Transcript Highlights:

• me today is Deputy Commissioner Pete Woff and Assistant Commissioner Lisa Poish.
• Pete woff and assistant Commissioner Pete woff and assistant commissioner<00:46:44.319> Lisa<
• is under our assistant commissioner is under our assistant commissioner Sydney<00:48:05.480>
• Deputy Commissioner Woff, and Assistant Commissioner Polish for being here and for the work you do.
• Commissioner Woff: Sorry, Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, first up, SB 46 relating to insurance.
• First up, we have Gordon EO, DCCA, insurance commissioner, providing comments. insurance companies saying
• <00:10:52.399> uh treatment covered by Insurance uh treatment covered by Insurance uh companies
• Next up, SB 642 relating to insurance. Chair's recommendation is to pass this with amendments.
• The insurance companies who are required to let us know how much it's going to cost us.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services began by explaining strict one-minute testimony limits, reliance on written testimony, and that it had quorum and would move directly to decision making on deferred measures. It first adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 8 with amendments, creating a five-year trial period for a jury-duty exemption for actively practicing APRNs, delaying implementation to January 1, 2027, and adding a defective date. It then adopted amendments to SB 189 on breast cancer screening, replacing references to “woman” with “patient,” clarifying that supplemental imaging and mammograms must be medically necessary and ordered by the patient’s provider, deleting one subsection, and adding a defective date. The committee then heard testimony on several bills. SB 46 on insurance/mental health coverage drew support from a member of the public and others, but later the chair said it would be deferred indefinitely pending a required sunrise analysis and a concurrent resolution. SB 642 on fertility preservation services received broad support from providers, advocacy groups, and an individual who described facing cancer treatment and high out-of-pocket costs; the chair later amended it to make coverage optional, limit it to those over 26, and add a defective date. SB 49 on terminal illness had limited testimony and was later passed with amendments incorporating agency and professional association changes plus a defective date. The committee also heard strong support for SNAP-related bills. SB 53, expanding SNAP eligibility to 300% of poverty, drew testimony about the “benefits cliff,” but the chair later deferred it indefinitely, citing uncertainty about costs and system issues. SB 58 on public assistance had no testimony. SB 960 and SB 961, both SNAP-related, drew extensive support from nonprofits, health groups, and others; DHS said its modernization work would not be ready until fall 2026 and that current systems could not automatically extend certification periods. SB 963 on SNAP also received support, including testimony from a volunteer reentry advocate and a public health advocate, but the chair later said it would be deferred indefinitely because the committee could not determine the fiscal impact and wanted to wait until next year. Finally, the committee heard SB 798 on child welfare and SB 974 on foster care. Testimony on SB 798 included support from child welfare and advocacy organizations, but also criticism from a witness who said the bill lacked voices of those harmed by the system and another who emphasized the need for independence, implementation, and accountability. The committee then recessed to regain quorum and later returned to decision making, where it deferred SB 46 indefinitely, passed SB 642 with amendments, passed SB 49 with amendments, and deferred SB 53 indefinitely. The transcript ends while the chair is continuing through the remaining measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our health insurance costs went up.
• We did get, because of that, everybody went to the 80/20 where the state pays 80% of your health insurance
• I've served as a domestic violence special commissioner. So I've decided domestic violence cases.
• We are also asking for $371,000 in change for the health insurance contributions and premium increases
• The odds are that they will not give the commissioners their money.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the New Hampshire Insurance Department keeps track of all the cost of all procedures, and
• department has I what the insurance department has I think<00:49:55.440> they<00:49:55.559>
• They could email it, and it could definitely be pushed through the chain to the commissioner.
• through the chain U the our commissioner through the chain U the our commissioner has<01:10:07.600
• <01:44:27.000> policy cad Aid is more like an insurance policy cad Aid is more like an insurance

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sanchez, pardon me, I just had one question, Madam Chair, about your insurance.
• Insurance package under the Cancer Center itself? Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Are you talking about malpractice insurance? Yes, that's correct. We are under UNM.
• Could you expand a little bit about that when it comes to recruitment and the insurance?
• . county commissioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• pressures, including actions at the federal level and rapid growth in the cost of providing health insurance
• We'll be saddled with increased costs from providers and insurers.
• They're really going to cut the services and possibly both increase the cost to our health insurance
• Possibly both increase the cost to our health insurance plans, which are already pretty high.
• or because of those cutbacks from the cheaper insurance programs, and I've been doing this for a long

