Transcript Highlights:

• We have licensed entities and then we have chartered entities.
• We have licensed entities jurisdiction.
• For and then we have chartered entities.
• We each of those entities annualized.
• </c> requested that we some of the entities requested that we some of the entities asked<01:12:34.400

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> year if I recall um the external entity year if I recall um the external entity costs<00:57:47.839
• . entities. entities.
• the reporting entities sometimes the reporting entities indicated<00:58:51.440><c> things</c><00:58:
• </c><01:23:43.040><c> that</c> specifically outlines the entities that specifically outlines the entities
• However, with 340B covered entities.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 11, 2026 minutes, then heard House File 4048, which would exempt chiropractors from Minnesota’s provider tax if they are no longer eligible to provide chiropractic benefits under Medicaid/MinnesotaCare. Representative Robbins said the bill corrects an unfair situation because chiropractors still pay the tax even though the benefit was eliminated. Testifiers from the Minnesota Chiropractic Association and a longtime chiropractor supported the bill, arguing that most chiropractors are small-business owners and should not pay a tax for services they can no longer provide. Several members said they supported restoring chiropractic coverage instead of changing the tax, and there was discussion about whether the tax applies to all providers and whether it is effectively passed on to patients. The committee adopted a motion to recommend HF 4048 to the Committee on Taxes. The committee then took up House File 3893, as amended, a bill to restrict artificial intelligence from engaging in psychotherapy or counseling with humans. The author and supporters said the bill is intended to prevent AI chatbots from posing as therapists or counseling vulnerable people, citing reports of suicides and other harms linked to chatbot interactions. The A2 amendment was adopted; the author said it reflected stakeholder concerns and added informed-consent language. Testifiers in support, including a psychologist and a suicide-prevention nonprofit leader, urged strong safeguards and said AI should not replace licensed professionals in crisis settings. Other testimony raised concerns about overbreadth and unintended effects. TechNet and a rural mental health provider said the bill should be narrowed so it applies to clinical therapy rather than wellness or educational tools, and should allow supervised AI uses such as transcription and administrative support. Members discussed rural access, existing licensing-board authority, privacy laws, and whether the bill should target AI companies directly rather than licensed clinicians. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HF 3893, with no final committee action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in this bill, they just have an entity, and it’s not specified who the entity is that it would be
• and it's not specified who the an entity and it's not specified who the entity<00:07:34.360><c> is</
• </c> entity is that it would be conveyed to. entity is that it would be conveyed to.
• </c> or supplant an entity or supplant an entity uh<00:08:05.840><c> with</c><00:08:06.120><c> the</c
• > be</c> uh with the actual entity itself be uh with the actual entity itself be being<00:08:09.080><

Keywords: Public Property - Room 409, 26 February, 2026; 11:00 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 5904 relates to the use of nursing titles by non-human entities.
• A non-human entity may not use these titles.
• A non-human entity may not use these titles or abbreviations or associated words, letters, signs, or
• figures indicating that the entity is a licensed nurse.
• When that happens, the covered entities keep the discount and our employees pay more.

Bills: SB5877, SB5904, SB5988

Keywords: anesthesiology, medical personnel, surcharges, licensing, healthcare regulations, nursing titles, licensure, healthcare professionals, patient safety, professional standards, opioid treatment, accreditation, health department, fee authority, substance abuse, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These two entities are critical to government transparency and to protecting the rights of Vermonters
• </c><00:31:22.960><c> are</c> positions are These two entities are positions are These two entities are
• And, uh, essentially, if in fact that individual's, you know, that's their income entity would notify
• If<01:18:15.240><c> the</c><01:18:15.360><c> licensing</c><01:18:16.440><c> entity</c><01:18:17.360><
• </c><01:18:31.960><c> would</c> individual the licensing entity would individual the licensing entity

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the things that are already in existence, you know, the entity wanting to detach would still
• We didn't want to see a scenario where an entity has requested detachment and then the water district
• responds by... ...an entity has requested detachment, and then the water district responds by trying
• So if it's an HOA, though, with multiple entities paying for that, I mean, that's going to do...
• There's no longer that entity to be able to take on that cost.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the B&O exemption does not require the entity performing
• I'm not familiar with how it necessarily works in all other entities.
• So it's not a great system, but it's the system we have, and it's entity-based. So I... thank you.
• They also own complex intermediaries and other entities that are focused on market share and profits.
• So. owning clinics and entities that are clearly not insurance and spending vast sums on marketing.

Bills: HB2487

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2133 is about verification and consent requirements for commercial entities that publish or
• The bill primarily regulates commercial entities that publish or distribute sexual material online to
• Thus, that act immunizes entities like websites, for example, from liability for those things posted
• House Bill 2133 might be preempted by Section 230 because it attaches liability to a commercial entity
• Removing the federal government from the definition of governmental entity in this bill would resolve

Summary: The Rules Committee considered several bills for constitutional and proper-form review, with the chair holding House Bill 2555. The committee heard legal analysis on House Bill 2060, which would prohibit public educational institutions and universities from encouraging or facilitating abortions; counsel flagged possible state constitutional issues in light of Proposition 139, but the committee still recommended the bill 5-3. House Bill 2085, dealing with gender transition procedures and referrals, was discussed at length for possible First Amendment concerns, especially around provider referrals, but it was also recommended 5-3. House Bill 2133, requiring age and consent verification for online sexual material, was flagged for possible federal preemption under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and was recommended 5-3. House Bill 2086, which would bar government entities from requiring masks or vaccinations, raised Supremacy Clause and intergovernmental immunity concerns because it included the federal government, but the sponsor was said to be working on an amendment; it passed 5-3. House Bill 2279, concerning liability and waivers for Grand Canyon river outfitters, drew an anti-abrogation clause concern, with staff saying ordinary negligence liability must remain available; it was also recommended 5-3. House Bill 2364, adding criminal penalties for mailing or delivering abortion-inducing drugs, was flagged as likely conflicting with the new abortion-rights language in Proposition 139, though staff said the courts were still sorting out the issue; it too passed 5-3. The committee then took up a large mass motion covering many additional bills, resolutions, and memorials. Staff noted one update on House Concurrent Resolution 2003, which would place on the ballot changes affecting school sports participation based on biological sex; they said the U.S. Supreme Court was considering similar laws from Idaho and West Virginia and that the outcome could affect the measure. No other specific concerns were raised on the mass motion items, and the committee recommended all of them 8-0. Throughout the meeting, members asked clarifying questions about the constitutional issues, including the effect of Proposition 139, the scope of First Amendment protections for medical providers, federal preemption, and the anti-abrogation clause. Several members voted no on the abortion- and gender-related bills, while the majority consistently voted to advance the measures as constitutional and in proper form. The meeting adjourned after the mass motion vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within the Executive Direction and Support Services budget entity
• Meyer: So, like this initiative, you know, is a new initiative to contract with an outside entity to
• would grant the authority to make these payments to the qualifying entities for the 2024-25 period.
• We grant the authority to make these payments to the qualifying entities for the 2024-25 period.
• Both trust funds are allocated within the investigative service budget entity.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any taxing entity that does not consent is excluded from the increment district.
• TIFs routinely shift costs to entities that never agreed to participate.
• The business entity, all they stand to gain.
• entity, all they stand is to gain.
• Public entities are no different. They also are now facing the same issue.

