Transcript Highlights:

• entities that make false claims, perform defective work, fail to pay employees legally mandated wages
• They made claims of racial discrimination against MDE, leading to sympathetic stories in the media in
• Feeding Our Future was submitting claims, but to MDE, the paperwork didn't add up.
• They reiterated their claims of racial discrimination.
• So they were already sort of involuntarily terminated, but then you claim you shut them down.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Companies have flexibility to resolve internal entity claims by including in their governing documents
• ownership threshold. to be met before a shareholder or group of shareholders may bring a derivative claim
• A derivative claim is a claim that belongs to the corporation itself, and this provision helps ensure
• that that these claims are brought for the benefit of the corporation's shareholders and not by mere
• and start going after people with $405,000. 500 claims they might be able to get their attention a lot

Bills: HB32 , HB15 , HB171 , HB421 , HB581 , HB644 , HB745 , HB349 , HB917 , HB204 , HB923 , HB15 , HB171 , HB204

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• So these are unsubstantiated complaints. claims.
• But what we're trying to do is protect unsubstantiated claims because these could be very damaging, claims
• "Look at what I got about officer A, B, and C" when it's unsubstantiated claims.
• But so this is just unsubstantiated claims.
• I keep hearing about unsubstantiated claims.

Bills: SB7 , SB14 , SB 7 , SB 14

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• fail to pay their vendors after receiving their payments, and in such cases, the unpaid party has a claim
• Historically, the assignment of trust fund claims offered a clear remedy.
• It is not clear that the trust fund claims can be assigned to the party that's had to pay twice.
• My understanding is that if they claim the shrimp, they serve Gulf shrimp.
• If they never claim that, then they don't have to. Do this, is that correct?

Bills: HB2226 , HB2269 , HB2343 , HB2760 , HB3621 , HB4079 , HB4204 , HB4518 , HB4531 , HB4555 , HB4850 , HB4876 , HB4903 , HB4996 , HB5122

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• if the School of Hope goes into one of those facilities, the school that is currently there gets to claim
• Those facilities, the school that is currently there, they get to claim those students per FTE for their
• We remove that to instead give them the ability to claim each of those students for their PICO, their
• They get to claim per FTE, which they don't get to do now.
• We already claim all our kids in FTE, right?

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee heard and advanced three bills. CS/HB 1267, by Rep. Boussada, would require school districts to allow Schools of Hope to use vacant or surplus facilities or co-locate in schools with capacity, with non-instructional services handled through a pro rata agreement and a performance-based agreement requiring Schools of Hope to meet expectations within five years. Supporters argued it would better use underfilled public schools and help students in the bottom 10% of schools statewide; opponents raised concerns about local control, funding, and the effect on public schools. The bill passed 13-2. The committee also heard CS/HB 1115, by Rep. Valdes, which would require sharing certain discretionary sales surtax revenues with eligible charter schools based on enrollment, create a standardized charter school monitoring tool, and align Schools of Hope sponsoring-entity rules with charter school processes. Supporters said it would improve consistency and accountability; critics questioned fiscal impacts and district flexibility. That bill passed 13-2. The final bill, CS/HB 1213, by Rep. Alvarez, would create a K-12 School Route Optimization Pilot Program using five counties to test AI-assisted analysis of school bus routes and walking conditions, with the goal of improving child safety for students who currently walk long distances. Members discussed hazardous conditions, possible use of safe-school transportation funds, and the bill’s lack of fiscal impact. Public testimony included support from education and parent groups. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> four, governor's operating adjustment. four, governor's operating adjustment.
• </c> Uh line 145, the operating adjustment. Uh line 145, the operating adjustment.
• </c> search and rescue team base adjustment. search and rescue team base adjustment.
• Um, line 241 is the operating adjustment. adjustment. adjustment. um um um 8,783,000<00:22:05.440><c>
• Uh line adjustments.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• It's growing over time. inflationary adjustment you can apply inflationary adjustment you can apply forecast
• Mingi mentioned, it’s applied to spending that’s not already adjusted for inflation.
• Mingi mentioned, it’s applied to spending that’s not already adjusted for inflation.
• First, there are operating adjustments for state agencies.
• </c><00:55:42.000><c> for</c> annual inflationary adjustments for annual inflationary adjustments for

