Transcript Highlights:

• We have the Department of Commerce and Insurance.
• The Department of Commerce and Insurance has 791 employees and $88 million.
• This bill passed out of your insurance committee.
• This bill passed out of your insurance committee seven to one and out of rules nine to two.
• The Municipal League and all that, we're complaining about, you know, costs of their insurance premiums

Transcript Highlights:

• Disclosures to title insurance companies, title insurance agents, attorneys, mortgage insurance companies
• And it also, for the purpose, it also should not affect disclosures to title insurance companies, title
• insurance agents, attorneys, mortgage insurance companies, mortgage loan originators, real estate brokers
• And it also, for the purpose, it also should not affect disclosures to title insurance companies, title
• insurance agents, attorneys, mortgage insurance companies, mortgage loan originators, real estate brokers

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• It improves the process of transferring a resident insurance license from another state to the state
• It also removes the filing application fee for insurance licensure for all veterans.
• It improves the process of transferring a resident insurance license from another state to the state
• It also removes the filing application fee for insurance license. Florida.
• It also removes the filing application fee for insurance licensure for all veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the program Services, Quality Insurance, which is just another division within DHS.
• So when people go to jail, their Medicaid is turned off, or their commercial insurance.
• It is for our CHIP program, Children’s Health Insurance.” “No, ma’am.
• It is for our CHIP program, Children’s Health Insurance.
• We're not being truthful with the taxpayers of this state on the true cost of insurance.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• For insurance companies to refund employers the insurance premium for a dismissed employee that can be
• For years, SB 458 preserves the right to an appraisal provision in home and auto insurance policies.
• This bill is good for Texas consumers and predictable for Texas insurers. I move passage.
• relating to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association providing an administrative penalty.
• The announcement on insurance which is scheduled to meet today at 10:30 a.m. or upon final adjournment

Bills: SB664 , SB40 , SB9 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB27 , SB207 , SB2938 , SB1901 , SB1227 , SB1248 , SB912 , SB1321 , SB2143 , SB2145 , SB1497 , SB1239 , SB2180 , SB1388 , SB1762 , SB1662 , SB1951 , SB1537 , SB493 , SB378 , SB1020 , SB1018 , SB992 , SB958 , SB920 , SB1350 , SCR25 , SB687 , SB1332 , SB2185 , SB552 , SB664 , SB40 , SB9 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB458 , SB482 , SB927 , SB984 , SB651 , SB1620 , SB2124 , SB2448 , SB841 , SB843 , SB402 , SB2662 , SB2053 , SB2332 , SB2112 , SB745 , SB1247 , SB1789 , SB27 , SB207 , SB2938 , SB1901 , SB1227 , SB1248 , SB912 , SB1321 , SB2143 , SB2145 , SB1497 , SB1239 , SB2180 , SB1388 , SB1762 , SB1662 , SB1951 , SB1537 , SB493 , SB378 , SB1020 , SB1018 , SB992 , SB958 , SB920 , SB1350 , HCR76 , HCR127 , HCR9 , HCR40 , HCR118 , HR559 , HCR59 , HCR135 , HCR141 , HCR46 , HCR109 , HCR10 , SCR25 , HB2525 , HB142 , HB140 , HB29 , HB451 , HB3809 , HB3307 , HB 1130 , HJR1 , HB9 , SB17 , SB260 , SB509 , SB1506 , SB1637 , SB2308

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sure you're aware of this as well, the insurance that they have to pay. on insuring their buildings
• They operate their own health insurance programs. from Bryan, they do health insurance for public school
• Which means that there won't be increases in co-pays and co-insurance. and or other benefit reductions
• We're very proud of our ability to manage costs in the health insurance program.
• Yes, so the We have one health insurance plan called Health Selective Texas.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Insurance costs are going up quite a bit. Pharmaceutical costs continue to rise.
• The other major portion is retiree health insurance benefit that the state provides.
• The other major portion is retiree health insurance benefit that the state provides.
• The other major portion is retiree health insurance benefit that the state provides.
• </c><02:27:21.319><c> and</c> under the state health insurance and under the state health insurance and

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years. For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations. Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need. HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.

