Transcript Highlights:

• Under this, the claim has to be filed with the commissioner of Revenue.
• Under this, the claim has to be filed with the commissioner of Revenue.
• So that multiple claims are allowed until that maximum is reached.
• It's called delegation. somebody claiming their refund but in in somebody claiming their refund but in
• So, Senator Westlin, with that, he could claim a refund.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the proposal for the DSS child care programs as calculated based on the 2.41% cost-of-living adjustment
• upward and then they revise from where it is. ...care providers, assuming the COLA base is adjusted
• So we are really happy to see the cost-of-living adjustment proposal in the Governor's budget.
• And so if you put the cost-of-care-plus rates in the base rate, then those dollars would be adjusted
• by the adjustment factors that apply.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the proposal for the DSS child care programs as calculated based on the 2.41% cost-of-living adjustment
• , which Finance did talk about the adjusted upward amount.
• So we are really happy to see the cost-of-living adjustment proposal in the Governor's budget.
• In terms of COLA specifically, we would recommend that any cost-of-living adjustments get added to the
• by the adjustment factors that apply.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittees on early childhood education heard a broad review of the Governor’s child care and preschool budget proposals, with testimony from the Department of Finance, the Department of Social Services (CDSS), the California Department of Education (CDE), and the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). The main topics were cost-of-care-plus and COLA adjustments, the California State Preschool Program, child care slot reductions tied to federal and Proposition 64 funding changes, disaster recovery grants for child care facilities, trailer bill proposals on family fees and absences, prospective pay, and several budget change proposals for departmental staffing and licensing. Officials also discussed the state’s transition toward an alternative methodology for setting rates based on the true cost of care. On rate reform, CDSS and CDE said the current reimbursement system remains below the alternative methodology in many counties and that providers continue to struggle with recruitment and retention. The LAO recommended aligning cost-of-care-plus increases across provider types, while CDE urged that any COLA be added to base rates rather than cost-of-care-plus payments because providers view the latter as less ongoing. CDSS said the next alternative methodology update will be developed with a contractor during fiscal year 2026-27, with public engagement and legislative input, and estimated that fully transitioning to rates informed by the methodology would take about 24 months once policy and funding are in place. CDSS also said the direct-service cost of care under the methodology was estimated at about $18.7 billion in a July 2025 report. A major point of contention was the proposed reduction of 4,167 child care slots due to lower federal CCDF funding and reduced Proposition 64 revenue. CDSS said it expects to absorb the reduction through unspent funds and relinquishments so currently enrolled children are not disrupted, while the LAO supported the reduction as a way to avoid worsening the structural deficit. Members strongly objected to the slot cuts, arguing the administration has repeatedly proposed reductions after prior budget agreements and emphasizing the economic and family benefits of child care. The committee also discussed preschool enrollment trends, including growth in three-year-old enrollment and a sharp increase in two-year-olds served under a temporary provision, with CDE warning that the temporary two-year-old authority expires in 2027. The committee also reviewed an $11.5 million Proposition 64 proposal for child care infrastructure grants for facilities impacted by 2025 state disasters, especially the Los Angeles fires, and members asked for trailer bill language to make the funds flexible for repairs, equipment, insurance, and permitting. On trailer bill items, the panel discussed codifying family fee reimbursement rules, defining excessive unexplained absences to allow disenrollment after prolonged nonuse, and expanding temporary provider absences; CDSS said the absence policy is meant to mirror federal CCDF rules, while CDE said it is already pursuing its own rulemaking. The hearing also covered prospective pay, with CDSS and CDE saying they are waiting for final federal guidance before moving ahead; LAO said the state could save ongoing costs if the federal requirement is rescinded. Finally, the committee reviewed staffing and support budget requests for CDSS and other implementation items, and held several items open for further discussion before the May Revision. Public comment overwhelmingly urged full funding for child care slots, true cost-of-care payments, and ongoing support for early education programs and county offices of education.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> aim to open bonding leave claim aim to open bonding leave claim submissions<00:06:07.759><c> to<
• Will it mirror the UI program where I have the ability to deny or rebut the claim?
• </c> rebut the claim? rebut the claim?
• and claims validation and verification, which is really important.
• </c> in place to validate claims. in place to validate claims. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:49:55.760><c> you.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appropriations against which the claims appropriations against which the claims were<00:48:02.480
• As a matter of fact, every session I have been here but one, the claims bill became law.
• The only time it hadn't become law was the other time that I sponsored the claims bill.
• So, the claims bill did not get passed that year.
• So, the claims bill did pass any bills.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the sheriff must verify the claim and serve a notice on the lawful occupants.
• We had a landlord who was claiming there was an individual in the house.
• Last year, the fund reimbursed 81 claims that were made against it, of almost $8 million.
• a... ...large claims made against the fund because a lawyer has engaged in a large-scale theft.
• We have years where more of the claims are lower-level claims where, fortunately, we've been able to

