Transcript Highlights:

• and affordable prices that insured their transmission and distribution network.
• The cost of this insurance and the reserve fund were recovered through utilities' base rates.
• mobilized and had a wide-ranging response addressing a whole matter of issues, including building codes
• The effect of Hurricane Andrew in our space is that commercial insurance coverage became significantly
• So the utilities approached the commission in roughly 1993 and 1994, proposing a self-insurance approach

Summary: The committee met to hear invited presentations on storm recovery and storm protection from the Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric, Chesapeake Utilities, and the Office of Public Counsel. The PSC reviewed the history of storm restoration financing and utility hardening efforts after major storms such as Hurricane Andrew, the 2004-05 hurricane seasons, Irma, and Michael, explaining storm reserve funds, storm recovery bonds, and the current three-year storm protection plan process. The commission’s role in approving plans and later reviewing prudence of actual costs was emphasized, along with the types of work included in the plans such as vegetation management, pole replacement, undergrounding, feeder hardening, and substation flood protection. The utilities described their own storm-hardening investments and recent storm performance. FPL said it has spent about $4.9 billion on storm protection and recovery-related efforts, highlighted improved restoration times during Helene and Milton, and said it is expanding undergrounding, feeder hardening, and smart-grid technology. Duke Energy reported more than 40,000 hardened poles and structures since 2021, major gains from self-healing grid technology, and faster restoration during recent storms. Tampa Electric described a roughly $200 million annual storm protection effort, including vegetation management, undergrounding, substation hardening, and new storm surge protections, and Chesapeake Utilities discussed its smaller-scale hardening program, vegetation work, pole replacement, and rapid restoration after Helene in Nassau County. Committee members asked about how utilities prioritize neighborhoods for lateral hardening, whether maps of planned projects could be shared, how much each utility has spent on undergrounding and hardening, and how reliability comparisons are normalized against the national average. Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler argued that storm recovery and hardening costs fall too heavily on investor-owned utility customers, said the current framework lacks a meaningful cost-benefit or prudence check at the planning stage, and urged broader sharing of storm costs because the benefits extend to the whole state. Senators also discussed whether the commission can review the reasonableness of approved programs and whether future reports or recommendations from Public Counsel would be helpful. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• which is just consistent with state and federal law, calling out 501(c)(3) and other associated tax code
• which is just consistent with state and federal law, calling out 501(c)(3) and other associated tax code
• 501c3 and other calling out um 501c3 and other associated<00:26:02.480> tax<00:26:02.799> code
• associated tax code associated tax code and<00:26:04.960> that's<00:26:05.200> it<
• Insurance Portability Accountability Act,<00:54:51.920> you're<00:54:52.400> all<00:54

Bills: HB0075, HB0128

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosk, financial institutions, regulation, Wyoming Money Transmitters Act, penalties, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our office does take the position that, you know, we believe in the model penal code the way it's written
• way<00:47:09.720> it's<00:47:10.160> written<00:47:11.280> and model Peno code
• the way it's written and model Peno code the way it's written and by<00:47:12.720> adding<00:
• initiative, that is the issue that is being discussed with the other states' Judiciary—pulling the code
• And then, pursuant to CERS one of insurers' request, we'll take out— we'll change the state of mind from

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• Child care as a field is experiencing a major insurance crisis with very few insurers left on a national
• scale even willing to insure child care providers. budget.
• crisis with very few major insurance crisis with very few insurers<03:11:40.400> left<03:11:40.720
• Child care as a field is experiencing a major insurance crisis, with very few insurers left on a national
• scale even willing to insure child care providers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People have to have these up to code.
• And if they're coming from Mexico, that says enough for itself because they don't go by our codes.
• I've only heard the ones that were coming from Mexico that were completely out of code.
• You know, there's not a lot of folks out there that really know what LP gas code to the pamphlet fi4
• As far as the plumbing, I mean, code is code. That's the National Fire Protection Act. That's.

Bills: SB1521, SB372, SB1232, SB1307, SB1338, SB1390, SB1451, SB1463, SB1558, SB1567, SB1595, SB1621, SB1734, SB1749, SB1827, SB1833, SB1991, SB1992, SB63, SB2063, SB2180, SB1198, SB80

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, generative AI, chatbot, conversational AI, companion AI, AI companion, virtual companion, chatbot regulation, minor safety, child online safety, parental controls, content moderation, self-harm, suicidal ideation, crisis intervention, mental health claims, romantic AI, emotional dependence, app store

Transcript Highlights:

• How much money do we spend through the tax code? What are our tax expenditures?
• And are we going to spend it in the budget, or are we going to spend it in the tax code, not taking into
• They spent big through the tax code and spent big in the budget, and are having to make. make painful
• The doors cost, that's like insurance, utilities, and the like. And then trying a similar approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also removes some of the existing archaic language from the Massachusetts Code, like common
• Before disability was added as a protected class, I was denied insurance, I was denied accommodations
• Before disability was added as a protected class, I was denied insurance, I was denied accommodations
• And we've heard from a single mom who was looking for life insurance as mandated by divorce court but
• And we've heard from a single mom who was looking for life insurance as mandated by divorce court but

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil rights, immigration, hate crimes, and reparations bills. Chair Edwards and Chair Day opened with strict testimony rules, including two-minute limits, written testimony options, and decorum requirements. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell testified in strong support of S. 1126/H. 1920, the Combating Hate in the Commonwealth bill, saying Massachusetts needs stronger tools to address rising hate and bias incidents. Her Civil Rights Division chief explained that the bill would give the division civil investigative demand/subpoena power, expand civil rights enforcement, close loopholes in the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, add protected classes to the hate crimes law, and require better hate-crime data reporting. The committee also heard support for H. 1954 on access to counsel in immigration proceedings, H. 4684 on law enforcement identification and public trust, and H. 1927 to exonerate individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Several bills focused on discrimination and civil rights enforcement. Supporters of S. 1248 on organizational standing said fair housing nonprofits need explicit authority to bring discrimination complaints in their own names, especially as federal protections are under attack. On H. 1246, advocates urged adding sex and gender as protected classes in the hate crimes statute, arguing women are not protected under current state law. H. 1820 drew testimony for protections against height and weight discrimination. H. 1995 would regularize sentencing for hate crimes by requiring diversity awareness training for both convictions and continuances without a finding, and H. 1056/H. 1589 would broaden hate-crime victim standing and require restitution to be used to repair harm. H. 1886 would clarify that defense-based social service staff are exempt from mandated reporter obligations when working under attorney-client privilege. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1889/S. 1064, a bill to eliminate disparate impact. Environmental justice advocates, fair housing attorneys, and community members argued that neutral policies can still produce discriminatory outcomes and that Massachusetts should allow state-court claims and a private right of action to address them. Committee members raised concerns about litigation floodgates, punitive damages, and the scope of protected classes, while supporters said the bill would mainly target systemic harms and injunctive relief. Additional testimony supported H. 1922/S. 119, the Fair Investment Act, which would create civil rights protections in venture capital and other investment settings for founders and investors, especially women and minority entrepreneurs. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1683, the Sex Trade Survivor Act, which would expand vacatur and expungement relief for trafficking survivors, remove archaic offenses from the code, and create an interagency commission; supporters emphasized reducing barriers to housing, employment, and reentry. Finally, the committee heard extensive support for H. 1753/S. 1181, establishing a commission to study reparations in Massachusetts. Testifiers described the state’s history of slavery, redlining, and ongoing racial disparities, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the idea is that they're going above and beyond the code in exchange for uh what would typically be
