Video & Transcript Research : 'docket fee'
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KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee (9-23-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- The engineering fee on it is 10.77%. So, it works out to be almost a million, 820,000.
- The engineering<00:21:01.840>
fee <00:21:02.159>on <00:21:02.320>it <00:21:02.559 - engineering fee on it is 10.77%. engineering fee on it is 10.77%.
- So that would be one circumstance where it would look like the engineering fees might be higher than
- would look like the engineering fees would look like the engineering fees might<00:22:15.520>
Keywords:
00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call
01:49 Approval of Minutes
02:06 Information Items
03:48 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet
14:38 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet
18:50 OFM – Ky Infrastructure Authority
26:40 OFM – Cabinet for Economic Development
31:50 Office of Financial Management
40:40 Remaining 2025 Meeting Dates
41:25 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The meeting opened with prayer and a quorum call, then the committee approved the prior meeting minutes. Staff reported several informational items, including University of Kentucky medical and research equipment purchases, school district debt issues, leasehold improvements, and Kentucky Community and Technical College System bond allocations.
The committee then approved a line-item appropriation increase of $350,000 in federal funds for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Cumberland Forest Conservation Program, along with two Department of Military Affairs projects: the Ashland Readiness Center window replacement and the MATES HVAC replacement at Fort Knox. It also approved four larger maintenance-pool projects without further action: HVAC and smoke evacuation work at the Kentucky State Penitentiary, HVAC and hot water tank replacements at Oakwood, a Green Bank energy-savings performance project across state facilities, and roof replacement at Lake Barkley Lodge. Members asked about the prison project, the roof procurement process, and whether minority-owned firms receive special bidding preference; staff said capital projects are awarded through open low-bid procurement with qualification and warranty requirements, and that minority participation is preferred but not a bidding criterion.
Two lease modifications were approved for Franklin County agencies: an expansion and renovation for the Auditor of Public Accounts and a downsizing and renovation for the Kentucky Workers Compensation Funding Commission. The committee also approved Kentucky Infrastructure Authority items, including a Monticello sewer loan, several Cleaner Water Program grants and reallocations, and a House Bill 1 water grant that required no action. Members questioned engineering costs and were told the KIA board reviews technical details and anomalies before approval.
Finally, the committee approved six economic development grants: one EDF grant for V Simple in Jefferson County and five KPDI EDF grants for projects in Breckinridge, Erlanger, Todd, and Washington counties. The last action item was approval of Western Kentucky University’s up-to-$10 million general receipts revenue bond issue for athletic facilities. An informational Kentucky Housing Corporation multifamily bond item prompted concern from members about rising per-unit costs for affordable housing, and they requested further explanation from the housing corporation at a future meeting.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee, March 2, 2026
Minerals, Business & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- and fees going to the resolution fund.
- <00:19:37.200>
the <00:19:37.840>banking through assessed fees the banking through - <00:20:06.000>
on that would simply be paid for by fees on that would simply be paid for by - <00:22:39.919>
the supervisory fees and fees going to the supervisory fees and fees going - Uh, we have 25% of the annual fees they give us go into that fund.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 1:30 P.M.
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- We have had some increase in revenues without additional revenue fees and license fees over the past
- We have had some increase in revenues without additional revenue fees and license fees over the past
- So, that her fees by $750 a month.
- That is a one-time fee. And that is a one-time fee.
- So, it would be very quick once we get the funding for it. >> Fees, license fees, the annual... >> Okay
Summary:
The committee heard budget presentations from the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy and the Mississippi State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, followed by the physical therapy board. The Pharmacy Board said it licenses pharmacists, technicians, students, and many facilities and supply-chain entities, including wholesalers, manufacturers, 3PLs, PBMs, and nonresident compounders. Its main requests were a 3% salary increase for specialized staff, about $118,000 for contract help to evaluate pharmacists with substance abuse or mental health issues under a recently passed public health bill, and additional IT spending authority for system upgrades and cloud migration. Members discussed the board’s role in protecting the public, vetting out-of-state facilities, and the need to keep sensitive data secure; no vote was taken.
The Chiropractic Examiners board described itself as a small, contract-staffed agency with about 700 active licenses and a database system that is no longer supported by Microsoft. It said it had requested about $173,000, but the legislative budget recommendation was $134,000, and it needs roughly $40,000 more to upgrade or rebuild the system, including security fixes and online renewal capability. Members focused on the cybersecurity risk of using unsupported software and the need to protect personal information; the board also noted that its licensing data does not include banking information because payments are handled through the state portal.
The Physical Therapy Board said it regulates physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, with 4,242 licenses and 252 complaints in the last fiscal year, and that demand for the profession continues to grow. Its requests included $6,000 in salary progression for long-serving staff, about $360 more in PDM salary authority, and roughly $38,610 for a one-time upgrade to its LMS licensing system, plus related cloud-migration costs. Senators noted the board’s strong reputation, discussed the burden of annual or biennial renewals, and supported the technology upgrade because the current system is no longer supported and could create liability risks if not addressed.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Education (11-5-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Institutions can raise tuition and fee rates to generate additional resources.
- Uh, they come to the council and they say, and lobby for higher tuition and fee increases.
- lobby for higher tuition and fee lobby for higher tuition and fee increases.<00:14:53.600>
Uh - under undergraduate tuition and fees under undergraduate tuition and fees between<00:15:22.079><
- <00:15:53.600>
grew <00:15:53.920>at <00:15:54.240>4.1% fees grew at 4.1% fees grew
Summary:
The committee met for its fifth and final Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education meeting, but did not initially have a quorum and approved the minutes later when enough members were present. The Council on Postsecondary Education, represented by President Aaron Thompson and Vice President Bill Payne, opened with condolences for the UPS crash victims and then presented higher education budget recommendations for the 2026-2028 biennium. Thompson emphasized the return on investment from state support for higher education, citing gains in retention, enrollment, persistence, graduation, reduced time to degree, lower student debt, and expanded dual credit participation, while noting that affordability and access remain priorities.
Payne outlined CPE’s operating funds request, including $43.3 million in the first year and $86.6 million in the second year for inflation adjustments, plus $30 million and $45 million for performance funding. He said the inflation request would apply across the board to institutions to offset rising costs, and that the KSU land grant match would not need additional funding because the state has already met the matching requirement. He also explained that state support for educating students has not kept pace with inflation over time, creating pressure on institutional budgets and tuition, though tuition increases have been held to historic lows in recent years.
A major portion of the discussion focused on the performance funding model and how it affects smaller institutions. CPE proposed two approaches to address institutions that have received little or no performance funding, especially Kentucky State University and Morehead State University. The first approach would create a $20 million minimum distribution pool, providing $1.95 million to each university and $4.4 million to KCTCS, with the goal of giving smaller and rural institutions a base level of support. The second approach would provide direct appropriations totaling a little over $5.6 million to Kentucky State, Morehead State, and five community colleges that have not been receiving performance funding. Members, especially Representative Tipton and Senator West, questioned how the model had treated small schools over time, and CPE officials explained that the original small school adjustment was not large enough to prevent KSU and Morehead from effectively being left out of the distribution. No votes were taken.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (04/16/2026)
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Actually, the application fee is not that straightforward. That's mechanics.
- Actually, the application fee is not that straightforward. That's mechanics.
- increase their per ton tipping fees increase their per ton tipping fees considerably considerably
- <01:11:32.280>
So <01:11:32.840>my fees and transportation costs. - So my fees and transportation costs.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance (10-14-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- storage fees, tree removal services<01:00:46.960>
and <01:00:47.280>etc. - Uh that is a huge cost driver for fees.
- taxes, regulatory fees, and more.
- Property taxes, payroll taxes, fees.
- We fund our regulatory fees, and more.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:15
Department of Insurance Update 00:01:39
Department of Financial Institutions Update 00:37:07
Insurance Industry Update 00:54:50
Credit Union Industry Update 01:10:53, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum, approved the September 16 minutes, and then received an update from Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark and staff on the Department of Insurance. Clark reviewed department activity, including growth in premium volume and licensing, consumer complaints and recoveries, and a rise in fraud referrals. She said the department has 66 open fraud cases and described common schemes such as staged auto accidents, inflated repair or cleanup charges, and roofing scams. She also said the department’s investigators often prepare strong cases but face reluctance from local prosecutors, especially in Fayette and Jefferson counties, to pursue them.
Clark reported favorable workers’ compensation news, saying rates will decrease 9.7% next year for the 20th straight year. She contrasted that with a difficult property insurance market driven by storms, reinsurance costs, inflation, labor shortages, and litigation, but said Kentucky’s market remains relatively stable, citing the Kentucky Fair Plan’s small number of policies. She then warned of significant 2026 health insurance premium increases on the exchange: 16.1% for Molina, 23% for Anthem, and 37% for WCare, after CareSource withdrew. She said the rates were reviewed by actuaries and found fair, but that the biggest pressure point is the scheduled expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, which she said could leave about 90% of exchange enrollees facing a compounded increase.
Members questioned Clark about fraud prosecution, the number of people in commercial versus public coverage, and the impact of expiring subsidies. Clark said the prosecution issue is mainly with Commonwealth attorneys and that rural counties are more cooperative than urban ones. She also said the health market is individually rated and that older enrollees would be hit harder, while the loss of tax credits could push some people out of the marketplace. One member asked about the attorney general’s recent opinion on SB 188, the PBM bill; staff said attorneys were still reviewing it. Clark closed by noting that Kentucky’s fraud and towing/storage legislation has become a model for other states.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (03/24/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- It pays 25% on million license fee.
- from the pre the first motor vehicle fee from the pre the first motor vehicle fee we<01:56:31.119
- dust settles between motor vehicle fee dust settles between motor vehicle fee or<01:58:11.599>
- Uh vehicle fee increases you have here.
- our our fee our our fee right<03:55:08.960>
if <03:55:09.199>we <03:55:10.160>come
Summary:
The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law.
Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/17/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- communications network fee communications network fee to<02:05:26.160>
put <02:05:26.400>< - :32.960>
basically <02:05:33.960>um fee basically um fee basically um uh,<02:05:36.000> - <02:09:23.600>
per um provides for a $50 connect fee per um provides for a $50 connect fee - , monthly fee, monthly fee, uh<02:10:09.120>
some <02:10:09.400>jurisdictions <02:10 - Um, and uh, so this one here now, um, rather than using terminal access fees, fees, uh, would utilize
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Status of Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- what that means is, you know, the PCA program serves both people who are in traditional mass health fee
- for service and also people that, you know, Both people who are in traditional MassHealth fee-for-service
- It's really important to note that this is just the fee-for-service data.
- This is just the fee-for-service folks that we had identified.
- This is just the fee-for-service folks that we had identified.
Summary:
The subcommittee met with MassHealth LTSS Chief Leslie Darcy to review the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program and the legislative work group focused on its long-term sustainability and cost containment. Darcy and Charlie described the work group’s five meetings and three consensus recommendations: enforce the 66-hour overtime cap, address fraudulent activity in the PCA program, and eliminate MassHealth handling of PCA paperwork/administrative work for members without a live-in exemption because those members are subject to EVV. They explained EVV as an electronic visit verification system replacing paper timesheets, and noted the rollout is expected to be completed this fall. The group estimated about $7 million in savings from the consensus recommendations and agreed to continue meeting through June to consider additional ideas.
Darcy presented data showing the PCA program served about 56,000 members in state fiscal year 2024 and has grown from $1.2 billion in FY20 to $1.6 billion in FY24, with projections near $2 billion by 2027. She said much of the growth is driven by wage increases and older adults using more services, and compared PCA costs with other LTSS programs. The discussion also covered overtime spending, the role of federal financial participation, and how Massachusetts’ PCA program differs from other states because it has no hard caps on hours or activities. Several members emphasized the program’s value for independent living and community participation, while also acknowledging the need to control growth without undermining services.
Members asked about undocumented immigrants and MassHealth funding, and Darcy explained that some eligibility categories are state-funded only and do not receive federal matching funds. Another member asked about workforce recruitment and wage pressures; Darcy said recent collective bargaining agreements raised PCA wages, with some workers eventually reaching $25 per hour and the entry wage reaching $20. The group also discussed whether IADL hours are disproportionately high compared with ADL needs, and reviewed data suggesting potential savings if IADL hours were limited relative to ADL hours, though no consensus recommendation was made on that point. The meeting ended with approval of the prior minutes by roll call vote, an update that the next health equity informational hearing is scheduled for May 19, and a motion to adjourn carried unanimously.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Aeronautics and Transportation Feb 9th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Aeronautics and Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- It's not a mandate, does not increase taxes or fees, does not create new bureaucratic programs, and does
- What I'm asking, as the bill is currently written, it says that there's going to be a 25 dollars fee,
- has good intentions, but if there's an extreme backlog and they're not able to expedite that, and the fee
- or Friday, and they said They felt like they could absorb that into the budget with the expedited fees
- and so there's I think there's a section of the bill that would allow for a $1000 per day per fine fee
Keywords:
memorial designation, interchange, Terry Walker, transportation, Oklahoma, driver license, tracking system, expedited delivery, Service Oklahoma, REAL ID, public safety, apportionment, state revenue, funding, vehicle registration, infrastructure, state roads, bridges, economic development, highway construction
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Community Affairs Nov 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- approval of proposed infill residential development under certain circumstances and set standards for any fee
- And also on the fee provision, you're going to work on some changes to that. Yes.
- the concerns that have been brought up and are working with other stakeholders on the development fees
- Number one, the development fee piece of this bill, which is what I would call maybe the second half
- the landowners who have land in the corridor have to sell to the state a conservation easement or a fee
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard three bills. First, the committee considered Senator Osgood’s home hardening products bill (CS/SB 78). The sponsor offered and the committee adopted a strike-all amendment that changed the sales tax exemption for impact-resistant doors and windows into a refund program. The refund is limited to homeowners with site-built homesteads valued at $700,000 or less, requires application to the Department of Revenue with proof of eligibility, caps the refundable tax at $500,000 per property, and runs for two years beginning July 1, 2026. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably after a roll call vote.
The committee then took up Senator McLean’s land use and development regulations bill (SB 208), which would redefine compatibility, define infill residential development, allow administrative approval in certain cases, and set standards for local development-related fees. Members and stakeholders discussed concerns about the compatibility definition, the scope of administrative approval, and whether 100 acres is too large to qualify as infill. Testimony came from Audubon Florida, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, Highland Homes, 1,000 Friends of Florida, and others, with supporters emphasizing housing supply and affordability and opponents warning about sprawl, reduced public participation, and impacts to rural lands and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The sponsor said he would continue working on the language, and the bill was reported favorably.
Finally, the committee heard Senator Truenow’s bill on special assessments for recreational vehicle parks (SB 118). The bill clarifies that if a local government levies a special assessment on an RV park space or campsite, the assessment may not exceed the maximum square footage allowed for an RV site. An amendment clarified that maximum as 400 square feet, resolving confusion about the cross-reference in current law. After brief discussion and one appearance form in support, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The meeting then adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation May 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- For the Air Resources Board, we have a refinement to a Governor's budget proposal for regulatory fee
- This proposal narrows the focus of the fee authority to the transport refrigeration unit and commercial
- To adjust and assess what's happening with DTSC's fees and the under-collection of fees that were assumed
- Not general fund: the environmental license plate fee, the waste discharge permit fund, etc.
- Can you explain how these savings relieve pressure off the general fund, particularly the fee revenue
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Session Daily Update: Legislative activity during interim Dec 30th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Given the new electric vehicle fee structure that passed this last legislative session, electric vehicle
- Given the new<00:00:56.000>
electric <00:00:56.399>vehicle <00:00:56.879>fee <00: - 00:57.280>
structure <00:00:57.760>that new electric vehicle fee structure that new electric - vehicle fee structure that passed<00:00:58.320>
this <00:00:58.559>la <00:00:58.879>
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- On the other hand we've got triple fees drawing them away from classrooms.
- All charter public schools pay for authorizer oversight without any data or evidence that current fees
- are insufficient or that fee revenue is even used appropriately for oversight requirements.
- Increasing these fees will only exacerbate that problem.
- Increasing administrative fees without accountability or data is not a solution.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
PUBLIC HEALTH WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE-SENATE AND HOUSE Jun 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Rule G is the increase to the administration fee for the RSV vaccination for children.
- It increases the administration fee only to the same price as what is currently allowed under the federal
- Um, it is an increase to the administration fee.
- that the intent is just as the Dental Association will share is that we were trying to increase the fees
- that the intent is just as the Dental Association will share is that we were trying to increase the fees
Summary:
The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection.
A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation.
Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Half of the fees are going to be going to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
- We carved out fee service. We carved out search engines like Google...
- Anything that you pay a fee with is carved out. Text messages are carved out.
- that, you know, allegedly were not sending these notices and then you would have all these storage fees
- that were have all these storage fees that were racking up.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Nov 6th, 2025
Legislative Health & Human Services Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- were really grateful that the state, for the first time since we've gone to managed care, published a fee
- They do publish that by the hour, which was $17.20 an hour on the published fee schedule.
- We were pleased to see that there was a minimum fee schedule issued by the Healthcare Authority, which
- Last year, there was a bill to try to bring the minimum fee to $23.50, with a guarantee that 70% of that
- Starting this process and having transparency, both with the minimum fee schedule and a wage floor we
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- always easily accessible to the public, making it difficult for residents to understand how rates and fees
- that can be charged because there are different fee structures in different counties.
- Senator Middleton's bill consolidates fees, but it only applies to counties over a million.
- There are still food truck operators out there that are dealing with all these different fee structures
- Therefore, we set the standards and conduct the inspections for a fee.
Bills:
HB103
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- program and insurance premium tax credit for for the growth of that program in the award of attorney fees
- 4647 by Patterson relating to the removal of... restrictions imposed on driver's license or opposing a fee
- relating to the dismissal of criminal charges related to illegal hunting of certain deer, authorizing fees
- HB 696 by Cortez relaying to the Waiver Committee. favors of state park interest fees and hunting and
- licensing fees for certain residential first responders, refers to the Committee on Cultural Recreation
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/08/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- There's fee and pricing disclosures, so the fees are clearly displayed, paid to the user, so they know
clearly disclosures so so the fees are clearly disclosures so so the fees are clearly displayed- Uh, the fees are higher than regular deposit. >> So the fees are higher than, uh, you know, maybe an
- Some states put a fee cap in. So you'll see a fee cap.
- But they do pay banking fees. Yeah.
Summary:
The subcommittee focused primarily on a bill concerning long-term care insurance rate increases and consumer notice. Members and staff discussed replacing or supplementing a proposed public hearing requirement with annual reporting, website updates, and consumer-facing disclosures about approved rate increases, carriers writing the products, and how the products work. Several participants emphasized that long-term care policies are long-term products, that rate increases can be spread over many years for actuarial reasons, and that consumers need better information about trends and the impact of increases.
A major point of disagreement was whether the bill should try to cap premium increases. One member argued the real problem is unexpected increases of 15% to 20% and urged a statutory cap to protect consumers. Insurance department representatives and others responded that hard caps had been struck down in prior case law, that the department’s core responsibility is solvency, and that carriers need sufficient premium to pay future claims. They also said the market is struggling because many carriers stopped selling the product, leaving in-force policies to bear the cost, and that overly restrictive caps could cause insurers to withdraw from the state.
The discussion then shifted toward a compromise requiring carriers to notify policyholders before a rate increase is approved and allowing a 60-day comment period. Participants debated whether the notice should come from the carrier, how confidentiality rules would apply before approval, and what the department should do with public comments. The department said it already reviews filings carefully and that submitted rates are often adjusted before approval; lawmakers noted that prior commissioners had pushed back on increases in some cases, including a seven-year moratorium. No final vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair repeatedly tried to move the subcommittee along to other bills.