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and Senator Thompson excused. The committee first considered Senate Bill 48 by Senator Garcia on judicial sales and procedures. Garcia explained a delete-all amendment that would create clearer statewide procedures for alternative judicial sales, increase transparency, remove bidding credits, extend sale timelines, and add oversight for auctioneers and escrow agents to prevent fraud and collusion. After no questions or opposition, the amendment was adopted, Senator Pasadoma said the rewrite addressed many of his concerns, and the committee then voted CS for SB 48 favorably with unanimous yes votes from members present. The committee then received a presentation from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office on the effectiveness of Florida’s recent anti-squatting law, House Bill 621/SB 888. Presenters described several cases in which deputies used the new process to remove unlawful occupants, including a false landlord report, a long-term fake lease situation, and a more recent unlawful occupancy case. They said the law has helped protect property owners and potential victims, but suggested technical changes: clearer authorization for deputies to enter and use force if needed, and a fix to the affidavit penalty provision because false statements are currently being charged as false reports rather than perjury under the existing wording. The Florida Bar also presented on its role in regulating lawyers, lawyer advertising, and the unlicensed practice of law. Bar leaders explained that the Bar operates under the Florida Supreme Court’s authority, is funded by member fees, and handles complaints through a multi-step process involving intake, branch offices, grievance committees, referees, and final Supreme Court review. They described advertising review procedures, discipline statistics, consumer assistance, the Clients’ Security Fund, and enforcement against unlicensed practice. Senators asked about the Legislature’s authority over lawyer advertising, the prevalence of legal ads, the role of public members on grievance committees, and how those members are selected and used.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...is if the department gets it wrong, you can see there's definitions of substantiation of a claim
• The definition of how you substantiate the claim is also currently in rule that we would put in statute
• at here is making sure that we're not sending children into visitation if there are substantiated claims
• ... ...sending children into visitation if there are substantiated claims of abuse, either physically
• of the bill, two things: One, we're not going to force kids to go to visitation in substantiated claims

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They think that's money that they can claim for themselves.
• They think that's money that they can claim for themselves.
• So when politicians claim that there is still bloat to cut, that is not a reality.
• So when politicians claim that there's still bloat to cut, that is not a reality.
• So when politicians claim that they're still bloat to cut, that is not a reality.

Keywords: public education, Department of Education, funding, Trump, Kassar, Elon Musk, education policy, youth advocacy, billionaire influence

