Transcript Highlights:

• So what this rates. That's not right.
• 5.7 times North Dakota's top rate, 3.7 times Iowa's flat rate, and 1.86 times Wisconsin's top rate, while
• The adoption of this rate would place Minnesota as the highest corporate tax rate in the country.
• While the word rate in the country.
• top tier rate in the country.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There had been a 3% rate increase in the House budget and no rate increase in the Senate budget.
• And then MCO behavioral health rates: this is a rate decrease of 1% starting January 1, 2026.
• There are delays in the increase to the 85th percentile of rates for the 2024 market rate study.
• There are delays in the increase to the 85th percentile of rates for the 2024 market rate study.
• There are dental rate reductions.

Summary: The conference committee met on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5167, the state operating budget, and received a detailed staff briefing on the proposed conference report. Staff explained how to read the comparison documents, the four-year balanced-budget outlook, and the main resource assumptions, including use of the March 2025 revenue forecast, exclusion of the statutory 4.5% growth assumption, revenue legislation totaling about $8.7 billion, numerous fund transfers, and reversion assumptions. They also noted the proposal does not include a temporary salary reduction or furloughs. The briefing highlighted major policy areas and their net five-year impacts, including increases for state and higher education employee compensation, K-12 education, long-term care and developmental disabilities, corrections, information technology, and other policy items. It also described net reductions in behavioral health, children/youth/families, higher education, natural resources, other human services, and health care/public health, with many of the changes tied to delayed programs, rate adjustments, fund shifts, and savings options from Governor Ferguson. The committee then heard member comments, with supporters emphasizing K-12 funding and fiscal responsibility, and Senator Gildon opposing the process and the closed-door nature of the budget development. A motion was made and seconded to recommend adoption of the conference report and pass the bill. The roll call showed one member voting do not recommend, one member excused, and the remaining members recommending adoption. By vote of the committee, the conference report was adopted, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are burdened by a 6% interest rate on arrears.
• or... the rate at which arrears are growing slows.
• ...high interest rate encouraged.
• Research shows lowering interest rates work.
• The lawyer that was chosen by the family would then accept the same rate.

Bills: SB629 , SB1015 , SB2501 , SB2933

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: child support, interest accrual, family law, delinquency, financial judgment, statutory probate courts, probate court fees, judicial fund, county reimbursement, comptroller, Texas Government Code, Local Government Code, court fees, fee allocation, excess contributions, judicial education and support fund, presiding judge salary, county finance, court administration, Texas judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• rates.
• The old rate and the new rate, we raised it 25%. No, the new rate and the old rate.
• </c> the rate 25% between the old rates. the rate 25% between the old rates.
• </c> The old rate and the new rate, we raised The old rate and the new rate, we raised it<00:19:24.000
• </c> to set rate methodologies for. to set rate methodologies for.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> understand what the uh approval of rates understand what the uh approval of rates process<00:53:
• </c><01:11:11.679><c> The</c> lower rates for the members. The lower rates for the members.
• The companies propose their rates.
• The companies propose their rates.
• </c> is going and that rates are adequate. is going and that rates are adequate.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee took up the pooled risk management program bill and reviewed a new amendment drafted with input from the Insurance Department and Legislative Services. Department witnesses explained that the proposal would move oversight of pooled risk management programs from the Secretary of State’s office to the Insurance Department, add a licensure requirement, preserve the programs’ non-insurer status, and exempt them from third-party administrator licensure. They also described a series of solvency tools in the draft, including financial reporting, risk-based capital standards, minimum capitalization, investment limits, commissioner examination and enforcement authority, rulemaking authority, merger and affiliate-transaction review, confidentiality protections, and a separability clause. A major theme of the discussion was that pooled risk management programs differ from commercial insurers because the risk remains with the member local governments rather than being backed by a state guarantee fund. Witnesses said the bill is designed to emphasize solvency over return of premium and to give the Insurance Department a regulatory “toolbox” to prevent insolvency, including a proposed $5 million excess or stop-loss coverage benchmark, optional accessible policies, and a requirement that boards vote on dividends or premium returns when capital exceeds 600% of risk-based capital. Members questioned how this approach differed from the original Secretary of State bill and whether assessments on towns would still be possible; the department responded that the new framework would allow more flexible oversight and alternatives to immediate court action. The committee also discussed why the statute should continue to say the programs are not insurers, with the department explaining that this preserves their autonomy and avoids applying unrelated insurance laws and premium taxes. Members asked about the department’s workload and were told the department believed it could absorb the new duties without additional funding. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• urban rate.
• </c> touched these rates in a very long time. touched these rates in a very long time.
• There have been rate cuts since then, iterative rate cuts.
• </c><00:18:31.840><c> Uh</c> there has been no rate increases. Uh there has been no rate increases.
• Um, in the last few years, they've developed a rural rate and a super rural rate, and it does create

