Video & Transcript Research : 'Inflation'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Transcript Highlights:
- Since 1970, textbook prices have risen at roughly three times the rate of inflation, with an annual average
- Publishers are also able to inflate base prices and materials in anticipation of needing to offer discounts
- It's not something, though, that needs to be inflated beyond that.
- It's not something, though, that needs to be inflated beyond that.
- It's not something, though, that needs to be inflated beyond that.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on late-filed bills and home rule petitions, with both in-person and remote testimony. Committee chairs reviewed logistics for public testimony and then heard a series of bill presentations on topics including nitrous oxide sales, liquor license extensions and alcohol license density, cosmetology licensure compacts, electronic textbooks, HVAC supervisor licensing, and automotive warranty reimbursement rates. Several members asked questions about the public health, consumer protection, economic mobility, and regulatory impacts of the proposals.
Representative John Barrett testified in support of H. 4907, which would regulate the sale of nitrous oxide, arguing it is a public health measure aimed at reducing recreational misuse by young people while preserving legitimate culinary, medical, dental, and industrial uses. Southbridge officials Peg Dean and David Adams supported a local liquor license extension bill, saying delayed revitalization and staffing disruptions from the pandemic-era “Great Resignation” had slowed development and postponed demand for the licenses. MassPack supported H. 4597 to limit new alcohol retail licenses near existing stores after 2026, citing oversaturation and public health concerns, while the committee also heard testimony on a cosmetology compact bill from industry and state-government representatives who said it would improve workforce mobility, especially for military spouses, though members questioned its fee structure and interaction with existing reciprocity rules.
Representative Mindy Domb testified for H. 559, which would create a commission to study electronic textbooks and automatic textbook billing, arguing that digital course materials can limit consumer choice, raise costs, and reduce students’ ability to share or resell materials. Student testimony echoed those concerns. The committee also heard strong support for H. 4719, a bill to create HVAC construction supervisor licensing, from industry witnesses who said it would improve consumer protection, accountability, and clean-energy implementation; and opposition testimony on H. 4019, which would change how auto dealers are reimbursed for warranty work, with dealers supporting a fix to manufacturer reimbursement practices and manufacturers warning the bill would raise costs and allow overpayment. At the end of the hearing, the chairs read the agenda items and the committee adjourned by unanimous voice vote.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Revenue Estimating Conference May 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, that's largely an inflation-driven kind of factor. Let's see.
- Move on to adoption of the inflation rate. Hackett? Hmm? I apologize, Mr. President.
- I forgot to print out the increase, the inflation factors. So I don't have them with me.
- For the Millennium Trust, the proposed inflation rate for fiscal year 2027, so that's the ensuing fiscal
- For the parish severance allocation, that's an inflation rate looking back from calendar year 2024 to
Summary:
The Revenue Estimating Conference met with four members present and first approved the prior meeting minutes and recognized the FYI end-of-balance of $577,077,871 as nonrecurring revenue. The main business was revising the state revenue forecast for FY 2026, FY 2027, and the long-range outlook. The Division of Administration recommended a $113 million reduction to the FY 2026 State General Fund forecast and a $104 million reduction for FY 2027, citing weaker-than-expected individual income tax collections, softer corporate income tax receipts, and some weakness in general sales tax, partly offset by stronger motor vehicle sales tax and higher mineral-related revenues tied to oil prices. The Legislative Fiscal Office presented a somewhat different but broadly similar forecast, with modest net increases to the general fund bottom line in the current year and next year, emphasizing caution on income and corporate taxes and more optimism on sales, severance, royalties, and some other revenue streams.
A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the causes of the income tax shortfall, especially withholding and refund patterns after tax changes that lowered rates. Department of Revenue officials explained that withholding tables had been set with a cushion that may be producing larger refunds, and said changing the tables could quickly reduce overwithholding, though the effect would take time to show up. Members also discussed corporate collections, the lingering effects of the franchise tax repeal, the role of settlements and audits, and the extent to which collections are voluntary versus enforcement-driven. The Department of Revenue said corporate collections still had key filing and estimated-payment milestones ahead in May and June, and that refund and audit activity related to the former franchise tax would continue for some time.
The conference then adopted the Division of Administration’s FY 2026 forecast, the FY 2027 recurring forecast, and the long-range forecast, along with the proposed inflation rates for the Millennium Trust and parish severance allocation. Members also adopted the incentive expenditure forecast, noting that the reported amount is only the REC-reported portion and that larger tax exemption amounts come off the top before appropriations. The Treasurer reported a General Fund cash balance of about $404.1 million as of May 5, 2026, and an interfund borrowing base of about $9.18 billion, saying cash levels were similar on average to the prior year. The meeting ended with a note that another REC meeting might be needed depending on the May 16 election, and the conference adjourned without objection.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Revenue Estimating Conference May 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, that's largely an inflation-driven kind of factor. Let's see.
- Move on to adoption of the inflation rate. Hackett? Hmm? I apologize, Mr. President.
- I forgot to print out the increase, the inflation factors. So I don't have them with me.
- For the Millennium Trust, the proposed inflation rate for fiscal year 27, so that's the ensuing fiscal
- For the parish severance allocation, that's an inflation rate looking back from calendar year 24 to 25
Summary:
The Revenue Estimating Conference met with four members present and first approved the December 11, 2025 minutes. Members then recognized the FYI end-of-balance of $577,077,871 as non-recurring revenue. The main business was revising the state revenue forecast for FY 2026, with the Division of Administration recommending a reduction of about $113 million, driven primarily by weaker individual income tax collections, softer general sales tax receipts, and a substantial cut to corporate income tax forecasts. The Legislative Fiscal Office presented a somewhat different but still cautious outlook, and members discussed withholding rates, refund growth, corporate collections, and the effects of the franchise tax repeal and tax reform changes. After questions to the Department of Revenue about collections, refunds, enforcement, and settlements, the conference adopted the Division of Administration’s FY 2026 forecast.
The conference then reviewed the FY 2027 recurring forecast. The Division of Administration again recommended a reduction, this time about $104 million, citing continued caution on individual income and corporate taxes, while the Legislative Fiscal Office projected a net increase of about $127 million, largely from sales tax, severance, royalties, vehicle sales tax, and other revenue streams. Members discussed the practical budget impact of the revised forecasts, including the need to reduce spending and the difficulty of funding a possible teacher stipend if a constitutional amendment fails. The FY 2027 recurring forecast was adopted.
Members also adopted the long-range forecast, the proposed inflation rates for the Millennium Trust and parish severance allocation, and the incentive expenditure forecast. The incentive discussion noted that reported incentive costs reduce available revenue before appropriations, and members raised the possibility of reviewing or capping such incentives. The Treasurer’s Office then reported that the General Fund cash balance was $404.1 million as of May 5, 2026, and the interfund borrowing base was about $9.18 billion, with cash positions generally similar to the prior year. The meeting ended with a note that another REC meeting might be needed after the May 16 election, followed by adjournment.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 19, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- It needed to take into account different variable costs, you know, inflation, geographical factors, things
- It didn't consider variable factors, regional cost differences, inflation.
- the housing growth rate, a wage growth rate, as well as your CPI, your consumer price index for inflation
- One of those is our consumer price index, which should take into account inflation.
- If we saw a particular area far outseating, right, what you would get with a normal inflation standpoint
Summary:
The Human Services Subcommittee met with a quorum present and took up a presentation from the Department of Children and Families on HB 7089, which revises how Florida’s community-based care (CBC) lead agencies for child welfare are funded. Representative McFarland described the bill’s background, arguing that the prior formula relied too heavily on outdated, static factors and produced inequities among CBCs. She emphasized that the new approach is intended to provide a more stable, transparent, and statute-based funding method that better supports prevention, case management, and family services while reducing year-to-year political uncertainty.
DCF Chief of Staff Casey Penn explained that HB 7089 required an actuarially sound, reimbursement-based formula developed with CBC and provider input. The new model uses a cost-based structure with three tiers: Tier 1 for operational and administrative costs, Tier 2 for per-child/per-month service costs, and a possible Tier 3 incentive component for performance measures if the Legislature chooses to fund it. The model includes regional growth factors, inflation adjustments, a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, a hold-harmless provision for agencies that would otherwise receive less than prior funding, and the ability for CBCs to retain some state general revenue savings. DCF said the model produced a total budget need of about $1.392 billion, roughly $28.6 million above the prior year after offsets, and that the department is also updating its child welfare case management system to improve data quality and future modeling.
Members asked about whether prevention spending is captured, how Tier 3 incentives would work and how much they might cost, how the formula accounts for insurance, hurricanes, child acuity, and staffing costs, and whether CBC executives’ compensation is capped. DCF said prevention is included in the model but is not yet separately broken out due to data limitations, Tier 3 is optional and not yet costed, and the formula can incorporate additional growth factors if needed. On executive pay, DCF explained that compensation is limited by statute for CBC contracts, but multiple contracts and non-state funding sources can affect total compensation; staff later clarified that CBC CEOs with multiple contracts had been reviewed for compliance. The meeting ended after questions, and Representative Miller moved to adjourn; the subcommittee adjourned without any vote on the bill.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The period of inflation since World War II has been caused by fossil fuels, and that's from Moody's.
- With the compounding pressures of inflation and rising housing costs, households that were having trouble
- And when you take into consideration inflation, that's really a challenge.
- When we look at inflation since COVID, we're looking at a 20% increase.
- So government has grown, inflation has grown. And then the need has grown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informational interview with Rep. Leigh Finke (DFL-St. Paul) Dec 19th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- . >> Also, we have nothing to do with inflation or skyrocketing health care costs, food security, housing
- 35.280>
with Um, also we we have nothing to do with Um, also we we have nothing to do with inflation - > or<00:04:37.440>
skyrocketing, <00:04:38.720>uh, <00:04:38.960>health inflation - or skyrocketing, uh, health inflation or skyrocketing, uh, health care<00:04:39.440>
costs, <00
Summary:
Representative Leigh Finke discussed the unusual 2025 Minnesota legislative session, describing it as difficult and fast-moving because of the House tie, the DFL quorum break, and the resulting power-sharing arrangement. She said the split chamber made committee work strange, but noted that some bills still advanced, including her free water bill through the Commerce Committee, and that lawmakers ultimately kept the government open.
Finke also spoke about concerns in the trans and queer community under the Trump administration, saying she has been holding town halls statewide to separate fact from fiction about federal actions. She said Minnesota is in a relatively strong position because of protections passed in 2023 and 2024, including the trans refuge bill and the gender-affirming care insurance mandate, and noted that the Minnesota Human Rights Act has protected gender identity since 1993. On the Minnesota Supreme Court’s powerlifting ruling, she said the court correctly applied state law and affirmed transgender participation, while acknowledging that some professional questions remain for lower courts.
Looking ahead to 2026, Finke said she is not focused on new trans-related legislation and argued that Republicans are likely to keep attacking the issue even though the public cares more about affordability, health care, and safety. She said the Equal Rights Amendment has been stalled because equality has become a political football and broader civil rights protections have faced resistance. She also said gun violence should be a major priority next session, expressing support for significant controls on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and saying such measures would pass if brought to the floor, though she blamed Republican leadership for blocking action.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 May 7th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- There is a lot of concern today about inflation.
- Let's look at. the impact of fossil fuels on inflation.
- If you look from World War II to today and analyze every period of inflation—this analysis was done by
- Moody's—you'll find that every period of inflation was initiated and caused by rising fossil fuel prices
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, November 12, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, the folks I represent are still reeling from historic Biden inflation.
- INCLUDING MEDICAL INFLATION, PROVIDER CONSOLIDATION AND RISING DRUG COSTS.
- ushered in the inflation under Joe Biden that we're still trying to shake today.
- IN THE INFLATION UNDER JOE BIDEN THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO SHAKE TODAY.
- Inflation is on the way up. Housing costs are out of control. Grocery costs are out of control.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-09 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And so maintaining it at current level, does that contemplate inflation in regards to mental health or
- 0.69%, which is below the percentage rate right now of inflation, which I believe is 2.3%.
- that is not contemplated right now in a 0.69% increase versus the 2.3% inflation percentage?
- Increases that do not approach parity with an estimated inflation of 2.3 percent for the fiscal year
- Increases that do not approach parity with an estimated inflation of 2.3% for the fiscal year of 2026
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the pledge, quorum call, and several recognitions, including guests for Education and Sharing Day, law enforcement officer of the day Detective Miata Anderson, and later FAMU Day at the Capitol and other visiting groups. The chamber adopted the special order report and then moved through a series of budget-related bills and conforming measures, with debate focused largely on recurring funding, environmental programs, housing, insurance reserves, and tax policy.
Members approved HB 5011/SB 2506, which conform environmental resource funding to the proposed budget by shifting Seminole Gaming Compact-related dollars from recurring to nonrecurring funding; supporters said this preserves annual legislative review, while opponents warned it would reduce funding for the Resilient Florida program, wildlife corridor protection, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. The House then passed HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves by lowering the RAP program and repealing FORA funding, and HB 5501, which redirects documentary stamp tax revenues from housing and transportation trust funds to general revenue; Democrats argued the housing changes would reduce affordable housing support, while Republicans said the move was needed to control recurring spending. The chamber also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, HB 5201 on Florida PALM accounting conforming changes, HB 5203 on Capitol Center tenancy and utilities control, and HB 5009 creating a Florida Accountability Office and revising audit and budgeting functions.
The most extended debate came on HB 7031, which permanently reduces the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lowers several related tax rates. Supporters described it as broad-based, immediate tax relief for Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more targeted and that sales tax cuts also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. The bill passed 112-0. The House then took up the main budget bill, HB 501, and subcommittee chairs outlined the proposed $112.9 billion budget, including education, health care, transportation, agriculture and natural resources, higher education, state administration, justice, and IT spending. Members began questioning the pre-K-12 budget on school funding, vouchers, proration, mental health and safety allocations, and inflation, with the discussion continuing beyond the excerpt provided.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The PILT payments, you said they're going to go to automatic inflation... you're going to start inflating
- How are you calculating what are you using for inflation? I mean, you're not using CPI, I hope.
- How are you figuring inflation? What's your base?
- So once there's a year of inflation values that maybe a high percent, it can never go down?
- um these um automatic uh inflation um these um automatic uh inflation adjusted<01:28:43.520>
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, July 22, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- But he was reporting as to its impact on inflation.
- inflation inflation and<00:06:07.759>
they <00:06:07.919>would <00:06:08.160>employ - reporting as to its impact on inflation. reporting as to its impact on inflation.
- Miller-Meeks, for five minutes. relating to inflation. So let's dis relating to inflation.
- Bring inflation down on the food need.
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- locality, if you have a public works contract, you have to include in the bid specs this artificially inflated
- than $8 million if it had just simply kept pace with the rising cost of medical goods and services, inflation
- delegates in the General Assembly when they were starting to take the million-dollar cap and put the inflator
- And I will agree that it does not look like that inflationary component has kept up with inflation, because
- our inflation has been much higher than what we expected it was going to be in 1986.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You know so many of them are struggling right now with inflation.
- Inflation, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions have push costs to a historic high.
- People, because of inflation, just aren't going out to eat anymore.
- But now we're seeing these small businesses begin to get hurt because that inflation pressure on that
- And I mean... with inflation.
Bills:
SB264, SB542, SB924, SB1008, SB1029, SB1036, SB1057, SB1058, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1376, SB1569, SB1664, SB1697, SJR50
Keywords:
SB 264, Texas Workers' Compensation Act, group self-insurance, self-insured groups, workers' compensation, Texas Department of Insurance, commissioner of insurance, certificate of approval, guaranty fund, trust fund, wind down, dissolution, labor code, insurance regulation, employer coverage, risk pool, business and commerce, trade workforce economic development, property owners' association, water conservation
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Revenue Committee Interim Topics Meeting, March 6, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- of rapidly inflating property values. of rapidly inflating property values.
- Of course, the taxing body's expenses are going up because of inflation.
- That's what's causing<00:40:42.080>
inflation. - Really, the values of causing inflation.
- defend themselves against inflated defend themselves against inflated real<00:41:31.400>
estate
Summary:
The Joint Revenue committee met with a quorum and heard a series of interim topic proposals focused on tax policy. Representative Brown raised two ideas: reinstating an exemption reporting requirement for corporations and entities receiving tax exemptions, with loss of the exemption for the current and prior year if they fail to report, and revising property tax treatment for wind turbines and related infrastructure by shifting the taxed footprint from agricultural to industrial classification. Senator Case and others then discussed energy taxation more broadly, including a possible generation tax for electricity, how to handle large data-center electricity loads, and whether sales tax revenue from very large electrical loads should be shared statewide rather than concentrated locally. The committee referenced prior bills and studies, including House Bill 300 and Senate File 76, and discussed using a mechanism that would keep local electricity bills net neutral while redirecting revenue distribution.
The committee also took up problematic gaming and program funding. Senator Case described personal experiences with gambling addiction and the lack of available resources, while the presenter said the topic had been requested in multiple committees and that the biggest concern from House Bill 171 was protecting county and municipal funding. Members discussed whether the issue belonged in Revenue, Health, Labor, or Transportation, and several suggested it should stay with the standing committee handling gaming. Ideas raised included using gaming-related revenue for prevention and treatment, fully funding the 988 lifeline, and creating a broader trust fund for addiction-related services and law enforcement. The committee appeared to agree to continue the topic for educational purposes and to examine taxation of HHR and other gambling activity.
Senator Case then proposed a severance tax on wind energy, arguing that wind development creates permanent landscape impacts and that the state should be compensated similarly to coal, oil, and gas extraction. Curt Meier, the state treasurer, supported reviewing lease agreements and said Wyoming should get more from wind resources, noting the state’s unique wind potential and the loss of viewshed. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to reform property tax relief by extending it to motor vehicle registration. Former Revenue director Dan Noble argued that vehicle taxes should be treated like other property taxes, using fair market value, depreciation, the residential assessment ratio, and local mill levies, which he said could provide broad relief but would be expensive, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $120 million. Representative Chestek followed with a related reform proposal based on Pennsylvania’s base-year assessment model, arguing that Wyoming’s current statewide relief measures treat symptoms rather than the underlying problem of rapidly rising local valuations.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Friday, November 21, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- When Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act and spent $1 trillion on subsidies, inflation hit a
- <00:09:12.399>
When <00:09:12.640>Democrats the rate of inflation. - When Democrats the rate of inflation.
- <00:09:22.160>
It's <00:09:22.480>clear inflation hit a 40-year high. - It's clear inflation hit a 40-year high.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Exactly as the Senator just stated, we haven't had an inflation increase in this cap since 2011.
- The price of construction has gone through the roof, and it's time for some inflation adjustments.
- And that was over what year, how much inflation?
- And the number that was thrown out on inflation, that percentage, that was an average.
- One is the, you know, inflation.
Bills:
SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907
Keywords:
SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Summary:
The committee heard several bills dealing with local government authority, homeowners associations, hospital district policing, school AED inspections, special district annexation, public contracting penalties, and guaranteed income programs. Senate Bill 2073 by Sen. Zaffirini would clarify that appraisal districts may finance purchases, leases, or construction of real property for appraisal offices without prior approval from taxing units; it was supported by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and left pending. Senate Bill 1935 by Sen. Hinojosa would increase homeowner control of property owners association boards, require more transparency, limit fines and assessment increases, and require accessible meeting locations; HOA and builder representatives opposed it, arguing it would hinder maintenance and make dues harder to manage, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 434 by Sen. Miles would authorize Harris County Hospital District police officers, was supported by Harris Health, and was left pending. Senate Bill 1177 by Sen. Alvarado, as substituted, would require school AED inspections during fire inspections and reporting to school leadership; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1214 by Sen. Perry would update Concho County Hospital District law to align with current procurement and notice rules; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1965 by Sen. Middleton, for Sen. King, would tighten notice and proximity rules for special district annexations; district witnesses warned the bill could interfere with service to noncontiguous tracts, and the bill was left pending.
The committee also took up Senate Bill 2046 by Sen. Bettencourt, which would increase criminal penalties for county purchasing act violations involving unauthorized separate or sequential purchases to evade competitive bidding, and create a tiered penalty structure based on contract amount. Former Harris County DA Kim Ogg, Deputy Attorney General Josh Reno, and James Quintero supported the bill, citing recent Harris County bid-rigging cases and arguing the current Class C misdemeanor penalty is too weak to deter misconduct; some members questioned whether the proposed thresholds were too low and whether stronger oversight, rather than higher penalties alone, would be more effective. The bill was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 2010 by Sen. Bettencourt would bar counties and other political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs and address constitutional gift-clause concerns. Testimony split sharply: Ogg and Quintero argued such programs are unconstitutional, can be used for political data collection, and should not be funded with public money, while Paige Terry Barry defended the bill as protecting taxpayers and discouraging dependency. Senators also debated whether the state can restrict use of federal grant funds and whether local governments should be allowed to run such programs; the bill was left pending.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- universities receive that income stream they need to pay for compensation increases and to pay for inflation
- universities receive that income stream they need to pay for compensation increases and to pay for inflation
- universities receive that income stream they need to pay for compensation increases and to pay for inflation
- received in lieu of it, and then we send that to our colleges and universities so to give... for inflation
- well at the same time our for inflation well at the same time our students<01:31:48.920>
do <01
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 2/20/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- benefits and inflation uh and what<00:42:24.400>
do <00:42:24.520>we <00:42:24.640> - <00:51:55.000>
has over quite some time so inflation has over quite some time so inflation - I mean, there's inflation and all those other pieces that we have to keep up with.
- and all those mean there's inflation and all those other<01:07:55.520>
pieces <01:07:55.760>- This involves understanding their services and their cost pressures, often due to inflation, including
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Sub. on Health and Family Services. (1-28-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- and new technologies that come inflation and new technologies that come into<00:38:16.720>
the Yearly for inflation.- And so, it's no secret that inflation is there right now.
- So as inflation increases, so does the rates for those.
- So as inflation increases, so does the rates for those.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:36
Department for Medicaid Services 00:01:44, 958, all
Summary:
The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met for an overview of the Department for Medicaid Services budget. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal described Kentucky Medicaid enrollment at about 1.4 million members, including more than 600,000 children, and said the agency’s 2025 total budget was $20.6 billion. They reviewed enrollment trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, noting that redeterminations begun in 2023 reduced enrollment from its peak but that total membership remains above pre-COVID levels. They also explained the difference between the fee-for-service population, which includes long-term care and waiver members, and managed care members, and gave examples of the kinds of services and diagnoses seen in each group.
A major focus was the governor’s recommended Medicaid budget and the department’s forecast process. Lee said the budget is split into benefits and administration, with benefits covering fee-for-service services, managed care capitation, transportation, and Medicare premiums, while administration covers contracts, personnel, operating costs, and IT-related advanced planning documents. She said the department uses a consensus forecasting group and actuary input, and that its forecasts have been within 1% of actual spending in recent years. The department also said the governor’s budget includes new waiver slots to address waiting lists, a 2% staff COLA, and a 10% phase-down on state-directed payments beginning in January 2028.
Much of the discussion centered on House Resolution 1 and the funding needed to implement its Medicaid-related provisions, including community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, and future cost sharing. Lee said the department requested about $35 million in total funds for fiscal 2027, including about $8.2 million in general funds for system changes to the integrated eligibility system, claims processing, notices, and monitoring; and about $11 million in fiscal 2028 for ongoing maintenance, with about $1.6 million in general funds. She said the department expects to seek federal APD matching funds for the IT work. In response to questions, she explained that community engagement would apply to Medicaid expansion members, with qualifying activities including work, school, volunteering, or equivalent income, and that certain groups such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives, and some people with chronic disease or substance use disorder would be excluded. She said the department identified roughly 70,000 expansion members who could be subject to the requirement. No votes or formal actions were taken.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The worst inflation in 40 years.
- The worst inflation in 40 years.
- The worst inflation in 40 years.
- The worst inflation in 40 years.
- over in January, inflation was at 1.4%. over in January, inflation was at 1.4%.