Summary: This was a press conference organized by student advocates and Texas Democratic lawmakers to oppose efforts by the Trump administration and allies to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and to criticize Texas voucher proposals. Speakers argued that the department and its Office for Civil Rights are essential for enforcing civil rights protections, supporting special education, Title I, Pell Grants, career and technical education, and other federal education programs. They said eliminating the department would weaken oversight, shift power to states that have a poor record on student protections, and harm marginalized, low-income, disabled, and rural students. Congressman Greg Casar framed the issue as a transfer of public money from schools to billionaires, tying the department fight to federal budget and tax-cut debates and to Texas voucher efforts. State Representative Gene Wu said Texas public education is already near collapse and warned that losing federal support would worsen school closures, staffing shortages, and class-size increases. Representative Gina Hinojosa highlighted Texas’s past special education cap and attacks on Section 504, and said she filed bills to route federal block grants directly to schools if federal policy changes move forward. Representative Vicki Goodwin said the state should fund schools rather than vouchers and noted underfunding of special education and inflation pressures. Round Rock ISD trustee Melissa Ross and Texas AFT president Zef Capo emphasized that federal oversight protects students and that Texas has a history of underfunding and mishandling special education, meals, and other services. The final speaker, Westwood High School senior Eliza Abert, said the loss of federal education support would most harm low-income and middle-class students and called on attendees to oppose the changes. No votes were taken; the event ended with a call for public pressure on lawmakers and continued advocacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• or the Net Zero claim.
• or the Net Zero claim.
• or the Net Zero claim.
• or the Net Zero claim.
• or the Net Zero claim.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 313 and, on motion by Representative Perez, voted to retain the bill because members felt it needed further work and was not ready for final action. The motion passed 18-0, and no further action was taken on the bill. House Bill 391, an anti-SLAPP measure, was then discussed; supporters said it addressed a real problem and should move forward, while opponents raised concerns that it was too broad, could affect criminal cases, and might create procedural complications. The committee voted 18-0 to retain HB 391 as well, and it was placed on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 462, establishing a cause of action for unwarranted video imaging of residential properties. Representative McFarland moved OTP, saying the bill raised First Amendment and property-rights concerns. The motion passed 18-0, and the bill was also placed on consent. The committee then turned to House Bill 509, which would require reporting on forfeitures. Supporters argued the information was useful for future legislation, while opponents said the reporting would be costly, duplicative, and potentially split data across fiscal years. The committee voted 11-7 to recommend OTP, with a minority of members opposed. House Bill 520, authorizing Department of Education hearing officers to issue subpoenas, drew the most extended debate. Supporters argued DOE needed the same tools other agencies have, while opponents said DOE already had access to needed information, the Attorney General could handle subpoenas, and the bill would create an unbalanced process and raise due process and student-record concerns. Representative Tur offered Amendment 0842H to shift subpoena power from DOE hearing officers to the Attorney General; after debate, the amendment failed 10-8. The transcript cuts off as the committee begins the roll call on the underlying bill after rejecting the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• To date, we have received 19 claims for a total of $1.1 million.
• The next slide is just how it's worked: the claim is submitted by a farmer, and then we verify that.
• The claim is validated using information, and if the claim is valid, the claim payment is initiated.
• We've already had $76,000 available in claims submitted to date.
• Uh we we claims uh submitted in 2026.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• FTE pool, that, again, just adjustments to the pool, since you're making FTE adjustments, we adjust
• Heading number five, adjust funding sources from the general fund to other funds.
• Number seven, which is now on the table that spills into the top of page three, that's adjusting the
• Adjusting the funding source for medical examinations and children's forensic interviews, a total of
• , so that adjusts the total amount of CIF funding that you're appropriating in this bill.

Bills: SB2012

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division

Keywords: transportation, funding, infrastructure, grants, municipal, 908, all

Summary: The Government Operations Division met to continue work on budget and bill amendments. The committee first took up the Attorney General’s budget and reviewed a detailed amendment package that adjusted FTE levels, salary equity funding, funding sources, and several one-time appropriations. Changes included removing some House-added items, adding contingent funding tied to other bills, restoring certain funding sources, increasing the electronic smoking device manufacturer fee, and adding a provision on 24/7 sobriety program fees. Senator Dwyer then offered a further amendment to make the electronic smoking device fee a $2,000 application fee with a $500 annual renewal fee, which passed. The committee then voted 4-1 to adopt the budget as amended and give it a do pass recommendation as amended. The committee next considered House Bill 1143, relating to Great Plains Food Bank funding. After testimony from Amy Cleary on behalf of Great Plains Food Bank, members discussed the organization’s statewide role and the project’s financing, including a planned $30 million facility and existing fundraising. Senator Burkhard moved to restore the appropriation from $5 million to $10 million, and the motion passed 4-1. The committee then voted 4-1 to give the bill a do pass recommendation as amended, with Senator Burkhard designated as carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1524, which would fund regional planning councils and authorize 16 FTEs. Members expressed sympathy for the councils’ work but concerns about approving new state-funded positions. No action was taken, and the chair asked to hold the bill over for further review. The committee then recessed, noting remaining budget work and upcoming hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Contingent upon this approval, the pay adjustments became effective on October 1, 2023.
• Included in the department's special pay adjustment plan were 99 vacant positions.
• And five, prior year adjustment delays payment to school districts.
• And the district's FFP distribution amounts are therefore adjusted accordingly.
• These FTE as a state adjustment.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met for two workshops. The first focused on vacant positions in the Division of Early Learning and the Department of Education. Committee members reviewed vacancy reports, including long-vacant positions and positions that had received discretionary pay adjustments. Division and department officials said many vacancies were being filled, advertised, or under review, but acknowledged persistent recruitment and retention problems, especially for engineering, legal, finance, IT, and other specialized roles. Members questioned whether some long-vacant positions were still necessary, whether overtime and workload were being affected, and whether outside contracting, cross-training, combining positions, or eliminating some vacancies could help. Officials said they were considering those options and noted that hiring has become slower and more difficult since the pandemic, with lower applicant volume and more competition from other agencies and private employers. The second workshop addressed draft legislation related to school choice scholarships and the FEFP. The chair said the committee’s prior hearings raised concerns about student identification numbers, cross-checking between districts and scholarship organizations, duplicated FTE reporting, delayed district payments, scholarship payment timing, and inconsistent data sources. She said the proposed language is intended to standardize scholarship processing and improve accuracy and efficiency while preserving the long-standing FEFP principle that funds follow the student. She also said funding scholarship students below the line would not solve the identified problems and could create disparities. The draft would align processing for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs and would reduce add-on weights by 50% while keeping the current policy structure. No votes were taken. The chair invited further comments and said the draft budget and legislation would continue to be refined before rollout. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> protects task taxpayers by filing claims protects task taxpayers by filing claims on<00:09:54.160
• </c><00:18:08.720><c> because</c> claims of racial discrimination because claims of racial discrimination
• </c> adjective you used but egregious claims adjective you used but egregious claims of<00:46:20.319>
• <00:53:34.640><c> racial</c><00:53:35.040><c> discrimination</c> claiming racial discrimination claiming
• </c> sympathy for the problem that they claim sympathy for the problem that they claim to<01:03:34.000

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This biological male, interestingly, had a girlfriend, but claimed that he was transgender, and that
• This biological male, interestingly, had a girlfriend, but claimed that he was transgender.
• </c><00:56:37.680><c> responsibility</c> unless you want to claim responsibility unless you want to claim
• </c> there actually were no legitimate claims there actually were no legitimate claims of<01:10:56.000
• </c> property damage there may be Tor claims property damage there may be Tor claims that<04:10:43.520

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, which Rep. Jim Kofalt said is the same language as last year’s HB 396, vetoed by the governor. He described the bill as allowing, but not requiring, separation by biological sex in three areas: bathrooms and locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions. Kofalt argued the bill would give local school boards and other policymakers discretion to set practical rules, citing concerns about safety, privacy, and a Milford incident involving a biological male in girls’ locker rooms. Committee members pressed him on the lack of a definition of “biological sex,” and he said he did not think one was necessary because males and females are commonly understood. He also said the bill was meant to address situations where outside groups threaten lawsuits and leave local boards with no latitude. Testimony then split sharply. Supporters, including Executive Counselor Karen Hill and several others, said HB 148 would roll back anti-discrimination protections, contradict New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” values, and harm transgender and non-binary people. Opponents described the bill as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that existing bathroom and sports policies already work and that the bill would invite harassment, invasive enforcement, and legal conflict. Several speakers, including trans residents and parents of trans children, said they had used public restrooms without incident and warned that enforcement would be impractical or abusive. One supporter argued the bill was needed to protect girls’ privacy and safety and cited school sports disputes and a concern about a sex offender at a game as examples of why sex-segregated rules should be restored. Committee members asked questions about how biological sex would be defined, whether the bill was responding to real incidents in New Hampshire, and how any restrictions would be enforced. Kofalt said he was aware of issues in several school districts and at the State House, but did not have detailed documentation for every case. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the chair instead moved through public testimony under a strict two-minute limit and noted that follow-up questions would be limited so the committee could hear multiple bills that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...is if the department gets it wrong, you can see there's definitions of substantiation of a claim
• The definition of how you substantiate the claim is also currently in rule that we would put in statute
• at here is making sure that we're not sending children into visitation if there are substantiated claims
• ... ...sending children into visitation if there are substantiated claims of abuse, either physically
• of the bill, two things: One, we're not going to force kids to go to visitation in substantiated claims