Transcript Highlights:

• :19.920><c> having</c> the insurance companies are having the insurance companies are having issues<01
• House Bill 738, Representative Gentry, an act relating to unemployment insurance.
• House Bill 739, insurance.
• </c><02:01:06.320><c> To</c> insurance, House Bills 655 and 656.
• To insurance, House Bills 655 and 656.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, we’re talking about insurance companies and tow truck operators, all of which were in support
• companies and, after settlement, we sell the vehicle to the insurance company.
• So it's kind of the insurance company.
• They have to get them notarized and then shipped back to the insurance company.
• I have the pleasure of serving as the commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked together and with DEED to open unemployment insurance during the summer term for hourly school
• In this beginning phase of unemployment insurance for hourly workers during the summer term, one-time
• In this beginning phase of unemployment insurance for hourly workers during the summer term, one-time
• In this beginning phase of unemployment insurance for hourly workers during the summer term, one-time
• In this beginning phase of unemployment insurance for hourly workers during the summer term, one-time

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not an insurance defense lawyer.
• We see that in both non-insurance and insurance providers. We can determine what that cost is.
• an insurance policy, is that going to be admissible and true?
• I think that's what insurance is for, but you know floods hit single-family homes.
• Boy, I heard the author say that that's what property insurance was for or flood insurance was for in

Bills: SB6 , SB30 , SB13 , SB2878 , SB2501 , SB66 , SB268 , SB331 , SB618 , SB414 , SB1394 , SB2425 , SB898 , SB993 , SB442 , SB735 , SB784 , SB2538 , SB1919 , SB1013 , SB2215 , SB2322 , SB626 , SB570 , SB747 , SB2183 , SB673 , SB1015 , SB1447 , SB1370 , SB1784 , SB1897 , SB2873 , SB2891 , SB2933 , SB2540 , SB2681 , SB2695 , SB1965 , SB2203 , SB872 , SB875 , SB1030 , SB1277 , SB1730 , SB1681 , SB1152 , SB2969 , SB2747 , SB2705 , SB2541 , SB1708 , SB2080 , SB2721 , SB1986 , SB2392 , SB2539 , SB2857 , SB2799 , SB2785 , SB2782 , SB1531 , SB1927 , SB1263 , SB1098 , SB835 , SB3070 , SB22 , SJR27 , SB25 , SB7 , SB552 , SB1612 , SJR87 , SJR1 , SB6 , SB30 , SB13 , SB2878 , SB57 , SB127 , SB293 , SB441 , SB3059 , SB512 , SB241 , SB1718 , SB140 , SB2055 , SB2075 , SB2018 , SB1534 , SB1567 , SB785 , SB1233 , SB1580 , SB1663 , SB413 , SB447 , SB519 , SB467 , SB1579 , SB1191 , SB1021 , SB1838 , SB2807 , SB2835 , SB546 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2035 , SB2024 , SB1032 , SB1049 , SB1266 , SB1400 , SB1302 , SB401 , SB1596 , SB1281 , SB1242 , SB1343 , SB310 , SB1346 , SB2753 , SB2703 , SB2221 , SB1719 , SB2177 , SB800 , SB790 , SB748 , SB571 , SB1957 , SB1923 , SB1896 , SB1760 , SB1335 , SB2368 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB2965 , SB1563 , SB1467 , SB1164 , SB1137 , SB614 , SB705 , SB961 , SB918 , SB955 , SB869 , SB850 , SB863 , SB1610 , SB1055 , SB2206 , SB457 , SB2337 , SB1362 , SB926 , SB1494 , SB251 , SB456 , SB500 , SB1307 , SB2615 , SB2995 , SB2321 , SB973 , SB974 , SB865 , SB506 , SB781 , SB1522 , SB1558 , SB510 , SB667 , SB763 , SB2073 , SB1858 , SB1660 , SB505 , SB2900 , SB1433 , SB1540 , SB1964 , SB1300 , SB1644 , SB2217 , SB2373 , SB2431 , SB1758 , SB2480 , SB3039 , SB3047 , SB3073 , SB2920 , SB2781 , SB826 , SB766 , SB2460 , SB527 , SB1946 , SB2885 , SB1243 , SB2610 , SB2595 , SB857 , SB2501 , SB66 , SB268 , SB331 , SB618 , SB414 , SB1394 , SB2425 , SB898 , SB993 , SB442 , SB735 , SB784 , SB2538 , SB1919 , SB1013 , SB2215 , SB2322 , SB626 , SB570 , SB747 , SB2183 , SB673 , SB1015 , SB1447 , SB1370 , SB1784 , SB1897 , SB2873 , SB2891 , SB2933 , SB2540 , SB2681 , SB2695 , SB1965 , SB2203 , SB872 , SB875 , SB1030 , SB1277 , SB1730 , SB1681 , SB1152 , SB2969 , SB2747 , SB2705 , SB2541 , SB1708 , SB2080 , SB2721 , SB1986 , SB2392 , SB2539 , SB2857 , SB2799 , SB2785 , SB2782 , SB1531 , SB1927 , SB1263 , SB1098 , SCR9 , HB5560 , HB762 , HB 107 , HB 114 , HB138 , HB4386 , HB2495 , HB581 , HB3348 , HB5323 , HB1584 , HB4341 , HB6 , HB171 , HB143 , HB449 , HB3486 , HB4263 , HB5246 , HB2 , HB2011 , SB17 , SB21

Transcript Highlights:

• Insurance. I don't have that many microphones. The big book.
• coverage or they’ve got an issue with their insurance company.
• Again, that redowns insurance carriers.
• So, anytime an insurance records fee.
• </c> your insurance premium tax revenues? your insurance premium tax revenues?

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Perryman's travel insurance.
• </c><00:47:14.240><c> So,</c> business issues, insurance issues.
• So, business issues, insurance issues.
• I don't understand why we're allowing health insurance companies to skirt the statutes.
• And yes, unemployment<02:38:50.479><c> insurance,</c> unemployment insurance, unemployment insurance,

Transcript Highlights:

• As California families can no longer afford health insurance or are being kicked off from California
• Assembly Bill 1798 by Assembly Member Wilson and others, an act relating to insurance. Ms.
• Insurance may still consider medical history and family history.
• Assembly Bill 2061 by Assembly Member Chen and others, an act relating to insurance. Mr.
• Well, at least they have insurance. Well, their insurance quotes are now over $40,000.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so an insurance trust had to be formed to represent cities and provide that liability coverage.
• both risk management advice and coverage for the cities of the state that are part of our insurance
• provides functions as a public Insurance Pool<00:49:43.799><c> um</c><00:49:44.799><c> the</c><00:49
• </c><00:50:37.319><c> trust</c> involved there and our insurance trust involved there and our insurance
• insurance insurance pool<00:50:51.839><c> uh</c><00:50:52.079><c> just</c><00:50:52.319><c> some</c>

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:43:37.920><c> Medicare</c><00:43:38.560><c> or</c> health insurance or your Medicare or health insurance
• So private insurance does not cover those services.
• So private insurance does not cover those services.
• So, private insurance does not Medicaid.
• Our private insurance blocked autism treatment.

