Video & Transcript : 'vendor rate' :
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PA
Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Jun 30 2026)
Pennsylvania Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It addresses warranty reimbursement, dealer and consumer data protections, loaner vehicles, vendor choice
- And in fact, individually, Pennsylvania's economy, its unemployment rate, is lower than the national
- unemployment rate.
- structurally, and in terms of employment, we're in a good position with respect to our unemployment rate
- We're beating the national economy in terms of the unemployment rate, which is a very good barometer.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But the reporting process would come from the overarching vendor, which would be whichever company made
- I don't know specifically what the false positive rate would be for that to be officially good.
- I don't know specifically what the false positive rate would be for that to be officially good.
- Because these are private providers, hourly rates vary by office, typically ranging between $100 and
- Over the past decade, our graduation rate in District 5 Mental Health Court sits at 57%.
Summary:
The committee began with a brief introduction of Hazel Stevens, a new page from Kuna High School who said she is interested in government and hopes to attend NNU and become a lawyer. Senators asked a few light questions, then moved to legislation. The first bill, Senate Bill 1311, would require ignition interlock companies to notify the Idaho Transportation Department when an interlock is installed so the court-ordered one-year interlock period begins with proof of installation, and to notify prosecutors when a device prevents a vehicle from starting. Senator Foreman and AAA Idaho’s Matthew Condi testified in support, saying the bill would close loopholes, improve accountability, and help ensure DUI offenders actually comply with restrictions. Some senators raised concerns about surveillance, false positives, and whether the bill could create reports for low-level alcohol readings, but supporters argued prosecutors would retain discretion and the data already exists. The committee voted 5-4 to send SB 1311 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.
The committee then received a court presentation from the Idaho Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of the Courts. Imelda Lopez described court assistance officers, who help self-represented litigants with forms, procedures, and referrals but cannot give legal advice; she highlighted statewide services, online forms, fee waivers, and local partnerships. Chris Paulson followed with an overview of family court services, including parenting plans, the Focus on Children course, mediation, and financial assistance for court-ordered services in family law cases. Israel Enriquez then described treatment courts, especially mental health and veterans courts, emphasizing strict supervision, treatment, accountability, and lower recidivism compared with traditional supervision. Senators thanked the presenters, and one noted the importance of treatment courts amid budget concerns.
After the presentations, the committee took up two court-related cleanup bills from Senator Lakey. Senate Bill 1308 removes an outdated statutory reference to Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 16(j) in the mediation confidentiality statute, and Senate Bill 1309 codifies the priority of payments for juvenile case funds, placing restitution to victims first. Both bills drew little discussion, were moved by committee members, and passed unanimously to the floor with do-pass recommendations. The committee then adjourned.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Because it affects the insurance rates of all of your constituents.
- And the last two years, those reinsurance rates have gone up.
- Because it affects the insurance rates of all of your constituents.
- And the last two years, those reinsurance rates have gone up.
- a year times three... ...years, $180,000, and then they're going to apply the 8% to 10% sales tax rate
DE
Transcript Highlights:
- Delaware is unfairly ranked when the ratings come out, and it really does hurt our economy.
- This consumption leads to adverse health effects, including dehydration, anxiety, and increased heart rate
- If it's a third-party vendor, we don't know the answer to that question, but the kids are able to purchase
Keywords:
SB 293, youth camp, child care licensing, Office of Child Care Licensing, OCCL, American Camp Association, ACA accreditation, Purchase of Care, POC reimbursement, summer camp, school-age child care, child care exemption, Division of Public Health permit, Title 14, Delaware Department of Education, health and safety standards, child care provider reimbursement, summer child care, camp licensing, license exemption
Summary:
The House Education Committee met and first heard Senate Bill 293, the Youth Camp Licensing Act, which would amend child care licensing rules for youth camps. The sponsor said the bill, with amendments, would remove accreditation language, clarify shelter requirements for outdoor camps, and eliminate limits that had restricted the number of children camps could serve, especially for families using purchase-of-care assistance. YMCA and school representatives testified in support, saying the measure would expand access to safe, affordable summer care for low-income working families. The committee voted to release the bill.
The committee then approved Senate Bill 328, which would require the Department of Education’s school facility evaluation instrument to be established by regulation and to include lead-based paint hazards in the standard of good repair. The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee supported the bill, explaining that lead had not been included in the original evaluation tool and that the new language would improve transparency and public comment. Senate Bill 318, updating the Delaware State Education Association special license plate program, also passed after DSEA testified that proceeds support scholarships for educators and students pursuing education careers.
House Bill 443, dealing with background checks for education volunteers and mentors, passed as well. The sponsor said it would allow DOE to continue receiving wrapback reports for mentors in the state mentoring program and ensure state and federal criminal background checks remain in place. The committee also released Senate Joint Resolution 15, which directs DOE to reevaluate Delaware’s use of the SAT, modernize the accountability framework, and develop additional measures of student achievement and readiness; supporters argued the SAT does not capture career and technical pathways or other indicators of success. House Bill 459, which prohibits the sale of energy drinks on public middle and high school campuses during school hours or events, passed after discussion focused on whether the bill would affect possession versus sale and whether it could lead to student discipline; DOE said the bill only bans sales, and the sponsor said an amendment would clarify intent. Finally, House Concurrent Resolution 137 passed, directing DOE to review math instruction and MTSS supports statewide; testimony emphasized low math proficiency and the need for stronger, more coherent interventions. The committee also began hearing Senate Bill 279 on occupational therapist salary placement, with discussion centered on aligning OT compensation with other specialist roles and broader salary regulation updates, though the transcript cuts off before final action is shown.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Feb 18th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- initiate the Rural Health Transformation Fund in its first year; $128 million for Medicaid provider rate
- increases; $55 million for provider rate increases within the iBudget waiver program; $118 million for
- Also, we must be mindful that DOH has directed their vendor that processes the health care payments to
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So what this bill does is currently universities get a discounted rate.
- Um, what we're trying to do is say expand this rate adjustment for our school districts.
- rates and try to fight for the rate 41.
- Um, here's, here's the reality our school districts are already at the highest taxing rate.
- Historically, that rate has been a discounted rate.
Bills:
HB 346, HB 1360, HB 1510, HB 1606, HB 1804, HB 1805, HB 2156, HB 2391, HB 2767, HB 3022, HB 3044, HB 3272, HB 3293, HB 3493, HB 3809, HB 3824, HJR 110, HB 2463
Keywords:
expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, Texas Ethics Commission, election reporting, campaign finance, violation categorization, penalties, public disclosure, Texas Utilities Code, electric utility, retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, vegetation management, tree trimming, line clearance, transmission line
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Energy Development and Transmission Committee Jun 2nd, 2026
Energy Development and Transmission Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- once, which isn't always the case but often can be the case, the data center's short-term pollution rate
- But there are other benefits associated with salt cavern storage, one being the withdrawal rate.
- One being the withdrawal rate. Your operational flexibility is much higher.
- We're also seeking vendor data to further refine our capital expense and operational expense model.
- We're also seeking vendor data to further refine our capital expense and operational expense model.
Summary:
The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of the Mincota Power Cooperative headquarters before returning for presentations on large energy consumers, especially data centers. The first presentations focused on how North Dakota should respond to rapid growth in energy-intensive projects, with speakers emphasizing the need for reliable transmission, local decision-making tools, and factual information for county and township officials who are being asked to weigh major projects with limited staff and technical support.
The North Dakota Transmission Authority director said local governments are being asked to make high-impact decisions on pipelines, transmission lines, large agriculture, wind, solar, carbon dioxide pipelines, direct-air capture, and data centers, and urged development of simple statewide decision tools and support from the League of Cities and Association of Counties. The Department of Environmental Quality’s air division director said North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the nation, but large data centers can create air-quality concerns because of diesel backup generation; he said the department is requiring air monitors at some facilities and expects grid power and, potentially, cleaner natural gas backup to reduce emissions. Members asked about emissions standards, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession at DEQ.
The Department of Water Resources director said North Dakota’s water law is based on common ownership and prior appropriation, and that data centers generally use relatively small amounts of water, often in closed-loop systems. He said the Missouri River and groundwater supplies are ample for projected needs, that the department’s permitting process protects senior water rights, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use a very small share of Missouri River flow. Members asked about downstream impacts and compared data center water use with fracking. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd Erickson urged the committee to study how other states regulate data centers, warned against litigation-driven delays and overly broad local ordinances, argued reclamation bonding should be handled at the state level if at all, and said data centers can bring jobs and tax base but should remain subject to local zoning. The committee ended the morning session for lunch and later heard an EERC update from CEO Charles Gorecki on the center’s 75 years of work in energy and environmental technologies, especially oil and gas development and related research.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- were similarly situated, with similar tax bases and general obligation bonds they believed would be rated
- The speaker continued that while a financial advisor might help produce a better bond rate, it would
- not necessarily address that issue, but it will save taxpayers money by getting better underwriting rates
- And so that's why we have the qualifying tax rate that strives to equalize tax rates among districts
- And we know the vendors who keep a watch on all of the bids like a hawk did not see this and then saw
DE
Transcript Highlights:
- It is designed to encourage real Delaware spending, support Delaware workers and vendors, and help diversify
- That means Delaware payroll, Delaware vendors, Delaware facilities, Delaware lodging, Delaware restaurants
- So that means Delaware payroll, Delaware vendors, Delaware facilities, Delaware lodging, Delaware restaurants
Summary:
The Senate Executive Committee first considered several gubernatorial appointments. Heidi Gilmore was nominated to the Marijuana Appeals Commission and said her real estate and administrative-law background would help her support implementation of Delaware’s new marijuana framework. Lee Wynne Lynn and Ruth Tucker were both nominated to the Delaware River and Bay Authority Board; both emphasized long Delaware ties, public service, and experience in technology, transportation, and executive leadership, with committee members asking about modernization, cashless tolling, and potential conflicts of interest. Lindsay Alexic and Dr. Jennifer Hallman were nominated to the Professional Standards Board and described their classroom and administrative experience in Delaware public education, with discussion focused on supporting teachers, improving educator effectiveness, and helping schools address post-COVID classroom and student-support challenges. Jason Munion and F. Todd Collada were nominated to the Environmental Appeals Board; Munion cited his engineering and environmental background, while Collada noted his work as Milford’s mayor and a contractor. No votes on the nominations are reflected in the transcript excerpt.
The committee then moved to legislation. House Bill 364 would create a Delaware Entertainment Production Tax Credit for film, television, e-sports, and video game production, with a $10 million annual cap, audit and reporting requirements, a 2031 sunset, and a focus on verified in-state spending and Delaware hiring; the bill was circulated after no public comment. House Bill 437 was described as a technical corrections bill affecting certain municipal charters and requiring a three-quarters vote; it also drew no public comment. The committee approved the previously circulated minutes by motion and second.
House Bill 446 would reorganize the Delaware Forest Service chapter, consolidate authority in one section, and add definitions related to forests and urban forestry without creating new authority; House Amendment 1 was noted as clarifying existing authority for the Department of Agriculture. House Bill 180, the first leg of a constitutional amendment on voting, would limit felony-related voting loss to actual imprisonment or pardon, remove outdated residency and literacy provisions, update the voting age to 18, and eliminate a post-sentence voting ban; members raised a question about whether the change would apply retroactively, which was left for later clarification. No public comments were offered on the bills, and the committee adjourned after announcing written comments would be accepted for 24 hours.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Auditing Committee Feb 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The city made two identical payments in the amount of approximately $450,000 to the same vendor for stormwater
- We found some vendors and employees that had access to some systems where it wasn't clear that they needed
- So we found some vendors and employees that had access to some systems where it wasn't clear that they
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee heard the Auditor General’s operational audit of the City of Mexico Beach, which identified nine findings. The audit cited significant turnover in key management positions, late filing of required annual financial reports, weaknesses in competitive procurement and purchase approval controls, a duplicate payment on stormwater repairs that was later largely refunded, issues with the city accountant’s contract and IRS classification, IT access control problems, and the lack of fraud-reporting policies. Committee members asked about corrective action, and the Auditor General said a follow-up audit is required by statute within 18 months, with no enforcement authority beyond reporting progress back to the committee.
