Transcript Highlights:

• Since we do have a quorum, we can begin before we get going on the file. We can begin.
• Before we get going on the file order, I would like to have the consent calendar passed.
• Unfortunately, our timely filed opposition letter was not included in the analysis.
• So, Unfortunately, our timely filed opposition letter was not included in the analysis.
• Rent-now-pay-later loans with high interest rates and junk fees can be harmful.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During one purchase, a $1,000 fee for outside financing was listed.
• They don't know they can choose not to finance at the dealership or to negotiate fees.
• Senator Nichols explains the differences between the substitute and the bill as filed.
• They file their complaints with us as a means of last resort when we cannot make them whole.
• Quite recently, we've received a threat. from another complainant who filed a federal lawsuit.

Bills: HB12, HB149, HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696

Keywords: election law, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, law enforcement, jurisdiction, voter fraud, local prosecuting attorney, public safety, communication, governor approval, interoperability, political subdivision, radio systems, artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance

Transcript Highlights:

• your support [laughter] of House File your support [laughter] of House File 3668.<00:10:46.160><
• opposition to House File 3668. opposition to House File 3668.
• is House File 2779. is House File 2779.
• Please support House File 2779. Please support House File 2779.
• <01:25:54.000> 2771 support of both House File 2771 support of both House File 2771 and<01

Bills: HF3668, HF2779, HF2771

Keywords: gun violence, public health, Department of Health, prevention, criminal justice, health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration

Summary: The House Finance and Policy Committee met on March 2 with a quorum present and heard House File 3668, which would create a state Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The bill author argued the office would treat gun violence as a public health crisis, improve research and coordination, and help reduce deaths and trauma, especially among children. Several supporters testified, including representatives from the Minnesota Medical Association, Protect Minnesota, family medicine, public health, and obstetrics/gynecology, all emphasizing firearm injury and suicide as major public health problems and urging a coordinated, data-driven response. Multiple testifiers shared personal accounts of shootings and their effects on children and families, including the Annunciation shooting, and said the office could help align prevention efforts across health care, law enforcement, and community organizations. Opposition came from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, which argued the bill would create a permanent taxpayer-funded bureaucracy that could be used to shape firearm policy and restrict a constitutional right. The group said Minnesota should focus instead on enforcing existing laws, prosecuting violent offenders, and providing direct victim services. During committee discussion, Vice Chair Nadeau offered an A2 amendment to move the proposed office from the Department of Health to the Department of Public Safety, citing data-sharing, accountability, and examples from other cities and states; after discussion with the bill author, he withdrew the amendment. Chair Becker then noted existing state and local spending on violence prevention and public safety programs and raised concerns about duplication of effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• This small portion of user-generated fees to Houston makes sense for the public.
• At the request of the state auditor's office, the attorney general's office may file a suit to collect
• And you've had user fees that have used those bonds, that have used that system, that have used that
• construction, and have paid their user fees.
• Fees to fund and pay off those bonds and now is creating, let's call it what it is.

Bills: SB39, SB2129, SB2141, SB2246, SB2323, SB2439, SB2722, SB 39

Keywords: commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident

Transcript Highlights:

• So they file their return, they claim the credit, and then at the end of the day, there isn't enough
• Other revenue sources are fees for services, you know, building permits, and there's fines.
• should ask the assessor for a GIS shape file with the lines of each taxing jurisdiction.
• A green fee to be able to play. So, yeah, I see your point. And thank you.
• We don’t have a pro shop, basically just green fees to come in, just the right to play golf.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• regulated utilities are assessed a fee regulated utilities are assessed a fee for<00:42:51.280><
• <00:49:41.599> to none today the Pu sends two filings to none today the Pu sends two filings
• I have one company that hasn't heard from the PUC except the filings, and all they do is file these and
• then the PUC sends these filings to the FCC.
• and all they do is except the filings and all they do is file<00:53:09.240> these<00:53:09.480

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I filed legislation in the House, but was not the Senate sponsor. Okay.
• , And the developer creates a reduction that they work together to come up with a reduced fee.
• Within the discretion of the cities, of the government entities charging the impact fee.
• water and wastewater impact fee credit. I don't read that those fit directly as reductions.
• Is that something you considered in filing this legislation?

