Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 198 simply adds a fair payment methodology for ambulatory surgery centers to allow access
• a Medicare-based payment methodology to our ASCs so that, one, they can afford to treat Medicaid patients
• So all this does, in simplicity, is create a more fair payment methodology to ASCs, allows patients in
• So all this does, in simplicity, is create a more fair payment methodology to ASCs, allows patients in
• And it's, I don't know if they're getting bad advice or they just truly don't understand the payment

Bills: HB62 , HB124 , HB182 , HB193 , HB198 , HB203 , HB223 , HB237 , HB469 , HB486 , HB574 , HB779 , HB796 , HB919 , SCR2 , SB4 , SB36 , SB38 , SB109 , SB152 , SB168 , SB195 , SB216 , SB221 , SB236 , SB404

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: Louisiana Women's Policy, gender equality, policy research, commission membership, women's representation, Domestic Violence, judicial experience, legislation, criminal law, family law, HB182, sexual assault, rape kit, forensic examination, forensic medical exam, sexual assault survivor, sexual assault nurse examiner, SANE, emergency department, hospital staffing

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Carlson, I have Senate File 2856, which is another agency bill, and it allows the payments to
• So, under this authority, payments must only resume if the agency later becomes satisfied that there
• :01.280><c> under</c><00:52:01.520><c> this</c><00:52:01.680><c> authority,</c><00:52:02.160><c> payments
• </c><00:52:02.640><c> must</c> So, under this authority, payments must So, under this authority, payments
• , payments, payments, and<00:56:33.840><c> if</c><00:56:34.000><c> the</c><00:56:34.120><c> program</

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> Facility</c> growth in Managed Care Nursing Facility growth in Managed Care Nursing Facility payments
• and just some portions of payments and just some portions of disability<00:32:36.360><c> waivers</c>
• c><00:48:01.200><c> in</c><00:48:01.520><c> medical</c><00:48:02.400><c> assistance</c> Facility payments
• in medical assistance Facility payments in medical assistance um<00:48:04.520><c> we</c> um we um we
• um to nursing Incorporated our payments um to nursing facilities<00:48:41.240><c> so</c><00:48:41.520

Bills: HF3

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight

Transcript Highlights:

• Those MCOs, or managed care organizations, then receive a capitated payment from DHS for each MA enrollee
• from DHS for each ma en rolly um payment from DHS for each ma en rolly um and<00:15:52.519><c> then<
• Similar to MA, DHS contracts with health plans to become MCOs, and then they receive a capitated payment
• </c> then they receive a capitated payment then they receive a capitated payment for<00:20:40.760><c>
• from um public coordination payments from um public programs<00:45:36.480><c> for</c><00:45:36.839><

Transcript Highlights:

• The money health plans use to make payments for health care services and pharmaceuticals comes from the
• plans to make payments to the health plans to defay<00:24:28.240><c> the</c><00:24:28.480><c> cost</
• Those seem to me to be the sources of payment for all these treatments.
• Those seem to me to be the sources of payment for all these treatments.
• Those seem to me to be the sources of payment for all these treatments.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• He added that EMS providers face similar issues collecting payment for the actual cost of providing services
• We face in collecting payment for services rendered.
• He added that Medicaid and other insurance companies would be required to increase payments to non-public
• would require the insured to assign their benefits to the ambulance company in order to facilitate payment
• Pre-treatment estimates are not guarantees of payment.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a lengthy public hearing with more than 70 people signed up to testify, focusing mainly on health insurance and health care access bills. Early testimony centered on H.1257/S.712, which would require insurance coverage for medically necessary treatment of genetic craniofacial conditions. Supporters included legislators, dentists, and medical experts who said these conditions are not cosmetic, can severely affect eating, speech, pain, and social functioning, and often create major financial hardship because insurers deny coverage. A related dental bill, H.1262/S.676, drew technical testimony from the Life Insurance Association of Massachusetts about implementation issues with the 2022 dental loss-ratio law, while the Massachusetts Dental Society supported H.1306/S.696 on transparency in dental network leasing and opposed H.1262. Representative Gentile also testified for H.4013, which would ban for-profit acute care hospitals and for-profit health insurers in Massachusetts, arguing that profit incentives undermine patient care. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to H.1261/S.799, a bill to protect patients from surprise ambulance bills. Municipal fire chiefs, Boston EMS, nonprofit ambulance providers, and the bill’s Senate sponsor said the measure would require insurers to pay ambulance providers directly and promptly, cap patient out-of-pocket costs, and reduce confusion caused by out-of-network billing. Witnesses described ambulance services as essential public health infrastructure and said current billing practices can discourage people from calling 911 or leave municipalities and nonprofits unable to recover costs. Committee members asked about unpaid debt, municipal billing burdens, and how the bill would affect rates and reimbursement. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on H.1249/S.805, which would require screening for PANS/PANDAS in medical and clinical settings. Legislators, clinicians, parents, a teen with the condition, and educators described PANS/PANDAS as an infection-triggered inflammatory illness that can present as sudden psychiatric symptoms and is often misdiagnosed as a mental health disorder. Supporters said routine screening at well visits, emergency rooms, and other clinical settings would help identify children earlier, reduce unnecessary psychiatric treatment and hospitalizations, and improve outcomes. Testifiers repeatedly urged favorable action, emphasizing the personal and financial toll on families and the potential for early treatment to prevent long-term harm. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on these bills; no committee action or votes were announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are going to be refunds, overpayments, and lump-sum close payments dealing with them.
• I would support giving another option under statute, like a single lump sum payment.
• With an actuarial benefit, you've got to think about it: if you're overpaid, if your pension payment
• But the actuarial reduction figures in, and a lump-sum payment would too; no matter how you do it, you
• But the actuary reduction figures in, and a lump sum payment would too, no matter how you do it, you

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the prior day by a vote of 118-1. The bulk of the meeting consisted of lengthy points of personal privilege, including farewell remarks from several outgoing members who thanked family, staff, colleagues, and constituents, reflected on their service, and spoke about issues such as law enforcement, veterans, rural schools, unborn life, kindness, and the influence of money and lobbyists in the legislative process. The chamber also recognized several special guests, including schoolchildren, interns, a law school graduate, family members, and a former representative. The House then took up committee reports and several bills. It granted further conference on Senate Bill 1020. Senate Bill 1019, dealing with hospital finance and related health-care provisions, was amended and passed 110-31 after debate over an amendment on prior authorization reform, physician licensure, telehealth, workplace violence language, and Lyme disease fixes. Senate Bill 1572, a pensions measure affecting MOSERS, EMPERS, the St. Louis police retirement system, and Kansas City police retirement timing, was amended on several technical and policy points and passed 129-14 after discussion of overpayment recoupment rules and retirement system compliance concerns. The House also passed House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1196, which removed the sunset from the workforce diploma program, expanded Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grants, added workforce Pell Grant language, and established a future higher-education funding model subject to later legislative approval. It passed 115-20-4, but the emergency clause failed 2-132-2 after the sponsor said it was included only to speed Pell Grant implementation and was being handled “tongue in cheek.” Finally, the House began consideration of House Bill 2508 with Senate amendments, an LLC-related bill addressing certificates of good standing, court dissolution of LLCs in limited cases, and a St. Louis County property-management affidavit requirement for unresolved ordinance violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Payments provides relative to enforcement rulemaking. We'll have to adopt the title.
• House Bill 1117 by Representative Affirmant, certain insurer contractual payments, prescription, and
• payment under terms of contracts, Insurance favorably reported.
• House Bill 1162 by Representative Glorioso, payment adjustment of insurance claims to require insurers
• Payment of Group but interesting.

Bills: HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , HR133 , HR134 , HR135 , HR136 , HR137 , HR138 , HR139 , HR140 , HR141 , HR142 , HR144 , HR145 , HR146 , HR147 , HR148 , HR149 , HR150 , HR151 , HR152 , SCR28 , SB141 , SB169 , SB206 , SB233 , SB417 , SB421 , SB429 , SB437 , SB477 , SB510 , SB521 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB902 , HB943 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB127 , HB284 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HB21 , HB24 , HB29 , HB31 , HB39 , HB45 , HB77 , HB136 , HB150 , HB263 , HB273 , HB299 , HB315 , HB376 , HB377 , HB431 , HB444 , HB450 , HB519 , HB533 , HB538 , HB559 , HB562 , HB663 , HB664 , HB715 , HB717 , HB805 , HB822 , HB823 , HB834 , HB864 , HB867 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1068 , HB1134 , HB1137 , HB1234 , HB1235 , HB1236 , HB211 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , HB401 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB132 , HB193 , HB635 , HB690 , HB1003 , HB750 , HB911 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB961 , HB1146 , HB977 , HB181 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB615 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened in prayer, and led the pledge. The bulk of the early portion of the meeting consisted of personal privileges and recognitions, including ARC Appreciation Day, Teach for America, Film Louisiana, the Child Care Association of Louisiana, Textron Systems, Iberville Parish Day, AARP Louisiana Family Caregiver Day, and several visiting groups and honorees. The chamber also received Senate messages, enrolled and introduced resolutions, and referred a number of Senate bills to committee. The House then took up a long series of bills, many of them local or technical measures, with most passing by wide margins. Among the bills adopted were measures on municipal and teachers’ retirement systems, retired clerk insurance funds, fire and police civil service, a local Cameron Parish insurance program, specialty courts, jury bond filing by paper check, non-compete limits for interns and apprentices, a memorial bridge naming for Lance Cpl. Justin D. McLeese, veteran points in civil service exams, provisional fire/police appointments, special masters in complex litigation, judicial and court-cost funding measures, aerial applicator safety rules, cell-cultured food labeling, wine and spirits container standards, nonprofit eligibility to appoint economic development commissioners, a homeless diversion pilot program in Orleans, animal shelter standards, a Fort Oge police chief appointment change, retirement benefit calculations for divorced firefighters, an alcohol-permit moratorium in Shreveport, waste-collection contract renewal authority, and a backdrop retirement option for certain judges. There was one notable defeat: House Bill 444, which would have added legislative seats to the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission, failed on a 37-49 vote after debate over whether legislators should appoint themselves to the board and whether the proposal had adequate stakeholder support. House Bill 284 on expropriation also failed earlier by a 48-47 vote and was returned to the calendar. Several other measures were temporarily returned to the calendar or held over, and some bills were referred or received amendments before final passage. Most final votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, and the House repeatedly adopted titles and motions to table after passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2481 authorizes CalRecycle to make glass quality incentive payments, or QUIP, to glass processors
• These payments will only be authorized to be made with the funds remaining after all the QUIP payments
• To help meet this goal, these QUIP payments were established using funds from unredeemed CRV deposits
• But, crucially, AB 2481 only allows these payments... ...containers.
• QUIP payments for glass used in manufacturing beverage containers.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a payment error rate.
• It's a payment error rate, not a case error rate. All right. Thank you. Thank you.
• It's a payment error rate.
• It's a payment error rate, not case error rate. All right. Thank you. Thank you.
• “FNS measured us on payment accuracy.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• It mandates that owners pay prime general contractors within 35 days of a request for payment on their
• You're talking about on payment after? Yeah, because...
• But Empress has always worked with all of the municipalities to put them on payment plans and to try
• So, yeah, I think what this bill is focusing on is the prompt payment deadline.
• So that is when an appropriate invoice or request for payment comes to the owner, then that triggers

Committee: Senate Judiciary A

Summary: The committee first approved the May 5 minutes and then heard House Bill 578, which would define sex in Louisiana law as biological sex, replace references to gender with sex in various statutes and forms, and direct the Law Institute to make conforming changes. Supporters from the governor’s office said the bill would bring clarity and consistency, while opponents argued it could create conflicts with existing law and weaken protections tied to gender identity. After debate, the committee reported HB 578 favorably. Members then considered House Bill 1250, a measure aimed at aerospace-related litigation. The bill would allow a special motion to strike certain claims against aerospace flight entities when the claims are preempted by federal law. Senators raised concerns that the language was broad enough to affect airports, airlines, contractors, and even unrelated incidents, and the author said he was willing to work on narrowing amendments. The committee nevertheless reported HB 1250 favorably. House Bill 718, dealing with liability protections for private airstrips used for recreation, was amended to narrow its scope and then reported favorably, while House Bill 163, a narrower related airstrip bill, was voluntarily deferred so the committee could work from the other measure. The committee also approved House Concurrent Resolution 61, which asks the Louisiana Law Institute to review possible conflicts between the constitution and statutes on expropriation. House Bill 180, defining foreign adversaries and agents of foreign adversaries for a proposed constitutional amendment, and House Bill 192, a constitutional amendment barring foreign adversaries from expropriating land in Louisiana, were both reported favorably. House Bill 1008, which sets out academic freedom and whistleblower protections for higher education, was rejected on a roll-call vote after concerns about its scope and limits on university discipline. House Bill 638, a prompt-payment bill for contractors, was set aside while amendments were being located. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 71, which would extend existing liability protections for justified use of force to properly trained armed security guards. The author and the Board of Private Security Examiners said security officers receive training and often face dangerous situations, but opponents argued the bill would give too much protection to personnel with far less training than law enforcement and could shield bad shootings. After debate, the committee voted to defer HB 71. The last measure discussed was House Bill 1082, which would change venue rules for lawsuits involving the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System so actions by the system would be filed where the employer is located; the author said the bill was meant to help small municipalities, and members indicated they were open to narrowing amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• $2.6 million expended on financially disadvantaged and homeless students, but it says, but these payments
• would be worked out with the district attorney's counsel could be immediately or they might do a payment
• Payments are made at service milestones to promote long-term commitments.
• After five years, if they continue to stay, that's the milestone payment.
• After five years, if they continue to stay, that's the milestone payment.

Bills: SJR50 , SJR51 , SJR52 , SJR53 , SJR54 , SJR39 , SB1290 , HB4028 , HB4029 , HB4073 , HB4074 , HB4075 , HB4076 , HB4077 , HB4078 , HB1250 , HB2951 , HB2961 , HB3151 , HB3581 , HB3705 , HB3970 , HB3972 , HB3980 , HB3981

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledges, and several floor recognitions, including the Doctor of the Day, Psychologist of the Day, and Nurse of the Day. Members also honored the OSBI Cold Case Team for its work on unsolved cases, recognized the 75th anniversary of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and welcomed guests for the Prague-Kolache Festival. The chamber then moved into floor action on multiple measures and conference motions. The most significant item was Senate Joint Resolution 39, a property tax constitutional amendment. After extensive debate over the impact on homeowners, seniors, farmers, schools, local governments, and future revenue, the Senate adopted House amendments by a 27-19 roll call and then passed the resolution 40-8. However, the motion to order a special election failed 26-20, so the measure did not advance to a special election call. Senators also rejected House amendments to Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 215 and requested conference on both. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1290 unanimously as an emergency measure, and advanced or passed several House bills dealing with ARPA and funding reallocations: HB 4028, HB 4029, HB 4073, HB 4074, HB 4075, HB 4076, HB 4077, and HB 4078. Other approved measures included HB 1250 creating a Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund for local law enforcement grants, HB 2951 renaming Red Rock Prison as the Chief James Smith Correctional Center, HB 2961 creating a Gold Star Survivor tuition benefit, HB 3151 extending the school year to 173 days, and HB 3581 increasing penalties for riot-related offenses. The Senate also took up HB 3705, which would raise the Parental Choice tax credit cap from $250 million to $275 million, but the transcript cuts off during questioning on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 47, lottery vendor payments. Again, this is just based on sales.
• Page 47, lottery vendor payments. Again, this is just based on sales.
• Page 47, lottery vendor payments. Again, this is just based on sales.
• That's the lottery payment there. Page 51, state road fund.
• It's been a while, that they can request payment instead of compensatory time.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, increasing SSP payments or updating provider rates.
• The biggest barrier is that the payment system itself is inverted.
• Rate reform implementation and quality incentive payments updates and issues. And Mr.
• A couple of comments on the quality incentive payments. First, the director and Mr.
• Payments leading up to July 1, 2026. That's one question. Thanks for the question.

Transcript Highlights:

• examiners to help us keep pace with the payment rates of our public sector peers.
• examiners to help us keep pace with the payment rates of our public sector peers.
• examiners to help us keep pace with the payment rates of our public sector peers.
• examiners to help us keep pace with the payment rates of our public sector peers.
• examiners to help us keep pace with the payment rates of our public sector peers.

Transcript Highlights:

• the resident with nursing services, medical services, or personal care services, conditioned on the payment
• of an entrance fee in addition to or instead of regular periodic payments.
• 2004, expansion was undertaken and the $10 million mortgage loan was paid with interest-only monthly payment
• report certain information to the Department of Health, including information regarding drug costs, payment
• amounts received for 340B drugs, payments made to pharmacies and other entities, how the covered entity

Bills: HB2384 , HB2402 , HB2505 , HB1904 , HB2145 , HB2182 , HB2211 , HB2242 , HB2247 , HB2329 , HB2339

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: continuing care retirement community, CCRC, life plan community, senior housing, retirement community, long-term care, assisted living, nursing home, actuarial analysis, solvency, financial oversight, resident contracts, entrance fee, disclosure statement, registration, insurance commissioner, DSHS, consumer protection, elder care, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• the resident with nursing services, medical services, or personal care services, conditioned on the payment
• of an entrance fee in addition to or instead of regular periodic payments.
• 2004, expansion was undertaken and the $10 million mortgage loan was paid with interest-only monthly payment
• report certain information to the Department of Health, including information regarding drug costs, payment
• amounts received for 340B drugs, payments made to pharmacies and other entities, how the covered entity

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several health-related bills. House Bill 2384 would require continuing care retirement communities that offer life care contracts to submit actuarial analyses every other registration cycle for review by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, with the Department of Social and Health Services using the review in registration decisions. The bill sponsor and residents’ advocates said it would improve transparency and protect seniors’ prepaid care promises, while the CCRC industry supported the goal but raised concerns about scope, cost, and implementation details. House Bill 2505 would exempt certain foster family homes and child-specific foster care homes from adult family home licensure when former foster youth remain in the home as adults and certain safety conditions are met; DSHS supported the narrow exemption as a way to avoid displacing vulnerable young adults. House Bill 2402 would phase out DEHP and other orthophthalates in IV solution containers and later IV tubing, with exemptions for certain blood and cell therapy products; supporters cited health and environmental risks and the availability of safer alternatives, while manufacturers and hospitals supported the goal but asked for longer timelines, supply-chain protections, and implementation assistance. In executive session, the committee took action on a series of bills. It adopted an amendment and passed House Bill 1904, which prohibits cat declawing, on a 13-3 vote. It passed a proposed substitute for House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug program on an 11-5 vote after debate over reporting requirements and the state’s authority. It rejected several amendments to House Bill 2182 on abortion medications held by the Department of Corrections, adopted an Indian health care provider priority amendment, and passed the bill on a 10-6 vote. House Bill 2211 on medically tailored meals passed 15-1. The committee also passed Substitute House Bill 2247 on veterinarian-client-patient relationships, Substitute House Bill 2329 on midwives and lactation consultants, and Substitute House Bill 2339 on nurse licensing, each with technical amendments and broad support.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS CENTRAL TO HOLD CHIP PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN THE LATE 90s WAS THE CONCEPT OF PAYMENT PREMIUMS
• SHALL LEGISLATION YOU KNOW WE DEVELOPED SIX DIFFERENT PREMIUM TEARS FOR PAYMENT OF PREMIUM AND WE ARE
• EMPOWER YOU OR MAKE MORE SPECIFIC TO THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR ELIGIBILITY NOT FOR PAYMENT
• IN FISCAL YEAR 24 25 LOAN PROGRAM PAYMENTS WERE MADE FOR 78 DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND THE TIMEFRAME
• ACTUALLY INCREASED IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT WE RECEIVED AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE PAYMENTS

Transcript Highlights:

• So AB 290 was largely an automatic payment issue to establish within the Fair Plan.
• And just a couple questions, because I did want to know about the timeliness of payments, and it does
• Here's what I know: most of the claims, if they were closed without payment, are closed because they
• And just a couple questions, because I did want to know about kind of the timeliness of payments, and
• Most of the claims, if they were closed without payment, are closed because they were duplicate.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing on the California Fair Plan, focused on the plan’s rapid growth, its financial stability after the January Southern California wildfires, and its role as the insurer of last resort. Fair Plan officials explained that the plan was created in 1968, is a not-for-profit involuntary association of licensed property insurers, and is intended to be a temporary safety net until policyholders can return to the admitted market. They emphasized that the plan is not a state agency or taxpayer-funded, but is regulated by the Department of Insurance and supported by member-company assessments if claims exceed available funds. Victoria Roach and Armand Feliciano said the Fair Plan has grown sharply since 2018 and especially after market pullbacks by major insurers, reaching about 575,000 policies and roughly $600 billion in exposure by spring 2025. They noted that growth is increasingly occurring in lower wildfire-risk areas, where the plan can sometimes be cheaper than the voluntary market, and said this undermines depopulation back into the private market. They also discussed recent policy expansions, including coverage for farms, higher residential and commercial limits, and pending or proposed changes such as AB 290, SB 525, and AB 226, which would add tools like a line of credit and bond access. A major portion of the hearing addressed the January wildfire losses and the plan’s financial response. Fair Plan officials said they assessed member insurers for $1 billion after determining claims and cash flow would exceed available resources, and that the process was approved quickly and paid smoothly, with more than 80% of the assessment collected within 10 days. They also described the reinsurance tower, the plan’s limited surplus, and the need for actuarially sound rates to reduce future reliance on assessments. On claims handling, they said the plan has received over 5,500 claims from the fires, has paid more than $2.9 billion so far, expects total payments near $4 billion, and has focused on advancing payments quickly for total losses and other urgent needs. Members questioned the plan’s solvency, the growth in non-wildfire areas, claim denials, smoke-loss coverage, and how depopulation works. Roach said most closed claims without payment were duplicates rather than denials, and that smoke claims require direct physical loss under the policy, with coverage determined case by case. Public commenters from the California Building Industry Association and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California said the Fair Plan’s growth reflects a weak voluntary market, inadequate rates, and insurer fear of future assessments, and urged support for rate increases and AB 226. The hearing concluded with no vote, but with a commitment from Fair Plan officials to follow up on unanswered questions and continue providing more transparency through public data and website disclosures.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tribe pays supplemental Medicare payments.
• The tribe pays supplemental Medicare payments, ensuring elders have access to health care.
• The tribe pays supplemental Medicare payments, ensuring elders have access to health care.
• Down payment assistance is designed to help tribal members become homeowners, and 92 members have benefited