Mayor Rich Wolf and city staff responded that the city had experienced major turnover and was rebuilding its finance and administrative team. He said the city had hired a city administrator, financial director, city clerk, and accounting firm, and was working to create policies, procedures, forms, and review processes to address the findings. Members discussed whether the turnover and hurricane-related workload contributed to the problems, and city officials said some of the larger purchases were storm-related and tied to FEMA or emergency work.
The committee then received a staff update on enforcement for local governments that have not filed required financial reports. Staff said 400 entities had been notified, and as of the meeting two counties, 33 municipalities, and 48 special districts still owed reports or audits. The committee adopted a motion to proceed under section 11.42, Florida Statutes, including possible withholding of state funds for municipalities and enforcement actions for special districts, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if new information warranted it.
Finally, the committee unanimously directed the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required 2024-2025 audit of the Department of the Lottery, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance issues and OPPAGA developing operational recommendations. Members also briefly discussed whether the committee had reviewed transportation surtaxes and expressed interest in improving the timeliness and transparency of the audit and enforcement process before adjourning.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The overall rate of misclassification in Minnesota is currently unknown, and as you already know, the
- The overall rate of misclassification in Minnesota is currently unknown, and as you already know, the
- </c> below the wage rate that you deserve. below the wage rate that you deserve.
- </c><01:30:02.800><c> We</c><01:30:03.000><c> have</c> contracts, they aren't vendors.
- We have contracts, they aren't vendors.
Summary:
The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target.
Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then.
Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So we have one of the vendor representatives that might be able to answer that question as well.
- fed to these used by private vendors fed to these different<00:19:19.440><c> uh</c><00:19:19.559><c>
- </c><00:19:22.440><c> Representatives</c><00:19:23.440><c> um</c> one of the vendor Representatives um
- Um, one thing you will probably start hearing about is in 2029 the system vendor has stated they will
- has stated they will no longer vendor has stated they will no longer support<00:49:06.799><c> our</c
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- There's no contemplation of a new vendor.
- differential cap from 50% down to 25% above the in-city rates.
- rates in July of 2026?
- Rates are coming down, debt is being stabilized.
- Their rates will decrease based on this law. Additional questions.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and featured a series of member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, a newly awarded PhD, and the day’s doctor. The chamber also adopted a Senate resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. After routine business, the Senate moved to special order bills.
The first measures taken up were CS/SB 68 on health care patient protection, which required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, readiness assessments, and a designated pediatric coordinator; it passed 36-0. CS/SB 350 on public records, protecting victim identities and temporarily exempting the names of law enforcement officers who are victims in the line of duty, passed 33-4 after questions about access for victims’ attorneys. CS/SB 576 on local government cybersecurity established a state-administered cybersecurity protection program for local governments, prioritized rural and fiscally constrained communities, and was amended before passing 37-0. CS/SB 532 on clerks of court, allowing clerks to retain all revenue above projections and incorporating related provisions on legal notices, traffic citation distributions, and municipal fee splits, passed 38-0. CS/SB 696 on trademark registration modernized the filing system and passed 38-0. CS/SB 698 on septic system permits, addressing permit delays and aligning House and Senate language on liability if construction begins early, also passed 38-0.