Bills: HB0004

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: medical assistance, birthing centers, healthcare, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tax rates: every tax also has a rate.
• Many taxes have rates set as a percentage of the base, and some taxes have graduated rates.
• <c> percentage</c><00:08:34.000><c> of</c> rate um the rate is the percentage of rate um the rate is
• </c> some taxes have a flat or per unit rate some taxes have a flat or per unit rate um<00:08:39.440>
• </c> certain legislative actions State rate certain legislative actions State rate must<00:56:48.599>

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reasonable rates? reasonable rates?
• </c> will result in just in reasonable rates? will result in just in reasonable rates?
• FK the rates roll projects.
• ,</c> rate, promise consumers a rate, rate, promise consumers a rate, and<04:05:14.239><c> then</c><04
• </c><04:29:39.359><c> return</c> service, rate base and rate of return service, rate base and rate of

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The alternative rate proposed in the October actuarial analysis had a contribution rate of 78% in the
• The alternative rate proposed in the October actuarial analysis had a contribution rate of 78% in the
• The alternative rate proposed in the October actuarial analysis had a contribution rate of 78% in the
• </c> actual analysis had a contribution rate actual analysis had a contribution rate of<00:08:41.159>
• </c><00:48:41.079><c> was</c> the premium rate if the premium rate was the premium rate if the premium

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Fed at this time is expected to cut rates. We expected a rate cut to happen in September.
• We now have the single 5.9% PIT rate.
• So this represents the change in growth rates.
• And we've also seen the job matching rate, the job hiring rate, at the lowest since 2013 or 2012, which
• Some of the things that I look at, think about, and keep an eye on are default rates that Debt rates,

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Slide Six is, um, our staffing and vacancy rate, so you can see we're pretty proud of our vacancy rate
• increases or rate prioritizing rate increases or rate adjustments<01:24:45.320><c> to</c><01:24:45.480
• to do a rate study.
• increase, the guardianship rate increase, the BDS service rate increase.
• </c> service rate incre the rate increased service rate incre the rate increased the<01:53:51.679><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division of Long-Term Supports and Services presented its budget and program overview as part of the Department of Health and Human Services operating budget review. Leadership described the division’s three bureaus—Aging and Adult Services, Developmental Services, and Family-Centered Services—and explained that the division provides guidance, technical assistance, quality monitoring, and contracted provider oversight across the lifespan. Members also discussed staffing, with reported vacancy rates of 4% in Aging and Adult Services, 15% in Developmental Services, and 6% in Family-Centered Services; the division said the higher BDS vacancy rate is partly due to the small number of authorized positions. The governor’s budget had left eight positions unfunded in the division, including three in Aging and Adult Services and five in BDS. A major topic was the division’s roadmap initiatives, especially building a system of care for healthy aging and strengthening developmental disabilities systems through a new reimbursement rate structure. The division said it contracted with an actuary to study DD service costs and found rates had not been reviewed since 2017 and were significantly below actual costs and other states’ rates, contributing to provider shortages even when services are authorized. Members asked about the impact on service delivery and whether rates would need to rise overall; the division said its strategy is to focus on lower-cost services that help people remain in the community. The division also reported waiver enrollment figures, including about 4,161 people on the Choices for Independence waiver, 3,688 average nursing facility residents, 5,061 people on the DD waiver, 228 on the acquired brain disorder waiver, and 488 children on the in-home support waiver, while noting there is no funding waitlist but provider availability remains a constraint. The division highlighted IT modernization as a major accomplishment, especially moving Adult Protective Services and Developmental Services into the New Heights system. Officials said these changes improve case-note access, data retrieval, service authorization tracking, and transparency for providers, and they asked for future oversight discussion focused on IT leverage. Members noted that New Heights maintenance is budgeted in the Office of the Commissioner under class 27 and suggested better transparency on system costs and benefits. The division also reported that it closed out a long-running CMS corrective action plan for BDS on July 1, 2023, and said it is now focused on strengthening the system rather than compliance alone. Other discussion covered the Aging and Adult Services bureau’s name change from Elderly and Adult Services to Adult and Aging Services, intended to avoid negative connotations and better reflect preventative services. The bureau described Adult Protective Services trends involving scams, financial exploitation, self-neglect, and isolation, and explained that it administers the CFI waiver, determines medical eligibility for nursing facility level of care, and braids funding from Medicaid, state funds, Older Americans Act money, Social Service Block Grants, and other grants. Members asked about waiver growth targets and federal consequences if enrollment remains below projections; the division said it would explain the shortfall in a future waiver amendment and did not anticipate a federal penalty. The meeting ended without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• the rates that have been approved.
• By the plan's own testimony, they need an 80% rate increase to have actuarially sound rates.
• So this is kind of the situation: FAIR Plan rates are here, non-admitted insurer rates are here.
• First, rate adequacy.
• They have a 36% rate filing pending.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> unemployment rate for the US is 4.4%. unemployment rate for the US is 4.4%.
• Um, our unemployment rate is below what the U.S. rate is. It's 2.7%.
• Um, our unemployment rate is below rate.
• </c> participation rate is still 57.7. participation rate is still 57.7.
• </c> error rate. error rate.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• within a plan to make it, and the actual rate lower, I, as a customer, get charged that top rate.
• But again, and the idea of setting rates, is it the network sets rates, which the dentist voluntarily
• House Bill 2730 adjusts the interest rate paid by taxpayers on...
• a statutory arbitrary rate, and ties it to market rates.
• Do I see it exceeding the prime rate as it is now? Yes, because that rate can fluctuate. Thank you.

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from a South African refugee program, Weatherford Middle School students, international students, and the 2025 Aviation State Teacher of the Year, Sam Madewell. Representative Ranson also presented remarks for International Student Recognition Day, highlighting the economic and cultural contributions of international students in Oklahoma. The chamber then took up House Bill 4329 on dental insurance claims, with Pro Tem Moore arguing it would restore fairness by preventing insurers from controlling prices for services they do not cover; the bill drew questions about free-market effects, rural dentistry, and premiums, but Moore said it should not raise costs and noted similar laws in other states. HB 4329 passed 91-5. The House also passed House Bill 2730, which ties the interest rate on taxpayer underpayments to market rates rather than a fixed statutory rate, after brief questions about how the rate would fluctuate; it passed 87-11. House Bill 3465, extending the sunset on the emission tax credit program from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2029, passed 82-16. House Bill 4426, extending the sunset on the strategic industrial development enhancement sales tax credit from December 31, 2027 to December 31, 2032, passed 76-20. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings, a rural caucus with OSU President Hess, a devotional, and a lunch event tied to International Student Recognition Day. The House then recessed until the next day, Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Until that point, these rates will continue to rise. And I don't know what's a fair rate.
• And I've seen it where I didn't get my whole rate increase. That justifies that rate increase.
• My sewer bill was $300 because it's on an increasing block rate. Okay? That's rate making.
• And that goes into a rate case. And that goes into a rate case and approval to buy that system.
• up. ...and drive the rate up.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee met on March 25 and first took up HB 199, which would extend Louisiana’s nursing home moratorium. Chairman Miller amended the bill to shorten the extension from five years to four, moving the termination date to July 1, 2031. Rep. Barault argued the state faces a growing bed-capacity problem and proposed an amendment to exempt St. Tammany Parish; Rep. Cruz offered a substitute to reduce the extension to three years. The Nursing Home Association said it had negotiated in good faith and supported the four-year compromise, while the Pelican Institute opposed the moratorium as anti-competitive. A St. Tammany resident testified that her mother faced a long wait for placement and that more local beds are needed. The three-year substitute and the St. Tammany exemption both failed, and HB 199 was reported favorably with the four-year amendment. The committee then favorably reported HB 223 to recreate the Department of Children and Family Services for four more years, with Secretary Rebecca Harris saying the department’s recent reorganization has allowed it to focus more directly on child safety and child welfare. Members discussed planned reforms such as differentiated response, stronger community-based care, and the transfer of TANF to Louisiana Works in 2027. HB 907, which grants civil and criminal immunity for the use or distribution of expired naloxone or other opioid antagonists, also passed with technical amendments; public health officials and members emphasized that expired naloxone remains effective enough to save lives and should still be used in emergencies. HB 535, which streamlines hospital-based acknowledgements of paternity by allowing notarization without two witnesses, was reported favorably after Woman’s Hospital testified that the change would speed up paternity establishment, child support enforcement, and the addition of fathers to birth certificates. HB 554, which would increase penalties for violations at health care facilities and require LDH reporting, drew testimony from a family member describing serious care failures and from LDH, which said it already has caps on fines and that the bill would not change those caps. Rep. Jackson amended the bill to require LDH to publish fines assessed and collected and to list facilities with repeated immediate jeopardy or actual harm deficiencies, but the bill was then voluntarily deferred for a week to allow further discussion with the department. The committee also reported HB 224, a largely technical update to the Children’s Code recommended by the Louisiana State Law Institute, HB 246, which updates membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and related bodies, and HB 405, which updates the name of the national acupuncture certifying organization. HB 222, requiring Medicaid coverage for certain dental procedures when needed to clear patients for other medically necessary treatment, was reported favorably despite a fiscal note. Finally, HB 235 on sewer systems generated extensive discussion: Rep. Fontenot described rising sewer rates, poor maintenance, and sewage overflows in his district, and argued for allowing property owners to install private sewer treatment systems in certain circumstances. Members raised concerns about local control, PSC rate-setting, and whether local governments should have more authority over sewer service decisions; the bill was still under discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and rate.
• If the prime rate comes down, then the rate that the treasurer will apply will also come down.
• If the prime rate comes what it is.
• </c> reasonable thing to peg the rate to. reasonable thing to peg the rate to.
• I would like to lessen the interest rate if we can get a better rate, um, for, you know, as this may

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DMS pays on a per-member, per-month capitated rate, and you can see those capitated rates on the right
• Those rates are decided by region.
• Rates are based on to use them. Rates are based on historical<00:14:31.360><c> claims.
• ,</c> coverage updates, reimbursement rates, coverage updates, reimbursement rates, and<00:14:55.839>
• </c> and and what their approval rating was. and and what their approval rating was.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the October 15 minutes, and began with a moment of silence following a Louisville UPS plane explosion that was described as a local tragedy affecting many families and first responders. The main presentation was an overview of Kentucky’s Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NMT) program from the Department for Medicaid Services and the Transportation Cabinet. Witnesses explained that NMT is a federally required Medicaid benefit, administered by the Transportation Cabinet under a risk-based capitated model, with eligibility limited to Medicaid members traveling to medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services and who lack access to other transportation. They also described exclusions, including certain KCHIP, QMB, and PACE members, and outlined the brokered regional structure, call center operations, scheduling rules, vehicle and driver oversight, complaint handling, and rider surveys. The presenters reported that NMT handled more than 3.1 million trips in state fiscal year 2024, with over 1.38 million trips already recorded in October, and said customer satisfaction surveys were high. They said the FY 2025-26 contract total is about $360.6 million, with monthly per-member capitation rates set by region through an actuarial process and approved by CMS. They emphasized that payments are tied to monthly Medicaid enrollment and that the state draws down federal funds for the exact amount paid, with no leftover balance. They also said most NMT use comes from adult day centers and rehabilitative care such as dialysis. Members questioned the witnesses about how quality metrics and contract standards are set, whether the state had explored alternatives such as Uber Health or other integrated models, and how utilization was calculated. The witnesses said contract requirements are developed collaboratively by Medicaid Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and other agencies, and that studies of other models generally found higher costs and lower approval ratings, with additional research on a hybrid model expected by the end of the year. They clarified that one figure reflected the share of Medicaid members with registered vehicles, while another reflected actual NMT users, and they defended the capitated structure as shifting financial risk to brokers rather than the state. Representative Fleming also raised concerns about oversight, reporting, and the apparent gap between budgeted and contracted amounts, asking whether any unused funds would return to general funds; the discussion ended before a final answer was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first finding: overall vacancy rates vary by provider.
• The overall vacancy rate declined from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025.
• The staff vacancy rate decreased in every program.
• LPNs have consistently had the highest vacancy rate, which is now at 28%.
• The direct support professional vacancy rate of 15% is much improved from 2024... ...vacancy rate of

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Status of Persons with Disabilities met, approved the prior November minutes, and heard a presentation from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) on its 2025 workforce metrics survey. ADDP described its membership and the survey’s scope, noting 102 of 132 members responded. The report showed continued improvement in staffing: overall vacancy rates fell from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, with declines across programs such as adult long-term residential, community-based day supports, supported employment, and day rehabilitation. However, vacancies remain high, especially for licensed practical nurses and clinicians, and nearly 4,000 positions were still unfilled. Providers also reported that almost 1,800 people remain waiting for day services. A major new focus in the survey was health insurance costs. Nearly 90% of respondents reported premium increases averaging 11%, and providers said those increases make it harder to offer competitive wages and benefits and hurt recruitment and retention. ADDP said the survey will be repeated in the fall and emphasized that while Chapter 257 investments appear to have helped reduce vacancies, rising insurance costs, immigration-related workforce pressures, and other affordability issues could threaten progress. Commissioners and presenters discussed the need to maintain gains, the importance of keeping the survey manageable while preserving historical comparisons, and the role of immigration and workforce policy in staffing stability. The subcommittee then elected new co-chairs, unanimously approving Rachel Caprillion and Leo Sarkisian. Members discussed possible topics and speakers for the next meeting, including training and turnover, direct support professional pipelines, apprenticeships, PCA training, and workforce models from other states. Several names and organizations were suggested for outreach, including Josh Cutler, Juan Vega, JVS, HSRI, and NASDDDS. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Correct me if I'm wrong, but the rates you have here are your minimal rates that we see for like the
• One position is undergoing review to adjust the hiring rate.
• You have to look at our separation rate. We have a hard time getting below a 10% rate.
• I know last session, I believe we discussed vacancy rates.
• and benefits rich and rate poor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alabama's rates for ambulance services.
• </c> network, the minimum reimbursement rate network, the minimum reimbursement rate shall<00:05:03.040
• The applicable rate will be approximately 245% of the CMS reimbursement rate, and that rate will apply
• rate. applicable rate will EMS transport rate. applicable rate will be<00:05:40.400><c> approximately
• </c> bill at the uh basic life support rate bill at the uh basic life support rate that<00:06:47.199>

Bills: SB9 , HB400 , SB9 , HB400

Committee: House Health

Keywords: Alabama Athletic Commission, Attorney General, criminal penalties, unarmed combat, regulation, boxing, mixed martial arts, civil fines, dental insurance, benefit rollover, healthcare, insurance policy, annual maximum, smoking ban, vaping, public health, indoor air quality, clean air, ambulance services, health insurance