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14, HB 8, HB 12, SB 3, HJR 1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• I filed legislation in the House, but it Mr. Cook: was not the Senate sponsor. Member: Okay.
• Harliss: of Texas Department of Criminal Justice who have been targeted with fraudulent lien filings
• Harliss: Attorney General, make a determination if the lien is fraudulent, and will record the filing
• Members, under existing law, political subdivisions charge developers impact fees for new developments
• and the developer creates a reduction, that they work together to come up with a reduced fee.

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• It talks there about petition for expungement of records of conviction of certain felonies, filing fees
• <00:29:02.240> fees, certain misdemeanors, filing fees, certain misdemeanors, filing fees,
• , without the extra payment, extra fees, without the extra payment, extra fees, and<01:02:02.000>
• Reading clerk will please read the file. Reading clerk will please read the file.
• organization already is filing that LM2. organization already is filing that LM2.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was an amendment filed, but we are not taking up the amendment. The member does yield.
• It adjusts fees for inflation. These fees haven't been raised. Since 2006.
• So it raises the annual fee from 3,000 to 4,000 or the origination fee from 3,000 to 4,000 dollars.
• The annual fee from 2,000 to 3,000.
• Speaker, do want to Commit to all of you that it would have been an untimely filed amendment.

Bills: HB4420, HB3974, HB3016, HB3062, HB3021, HB3145, HB4128, HB3131, HB3015, HB3472, HB3453, HB1638, HB4126, HB2696, HB2710, HB3552, HB3031, HB3544, HB3521, HB4490, HB4488, HB1746, HJR1069, HB4428, HB4429, HB1170, HB3538, HB4124, HB3904, HB4106, HB2999, HB3982, HJR1077, HB3464, HB2588, HB3462, HB4440, HB3674, HB3345, HJR1067, HB4326, HB4331, HB4337, HB4338, HB4359, HB4392, HB3557, HJR1076, HB4003, HB3495, HB3497, HB3501, HB3505, HB3749, HB3011, HB4336, HB4346, HJR1087, HB3240, HB3647, HB3796, HB3969, HB3972, HB3983, HB3984, HB3989, HB3383, HB3130, HB4358, HB3327, HJR1055, HB3386, HJR1089, HB3087, HB2970, HB3314, HB4129, HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last 5 years, these young minds have filed over 600 United States patents with 314 granted across
• HB 62617 by NCA relating to the procedures and the function of arrest records and files a person who
• Harrison relating to the regulation of mobile food vendors requiring occupational license, imposing fees
• for the movement of oversized and overweight vehicles carrying cargo to Starr County authorizing a fee
• licensing and regulation of certain legal paraprofessionals requiring occupational license, imposing fees