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered several RS drafts for introduction. RS 331-128, brought by Sen. Kelly Anthon, would amend Idaho law so chiropractors can prescribe certain vitamins, minerals, and fluids they are already authorized to administer, allowing them to purchase those items from pharmacies or distributors; it was moved to print. RS 33023, introduced by Sen. Mark Harris, would amend involuntary commitment law to include tribal health care facilities as acceptable holding sites and tribal police officers as peace officers for initial mental health crisis evaluations; it was also moved to print without opposition. RS 32893, introduced by Sen. Carl Birke, was described as a code cleanup bill removing outdated language from the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired statutes; the committee voted to print it. RS 32994, brought by Sen. Melissa Wintrow, would codify child visitation protections in cases of substantiated physical or sexual abuse and clarify that courts may consider a parent’s incarceration when termination of parental rights is sought; after a question about judicial feedback, it was moved to print and approved. The committee also heard RS 33184 from Sen. Julie Van Orden, which would establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Program and a legislative oversight committee to monitor use of anticipated federal rural health funds, including recommendations on subgrants and spending. Van Orden said the committee would ensure legislative oversight of how the money is distributed, with rural representation built into the membership. A senator asked whether this was the same as a governor-led task force referenced in budget language; Van Orden clarified that the bill creates a separate legislative oversight body, distinct from the governor’s application-related committee. The motion to introduce and print RS 33184 passed on a voice vote with one nay. The committee then adjourned, noting no meeting the next day, a Thursday meeting, and an upcoming hearing on the Department of Health and Welfare budget and programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any sort of affidavit or any sort of documentation that would test the veracity of the claim
• There would still be a judge involved to decide and determine whether or not the claims are true.
• And if they are, then the judge... whether or not the claims are true, and if they are, then the judge
• So it's no keyboard bullying people just going out there making false claims without there being some
• Please tell me he didn't file a claim on them. No, I didn't file a claim.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee first took up SCR 30 by Senator Connick, which memorializes Congress to compel the Department of Justice to release unclassified Epstein-related records. Senator Connick gave personal remarks about child sexual abuse and the need to hold powerful people accountable. Representative Newell supported the resolution, and the committee reported it favorably without opposition. Next, the committee considered SCR 40 by Senator Selders, urging Congress to timely pass defense appropriations that fully fund and align with the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure was briefly explained as a statement of support for military readiness and proper appropriations, and it was moved favorably with no opposition. The main substantive discussion centered on SB 259 by Senator Barrow, which would authorize an online portal for civil protective order applications. A Supreme Court protective order registry representative explained that the portal would let domestic and dating violence survivors complete petitions online, with the same judicial review, service, and hearing process that exists now; the bill would not eliminate manual filing. Members asked about fees, guidance for applicants, verification, judicial review, public access, and the risk of false filings. The witness and several members emphasized that the process remains temporary and ex parte at the outset, that final orders are issued by judges, and that the registry is not public. A domestic violence coalition representative also testified in support. Representative Newell moved favorable, Representative Edmondson objected, and the committee reported the bill favorably by a 10-1 vote. Finally, Representative Baham presented HR 245 condemning political violence in the United States. He cited recent and historical examples of political attacks and argued that violence against public figures and activists is harmful regardless of party. Members voiced support, no one objected, and the resolution was adopted before the committee adjourned, with the chair noting it was the last meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• TO REDUCE THE CLAIMS RATE, INCREASE YOUR COMPLIANCE RATE AND THE QUALITY OF BUSINESS FUNCTIONS HAVE A
• WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY COLLABORATING WITH AI DEVELOPERS TO UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEMS AND CLAIMS PROCESSES TO
• WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DEMYSTIFY THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL CLAIM REFERENCE IN HIS PRESENTATION.
• WONDERING IF YOU CAN ELABORATE HOW PLANS ARE CURRENTLY USING AI THE PROCESS CLAIMS IN PARTICULAR.
• USING IT TO STREAMLINE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A CLAIM.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, through CWOP, we were unable to file a wage claim.
• The existing process to file and pursue a wage theft claim is long and burdensome.
• The existing process to file and pursue a wage theft claim is long and burdensome, often taking months
• They have to show up so their claims are not dismissed. They have to go to a hearing.
• They have to show up so their claims not dismissed. They have to go to a hearing.

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced several bills focused on worker protections, training access, wage enforcement, outreach, and workplace safety. SB 513 would require employees to have access to their training and certification records; supporters, including laid-off refinery workers and labor organizations, said employers sometimes withhold records during layoffs, while committee members called the practice unacceptable. The bill passed 5-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. SB 809 addressed misclassification of construction truck owner-drivers by offering employers amnesty if they reclassify workers as employees and adopt a two-check payment system; labor and construction trades groups supported it, and it passed 5-0 to Judiciary. SB 578 would codify the California Workplace Outreach Program, which funds trusted community organizations to educate workers about their rights. Supporters described the program as a proven way to reach low-wage, immigrant, and hard-to-reach workers, especially amid wage theft, retaliation, and immigration enforcement concerns. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 261 would strengthen collection of wage theft judgments by creating a public list of nonpaying employers and adding penalties after six months of nonpayment; county enforcement officials and labor advocates said it would help workers recover unpaid wages. It passed 6-0 to Judiciary. The committee also approved SB 369, which would require skilled and trained workforce standards for Salton Sea restoration projects, with supporters saying the work is hazardous and should use trained labor; it passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 20 sought to address silicosis in stone countertop fabrication by requiring training and certification protections for workers; supporters said the disease has caused deaths among mostly Latino workers, while industry groups supported the bill with amendments and requested implementation resources. It passed 6-0 to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of four additional bills and adjourned after all listed measures were moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bank of America claimed it no longer wanted to serve their business type and because Indigenous Advanced
• Opponents claim that medical and dental plans are too different to be regulated similarly.
• Opponents claim that dental loss ratio will limit consumer options, raise premiums, and lead to market
• So if we have a low claim year and then the following year we have a high claim year, we rely upon the
• We're doing the... $26, so 15% of $500, we're doing the same amount of services: commissioning, claims

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• those doctors are capped, whatever actions those doctors have that lead to the medical malpractice claim
• those doctors are capped, whatever actions those doctors have that lead to the medical malpractice claim
• So anyone who is injured through a medical malpractice claim has access to care throughout their life
• And, you know, we do have more medical malpractice claims filed here than in other states.
• For the vast majority of these claims, it does feel like those systems are kind of deficient.

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 99, which would make changes to the Medical Malpractice Act, especially around punitive damages. The chair and sponsor said the bill would not be voted on that day and that public comment would wait until Monday, when a fuller presentation and any recommended substitute would be considered. Dr. Brooke Baker, a physician-lawyer, gave a long presentation on physician wellness, malpractice stress, and the effect of litigation on staffing and burnout, while also discussing hospital ownership structures, private equity, and rural hospital vulnerability. She argued that punitive damages are often pled too broadly in New Mexico, that the amendment language was unclear about which entities would be capped, and that better oversight and internal quality systems—not punitive damages—are the better tools for addressing bad actors and unsafe care. Committee members from both sides asked extensive questions about the patient compensation fund, indemnification, corporate structures, the effect of caps on insurance and recruitment, and whether the bill would protect physicians’ personal assets. No vote was taken on HB 99, and the committee recessed before moving to the next bill. The committee then returned to House Bill 49, a public safety measure increasing penalties for felons who possess firearms. The sponsors and law enforcement witnesses said the bill is aimed narrowly at serious violent felons who are already prohibited from having guns, and that it would align state sentencing with federal law and give police and prosecutors a stronger tool against repeat violent offenders. An amendment was offered to narrow the bill further, add destructive devices, and make the offense a second-degree felony rather than escalating to first degree on repeat offenses. The amendment was adopted without opposition. Public testimony on HB 49 was largely opposed. The Law Office of the Public Defender argued the bill criminalizes possession without a new act of violence, that current law already punishes felon-in-possession conduct, and that New Mexico has repeatedly increased penalties without evidence of reduced gun crime. The ACLU of New Mexico also opposed the bill, saying increased penalties are not a proven deterrent. The transcript cuts off as additional online opposition testimony was beginning.