Summary: The committee opened by adopting its mission and priorities for reviewing Kentucky’s 1915(c) home- and community-based services waiver wait lists, including evaluating current capacity and bottlenecks, comparing other states’ practices, and considering a tiered priority system based on urgency of need. The chair also announced that, although public comment was not on the agenda, the committee would allow 30 minutes for comments and asked speakers to keep remarks brief. He noted that public comment would not continue in the smaller subcommittees after this meeting, but could still be made at the larger MOAB meetings or by email. Department for Medicaid Services officials Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock then gave a detailed overview of Kentucky’s waiver programs: the acquired brain injury waiver, ABI long-term care waiver, home and community-based waiver, Model 2, Michelle P. waiver, Supports for Community Living waiver, and the newly approved child waiver. They explained each program’s eligibility and level-of-care requirements, described funded, filled, allocated, reserved, and available slots, and said the state had already added new slots from House Bill 500. They emphasized that available slots can coexist with a wait list because of reserved slots for money-follows-the-person transitions, emergency slots, annual slot churn, and waiver-year reconciliation. They also reported that the unduplicated wait list total was 18,948, and gave current wait-time figures by waiver, noting that the numbers change constantly. Members asked about how level-of-care determinations are made, whether all people on the wait list have been assessed, and whether undocumented individuals appear in the counts. The department said full level-of-care assessments are done only when a person is moving off the wait list into a reserved slot, and that only Medicaid-eligible individuals can reach the wait list. Senators and representatives also pressed on the meaning of “churn,” why slots cannot be reissued immediately when someone leaves, and whether people who receive even a small amount of service keep their slot for the rest of the waiver year under CMS rules. Officials said that once a participant receives service during the waiver year, the slot generally cannot be reassigned until the next waiver year, even if the person later disengages. The department also presented county distribution, annual member growth, average total cost per member, and total annual waiver expenditures, saying fiscal year 2025 closed at about $1.8 billion in waiver services. In response to questions, officials said they would provide additional churn data for other waivers, including Michelle P., and would look into the average wait-time calculations requested by members. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Property and cash, insurance, utilities. I'm just bringing up random costs.
• That is a health insurance program for active members.
• We've bought down property tax, and then insurance went up. So it's this constant seesaw.
• Insurance and fuel.
• Nobody wants teachers to see sharp increases in their insurance rates.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Federally insured depositary order.
• </c> company has federally insured deposits. company has federally insured deposits.
• </c> expensive than purchasing an insurance expensive than purchasing an insurance policy.<04:05:31.480
• </c><04:05:41.160><c> on</c><04:05:41.400><c> the</c> non-recording insurance on the non-recording insurance
• </c><04:07:02.120><c> of</c> which would be like an insurance of which would be like an insurance of

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 408 FN, relative to health insurance coverage for prosthetics. >> Senator Roachford moves
• Senate Bill 550FN, relative to insurance coverage for services provided by naturopathy providers.
• </c><00:58:26.559><c> coverage</c> 550 FN relative to insurance coverage 550 FN relative to insurance
• self-insured risk coverage arrangements<01:07:22.880><c> for</c><01:07:23.119><c> nonprofit</c><01:07
• House Bill 1194FN, relative to credits for assessments paid by insurers and relative to the application

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the policy limits are $100,000 and you extend that demand and the insurance company says this is
• The problem that's being faced here is that the insurance companies, they get their time yanked back.
• All this does is provide assurance to the insurance companies that they can have a reasonable time to
• So if, like, if the insurance company unreasonably denies a valid claim, they misrepresent the policy
• I mean, I think that an insurance company can evaluate these claims in a shorter period of time.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by a 104-0 vote. Members then spent a large portion of the session offering personal remarks and introducing guests, including the family of Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, school groups, a Boy Scout troop, a Highway Patrol commander, and community figures such as Corey Johnson and boxer Devin Alexander. There was also a moment of silence for a member’s mentor and a personal privilege statement recognizing Autism Month and the work of teachers and therapists serving autistic children. The main floor debate centered on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2481, which would tighten Missouri rules for SNAP and related public benefits by requiring proof of citizenship or lawful presence, using the federal SAVE system throughout eligibility checks, and directing the Department of Social Services to seek a waiver to steer SNAP purchases toward healthier foods. Supporters framed the bill as a matter of accountability, taxpayer stewardship, fraud prevention, and improved nutrition, while opponents argued it was unnecessary because federal law already limits eligibility, could add administrative costs, and could harm children, families in food deserts, and pregnant women who rely on programs such as Show Me Healthy Babies. An amendment offered by the gentleman from Johnson to extend the bill to MoHealthNet was adopted, and after extended debate the House invoked the previous question 91-46, then adopted and perfected the bill as amended. The House also advanced House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1869, which creates a process and fund to repair damaged veterans’ headstones in public and private cemeteries, with support from members who emphasized honoring veterans and preserving gravesites; the bill was adopted and perfected without opposition. House Bill 2927 was also moved forward; it would require settlement demands tied to extra-contractual or bad-faith insurance claims to be written, held open for 90 days, and reference the relevant statute. Supporters said it gives insurers reasonable time to evaluate large claims, while opponents said it could delay compensation for injured Missourians; it too was adopted and perfected. The House then began consideration of additional bills, including House Bills 2387 and 2480, as the session continued.