Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 910, Senator Mautz, Health Insurance Graduate Level Clinical Interns Required Reimbursement
• Level Clinical Insurance Graduate Level Clinical Interns<00:05:18.240> Required<00:05:18.760>
• The bill authorized the Baltimore City Board of License Commissioners to issue in the 40th Alcoholic
• Senate Bill 974 establishes that the inspector for the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners
• Amendment number two prohibits the issuance of an arrest warrant by a district court commissioner if

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and then proceeded through committee reports, largely adopting favorable reports and amendments without objection. Early measures included SB 530, which funds grants for multigenerational social connection programs for older adults; SB 731, clarifying the legal status of the Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council; SB 809, directing a feasibility study on a caregiver infrastructure program; SB 860, creating an Aging Resilience Fund with reporting and budget protections; SB 910, requiring insurance reimbursement for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns under supervision; and SB 972, making several Baltimore City alcoholic beverages licensing changes. Each of these bills was advanced to third reading after committee amendments were adopted. The Finance Committee also advanced SB 555, establishing a Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and a provider resource toolkit for dementia care; SB 757, creating a Maryland Local Sourcing Portal to connect businesses with local sources for tariff-impacted goods; SB 772, creating an employment training and opportunity database to help people qualify for or maintain Medicaid and SNAP; SB 792, requiring hospitals to adopt and train staff on immigration-enforcement policies consistent with Attorney General guidance; SB 869, establishing a workforce training pilot program through Commerce and community colleges; SB 905, creating an advanced manufacturing grant program through TEDCO; and SB 974, changing who may serve as inspector for the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or narrowing amendments and then ordered printed for third reading. Budget and Taxation advanced SB 28, which would create binding arbitration for state employee collective bargaining impasses and include a proposed constitutional amendment requiring funding in the Governor’s budget; SB 466, expanding a physician preceptor tax credit and adjusting training-hour requirements; and later SB 704, concerning estate tax treatment for qualified agricultural property transferred to an LLC. SB 557, a gaming-related bill, was laid over until the end of the evening at the majority leader’s request. In the Education, Energy, and the Environment report, the committee advanced SB 35 on a state natural science museum designation, SB 166 on shellfish aquaculture permit sanctions, SB 189 on municipal drainage inlet safety requirements prompted by a child’s death, SB 242 on civil relief for service members and spouses, SB 266 on local regulation of invasive trees and tree-of-heaven, and SB 267 on a corporate rental-property registry and local housing application review process. SB 267 drew a brief question from the minority leader, who asked whether prior opposition remained and how the amended bill differed; the sponsor said the opposition had gone away and described the bill as now focused on a responsible-owner registry and an administrative review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• District, which is Ruston and Leesville, and just paying the premium costs for the group health insurance
• Commissioner, thank you for coming to the committee this morning. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Commissioner. Thank you. House Bill 1251 by Representative Lacone, Chad Brown with ATC.
• You're doing a marvelous job in your new position as commissioner of ATC. Appreciate it. Go Pokes.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Barra: Here. Speaker DeVille: Here. Dr. Barnes: Here. Present. Four members present.
• I wanted to point out here in terms of the size was the excise license tax, or the premium tax, insurance
• To pause right here just so we can—the practical purpose of what we just adopted, Commissioner, and you
• From the teacher side of this, the amendment number three, Commissioner, you know, this does not put

Summary: The Revenue Estimating Conference met with four members present and first approved the prior meeting minutes and recognized the FYI end-of-balance of $577,077,871 as nonrecurring revenue. The main business was revising the state revenue forecast for FY 2026, FY 2027, and the long-range outlook. The Division of Administration recommended a $113 million reduction to the FY 2026 State General Fund forecast and a $104 million reduction for FY 2027, citing weaker-than-expected individual income tax collections, softer corporate income tax receipts, and some weakness in general sales tax, partly offset by stronger motor vehicle sales tax and higher mineral-related revenues tied to oil prices. The Legislative Fiscal Office presented a somewhat different but broadly similar forecast, with modest net increases to the general fund bottom line in the current year and next year, emphasizing caution on income and corporate taxes and more optimism on sales, severance, royalties, and some other revenue streams. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the causes of the income tax shortfall, especially withholding and refund patterns after tax changes that lowered rates. Department of Revenue officials explained that withholding tables had been set with a cushion that may be producing larger refunds, and said changing the tables could quickly reduce overwithholding, though the effect would take time to show up. Members also discussed corporate collections, the lingering effects of the franchise tax repeal, the role of settlements and audits, and the extent to which collections are voluntary versus enforcement-driven. The Department of Revenue said corporate collections still had key filing and estimated-payment milestones ahead in May and June, and that refund and audit activity related to the former franchise tax would continue for some time. The conference then adopted the Division of Administration’s FY 2026 forecast, the FY 2027 recurring forecast, and the long-range forecast, along with the proposed inflation rates for the Millennium Trust and parish severance allocation. Members also adopted the incentive expenditure forecast, noting that the reported amount is only the REC-reported portion and that larger tax exemption amounts come off the top before appropriations. The Treasurer reported a General Fund cash balance of about $404.1 million as of May 5, 2026, and an interfund borrowing base of about $9.18 billion, saying cash levels were similar on average to the prior year. The meeting ended with a note that another REC meeting might be needed depending on the May 16 election, and the conference adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Barra: Here. Speaker DeVille: Here. Dr. Barnes: Here. Four members present.
• I wanted to point out here in terms of the size was the excise license tax, or the premium tax, insurance
• To pause right here just so we can, the practical purpose of what we just adopted, Commissioner, and
• From the teacher side of this, the amendment number three, Commissioner, you know, this does not put

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Revenue Estimating Conference met with four members present and first approved the December 11, 2025 minutes. Members then recognized the FYI end-of-balance of $577,077,871 as non-recurring revenue. The main business was revising the state revenue forecast for FY 2026, with the Division of Administration recommending a reduction of about $113 million, driven primarily by weaker individual income tax collections, softer general sales tax receipts, and a substantial cut to corporate income tax forecasts. The Legislative Fiscal Office presented a somewhat different but still cautious outlook, and members discussed withholding rates, refund growth, corporate collections, and the effects of the franchise tax repeal and tax reform changes. After questions to the Department of Revenue about collections, refunds, enforcement, and settlements, the conference adopted the Division of Administration’s FY 2026 forecast. The conference then reviewed the FY 2027 recurring forecast. The Division of Administration again recommended a reduction, this time about $104 million, citing continued caution on individual income and corporate taxes, while the Legislative Fiscal Office projected a net increase of about $127 million, largely from sales tax, severance, royalties, vehicle sales tax, and other revenue streams. Members discussed the practical budget impact of the revised forecasts, including the need to reduce spending and the difficulty of funding a possible teacher stipend if a constitutional amendment fails. The FY 2027 recurring forecast was adopted. Members also adopted the long-range forecast, the proposed inflation rates for the Millennium Trust and parish severance allocation, and the incentive expenditure forecast. The incentive discussion noted that reported incentive costs reduce available revenue before appropriations, and members raised the possibility of reviewing or capping such incentives. The Treasurer’s Office then reported that the General Fund cash balance was $404.1 million as of May 5, 2026, and the interfund borrowing base was about $9.18 billion, with cash positions generally similar to the prior year. The meeting ended with a note that another REC meeting might be needed after the May 16 election, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, DMA is requesting $1.5 million to establish a state-sponsored health care insurance pilot
• Currently, 14% of our force, or about 1,700 guardsmen, are without health insurance.
• This is directly related to bringing down National Flood Insurance policy premiums.
• A failure to invest in that $3 million would cause homeowners' insurance policies for National Flood
• Insurance protection to go up by a minimum of $50 million.

Summary: The committee met to hear the Governor’s proposed budget for the Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development silo and to consider one bill. The Governor’s Office outlined a $117.4 billion state budget, including $18.3 billion for the TED area, with major allocations for the Department of Transportation, Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, State, Military Affairs, Emergency Management, and the Florida State Guard. Agency heads then presented their priorities, including housing and disaster recovery funds at Commerce; pay, vehicles, aviation, and data systems at Highway Safety; facility modernization, recruitment, retention, and maintenance at Military Affairs; election audit, conservation lab, and historic preservation funding at State; transportation, aviation, seaport, and safety investments at DOT; and emergency response, flood mitigation, grant systems, and alerting at Emergency Management. Members asked questions about Visit Florida’s private match, FHP’s role in immigration enforcement and body cameras, National Guard deployment tempo and staffing, State Guard staffing and facilities, arts grant rules, rail funding, and the number of detainees at the Everglades detention site. Several notable positions were expressed during questioning. Visit Florida said it met and exceeded its private match requirement and described the match as important to ensuring value from public dollars. The Highway Patrol said its aviation assets have been used more heavily in immigration enforcement and that in-vehicle camera systems were a higher priority than body cameras at present. The National Guard and State Guard both emphasized heavy operational demands, readiness needs, and the importance of additional funding for facilities, personnel, and equipment. The Department of State said its audit funding would help counties move to automated post-election audits and that its arts grant rule changes were intended to create more consistent scoring rather than reduce access. The committee then took up CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units. The bill requires local governments to allow property owners to voluntarily create ADUs, preserves homestead treatment for the primary residence portion, limits parking restrictions, and extends density bonus incentives to housing for military families receiving basic housing allowance. An amendment was adopted removing reusable tenant screening reports and clarifying that compliant ADUs are allowed by right without a separate hearing or permit. Testimony from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the bill, especially the long-term rental requirement, as a tool to help workforce housing. The committee reported the bill favorably by a roll call vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows two public service commissioners to attend legislative committees and non-commission events
• House Bill 1058 is the above-ground fuel storage tank insurance fund bill.
• And I know in my own school, we ended up paying for it, and we have an insurance policy.
• And I know in my own school, we ended up paying for it, and we have an insurance policy.
• So back to cell phone or cell phone bill. an insurance policy. So back to cell phone bill.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The North Dakota House convened with prayer, roll call, and recognition of guests and student visitors, then moved through a long calendar of resolutions and bills. Early in the session, members honored Mandan High School’s e-sports team for state championships and recognized House Minority Leader Zachary Ista’s birthday. The House then passed HCR 3037 unanimously, urging mandatory reporting requirements for public officials, after committee support and remarks emphasizing accountability in public office. The chamber then considered numerous Senate amendments and final-passage votes on bills covering ambulance service grants (HB 1597), Public Service Commission records and open meetings (HB 1110 and HB 1063), squatter/trespass law (HB 1305), nonconforming structures in local governments (HB 1500), academic tenure policy (HB 1437), retirement eligibility for correctional officers and state radio dispatchers (HB 1274 and HB 1419), a Medicaid dental study (HB 1567), above-ground fuel storage tank regulation (HB 1058), gaming site authorization procedures (HB 1615), an oil extraction tax incentive outside the Bakken and Three Forks formations (HB 1483), and simple assault protections for hospital workers (HB 1341). Most of these measures passed, though HB 1231, which would have created a study on early discontinuation of sex offender registration, failed on final passage. A major point of debate was Senate Bill 2354, which would restrict student use of personal electronic devices during the school day in public and nonpublic schools, with exceptions for medical and special education needs and annual reporting on impacts. Supporters argued it would improve focus, behavior, and mental health, while opponents raised concerns about private-school regulation, logistics, liability, and duplication with a similar bill. The House passed SB 2354, and also passed SB 2112, which temporarily authorizes the Life Skills and Transition Center to serve certain non-eligible youth in crisis, despite objections that the facility should remain focused on developmental disabilities and concerns about repeating past institutional problems. The House also debated and rejected HB 1300 on legislative term limits after extensive discussion about whether the Senate’s date change altered the effect of the voter-approved measure. The session ended with announcements, committee notices, and adjournment until April 8, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a long fight I've been having where there's a surcharge on every commercial fire insurance policy
• There's a long fight I've been having where there's a surcharge on every commercial fire insurance policy
• I mean, this is one of the things, right, that Blake Washington asked all of the commissioners and everyone

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee met with quorum present and considered a full agenda of housing, code enforcement, and rent regulation bills, many of which had passed the Senate in prior years. Early measures included a statewide residential rental registry (S.912), penalties and reporting for vacant and abandoned properties (S.925), and extending tenant response time for major capital improvement rent increase applications (S.1461). The committee also advanced several code-enforcement and fire/building-code bills, including measures to expand remedies for Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code violations (S.3406), increase the Secretary of State’s code enforcement powers (S.4165 and S.4534), and authorize investigations into code administration and enforcement (S.4535). Members raised concerns about local fiscal impacts, the scope of state authority, contractor use, and whether the bills adequately define or limit “imminent threat” and related enforcement powers. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on S.4852, which would require the Codes Council to review and act on updates to international model codes within 18 months. Senators debated whether the bill would speed up code adoption or, as some feared, weaken economic reasonableness considerations by striking the word “economically” from the statutory standard. Supporters said the bill was intended to ensure prompt review of widely used model codes and noted other statutory safeguards remain in place; opponents worried about reduced attention to cost and practical impacts, especially amid housing and utility capacity constraints. The committee also discussed S.6368A, requiring complainants to receive copies of compliance orders issued after code complaints, and S.6600B, mandating inspections of certain non-fireproof buildings in New York City. Additional bills advanced included standards for all-gender bathroom design and construction (S.7131A), compensation for required code-enforcement personnel training (S.7159), and audits of individual apartment improvements in rent-regulated units (S.8046A). Several measures were reported to Finance, while others were reported to the floor. Throughout the meeting, votes were largely along expected lines, with some members voting negative or “without recommendation” on the more expansive code-enforcement bills. No bill was defeated, and all items on the agenda were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilities are using AI, and some of the commissioners themselves are using AI in order to get their job
• This is related, you know, with the Office of Insurance Regulation.
• They deal with this, of course, with property insurance.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight met with a quorum present and heard an update from Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler on the work of the Office of Public Counsel. Trierweiler described the office’s role in representing Florida utility customers in rate cases and related proceedings, including investor-owned electric, water, and wastewater matters. He emphasized the office’s use of depositions, expert witnesses, customer correspondence, and service hearings to challenge unsupported utility costs while seeking outcomes that are “fair, just, reasonable, and affordable.” A major focus of the presentation was the office’s work on large utility dockets, especially the Florida Power & Light rate case, as well as other recent cases involving Duke, TECO, Sunshine, and St. Joe. Trierweiler said the office had settled some cases but not others, had two appeals pending, and had filed motions for reconsideration where required. He also discussed storm cost recovery, affordability concerns, and the new challenge of data center tariffs and related energy and water demands. He said the office brought in new experts on affordability and data centers and was trying to get ahead of those issues through workshops and settlement efforts. Members asked questions about how customer input is gathered, how the office evaluates a fair profit for utilities, the role of settlements and counterproposals, and the impact of data centers on energy and water use. Trierweiler said customer voices come in through hearings and correspondence, that utilities are entitled to a fair return but not imprudent costs, and that the office is concerned about data center growth and its resource demands. No votes were taken, and the committee concluded its agenda and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• all their insurance, it would cost,<01:19:08.400> you<01:19:08.560> know,<01:19:08.800
• Commissioner Jasper, I almost read your other amendment that you asked me to put in.
• For the record, I am Sean Jasper, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food.
• of the Department of Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture,<02:02:13.280> Markets,<02
• of the department of the commissioner of the department of agriculture,<02:03:07.599> markets

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Johns County Board of County Commissioners to provide administrative assistance during the planning of
• I've heard it brought up that insurance and reinsurance is also international money.
• You've got a whole agency, the Office of Insurance Regulation, that regulates those folks.
• Insurers have a duty of good faith. If they don't, thank you. Insurers have a duty of good faith.
• And I don't hear enough up here from the insurance companies that are demanding to eliminate privilege

Summary: The Committee on Rules met and first approved several open-government sunset repeal bills and related measures. SB 7024 and SB 7026, both sponsored by Senator Mayfield, were explained as consolidating and extending public records/public meetings exemptions for cybersecurity information and trade secrets held by agencies; both were reported favorably. SB 7020, sponsored by Senator Trumbull, reenacted an aquaculture records exemption for records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and was also reported favorably. Later, the committee approved SB 14 and SB 24, claims bills for relief involving Miami-Dade County, and SB 16, a claims bill for Heriberto Sanchez Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg; all were reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved CS for SB 806, a consumer right-to-repair bill creating portable wireless device and agricultural equipment repair acts, despite opposition from several industry groups, and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next removed Attack Tab 6 Cs for SB 756, on health insurance coverage for individuals with developmental
• There's related to and insurance and managed care coverage for its of services for persons diagnosed
• Pet insurance was programs. Senator Deciglie.
• Chairman this bill based on a National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Act for pet insurance
• For those who pay pet insurance, I appreciate you more than anything.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what it's focused on, not private insurance.
• So, um Um not private insurance.
• Ellison was in here uh Commissioner Ellison was in here uh Commissioner Ellison<00:47:34.920>
• So, ways uh defined by the commissioner.
• We have seen the commissioner here.

Bills: HF4338

Keywords: human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review, postpayment review, surety bond, compliance training, case management, targeted case management

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is Deputy Commissioner Wendy Underwood from MDH. is left without hope thank you for your is left
• Wendy Underwood from MTH Commissioner Wendy Underwood from MTH thank<00:25:52.399> you Thank
• For the record, I am Wendy Underwood, Deputy Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health.
• We've made sure that forms of contraception are covered under health insurance.
• We've made sure that forms of contraception are covered under health insurance.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• today, I saw a report in NBC News saying that the 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would raise car insurance
• Are you importing your car insurance from Mexico?
• You're taking your auto repairs from Mexico, and that will eventually drive up the cost of car insurance
• On October 1st, the Hennepin County Commissioners, which is a bipartisan group, unanimously approved

Transcript Highlights:

• of the Department of Insurance, providing that the commissioner of the Department of Insurance be elected
• of the Department of Insurance, providing that the commissioner of the Department of Insurance be elected
• Despite several states choosing to elect their insurance department commissioners, uh, I don't necessarily
• Uh, and I think that they do a sufficient job of vetting the Department of Insurance commissioner.
• So, no election of an insurance commissioner. >> Thank you. Uh, is there a further discussion?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We found a therapist that takes our insurance, but is a 20-minute drive in light traffic away.
• , but is a 20-minute drive in insurance, but is a 20-minute drive in light<00:10:26.800> traffic
• and is relatively close to our insurance and is relatively close to our<00:10:34.920> home<00
• Availability, proximity, insurance, and scheduling are major barriers for parents.
• Um, the legislation required 14 members: 10 members were appointed by the Commissioner of Education,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud to serve as the commissioner I'm proud to serve as the commissioner of<00:32:39.519>
• Any questions for the commissioner? Senator Jim. Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Commissioner.
• Did you have questions for the commissioner? Thank you so much, Mr.
• the commissioner is here, but um...
• The commissioner sends his regrets today.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This funding because the agency rulemaking we finished in December led by Commissioner Wright.
• Christy, commissioner, always great to see you as a commissioner.
• No insurance for the state could get a hold of that could possibly cover any of these costs.
• Any of our commissioners? Commissioners are in the room.
• Senator Hinojosa, I wanted to just address some questions you posed to Commissioner.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• through all of the different insurance through all of the different insurance companies<01:42:45.119
• You know, these are the insurance companies who stand to lose the program because they can't do it.
• managed care organization or by insurer. managed care organization or by insurer.
• <02:44:47.040> but well for all of our insureds but well for all of our insureds but primarily
• . insurance. insurance.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For statewide participation in the flood insurance program under FEMA, it is also necessary to require
• For flood insurance, both private and some federal, you need to have many of those measures in place.
• That will enable the commissioner to increase standards or change indicators outside of the schedule
• We did a quick calculation with the commissioner and some of the witnesses: you take, on average, 22
• Remove the section that was added as a floor amendment in the House that directed the commissioner of

Bills: SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3, SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections