Transcript Highlights:

• One, because when health care costs more, employers pay less.
• Back in 2002, a worker would pay on average... ...health coverage.
• So workers are paying more for health insurance and getting less.
• Workers pay the full cost of health insurance premiums in foregone wages.
• For example, in 2025, a diagnostic mammogram on a silver plan had a co-pay of $100.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Senate and Assembly Health Committees focused on the cost of federal instability for California health coverage, access, and affordability. Opening remarks from members of both houses emphasized that California’s coverage gains under the Affordable Care Act are now threatened by federal policy changes, including the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, H.R. 1, and new federal regulatory actions. Members repeatedly cited rising premiums, skipped care, medical debt, and the risk that low-income, immigrant, and working Californians could lose coverage or be pushed into less comprehensive plans. The first panel reviewed the federal landscape and state response. Don Joyce described the ACA’s coverage expansions and warned that H.R. 1, regulatory changes, and broader federal retrenchment could reduce coverage and weaken meaningful benefits. Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman said the loss of enhanced premium tax credits is driving major affordability problems, with average monthly premiums projected to rise sharply and enrollment already down, especially among middle-income consumers. HCAI’s Elizabeth Lansberg explained the Office of Health Care Affordability’s role in slowing spending growth, monitoring consolidation, and setting spending targets, including lower targets for high-cost hospitals and new primary care investment goals. Members asked about bronze plans, high-cost hospitals, administrative burdens, provider taxes, and whether federal advisory changes could affect required benefits such as immunizations. The second panel examined population impacts and cost drivers. UC Berkeley Labor Center’s Miranda Dietz said most Californians get coverage through employers, Medi-Cal, or Covered California, and that affordability problems are widespread across all groups. She projected that California could have up to 2 million more uninsured residents by 2030, largely from Medi-Cal losses, and said higher premiums reduce wages and increase medical debt. Christoph Stremakis of the California Health Care Foundation highlighted survey data showing widespread concern about medical bills, skipped care, and medical debt, and argued that a large share of spending is wasted through administrative complexity, inflated prices, and underinvestment in prevention. Committee members pressed the panel on whether California can sustain coverage without new revenue, how cost-growth targets affect workers and families, how medical debt relief programs like Los Angeles County’s could be expanded, and how OCA can address uncompensated care, consolidation, and prior authorization burdens.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now is it easy to pay for it? No, it's not.
• We have an infrastructure to pay for. We have public education.
• It's hard to pay for a number.
• They indirectly pay a property tax through their monthly payments.
• They can pay back the bonds that they have at that $100,000.

Bills: SB4, SB23, SB3, SJR2, SJR85, SB34, SB60, SB75, SB706, SB1814, SB1220, SB523, SB565, SB1253, SB840, SB764, SB2383, SB2155, SB1535, SB1405, SB1423, SB1566, SB1804, SB1728, SB1816, SB1952, SB1948, SB2037, SB2068, SB1455, SB213, SB243, SB627, SB646, SB670, SB896, SB917, SB1184, SB971, SB1255, SB1261, SB1283, SB1358, SB991, SB1733, SB21, SB231, SB739, SB1252, SB1371, SB664, SB40, SB9, SJR1, SB687, SB1332, SB458, SB482, SB927, SB984, SB651, SB1620, SB2124, SB2448, SB841, SB843, SB402, SB2662, SB2053, SB2332, SB2112, SB745, SB1247, SB1789, SB27, SB207, SB2938, SB1901, SB1227, SB1248, SB912, SB1321, SB2143, SB2145, SB1497, SB1239, SB2180, SB1388, SB1662, SB1951, SB1537, SB493, SB378, SB1020, SB1018, SB992, SB958, SB920, SB1350, SB1762, SB552, HCR109, SB2185, SB4, SB23, SB3, SJR2, SJR85, SB34, SB60, SB75, SB706, SB1814, SB1220, SB523, SB565, SB1253, SB840, SB764, SB2383, SB2155, SB1535, SB1405, SB1423, SB1566, SB1804, SB1728, SB1816, SB1952, SB1948, SB2037, SB2068, SB1455, SB213, SB243, SB627, SB646, SB670, SB896, SB917, SB1184, SB971, SB1255, SB1261, SB1283, SB1358, SB991, SB1733, SB21, SB231, SB739, SB1252, SB1371, HB2970, HB 109, SB2308

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• It's higher than workers' comp and pays them; it's a lot higher than Medicare would pay them and many
• Any of those will pay them.
• We make them pay money.
• So when you have insurance, the insurance pays some, you pay some.
• I think that's why they have to pay more.

Bills: HB4806

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the state's paying, the state and/or the feds are paying for it.
• Because the state's paying, the state and/or the feds are paying for it.
• half if you pay half.
• But every year, they pay it back.
• But every year, they pay it back.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> So, you’re telling me the utility is going to pay for that?
• </c> upfront investment and it's how you pay upfront investment and it's how you pay for<00:16:45.920
• They'd have to find money upfront to be able to pay for the system.
• </c><00:19:32.240><c> And</c> to be able to pay for the system.
• And to be able to pay for the system.

Bills: SB2033, SB2487, SB2497, SB2471, SB2829

Keywords: renewable energy, grid-ready homes, interconnection process, electric utility, energy independence, surcharge, customer access, energy storage, smart inverters, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, electric utility rates, ratemaking, performance-based regulation, performance-based incentives, performance incentive mechanisms, revenue adjustment mechanisms, cost control mechanisms, reward and penalty mechanisms, alternative ratemaking

Summary: The committee first reconvened on SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons. After discussion with the Attorney General’s office and a prior Q&A period, the chair said the committee would defer decision-making again, with the intent to return with amended versions of both bills that could gain support from the administration and its lawyers. The measures were deferred to Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Conference Room 229 at 9:30 a.m. The committee then took up SB 2180, relating to deposits of public funds. Members noted late testimony from the prior day’s joint hearing with the Housing Committee and moved to pass the bill out with amendments, including a defective effective date. The motion carried unanimously among those voting: the chair, vice chair, Senator Lamosao, and Senator Awa voted aye; Senator McKelvey was excused. The measure was adopted. A joint hearing followed on SB 2033, relating to renewable energy and a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process. The PUC supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the time, resources, and stakeholder input needed to establish the proposed process, and asked for clarification of terms such as “grid-ready homes” and the role of HERA. Hawaiian Electric said it supported the intent but opposed the proposed process and HERA funding use. The Hawaii Solar Energy Association strongly supported the bill, arguing that faster interconnection is needed to meet rooftop solar goals and lower costs over time. Testimony totaled 27 in support, two in opposition, and four with comments. Members questioned costs, consumer protections, and whether the bill would burden low- and moderate-income households; the bill’s supporters said amendments could clarify the definition of grid-ready homes and add guardrails, while acknowledging that upfront costs and interconnection costs would still need to be addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you would hope that that increased spend pays dividends in the long run.
• </c> spend pays dividends in the long run. spend pays dividends in the long run.
• It was described as an adjustment in who is paying how much.
• </c><00:31:01.440><c> increases</c> years in which we had no pay increases years in which we had no pay
• And so it uh and had some pay increases.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 State Health Insurance Plans 00:00:03 Executive Branch Salary Schedule Adjustments 00:29:15 Nutrition Program for the Elderly 00:34:52 Update on DORIS 01:05:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee met on November 5, 2025, and first approved the minutes after a moment of silence for the UPS airport tragedy. The main presentation was from the Personnel Cabinet on the state health insurance plans and executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Officials said the health plan covers roughly 265,000 active members and up to about 300,000 across all benefit offerings, including school board employees, retirees, and other eligible groups. They described rising claims and expenditures, especially from high-cost claimants and pharmacy spending, and said recent premium and benefit changes were intended to balance costs while preserving recruitment and retention efforts. They also explained that employee premiums had not increased for several years, while employer contributions rose sharply in recent years, and projected a 10% employer increase and 3% employee increase going forward based on actuarial analysis. Committee members asked about deductibles, GLP-1 drug costs, claims validation, and the causes of cost growth; officials said the plan uses multiple payment-integrity vendors and that the increases reflect utilization, drug trends, and high-cost cases rather than a change in coverage. The committee also discussed executive branch salary schedule adjustments. Personnel and budget officials explained that when the legislature approves annual pay increases, the salary schedule is adjusted by the same percentage through executive order so the minimum and midpoint stay aligned with approved compensation levels. They said the 2025 adjustment was a 3% match effective September 16 and that the change was costless because salaries had already been increased. Members raised concerns about salary compression, noting that new hires can sometimes be paid near the level of long-serving employees. Officials said the adjustment helps prevent compression from worsening but does not solve it, and they acknowledged prior RFP efforts to address the issue were unsuccessful because no qualified bidder met the requirements. After the health plan and salary discussions, the committee began a presentation from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on Kentucky’s senior meal program. Secretary Stack explained that the program is a federal-state-local partnership under the Older Americans Act, with area development districts helping deliver services. He outlined eligibility rules, noting that congregate meals at senior centers are available to people age 60 and older, with a spouse of any age allowed to join, and that home-delivered meals have additional homebound and assistance requirements. Members asked whether there was any means test for congregate meals, and the secretary said there is not; the only threshold is age for the center-based meals, while the home-delivered program has additional criteria.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:49.200><c> On</c> not paying a fair price for milk. On not paying a fair price for milk.
• So you're paying more for an corn. So you're paying more for an inferior<00:05:04.240><c> product.
• </c> food are paying the most for it. food are paying the most for it.
• </c> paying the farmer their fair share. paying the farmer their fair share.
• </c> bop around and see who's going to pay bop around and see who's going to pay you<01:15:02.800><c>

Bills: HF3718

Keywords: veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal care, licensing, client consent, continuing education, emergency services, teletriage, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• pay for other energy sources.
• Customers that would sign off on agreements would not pay more than they would otherwise pay for other
• or can't pay their energy costs. costs. costs. 36%.<00:33:19.919><c> Now</c><00:33:20.159><c> that's
• Now, there's an entire process for interconnection, and for the most part developers are asked to pay
• The insinuation that nonsubscribers pay $7 a month more because of community solar is fabricated.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:51.279><c> the</c> there are sufficient funds to pay the there are sufficient funds to pay
• </c><00:17:39.480><c> the</c> customers $5 and then we pay the customers $5 and then we pay the developers
• </c> front money for a month or two to pay front money for a month or two to pay the<00:17:53.320><c>
• </c><00:18:03.840><c> the</c> because they would eventually pay the because they would eventually pay
• </c> worth you know requiring people to pay worth you know requiring people to pay more<00:50:44.200>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several energy and environmental bills. On HB 974, which would authorize state step-in agreements for certain power purchase agreements and create a trust fund/reserve mechanism, the Attorney General’s office raised concern that the state should not incur liability beyond the trust fund. The Division of Consumer Advocacy said it had comments but did not take a position, while the Public Utilities Commission, Ameresco, Hawaiian Electric, and other industry groups supported the measure, saying it would help developers secure financing for renewable projects and improve reliability. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would not use state funds and that its proposed reserve account would be held in trust and returned to customers if unused. Committee members questioned whether the reserve would raise customer costs; Hawaiian Electric said the amount would be small and would be offset by avoiding higher financing costs, while Consumer Advocacy suggested the language should be strengthened to ensure unused funds are fully returned. The committee then heard HB 338, which would clarify that premium interest-rate adjustments for non-fossil fuel generation are just and reasonable and allow the PUC to include them in rates. DCCA and the State Energy Office supported the bill, and the PUC also supported it. Hawaiian Electric opposed unless amended, arguing the PUC already has discretion and warning the bill could weaken competitive procurement by encouraging higher bids tied to the utility’s credit rating. DCCA said the concern was that developers might not seek the best financing if premium rates are recoverable, but said Hawaiian Electric’s suggested amendment requiring clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable financing-cost increases would help. Members also asked about refinancing and whether developers could later lower debt costs after locking in a premium rate; DCCA said that ability exists and suggested a time limit or review mechanism. For HB 337, which would direct the PUC to establish standards requiring utilities to remove certain fossil-fuel costs from the rate base when adding renewable resources, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and the State Energy Office supported the measure. Hawaiian Electric opposed it, saying it misunderstood utility cost recovery and could threaten grid reliability because fossil plants provide ancillary services such as voltage regulation and balancing, not just energy. Hawaiian Electric pointed to its integrated grid plan and recent fossil-unit retirements as evidence of ongoing transition, and asked the committee to defer the bill and leave oversight to the PUC. The committee also heard HB 879 on cesspool conversions, which would raise the maximum grant from $20,000 to $30,000 and add DOH positions; DHHL, DOH, environmental groups, Hawaii Realtors, and others supported it, while DOH discussed staffing needs and the practical effect of the higher grant cap. The committee also began HB 379 on requiring denitrification capacity for certain wastewater systems near shorelines or groundwater, with DLNR testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rich don't pay taxes, they pay politicians.
• The rich don't pay taxes, they pay politicians.
• Now, we're going to say you have to pay to pee, pay to change your baby, pay to go to the bathroom.
• Now, we're going to say you have to pay to pee, pay to change your baby, pay to go to the bathroom.
• Now, we're going to say you have to pay to pee, pay to change your baby, pay to go to the bathroom.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Why should their tax dollars, when they themselves are struggling to pay for their own health care, pay
• Why should their tax dollars, when they themselves are struggling to pay for their own health care, pay
• </c><00:53:24.400><c> whatever</c> nation saying that I will pay whatever nation saying that I will pay
• First, should undocumented folks pay taxes?
• First, should undocumented folks pay taxes?

Bills: HF10

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, as to whether or not they're paying what they would have been paying before that happened, because
• Now, as to whether or not they're paying what they would have been paying before that happened, because
• </c> to to pay our share of the cost. to to pay our share of the cost. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• </c> &gt;&gt; They're they pay it back. &gt;&gt; They're they pay it back.
• We pay for providers to provide the medical services. We pay the bill.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SPONSOR MAY NOT PAY PETITION ON THE RESOURCES OF THE SPONSOR.
• SPONSOR MAY NOT PAY PETITION CIRCULATORS IN SUCH A SITUATION.
• CURRENTLY THE ORGANIZATION RUNNING THESE PETITION DRIVES, THEY HAVE TO PAY CERTAIN EXPENSES NOW UNDER
• HAS THERE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THEM ACTUALLY PAYING THOSE EXPENSES OR A MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS TRYING TO
• Grall: I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THEM PAYING THEM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs reduce take-home pay.
• So on pay equity, that was one of the questions that, Madam Secretary, when we went through the pay equity
• That pay was, even at the beginning, we were almost at parity, 95, 97%.
• So on pay equity, that was one of the questions that, Madam Secretary, when we went through the pay equity
• So, lowest paying jobs in the Commonwealth.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you weren't paying attention.
• told the vendor in February not to pay March's premiums.
• Not to mention that paying ...the waiver.
• than paying for us to be in a nursing home.
• than paying for us to be in a nursing home.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> you default than if you were to um pay you default than if you were to um pay off<00:17:52.400><
• </c><00:43:17.200><c> The</c> don't have to pay as much attention.
• The don't have to pay as much attention.
• We're just going to<00:45:46.000><c> pay</c><00:45:46.160><c> this.
• We're g we're going to pay this.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because, just think about it, if you're paying $1 and now you're paying $1.50, right, that really changes
• 11%, we pay 11% more than Colorado to 225%, so we're paying more for our Medicaid rates.
• Do we pay them a fixed rate, and then they pay their providers?
• So, Medicaid pays the managed care organizations, and they pay that in a capitation.
• Paying when we should and not paying when we shouldn't.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a school of hope has to pay the school things that would happen here.
• We have public schools that we as the taxpayer are paying to keep open.
• We are paying for that school to exist, but students aren't going there.
• So how are they supposed to pay that? How's that going to happen?
• So how are they supposed to pay that? How's that going to happen?

Summary: The House took up a series of Senate messages and concurred in several amendments before passing multiple bills. Early actions included unanimous passage of CS/CS/HB 1299 on Department of Health matters, CS/HB 1549 on financial institutions after removing a Senate-added trust-account provision, and CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign ties in business ownership after trimming registration requirements. The chamber also insisted on its housing amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 184 after the Senate refused to concur. A major portion of the meeting focused on CS/CS/HB 875 on educator preparation. The House adopted an amendment restoring two teacher-prep courses, preserving the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College in partnership with USF, and modifying the teacher candidate testing framework and mentor qualifications. Supporters said it reduced barriers while keeping standards; opponents raised concerns about the remaining “identity politics” language and other provisions. The bill then passed 91-22. The House also passed HB 1101 on out-of-network providers after adopting a House amendment that kept the original bill’s notice and referral provisions with a good-cause exemption, despite objections that it placed too much responsibility on doctors. Later, the chamber approved CS/CS/SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, with members highlighting debris management, emergency planning, crane safety, and hurricane recovery provisions; it passed unanimously. The House then rejected concurrence in a Senate amendment to HB 1609 on waste incineration, and later spent substantial time debating CS/CS/HB 1115 on education, especially Schools of Hope, expanded co-location authority, funding, transportation, and school-district agreement terms. Critics argued the language was added late and could disadvantage traditional public schools, while supporters said it would expand options for students; the debate continued with the bill still under consideration at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• since the majority of the difference we're seeing here is in the general fund on the pay side.
• So the fund is intended to pay for direct.
• We're paying poll workers more, which is fair.
• Then we would pay out Northern College, or if it's for books or for the trade.
• I'm trying to sell him on only taking a $60,000 or $70,000 pay cut.

Transcript Highlights:

• We could argue about who pays their coaches a little bit more or less.
• Just pay us 100% of that or give us four more FTE and we can make it work.
• What we pay per student is good and that helps.
• </c> to activities. uh we were already paying to activities. uh we were already paying our<02:13:40.480
• ... ...some of this creative accounting to pay for stuff that was underfunded.

Keywords: 916, all