Transcript Highlights:

• whether, in some instances, it involves traditional carriers like Anthem or UnitedHealthcare that contract
• an example of an Anthem plan with a dental rider and asked what happens in the field when Anthem contracts
• field is plan what is happening in the field is Anthem<00:29:06.960><c> will</c><00:29:07.279><c> contract
• </c><00:29:08.039><c> with</c><00:29:08.480><c> another</c> Anthem will contract with another Anthem
• will contract with another provider<00:29:10.240><c> to</c><00:29:10.559><c> administer</c><00:29:11.120

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:20 SB18 Discussion: 01:36 SB18 Vote: 05:07 SB24 Discussion: 06:37 SB24 Vote: 10:50 HB524 Discussion: 12:03 HB524 Vote: 13:55 HB421 Discussion: 15:13 HB421 Vote: 20:50 HB236 Discussion: 21:53 HB236 Vote: 23:34 HB210 Discussion: 25:40 HB210 Vote: 29:56, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up several insurance and health-related bills, beginning with Senate Bill 18, which was presented by Senator Girdler and insurance witness Adam Sheridan. The bill was described as addressing a shortage of garage liability insurance for used auto dealers in Kentucky, which has left many small dealers with only one or two coverage options and, in some cases, unable to obtain the insurance needed for a dealer license. The committee adopted a motion and second, then passed SB 18 unanimously and reported it favorably with the recommendation that it pass on the House floor. The committee then considered Senate Bill 24, also presented by Senator Girdler with testimony from Eric DeCampo of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The bill was framed as an anti-fraud measure that would expand the definition of a fraudulent insurance act to cover misrepresentations about property damage and repair costs in property insurance claims. Testimony emphasized that insurance fraud raises premiums for consumers and that the bill would help deter inflated or fabricated claims. After a brief question about whether the bill created new felonies, the committee voted to pass SB 24 unanimously and report it favorably. House Bill 524, presented by Rep. Aaron Thompson with officials from the Office of the Controller and State Risk, would extend reinsurance requirements for the state’s fire and tornado/self-insurance fund from July 1 of this year to July 1, 2030, and rename the fund the Commonwealth’s Property and Casualty Insurance Fund. The bill was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously. House Bill 421, presented by Rep. Amy Neighbors, would require full coverage of FDA-approved bowel preps without out-of-pocket cost or prior authorization issues and update colorectal cancer screening coverage rules for high-risk patients by incorporating multisociety task force guidelines. Members discussed the bill’s personal importance and its minimal fiscal impact; it passed unanimously with a committee substitute. House Bill 236, presented by Rep. Adam Moore and Commissioner Sharon Clark, would cap annual out-of-pocket costs for epinephrine at $100. Members spoke in support, including personal remarks about the importance of access to epinephrine, and the bill passed unanimously with a favorable recommendation. Finally, House Bill 210, presented by Rep. Michael “Sarge” Pollock and Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association, addressed dental limited benefit plans and direct payment to dentists. Members asked whether the bill also affected vision/hearing arrangements or third-party administrators; the witness said it was intended for non-ERISA dental plans in Kentucky and suggested follow-up with the commissioner for further clarification. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then passed HB 210 favorably, with 15 yes votes and no votes against. The meeting then adjourned, with a reminder about the Banking and Insurance dinner later that evening.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tom signed a contract with the federal government.
• But now the federal government won't honor the contract that they both signed.
• Tom signed a contract with the federal government.
• Tom signed a contract with the federal government.
• Tom signed a contract with the federal government.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Was it a contingency fee contract? **General Paxton**: Let me give you a little background.
• And we had the authority to use an outside counsel contract.
• **General Paxton**: ...So we can't do a straight contingency contract.
• Contingency fee contracts are generally **35 to 40 percent**. We negotiate at a much lower level.
• **Brent Webster**: ...that outlines how these contingency fee contracts work.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, Attorney General, budget recommendations, funding swaps, salary increases, Landowner's Compensation Program, public testimony, law enforcement

Summary: The meeting focused on the budget recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), where key issues included the proposed decrease of $163.9 million for the 2024-25 biennium and various methodology swaps for funding. Attorney General Paxton discussed ongoing litigation expenditures and emphasized the need for continued investments in agency staffing to address rising demands within law enforcement. Notably, he requested a 6% salary increase for 2026 and 2027 to retain talented personnel amidst competitive job markets. Public testimony highlighted community awareness challenges regarding the Landowner's Compensation Program, indicating a need for enhanced outreach efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> entered into a 20-year contract entered into a 20-year contract agreement<00:06:11.520><c> to</c
• </c><00:28:21.600><c> And</c><00:28:21.840><c> I</c> as the contracts on the back end.
• And I as the contracts on the back end.
• Our contracts run through 2027.
• Our contracts run through 2027, the year 2027.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They range from instructional time to teacher contract days to transportation costs to balancing the
• days to Transportation costs to contract days to Transportation costs to balancing<00:10:38.040><c>
• , performance reviews, notices of intent to terminate or not renew charter contracts, and unresolved
• </c> for 5 years all Charter contracts for 5 years all Charter contracts performance<00:47:21.040><c>
• </c> terminate or not renew Charter contracts terminate or not renew Charter contracts and<00:47:25.160

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> contracts with him and they work well. contracts with him and they work well.
• <c> them</c> companies we have contracts with them companies we have contracts with them and<04:25:09.040
• </c> contract is with the insurance carrier. contract is with the insurance carrier.
• We talked about contracting and non-contracting.
• Um, my question is: a contract is a contract.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An insurance contract has two components: there's the policyholder's obligation and there's the insurer's
• So we've asked that that be included in the language so that it's the contract.
• Home protection contracts can help homeowners avoid unexpected, very expensive repairs.
• Utilities may facilitate offering their customers' home protection contracts, but it's very limited.
• Making home protection contracts more accessible will make it easier for homeowners to manage the cost

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 983 by Senator Weber Pearson and an act relating to public contracts.
• Senate Bill 983 by Senator Weber Pearson and an act relating to public contracts.
• Instead, job order contracting establishes long-term contracts with pre-qualified contractors.
• SB 983 provides the Port of San Diego with job order contracting authority until January 1, 2037, and
• These are all contracts with the federal government.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it also authorizes the corporation to contract with the Division of Administrative Law to conduct
• We'd probably need more contract money as well. Okay. Commissioner Temple. Yes, sir. Mr.
• We'd probably need more contract money as well. Okay. Commissioner Temple. Yes, sir. Mr.
• Perform that, or we would have to contract that out and have somebody go do that on our behalf.
• So generally they have authority to, you know, place contract terms as they wish.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 23 with a quorum present and first deferred HB 1142. The committee then heard HB 1187, which would direct any excess Louisiana Citizens emergency assessment funds, after related debt is paid, toward the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program or future Citizens debt. Representative Sawyer and Commissioner Tim Temple said the bill would likely redirect about $50 million in one-time surplus funds and would help expand a popular roof-mitigation program that has already awarded more than 4,600 fortified roofs. The bill drew support from several witnesses and was reported as amended without objection. Next, HB 1210, dealing with insurance claim disputes and a pre-suit review process for Louisiana Citizens claims, was discussed. Representative Dana Henry said he was voluntarily deferring the bill and instead pursuing a study resolution after hearing concerns from members and stakeholders. Department and Citizens officials said the proposal was modeled on Florida’s process and could help resolve disputes faster and cheaper, but the bill was ultimately voluntarily deferred after testimony and some opposition cards were noted. The committee then took up HB 1199, which requires coverage for genetic testing and treatment related to SCN2A-associated disorders. Representative Jordan and the Diedon family gave emotional testimony about their daughter Emily’s diagnosis and the importance of timely genetic testing. The bill was amended to require that testing be ordered by a provider and deemed medically necessary by the health plan, with discussion about whether a neurologist should be involved; members said that issue could be refined later. HB 1199 was reported as amended. Finally, the committee considered HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, which would regulate AI use in underwriting, rating, and claims. After a lengthy discussion about state insurance regulation, McCarran-Ferguson, and concerns that the bill could jeopardize federal broadband funding, Representative Jordan voluntarily deferred HB 880, and HB 920 was also deferred. The committee then heard HB 1221, which would limit the policy data collected for the Louisiana Fortified Program Fund. Former Representative Bowler argued the bill was needed to protect policyholder privacy, while the Department of Insurance and Commissioner Temple said the data is needed for surplus-lines premium tax audits, fraud detection, and consumer assistance after disasters. The discussion continued with questions about what data would be visible and how it would be used, but the transcript ends before a final action on HB 1221 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a different voluntary arrangement contract with their contract employer.
• Maybe they work for several different contract employers.
• What it allows for is contributions to an account like this that a contract employer can contribute out
• If they make an arrangement with their contract employer, the contract employer could also make contributions
• They could contract with a third party or a commercial registered agent to house their LLC address as

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the previous day’s journal. Early in the day, members received committee reports and messages from the Governor and House, including the transmission of several bills and resolutions. The chamber also advanced a number of measures to later orders of business, and several bills were held on the calendar or referred to committees for further action or possible amendment. The Senate then considered and passed a series of bills on third reading. Among them were Senate Bill 1227 on generative AI in education, which passed after debate over teacher control, local control, and parent transparency; House Bill 603 on camping at the Capitol Mall, which passed after debate over free speech, public safety, and sanitation; House Bill 688 updating airbag and counterfeit airbag laws; House Bill 645 creating a voluntary portable benefits framework for independent contractors; House Bill 738 allowing LLCs to use a commercial registered agent’s address; House Bill 521 correcting background-check statutory placement; House Bill 615 clarifying disturbing-the-peace protections for houses of worship; House Bill 695 correcting a fee reference from possession to restitution; House Bill 568 repealing obsolete Department of Lands provisions; House Bill 774 repealing outdated fish and game penalty language; House Bill 762 revising charter school admissions preferences for foster and military children; House Bill 661 extending solid-waste competition rules to counties; House Bill 733 adopting a partnership audit procedure aligned with federal law; House Bill 749 revising city annexation rules to address hardship and property-rights concerns; House Bill 662 expanding milk testing provisions and Department of Agriculture dispute resolution; House Bill 664 eliminating differential speed limits for heavy trucks; and House Bill 716 revising transportation-funding distributions and increasing bridge inspection funding. Most of these measures passed by substantial margins, often using the same roll-call vote by unanimous consent, and titles were approved without correction. One bill, House Bill 684, was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. The Senate also received committee reports on additional bills and gubernatorial appointments, then moved into the Committee of the Whole, where it began reviewing several measures and adopted amendments to Senate Bill 1297 and Senate Bills 1352, 1353, and 1354, with motions to report those bills back as amended without recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike UPS drivers who have a union contract, which requires that their cameras only face outward, Amazon
• Under that company's contract or that company's terms of use, police and politicians often don't know
• You can also pass legislation that does not allow locations and municipality to do contracts that violate
• California's privacy contracts.
• California's privacy contracts.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on California privacy in the age of mass surveillance, with members framing the issue as urgent in light of AI, data brokers, workplace monitoring, and government access to commercially collected data. Opening remarks emphasized California’s long-standing privacy tradition and concern for impacts on Latino, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other vulnerable communities. The committee heard from experts from UC Law San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and a worker-organizer from Amazon, followed by a journalist from 404 Media. Nicole Ozer reviewed the history of California’s constitutional right to privacy, tracing it to the 1972 ballot measure and arguing that lawmakers should use that right more fully to operationalize stronger protections against surveillance. Deirdre Mulligan described how surveillance capitalism has expanded through physical-world instrumentation, biometrics, connected devices, and AI, and argued that notice-and-consent models are inadequate because people cannot meaningfully understand or control how data is collected, inferred, shared, and used. Ari Waldman focused on disparate harms to marginalized communities, including queer people, survivors of domestic violence, and people seeking reproductive care, and called for stronger regulation, limits on data collection and sharing, and greater accountability for companies and government access to data. Josh Black testified about Amazon’s workplace surveillance, including handheld devices, time-off-task monitoring, hidden cameras, and driver-facing AI cameras, saying the system pressures workers to skip breaks, rush safety training, and discourages organizing. He said the surveillance is used to increase productivity and suppress union activity. Committee members asked about data retention, injury reporting, cash as a privacy-protective payment option, and whether workers truly consent to surveillance as a condition of employment. Jason Kebler described how police departments adopt commercial surveillance tools through pilot programs and vendor relationships, often without public debate, citing license plate readers and networked camera systems that can spread data across jurisdictions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with discussion of the need for clearer definitions, stronger enforcement, and continued legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the equivalent of what is spent annually in the police contract.
• All it said is if you're profiting off a local government contract, you got to tell us.
• They're just approving the contract.
• I believe that terminating contracts prematurely could lead to legal exposure, breach of contract claims
• I think that it may not be constitutional to pass a law that's going to interfere. contract.

Bills: SB2 , SB3 , SB5 , SB9 , SB10 , SB14 , SB16 , SB18 , SB34 , SB6 , SB7 , SB8 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB15 , SB 2 , SB 3 , SB 5 , SB 9 , SB 10 , SB 14 , SB 16 , SB 18 , SB 34 , SB 6 , SB 7 , SB 8 , SB 11 , SB 12 , SB 13 , SB 15 , SB 17 , SB 4 , SB1 , SB2 , SB3 , SB5 , SB9 , SB10 , SB14 , SB16 , SB18 , SB34 , SB6 , SB7 , SB8 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB15 , SB17 , SB4

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• And now some of these students are having to contract with a facility outside the state, and there have
• Recently, PBMs have started to offer silent agreement contracts.
• Opt-out language is included to provide a pharmacy the ability to opt out of a PBM contract, provided
• One was to allow them, granting them the authority to enter into agreements to contract for research
• One was to allow them, granting them the authority to enter into agreements to contract for research

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge, a quorum call, and approval of journal corrections. It then handled several House messages, appointing conference committees on Senate Bills 2004 and 2006 and House Bills 1018, 1019, and 1363, and re-referring House Bill 1216 to Appropriations. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bill 1601, which would have expanded special assistant attorney general authority for certain offices, but the bill failed on final passage after strong opposition centered on preserving the Attorney General’s control and avoiding a solution in search of a problem. A major portion of the day focused on education funding. House Bill 1369 was amended to raise per-pupil aid from 2% and 2% to 3% and 3% and to increase the school construction loan transfer from $75 million to $100 million; supporters said this would help local schools and military base projects, while opponents raised questions about special education placement language and state coordination. The bill passed 44-3. House Bill 1013, the DPI budget, was also amended extensively to adjust staffing, funding sources, grants, meal assistance, teacher training, and other education programs; it passed 45-2. House Bill 2234, dealing with Choice Ready grants, was amended to shift funding away from general funds and toward federal or other sources, but then failed on final passage after the sponsor urged a red vote. The Senate also approved House Bill 1482, restricting bond and indebtedness elections for counties, cities, school districts, and park districts to primary or general election days, and House Bill 1332, creating a value-added agriculture facility incentive program with an emergency clause. House Bill 1010, the Insurance Department budget, passed unanimously after amendments reflecting the merger of the Securities Department into Insurance and adding staff and fee changes, while House Bill 1011, the separate Securities Department budget, failed because its funding was already included in HB 1010. House Bill 1584, a major pharmacy benefit manager reform bill, passed with an enforcement fund and new licensing/enforcement structure despite debate over ERISA and market transparency. In other action, the Senate concurred in House amendments and passed Senate Bills 2226, 2230, 2069, 2082, 2387, 2385, and 2186, with SB 2186 on parenting time interference and a child custody task force passing 27-20 after debate over whether the issue should be left to the courts. Senate Bill 2234, on Choice Ready grants, and Senate Bill 2243, on driver’s license points and traffic penalties, both failed after concurrence motions were adopted but final passage votes were overwhelmingly negative. The chamber also advanced Senate Bill 2291 to conference committee consideration near the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ensure that utilization and contracting ensure that utilization and contracting decisions<01:21:
• </c> be captured in a contract alone. be captured in a contract alone. Thank<01:37:25.880><c> you.
• Queens won't see HPH's contract, and we will still have to have a contract with HPH because HPH will
• ,</c><02:33:55.400><c> and</c> Queens won't see HPH's contract, and HPH won't see Queens's contract.
• </c><02:37:07.200><c> with</c> will they will have a a contract with will they will have a a contract

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, it's a contracting issue.
• to the extent they can enter into contracts and to make sure those contracts are updated.
• </c><01:14:40.239><c> right</c> individual contracts right individual contracts right yeah<01:14:42.239
• to the extent they can enter contracts to the extent they can enter into<01:14:53.600><c> contracts<
• and to make sure those into contracts and to make sure those contracts<01:14:56.000><c> are</c><01:14

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a $923,000 decrease in professional services for foundation repair contracts, legal services,
• We had a contract for that in the past. The company just couldn't perform. We had a lot of issues.
• We had a contract for that in the past. The company just couldn't perform. We had a lot of issues.
• We use that money to contract for alternative detention programs, which are all pre-adjudicated youth
• I can, yes, I can provide you a list of our existing contracts.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• into the body—there's a board that has the SLDS and captures this dollar—and then from that they contract
• into the body—there's a board that has the SLDS and captures this dollar—and then from that they contract
• </c><00:16:10.720><c> training,</c> training, contract training, training, contract training, industryled
• </c> that works with recruiting, contracting that works with recruiting, contracting and<00:19:01.600
• </c> didn't hear what the contract didn't hear what the contract contractual<00:22:01.600><c> services

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was, they had to kind of contract it out to Minneapolis.
• The contract didn't get established until, I don't know, about 6 months ago.
• The contract didn't get established until, I don't know, about 6 months ago.
• The contract didn't get established until, I don't know, about 6 months ago.
• <00:21:08.520><c> process</c><00:21:09.040><c> between</c> contracting process between contracting process

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:09.720><c> and</c><00:37:09.920><c> transparency</c> Contracting and transparency Contracting
• I'd like to jump back to the $65,000 contract.
• Section 5 Yeah, we have the line item for contract for program services.
• </c><00:57:03.880><c> for</c> have yeah the line item for contract for have yeah the line item for contract
• But we are working with the contracts department.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The working session focused on the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s budget request and its recent work. Early discussion centered on a technical question about a statutory dedicated fund for donations: members asked why the budget did not show a line item for accepting donations, and DHHS CFO Nathan White explained that the statute already authorizes the fund, but because no revenue has been received yet, it does not appear in the budget. He said any future donations would go through the normal process under RSA 14:30-a, with fiscal committee and Governor and Council approval and a memo to the Department of Revenue Administration. The chair clarified that the account was not a prerequisite to soliciting donations, and White said the fund would supplement, not replace, General Fund support. Kirk Williamson, the board’s executive director, then presented the board’s mission and budget. He said the governor’s budget provides about $256,500 in the first year and slightly more in the second, all General Funds, and that the board had distributed a technical amendment to continue the executive director position. He described the board’s role as analyzing prescription drug costs, identifying savings opportunities, monitoring market trends, promoting transparency, and making recommendations to the legislature and public payers. He also emphasized that the board operates publicly, with live-streamed meetings and a stakeholder advisory council that includes unions, state agencies, Medicaid, corrections, higher education, and other stakeholders. A major topic was the board’s estimate of $6 million in potential savings, based on Medicare’s newly negotiated prices for 10 drugs. Williamson explained that the board used those federal negotiated prices as a benchmark to estimate what New Hampshire public payers might be missing by not having similar leverage, and said the board is trying to build evidence for future recommendations rather than directly setting prices. Members asked how those potential savings could become actual savings, and Williamson said the board is sharing findings through its advisory council and feedback loops, though it has not yet sent a formal recommendation letter to specific purchasers. He also discussed the difference between pharmacy-benefit spending, which relies heavily on PBM-negotiated rebates, and medical-benefit spending, which is administered differently and is being added to the board’s next report. Williamson highlighted other work, including a model on Humira and a pending legislative effort to improve biosimilar competition, plus a proposed state-backed pharmacy savings card that would be no cost to the state and could save users about $240 per prescription based on Connecticut’s experience. No votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• contract line.
• Um, we have we contract salary line.
• So, that situation has contract line.
• </c> our contract commodities and equipment. our contract commodities and equipment.
• So if we been taken from our contract.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 15 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all