• 37.680> the that they're going above and beyond the that they're going above and beyond the code
• 03:38.799> for<00:03:39.440> uh<00:03:39.599> what<00:03:39.920> would code
• in exchange for uh what would code in exchange for uh what would typically<00:03:40.640> be<00
• The management company wrote the bylaws. kickbacks, and insurance fraud that can kickbacks, and insurance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an assistant attorney general in the insurance and financial services in the Mass Attorney General's
• I'm an assistant attorney general in the insurance and financial services in the Mass Attorney General's
• I'm proud that we were named by Realtor.com the hottest zip code in the country, which reflects both
• I could be providing health care insurance for people.
• That's money that I could have used to upgrade our health insurance and to bring on more staff.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its second hearing to study the future of credit card payments and sales transactions and their impacts on small businesses. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurants, and payment-industry representatives on interchange fees, processing fees, fraud, chargebacks, rewards programs, and the ability of businesses to pass fees on to customers. Several witnesses argued that swipe fees have risen sharply, are especially burdensome for restaurants and other small businesses, and are charged on taxes and tips that are merely pass-through amounts. They urged state action to prohibit fees on tax and tip portions, improve transparency, and allow surcharging or convenience fees, while opponents warned that state regulation could reduce fraud protections, increase compliance costs, and threaten consumer rewards programs. Business owners and trade groups described thin margins, rising costs, and the difficulty of understanding merchant statements or negotiating with processors. Restaurant witnesses said card-not-present and online transactions create the greatest fraud and chargeback risk, with money often removed immediately from merchants’ accounts and disputes rarely resolved in their favor. Retail witnesses gave examples of rising effective rates, higher fees on rewards cards, and the burden of processing fees on low-value transactions. A representative from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and others said restaurants are effectively paying fees on meals tax and gratuities, which they argued should not be subject to interchange charges. On the other side, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said interchange revenue helps credit unions fund fraud prevention, rapid card replacement, and member protections, and warned that state limits on interchange could weaken those safeguards and lead to higher consumer costs or reduced services. Airlines for America testified that airline credit card rewards are popular, support travel and jobs in Massachusetts, and could be harmed by interchange reform. The National Restaurant Association and a payments-policy attorney countered that interchange fees are set by card networks rather than competitive markets, that banks remain highly profitable even with rewards, and that states can act after recent court decisions. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questions from commissioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• Agency Code 218, the Administrative Office of the Courts. We'll ask our LFC analyst, Mr.
• With that, for the Court of Appeals, it's behind tab 2, agency code 215.
• It is agency code 235, and in Volume 2, it's page 27, Volume 2, page 27.
• District, Agency Code 239, page in Volume 2 is page 31.
• We are on the fortunes of this Agency Code 234, in your volumes, it's page 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a lovely building now, but insurance moved into that and book rehab, for example, and so that's
• So we have to ensure that the commercial insurance and any other insurance providers are billed first
• :02.079> any<00:54:02.400> other commercial insurance and any other commercial insurance
• <00:54:04.880> And insurance providers are built first.
• And insurance providers are built first.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increases in expenses such as Insurance increases in expenses such as Insurance Financial<00:20:
• And then something that we all value is health insurance — a startling statistic that you should keep
• And then something that we all value is health insurance — a startling statistic that you should keep
• And then something that we all value is health insurance — a startling statistic that you should keep
• It will show up in the packet as coded as 068.