The longest debate centered on CS/SB 1334 / CS/HB 991 on elections and election integrity. The bill would use REAL ID data to verify citizenship for voter registration and list maintenance, revise candidate-qualification rules, change acceptable voter IDs, add citizenship markers to driver licenses and ID cards by July 1, 2027, and make other election-administration changes. Multiple amendments were offered and defeated, including proposals to allow attestations in lieu of documentation, exempt seniors, require human review over automated systems, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, and delay implementation to July 1, 2027. One amendment was adopted to retain a stock-trading disclosure for candidates. The chamber then continued debate on the underlying bill, with supporters citing state reports of non-citizen registrations/voting and opponents warning of disenfranchisement for students, seniors, and others who may lack the required documents.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on SF3045 5/9/25
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:37:26.560><c> for</c> able to pick two separate vendors for able to pick two separate vendors
- Democrats and Republicans, if you're not aware of this, age at the same rate.
- Democrats and Republicans, if you're not aware of this, age at the same rate.
- ><01:29:13.199><c> It</c><01:29:13.440><c> makes</c><01:29:13.679><c> it</c> this, age at the same rate
- It makes it this, age at the same rate.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- ,</c> existing minority owned vendors, existing minority owned vendors, underground<00:42:06.960><c>
- We ask that the center is accessible to our residents with free or reduced rates of admission.
- We ask that the center is accessible to our residents with free or reduced rates of admission.
- with<00:45:32.400><c> free</c><00:45:33.040><c> or</c><00:45:33.440><c> reduced</c><00:45:33.839><c> rates
- </c> with free or reduced rates of admission. with free or reduced rates of admission.
Bills:
HF333, HF2712, HF1064, HF1069, HF1113, HF2207, HF204, HF2867, HF2924, HF746, HF1530, HF2587, HF1078
Keywords:
HF333, Duluth, Lot D, redevelopment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds, public infrastructure, seawall repair, utility connections, demolition, debris removal, transportation improvements, site preparation, soil correction, economic development, DEED, capital appropriation, general obligation bonds
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House and Governmental Affairs Mar 18th, 2026
House and Governmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Secretary of State will be responsible for disclosing to the public all negotiations between any vendor
- The sales tax initiative, I think, is a little different. lose its millage rate.
- We are having renewals fail at an alarming rate.
- We are having renewals fail at an alarming rate.
- We are having renewals fail at an alarming rate that used to pass with flying colors because they're
Summary:
The Committee on House and Governmental Affairs met on March 18 and first adopted the minutes from its February 21 meeting. The committee then took up HB 250, which would have narrowed financial disclosure requirements for appointed, unpaid board and commission members by exempting immediate family information. Supporters said the bill would reduce burdens and help recruit volunteers, while opponents argued it would weaken ethics enforcement and create opportunities for undisclosed conflicts of interest. After debate and a roll call, the committee deadlocked and HB 250 failed to advance on a 6-6 vote with one abstention.
The committee next considered HB 576, which transfers ownership and maintenance responsibility for the Old Governor’s Mansion to the Department of State and codifies its current operational role. Secretary of State Nancy Landry and mansion staff testified in support, describing expanded programming, increased visitors, and the need to align the statute with current practice. The committee adopted technical amendments and then reported HB 576 favorably without objection.
The committee also heard HB 117, which recreates the Department of State and its statutory entities through July 1, 2033, and reported it favorably without objection. The major remaining item was HB 842, the annual omnibus elections bill, which makes numerous technical and substantive changes to election law, including voter assistance for people with disabilities, absentee ballot and petition procedures, inactive voter updates, and election contest deadlines. Several members and public witnesses raised concerns about disability documentation, absentee ballot curing, witness requirements, constitutional amendment challenge deadlines, and the scope of authority given to the Secretary of State, while others said the bill clarified existing practice and improved election administration. After adopting amendments and rejecting a motion to defer, the committee reported HB 842 favorably by an 8-5 vote.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government (1-15-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- We selected a vendor, Comparium, and we kicked off the project in March of 2025.
- RFP.<00:21:32.000><c> We</c><00:21:32.240><c> selected</c><00:21:32.640><c> a</c><00:21:32.880><c> vendor
- We selected a vendor comparium and RFP.
- We selected a vendor comparium and we<00:21:34.960><c> kicked</c><00:21:35.280><c> off</c><00:21:35.440
- You'll notice that our vendor decided that... Hi, Emma. Oh, nice to meet you.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:10
Office of the Attorney General 00:00:58
Office of Homeland Security 00:17:39, 958, all
Summary:
The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government heard presentations on several Attorney General and Homeland Security budget items. Amy Burke of the Department of Child Support Services said the program inherited a structural shortfall of more than $13 million after the transition from CHFS, including about $14 million in federal child support incentive funds that had been used to cover core operating costs and county attorney contracts. She explained that federal law requires incentive funds to supplement, not supplant, baseline services, and said the Attorney General’s budget request seeks general fund support to replace that gap and help balance the program going forward. Members asked for clarification on the misuse of the funds, the size of the shortfall, and whether the requested money would be unrestricted; staff said the intent is to use it as a contract offset for core services.
Commissioner Rich Ferretti then presented the Department of Criminal Investigations’ request for additional staffing and a Western Kentucky Digital Forensics Lab. He said DCI wants one additional special victims unit investigator and one digital forensic examiner to handle increasingly digital cases involving child exploitation, sexual assault, human trafficking, and technology-facilitated abuse. He also described plans for a lab in Mayfield, co-located with the new Mayfield Police Department facility, to reduce travel time, speed forensic processing, and improve access for rural communities. Committee members responded positively and asked no substantive questions.
Finally, the Office of Homeland Security outlined Kentucky’s Next Generation 911 project. Officials said the current 911 system was built for landlines, while most calls now come from mobile devices, and the upgrade will add precise location routing plus text, photo, and video capability. Shelley Clark described the funding model, including wireless subscriber fees and a dedicated tech fund, and reviewed progress on mapping, vendor selection, and migration to the new platform, with completion expected by July 2027. Members asked about local maintenance costs and the impact on rural areas; officials said maintenance is local but supported in part by collected funds, and implementation will not be delayed for rural localities. The meeting concluded with no votes or formal actions taken.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Health Service (2-18-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- and others to try to get a piece vendors and others to try to get a piece of<00:13:16.959><c> their<
- The RFP process, would this be direct contracts or open for vendors to compete for the opportunity to
- to compete for for the for vendors to compete for for the opportunity<00:26:35.600><c> to</c><00:26:
- But the big stuff, the stuff that others would kind of compete for, like if we need vendors to help,
- The big stuff, the stuff that others would kind of compete for, like if we need vendors to help, like
Summary:
The Health Services Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Steven Stack, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program. He said Kentucky received about $213 million in federal funding, among the highest awards nationally, after a fast application and negotiation process. He emphasized that the grant is time-limited, must be used for the specific goals in the state’s application, and cannot be treated as a general bailout or replacement for existing funding. He also noted the state will use a website, ruralhealthplan.ky.gov, to share the full application, award terms, and future opportunities.
Dr. Stack outlined five focus areas: maternal health and prenatal/early childhood supports; EMS and trauma response workforce and transfer capacity; behavioral health crisis care through the EMPATH model and mobile crisis services; oral health access through more hygienists, telehealth, and hub-and-spoke models; and rural community hubs for chronic disease prevention and innovation, including food-as-medicine and healthier lifestyle interventions. He stressed that the program is meant to be transformative, not duplicative, and that it cannot pay clinician salaries, fund new construction, replace EMR systems broadly, or duplicate billable services. He said the state will work with community partners, hospitals, universities, and others, including the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, to begin implementation.
Members responded positively overall. Senator Berg praised the award and the goal of integrating care across the state, but raised concerns about access to prenatal care and about possible future changes to water fluoridation, warning both could harm children and rural families. The chair and other members thanked Dr. Stack for the update and congratulated him on the award. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, they have a low affordability rate.
- </c><00:16:43.519><c> We're</c> a lower rate than it used to. We're a lower rate than it used to.
- User rates are the primary driver for water and sewer rates, but it's paying for the other things that
- User rates are the other things with.
- contractors or vendors that provide contractors or vendors that provide similar<00:25:18.559><c> service
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Oversight REVISED: SB640, SB1502 and SB1562 - Added Apr 13th, 2026
Health and Human Services Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- $11,647,000, that is the amount that it would cost the state to bring these fees up to the Medicaid rate
- But isn't it true that the cost of health care is growing in this nation at a greater rate than almost
- Witness: "...them as the trend has been going on at an alarming rate over the last few years."
- enough in rural areas where, for some of their stores, they can ask for a different reimbursement rate
- We said, if we just go with Medicaid rate, surely we can get that done this year without a veto.
Bills:
SB206, SB640, SB667, SB1344, SB1380, SB1423, SB1425, SB1436, SB1484, SB1500, SB1502, SB1503, SB1557, SB1562, SB1572, SB1644, SB1645, SB1794, SB1796, SB1806, SB1849, SB1984, SB2007, SB2074
Keywords:
SB206, emergency medical services, EMS, ambulance, 911 response, emergency response, essential services, federal funding, grant funding, public health, health care facility, municipality, county, ambulance service district, tribal entity, public entity, contract ambulance service, Oklahoma, 63 O.S. 2021 Section 1-2502, emergency clause
Summary:
The committee opened with prayer and then took up a series of health and human services bills, most of them moving forward on do-pass motions. Senate Bill 1645 would set audit procedures for Medicaid providers, with discussion focused on protecting providers from penalties for scrivener’s or typographical errors while still holding them accountable for fraud or failure to provide services. Senate Bills 1796 and 1806 addressed foster care, including a 72-hour cap on informal care and extending foster care to age 21 for youth continuing their education. Senate Bills 1423, 1425, and 1502 all repealed outdated advisory councils or programs that were no longer active or needed. SB 206, as amended, expanded licensed ambulance services as essential services to help them access more federal funding, and SB 500 sought to prevent pharmacy benefit managers from delaying payments to pharmacists. These measures were reported out with unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
The committee also heard Senate Bill 1503, which would allow certain nonprofit pregnancy-support organizations without an Oklahoma physical address to apply for Choosing Childbirth grants. Members questioned whether state dollars could go to out-of-state personnel and how telehealth and reporting requirements would work. The bill was laid over for further amendment work. Senate Bill 1557 would place certified behavioral analysts under the State Board of Examiners of Psychology, and members raised questions about how it might interact with a separate bill affecting board authority; it passed after discussion. Senate Bill 1894 gave the podiatry board authority over continuing education, and SB 1984 was a cleanup bill for the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, including authority over certain licensure and telemedicine-related review issues; both passed after questions about scope and reciprocity.
Later, the committee considered several pharmacy and insurance-related bills. SB 1344 created an insulin access and affordability program to partner with manufacturers of low-cost biosimilar insulin, and SB 1380 required Medicaid eligibility checks against death records, with an amendment discussed to protect long-term care facilities from retroactive nonpayment when eligibility is delayed. SB 1572 would commission a feasibility study on dissolving the Department of Mental Health and temporarily allow the Health Care Authority commissioner to oversee both agencies. SB 2007 required PBMs to reimburse pharmacists at actual acquisition cost when reimbursement falls below cost, with escalating fines for noncompliance. SB 2074 would impose a mandatory dispensing fee tied to the Medicaid rate; it drew extensive debate over whether costs would be shifted to employers, employees, or the state, and over the impact on pharmacy closures and rural access. The committee ultimately reported the bills out, with SB 2074 passing after lengthy discussion and a final vote.