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to item number eight pertaining to the tax credit review. fees when FTE is adopted.
• Item and cost out adjustment for the state wide electric filing system account 5157 to align with the
• Item number four, adjustment to voter education fees and appropriations.
• Under item number five, the amendment to Ryder. 4141 voter education fees is the corresponding change
• Regulatory Filing Fees permitting systems was adopted for $6.3 million.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:05.200> comments, period and we will be filing comments, period and we will be filing
• It just wasn't a snap of the filed.
• <00:47:59.359> Um, have been filed four months ago. Um, have been filed four months ago.
• requirements and fees. requirements and fees.
• That itself filed it out of time.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then recognized a staff member’s birthday and a guest shadowing Senator Adams. It then moved into informational review of Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Education regulation 702 KAR 3:30, which sets insurance coverage requirements for school district buildings and structures. Department of Education officials explained that districts are expected to carry coverage at replacement cost and said they understand some districts participate in self-insurance pools with backup policies, but they deferred detailed insurance questions to the Department of Insurance. Senators raised concerns that pooled coverage could leave districts exposed if claims exceed pool limits, and the chair asked KDE to follow up with DOI to confirm districts are adequately covered, especially for bondholders. No vote was taken on the informational review. The committee then reviewed emergency ABC regulations 804 KAR 130:01 through 130:04 implementing Senate Bill 100’s new licensing requirements for tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product businesses. ABC and Public Protection Cabinet representatives outlined the emergency rules governing enforcement, license applications, denial criteria, and transitional licenses. Retail industry witnesses Shannon Stiglet and Brian Clark said they support licensure in principle but argued the rules add duplicative requirements borrowed from alcohol licensing, create confusion about transitional licenses, and may be too burdensome for the roughly 7,000 affected businesses to meet by the January 1 deadline. They also said guidance has been inconsistent and requested the agency revise the regulations, remove requirements not grounded in law, and provide clearer, separate processes for new and existing businesses. Committee members asked whether the industry had worked directly with ABC and noted the public comment period was still open. Witnesses said they had communicated with ABC and the Public Protection Cabinet, but responses had been uneven and they wanted written guidance. Members expressed concern about the short timeline and the need to avoid disruption so businesses can operate legally on January 1. Representative Marzian asked for clarification that the discussion concerned emergency regulations already in effect while ordinary regulations remain in process. No formal action was taken beyond receiving the informational testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And legal fees and digitized maps to try and correct an issue from my own poorly managed system from
• House Bill 3322 as filed is problematic for our members and many of them wanted to testify against it
• This communication consisted of the application required fee that we paid.
• Uh, we got a response back in January that they had upped their fee and needed some additional documents
• When we can reach an agreement, our client filed a petition for streamlined exercise to release with

Bills: HB 937, HB 2078, HB 2080, HB 3322, HB 3350, HB 4212, HB 4630, HB 4896, HB 4951, HB 5348, HB 5675, SB 565, SB 971, SB 1662, SB 2124

Keywords: special districts, notice requirements, Water Code, government transparency, public meetings, meeting notice, transparency, public engagement, notice, elections, groundwater management, water conservation, joint planning, environmental impact, desired future conditions, groundwater, conservation district, environmental quality, regulatory review, water utility

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill filed is problematic for our members, and many of them wanted to testify against it.
• The bill expands the SCR law from 33 to 74 counties, allowing a landowner in these counties to file a
• This communication consisted of the application and the required fee that we paid.
• We got a response back in January that they had increased their fee and needed some additional documents
• Instead, they filed a lawsuit in federal court against the PUC, our client, and another developer who

Bills: HB937, HB2078, HB2080, HB3322, HB3350, HB4212, HB4630, HB4896, HB4951, HB5348, HB5675, SB565, SB971, SB1662, SB2124

Keywords: special districts, notice requirements, Water Code, government transparency, public meetings, meeting notice, transparency, public engagement, notice, elections, groundwater management, water conservation, joint planning, environmental impact, desired future conditions, groundwater, conservation district, environmental quality, regulatory review, water utility

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes an inspection and supervision fee, as well as application fees.
• Anytime a utility files an application with us, they pay a fee.
• Currently, utility fees go into the general fund.
• And right now you said that the fees that you are.
• The fees would go into the fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• An additional 10% will be charged for the assessment fee, and I see some exception here.
• So we do take all these things into account when we make a rate filing.
• in our rate filing to be treated as if we had.
• Our rate filing to be treated as if we had.
• We had about 20, almost 2,400 claims that were filed out in the field.

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:

• I typically only present one year's worth of data, but the most recent year for returns filed in 2023
• There was that one-time bump in law that increased it to about $1.1 billion for returns filed in 2023
• For 2024 refunds filed this year, homeowners are eligible if their household income is below $139,200
• The combined amount of these two programs was $774 million in returns filed in 2022.
• And then the third one is state and local taxes and fees as a share of personal income.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met to hear a House Research presentation from Jared Swanson on Minnesota’s property tax system. Before the presentation, the chair announced that the committee would put the governor’s budget on hold until the department could provide the information needed for a proper hearing. The committee then approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. Swanson gave an overview of how property taxes are structured and collected in Minnesota, explaining that the state uses a levy-based system in which local governments set levies and counties collect and distribute payments. He described the property tax cycle, the difference between referendum market value and net tax capacity, and how classification rates shift tax burdens among property types. He also outlined the state general property tax, noting it is split between commercial-industrial property and seasonal recreational property, and reviewed how Minnesota compares with other states, with residential taxes generally around the middle and commercial-industrial taxes relatively higher. The presentation also covered major property tax relief and aid programs. Swanson explained three broad relief mechanisms: shifting burdens through exclusions and classification rates, state-paid credits and refunds, and state aid to local governments or levy reductions. He discussed local government aid (LGA), township aid, and county program aid (CPA), including their funding levels, formulas, and general-purpose nature. Members asked why some cities receive no LGA and how the funds may be used; Swanson said cities with strong tax bases often receive zero aid and that the money generally can be used for the same purposes as property tax revenue. No votes were taken on the presentation itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• fees for this part of the CalRecycle program.
• It replaced, in essence, and streamlined four different fees into one fee that charges hazardous waste
• So fees are not paid on the waste generated.
• raise the fee rate.
• I do have a comment, and that's about the mill fee.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plans for extreme heat mitigation and outdoor access, then took up SB 54 implementation, SB 707 textile producer responsibility, and recovery needs related to the Los Angeles fires at state parks. For the extreme heat chapter, agencies described funding for the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, urban greening, urban forestry, fairground upgrades, and technical assistance for community-based climate programs. Witnesses emphasized that these are existing programs with strong demand, that technical assistance is important for reaching disadvantaged and tribal communities, and that the proposed funding would expand outreach and implementation capacity. Members asked for more detail on where funds have gone geographically, examples of successful projects, tree-planting totals, and how fairgrounds could better support fire staging and emergency preparedness. The LAO said the timing of the administration’s proposed funding generally made sense because the programs are already established, and no votes were taken. For outdoor access, State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources described funding for new parks in underserved communities, deferred maintenance, state lands access, and several new or pending programs. State Parks said the park development program would fund roughly 48 projects and that deferred maintenance funding would address high-priority health, safety, and access needs. Fish and Wildlife said its lands program would improve visitor amenities and access on properties that often lack basic facilities. The Natural Resources Agency also outlined three newer outdoor-access proposals: expanding recreation in disadvantaged communities, enhancing natural resource values and trail access, and a nature/climate/education facilities grant program. The LAO distinguished between existing programs, which are ready to move forward, and the newer proposals, where the Legislature may want more input before funds are allocated. Members also raised concerns about park police vacancies, the need to track outcomes for accessibility investments, and whether Prop. 4 could help with wildfire-related recovery at state parks. CalRecycle then presented on SB 54, the plastics and packaging producer responsibility law, and members pressed hard on the delay in regulations. CalRecycle said it has held workshops, formed an advisory committee, selected the producer responsibility organization, and completed required baseline and covered-material reports, but needs more time to address complex comments and novel features such as source reduction and eco-modulated fees. Members expressed frustration that a statutory deadline was missed and asked for a concrete timeline; CalRecycle said it expects regulations in place by 2026, ahead of the PRO’s January 1, 2027 plan deadline. Finance said the Beverage Container Recycling Fund is currently healthy enough to support short-term loans for implementation. The committee also reviewed SB 707, the textile EPR law, which would create the nation’s first textile producer responsibility program; staff said the proposal would add positions and loan authority, and members noted the statutory deadlines for PRO approval, needs assessment, and later regulations. The hearing ended with discussion of the January Los Angeles fires’ damage to Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, where State Parks described extensive losses, emergency response work, and ongoing damage assessment. Members asked about FEMA eligibility, state funding sources, and community engagement in rebuilding, and the department said it is still assessing costs and will work with the public on reimagining the parks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was it a contingency fee contract? What were the provisions?
• Contingency fee contracts are 35 to 40 percent. We negotiate at a much lower level.
• If we had had a 35 percent contingency fee, we would have had to pay another $350 million.
• Okay, and I think that the attorney's fees for this one was, what, $142 million, some of them?
• Every one of us has filed a bill in our past, in our experience, in our legislative tenure.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all