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on H. 4975, Governor Healey’s bill to manage the impact of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OB3) on Massachusetts tax law and state revenues. Administration officials, led by Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorowitz, said OB3 would otherwise reduce FY26 revenue by about $442 million and argued for a phased-in conformity approach that would preserve the current-year budget while still adopting selected federal business tax provisions over time. The proposal would phase in the research and experimental expenditure deduction first, delay other major corporate provisions for two years, extend the pass-through entity excise to income subject to the 4% surtax, add a one-year delay mechanism for future federal tax changes over $20 million, limit opportunity zone benefits to Massachusetts investments, and make smaller technical changes to DFML contributions and casino reporting thresholds. Committee members questioned the rationale for phasing in rather than fully decoupling, the effect on the budget if the bill did not pass, and the treatment of opportunity zones, the surtax, and future federal tax changes. Public testimony was split. MassBudget, Progressive Massachusetts, and several labor and public-sector groups urged the committee to permanently decouple from the federal corporate tax changes rather than delay them, arguing that the bill would still send state revenue to corporate tax breaks, often for investments outside Massachusetts, and that the state should protect funding for schools, health care, human services, and other public services. The Massachusetts Society of CPAs supported the administration’s timing and the research-and-development provisions, citing filing deadlines and the importance of certainty for businesses and startups. Business and tax experts also testified that rushed conformity can create revenue losses and that the governor’s review-and-delay framework was a prudent improvement, though some said decoupling should be the default if the Legislature does not act. Unite Here Local 26 testified against sections 3 and 4, which would raise the slot-machine jackpot reporting threshold from $1,200 to $2,000, arguing the current threshold helps with problem-gambling intervention, preserves slot attendant jobs, and generates revenue. Several union leaders, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, AFT Massachusetts, SEIU 509, the Massachusetts Building Trades, the AFL-CIO, and 1199 SEIU, urged permanent decoupling, warning that OB3’s federal tax cuts and related spending reductions would worsen budget pressures, harm public services, and shift costs onto workers, patients, and schools. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Commissioner. We incorrectly. Thank you, Commissioner.
• <00:52:00.160> Each under the three commissioners. Each under the three commissioners.
• report to the assistant commissioner. report to the assistant commissioner.
• Um, as Kathy mentioned, we have a chair of commissioner. We have commissioners.
• We have of a commissioner.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amelia Galdieri, bank commissioner.
• I'm not sure was here, the commissioner.
• Not a commissioner. Oh, you Sorry. Not a commissioner.
• > well<01:02:41.520> for Commissioner, thank you as well for Commissioner, thank you as
• brokerages, the fintechs, the insurance brokerages, the fintechs, the insurance companies,<01:09

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the April 6 and May 4 minutes, with minor corrections noted to the May minutes. The main presentation came from JD of Link Network, introduced by Dan Cohen, who described Link’s work with crypto.com and other market participants on tokenized money market funds and real-time settlement for institutional clients. JD gave a detailed history of his earlier work developing the Arca U.S. Treasury Fund and ArCoin, emphasizing that the project was built within existing SEC and 1940 Act frameworks and was intended to use blockchain technology for a traditional asset rather than create a crypto product. He said the effort involved years of discussions with the SEC, multiple custodians, and partners such as U.S. Bank, T-Zero Securities, and Tassat, and that the model eventually led to Link’s settlement system. He highlighted concerns that shaped the design, including regulatory compliance, privacy for institutional users, and the need to bridge traditional banking hours with 24/7 digital asset markets. The presentation also described Link’s features, including segregated and bankruptcy-remote fund structures, tokenized deposit and treasury fund settlement, and “yield in transit,” which allows interest to accrue and be distributed daily down to a two-second block. JD said the platform is being expanded for use cases such as exchange liquidity, cross-border capital movement, off-exchange collateral, stablecoin bridging, treasury management, and peer-to-peer settlement. He closed by posing policy questions for the commission about the use cases for stablecoins versus tokenized money market funds in New Hampshire and whether the state could issue or administer a security-based program with appropriate compliance controls.

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked with our children's mental health case manager and our insurance company to get her approved
• But after 14 months, insurance refused to continue to pay for his stay, and he had to return home.
• Madam Chair, Commissioner, or Senator—excuse me, Mr.
• Commissioner Maran, good morning, Chair Wham and Senators.
• I'm also speaking in favor of this bill as a former Beltrami County Commissioner.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of these reforms, automobile insurance rates are scheduled to come down this year between 6 and
• insurance market is seeing stability. 11 new companies have entered the market over the past year. 130,000
• We were also recently able to announce that in 2025, 73% of citizens' property insurance homeowners in
• Miami-Dade County are Of citizens' property insurance homeowners in Miami-Dade County are scheduled
• Commissioner Wilton Simpson, you'll soon be the most tenured member of the Florida Cabinet.

Summary: The Florida House and Senate met in joint session to open the 2025 legislative session, receiving the Florida Cabinet, the Florida Supreme Court, and then Governor Ron DeSantis. The session included a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a motion to appoint a committee to notify the governor that the joint session was ready to receive his message. The committee was appointed, the governor was introduced, and the joint session recessed until his arrival. In his address, Governor DeSantis highlighted Florida’s economic performance, low unemployment, business growth, tourism, and insurance reforms, and urged further action on property insurance, the My Safe Florida Home program, and tax relief. He also called for continued immigration enforcement, praised school choice and teacher pay initiatives, defended higher education reforms, and discussed Hope Florida, hurricane recovery, environmental restoration, and infrastructure. He specifically urged lawmakers to address petition fraud and the constitutional amendment process, condominium reform, and stronger Second Amendment protections. The governor also reviewed prior legislative accomplishments, including tax cuts, parental rights and education measures, anti-DEI actions, law enforcement bonuses, and other conservative policy changes. He thanked legislative leaders and cabinet officials, encouraged continued cooperation over the next 60-day session, and closed by urging lawmakers to build on Florida’s record of productivity. After the governor departed, the joint session voted to dissolve.

Transcript Highlights:

• unfair tax, one of the elements is another element of unfair taxes: this is a Board of County Commissioners
• If we're at 40,000 feet, why do we let Board of County Commissioners or city councils change an unfair
• because I'm in charge of all the bills at home, paying everything, between the mortgage rates now, the insurance
• Inflation’s rising, health insurance is rising, FRS costs are rising, workmen’s comp is rising.
• Think of your title insurance policy. What would this do to a title insurance policy?

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes held its first meeting with opening remarks from the co-chairs and ranking member framing the committee’s task as developing property tax legislation for next session. Staff then gave a high-level overview of Florida property taxes, explaining how ad valorem taxes work, the roles of property appraisers, tax collectors, taxing authorities, value adjustment boards, and the Department of Revenue, and reviewing key concepts such as just value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value, millage rates, homestead exemptions, Save Our Homes, and portability. The presentation also emphasized that property tax law is largely rooted in the Florida Constitution and that local governments choose millage rates, which affects collections. No public comment was taken. The committee then discussed five Speaker-proposed concepts. Proposal 1 would require cities, counties, and special districts to hold a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homestead properties; members raised concerns about local funding, public safety, special districts, renters, and the need for extensive voter education, with some suggesting countywide elections or town halls instead. Proposal 2 would create a new $500,000 homestead exemption for non-school taxes and a $1 million exemption for seniors 65+ or long-term homesteaders; members split between seeing it as meaningful relief for seniors and warning it could devastate local tax bases, especially in lower-value or rural counties, while also potentially trapping older homeowners in place. Proposal 3 would authorize the Legislature to raise homestead exemptions by general law; some liked the flexibility, but others worried about statewide one-size-fits-all impacts, political difficulty in reversing changes, and the need for local revenue replacement. Proposal 4 would change assessment caps for homestead and non-homestead property; several members said it would not provide enough relief and could shift burdens to rental properties and non-homestead owners. Proposal 5, eliminating foreclosure on homestead property for tax liens, drew the strongest opposition, with members saying it would undermine lien priority, mortgage and title systems, and incentives to pay taxes. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly stressed the need to understand local fiscal impacts, including police, fire, infrastructure, and other services funded by property taxes, and to consider alternative revenue sources or offsets if taxes are reduced. The co-chairs said the committee is still in the information-gathering stage, that all ideas remain on the table, and that members should do “homework” by meeting with local taxing authorities and learning how property taxes are set and spent in their districts. The meeting ended with no votes on the proposals and adjournment after a motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I really want to thank the Commissioner...
• Now, I really want to thank the Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner Simpson, for his leadership
• I appreciate the collaboration between the ranchers, the farmers, the ag people, and the Commissioner
• Bumblebees have been used effectively on watermelon, and they often use them as an insurance policy,
• So yes, growers use them as insurance policies, but it's even more complex than that because the science

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture heard two informational presentations before taking up legislation. Tracy Dean of Conservation Florida described the organization’s work protecting wild and working lands, especially ranch and timber lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and argued that agricultural conservation easements are essential to preserving habitat, water resources, family farms, and the corridor itself. Senators discussed how conservation easements can help family operations remain viable across generations, and Dean emphasized strong demand for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and Florida Forever funding. Dr. Jamie Ellis of the University of Florida then gave a detailed presentation on honeybees, their role in pollination and Florida agriculture, and major threats such as Varroa mites, queen quality, nutrition issues, hurricanes, and the yellow-legged hornet; senators asked about colony losses, pollination alternatives, and the economic importance of beekeeping in Florida. The committee then considered SB 210 on animal cremation, sponsored by Senator Harrell. The bill was described as a response to a case involving mishandled pet cremation and would require crematories to provide clear disclosures about services, prohibit false or misleading information, and authorize civil penalties enforced by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. Next, the committee took up SJR 318, a joint resolution by Chair Truenow creating a proposed ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property used in agricultural production or agritourism on agricultural land and owned by the landowner or leaseholder. Several industry and agency representatives appeared in support, and the resolution was also reported favorably by unanimous vote. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment motioned by Senator Rouson.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the pleasure of serving as the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department.
• the insurer insurer insolvency. the insurer insurer insolvency.
• . insurer. insurer.
• > companies<00:31:42.840> go So, an insurance insurance companies go So, an insurance insurance
• when an insurer goes insolvent.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AMENDMENT 521708 CORRECTS THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT REFERENCE TO ENSURE IT IS CLEAR THE REQUIRED COVERAGE
• WELCOME. >> WE BELIEVE THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE GREATER ON THIS THAN
• AS MOST OF US ARE WELL AWARE WITH OUR NEW PRESIDENT AND WITH OUR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE THEY ARE
• RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR INSURANCE AND THEY ARE DRIVEN ON OUR STREETS ANYWAY.
• LOCALS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SO THEY'RE ALREADY OUT THERE AND WE'RE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT, WE'RE NOT INSURING

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have to pay exorbitantly high insurance have to pay exorbitantly high insurance rates<01:13:31.199
• <01:54:28.400> to or decision of the commissioner to or decision of the commissioner to obtain
• Your request is to delete the words “the commissioner finds that” so that the commissioner must grant
• c> that uh the commissioner must grant a that uh the commissioner must grant a petition<01:59:21.199>
• Uh there be helpful to the commissioner.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SIMPSON FOR SERVICE.
• >> Commissioner Wilton Simpson: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
• >> Commissioner Wilton Simpson: MR. CHAIRMAN.
• THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR THAT ANSWER.
• I CAN REMEMBER COMMISSIONER PUTNER WAS THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does it have to do with insurance for a high-risk population?
• No, thank you, Deputy Commissioner.
• I am Isha Canada, Deputy Commissioner, D.S. process.
• Sorry, I am Isha Canada, Deputy Commissioner, D.S.
• Commissioner. And we'll need DCF, please.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes from its May 14, 2026 meeting and then considered four fiscal transfers. FAC 2026-9 for the Office of the State Controller transferred $4.345 million among fringe benefit accounts in the General Fund and Special Transportation Fund. Members questioned several employee benefit accounts, including active and retiree health care, Social Security, higher education alternative retirement, and OPEB; agency staff explained the transfers were based on updated year-end projections, with some accounts showing surpluses and others needing additional funds. The item was approved, with two no votes noted. FAC 2026-10 for the Military Department transferred $150,000 from the Honor Guards account to personal services and Governor’s Guard accounts to cover operational needs, and it was approved without opposition. FAC 2026-11 for the Department of Social Services transferred $3.3 million among accounts. Most of the discussion focused on a surplus in the substance use disorder waiver/reinvestment account, lower-than-expected TANF/TFA caseloads, federal family planning backfill requirements, and staffing challenges in eligibility operations. DSS said some funds remained unused because a residential care vendor did not enter into a contract, some reserves were intended for future multi-year investments, and eligibility staff require 12 to 18 months of training; the item was approved. FAC 2026-12 for the Department of Children and Families transferred $3.05 million among accounts for year-end operational needs. Members asked about closures of day treatment and community-based prevention programs, and DCF said children were transitioned to other providers without service interruption, with closures driven by provider decisions and financial viability. DCF also explained that some prior funding had been used as gap funding and that ongoing support had been built into the budget. The committee approved the transfer and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Key provision would be eligibility for insurance coverage.
• training exercises, along with their spouses and dependent children, would be eligible for specific insurance
• I am here as both a constituent and the first openly gay commissioner of the city of Sanford, and I would
• I am here as both a constituent and the first openly gay commissioner of the city of Sanford, and I would
• I really wish that we as a state could focus more on our insurance costs instead of just pointless little

Summary: The committee took up several bills and reported each favorably after brief presentations, amendments, and roll calls. SB 1760, by Senator Grall, would require certain elected officials and agency heads to reside in Florida, with agency heads also required to be U.S. citizens and live in the county where their agency is headquartered; it also clarifies the constitutional prohibition on holding more than one office. SB 1202, by Senator McClain, expands insurance benefits for firefighters who are totally and permanently disabled during official training exercises, and its amendment was adopted to avoid local fiscal impact. SB 582, by Senator Leak, increases penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and limits the higher penalty to properties on the National Register of Historic Places or in a listed district; supporters included representatives of St. Augustine and the Florida League of Cities, while one opponent waived in opposition. SB 312, by Senator Gates, revises governance of the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition and allows affiliated nonprofit subsidiaries to enter agreements with universities; an amendment adding one public member to the board was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 676, by Senator Martin, which would allow employees to waive the state minimum wage right under a framework the sponsor said would help young or inexperienced workers gain entry-level experience. The bill drew extensive public testimony, with supporters arguing it could help small businesses hire and create opportunities, and opponents saying it would undermine the voter-approved minimum wage, invite coercion, and exploit vulnerable workers. Senator Martin’s amendment clarifying the Fair Labor Standards Act exception was adopted, and the bill passed on a favorable vote despite opposition from Senator Arrington and others. Finally, SB 440, by Senator McClain, was heard as an expansion of prior law to cover public employees and prohibit certain employment practices related to gender identity and pronoun use; after an amendment narrowing the bill by deleting references to training, instruction, or other activity regarding sexual orientation, the committee heard extensive testimony both for and against, with supporters framing it as protecting conscience rights and opponents calling it discriminatory. The committee ultimately reported SB 440 favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:51.840> of references, adding the commissioner of references, adding the commissioner
• depends on which insurance I suppose. depends on which insurance I suppose.
• that the provide that the insurance that the provide that the insurance already<00:31:11.120>
• If the insurer contract year.
• insurance is being driven up. insurance is being driven up.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• creation we have industries that we need to make strategic bets on to drive the conversation and insure
• My name is Sophia Smith, and I am the Deputy Commissioner of Administration at the Department of Financial
• Your question again, Greg Young, Senior Deputy Commissioner over the Division of Corporation and Financial
• We've been in talks with the department for over a year about insuring the California Residential Mortgage
• In addition to a $1,000 that the Commissioner has the discretion if costs are not being covered so in

Keywords: 988, house, all