Bills: HF2582, HF2266, HF2518, HF2039, HF1941

Keywords: child care, grants, appropriation, workforce development, families, YWCA Minneapolis, job training, child development, economic assistance, WomenVenture, economic development, entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs, business training, financial support, youth programs, funding, employment, Minnesota, American Indian

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<01:03:48.559> or a platform to carry the data, code, or a platform to carry the data, code
• >> The American Property Casualty Insurance >> The American Property Casualty Insurance
• >> Oh, insurance companies, of course. >> Oh, insurance companies, of course.
• . insurance. insurance.
• The American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Oh, insurance companies, of course.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Kentucky's juvenile code appoints a public defender whether they're eligible or not.
• <00:58:59.599> And<00:58:59.839> so chapter of the Juvenile Code 610.
• And so chapter of the Juvenile Code 610.
• Section four amends KRS 200.505, definitions for Kentucky Penal Code.
• And I lost the income and our insurance.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Agency Updates: 00:01:45 26RS SB 125: 00:02:10 26RS SB 101: 01:14:58, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on February 6, 2026, took roll, approved a motion to convene, and heard agency updates from materials in the packet. The council then took up Senate Bill 125 out of order because Senator Carol was present. The bill was presented as a collaborative effort focused on creating a secure, state-run high-acuity mental health facility for justice-involved youth who need specialized psychiatric care and cannot be appropriately served in detention or by private hospitals. Speakers said the facility would fill a gap in services, improve safety and treatment outcomes, and be designed with trauma-informed, medically equipped spaces rather than a jail-like setting. The presenters also outlined other parts of the bill, including a placement process in which DJJ and CHFS would evaluate youth and provide recommendations before the judge makes the final decision, with certain hospital-declination provisions to be delayed until the new facility is operating. They described payment incentives for hospitals treating high-acuity youth, confidentiality and escape-related disclosure provisions, and contracts with a public teaching university for clinical services. The proposed facility was described as a 24-bed center at Central State, with staffing to include mental health professionals and juvenile detention staff receiving enhanced training. Dr. Clark Lester said staffing needs would vary by youth and could include one-to-one supervision for some patients. The bill also addressed female juvenile detention capacity. Speakers said the number of detained girls has risen sharply since 2024, peaking at 51 in 2025, and that current facilities cannot meet the separation requirements for boys and girls or high- and low-level youth. The proposal would build two female detention centers, with possible locations discussed in central Kentucky and western Kentucky, and a third or fourth center could be added if population data show the need. Members asked about hospital placement authority, staffing, and average length of stay for girls; the presenters said the current court-order process would remain until the new facility is built and that they would provide additional data later. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• a broader shared vision, building a transportation system that works for everyone across every zip code
• We also have a strong business partnership with the auto insurance carriers who are authorized to write
• auto insurance policies in Massachusetts.
• These carriers have an electronic link to the Registry to post and cancel auto insurance policies for
• maintaining and operating driving records consisting of traffic law violations, at-fault and comprehensive insurance

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held an informational hearing with invited testimony from MassDOT leadership, the MBTA, Massport, and the state’s Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office. MassDOT officials outlined work across highways, rail and transit, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and aeronautics, emphasizing major capital spending, bridge and roadway programs, transit grants, rail expansion, airport safety, and modernization efforts. They highlighted Chapter 90 and municipal grant programs, the Compass Rail and West-East Rail efforts, RMV upgrades such as electronic titles and driver licensing systems, and aeronautics work on airport pavement, drones, and advanced air mobility. Committee members focused on safety, service access, and project implementation. Questions to MassDOT covered automated enforcement and rising roadway fatalities, the Allston multimodal project’s federal funding, Complete Streets access for rural communities, and South Coast Rail staffing and future electrification. The RMV was asked about the Work and Family Mobility Act, Real ID demand, and appointment access, especially in Metro West. Members also raised concerns about South Coast Rail operations, Keolis staffing, and whether the Stoughton route remains part of future plans; MassDOT and MBTA officials said they are working on staffing, service reliability, and long-term expansion, while noting that nothing is off the table for future rail improvements. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng reported progress including workforce growth, elimination of subway speed restrictions, expanded reduced-fare access, bus network redesign, South Coast Rail launch, and commuter rail signal upgrades. He said the agency is pursuing a new commuter rail operating contract designed to support future regional rail, electrification, and higher-frequency service, while maintaining service and workforce stability amid funding uncertainty. Members also asked about fare collection data privacy and the impact of state funding levels; Eng said the MBTA needs the governor’s proposed funding to preserve service and staffing, and that the fare system’s data are encrypted and handled through a secure vendor system. Massport CEO Rich Davey reported record activity at Logan, Worcester, and the cruise and maritime facilities, along with major capital and climate investments such as sustainable aviation fuel planning, shore power at Flynn Cruiseport, renewable diesel, and expanded ground transportation. He said Massport is planning for continued passenger growth and managing congestion through parking, HOV, and curbside changes, while monitoring federal policy, tariffs, and air traffic control staffing issues. Federal Funds Director Quentin Palfrey described the administration’s efforts to secure federal infrastructure dollars, citing about $9 billion in federal awards since the start of the administration, including major transportation grants for the Cape Cod Bridges, Allston, West-East Rail, North Station drawbridge replacement, roadway safety, and clean school buses. He warned that changing federal policies, grant delays, and possible future congressional actions create uncertainty, but said the office is working case-by-case with municipalities and agencies to protect awarded funds and find alternative financing where needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Years ago, when I was in the insurance space, one of the first and most difficult cases I had was a young
• I<00:10:20.400> was<00:10:20.520> in<00:10:20.640> the<00:10:20.720> insurance
• <00:10:21.120> space,<00:10:21.320> one when I was in the insurance space, one when
• I was in the insurance space, one of<00:10:21.520> the<00:10:21.600> first<00:10:21.960
• And the goal is to improve their, at the local level, enforcement of fire codes, and it will lead to

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rider of authority to address the gap between the authority of the LBB as pursuant to the government code
• It's the exact same as our crime victims compensation; you've got to go through your insurance.
• So a lot of landowners have told us, I don't want to report this to my insurance company because I don't
• want my insurance premiums to go up because I reported it to the insurance company.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, you could just erase the corporation code from your statutes.
• >> It's basically it's a it's an insurance >> It's basically it's a it's an insurance
• Unemployment insurance and paid leave judges are not currently on that list.
• Unemployment insurance and paid leave judges are not currently on that list.
• There's nothing insurance requirements.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• child IID lost my job I'd<00:26:47.159> lost<00:26:47.399> health<00:26:47.640> insurance
• and<00:26:48.520> I<00:26:48.640> told<00:26:48.840> her I'd lost health insurance
• and I told her I'd lost health insurance and I told her that<00:26:49.360> I<00:26:49.559>
• Representative Pck said in opposition, stating the bill further aids the bad landlord-tenant code and
• bill further AIDS our bad landlord bill further AIDS our bad landlord tenant<00:43:06.160> code

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, insurance companies, we exchange data with them to determine if drivers have proper insurance
• Um, are we keeping up with tech debt and upgrading to the next level of whatever it is that your code
• So we were going from a mon... your code base is and your tech stack. Ms. Green, you recognized.
• vendor not only is going to give us, of course, statutorily we're required to have registration and insurance

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several state technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Enterprise Business Solution (DEMS). FDEM said DEMS is about 50% complete, with some grants and finance functions already live, and is intended to replace manual disaster and grants processing with a cloud-based system. Officials described faster reimbursement timelines after recent storms, major return-on-investment claims, and a planned final phase focused on design, testing, communications, data governance, and additional functionality. Members asked about the total cost, the role of Florida Digital Service, deliverables-based contracting, and how much of the system is live; FDEM said the project is expected to cost about $16 million to $16.8 million and finish by June 2027, with some follow-up information to be provided. The Department of Legal Affairs presented its Office of Attorney General Modernization Program, a follow-up to an earlier effort that failed after spending about $26 million. Acting Attorney General John Gard said the department has now moved to an off-the-shelf case management product, LawBase, and is in development and testing, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution already live and full implementation expected by the end of the fiscal year. The request includes funding for staff augmentation, cloud storage, the LawBase license, redundancy through a backup site in Orlando, and OnBase support. Members questioned the prior failure, the use of Florida Digital Service standards, data location and cloud migration, and the redundancy plan; Gard said lessons learned included better scoping and that the current effort is on track. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then updated the committee on Motorist Modernization, including the Orion system and the MyDMV portal. Officials said Phase 1 and Phase 2 have modernized driver license and motor vehicle services, with Phase 2 statewide rollout scheduled to begin in April 2025 and Phase 3 proposed at $16.5 million for dealer services, data warehouse improvements, and call center modernization. Members asked about payment options, organ donor questions, staffing, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and the digital driver license program. The agency said the portal already allows some sanctions to be cleared online, an ACH option is being developed, the digital driver license vendor has changed with a fall go-live anticipated, and the department is using security testing and a managed security service provider. Officials also said the system is currently on an on-prem private cloud, with future workloads expected to move to public cloud where appropriate. Finally, Florida Commerce presented on the Reemployment Assistance modernization system, Reconnect, and the FLWINS workforce system. Commerce said Reconnect is hosted in the Azure Government Cloud, has reduced claim filing time, improved fraud detection, and increased appeals capacity, and now needs $4.9 million in recurring funding to cover ongoing operations, cloud hosting, licenses, and staff augmentation. Members asked about adjudication issues, wait times, fraud prevention, and whether the system stores caller identifiers; Commerce said the average wait to speak to a representative is about 18 minutes and claims are generally processed in four to six weeks. The committee then began hearing about FLWINS, which is intended to create a “no wrong door” workforce portal under the REACH Act, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.