Video & Transcript Research : 'labor code'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- And students of all backgrounds, regardless of circumstances, identity, or zip code, deserve to feel
- So after the state's share, we're responsible for half of the total labor cost increases.
- So after the state's share, we're responsible for half of the total labor cost increases.
- We're just trying to keep what does labor costs expect to move to 2, 2.5 percent.
- Obviously, labor costs are incredibly a driver of all of this.
Summary:
The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts.
Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students.
Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 19 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- including members of the General Court, to study access to unemployment insurance, to the Committee on Labor
- including members of the General Court, to study access to unemployment insurance, to the Committee on Labor
- there that can help improve it and get us where we... ...some communities have adopted, the building codes
Summary:
The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters, including adopting a resolution recognizing the work of Ukraine Forward and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a number of petitions. The chamber also scheduled several bills for later consideration, including measures on unemployment insurance for fluctuating work schedules, the Medical Society mission statement, a youth training wage, bridge and intersection namings, handicapped parking fines, public-way safety, excavation restoration, motor vehicle safety, and a Newton police age requirement. Two engrossed local bills were passed to be enacted: one authorizing retired police officers as special police in Plainville and another allowing Orange to increase its Board of Selectmen membership.
The main policy debate centered on House No. 5151, An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power, and economic competitiveness. Supporters described it as a broad affordability and clean-energy package that would cut costs for ratepayers, reform Mass Save, speed clean-energy procurement and interconnection, return a portion of alternative compliance payments to customers, and address biomass and other energy issues. Opponents argued the bill relied too heavily on long-term programs and new administrative structures while offering little immediate relief, and raised concerns about costs being shifted to consumers, impacts on natural gas, and the pace of implementation. Several amendments were debated and rejected, including proposals to shift public benefit charges away from peak hours, pause public benefit charges for a year, require greater utility disclosure before rate increases, and add a forest-clearing penalty for solar development.
One amendment to the energy bill was adopted: a consolidated amendment that included budget-billing consumer protections for gas customers, requiring notice and conservation recommendations when usage rises significantly. The House also adopted an amendment to a separate conservation-restriction bill for Hanson, changing a figure in the underlying law, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. The energy bill’s consolidated amendment passed by roll call, while several other amendments failed by roll call votes. The House observed multiple moments of silence honoring Jaden Booker, Thomas Skip Karam, former Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott, and former Representative and Senator William Q. “Biff” McLean, Jr.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Farmers are actually one major repair bill plus the tax and labor away from deciding if they stay afloat
- way we drafted the legislation, and to say really I'm at fault there, I cited a section of federal code
- I cited a section of federal code that actually is defined as underpopulated, not underserved.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- of Underwood's Law, Law's law firm. office and is the only attorney in the city who is certified in labor
- Let's go forward leading to the requiring notice of the Attorney General on an action on the election code
- Code, refer to the Subcommittee on State and Federal Relations, H.R. 468 by Mesa-Rureka. organizing the
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- What staff does, it's got a number of links and resources on the backside, as well as a couple of QR codes
- Generally, that's left to school districts and individual school personnel. personnel to code students
- included, again, the state agency, the Legislative Finance Committee, superintendents, school boards, labor
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/3/26
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- recognition tech, but there isn't any known way that we have are they using that sort of terrible Python code
- Department of Labor would then not be able to permit certifications for day providers here in Minnesota
- Department of Labor would then not be able to permit certifications for day providers here in Minnesota
- <01:18:54.880>
would <01:18:55.440>then the US Department of Labor would then the US - Department of Labor would then not<01:18:56.000>
be <01:18:56.159>able <01:18:56.320>
Keywords:
facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement
Summary:
The committee approved the minutes from February 24 and February 26. It then took up House File 3661, a bill originally authored by Representative Gomez and presented by Representative Feist, which would ban government use of facial recognition technology and be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, described as a technical amendment based on House Research recommendations, before hearing testimony on the bill.
Representative Feist said the bill is aimed at preventing serious privacy and civil-liberties harms, including secretive surveillance, racial and gender bias, and the lack of statewide rules governing government use of facial recognition. Supportive testimony came from Chad Marlo of the ACLU, who argued the issue is bipartisan, the technology has accuracy problems, and government use is expanding against vulnerable groups. Chris Wayland of Restore the Fourth Minnesota also supported a ban, emphasizing the inability to opt out of facial recognition and the lack of standards, disclosure, and community input. Rich Newmeister urged stronger transparency measures, including agency policies and public notice in buildings using the technology.
Major Spencer Baky of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office opposed an outright ban, saying facial recognition is used only as an investigative lead, not for positive identification or real-time surveillance, and that results are corroborated before use. He said the office has used the tool in hundreds of investigations and supports a statutory framework with safeguards instead of a ban. In member discussion, Representative Hudson argued a blanket ban was too broad and suggested a more targeted evidentiary approach, while Representative Moller and Representative Kurr expressed concern about misuse and the federal government's use of the technology. Representative Durant asked whether there was a current Minnesota problem and whether stakeholders and law enforcement had been involved in drafting the bill. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the amendment and the committee’s continued consideration of HF 3661.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Fiscal Policy Apr 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's take up late filed Amendment bar code 9, 3, 7, 7, 2, 6, by Senator Calatayud Senator Calatayud.
- See we have 3 Amendment State Amendment Bar Code 8, 7, 3, 9, 8, 8, by Senator Grall Senator Grall.
- Let's take up the lead on the code. >> 9, 6, 8, 6, 8, by Senator Simon.
- Let's take up amendment to the Amendment bar code 1, 2, 0, 6, 5, 4, by Senator Simon.
- Let's take up Amendment bar code 1, 1, 5, 1, a 2 by Senator Burgess.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 20th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Bills:
HB1675, HB3242, HB1739, HB3320, HB3047, HB4434, HJR1089, HB4432, HB3718, HB3705, SR43, HB1933, HB4248, SB1847, SB1778, HJR1086, HB3001, HB3002, HB3003, HB3004, HB3005, HB3007, HB3008, HB1590, HB1242, HB3818, HB4305, HB1979, HB1225, HB3931, HB4454, HB3849, HB1746, HB3720, HB4275, HB4300, HB3586, HB2268, HB3755, HB4117, HB4294, HB3650, HB4298, HB3270, HB3145, HB3056
Keywords:
emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- of entering many, many screens of entering information<00:29:51.600>
with <00:29:51.840>codes - > and<00:29:53.040>
a <00:29:53.080>lot <00:29:53.280>of information with codes - and a lot of information with codes and a lot of information<00:29:53.880>
needs <00:29:54.080 - We're Minnesota's infrastructure union, representing more than 14,000 skilled construction laborers who
- <01:09:37.120>
who skilled construction laborers who skilled construction laborers who maintain
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- or they have something intended for you, those people who are in the intended receivers of the hard labor
- you should have the opportunity to ensure with ease that the property and the hard work that you labored
- House Bill 1108, labor and bill, please.
- House Bill 1105, Statute of Limitations, Civil Suits to Enforce Local Consumer Protection Codes.
- local consumer protection codes. local consumer protection codes.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum and then moved through messages from the Senate, introducing several Senate bills and referring them to committees. It then took up multiple third-reading calendars and considered a large number of bills across public health, criminal law, education, estates and trusts, social services, and state government. Most bills passed with broad margins, including measures on fiduciary attorney-client privilege, food labeling and prohibited ingredients, human trafficking awareness training, pharmacy prescriber-pharmacist agreements, provisional social work licensure, structural racism training funding sources, youth delinquency prevention funding, menstrual hygiene product labeling, school resource officer sexual activity prohibitions, nurse licensure enforcement, physician delegation changes, child support income definitions, AI-related child sexual abuse material, trauma-informed care resources, restrictive housing for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, open movie captioning, autism and dementia police training, gift card fraud, scholarship eligibility, retention proceeds, graduate scholarship eligibility, intercepted communications penalties, benefits for children in custody, juvenile supervision petitions, institutional debt reporting, contraception access reporting, surgical smoke evacuation systems, tax foreclosure notice requirements, special police officer study, child advocacy center standards, victim notification at charging, human trafficking reporting, drug dispensing cost surveys, school board nominating commission changes, the Henrietta Lacks Commission, ID card photograph requirements, and several others.
A few bills drew substantive floor discussion. House Bill 963 on appointment of personal representatives was supported as a way to help families and heirs access assets, including in cross-border situations. House Bill 877 on institutional debt reporting prompted debate over whether the bill was useful and whether it would burden colleges; supporters said it would create needed aggregate data and a data dictionary to better understand debt incurred directly from institutions. House Bill 1076 on over-the-counter contraception access and reporting was clarified as a reporting measure that harmonizes prior reporting requirements and does not use taxpayer funds to purchase contraception, though grants had supported vending machine installation. House Bill 288 on extending a state of emergency for schools was explained as applying to natural disasters, civil disasters, public health emergencies, or specific security threats, with one member expressing concern about state involvement and learning loss from prolonged closures. House Bill 746 on the Medicaid/health insurance collaborative care model was briefly delayed by a computer issue, then passed after a short pause.
Several members announced vote changes after the roll calls, including corrections on House Bills 65, 771, 769, 900, 1058, 1076, 1490, 1540, and 1554. Final actions on the floor were overwhelmingly favorable to the bills considered, with only a handful of measures drawing notable negative votes, including House Bills 410, 963, 1042, 1058, 1076, 1152, 1540, and 1554. The House also passed a number of local and policy bills with strong bipartisan support, and no amendments or motions to postpone were recorded in the excerpt.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/25
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- state employees, including delivering annual required training to all employees on things like the code
- over several days, including ethics, internal controls, performance management, conflict resolution, labor
- ethics<00:04:16.199>
conflicts <00:04:16.600>of <00:04:16.880>interest the code - of ethics conflicts of interest the code of ethics conflicts of interest prohibitions<00:04:18.440><
- Management conflict resolution Labor Management conflict resolution Labor Relations<00:04:41.120
Bills:
HF10
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 02/11/25
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- We're Minnesota's infrastructure union, representing more than 14,000 skilled construction laborers who
- I think over and over again we actually use people's ZIP codes to predict how their life is going to
- <00:56:42.319>
to actually use people's ZIP codes to actually use people's ZIP codes to predict - > nonprofits and for profit housing nonprofits and for profit housing providers<01:02:27.039>
laborers - who build homes home providers laborers who build homes home buyer<01:02:29.440>
Educators <01
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 04/10/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- particular at the Department of Labor particular at the Department of Labor and<01:33:00.159>
- seeking guidance on code interpretation. seeking guidance on code interpretation.
- Organized retail and chain and labor.
- <01:42:38.560>
and enforcement, prosecutors, labor and enforcement, prosecutors, labor and - We have a strong coalition of business, labor, and groups all along the supply chain.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- um fire marshall determinations of code. um fire marshall determinations of code.
- <04:16:08.560>
review appealed to the building code review appealed to the building code review - appealed to either the building code appealed to either the building code review<04:16:15.279>
<04:19:44.560>or building code or the state fire code or building code or the state fire - bill came to us from the House Labor bill came to us from the House Labor Committee.<04:30:05.680
MO
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
- Yeah, so there is... ...Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Got there, yeah.
- I hear about the labor shortage, people not wanting to work, and government waste, but every person I
- I hear about the labor shortage, people not wanting to work and government waste, but every person I
- This worsens labor shortages, reduces consumer spending, and shrinks tax revenue.
Summary:
The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing.
The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors.
The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes.
A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (02/11/2026)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:06:41.600>
deserve or prong or prolonged labor deserve or prong or prolonged labor deserve - the, uh, zip code of the patient. the, uh, zip code of the patient.
- <00:09:24.000>
with constituency, I've got zip codes with constituency, I've got zip codes - She had multiple known risk factors, including prolonged labor, a difficult labor, a C-section, and then
- They know the codes.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- January 2024, I pushed forward and the council adopted the specialized code.
- However, the code is only for new construction and only in Salem, as most of you know who have visited
- January 2024, I pushed forward and the council adopted the specialized code.
- however the code is only for new construction and only in Salem as most of you know who have visited
- We are downsizing, and we may have a school that may be available to turn into housing, but the code
Summary:
The hearing focused on several climate and utility-related bills, especially H. 3449/S. 2292 to expand the municipal fossil fuel-free building demonstration program from 10 to 20 communities and related home rule petitions for Somerville and other municipalities. Witnesses from Somerville, Salem, Worcester, Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, Wellesley, Watertown, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association argued that local governments should be allowed to opt into fossil fuel-free or net-zero building standards, citing climate goals, environmental justice concerns, housing production, and data showing all-electric construction can cost about the same as or less than mixed-fuel construction. Committee members repeatedly pressed witnesses for cost data and asked for written follow-up, while also discussing whether strong environmental standards affect housing supply; witnesses responded that the main housing constraints are financing and that they would provide more data from local projects and state studies.
A second major topic was H. 3564, which would require gas companies to provide municipalities with detailed multi-year pipe replacement plans, allow local review and objections, and limit reimbursement for projects not previously disclosed except in emergencies. Municipal leaders and advocates said the bill would improve coordination of street work, reduce disruption and costs, and help cities plan for electrification, network geothermal, and non-pipeline alternatives. Testimony from Wellesley, Cambridge, Arlington, Newton, and others emphasized repeated problems with last-minute gas main work, the need for advance notice, and the value of municipal participation in planning gas system retirement and alternatives.
The committee also heard testimony on the “tactical transition” bills, S. 2249/H. 3539, aimed at managing the gas-to-clean-energy transition. Supporters from Gas Transition Allies, Rewiring America, and 350 Mass said the bills would require joint gas-electric planning, create an advisory council, eliminate subsidies for new gas hookups, shift investment toward repairs and clean alternatives, protect workers through retraining, and make utility plans more transparent. They argued these changes would reduce ratepayer costs, avoid stranded gas assets, and support orderly decarbonization. In addition, HEET testified on H. 3541, which would update greenhouse gas accounting to better reflect methane’s short-term climate impact, and H. 3543, which would establish a framework for managing shared thermal resources and thermal energy networks; committee members asked several questions about the meaning, ownership, and consumer-cost implications of the proposed “thermal commons.” No votes were taken during the hearing.
PA
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill amends the Second Class Township Code to change the date of the completion, filing, and publication
- There's actually a provision in the school code that would allow administrators, if they are changed
- By putting this legislation into the public school code, we are involving the Department of Education
- Act 27 of 2020 is landmark legislation in Pennsylvania that amended the state's game and wildlife code
- The bill was reported out of committee unanimously, out of the Labor and Industry Committee, and the
Summary:
The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and first handled routine business including postponing approval of the prior journal and confirming a quorum. Several committee reports were adopted, including measures from Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Tourism and Recreation and Economic Development, Appropriations, Rules, Commerce, and Environmental and Natural Resource Protection. The chamber also adopted House Resolution 531, designating June 2026 as Scoliosis Awareness Month, after testimony from Rep. DeLosier and discussion of a constituent’s experience with severe scoliosis; the resolution passed 201-1.
The House then adopted a series of additional resolutions and bills, including Diaper Need Awareness Week, a study on PANS/PANDAS, 717 Day, Little League World Series Week, and a resolution commemorating America 250 in Pennsylvania. It also passed bills on Sunshine Act agenda notice changes, veteran death notifications, Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, township audit deadlines, first responder memorials, road transfers, parole board succession, and restrictions on HOA limits for rooftop solar. The solar bill drew multiple failed amendments on HOA voting rules, native plants, energy-source discrimination, and net metering; one amendment on indemnification for elected officials at special events was adopted.
In final passage votes, the House approved legislation to prohibit NDAs related to data centers, with debate centered on transparency and local control; it passed 171-31. The chamber also passed bills allowing Pittsburgh school administrators to collectively bargain, requiring hunting and trapping education options in schools, expanding SWIF’s equity investment authority, and scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule 3 controlled substance. The Counseling Compact bill and a parole-record privilege bill both passed unanimously or near-unanimously, and the House signed those measures for presentation to the Governor. The session ended with referrals of new bills to committees, a motion to adjourn, and adjournment until July 1, 2026.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board. (2-23-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- To be approved, the provider must submit a diagnosis code confirming type 2 diabetes.
- code of confirming<00:15:25.600>
type <00:15:25.920>two <00:15:26.160>diabetes. - It has a negative impact on your labor force.
- <00:33:53.840>
There <00:33:54.080>are impact on your labor force. - There are impact on your labor force.
Summary:
The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on February 23, 2026, approved the January 12 minutes, and then focused primarily on Kentucky Medicaid’s coverage and potential expansion of GLP-1 drugs, especially for weight loss. Department for Medicaid Services Commissioner Lisa Lee explained that Medicaid currently does not cover drugs for weight loss, anorexia, or weight gain, but the department had filed a regulation to remove that blanket exclusion so GLP-1s could be covered when used for an underlying health condition. She said the administrative regulation review subcommittee found the regulation deficient, and the co-chairs wanted the board to discuss the policy and financing implications before any change. DMS also said it would be open to adding caveats to ensure coverage would not extend to cosmetic weight loss alone.
The department provided several data points on current utilization and spending. In 2025, Kentucky Medicaid paid for appetite-stimulating drugs such as Megestrol, Dronabinol, and Marinol, but did not pay for weight-loss drugs. For GLP-1s, DMS said coverage began in 2025 and is limited to FDA-approved medical conditions, with prior authorization requiring a type 2 diabetes diagnosis code and A1C documentation. DMS reported $234.6 million in GLP-1 spending in 2025 before rebates, about 240,931 prescriptions, and said GLP-1s accounted for 7.3% of pharmacy spend in 2024 and 8.3% in 2025. It also said there were 24,844 expansion members and 13,638 non-expansion members using GLP-1s, with spending of about $156 million and $78.5 million respectively, and that 10 pediatric weight-loss prescriptions were covered under EPSDT. The department said outcome analyses, including whether GLP-1 use reduces insulin or other diabetes treatment, are underway and should be completed in a couple of months.
Members asked about cost, rebates, and whether the state should wait for more outcomes data before expanding coverage. DMS said average reimbursement to pharmacies was $975 per prescription and the average dispensing fee was $109; it also said 2025 rebate invoices totaled $90.8 million, with $7.6 million collected so far. Several members expressed concern about the high cost and the need to evaluate whether the drugs improve health outcomes before expanding access, while others noted the potential benefits for obesity and diabetes treatment. Some members also discussed whether GLP-1s are effectively being used for weight loss in diabetic patients and whether broader data collection should be used to assess long-term value.
After the Medicaid discussion, Eli Lilly executive Tracy Sims presented on obesity as a chronic disease and the economic burden it creates in Kentucky. She said Kentucky’s adult obesity rate is a little over 37%, that obesity is linked to about 200 diseases, and that untreated obesity costs the state billions in GDP and hundreds of millions in state budget impact. She highlighted recent federal access programs for GLP-1s, including a Medicaid-related program that she said could lower the state share of a Zepbound prescription to about $71 per month after federal matching. No votes were taken on the GLP-1 policy question during the meeting, and the main action was the receipt of testimony and discussion of the department’s proposed regulatory change.