Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:18.279> and<00:21:18.520> if retirement payment and if retirement payment and
• infrastructure with Bond payments infrastructure with Bond payments anywhere<00:46:15.800> from
• <00:48:18.160> on through the EPA to make the payments on through the EPA to make the payments
• he has to for certification of payment he has to wait<00:49:06.200> one<00:49:06.480> year
• into a contract to make those payments into a contract to make those payments for<00:55:53.720><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on several bills and announced at the outset that no votes would be taken because the measures would go to divisions later. The first major bill, HB 197, would require the state to pay 7.5% of political subdivision employer pension contributions for teachers, police officers, and firefighters. Representative Mike Edgar, the prime sponsor, argued the state had repeatedly reduced and then eliminated its promised share of retirement costs, shifting the burden to municipalities and property taxpayers. He said the bill would partially restore that commitment and provide relief to local governments, businesses, and taxpayers. Several witnesses testified in support of HB 197, including Representative John Cluder, Bradford selectman Marlene Fryer, the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s Margaret Burns, and Epping representative Mark Fone. Supporters said the bill would help with property tax pressure, school budgets, and municipal hiring, and they emphasized that much of the retirement cost reflects unfunded liability decisions made at the state level rather than by local governments. Committee members questioned whether the bill would change local incentives to control costs and how it would affect hiring and compensation. Burns said the state contribution would function as property tax relief because it offsets existing municipal expenses, and she noted the state is already on a long-term schedule to pay down the retirement system’s unfunded liability. After closing the hearing on HB 197, the committee opened a hearing on HB 97, introduced by Representative Tom Buco. He said the bill would continue funding for delayed and deferred wastewater projects and help municipalities finance expensive wastewater infrastructure, which he tied to housing development and local debt planning. No action or votes were taken on either bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• with a directed dispensing payment with a directed dispensing payment program<00:01:18.080> with
• I am not a child care payments are.
• So then we raised payment that we set.
• rates, how to get um how to make payment rates, how to get payment<01:47:10.400> rates<01:47:
• Um, state directed payments are not new. Um, state directed payments are not new.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• uh under a case uh direct payments uh under a case manager<00:26:33.840> uh<00:26:34.000>
• One, you might say, well, what about cost sharing, the co-payments and so forth?
• And then also you can also set up some type of payment plan for somebody to pay that over a specified
• <00:29:40.559> plan<00:29:40.799> for up some type of payment plan for up some type
• performance uh in terms of the payments performance uh in terms of the payments and<00:32:32.000

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:15 HB 1 Discussion 00:02:00 HB 1 Vote 00:15:05 HB 2 Discussion 00:17:20 HB 2 Vote 01:13:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on House Bill 1, which would implement Kentucky’s participation in the federal education freedom tax credit program. Sponsors said the bill would allow donors to receive a federal dollar-for-dollar tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations, with no state dollars involved, and that public school districts could potentially create their own SGOs. Members asked about the removal of state tax language in the committee substitute, the meaning of the 11th Amendment waiver, whether SGOs could serve only public school students, and whether data collection could be added. The sponsors said the state tax language was unnecessary because the credit is federal, the waiver would allow federal-court litigation over the act, and a district could establish an SGO if it met federal requirements. The committee adopted the substitute and then reported HB 1 favorably with 16 yes votes, one nay, three pass votes, and one abstention. The committee then took up House Bill 2, an act relating to Medicaid and making an appropriation. The sponsor described the bill as a response to federal HR 1 and to concerns raised by the Medicaid oversight board, saying it would address program integrity, eligibility redeterminations, cost sharing, and managed care organization contracts. He said the bill would require periodic eligibility verification for expansion Medicaid enrollees, add modest cost-sharing for some services to encourage use of primary care over emergency rooms, and strengthen enforcement of MCO contracts, with penalties going into a restricted compliance fund. Members asked about the committee amendment, and the sponsor explained it restored flexibility on the number of MCOs in future procurement rather than locking in a reduction. Members also asked whether the bill had gone before the Medicaid oversight advisory board and whether a fiscal note was available; the sponsor said the board’s recommendations were incorporated and fiscal notes were included in the packet. After discussion, the committee adopted committee amendment one to PHS2 and then adopted PHS2 as amended for consideration. The sponsor continued outlining the bill’s provisions, emphasizing that it applied to the expansion population and was intended to align Kentucky law with federal requirements while improving oversight and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• into directed payments to the hospitals. under admin services.
• into directed payments to the hospitals.
• into directed payments to the hospitals.
• <01:20:33.040> into of the uncompensated care payments into of the uncompensated care payments
• <01:20:35.920> uh directed payments to the hospitals. uh directed payments to the hospitals

Keywords: LBA Briefing on Budget, 928, house, all

Summary: The presentation was an LBA overview of Senate changes to the House-passed state budget, with Michael Kane explaining how Senate Finance updated revenue and spending estimates after April revenue figures and agency discussions. He said the Senate’s revenue outlook was higher than the House’s in some areas, but lower in others, especially video lottery terminal revenue, and that the biggest differences also came from changes to revenue splits between the general fund and education trust fund, lapse estimates, and several policy changes in House Bill 1 and House Bill 2. Kane highlighted several major revenue and policy differences: the Senate changed the business tax, tobacco tax, and real estate transfer tax splits; adjusted liquor revenue dedication; removed the House’s meals-and-rooms distribution cap; delayed the Lakes Region facility proceeds plan; altered the PECARD fund treatment; added a granite patron of the arts tax credit; and changed the treatment of unique funds and video lottery terminal revenue. On spending, he noted Senate changes to judicial, corrections, HHS, human rights commission, and other budgets, including additional settlement costs, higher lapse assumptions, and a different approach to Medicaid premium revenue and retirement savings. He also described Senate additions such as a nursing home bed fee, Hampstead Hospital transition funding, and changes to the YDC claims settlement fund. The presentation focused on comparing House and Senate surplus statements across fiscal years 2025 through 2027, including projected ending balances and rainy day fund transfers. Kane repeatedly emphasized that the numbers were still dependent on final revenues and lapse amounts, and that some balances would be carried forward and trued up later in the biennium. No committee vote or final action was described in the excerpt; it was an informational budget briefing and comparison of the two chambers’ proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate the inclusion of the provision allowing state agencies to withhold payments to a program
• <01:18:39.120> to<01:18:39.320> a<01:18:39.480> program withhold payments to
• <01:19:57.080> from<01:19:57.800> uh ability to withhold payments from uh ability to
• withhold payments from uh from<01:19:59.120> folks<01:19:59.360> who<01:19:59.560>
• and are subject to uh lawsuit payments and are subject to uh lawsuit so<01:20:14.360> this<01

Bills: HF627, HF474, HF361, HF1837

Keywords: HF627, fiscal note, fiscal notes, Minnesota Legislature, state government, committee procedure, ranking minority member, minority party, standing committee, Ways and Means, Finance Committee, legislative process, budget analysis, fiscal impact, Minnesota Statutes 3.98, committee chair, legislative transparency, HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice

Transcript Highlights:

• The first finding: using data analytics, we identified a duplicate payment of almost $3,700.
• The first finding: in our review of 35 career service payments, we noted one payment made by the Division
• toward staff, and I probably should know this, but on that first finding, you reviewed 35 service payments

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The both Recommendations fully fund the agency's request for benefits payments.
• One would provide 13th check payments so a temporary 2% payment to our retirees.
• A 70 million Appropriation to provide a 2% non-compounding payment. What's that about?
• This last year was 0.63, so this would be a 2 A one-time payment of their annual benefit that we would
• SHARE considers the project closed when the final payment has been made. and the PO is closed.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on net, we received a negative 10 million in quarterly payments because of that behavior shift.
• Monthly auctions in the second half of 2025 also yielded record bonus payments.
• Those are the upfront one-time payments that a company pays the land office for these leases when they
• And then we have some upward revisions in interest Or investment payments, I'll get into that.
• If HR 1 provides them tax cuts overall, and their liability and their estimated payments Are.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each quarter that corporate income tax comes in, corporations are making quarterly estimated payments
• There were record bonus payments and monthly auctions in the second half of 2021.
• That final payment. And so now estimates are dropping, so that tells me income is dropping.
• Our accounts are telling us your income is not as high, so don't make a big estimated payment.
• Think about what that would look like if they could use it on a down payment.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so here, same $100 drug, same discount, discounted 340B price, um, but no payment received.
• discounted 340B price, um but no payment discounted 340B price, um but no payment received.<00:09
• That's internal costs and payments to contract pharmacies and any other entity, such as a third-party
• <00:40:45.600> SNAP and increased payment errors. SNAP and increased payment errors.
• All of these things could lead to higher payment error rates.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So basically, here's the mortgage payment we got to make.
• They're called state directed payments in our terminology.
• They're called state directed payments in our terminology.
• They're called state directed payments in our terminology.
• They're called state directed payments in our terminology.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:11 Executive Budget 00:00:50, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from Dr. Hicks on the governor’s recommended budget for the next biennium. He reviewed the revenue outlook, noting modest general fund growth, a large rainy day fund balance, and the impact of recent income tax reductions. He said the budget was built around recurring reductions, lower debt service and retirement contribution rates, and the use of excess restricted funds, while protecting K-12 education, Medicaid, postsecondary education, public safety, and pension obligations. Dr. Hicks outlined several major spending and reserve proposals, including $350 million from the Department of Insurance’s excess restricted funds to support Medicaid in the first year, $150 million for the affordable housing trust fund, $125 million for rural hospitals, $100 million to offset lost federal ACA premium tax credits, $75 million for utility assistance, and $50 million for food assistance. In education, the proposal included a phased pre-K for all plan funded by sports wagering tax revenue, a 3% annual salary increase for full-time school personnel, continued full funding of teacher pensions, a 2.5% annual increase in SEEK base funding, and additional support for career and technical education and school facilities. He also discussed Medicaid cost pressures, including higher managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nursing facility costs, and explained the expected effects of federal HR1 changes on Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Those changes include work and community engagement requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion members, which the administration estimated would reduce enrollment by about 4,300 in the first year and 28,000 in the second year. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting, which was limited to the budget presentation and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also mentioned down payment assistance is a component of these loans, and that's not, uh, you know,
• loans but not all of them so it payment loans but not all of them so it just<01:28:35.800> allows
• bond indentures and offer down payment bond indentures and offer down payment assistance<01:29:10.560
• why they can't save for a down payment why they can't save for a down payment and<01:29:26.639><
• c> so<01:29:27.320> uh<01:29:27.440> down<01:29:27.679> payment<01:29:27.960

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But what has not gotten much attention are the harsh penalties for payment error rates.
• To be clear, error rate is not fraud, but a reflection of errors in either payment accuracy or errors
• Lack of caseworkers puts thousands of eligible families at risk of losing... ...SNAP, and if payment
• A little over half of states pass through some amount of child support payments.
• when their payments are passed through to their children.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House Committee on Children and Families held a hybrid hearing on a broad set of anti-hunger, family support, and basic-needs bills. Early testimony focused on SNAP and DTA operations: Rep. DeRosa and others urged passage of H. 196/S. 167 to require DTA to identify staffing, technology, funding, and operational needs to improve timeliness and customer service, warning that unanswered calls, delayed recertifications, and federal changes could sharply raise state costs through higher SNAP administrative burdens and payment-error penalties. Speakers from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Project Bread said DTA is under-resourced, caseloads have grown, and families are being denied or delayed due to phone and paperwork barriers. Another major SNAP-related bill, H. 254/S. 147, would require the Commonwealth to replace stolen EBT/SNAP benefits; testimony described more than $13 million stolen from about 27,000 households since June 2022 and argued families should not bear losses from organized theft rings. The committee also heard strong support for H. 207/S. 117, which would restore state-funded nutrition assistance for legally present immigrants excluded from federal SNAP under recent federal changes. Advocates from Project Bread, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, local immigrant services, and public health groups said the federal cuts would leave thousands of residents, including refugees, asylum seekers, trafficking survivors, and children, without food support, and argued Massachusetts has a history of filling this gap. Testimony also supported H. 222/S. 104 to make the Healthy Incentives Program permanent and year-round; supporters said HIP improves nutrition, boosts local farms and regional economies, and had already served more than 212,000 households in FY25. A related child-support bill, H. 201/S. 110, would increase the amount of child support passed through to TAFDC families and expand good-cause exemptions; witnesses said the change would put more money directly in families’ hands, reduce poverty, and better protect survivors of domestic violence and families with complicated co-parenting situations. A large portion of the hearing was devoted to deep-poverty and diaper-related legislation. Supporters of H. 214/S. 118 said cash assistance grants have lost value over time and should be raised annually until they reach half of the federal poverty level; advocates from Children’s HealthWatch, Hopewell, the Lift Our Kids Coalition, and parents described the links between deep poverty, poor child health, family stress, and child welfare involvement. They argued that higher grants would help families meet basic needs, reduce hospitalizations and neglect reports, and provide stability amid federal cuts. Finally, multiple witnesses backed diaper legislation, including H. 220/S. 151 and related bills, to create a diaper benefits pilot and/or diaper allowance commission. Testimony from the National Diaper Bank Network, MassCAP, Children’s HealthWatch, local diaper banks, and parents said diaper need is widespread, affects parental employment and mental health, and can cause health problems for infants; a federally funded pilot in Massachusetts was cited as showing improved employment, financial stability, reduced stress, and fewer diaper rashes. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and asked questions throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Members, Senate Bill 1051 requires a hospital that accepts payment from Access to include
• Madam Chair, Member Senate Bill 1051 requires a hospital that accepts payment from access to include
• No, no, not payment. What's the word that we're doing here?
• Pre-payment review to prior authorization, so I'd have to know the specific billing code you're referring
• Nearly 96% of these improper payments stemmed from eligibility errors, including payments made on behalf

Bills: SB1051, SB1114, SB1115, SB1122, SB1132, SB1162, SB1169, SB1171, SB1172, SB1173, SB1174, SB1175, SB1179, SB1188, SB1233, SB1236, SB1242, SB1316, SB1368

Keywords: SB1051, Arizona hospitals, immigration status, patient intake, admission forms, registration forms, health care reporting, uncompensated care, emergency department, lawfully present, undocumented immigrants, noncitizen patients, hospital funding, Arizona Department of Health Services, ADHS, border security, health care institutions, patient privacy, medical access, immigration policy

Transcript Highlights:

• 33.040> have<02:00:33.199> to<02:00:33.440> consider<02:00:34.560> the methods
• but we also have to consider the methods but we also have to consider the uh<02:00:35.760> capex<
• Section two delineates the prohibited methods of sale or transfer.
• Section two delineates<04:53:23.280> the<04:53:23.440> prohibited<04:53:24.000> methods
• <04:53:24.320> of delineates the prohibited methods of delineates the prohibited methods of

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Firearms are the most common method used in suicide attempts, and in the Granite State, 87% of all gun
• Firearms are the most common method used in suicide attempts, and in the Granite State, 87% of all gun
• Cutting off the preferred method of suicide does not allow people to just do it some other way.
• <06:25:49.958> of down cutting off the preferred method of down cutting off the preferred
• method of suicide<06:25:50.920> does<06:25:51.160> not<06:25:51.520> allow<06:25

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 146, which would require longer retention and quicker disclosure of certain video recordings from traffic stops and similar motor vehicle violations when a citation is disputed. The prime sponsor described the bill as a response to a constituent who challenged a speeding ticket but could not obtain a cruiser video before it was deleted under the current 30-day retention practice. Supporters argued the bill is about fairness and access to potentially exculpatory evidence, and one member suggested a simple 60-day retention period might avoid confusion over different timelines. The sponsor also noted that the bill would not affect criminal cases and that victims and complainants should have access to the same evidence as law enforcement when a recording is relevant to a defense. Major Brendan Davey of the New Hampshire State Police testified in opposition. He said the proposal would create a different discovery standard for one type of evidence, could discourage agencies from adopting body-worn or cruiser cameras, and would add cost and administrative burden. He explained that the State Police already retain routine traffic-stop videos for at least 30 days, but keep videos much longer when complaints or possible litigation are involved, and said the current system balances efficiency with accountability. He also argued the underlying speeding case did not make the trooper video directly material to the citation, though he acknowledged the legislature could choose a longer blanket retention period if it wished. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 638, which would allow people serving life without parole sentences to become eligible for a parole hearing at age 60 after serving at least 18 years, provided they have had no major conduct violations in the prior 10 years. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give a narrow second look to a small number of elderly prisoners, citing the high cost of incarceration and the health challenges of aging in prison. He emphasized that the bill would not automatically release anyone, would not apply to capital murder convictions under RSA 630:1, and would still allow victims to participate in the parole process. Testimony on HB 638 was mixed. Alexander Bailey, a survivor of violent crime and domestic violence advocate, supported the bill, saying many survivors favor rehabilitation, second chances, and restorative justice, and that people in prison often age faster and face serious health and safety problems. Another supporter, Russell Roy, began offering a personal story about crime, addiction, and violence in Concord, but the transcript cuts off before his full remarks. Committee members asked about why age 60 was chosen, how released individuals would support themselves, and whether victims or families would be consulted; the sponsor said 60 was meant to limit eligibility and reflect the health realities of prison, and that parole boards already consider support networks and victim input. No action or vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, this is a forgiveness bill so they can get their LGA payment. Chair Gomez.
• The cities of Odin and Trosky, their payments were withheld within the current biennium, and so payment
• So, this payment state.
• payment. Uh Chair Gomez. Uh thanks, Mr. payment. Uh Chair Gomez. Uh thanks, Mr.
• Not to mention the time and the cost of calculating and processing these payments.

Bills: HF1016, HF2800, HF156, HF3051, HF526, HF2658, HF2062, HF2801

Keywords: local government aid, Baldwin, taxation, base year formula, municipal funding, population aid, aid penalty forgiveness, Minnesota, city funding, appropriations, HF156, lawful gambling, veterans organizations, licensed veterans organization, Minnesota gambling law, gross profits, lawful purpose, real property repair, facility maintenance, capital assets

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:00:06.319> they outside of um uh the payments they outside of um uh the payments they
• to prevent a lot of property tax payment to prevent a lot of property tax payment increases<01:25
• <01:52:49.199> a<01:52:49.360> payment we got a second Bill a payment a payment we
• got a second Bill a payment a payment a<01:52:49.840> second<01:52:50.159> payment<01:52
• not going to get an automatic payment not going to get an automatic payment from<02:31:19.279>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a non-germane amendment to HB 297 that would create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Insurance Commissioner DJ Beton, joined by department staff, explained that the proposal is intended to help homeowners afford insurance by funding proactive home improvements that reduce risk and improve insurability. He said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 available on a first-come, first-served basis. Beton described the problem as rising homeowners insurance premiums, hard-market underwriting, nonrenewals, and the resulting shift to more expensive surplus lines coverage. He said eligible projects could include roof fortification, exterior improvements, flood-related foundation work, and removal of hazardous trees or limbs. He cited similar programs in other states, especially Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina, as evidence the model can work and noted that industry representatives were present in support. He also said the program would use means testing aligned with the Department of Energy’s weatherization program to target lower-income applicants. Members asked about the non-germane process, who would administer the program, and how the bill would prevent misuse of grant funds. The commissioner said the department would administer the program using one repurposed existing position, with Treasury handling fund flow through an MOU. Staff explained that applicants would have to show completed work through a signed contract, itemized work, and a sworn contractor affidavit, with some upfront payment allowed for materials and the remainder paid after completion. The chair and members discussed that the amendment is being attached to a different bill only to move the proposal through committee and on to House Finance for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• amount of the primary residence credit for that year to the state treasurer for when they make that payment
• Year to the state treasurer for when they make that payment to the counties, to move that up about two
• have that done so that the county treasurer then would be required to apportion and distribute the payments
• they need to verify those applications and ensure that the data is correct before they send the payments
• We do have an internal policy, like Linda had said, about getting payments to the counties by April 1st

Bills: SB2397

Keywords: oil and gas, tax exemption, development incentive wells, gross production tax, flaring, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee met and first took up House Bill 1382, the gas tax bill. Members explained an amendment to ensure that the proposed three-cent gas tax distribution would include all counties and townships in oil-producing counties, rather than excluding non-oil-producing counties as in the original draft. The committee adopted the amendment unanimously, but then held the bill for the time being because of related work on the Department of Transportation budget in the House. The committee then turned to House Bill 1168, a large hoghouse amendment that combined the bill with the contents of House Bill 1176 and added technical corrections. The proposal would raise the primary residence property tax credit maximum from $1,250 to $1,650, keep the 75% cap with a $500 floor, and extend the credit to voter-approved levies while excluding special assessments. Other changes discussed included aligning the disabled veterans property tax credit with the $200,000 exemption level, adjusting budget and distribution dates so taxing districts are made whole sooner, exempting townships from a general-election vote requirement for levy increases, and modifying school funding formulas so schools are not shortchanged if mill levies are reduced under the cap. Testimony from the Association of Counties and the State Supervisor of Assessments was generally supportive of the technical cleanup and implementation changes, but they raised concerns about the June 1 distribution date, application timing, and the practicality of some programming and administrative changes. Committee members also discussed the policy and messaging implications of the 75%/floor structure and the difficulty of applying the credit to certain voter-approved levies. No final action was taken on House Bill 1168; the committee agreed to continue working on amendments and recessed until later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• They will provide needed funds to ensure that hospitals and providers can receive timely payment and
• top of that **$3.4 billion** loan, and we believe with that combination we will be able to make payments
• So you're saying that because of the trends that we're seeing right now and the increase in payments,
• billion from the general fund, and the $8 billion in federal funds to cover all of these Medi-Cal payments
• Any of this current payment going back to pay that loan that we took out just a month ago?

Keywords: 988, house, all