Bills: HF3

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, many of us do not like the claims bill process.
• Many in this committee have tried to reform claims bill process, and this is a bill really that I see
• Here's my problem with the claims bill process. Sanchez-Mayen lost his legs.
• I just want to highlight one of the problems again with the claims bill process is that people have to
• If you think you have been wronged by a court order or by an arrest or by a claim, that's fine.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that act required DFA to provide a method for reporting and claiming this credit.
• ...claim the tax credit, how do we then verify that they're actually using Arkansas rice?
• So they will claim the credit on their report. They will provide a copy of the grain bill.
• Yeah, I think one of the comments referenced validation of the grain bill and sourcing the claims.
• And so I just... ...of the grain bill and sourcing the claims.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed a series of agency rules and related requests. The Department of Corrections and Post-Prison Transfer Board reported quarterly updates with no questions, and several Commerce rules were approved, including repeals tied to the minority business enterprise and women-owned business enterprise programs and the Consolidated Incentives Act because they were superseded by Act 116 or duplicative of statute. The Insurance Department’s new rule for online marketplace guarantee providers was also approved, with Airbnb used as an example of the type of platform covered. The Department of Education presented an update to the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program to align payment milestones with Act 502 of 2025, and DFA presented a rule implementing a new tax credit for Arkansas rice used in beer and sake production under Act 874 of 2025. Members asked about verification of grain bills and whether the credit was broadly available; DFA said the rule tracks the statute and requires producers to submit the grain bill with their return. DHS then presented a SNAP rule implementing federal changes from Public Law 119-21, including raising the able-bodied adult without dependents age limit to 64, changing treatment of dependents and exemptions, and adjusting energy assistance income treatment; the rule was approved despite one public comment. Later, DHS Medical Services amended the Medicaid Rehab Hospital Manual to allow rehab hospitals to operate psychiatric units and bill Medicaid for those services, and also secured approval for a recovery audit contractor exemption because Arkansas law bars contingency-fee contractors and the state already has other program integrity safeguards. The Board of Public Accountancy’s rules implementing Act 428 of 2025 were approved after discussion of a new CPA licensure pathway requiring a bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience, changes to substantial equivalency for out-of-state CPAs, and removal of a government/not-for-profit coursework requirement. The committee also approved the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from certain reporting requirements, retained all 18 DAPSAF rules under a review of Group 3, filed outstanding 2023-session rulemaking updates, and adjourned after filing monthly updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• When damages are under $5,000, he can take a case to small claims court and represent himself without
• The system works really well for small, very small claims.
• It raises the current small claims, which is essentially People's Court.
• You go in, if we've all seen People's Court... ...current small claims, which is essentially People's
• So if I was a small claims operator, contractor, and the amount that I was trying to collect, say, was

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• nick of time, we were going to move on to our final bill, the CS for HB 839, Insurance Overpayment Claims
• Today I bring before you CS for HB 839, Insurance Overpayment Claims Submitted to Psychologists.
• for up to 30 months after the health insurer payment of a claim.
• This was the standard for all health providers covered under statute until... ...of a claim.
• House Bill 839 looks to correct and add services applying to claims provided on or after January 1, 2026

Summary: The Health Care Facilities and Systems Subcommittee met and heard two bills. HB 141, by Rep. Woodson, would require the state group insurance program to cover out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations for covered employees, with the goal of improving early detection and reducing the chance that patients skip follow-up imaging because of cost. Woodson described her personal experience with breast cancer screening and emphasized that the bill would help state employees get recommended mammograms, MRIs, ultrasounds, and related tests without financial barriers. The American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network supported the bill, and several members spoke in strong support, citing the importance of early detection and employee retention. The committee voted 15-0 to report HB 141 favorably. The committee then heard CS for HB 839, by Rep. Booth, which would shorten the period for health insurers to seek overpayment claims against participating psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, aligning psychologists with other health care providers and applying to claims on or after January 1, 2026. Booth said the change would improve access to mental health care by encouraging more psychologists to participate in insurance networks. The Florida Psychological Association appeared in support, and there was no debate. The committee voted 15-0 to report the bill favorably. At the end of the meeting, the vice chair, ranking member, and chair each offered brief remarks thanking members and staff for their work during the session. The chair noted the committee had focused on implementation and oversight issues and described the process as member-driven. The meeting then adjourned by motion to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• DAMAGES CAN ONLY BE COMPENSATORY, NOT PUNITIVE ENOUGH OF THE CLAIMS BILLS PASSED LAST DECADE HAVE BEEN
• AT ALLIANCE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS THE VICTIMS OF THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO BRING A CLAIM AGAINST
• AS THEY WOULD AGAINST A PRIVATE ONE AND GIVES GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THE OPTIONS TO SETTLE LEGITIMATE CLAIMS
• REDUCES IT TO $200,000 AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CALL YOUR CLIENT AND SAY GUESS WHAT, IT'S TIME FOR A CLAIMS
• THE BUTTON CLAIMS BILL LAST YEAR, WHICH I SAT THROUGH AND LISTENED EVERY WORD OF THAT.

Transcript Highlights:

• The claims that more people would use cannabis if you stop jailing people for between three grams and
• The claims that more people would use cannabis if you stop jailing people for between three grams and
• The claims that more people would use cannabis if you stop jailing people for between three grams and
• </c><01:04:34.760><c> in</c> 66211 because payment of claims in 66211 because payment of claims in excess
• I don't handle all those claims, so I don't know how other attorneys have resolved those cases.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard SB 1231, which would repeal the Parentage Uniform Act of 1973 and update Hawaii’s parentage laws, including parts of the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017. Supporters said the current statutes are outdated and do not adequately address assisted reproduction, surrogacy, and modern family formation. The Attorney General’s office supported the bill with technical amendments, including conforming changes to the Probate Code and child support provisions, and several testifiers urged passage as a needed modernization of the law. A major point of disagreement was Part 10, which concerns donor anonymity. Some supporters, including members of the task force, the Uniform Law Commission, fertility and family law practitioners, and LGBTQ+ advocates, backed the bill as written or said it should move forward even if Part 10 is removed. Others, including donor-conceived adults, parents, and advocacy groups, opposed Part 10 and urged the committee to adopt the 2024 version of Article 9 or delete Part 10 entirely, arguing that anonymous donation harms donor-conceived people’s access to genetic, medical, and identity information and that anonymity is not realistic in the DNA-testing era. One task force member and attorney said she supported the bill but preferred removing Part 10 if necessary to pass the rest. The hearing included extensive public testimony both in support and opposition, with many individuals describing personal experiences with adoption, IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception. No committee vote or final action on the bill was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would speak on chapter 7 complacent inflation adjustments.
• Inflation adjustments Inflation adjustments to the Chapter 70 funding formula are currently capped at
• Rising costs don't result in simple budget adjustments.
• You know, I'm more on the inflation adjustment.
• You know, I'm more on the inflation adjustment.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education opened a hybrid public hearing on a large slate of bills related to school buildings, school finance, technology, data privacy, safety, and related education issues. Chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlined procedures for the hearing, including two-minute testimony limits and the plan to group similar bills together. Several bills drew no testimony and were closed without further discussion, while others drew extensive testimony from legislators, school officials, parents, advocates, and educators. A major theme was school safety and student well-being. Lori Al-Hadeth testified in support of bills on alert systems in public schools, describing the loss of her daughter in the Parkland shooting and urging adoption of Alyssa’s Law-style panic alert technology. Representative Gallagher and disability advocates also supported a bill authorizing, but not requiring, airway clearance devices in schools, arguing they could save lives in choking emergencies and provide an option for people who cannot use the Heimlich maneuver. Another bill on reducing cafeteria waste drew support from a legislator and a Lexington sustainability official, who said installing dishwashers during construction would reduce waste and long-term costs. Much of the hearing focused on Chapter 70 school funding and the inflation cap. Senator Pavel Payano, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Senna, and multiple local officials and school committee members from Bridgewater, Chelsea, Groton-Dunstable, and other districts argued that the 4.5% cap on inflation adjustments has left schools underfunded during years of high inflation, forcing layoffs, larger class sizes, and cuts to programs and student supports. They urged bills to eliminate the cap, restore lost funding, increase the Commonwealth’s share of the foundation budget, or create commissions to study reforms. Testimony also highlighted the impact on special education, English learners, and low-income students, with Chelsea witnesses saying the cap has cost their district about $7 million annually. School construction and MSBA reform were the other major topic. AIA Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools, Lynn officials, and AFT Massachusetts described aging facilities, overcrowding, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of financing new schools under current reimbursement rules. Boston officials said the district has many pre-World War II buildings and has only built a handful of new schools in decades, while Lynn leaders said reimbursement rates have fallen well below the statutory 80% because of caps and ineligible costs. Witnesses urged modernization of the MSBA program, higher reimbursement rates, and more resources for school construction. The committee also heard support for a bill to study the adequacy and equity of the school building program, and chairs indicated some bills would be closed after no one signed up to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then if we receive less or more, we could adjust that during legislative session.
• So then we can make the adjustments necessary during the 2027 session. Mr.
• So perhaps maybe we purchase equipment, they got to move a wall to adjust it. That could be used.
• I will bring forward to the HR section any adjustments that I make.
• I'll bring forward to Legislative Council any adjustments that I make.

Summary: The Appropriations Division met in a work session on the draft Rural Health Transformation appropriations bill, 25.1392.01000, with no public testimony taken. Legislative Council and the Department of Health and Human Services walked through the bill, which would appropriate about $397.8 million in federal grant funds over two federal fiscal years, provide transfer authority, allow certain federal funds to be used for salaries and wages without counting against existing transfer limits, and authorize OMB to adjust other agencies’ spending authority if they receive grant awards through HHS. The bill also includes several temporary statutory exemptions to help implement the program, plus recipient acknowledgement/reporting requirements, periodic reports to Legislative Management, and an immediate effective date upon filing. Committee discussion focused heavily on how the federal rural health transformation money can be used and administered. Department officials explained that CMS will review projects for allowability and sustainability, that the state has flexibility to move funds among categories, and that the grant is limited to 10% administrative costs. Members asked about whether the funding could support renovations, equipment, ambulances, bulk purchasing, food distribution, and other rural health ideas, and were told many details will depend on CMS approval and the eventual applications. Questions also addressed cash flow, timing of obligations and reimbursements, FTE funding, and whether grant recipients should be told the program will not continue beyond the federal period; officials said the language is meant to prevent expectations of automatic continuation, not to bar future legislative action. The committee also discussed the bill’s use of a two-year appropriation amount, with staff explaining that the state must appropriate enough authority to cover the federal grant cycle and that unused authority would lapse if the full amount is not received or spent. Members raised concerns about whether the bill’s language could limit creativity or future program design, but department officials and several members emphasized the need for flexibility because CMS may reject overly specific directives. After discussion, the committee voted to recommend the bill draft to the full committee; the motion carried on a roll call vote, and the chair said the full Joint Appropriations Committee would take up the bill at the special session next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• So clearly he has claims case today.
• </c><00:48:08.880><c> from</c> improperly verified meal claims from improperly verified meal claims from
• Thank you. documentation before claims are paid as documentation before claims are paid as really<01:
• </c><01:13:47.520><c> for</c> it's easier to deny a claim for it's easier to deny a claim for reimbursement
• </c> Future's account within its claims Future's account within its claims processing<01:29:31.760><c

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• designed so that someone who is injured or in financial distress does not sign away most of their claim
• designed so that someone who is injured or in financial distress does not sign away most of their claim
• In short, the bill does not. ...of their claim just to keep their case alive.
• the language as you have drafted now would not allow for any domestic terror organizations to be claimed
• Thank you. ...organizations to be claimed anyway, so. Thank you. Thank you.

Committee: House Legislative Review

Summary: The Committee on Legislative Review met in executive session and voted House Bill 2408 due pass by an 8-0 roll call. It then considered House Bill 3092, where a House Committee amendment was adopted and rolled into a House Committee substitute despite objections that the amendment had not received a public hearing and would repeal significant insurance-related provisions. The substitute for HB 3092 was then approved 6-3. The committee also adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute for House Bill 3004, which passed unanimously 9-0. In open hearing, Representative Hausman presented House Bill 3090 as a transparency measure requiring the state treasurer to report annually on special treasury funds that have had no spending for five years and whether those funds were moved to general revenue. She said the bill would help lawmakers identify inactive accounts and unused money. Members asked how the reporting would work, what funds might be affected, and whether the bill would move unused balances into GR after five years; the sponsor said it would. No witnesses testified for or against, and the hearing closed. The committee then heard House Bill 3205 from Representative Castile, which would regulate third-party litigation funding, require disclosure of outside and foreign-linked funders, restrict funding from foreign adversaries, and give enforcement authority to the Attorney General. Members questioned the bill’s scope, including whether the foreign-terrorist language could be read too broadly and how liability and funding-risk provisions would work. Testimony in support came from Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Insurance Coalition/Missouri Civil Justice Coalition, and medical associations, all arguing that litigation funding can distort lawsuits, hide outside influence, and expose businesses and plaintiffs to abusive or foreign-backed financing. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• . inflation/adjusted. inflation/adjusted.
• maximum that adjusted inflation adjusted maximum that adjusted max<00:04:53.840><c> adjusted</c><00:
• 04:54.720><c> inflation</c><00:04:55.280><c> adjusted</c> max adjusted inflation adjusted max adjusted
• Chair votes I. uh adjusted. So lines nine and 10 the uh adjusted.
• So lines nine and 10 the inflation<01:02:10.079><c> adjusted</c> inflation adjusted inflation adjusted

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The committee first heard SB 2122, which would tie public service flexible spending account contribution and carryover limits to the annual IRS cafeteria plan caps. DEER supported the bill and said it would help the state keep pace with federal limits, though it suggested deleting the words “inflation/adjusted” and “for that calendar year” as unnecessary. HGA and UPW strongly supported the measure, saying state limits lag the IRS amounts and that higher caps would help employees offset rising health care costs. In response to questions, DEER said the plan has a fund balance of about $1.6 million but noted some risk if employees leave before contributing enough to cover reimbursements. The unions agreed to DEER’s suggested wording change so long as the bill still clearly required future increases to track the IRS limits. The committee then took up SB 2116, which would create a confidential process in the Attorney General’s office for anonymous complaints against public employees, with complaints forwarded to the appropriate agency and annual reporting required. DLIR and the Attorney General opposed the bill. The AG’s office said anonymous complaints cannot truly be guaranteed to remain anonymous, that existing laws already provide confidential complaint processes in specific areas, and that the AG would effectively be only a repository without meaningful authority over how complaints are handled. HGA and UPW supported the bill, saying it would begin a conversation about protecting complainants while discouraging frivolous complaints. In questions, senators raised concerns about how anonymous complaints would be investigated and whether the AG could serve as an appeal body; the AG said the proposal would likely require broader changes to existing complaint laws. The committee also heard SB 218, which would amend the amount a disbursing officer may deduct from an employee’s wages to repay indebtedness to the state. HGA and UPW supported the bill, saying it would create a more lenient repayment process for employees who were overpaid and should not have to repay large amounts in a single pay period. UPW said the bill would eliminate a provision allowing recovery of debts of $1,000 or less in one pay period, which it described as problematic for members. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii was listed in opposition, and additional comments were submitted by the state controller and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. Finally, the committee heard SB 2114, which would repeal the prohibition on certain exempt employees grieving suspensions or discharges and allow bargaining-unit members to grieve disciplinary actions. DHRD and the City and County of Honolulu opposed the bill, arguing exempt employees are at-will employees who serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and already have other legal remedies for discrimination or harassment; they also said the issue is a negotiable matter under collective bargaining agreements. HGA and UPW supported the bill, saying exempt positions have increased in number and that just-cause protections would improve recruitment and retention. Senators questioned how unions would represent exempt employees and whether the bill would change the at-will nature of those positions; no vote or final action was taken on the measures in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee will come to order. Zoe, please call the roll.
• Who's bringing this claim? I can't.
• Two fathers or two potential fathers who show up, and each one wants to claim the damages.
• That if paternity is at issue, it will have to be determined before there can be claim and damages.
• So many of you claim to be pro-life, and that's great. That's your belief. It's fine.

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee met to consider one measure, PCS for HB 289, which would amend Florida’s wrongful death statute to allow parents of an unborn child to recover damages for the child’s wrongful death and to include parents in the definition of survivors. The sponsor said the bill is intended to give parents a remedy when a wrongful act, negligence, breach of contract, or breach of warranty causes the loss of an unborn child, while also preserving existing protections for lawful medical care and the mother. Members questioned the bill extensively about the meaning of “survivors,” whether it could reach surrogacy situations, friends or family who assist someone in obtaining abortion care, paternity issues, and whether abusive or unqualified fathers could bring claims. The sponsor repeatedly said the bill is limited to parents, does not authorize suits against the mother or lawful medical providers, and would still require the normal wrongful death procedures, including appointment of a personal representative. He cited Duncan v. Flynn as the case holding that current law does not allow recovery for the death of an unborn child. Representative Gottlieb offered an amendment modeled on criminal-law protections, aimed at expanding explicit immunity for a pregnant woman and for persons providing medical care or abortion-related conduct with consent. Supporters of the amendment said it would better align civil law with criminal protections; opponents argued it was overly broad and could shield unlicensed conduct. The amendment failed on a voice vote. Public testimony was divided, with supporters from pro-life and Catholic organizations backing the bill and some asking to remove the health care exemption, while opponents from ACLU, Equality Florida, Planned Parenthood affiliates, Florida Voice for the Unborn, Voices of Florida, and others warned the bill could chill reproductive health care, increase liability for doctors and hospitals, and invite lawsuits involving surrogates, family members, and abortion-related care. In debate, supporters said the bill simply recognizes the value of unborn children and gives parents a remedy for wrongful loss, while opponents argued it could create unintended consequences in family law, surrogacy, IVF, and medical practice, and could empower abusive partners or rapists. After closing remarks, the committee voted 13 yeas and 3 nays to report PCS for HB 289 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are about 20 death row inmates that are currently making the claims.
• Freeman brought up, four years we spent litigating an Atkins claim.
• So that's 11 years from the time that he raised the claim until that claim was actually able to be decided
• So that's 11 years from the time that he raised the claim until that claim was actually able to be from
• the time that he raised the claim until that claim was actually able to be decided just in the district

Committee: Senate Judiciary C