Transcript Highlights:

• We already have a mortality rate issue in the state of Missouri.
• And I can see where that really could really hurt the mortality rate amongst babies.
• We already have a mortality rate issue in the state of Missouri. Yes.
• We already have a mortality rate issue in the state of Missouri. Yes.
• Do you have any stats on our mortality rate in the state of Missouri?

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:11:52.800><c> of</c><00:11:53.040><c> pain</c><00:11:53.360><c> and</c> mortality, higher rates
• of pain and mortality, higher rates of pain and pressure<00:11:54.079><c> ulcers,</c><00:11:54.720><
• Workforce reductions contribute to higher deficiency rates and lower CMS star quality ratings, consistent
• and lower CMS to higher deficiency rates and lower CMS star<00:13:27.040><c> quality</c><00:13:27.519
• ><c> ratings,</c><00:13:28.320><c> consistent</c><00:13:28.880><c> with</c> star quality ratings, consistent

Transcript Highlights:

• In other words, their methodology assumes that the admission rate for Prop 36 for the first six months
• If I could respond to just one of the comments that the LAO made regarding our Prop. 36 assumed rate.
• The LAO made regarding our Prop. 36 assumed rate. It's not that it was remaining constant.
• The vacancy rates can be influenced by the rate of prison admissions, the composition of them, broader
• The vacancy rates can be influenced by the rate of prison admissions, the composition of them, broader

Transcript Highlights:

• reimburses counties for the state-committed inmates and parole violators in its county jails at the rates
• So a little history on where our reimbursement rates have come.
• So a little history on where our reimbursements rates have come.
• So we can see that we're still underneath that rate, the average cost.
• The reimbursement rates set in statute continue to not keep pace with actual costs. Mr.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• And so rare disease is defined by the NIH as something that's occurring at a rate of 1 in 200,000.
• So the rate of information that we're getting, had I tested a year earlier, that would not have been
• But my hunch is that this is probably occurring at a rate more significant than one in 200,000, if you
• Even with that poor observation background, rare disease occurs in aggregate at a rate of 1 in 10.
• people are dying on Missouri highways at a rate of 1 in 10, ...Missouri at a rate of 1 in 10, or people

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• But we are asking for the addition of a fee or an interest-rate-based lending structure.
• just not clear if that is a fixed rate or if a variable rate does it reset every month, every quarter
• But it is a fixed rate. I do know that much. Okay, perfect.
• </c> pay the Wall Street Journal prime rate pay the Wall Street Journal prime rate is<00:31:44.240><c
• rate does it reset rate or if a variable rate does it reset every<00:31:54.600><c> month</c><00:31:54.919

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Reimbursement rates need to be revised upward and fast.
• DHS doesn't need a new law to raise rates; they just need the funding in this budget to deliver the rates
• As we reduce our income tax rate, we become more reliant on our already high sales tax, which shifts
• We passed a bill last session to implement a rate study to raise rates for providers with developmental
• The waiver program, and they have committed to raising those rates starting January 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why weren't these dollars considered in rate setting?
• With these windfall rate hikes and billion-dollar surpluses, why shouldn't policyholders see more of
• Why weren't these dollars considered in rate setting?
• With these windfall rate hikes and billion dollar surpluses, why shouldn't policyholders see more of
• The cost savings were through the application of a rate cap on providers.

Bills: HB2261 , HB2283 , HB2425 , HB2110 , HB2113 , HB2122 , HB2152

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: healthcare, transparency, patient communication, credentials, professional standards, medical loss ratio, insurance, health plans, cost management, nursing delegation, registered nurse, RN, home care aide, nursing assistant, certified nursing assistant, CNA, medical assistant, home health, hospice, community-based care

Transcript Highlights:

• If their actuaries were so astoundingly wrong in their rate filings, how much confidence should we have
• Why weren't these dollars considered in rate setting?
• With these windfall rate hikes and billion-dollar surpluses, why shouldn't policyholders see more of
• For Washingtonians who buy their own individual insurance, premium rates have more than doubled since
• The cost savings were through the application of a rate cap on providers.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2261, which would require health care providers to wear badges showing name, credential, and relevant degrees, require similar disclosure in advertising, and restrict use of the title “physician surgeon” to certain physicians and osteopathic physicians. Supporters, including the Washington State Medical Association and patient advocates, said the bill would improve transparency and informed consent. Opponents from nurse, naturopathic, and adult family home groups argued it was overly broad, burdensome, confusing, and could harm access to care or residential home settings; several also said existing disciplinary laws already address misrepresentation. No vote was taken on HB 2261 during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2283, which would raise the medical loss ratio for fully insured individual, small group, and large group health plans to 90 percent. Supporters, including small business, patient, and physician groups, said the bill would push more premium dollars toward patient care and lower costs or increase rebates. Insurers and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner warned it could destabilize the market, reduce flexibility for administrative services, and lead to carrier exits, though OIC said it was working on amendments. The bill was not voted on in the hearing. House Bill 2425, an agency-request bill on nurse delegation, would broaden what tasks registered nurses may delegate, remove some setting and training restrictions, expand emergency medication authority, and adjust liability and retaliation protections. The Board of Nursing, long-term care providers, and skilled nursing/assisted living representatives supported the bill as a modernization that could ease workforce shortages and improve care access, while the Washington State Association for Justice opposed the immunity provisions and raised patient safety concerns. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 2425. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. HB 2110, with an amendment clarifying ambulance staffing and RN scope, passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2113 passed 18-0 with one excused. HB 2122, as amended to require hospitals to offer flu vaccines with several flexibility and critical-access-hospital exemptions, passed 15-3 with one excused. HB 2152, as amended to require certain facilities to allow medical cannabis use for qualifying terminal patients and to add related exemptions and protections, passed 17-1 with one excused. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , or overhead indirect cost rates, which will also have a great impact on the ability of our universities
• That's not the cause of pressure on rates in New Mexico.
• And maybe consider unique rates and/or tariffs for these new unique large loads like data centers and
• So, you were going over the rates, and I think that's where I got lost. Can you back up a bit?
• So, for example, with low-income rates, the legislature granted the PRC statutory authority to create

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, eliminating rollback taxes will not result in higher tax rates by the taxing authorities
• , as tax rates are determined based on certified taxable values.
• rating receive very little in tax reduction.
• We aim to rectify this and bring forth matching benefits to align with the disability rating from the
• He's rated at 90% disability. by the VA, but he was involved in an improvised explosive device attack

Bills: HB485 , HB1367 , HB1370 , HB1827 , HB1879 , HB2032 , HB2133 , HB2357 , HB3581 , HB3830 , HB4060 , HB4085 , HB4270 , HB4979 , HB5217 , HB5268 , HB5478 , HJR96 , HJR97 , HJR119 , HJR195 , HJR209 , SB4 , SB23 , SJR2 , SJR85 , SB 4 , SB 23 , SJR 2

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be designed to recover the cost of the restoration costs and you spread out the rate impact
• Concerns the rate. Intensity of severe storms continue.
• We're also seeing rate cases at an increased rate impact.
• Some I use are coming in more frequently for rating cake to rate increases.
• built into that overall rate case.

Transcript Highlights:

• , it's contracted at a rate plus so that the money can go back to them?
• It's contracted at a rate plus so that the money can go back to them. Is that what I understand?
• Also, the compliance rate in this program The compliance rate in this program for the people that participate
• Also, the compliance rate in this program percent higher than our normal case loads.
• Those rates fell at 1.5% and 0%. Of murder, those rates fell at 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard an informational presentation from the Florida Department of Corrections on how the prison and community supervision systems operate after sentencing. Assistant Deputy Secretary Hope Gartman described the reception process for new inmates, including intake, medical and mental health screening, classification, custody and housing levels, gain time, and the department’s academic, vocational, substance abuse, chaplaincy, visitation, and communication programs. She emphasized that reentry begins on day one and that program placement is driven by risk and needs assessments, with facilities matched to inmates’ medical, mental health, and security requirements. Members also asked about family contact, visitor applications, inmate welfare trust funds, tablet access, private prison placement, staffing shortages, overtime, contraband interdiction, and waiting lists for programs; several follow-up materials were requested for distribution to all members. Mr. Winkler then outlined community corrections, explaining the different supervision types under Florida law, including probation, drug offender probation, community control, sex offender supervision, conditional release, and addiction recovery supervision. He described the department’s monitoring tools, such as office and field visits, warrantless searches, alternative sanctioning for technical violations, telephone reporting for low-risk offenders, employment assistance, and mobile probation and reentry units. He said the department’s supervision success rate is about 62%, with more than 91% of successful completers not returning to custody within three years. Members questioned officer workloads, the use of radios and GPS check-ins, the rollout of uniforms and firearms, how violations are handled, and whether all circuits participate in alternative sanctioning; Winkler said the program is statewide and that the department is seeking funding for radios. During public comment, Florida Cares Charity urged the committee to consider evidence on deterrence, parole, and recidivism, arguing that community supervision is less costly than incarceration and can be effective. James Beardy of the Florida PBA emphasized the dangers faced by correctional and probation officers, including long shifts, field searches, and working alone, and argued for higher pay and better support comparable to other law enforcement. The meeting concluded with the chair thanking the presenters and public speakers, and the subcommittee adjourned without taking any legislative votes or formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We make no claim that it impacts recidivism rates.
• That is the recidivism rate in Florida.
• That is the third-lowest recidivism rate in the United States.
• Is this chart, this is for... ...the rate.
• But I wouldn't claim that you'll see lower recidivism rates in... ...the IPs.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee met with Vice Chair Smith presiding in Chair Martin’s excused absence. After opening remarks from several senators, the committee heard a presentation from Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon on the state’s incentivized prisons program and related population-management efforts. Dixon said the department now operates eight incentivized prisons, which use enhanced privileges and programming for well-behaved inmates, and reported major reductions in disciplinary reports, staff assaults, inmate-on-inmate assaults, and uses of force compared with average institutions. He also described administrative management units for more disruptive inmates, short-sentence correctional institutions for those with less than a year to serve, and a reentry strategy that places inmates closer to home within 18 months of release. Dixon said Florida’s recidivism rate has fallen to about 21 percent, among the lowest in the nation, and emphasized that staffing, programming, and facility repairs remain ongoing needs. Committee members asked about access to education and workforce training, staffing levels, contraband, technology upgrades, heating and air-conditioning maintenance, and whether incentivized prisons could be expanded. Dixon said educational access is improving but remains limited by eligibility and staffing, that the incentivized facilities are at capacity, and that expansion depends on adding more administrative management unit beds. He also said the department is increasing use of technology, improving maintenance oversight, and continuing efforts to reduce contraband and improve staff recruitment and retention. Several senators praised the department’s work and urged more funding for prison infrastructure and officer pay. Public testimony largely supported the incentivized prisons model while calling for more seats, better staffing, and broader reforms. Family members of incarcerated people said the facilities were safer, more stable, and better for rehabilitation, though they asked for more programming, better treatment by staff, and clearer access to education and release-related opportunities. A Florida PBA representative emphasized that programs can only succeed with safe staffing levels and better pay and retention for correctional officers. No formal committee vote or bill action was taken, and the meeting ended after public testimony and closing remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to a maximum of 10% for your fee of rate to a maximum of 10% for your fee of rate for<00:09:28.200
• </c> &gt;&gt; Your hourly rate just went up, Mr. &gt;&gt; Your hourly rate just went up, Mr.
• </c><00:44:51.680><c> they're</c> reimbursed at the same rate they're reimbursed at the same rate they're
• So that's kind comp compensation rate.
• </c> Both traditionally bill at higher rates. Both traditionally bill at higher rates.

Committee: Senate Banking & Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• of monies at a particular point of 6% error rate.
• </c> particular point of 6% error rate. particular point of 6% error rate.
• </c><01:14:13.360><c> yes</c><01:14:13.600><c> sir</c> &gt;&gt; the rate yes sir &gt;&gt; the rate yes
• </c> lowest in the southeast air rate. lowest in the southeast air rate.
• Our rate is uh somewhere as we are.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. It adopted motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with reading the prior journal, and allow bills and committee reports to be taken up throughout the day. The chamber received multiple House messages and a gubernatorial confirmation, including House Bill 1 on motor vehicles, Senate Bill 170 on health insurance, and Senate confirmation 90 for Chenica Johnson Anom to the Alabama Cickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission, all of which were referred to the appropriate committees. The Senate later concurred in the House amendment to Senate Bill 170 by a 29-0-1 vote. Committee reports covered a wide range of measures, with favorable reports and, in several cases, amendments or substitutes. Judiciary reported favorably on House Bills 228, 132, 347, 405, 86, 263, and 302, and on Senate Bills 318 and 260; State Government Affairs reported favorably on House Bills 435, 97, and 407 and Senate Bill 361; Education Policy reported favorably on Senate Bills 337 and House Bills 520 and 75; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development reported favorably on House Bills 303 and 477 and Senate Bills 360, 325, 329, and 330; Transportation and Energy reported favorably on Senate Bills 341, 354, and 340; Veterans and Military Affairs reported favorably on House Bills 465 and 307 and Senate Bills 338 and 359; and Local Legislation reported favorably on Jefferson County Senate Bill 243 and Shelby County House Bill 532. These reports generally advanced the bills to second reading and placement on the next legislative day’s calendar. The Senate also confirmed George Pierce to the Alabama Ethics Commission by a 33-0 vote after a favorable committee report, with several senators offering brief remarks of congratulations. In motions and resolutions, the chamber adopted Senate Joint Resolution 77 honoring the Section boys basketball team and Senate Joint Resolution 78 honoring the North Sand Mountain girls basketball team for state championships. It also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 79 establishing a legislative study commission on child sexual abuse laws and policies. A senator additionally urged colleagues to support broadband expansion efforts in rural Alabama and to ask the education chair to place HB 4 on the agenda. The most substantial floor discussion concerned Senate Bill 146, the state general fund budget substitute. The sponsor explained several budget provisions, including a $12 million transfer and an additional $5 million for the judiciary to address funding for newly created judgeships, a conditional $40 million for the Department of Corrections tied to progress on the Elmore and Escambia prison projects, conditional funding for DHR tied to reducing its federal error rate and developing a SNAP-related plan, conditional mental health funding tied to reporting and data requirements, and language preserving legislative control over certain federal rural health care funds. The Senate adopted the committee substitute for SB 146 by a 32-0-1 vote and then continued with the budget explanation as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• rates.
• The provision to increase the medical assistance rate to Medicare rates? Yes.
• </c><01:55:41.920><c> Is</c><01:55:42.080><c> that</c> Medicaid rates, Medicare rates.
• Is that Medicaid rates, Medicare rates.
• rate to Medicare rates.<01:56:05.040><c> Yes.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> absolutely uh you know electric uh rates absolutely uh you know electric uh rates fluctuate<01:21
• The rate is set in statute.
• The rate is set in statute.
• The rate is set in statute.
• payers and proceedings utility rate payers and proceedings concerning<01:42:41.639><c> rates</c><01:

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I have one question on this item: the 75% graduation rate target.
• By comparison, the Department of Fish and Wildlife's vacancy rate is 14%.
• So my colleague had referenced that there's the 31% vacancy rate in DIR. Is that accurate?
• It assumes CalHR's projected utilization rate of 15%.
• The final rates will be adopted by the CalPERS Board in summer of 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, the syphilis rates in Rolette County are the highest in the state.
• And we are right now the highest in the state for syphilis rates.
• The contact rates went down significantly.
• We are higher than what the national average is on success rate.
• We administer those in conjunction with the state sales tax rate of 5%.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee