 1626 made a range of child welfare changes, including codifying DCF coordination with military installations, adjusting shelter certification, refining criminal-background exemptions, extending licensing compliance time, addressing room-and-board rate methodology, and clarifying missing-child procedures; after adopting three amendments and hearing both support and concerns, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also recorded a member’s affirmative vote on SB 958 before adjournment.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/20/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Utilities are utilizing these grid access fees.
- The grid taxes fees were already put in place to recoup cost.
- The grid taxes fees were already put in place to recoup cost.
- The grid taxes fees were already put in place to recoup cost.
- <01:10:03.760>
be <01:10:04.040>kept fees be kept fees be kept alongside<01:10:06.000><
Bills:
HF845
Keywords:
net metering, distributed generation, solar energy, rooftop solar, renewable energy, utility rates, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, net billing, bill credits, cost of service study, standby charge, qualifying facility, energy policy, clean energy, customer generation, interconnection, Minnesota Statutes 216B.164
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 3:00 PM
Public Health and Welfare
Transcript Highlights:
- >> The flat fee. >> Oh, there's a flat fee.
- >> The the flat fee. >> The the flat fee.
- You have to have a clearly defined dispensing fee and an ingredient fee.
- You have to have a clearly defined dispensing fee and an ingredient fee.
- defined dispensing fees and an ingredient fee.
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 1622, a strike-all amendment to create a pilot program for certain small-community hospitals to receive limited certificate-of-need exemptions. The bill would allow qualifying hospitals to open a geriatric psychiatric unit without a CON, permit each hospital one additional CON exemption for a service otherwise requiring one, cap dialysis-unit exemptions at eight hospitals, continue existing moratoriums with periodic Department of Health review, allow facilities in Issaquena or Humphreys Counties under limited conditions, and add a loser-pays rule for unsuccessful CON court challenges. Technical corrections were made, the strike-all amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported do pass as amended by voice vote. The committee then moved to House Bill 942, where Senator McMahan offered an amendment to allow a Lee County chiropractor to advertise as a neurologic chiropractor and list related credentials. Members questioned whether chiropractic neurology is recognized in Mississippi and raised concerns about the practitioner’s prior discipline by the board, but the chair ruled the amendment germane. The amendment failed on voice vote, and the bill itself then passed and was reported to the floor.
The committee next considered House Bill 1034, but no amendment was offered. It then took House Bill 479 off the table. That bill extends the temporary licensing period for psychology and marriage-and-family-therapy boards from 30 to 60 days to allow more time for criminal background checks. Senator Blackwell offered a clarifying amendment to make clear that temporary licenses must be revoked if required background checks or other licensure requirements are insufficient, and that the temporary license does not replace the underlying education, training, and examination requirements. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported do pass as amended.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1067, the Rural Health Transformation Program. Senator Hickman explained that the bill would require procurement procedures and reporting for the state’s rural health transformation funds, prioritize projects tied to the original application, and direct funds toward rural and underserved areas such as health professional shortage areas, low-income counties, and places without hospitals. Senators questioned whether the added state rules would layer on top of existing federal requirements and whether the bill could slow distribution or invite litigation, but supporters said it was meant to add transparency and guardrails rather than change the federal program. The bill was discussed at length, but the transcript ends before a final vote on HB 1067.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (05/05/2026)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, and then think of a large load user: you might want 10 of these reactors, and we would rotate through
- of<00:20:31.679>
a <00:20:32.000>large <00:20:32.320>load <00:20:32.720>user - <00:20:33.600>
u <00:20:33.679>might <00:20:33.919>want think of a large load user - u might want think of a large load user u might want 10<00:20:34.400>
of <00:20:34.559>these - Now, in full disclosure, Ways and Means also tacked on the state parks out-of-state fee onto that bill
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Minerals, Business & Economic Development, February 11, 2026
Minerals, Business & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- We do have a few things um that we had questions on in their RFP about some of the fees and collateral
- <00:04:55.919>
and <00:04:56.080>and <00:04:56.560>collateral some of the fees - we would, um, at some point be able to reach a level where we would not need to collect additional fees
- That cost recovery would come in the form of rates to the end user.
- rates to the end user. rates to the end user.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- clear, accessible, user-friendly clear, accessible, user-friendly dashboard<01:31:12.719>
that - ;> House 611, Prince George's County, alcoholic<02:01:24.320>
beverages <02:01:24.880>fees - <02:01:26.000>
House <02:01:26.320>rule alcoholic beverages fees. - House rule alcoholic beverages fees.
- . fees. fees.
Summary:
The House met in Annapolis with 107 members present and proceeded through the journal and a series of Appropriations Committee reports. Several bills were advanced on favorable reports without amendment, including measures on constitutional officers’ salaries, correctional officer retirement systems for Dorchester and Allegany counties, Carroll and Calvert County public facilities bonds, higher education financial assistance for incarcerated individuals, and a bill on community college promise scholarship eligibility for Delmar High School graduates. Other bills received amendments before being ordered for third reading, including measures on community college trustee membership, Frederick Community College board meeting and training requirements, Howard County school funding disclosures, courts administrative judges’ stipends, correctional officers retirement membership clarifications, the Children’s Cabinet Fund, and a law enforcement pension bill limiting military service credit eligibility to helicopter pilots in state aviation units.
The chamber also considered HB 1581 on horse racing facility ownership, development, licensing, and operations. Amendments expanded the bill to include additional economic development provisions for the Prince George’s County Blue Line corridor, Pimlico-related funding and community input requirements, a larger lottery-fund distribution for the racing community development financing fund, and changes to the bus rapid transit grant program. The bill’s favorable report as amended was adopted, and it was ordered for third reading. During debate on a separate amendment to HB 894, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, members argued over project labor agreements: opponents said PLA requirements raise costs and limit competition, while supporters said the provision was optional, supported stability and predictability, and was part of a broader compromise. The amendment was rejected after discussion, and the bill remained amended.
The House also took up HB 1430 on charter school facilities funding, adopting amendments that reduced the per-pupil amount and narrowed eligibility for certain districts, then advancing the bill as amended. In addition, HB 1248 was amended to convert a part-time state employment pilot program into a work group, and HB 680 was amended to adjust future appropriations for local management boards. Across the session, most actions were routine committee report adoptions and amendment votes, with no recorded roll-call counts in the excerpt except the initial quorum call.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Repeal of sales tax exemption on preferred seating at sports event proposed to fund shelter, housing Apr 15th, 2026
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- according to the 2025 MDH Safe Harbor evaluation to the legislature, the majority of Safe Harbor service users
- according to the 2025 MDH Safe Harbor evaluation to the legislature, the majority of Safe Harbor service users
- according to the 2025 MDH Safe Harbor evaluation to the legislature, the majority of Safe Harbor service users
- The majority of Safe Harbor service users were from greater Minnesota, and that was 63%.
- putting them into academic costs, I know that there are now students at the U that are being charged a fee
Summary:
House File 4738 was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Representative Keeler presented the bill as a funding source for Minnesota’s Safe Harbor program, arguing that trafficking and sexual exploitation are statewide problems and that current shelter and housing resources are insufficient. She and several supporters emphasized that the program serves youth across greater Minnesota, not just the metro, and that state and federal funding pressures make additional support necessary.
Testifiers from Place Called Home/Life House, The Link, the City of Minneapolis, and a survivor all described the impact of Safe Harbor and related shelter programs. They cited data on youth served, bed nights, mental health services, and high unmet need, including waitlists and youth turned away because programs are full. Testimony stressed that stable housing and trauma-informed services help survivors recover and move toward education, employment, and family stability. One committee member, Representative Davis, objected to the proposed funding source, saying he would not support taking money from women’s sports scholarships and urging a different source.
The bill’s tax mechanism was described as ending the sales tax exemption for preferred seating, suite licenses, and related amenities at athletic and entertainment events. Alec Williams of We Make Minnesota supported the proposal as a fair way to raise revenue from high-end discretionary purchases for a public purpose. Committee discussion also focused on the size of the revenue estimate and the breakdown of the impact, with nonpartisan staff saying roughly 85% would come from suite licenses, 10% from collegiate seating, and 5% from amenities. Representative Smith and others framed the issue as both a tax and moral question, and the chair moved the bill to be laid over.