Transcript Highlights:

• Rates, and it's killing us. So far, the LFC recommendation is unfunding rates by $5 million.
• and DO IT rates last year.
• We've experienced an... ...8% increase in our DO IT rates from FY 25 to 26, and our GSD rates are even
• That didn't leave a lot of room for GSD risk rates and, you know, DO IT premium draft published rates
• An interest rate buy down.

Bills: SB48 , SB64 , SB100

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• pay rate because of the change in the cap.
• structure, the tiered rate structure.
• rate under the tiered rate structure. be a tier one, two, three, and three plus.
• Now in the implementation of rate reform, providers who had rates historically that were higher than
• Developmental services has been very willing to engage on challenges with existing rates and rate models

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rate.
• rate.
• Looking at graduation rates, the most recent checkpoint for graduation rates was in 2022, and for both
• anything specific in that ESSA plan to do with graduation rates, or withdrawal rates, excuse me.
• We'll start with school ratings.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The program started out at a 0.4% premium rate, and the most current rate, which just started in January
• The program has a three-step formula to calculate the annual rate, and if the calculated rate exceeds
• a rate necessary to maintain a three-month reserve at the end of the following rate collection year,
• the rate must be set at the rate for the three-month reserve, but there is also a 1.2% cap.
• And third, beginning in 2030, the actuarial report must provide for a rate to close the rate collection

Bills: SB6014 , SB5972 , SB5869 , SB5874

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: pregnancy accommodations, pregnant workers, workplace accommodations, reasonable accommodation, undue hardship, lactation, breastfeeding, express milk, maternity leave, childbirth, pregnancy discrimination, employment law, labor and industries, L&I, confidential records, public records exemption, health care certification, workplace standards, employee rights, employer obligations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 2026 rates. 2026 rates.
• continues things at its existing rate, uh, which are not the pandemic rates, but the prepandemic rates
• So, they're not in these rates. rates. rates. &gt;&gt; Senator<00:18:35.039><c> Nelson.
• ><c> and</c> the rating and how plans can rate and the rating and how plans can rate and again<00:39:
• ." rates." rates."

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next one is our general matching rate.
• But our general matching rate is around 50%.
• Their matching rate would be higher.
• The state has provided a minimum wage rate on rate add-on for and in June. 25 with the funding without
• of those who are... response rate.

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and base rates are subject to refund together with interest on the refunded amount on the same rate
• as the rate of interest.
• Base rate recoveries arising from inclusion of construction work in progress and base rates are subject
• to refund together with interest on the refunded amount on the same rate as the rate of interest.
• to refund, together with interest on the refunded amount at the same rate as the rate of interest for

Committee: House Utilities

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know bond ratings are not glamorous, Mr.
• </c> that our state's bond rating that our state's bond rating is<00:20:46.080><c> critical</c><00:20
• A significant portion of that rated AAA.
• I know bond ratings are not funds. I know bond ratings are not glamorous,<00:21:01.560><c> Mr.
• </c> uh which then gets passed on to the rate uh which then gets passed on to the rate payers<00:36:41.520

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, under current law, Allowing rates to remain steady.
• A similar approach was successful in the nearby city of Montebello under AB 850 in 2021, where rates
• with inflation from decades of the city not keeping up with inflation in terms of rates.
• , specifically tiered water rates.
• at their next rate-setting cost-of-service study.

Summary: The Local Government Committee met on March 25, 2026, hearing eight bills, with several measures focused on housing, water, and local government administration. AB 1621 by Assemblymember Wilson sought to speed post-entitlement housing permits by setting clearer timelines, limiting repeated plan checks, and restricting field changes that conflict with approved plans. Supporters from the building, apartment, business, and housing sectors said the bill would reduce delays and costs, while county and city representatives opposed it unless amended, warning it could limit local enforcement of building and environmental codes and create problems for incomplete applications. The bill passed after a roll call vote, with the committee noting it would continue working with local government groups on amendments. The committee also heard AB 1712, which would help Santa Fe Springs sell its small, financially strained water system to a larger regulated provider without requiring a municipal election, using a protest process instead. The author and city officials said the system faces contamination, major deferred maintenance, and rate increases that could otherwise triple; water industry representatives supported the bill and no opposition was heard. AB 2080, sponsored by county treasurers, would make county delegations of investment authority to treasurers ongoing until revoked rather than requiring annual renewal, with supporters saying it would reduce administrative burden and avoid technical lapses. AB 2640 would allow local governments to offset reductions in reimbursement for disallowed state mandate claims against other unpaid mandate reimbursements; Shasta County testified in support, describing a large audit disallowance and long-delayed state payments. Both bills passed. The committee also approved consent items AB 1622 and AB 1834. AB 2180, which would codify a framework for proportional water rates under Proposition 218 based on the Dreher decision, drew broad support from water agencies and local government groups, but opposition from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the California Association of Realtors, who argued the bill was premature while the Supreme Court reviews related case law. Despite that opposition, the bill passed on a 6-2 vote, and the remaining bills were advanced with roll calls left open for additional votes before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:45.000><c> Through</c> depreciation and the rate. Through depreciation and the rate.
• So, it's just and we kept just the rate. So, it's just the<00:07:50.760><c> rate.
• </c> the rate. There's actually two rates. the rate. There's actually two rates.
• </c> Rate Rate the session on 1 to 10. Rate Rate the session on 1 to 10.
• </c> Where would I rate it 1 through 10? Where would I rate it 1 through 10?

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Legislators and reporters discussed the final contours of a Minnesota bonding and tax package centered on a $1.2 billion capital investment bill. Supporters said the bill would fund state and local infrastructure projects, maintain state assets, and include anti-fraud measures such as electronic verification for service providers and a 100% excess tax on fraud proceeds to prevent offenders from profiting. They also said the package would backfill road-and-bridge funding so the fee reduction would not reduce transportation dollars. A major point of emphasis was a temporary reduction in tab fees, described as a $254 million savings for taxpayers in 2027. Republicans said the reduction was a top priority and that it was secured through negotiations, though they acknowledged it is only a one-year reprieve unless changed in a future session. They estimated the average savings at about $145 on a $50,000 vehicle, with larger savings for households with multiple vehicles. They also noted that the first proposal had included both a depreciation change and a rate change, but only the rate cut remained in the final compromise. In response to questions, lawmakers said the tab fee cut was driven by constituent complaints and that they would try to extend it next year. They also discussed related transportation issues, including accelerating collection of an auto parts sales tax and concerns about greenhouse gas-related costs for roads and bridges. On other topics, one lawmaker said gun control proposals in the House were not part of these negotiations and urged continued movement on the broader package. No formal vote was taken in the exchange, but participants expressed confidence that the bonding portion of the deal was largely settled, while some details of the full package still needed to be finalized.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, Florida's payment error rate is at the highest.
• Error rate that we're facing, according to DCF.
• That's why our error rate is so high. Your bill...
• Payment error rate.
• We're at this high error rate, and we're kind of blaming recipients for the error rate.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate.
• A four-year rate refers to students who graduate high school in four years, and a five-year rate refers
• anything specific in that as a plan to do with graduation rates or withdrawal rates.
• ...rates?
• We'll start with school ratings.

Summary: The committee received a lengthy Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on Arkansas academic standards, accountability systems, and adequacy-related requirements. Staff reviewed the history of state curriculum and accreditation laws, the current standards for grades K-12, required high school units and graduation pathways, and recent changes such as career-ready pathways, embedded instruction requirements, and the distinction between courses required to be offered versus courses actually taken by students. Members asked for a chart comparing the 1997, 2003, 2015, 2017, and later law changes, and staff agreed to provide one. The presentation then turned to the federal ESSA plan and Arkansas’s state accountability system. Staff summarized ESSA requirements, Arkansas’s long-term goals for proficiency, English learner progress, and graduation rates, and recent data showing that 2025 proficiency rates remained well below the 80% goal, while English learner progress and graduation rates were also below long-term targets. The committee discussed school support and improvement, equitable access to educators, report cards, and the apparent lack of evidence that equity labs are currently being conducted. Members requested follow-up from the Department of Education on equity labs, report card data, and whether the ESSA plan can be changed. The presentation also covered state assessment results under the Arkansas Accountability Act, including ATLAS, DLM, ELPA 21, ACT, and NAEP data, along with teacher access measures and geographic shortage districts. Staff reported that Title I and high-poverty schools tend to have more emergency/provisional teachers and less experienced staff, and that shortage districts are concentrated in parts of the state. Members asked for additional information on test highs and lows, the number of assessments students take, dropout data, and whether higher teacher salaries have affected shortage areas. The committee also discussed district levels of support under the state accountability system, including the possibility of state intervention at the highest level of support.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> would do is lower that tax rate. would do is lower that tax rate.
• The highest tax rate is not going to be the optimal tax rate. It's just not.
• . rate. rate.
• rate. Uh it's a has to be coupled with rate.
• What is the tax base rate? What is the tax base rate?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , high interest rates and buyers' expectations that interest rates will decline if they wait.
• , high interest rates and buyers' expectations that interest rates will decline if they wait.
• , high interest rates and buyers' expectations that interest rates will decline if they wait.
• , high interest rates and buyers' expectations that interest rates will decline if they wait.
• , high interest rates and buyers' expectations that interest rates will decline if they wait.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:07 Roll Call 00:00:14 Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:01 Discussion of Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit 01:11:13 Adjournment 01:40:27, 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Housing Task Force met and heard first from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which presented findings from a housing study done with the Home Builders Association. The chamber said housing is now a major economic-development issue, citing survey results that 90% of community leaders said their region could not absorb a major job announcement and 66% said housing is holding back Kentucky’s economy. The chamber described Kentucky’s housing shortage, rising home prices, declining permits since 2008, and the need for more production to support growth. It urged policy changes including zoning and land-use reform, tax incentives, regional approaches, and especially a residential infrastructure fund modeled on Indiana’s low-interest loan program to help communities finance roads and other infrastructure needed for new housing. Members asked about the severity of the problem, workforce shortages in permitting and construction, the loan interest rate, repayment, and whether Kentucky could replicate Indiana’s results; the witness said the issue is a crisis and that the program would be a revolving public-private partnership, likely around 3% interest, with implementation details still to be worked out. The Kentucky Bankers Association then testified that the housing gap is especially acute for households at 80% of area median income and below, which it said represents about 70% of Kentucky’s housing need. It emphasized that the shortage affects both urban and rural counties and pointed to examples such as Rowan County, where workers at major employers must commute long distances because local housing is unavailable or unaffordable. The bankers said high interest rates remain a major barrier and proposed a $20 million bank commitment for a revolving fund tied to tax credits to finance new housing, not refinances. They cited Hope of the Midwest as an example of a successful tax-credit housing model with a long track record and no defaults, and said the proposal would leverage public-private partnerships to create new units. Committee members questioned how the proposed fund would compare with industrial revenue bonds and whether it could be structured like Kentucky’s tobacco settlement fund, with seed money, a review board, scoring criteria, and possible population thresholds to ensure smaller communities benefit. The bankers said the proposal would be another tool for cities and counties, specifically tied to residential infrastructure, and that larger cities should not be able to capture all of the resources. No formal votes or actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate.
• rate.
• an upper-bound rate.
• So the reduction of the self-directed rate would actually take the rate, and there are three rate categories
• When we look at rates and we look at the rate range, we've done a lot of work to get our provider rate

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• buyers really are rate sensitive.
• </c> asked the question just how rate asked the question just how rate sensitive<00:07:57.000><c> are
• </c> really are rate really are rate sensitive<00:08:20.039><c> thinking</c><00:08:20.520><c> through
• Oh boy, interest rates. I am not a lender and not a rate expert.
• He said he feels stuck because of his rate, low inventory, rates, and everything.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rates rates wages retention employment rates rates wages retention and<00:13:24.600><c> turnover</c><
• </c><00:47:54.920><c> automatic</c> of the model rates with annual automatic of the model rates with
• SUD reimbursement rates have only been increased by $39 per day, or 15.7%, while labor rates during
• </c> support this bill including rate support this bill including rate increases<00:51:41.280><c> for
• We rely almost entirely on the rates established by the legislature, and when those rates lag behind,

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• local rate of 2% for a maximum combined state and local rate of 8.25%.
• The tax rate is $2,500. on debt service and a tax rate to fund maintenance and operations as determined
• total school district. rate.
• He referred to his closing loopholes in the no new revenue tax rate and voter approval tax rate calculations
• Uncontrollably and there are things we can do to to control property tax rate rates better than we have

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sprained right knee: market rate is $1,700.
• Freestanding emergency room rate: $8,500, five times the market rate. Migraine headache.
• The market rate is the rate that Blue Cross of Idaho pays emergency rooms in Idaho for that particular
• The freestanding emergency room rate is the billed rate that we then receive from these freestanding
• The freestanding emergency room rate is the billed rate that we then receive from these freestanding

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee first approved the minutes from February 12, 2026, and then voted to send the gubernatorial reappointment of Trent Nate to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board to the full Senate with a recommendation for confirmation. The committee then heard several code-cleanup bills from Senator Todd Lakey. Senate Bill 1274 would remove obsolete references in state law related to the transfer of county public defender employees, comp time, and an employee problem-solving procedure; Senate Bill 1275 would delete outdated provisions concerning veterans’ assets and the North Idaho Veterans Home; and Senate Bill 1273 would repeal several obsolete PERSI-related provisions tied to old retirement and contribution arrangements. Each of those bills drew no testimony or opposition and was sent to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee spent most of the meeting on Senate Bill 1319, the Emergency Care Affordability Act, sponsored by Senator Burt. The bill would create a new chapter in Title 41 governing billing and reimbursement for out-of-network freestanding emergency rooms, requiring them to accept the local in-network allowed amount for emergency services from state-regulated health plans, disclose that they do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE, and allow self-funded plans to opt in. Supporters, including Blue Cross of Idaho and the Association of Health Plans, argued that freestanding ERs are exploiting the federal No Surprises Act and its independent dispute resolution process by sending nearly all claims to arbitration at inflated rates, which they said raises premiums for Idaho consumers and state employee health plans. They said the bill is intended to address a loophole and does not affect hospital ERs or other emergency billing disputes. Committee members raised questions about EMTALA, federal preemption, whether the bill targets one business model, and whether patients are actually being balance-billed. Supporters said EMTALA still requires treatment, but the bill is aimed at billing practices and transparency, not access to emergency care. Some senators expressed concern about singling out one provider type and possible legal issues, while others said the bill was justified because insurers are required to cover emergency care and the current federal dispute process is driving up costs. After discussion, the committee approved Senate Bill 1319 on a 6-3 roll call vote and sent it to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and grades 9 through 12, which is 2.6% of the base rate.
• This compares the base LCFF rate with the per-student This compares the base LCFF rate with the per-student
• Which has everybody gets the same rate per ADA per grade.
• Is your proposal $509 million, or is it the rate of $999?
• That's been the rate in recent years.

Keywords: 988, house, all