Transcript Highlights:

• Their rates and forms are not regulated.
• And so I just, I understand that people are sick of rate increases.
• , please raise our rates.'
• we’ve actually cut the rate filing times.
• we’ve actually cut the rate filing times.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Insurance held an information hearing on the impacts of climate change and catastrophic wildfire on California’s insurance market, with opening remarks focused on the state’s affordability, availability, and stability problems. Chair and members discussed the role of SB 254’s report, the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, the growth of the FAIR Plan, and the need to better align insurance regulation, mitigation, and land-use decisions. The Vice Chair noted the importance of hearing from industry as well as consumer and academic experts, and Senator Becker said the report would inform further committee work. Amy Bach of United Policyholders described how climate-driven wildfire and flood risk, combined with inflation, insurtech, and risk modeling, have reduced competition and pushed more homeowners into the FAIR Plan and non-admitted surplus lines coverage. She said availability is improving somewhat, but affordability will depend on mitigation, insurer competition, and fair rate regulation. In response to questions, she emphasized underinsurance as a long-running problem, supported stronger insurer responsibility for replacement-cost estimates, and suggested a public reinsurance backstop and more mitigation funding rather than removing wildfire coverage from basic policies. Nancy Watkins of Milliman and Michael Wara of Stanford argued that the market problem is fundamentally that expected claims and expenses now exceed premiums because too many homes are burning. They said California needs both risk reduction and actuarially sound pricing, along with a state mitigation framework that targets the highest-risk communities and prioritizes home hardening, defensible space, and community-scale mitigation over broad acreage-based spending. They also discussed the role of non-admitted carriers as a gap-filler, the need for better data on reconstruction costs and mitigation effectiveness, and the importance of sustained funding rather than one-time grants. A later panel with Frank Freebalt of Cal Poly and Michael Golnar of UC Berkeley focused on modeling and mitigation science. They said wildfire policy should treat the issue as a structure-ignition and urban conflagration problem, not just a wildland fire problem, and stressed integrated land-use, utility, and community mitigation. Members asked about zoning, building codes, utility hardening, and who should pay for mitigation; witnesses said older, denser neighborhoods are the highest priority, that utilities must improve operational safety measures, and that targeted mitigation in the highest-risk areas offers the best return. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's an 85% failure rate.
• We are number 50 out of 50 in passage rates on the exam.
• , you would, the passage rates are really very, very significant.
• or a 95% passage rate and make decisions appropriately.
• I have a client, for example, whose passage rate is 33%.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a series of health and human services bills, beginning with CS/SB 1602, which would require hospital emergency departments to have evidence-based pediatric care protocols, staff training, child-sized equipment and medications, a pediatric care coordinator, and participation in a national pediatric readiness assessment. The bill was reported favorably after no public opposition. CS/SB 1224, aligning Florida law with federal requirements for paramedics to administer controlled substances under physician or nurse practitioner direction, also drew supportive testimony from the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and was reported favorably. CS/SB 1182, requiring coverage of continuous glucose monitors under both pharmacy and durable medical equipment benefits, was likewise reported favorably after brief support from AARP. The committee then considered CS/SB 890, the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which addresses venous thromboembolism by defining certain conditions as chronic diseases, creating a statewide registry, and requiring screening and training in hospitals, surgical centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Family members and blood clot advocates strongly supported the bill, but assisted living representatives objected to being included, arguing the bill would impose unrealistic medical expectations and liability on residential care facilities. Senators also raised concerns about the assisted living provisions, but the bill was reported favorably after the sponsor said more changes were likely later. CS/CS/SB 954, dealing with recovery residences and treatment centers, was amended to reduce the number of active patients from 500 to 300 and then reported favorably after extensive debate over zoning, clustering, neighborhood impacts, and access to recovery housing. CS/SB 1050, which expands the developmental disabilities pilot program and creates an adult pathways waiver option, generated the most extensive testimony. Supporters said it would help reduce the long APD waitlist and expand services, while many families and advocates warned against managed care, citing provider shortages, weak oversight, and the importance of consumer-directed care. Committee members emphasized that participation is voluntary and that people can disenroll, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 614, requiring a public educational webpage about background screening and level-two screening requirements, and CS/SB 1578, expanding breast cancer screening coverage, were both reported favorably with little opposition. CS/SB 1060 created a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid financing and operations; after an amendment expanding the committee from three to five members, it was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1240, updating DCF substance abuse and mental health procedures including 988, methadone assessment, forensic evaluators, and Baker Act transfer timing, was amended and reported favorably after debate over transfer deadlines and facility responsibilities. Finally, the committee began hearing CS/SB 526, a major nursing education bill aimed at improving Florida’s low NCLEX passage rates by tightening program standards, requiring exit exams and remediation, mandating reporting and inspections, and limiting accreditation extensions. A strike-all amendment was introduced that would also require certain low-performing programs to offer a three-month graduate preceptorship. The transcript cuts off before the bill’s full debate and final action are completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate by nearly half.
• rate by nearly half.
• rate by nearly half.
• rate by nearly half.
• rate by nearly half.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2591, the “Support Medicaid Not Millionaires Act,” laid over for possible inclusion in the 2025 taxes bill. Chair Gomez said the bill would create a fifth individual income tax tier on very high earners to offset any future federal Medicaid cuts, arguing that proposed federal budget changes would likely reduce Medicaid funding and create a large state budget hole. Gomez and other supporters framed Medicaid as essential for children, long-term care, mental health, substance use treatment, rural hospitals, and families across Minnesota, and criticized federal tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals. Several testifiers supported the bill. A SEIU Healthcare worker described how Medicaid supports her care for a disabled son and her own health needs, warning that cuts would threaten home care, hospitals, and nursing homes. A public health employee from the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees said recent state and federal layoffs had already weakened public health capacity and urged additional revenue to backfill losses. Other supporters, including community and faith leaders, said the wealthy and corporations should pay more to protect public services, youth programs, and Medicaid-funded care. A mental health provider testified that most of the people served by her clinic rely on Medicaid and that cuts would harm clinics, rural access, and the broader behavioral health system. Representative Anderson questioned whether the bill would affect Medicaid spending tied to undocumented immigrants and asked for data on MinnesotaCare and federal-state funding shares. Department of Human Services staff clarified that he was referring to MinnesotaCare, not Medicaid, and said Medicaid is generally matched by the federal government while MinnesotaCare does not have the same match. The exchange became contentious when Gomez objected to Anderson’s use of the term “illegal immigrants” and redirected the discussion back to the bill. Anderson also raised concerns about Medicaid fraud and whether the proposal would backfill any federal changes related to fraud enforcement. No vote was taken; the bill was simply laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• , you know, the filed rate and then the consent to rate and the conditions, why the consent rate is being
• </c><00:58:48.280><c> and</c> Kathleen nakason she's our rate and Kathleen nakason she's our rate and
• </c><00:59:26.160><c> mechanism</c> and then the consent to rate mechanism and then the consent to rate
• ><c> um</c><00:59:58.240><c> the</c> the the filed rate rate and then um the the the filed rate rate
• </c> the in my opinion the consent to rate the in my opinion the consent to rate process<01:00:48.760

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on January 30, 2025, and heard testimony on several condominium-related bills, beginning with HB 70. HB 70 would require a budget summary disclosure for condominiums. Supporters, including Community Associations Institute, a real estate broker, and several condominium owners, said the bill would improve consumer protection by giving owners and buyers a clearer, more understandable snapshot of an association’s financial health and reserve compliance. One supporter noted the bill should help reduce confusion caused by lengthy reserve studies and emphasized the importance of accurate disclosure. A testifier also urged the committee to hear other condominium bills quickly, including measures related to an ombudsman, managing agents, parliamentarians, and attorney’s fees. The committee then heard HB 106, which would change the process for condominium fines and disputes. Phil Nery of CAI and other supporters said the bill would strengthen due process by requiring clearer notice, allowing an internal board appeal, and then permitting small claims court review without attorney’s fees unless the fine is upheld. They argued this would prevent fines from escalating into costly legal disputes and provide a more linear, fair process. Some supporters suggested amendments, including clarifying that the statute controls over association documents and refining refund language. During questioning, members raised concerns about small claims limits and whether associations would be represented by volunteers or attorneys. One testifier initially in support later said he would not support the bill as written after hearing HPD’s concerns. HB 224, relating to property rights, drew opposition from the Department of the Attorney General and the Honolulu Police Department. Both agencies said the bill would improperly push law enforcement into a quasi-judicial role and could short-circuit existing due process procedures for occupants of residences. A realtor who had initially been listed in support changed his position after hearing the opposition testimony. The committee also heard emotional testimony from a resident describing a long-running squatter and utility theft problem at a neighboring property, which he said took years of court action and police involvement to resolve. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, sorry, so, um, fertility rates. These are fertility rates for Massachusetts.
• So here was the rate of net international migration in 2020.
• This is the rate for 1,000 residents, with the darker states having higher rates.
• And then we apply headship rates to the population.
• The reporting is, rates are so low, especially for some of our, "Permitting" rates are so low, especially

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census, chaired by Senator Will Brownsberger with Senator Liz Miranda and other members participating, held a hearing on mid-decade population estimates and projections for Massachusetts. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute presented the latest Census Bureau estimates and explained the main components of population change: births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration. She said Massachusetts has continued to grow, but much more slowly than in the immediate post-2020 period, largely because net international migration has fallen sharply after a pandemic-era surge. She also reviewed fertility and aging trends, noting that births are concentrated among women in their 30s, that the state’s population is aging, and that the share of residents 65 and older is projected to rise substantially, increasing the dependency ratio. Strait and committee members discussed the role of immigration in Massachusetts’ population growth, the concentration of immigrants in Greater Boston and other regions, and the effect of immigration on births and the labor force. They also discussed domestic out-migration, especially among young adults, and the possibility that housing affordability is a major driver. Senators raised questions about how the Census counts people in group quarters such as prisons and dormitories, and Strait explained that the Census counts incarcerated people where they are housed and generally does not treat dormitory residents as migrants in the same way as household residents. She said the Census Bureau is still working on methodological issues such as extending a “college fix” to more areas. Jesse Partridge Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council described how MAPC uses Donahue Institute population projections, household headship rates, and UrbanSim to allocate projected households down to regional, municipal, and sub-municipal levels. He said the projections used for MassDOT’s long-range transportation plan anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in the Cape and parts of western and central Massachusetts. Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities then explained how those projections feed into the statewide housing plan, including three population scenarios and associated housing needs. He said the plan estimates a need for about 115,000 homes to address existing shortages and another 73,000 households even under a low-growth scenario, with total housing needs rising to roughly 222,000 units under the middle scenario and 262,000 under the high scenario. Members pressed him on whether the scenarios may understate future need given the recent drop in immigration and ongoing affordability problems, and he said the state is also pursuing housing production, rental assistance, shelter response, seasonal conversion prevention, and infrastructure support for communities. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• In some cases, it could be just slowing the rate of growth.
• Well, now that Medicaid rate needs to go up that 5% too.
• Provider rates.
• On the error rate, you know, the error rate on page 21...
• I know in higher ed, they cut back the indirect cost rate.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• This rate can't be tolerated. It keeps increasing as well.
• So rates will go up. One of my concerns is for groups that get discounts now.
• I'm sorry, their taxable rate related to their properties will go down.
• We're rebalancing rates because we're kind of leveling the playing field.
• Accident rates and on premiums, Madam Chair.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:38.479><c> for</c> slightly higher uh than the rates for slightly higher uh than the rates
• </c> into their existing capitated rate. into their existing capitated rate.
• Pegging birth center reimbursement rates to hospital rates has not worked and makes it difficult for
• > hospital</c><00:23:26.159><c> rates</c> reimbursement rates to hospital rates reimbursement rates to
• </c><01:33:51.440><c> If</c> at record rates because of this. If at record rates because of this.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a commercial rate.
• </c> Rate rather than a commercial rate, because it's not a business name.
• rate, then it's metered under our general rate, which lists the specific rates and the charges and the
• We have other rate classes, time-of-use rates, rates for electric vehicles.
• </c> rate you know have any kind of rate rate you know have any kind of rate review<06:20:12.160><c>

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the banks don't set the rates for the fees they receive.
• with each other on fee rates.
• Visa and MasterCard set fee rates.
• They got a much higher fee rate.
• Regulated rate.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will reduce what we believe the average ISD tax rates from 97.66 cents to 90.86.
• We're an A-rated district and have been since the rating system started.
• There are two knobs to this: it's the tax rate and it's the appraisal.
• Increased rates or by the appraisal caps going up.
• But it's the value times the rate equals the bill.

Bills: SB4 , SJR2 , SB 4 , SJR 2

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment, SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• rates go up.
• rates go up.
• rates go up.
• </c> electricity rates the the rate you electricity rates the the rate you actually<01:25:36.400><c>
• </c><01:26:10.119><c> the</c> rates not the quote power rates the rates not the quote power rates the

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, looking at this rate per thousand children, you can see that rate is being lowered in Washington
• So, looking at this rate per thousand children, you can see that rate is being lowered in Washington
• You can see the rate per thousand there of children; the rate here in Washington State is at 25.8, the
• So you, so looking at this rate per thousand children, you can see that rate is being lowered in Washington
• You can see the rate per thousand there of children, the rate here in Washington State is at 25.8, the

Bills: SB5979 , SB6308 , SB6319

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: opioids, substance abuse, dependent children, child welfare, caregiver substance use, court orders, shelter care, judicial discretion, family law, early childhood, family services, diversion programs, court-ordered assessments, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of our rates, which are twice the national average.
• You need to drive affordable rates. You need to pay all your victims, and you Affordable rates.
• Okay, so that's how the long run moving on to rate payers.
• has already come into rates outside of the general rate case.
• The longer it takes, the higher the interest rate goes up.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So say they get the current inpatient base rate. ...the current inpatient base rate for inpatient is
• And so if the Vermont Medicaid rate was less than the New Hampshire Medicaid rate, that's where you see
• </c><00:47:09.160><c> um</c> Medicaid rate um Medicaid rate um and<00:47:11.480><c> I</c><00:47:11.559
• </c> 18% so regardless of the tax rate 18% so regardless of the tax rate they're they're they're saving
• </c><01:16:49.800><c> on</c> tax rate um we have a 25% tax rate on tax rate um we have a 25% tax rate

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• individual experience rating.
• in for next year's employer tax rates.
• of employers and their individual tax rates as well.
• And too, though, the rate is lower per employee.
• The rate is lower per employee, per employer, because we have a low unemployment rate.

Keywords: Commission on Unemployment Compensation, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only is our AAA interest rate allowed to bring down the cost of actual market rate loans, but then
• So, again, because of our ratings, borrowers receive the low interest rates.
• , you know, S&P wouldn't give us. an investment-grade rating.
• So people, you know, paying their water rates or sewer rates, and then they're paying operations.
• that rate.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• rate from 2013 to 2025.
• It's predicated on a 4.1% growth rate from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
• We effectively earn interest that is parallel to that federal rate there.
• We effectively earn interest that is parallel to that federal rate there.
• We effectively earn interest that is parallel to that federal rate there.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're just that bond rate is.
• So the mill rate will change.
• I'm not voting on Mont Vernon tax rate. I'm voting on Amherst tax rate.
• I'm not voting on Mont Vernon tax rate. I'm voting on Amherst tax rate.
• </c><01:14:28.480><c> And</c> house and what's your tax rate? And house and what's your tax rate?

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for more accurate reimbursement rates for more accurate reimbursement rates that<00:04:04.959><c
• </c> health centers to have their rate health centers to have their rate reviewed<00:04:40.479><c> when
• </c> locations in Wisconsin where a rate locations in Wisconsin where a rate review<00:04:54.560><c>
• </c> able to account for this in their rates able to account for this in their rates and<00:33:10.720
• </c> insurance ratings in Minnesota. insurance ratings in Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all