Bills: HB3310, HB4311, HB3841, HB3024, HB3075

Keywords: purchasing, compliance, state employees, longevity pay, contract management, unclaimed property, service charges, property fund, accountability, government transparency, local development, economic impact, voter approval, tax increment financing, review committee, public finance, blight, salary increase, bonus limits, job performance

Summary: The committee met for its first General Government meeting of the second part of session and laid over several agenda items, including bills listed as numbers 3, 4, and 10. HB 3310, the Government Accountability and Budget Transparency Act, was presented as a procurement accountability measure to strengthen oversight, efficiency, and timely payment to private vendors doing business with the state. After brief questioning about whether late payment is a widespread problem, the committee voted 8-0 to pass the bill. HB 431, which would increase the treasurer’s share of the unclaimed property administration fee from 4% to 6%, was presented as necessary to cover higher operating costs such as salaries and IT. The author emphasized that the change would not cost taxpayers anything or reduce the amount returned to owners of unclaimed property. The committee approved the bill after questions about long-term impacts on the unclaimed property fund. The most extensive discussion centered on HB 3841, a major reform of tax increment financing (TIF). The author said the bill would not ban TIFs but would require voter approval, separate consent from affected taxing jurisdictions, more transparency, annual training for review committees, independent legal and financial opinions, and economic impact studies. Members raised concerns that the bill’s wording—especially the “majority of the eligible voters” language and removal of executive-session confidentiality—could make TIFs impractical or eliminate trade-secret protections, and they also questioned costs and effects on economic development. At the author’s request and with committee support, the bill was laid over for further work. The committee then passed HB 3024, which creates statutory limits and oversight for state employee pay increases and bonuses, including a 10% cap unless higher amounts are approved through cabinet secretary/OMES procedures. Supporters said it would add transparency and curb large, unreported raises, while questions focused on whether it would help address broader pay disparities. Finally, HB 3075, as amended by a PCS, was presented to authorize rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel for state agencies and local governments in response to the practical disappearance of pennies. The committee approved that bill as well, and the meeting adjourned with plans to reconvene the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:32:08.080><c> as</c> looking at each LLC each each entity as looking at each LLC each each entity
• ><c> New</c><03:32:10.000><c> Hampshire</c> a separate entity for New Hampshire a separate entity for
• </c> separate entity so just so each entity separate entity so just so each entity is<03:33:02.800><c
• an interest in a foreign entity, and how does that foreign entity activity get reported in New Hampshire
• </c><03:49:06.680><c> have</c> considerations that these entities have considerations that these entities

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory Ways and Means Committee orientation led by Chair John Janigian. Members went around the room introducing themselves, with several returning legislators and several freshmen describing their backgrounds in business, education, public service, finance, transportation, journalism, military service, and nonprofit work. Janigian explained his own legislative history and professional background, and other members, including Bill Bolton, Fred Doucette, Mary Ford, Jim Tierney, Scott Brier, Thomas Oppel, Mary Murphy, Representative Spar, Susan Elberger, Dennis Malloy, Jordan Ulery, and Julius Soti, briefly described their prior experience and reasons for serving on the committee. The chair then outlined the committee’s role. He said Ways and Means is responsible for revenue estimates that Finance will use to determine how much the state can spend over the next biennium, and that the committee would spend the next five to six weeks developing its best revenue estimate, due around February 15. He also explained that the committee hears from state agencies and departments about how taxes are created, collected, and performing against expectations, and that it reviews bills affecting state revenue, including tax increases, tax decreases, tax removals, and fee-related measures. Janigian noted that the committee had five bills at the time of the meeting and expected more to be referred. He explained that most would be first-committee bills, though some second-committee bills could come over if they involved taxes or fees after passing policy committees. He used marijuana-related legislation as an example of a bill that might first go to another committee and later reach Ways and Means if it had fiscal implications. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational, and members were told how to participate in hearings and follow-up questions during regular committee work.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it certainly does provide for third-party verification, but also provides that those entities
• or the commercial entity could do it themselves.
• or the commercial entity could do it with themselves.
• If they're a covered entity or individual, then they would just be covered. Okay. Thank you.
• If they're a covered entity or individual, then they would just be covered. Okay. Thank you.

Summary: The Committee on Children and Families heard public testimony on House Bills 1839, 2921, and 3015, all aimed at requiring age verification for access to online pornography. The sponsors argued the bills are needed to protect children from early exposure, exploitation, sextortion, and related harms, and said the measures mirror laws in other states and recent Texas litigation. Supporters, including the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, pediatric sexual assault nurse examiners, child advocacy groups, the Missouri Catholic Conference, and the Attorney General’s office, testified that pornography contributes to child sexual abuse risk, addiction, and unhealthy sexual development. Committee members asked about privacy protections, enforcement, penalties, and whether third-party verification or website-based verification would be used; the Attorney General’s office said identifying information should not be retained and that enforcement would occur through court action. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing concluded with the bills remaining under consideration, with a committee substitute to follow for one portion of the legislation. The committee then heard House Bill 2610, which would use the state legal expense fund to cover claims and judgments involving foster care, case management, and residential service providers under contract with the state. Representative Murphy and supporters said the private insurance market for these providers has become unstable and unaffordable, with some agencies facing large premium increases, repeated denials, or inability to find coverage at all. Testimony from the Missouri Coalition for Children, Missouri Alliance for Children and Families, Family Forward, and the Attorney General’s office described the issue as a market failure that could force providers to close and disrupt services for foster children. The Attorney General’s office explained how legal expense fund coverage would work, noted that it can cover negligence and intentional acts for covered entities, and said the bill would shift risk to the state in the absence of adequate private insurance. No opposition was offered. Finally, Representative Terry briefly presented House Bill 24, describing it as the same as Representative Dolan’s grandparents’ bill and emphasizing that grandparents should have first consideration for custody if a child’s parents are unable to care for them. No testimony was offered on the bill. The committee then moved into executive session and voted do pass on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1696, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2505 and 24, and House Bill 1772, each by unanimous 14-0 votes. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the B&O exemption does not require the entity performing
• who receive income from insurers. with an exact number of entities who receive income from insurers.
• I'm not familiar with how it necessarily works in all other entities.
• So it's not a great system, but it's the system we have and it's entity-based. So I, thank you.
• So. owning clinics and entities that are clearly not insurance and spending vast sums on marketing.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its last scheduled public hearing of the year on March 9, 2026, taking testimony on House Bill 2487, Substitute House Bill 2689, and Engrossed House Bill 2681. For HB 2487, staff and the Department of Revenue explained that the bill would narrow a B&O tax exemption for insurance-related businesses after a 2024 Supreme Court decision, make several related changes including annuity and assigned risk plan exemptions, adjust the advanced computing surcharge threshold for certain affiliated groups, and allow a penalties-and-interest waiver with a repayment plan. DOR supported the bill as clarifying the original intent and preventing double taxation, while insurers and health plan groups opposed it, arguing it would create higher costs, retroactive tax liability, and uncertainty; consumer and policy groups testified in support, saying it closes a loophole and restores the intended tax structure. Committee members questioned the retroactivity, the number of affected businesses, and the fiscal estimates, and the chair reminded members that amendment requests were due by noon for the next day’s executive session. For Substitute HB 2689, staff described changes to the Working Connections Child Care program that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, reduce future rate-setting from the 85th to the 75th percentile, block enhanced rates for certain cross-region providers, cancel the planned move to enrollment-based prospective payments, revise attendance-based reimbursement to a full month for absences of 10 days or fewer and half-month for longer absences, and require a 65% market survey response rate for validity. The fiscal note projected substantial savings, offset by implementation and staffing costs. SEIU 925 and Head Start representatives supported the simpler House approach to attendance billing but raised concerns about the new survey threshold and the risk of increased audits and provider burden; they also noted an amendment under discussion to address the 2026 survey issue. Committee questions focused on how a full month is defined under the attendance rules. For HB 2681, staff said the bill would raise annual issuance and renewal fees for cannabis producer, processor, and retail licenses by $400, generating about $866,000 per year for the dedicated cannabis account with minimal administrative cost. No one signed up to testify, and the chair closed the hearing without a vote on any of the bills. The chair also thanked committee staff for their work and reiterated that amendments for the heard bills were due by noon that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the commissioner, and covered entities shall be reimbursed for any overcharges.
• Number five, a drug manufacturer shall provide covered entities... ...overcharges.
• And most of the entities are, you know, there may be some resistance in some of the other areas.
• It was the one entity I visited with. And they were—they didn't see any problem with what...
• There's going to be some entities that are going to hesitate to comply with this.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first addressed Senate Bill 2387, which had previously included language expanding the definition of a sexual assault victim advocate to include advocates from organizations serving victims of sexual trafficking or other sexual violence. After concerns were raised that the language could broaden participation in forensic interviews beyond appropriately credentialed organizations, the parties agreed to remove that added language. The committee then reconsidered its prior action, adopted the amendment striking the new language, and passed SB 2387 as amended on a 12-0-1 roll call vote. The bulk of the meeting focused on Representative Nelson’s proposed changes to a 340B-related bill, centered on expanding reporting and transparency requirements. His draft would require hospitals to report how 340B savings are used, and would also add reporting by drug manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and health insurers on rebates, pricing, ownership interests, 340B savings, premiums, claims, and related data. Nelson argued the reporting was needed to give lawmakers better information about how the 340B program affects hospitals, insurers, pharmacies, and public costs, and noted the Department of Corrections also benefits from the program. Testimony was mixed but generally supportive of more transparency. Sanford Health Plan said it needed more time to review carrier impacts and had concerns about employer-related language and rebate reporting. The North Dakota Hospital Association supported hospital transparency and said the broader approach was appropriate because hospitals are only one part of the 340B system. Several members raised procedural concerns about the scope of the proposal and the lack of a drafted LC amendment. The committee decided not to take final action on the 340B proposal that day, instead forming a subcommittee led by Representative Hendricks, with Representatives Dobervich and Bolinske, to work with LC and return with drafted language for further review on Monday.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's other entities that you guys have all made... ...entities that you guys have all made consistent
• So it would read: “of such entity, unless the entity is operating under a national security agreement
• But they found research partnerships with PLA entities, People's Liberation Army entities.
• , and private research entities in the state.
• , private research entities in the state.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 399 by Senator Bass, which would create the Louisiana Higher Education Research Security Council to review and potentially block certain gifts, contracts, academic partnerships, and research partnerships involving foreign adversary sources. Bass said the bill is intended to protect university research, intellectual property, and students from foreign influence, and would also require public disclosure of certain foreign-linked arrangements and a plan to eliminate foreign-adversary-linked software. Supporters from State Armor argued Louisiana universities have been vulnerable to Chinese Communist Party influence and intellectual property theft. Representatives from Tulane University and Lenovo raised concerns that the bill could create duplicative review, delay research, raise costs, and sweep in legitimate private or multinational entities; a proposed amendment to exempt entities operating under a CFIUS national security agreement failed 4-8. After debate, the committee moved SB 399 favorably. The committee then considered Senate Bill 310 by Senator Cloud, presented by Representative Carlson, which would require public school and college health centers to display information about pregnancy resources available in Louisiana. Supporters from Louisiana Right to Life said the bill would help connect pregnant students with existing state and private assistance programs, while the ACLU submitted a red card in opposition without speaking. The bill was moved favorably without objection. The committee also advanced House Resolution 171 by Representative Turner, which calls for a study of the workforce-oriented TOPS Tech and M.J. Foster programs, with business and workforce groups supporting the study as a way to measure outcomes and return on investment; it was moved favorably. Next, the committee took up House Bill 1084 by Representative Turner, a tuition autonomy bill for public post-secondary institutions. An amendment was adopted to add a conceptual framework for tuition-setting considerations, but the bill would still remove the existing 10% over two years cap and allow institutions to set tuition more freely. Turner argued universities need more flexibility because state funding has declined and campuses face deferred maintenance and operating pressures. Several members, especially Representative Carlson, warned that higher tuition could reduce access and that the bill did not address broader structural problems in higher education. Despite those concerns, HB 1084 was moved favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 351 by Senator Jackson Andrews, which would let families apply for child care assistance through CCAP once pregnancy is known, rather than waiting until after birth, to help move them up the waiting list. An amendment was adopted to have BESE, rather than the department, handle rulemaking and to allow the House and Senate education committees to approve the implementation process. The bill was then discussed as a way to help parents return to work sooner, and the hearing continued with questions from members.

Transcript Highlights:

• So part of this bill deals with eligible entities. Please.
• list on page two of eligible entities.
• And to my knowledge, those are the only entities that are and through Boys and Girls Club.
• I'm assuming that each entity, like your particular city, will have to enact.
• And so there's only so many things that entities can do.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the majority of the dams, followed by private entities.
• But if you enforced it and the entity didn't have the funds, well, maybe for the entity, but the bill
• It to take that burden off the local entities.
• Is there any gain from the entity holding that money, not spending?
• What they decide to do there and after is up to that local entity.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, business entities are important to spell out, depending on how someone may be classified.
• ><c> are</c> entities.
• Again, business entities are entities.
• Again, business entities are um<00:10:52.560><c> important</c><00:10:52.959><c> to</c><00:10:53.200><
• That is, any of the following records of an employer or business entity who is the subject of or has

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This will look different for various types of health care entities.
• Of investments that some hospital entities will be making.
• with the entity.
• The entity will propose some solutions on how they're going to come into compliance.
• Would an entity be able to offer a 10-year plan, a 5-year plan, a 2-year plan?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the inclusion of disregarded entities in the definition of a pass-through entity.
• by electing entities.
• It changes the method of calculating pass-through entity payments.
• So a pass-through entity may be a subchapter S corporation or another type of entity like that.
• certain nonprofit types and local government entities.

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6346, the proposed “millionaires’ income tax” package. Staff reviewed the bill and a long list of amendments affecting the new income tax, related business tax changes, and several exemptions and implementation provisions. The committee adopted amendments to exempt diapers from sales tax, allow certain tribal income treatment clarifications, create an advisory group to help implement the tax, move up the repeal date for some business tax changes, and require the measure to go to the voters; several other amendments on federal conformity, agricultural income, pass-through entities, and the marriage threshold were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then adopted the striking amendment as amended and advanced the bill on a 9-6 do pass vote, with supporters arguing it would fund education, health care, child care, and tax relief, and opponents warning about competitiveness, capital flight, and the state’s spending growth. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6097, which would add federally recognized Indian tribes as eligible entities for county Conservation Futures Program funding. Staff said the bill would not change the tax levy structure and would have no state revenue impact, while tribal witnesses said it would improve voluntary conservation partnerships for habitat, farmland, and open space. Members asked about the bill’s scope, and staff confirmed it applies only to federally recognized tribes. House Finance also heard Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform measure that would consolidate the state school levy, expand senior and disability property tax exemptions, raise income thresholds, and simplify the application process with a standard deduction. The prime sponsor and county assessors supported the bill as a way to help seniors, disabled persons, and disabled veterans stay in their homes and reduce administrative burden, while several testifiers opposed it as a tax shift that would raise costs for others and potentially strain local revenues. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6113, an administrative and technical tax cleanup bill related to last year’s tax changes; the Department of Revenue supported it and noted a possible clarifying amendment, while nonprofits, schools, libraries, health care groups, workforce training providers, and trade associations asked for additional exemptions for live presentations and related educational activities. The chair announced that Senate Bill 6097 would be added to Monday’s executive session, Senate Bill 6114 was removed, and amendments for Monday’s bills were due by 5 p.m. that day.