Transcript Highlights:

• or any portion of a claim must be made by a human being.
• The decision to deny a claim or any portion of a claim must be made by a human being.
• an artificial intelligence system may not serve as the sole basis for determining whether to deny a claim
• And so if the AI is parsing the claim to deny, have it parse the claim to see if the claim is for illegal
• work, and then deny the claim.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The committee first took up SB 794, as amended by a late-filed strike-all, which would require a human being to make insurance claim denial decisions and prohibit artificial intelligence from being the sole basis for a denial. The sponsor said the bill was intended to preserve human oversight while allowing innovation in claims processing. Public testimony included support from the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate and the Florida Medical Association, along with one speaker urging additional protections for homeowners. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported SB 794 favorably with committee substitutes. Members then heard SB 134, which removes the $500 threshold on the sales tax exemption for bullion, making sales of gold, silver, and platinum bullion fully exempt and eliminating certain dealer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the change would reduce a regressive tax and help consumers preserve savings; the sponsor estimated a revenue impact of about $300,000. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all on SB 888, which directs the Office of Insurance Regulation to create a more consumer-friendly homeowners insurance website with premium comparison information, market data, rate filing access, and educational resources. The sponsor and Leader Boyd said the goal was to improve transparency and help consumers navigate a stabilizing market. SB 888 was reported favorably with committee substitutes. The final bill heard was SB 1578, covering mammograms and supplemental breast cancer screenings. The sponsor said it would expand coverage requirements in ACA plans and private insurance policies, including annual mammograms for women ages 40 to 50 and supplemental screening coverage, while noting Medicaid already provides these services. The Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate waived in support, and the bill was reported favorably. After the bills, the committee held a lengthy panel discussion on gold and silver as legal tender and transactional money, with testimony from officials from Utah and Florida, industry representatives, and advocacy groups. Panelists discussed constitutional authority, consumer protections, depository oversight, taxation issues, and possible transactional platforms for precious metals. No further action was taken after the discussion, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, you need to increase in claims.
• </c> claims, which is really really tight. claims, which is really really tight.
• Chairman. satisfy the claims that they are satisfy the claims that they are providing<00:50:57.680><c
• are higher than the know the claims are higher than the rates<00:56:24.319><c> that</c><00:56:24.480
• they have this than expected claims they have this reserve<00:57:36.240><c> pool</c><00:57:36.480><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up several insurance-related bills. Senate Bill 47, concerning health insurance policies related to the birth of the mother, was moved ought to pass with no amendments and was approved on a 6-0 vote. Senate Bill 121, dealing with Medicare Advantage plan notice requirements, was amended to reduce the required notice from 120 days to 90 days and to remove a federal citation; the department said the change was to avoid conflict with federal notice rules. After discussion about the stress caused when carriers leave the Medicare Advantage market, the committee voted ought to pass as amended, 7-0. The committee then heard a detailed explanation of the continuing care retirement communities bill, described by the Insurance Department as a rewrite of a 1989 law to modernize oversight, require quarterly financial reporting as an early warning system, create a bill of rights for residents, and clarify issues such as entrance fees and removal of dangerous residents. A member recalled the bill’s original purpose as protecting solvency because residents pay substantial upfront fees. The bill was moved ought to pass and approved unanimously, 7-0. The final major discussion concerned a pooled risk organizations bill. Members debated whether oversight should remain with the Secretary of State or be moved to the Insurance Department. Supporters of moving it argued the issue is solvency, citing concerns about reserve levels, prior insolvencies, and the Insurance Department’s expertise. Opponents said the Secretary of State’s office had historically overseen the entities and that the bill would fundamentally change how they operate. A straw vote favored an amendment, but the committee ultimately voted to retain the bill for further work, with plans to revisit it later in the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you mentioned the Board of Adjustments that you guys have.
• They came into the Board of Adjustment, and the Board of Adjustment restored those non-conforming rights
• It would be in front of the Board of Adjustment.
• The Zoning Board of Adjustments.
• The Zoning Board of Adjustments is very powerful.

Bills: HB24 , HB2015 , HB2149 , HB2559 , HB2701 , HB2797 , HB3172 , HB24

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, water conservation, municipal utility districts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental regulation, groundwater management, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal moratorium, development moratorium, property development, subdivision, site plan

Transcript Highlights:

• These are two additional factors used to make adjustments.
• These adjustments can significantly impact our overall funding and operations.
• If our FTE count is higher, obviously we will receive adjusted income for those.
• resources or adjust spending plans.
• resources or adjust spending plans.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to review how Florida’s Education Finance Program (FEFP) works, receive an update from the Department of Education on the October 2024 FTE survey and third FEFP calculation, and hear from three county superintendents about forecasting enrollment and reconciling scholarship students. The chair explained that FEFP is funded by both state and local dollars, is recalculated multiple times during the year, and is now closely tied to school choice policy. Department staff said the third calculation was still being rerun but should be completed soon, and described the forecasting process as collaborative among districts, DOE, and the Education Estimating Conference. Superintendents from Polk, St. Lucie, and Hendry counties said enrollment shifts, especially students moving to Family Empowerment Scholarships, homeschooling, or private schools, make budgeting and staffing difficult. They said districts often must hold back funds to protect against midyear losses, which affects collective bargaining, staffing, transportation, and classroom organization. Several members raised concerns about duplicate counting, transparency, and whether students receiving scholarship funds can also remain in district classrooms. DOE said districts can access scholarship information through a secure portal and that scholarship funding organizations are paid quarterly, with a new process requiring certification and possible future payment adjustments to reduce duplication. The superintendents urged better real-time tracking of students through a statewide ID or student information system and suggested scholarship students should be funded separately from district FEFP calculations. Members also discussed whether more frequent or daily attendance-based calculations would improve accuracy, though some warned that daily attendance could create new problems for high-poverty districts. The committee also briefly discussed categoricals, including mental health and ESE funding, with DOE saying it evaluates programs through studies, reporting requirements, and legislative direction. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with a motion to rise and adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are three options: maintain reserves to pay claims, purchase insurance coverage for claims called
• This amendment gives the options to contractual liability policies to either pay 100% of the claims as
• they are incurred or pay 100% of the claims due in the event of the association's failure to pay the
• claims.
• This is just another tool in the toolbox. ...of the association's failure to pay the claims.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met and considered a series of bills, beginning with CS/CS/SB 282 on home and service warranty association financial requirements. The bill would allow more than one collateral liability insurance policy to back a warranty license and make related financial requirement changes; an amendment clarifying policy options was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 280 on candidate qualification, which creates an enforceable requirement and private right of action for party-affiliation qualification rules, and SB 7004, an open government sunset review bill that continues a public records exemption related to housing assistance program applicants or participants after disasters. The committee then took up several member bills. CS/CS/CS/SB 88 would create an opt-in framework for local governments to allow utility terrain vehicles on certain roads, with safety requirements and insurance clarification added by amendment; supporters emphasized local transportation benefits and law enforcement tools, while several senators raised concerns about misuse in urban areas, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 106 would allow substitute service through the same electronic platform used by scammers in vulnerable adult exploitation cases, with a 30-day hold clarified by amendment; it received support from elder law and advocacy groups and was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 262 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code, including decanting, trustee actions, ademption by satisfaction, and homestead/community property trust treatment, and was also reported favorably. Additional bills approved included SB 402, which updates the unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia statute by referring to armed forces as defined elsewhere in law; SB 700, which continues the public records exemption for site-specific location information for threatened and endangered species; and SB 7006, which preserves public records and meeting exemptions for building plans and related documents depicting 911, E911, and public safety radio communication infrastructure, including next-generation 911 systems. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on certain bills, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think President school adjustment.
• How much money did we put into the small school adjustment? Do we know? It varies.
• school adjustment uh for KSU<00:29:40.559><c> and</c><00:29:40.720><c> Morehead.
• </c> adjustment they were always in the hole. adjustment they were always in the hole.
• </c><00:30:56.880><c> than</c> through the small school adjustment than through the small school adjustment

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its fifth and final Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education meeting, but did not initially have a quorum and approved the minutes later when enough members were present. The Council on Postsecondary Education, represented by President Aaron Thompson and Vice President Bill Payne, opened with condolences for the UPS crash victims and then presented higher education budget recommendations for the 2026-2028 biennium. Thompson emphasized the return on investment from state support for higher education, citing gains in retention, enrollment, persistence, graduation, reduced time to degree, lower student debt, and expanded dual credit participation, while noting that affordability and access remain priorities. Payne outlined CPE’s operating funds request, including $43.3 million in the first year and $86.6 million in the second year for inflation adjustments, plus $30 million and $45 million for performance funding. He said the inflation request would apply across the board to institutions to offset rising costs, and that the KSU land grant match would not need additional funding because the state has already met the matching requirement. He also explained that state support for educating students has not kept pace with inflation over time, creating pressure on institutional budgets and tuition, though tuition increases have been held to historic lows in recent years. A major portion of the discussion focused on the performance funding model and how it affects smaller institutions. CPE proposed two approaches to address institutions that have received little or no performance funding, especially Kentucky State University and Morehead State University. The first approach would create a $20 million minimum distribution pool, providing $1.95 million to each university and $4.4 million to KCTCS, with the goal of giving smaller and rural institutions a base level of support. The second approach would provide direct appropriations totaling a little over $5.6 million to Kentucky State, Morehead State, and five community colleges that have not been receiving performance funding. Members, especially Representative Tipton and Senator West, questioned how the model had treated small schools over time, and CPE officials explained that the original small school adjustment was not large enough to prevent KSU and Morehead from effectively being left out of the distribution. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

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

Bills: HF3

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

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

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an act to amend the Court of Claims in relation to permitting a, permitting a, In a civil case,
• It's an act to amend the Court of Claims in relation to permitting a, permitting a, It's an act to amend
• the Court of Claims in relation to permitting amendment of a claim or notice of intention to file a
• claim to correct jurisdictional pleading defects and to provide for a procedure for the dismissal of
• a claim based upon the claimant's failure to comply with jurisdictional pleading requirements.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met and advanced a series of bills, with little opposition and several members noting support for the committee’s bipartisan approach. Senate Bill 2305 (judgments by confession), Senate Print 3413 (judgments in Article 78 disability pension cases), Senate Print 3778 (annual reporting on the drug treatment court program), and Senate Print 4957 (review of bail data reports by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct) were each moved and reported to the floor. Members emphasized the importance of data collection and reporting, especially on bail and drug treatment courts. The committee also discussed Senate Print 8624, which would allow courts to award community damages against an estate in sexual abuse cases. Supporters described it as an important first step to provide justice for survivors and to create a carve-out from existing limits on punitive damages after death. Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick raised concerns about the dead man statute and evidentiary issues, but said she was willing to work on revisions. The bill was advanced. Other bills reported to the floor included Senate Print 9766, making technical corrections to ensure gender neutrality in admission-to-practice rules and limiting required disclosure of prior law enforcement or criminal justice interactions; Senate Print 9770, concerning alternate jurors in civil cases, with some discussion about its civil-only scope; Senate Print 9792, allowing amendment of Court of Claims filings to correct jurisdictional pleading defects and setting procedures for dismissal for noncompliance; and Senate Print 9794, requiring disclosure of generative AI use in civil actions. Each bill was moved by committee members and approved without recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law allows a person to appeal to a municipal board of adjustments.
• So you mentioned the board of adjustments that you guys have.
• So then the city council appoints the board of adjustments? Yes. OK.
• , Board of adjustment restored those non-conforming rights.
• For clarity, the zoning board of adjustments, I sat on my the zoning board of adjustments with our speaker

Bills: HB24

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 16 is an uncontested local claims bill against the City of St.
• I'm asking for your favorable support on this claims bill.
• "I believe that we've done a poor job in establishing a claims bill process.
• Chair, solely as a symbol of my opposition to the way that we've mishandled claims bills and the way
• This claims bill is for $4.1 million and is supported by both the claimant and Miami-Dade County, and

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and took up several bills, beginning with SB 762 on offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment that removed a one-year sunset and a reporting requirement to the legislature. Senator Martin and regional counsel Itan Emotin explained that the bill would allow regional counsel offices to handle certain capital conflict cases, with the goal of reducing very high defense costs while maintaining adequate representation. After questions about whether referrals would be optional, compensation, and possible impacts on quality of defense, the committee reported CS for SB 762 favorably by a 9-1 vote. The committee then considered two uncontested local claims bills. SB 16, relating to relief of Heroberto A. Sanchez Mayan by the City of St. Petersburg, described serious injuries allegedly caused during an arrest and transport by police; counsel for the claimant appeared in support. President Gates spoke against the claims-bill process but said he would support the victim if the bill’s passage were in doubt. The bill was reported favorably 9-1. SB 14, relating to relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County, involved a pedestrian struck by a county bus; the county had admitted fault and settled the case. The bill was reported favorably 9-1, and SB 24, a $500,000 settlement for Lourdes and Edward Latour against Miami-Dade County, was also reported favorably 9-1. Finally, the committee took up SB 208 on land use and development regulations. Senator McLean presented a negotiated strike-all amendment that would make development application fees more transparent and cost-based, tie them to direct and reasonable indirect review costs, and set subjective compatibility standards for residential projects, with carve-outs for PUDs, master plan communities, and historic districts. Multiple stakeholders appeared or waived in support, including 1,000 Friends of Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, AARP, counties, cities, and planning and conservation groups. The amendment was adopted, and CS for SB 208 was reported favorably 10-0. The committee then adjourned after recording Senator DeSigley’s vote on SB 762.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 16 is an uncontested local claims bill against the City of St.
• I’m asking for your favorable support on this claims bill.
• I believe that we’ve done a poor job in establishing a claims bill process.
• Chair, solely as a symbol of my opposition to the way that we’ve mishandled claims bills and the way
• This claims bill is for $4.1 million and is supported by both the claimant and Miami-Dade County, and

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• provider once a claim is submitted.
• However, the claim is submitted.
• </c> definition of claim is very specific. definition of claim is very specific.
• that the claim is submitted by implies that the claim is submitted by the<00:49:18.160><c> individual
• So people claims transparency issue.

Bills: HB1853 , HB1591 , HB1961 , HB1854 , HB1965 , HB1962 , HB1959 , HB2505 , HB2576 , HB1801 , HB1804 , HB1864 , HB2319 , HB2314 , HB2115

Committee: House Health

Keywords: HB1853, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, memory care, memory clinic, Hanai Memory Network, Executive Office on Aging, aging services, kupuna, caregiver support, long-term care, elder care, geriatrics, public health, dementia screening, care coordination, referral network, neighbor islands, rural health

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2047, relating to pharmacy benefit managers. The Insurance Division said the bill would require new enforcement resources and estimated an appropriation of about $1.5 million and five positions. Kaiser Permanente asked for an amendment to exclude HMOs from the definition of third-party PBMs, saying the bill should not interfere with integrated care models. PCMA and the Hawaii Pharmacist Association supported narrowing amendments, with pharmacists objecting to section 3 and warning the bill as amended could create major operational burdens and a significant general fund cost. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the chair moved on to the next measure after questions. The committee then took up SB 2080, which would allow Hawaii to join the psychology interjurisdictional compact. Supporters, including DCR, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, the Grassroot Institute, and others, said the compact would expand access to psychology services, especially for people in rural areas or those needing continuity of care while traveling. Opponents, including the Board of Psychology and a Shamanad University psychology professor, raised concerns about client safety, crisis-response procedures, enforcement costs, FBI background checks, and possible loss of state control over training and specialization standards. The board said Hawaii’s current 1,900-hour internship/postdoc requirement is higher than the compact’s standard and that the state is still implementing a separate provisional licensing law that may address some access issues. The discussion focused on whether the compact would meaningfully reduce shortages and whether Hawaii should instead pursue changes within its existing licensing system. Finally, the committee heard SB 2277 on hospital price transparency. The Office of Consumer Protection initially noted the bill could require significant staffing, but later testimony from SHIP suggested the measure could be handled more simply by working with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii and publicly posting violations. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, arguing hospitals already must comply with federal CMS transparency rules and that adding state requirements would increase costs and legal exposure, especially if violations were treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices. Steve Fenberg testified in support, saying the bill would simply codify existing federal requirements in state law and that he was open to amendments removing state enforcement and the unfair trade practice language. No final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no claim that the very existence of these districts violates the Voting Rights Act.
• The second claim the letter makes is that the districts are unconstitutional.
• The claims are not even close. It's not like, oh, we can have a debate about this.
• Here in Texas, where we claim to be strong and independent.
• Yet now the DOJ is claiming that race was improperly used. So which one was it?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• if it goes through all the way to that process without finding any errors or finding anyone with claims
• </c><00:16:05.120><c> makes</c><00:16:05.360><c> any</c> anyone with that claims makes any anyone with
• that claims makes any claims,<00:16:06.240><c> the</c><00:16:06.399><c> treasur</c><00:16:06.720><c>
• claims, the treasur would then auction off<00:16:07.600><c> those</c><00:16:07.759><c> contents</c><
• by those by those to be claimed by those by those individuals<00:16:20.079><c> or</c><00:16:20.480><

Committee: Joint Business and Financial Institutions

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 409, 2 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There have been lawsuits won with its claim.
• There have been lawsuits won with its claim.
• Almost every lawsuit filed in the past decade includes a failure to warn claim.
• So far as to ask the Supreme Court to limit legal claims.
• So far as to ask the Supreme Court to limit legal claims.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several procedural motions, including suspending House rules for three legislative days and replacing conference committee members on Senate Bill 2282 and SCR 4007. The chamber also recognized visiting student groups from Grafton/Pleasant Valley and Shiloh School. Later, the House agreed to several conference committee reports and moved a number of measures through final passage or final disposition. House Bill 1428, which would have created a sales tax exemption for clothing sold by thrift stores or nonprofit corporations, drew extensive debate over tax policy, revenue loss, and possible conflicts with streamlined sales tax rules. Supporters argued it would help lower-income shoppers and nonprofit thrift stores, while opponents said it created an unfair advantage and could reduce state and local revenue. The conference report was adopted, but the bill ultimately failed on final vote, 37-54. House Bill 1440, relating to cigar lounges, was amended in conference and then passed 75-17. House Bill 1460, concerning adult foster care for private-pay adults, electronic monitoring, and a legislative study, was also adopted and passed overwhelmingly, 91-1. The House then passed Senate Bill 2224, which revises gaming commission structure and gaming stamp requirements, adds Attorney General enforcement provisions, and includes a $25,000 general fund appropriation, by a vote of 88-0. Senate Bill 2327, which expands uses of the agriculture diversification and development fund and appropriates $15 million to it, passed 74-17 after a member was excused from voting due to a personal interest. Senate Bill 2267, creating a regulatory framework for on-site wastewater treatment systems and shifting licensing authority to the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 82-10, and Senate Bill 2276, addressing joint water resource boards for cross-county projects, passed 90-1. The most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the state employee health plan from grandfathered status to a non-grandfathered ACA-compliant plan and appropriate about $6.6 million for the transition. Supporters said it would give the PERS board more flexibility, expand preventive and other benefits, and potentially slow premium growth without charging employees premiums. Opponents warned it could raise out-of-pocket costs, add mandated benefits, and shift costs to employees, while also arguing the bill had not been adequately studied. After extended debate, the House passed SB 2160 by a vote of 55-37. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 1318, a pesticide labeling bill, and placed it on final passage, but the transcript ends before the final vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just think they should either go get the therapy that it was awarded for, and larger claims are
• kind of some of the same things happen in larger claims.
• Larger claims are kind of some of the same things happen to larger claims.
• The other thing that I just, I'll kind of claim ignorance on, I don't understand, is under subsection
• The other thing that I just, I'll kind of claim ignorance on, I don't understand, is under subsection

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 476, which would add clearer warning language for garnishees responding to interrogatories and create a limited procedure for a new trial when a garnishee can show it never held property or owed the debtor during the garnishment period. After brief questions about how garnishment works, the bill was reported favorably without objection. Senate Bill 260, a youth athletics coaches training bill, was then amended to remove language about the department using donated funds to purchase courses and was reported as amended. House Bill 79, by Chairman Carter, would remove the damages cap for carbon capture release claims. Carter argued carbon capture should be treated like other industries and not receive special liability protection, and the committee reported the bill favorably without objection. The committee also took up Senate Bill 424, which clarifies that electronic service applies only to counsel of record representing a party, and Senate Bill 180, a constitutional amendment allowing a surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran to make a one-time transfer of an expanded property tax exemption to another qualifying homestead. SB 180 received a ballot-language amendment and a 6.88 report before being reported as amended. The longest discussion centered on House Bill 1089, which creates “care accounts” for future medical damages in delictual actions. Supporters said the bill would ensure future medical awards are used for medical care, reduce abuse, and function like a restricted account with a card or similar payment mechanism; opponents raised concerns about the account being owned by the judgment debtor, possible reversion of unused funds to the wrong party, administrative confusion, and impacts on survivors of trafficking and sexual abuse who may need flexible, trauma-informed care outside standard billing codes. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee adopted an amendment set and reported the bill favorably by a 6-1 vote, with Representative Carter voting no. Finally, House Bill 437 was heard and amended. The bill would prohibit expert witnesses from having a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the case, while still allowing inquiry into an expert’s prior testimony history. An amendment excluded criminal traffic and juvenile proceedings, and the committee continued discussion with testimony from supporters and opponents as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just think they should either go get the therapy that it was awarded for, and larger claims are
• kind of some of the same things happen in larger claims.
• Larger claims are kind of some of the same things happen in larger claims.
• The other thing that I just, I'll kind of claim ignorance on, I don't understand, is under subsection
• Not by number, but if it's the reversionary trust for future medical and claims against the state of

Bills: HB79 , HB437 , HB646 , HB1089 , HB1099 , SB173 , SB180 , SB260 , SB424 , SB476

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: carbon capture, damages, environmental liability, legal liability, site restoration, expert witness, expert testimony, witness fees, pecuniary interest, conflict of interest, civil procedure, evidence law, Louisiana evidence code, Louisiana civil litigation, expert report, discovery, pretrial disclosure, litigation transparency, settlement, damages award

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas has more providers than Florida yet has less claims than Florida.
• Have they had a lot of claims? They are a top 100 hospital in the country.
• When you talk about claims and that first dollar claim of $4 million that has to come to David Marco
• The claim was that I had been driving through the neighborhood shooting.
• And someone can always raise a self defense claim in court. Always.

Transcript Highlights:

• How many people filed these claims to get this data? been unmuted. Can you hear me now?
• How many people filed these claims to get this data?
• And typically, they only get found when they actually have a claim.
• And they all file claims. They all go to the hospital.
• They all get medical receipts and submit their claims and get paid.

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members and witnesses describing scams targeting seniors, small businesses, and working families. The committee first approved the November 3, 2025 minutes, then heard from the Arkansas Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, banks, the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, the Arkansas Mortgage Bankers Association, the State Bank and Securities Department, the Insurance Department, and AARP. Witnesses described common schemes including spoofed bank calls and texts, government imposter scams, romance and investment scams, business email compromise, fake job postings, gift card scams, check fraud, wire fraud, reverse mortgage scams, identity theft, and insurance fraud. Several witnesses emphasized that cryptocurrency kiosks and crypto transfers make recovery difficult or impossible, and that artificial intelligence is making scams more convincing and scalable. Witnesses repeatedly stressed education, verification, and coordination among banks, law enforcement, regulators, and consumers. Bank and mortgage representatives urged consumers to slow down, independently verify wire instructions, avoid clicking unexpected links, use tap-to-pay rather than chip or swipe when possible, and never share account credentials or one-time codes. The Attorney General’s office said it investigates consumer complaints, mediates disputes, works with social media platforms to remove scam ads, and recently created a Financial Fraud Task Force with bankers and other stakeholders. The State Bank and Securities Commissioner highlighted the Safe AR Act, the state’s crypto kiosk framework, and fraud education efforts such as “fraud bingo,” while the Insurance Department described its law-enforcement role and a range of insurance-related fraud schemes it prosecutes. AARP said fraud is widespread and underreported, especially among older adults. Members asked about reporting scams, how losses are handled, whether tap is safer than chip, how crypto fraud works, whether Arkansas has model legislation to address telecom and social media impersonation, and how local law enforcement and state agencies coordinate investigations. Witnesses said banks generally absorb much of the financial loss under federal rules, while consumers bear the inconvenience and account changes. Several witnesses said Arkansas should consider additional legislation to hold telecom companies and social media platforms accountable for spoofed caller IDs and impersonation ads, and one witness said a federal Scam Act is moving in Congress. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes, but witnesses agreed to share consumer education materials and model legislation with committee staff.