Transcript Highlights:

• Under the act, they are not defined beneficiaries of the trust funds, and the claims cannot be assigned
• Department of Justice has not yet approved a claim to the U.S. Department of Justice. If the U.S.
• By expressly permitting the assignments of trust fund claims, but with important guardrails, the bill
• claims.
• Some might claim it was fraud on the card, but we had checked on the card when we ran it through.

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• It would require claims to be paid within 30 calendar days of the PBM... Receiving the claim.
• PBMs claim they save money. Let me repeat that.
• PBMs claim they save money, but over the last 10 years, they've increased their worth on top of what
• If PBMs claim they save money but yet drug costs and premiums keep rising.

Bills: SB1673, SB1500, SB1447, SB1646, SB2007, SB1275, SB2074

Keywords: prosthetics, health insurance, medical necessity, patient rights, insurance liability, pharmacy benefits manager, healthcare providers, claims processing, reimbursement, insurance regulation, employees insurance, contract awarding, certifications, state procurement, insurance plan, mental health, substance use disorders, utilization review, benefit coverage, pharmacy

Transcript Highlights:

• They have that claim to all of the securities, not just to the ones.
• They have that claim to all of the securities, not just to the ones.
• They have that claim to all of the securities, not just to the ones.
• They have that claim to all of the securities, not just to the ones.
• Getting in our CHIS system are all-payer claims database.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 167, which would add ski, snowboard, and boat wax containing PFAS to the state’s consumer-product restrictions. The sponsor argued the product is already banned in many places, has PFAS-free alternatives, and is used in ways that can directly contaminate water rather than landfills. She cited high PFAS levels in several New Hampshire lakes and said the bill was a simple extension of prior PFAS legislation. A witness also described a personal experience where a liquid ski wax disappeared from the market and later returned, likely because of PFAS concerns. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 167 without a vote. The committee then opened a hearing on House Bill 312, dealing with college athletes’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. Representative Moffett said the bill was modeled on New Jersey law and intended to let student-athletes earn compensation from NIL without losing institutional scholarships, while also requiring licensed representation and setting limits on certain endorsements. He described the measure as proactive because NIL rules are evolving and could create conflicts among schools and future lawsuits. Members questioned whether the bill should apply to two-year institutions, whether it should exclude firearms and weapons, and whether the scholarship protections would cover need-based or academic aid as well as athletic scholarships. Moffett said the scholarship language was intended to protect scholarships generally, but not need-based aid specifically, and he acknowledged discomfort with some of the endorsement restrictions. Public testimony on HB 312 was mixed. One supporter, a former Division III athlete and coach, backed the bill but urged removal of a section allowing institutions or athletic bodies to use an athlete’s NIL without compensation, arguing most New Hampshire athletes do not receive NIL money and should not have to work extra jobs to cover basic expenses. The chair also raised concerns about the bill’s contractual and identity-rights implications, referencing prior committee work on a J.D. Salinger-related identity case and noting the committee had previously declined to get involved in similar contractual disputes. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, that's what clean up this problem?
• As a mom, if my kids make a mess, they are responsible for cleaning it up.
• We clean office buildings.
• air and clean water.
• </c> such as clean air and clean water. such as clean air and clean water.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is also a YDC claim settlement fund.
• But there are thousands of claims that are going into Superior Court relative to YDC claims.
• Uh court security increased claims.
• YDC claims administration and settlement fund, although not general fund.
• YDC claims administration and settlement fund, although not general fund.

Keywords: LBA Briefing on Budget, 928, house, all

Summary: The presentation was an LBA overview of Senate changes to the House-passed state budget, with Michael Kane explaining how Senate Finance updated revenue and spending estimates after April revenue figures and agency discussions. He said the Senate’s revenue outlook was higher than the House’s in some areas, but lower in others, especially video lottery terminal revenue, and that the biggest differences also came from changes to revenue splits between the general fund and education trust fund, lapse estimates, and several policy changes in House Bill 1 and House Bill 2. Kane highlighted several major revenue and policy differences: the Senate changed the business tax, tobacco tax, and real estate transfer tax splits; adjusted liquor revenue dedication; removed the House’s meals-and-rooms distribution cap; delayed the Lakes Region facility proceeds plan; altered the PECARD fund treatment; added a granite patron of the arts tax credit; and changed the treatment of unique funds and video lottery terminal revenue. On spending, he noted Senate changes to judicial, corrections, HHS, human rights commission, and other budgets, including additional settlement costs, higher lapse assumptions, and a different approach to Medicaid premium revenue and retirement savings. He also described Senate additions such as a nursing home bed fee, Hampstead Hospital transition funding, and changes to the YDC claims settlement fund. The presentation focused on comparing House and Senate surplus statements across fiscal years 2025 through 2027, including projected ending balances and rainy day fund transfers. Kane repeatedly emphasized that the numbers were still dependent on final revenues and lapse amounts, and that some balances would be carried forward and trued up later in the biennium. No committee vote or final action was described in the excerpt; it was an informational budget briefing and comparison of the two chambers’ proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• water fund the state has spent clean water fund the state has spent nearly<00:09:50.880><c> $100</c>
• Have you considered the Legacy money, the Clean Water Fund, for this rather than the general fund?
• </c> um the uh Legacy money the the Clean um the uh Legacy money the the Clean Water<00:34:19.599><c>
• It's not part of your bill, but certainly invite you to do so if you would like. the Clean Water fund
• Wildlife lands and providing clean water Wildlife lands and providing clean water and<00:43:10.160><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government will institute what they call KPIs, or minimum requirements, of claims that can
• that are doing manual entry, and so we're trying to increase the number of electronically submitted claims
• does allow us to do corrective action plans with those providers if they're doing too many manual claims
• does allow us to do corrective action plans with those providers if they are doing too many manual claims

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard an emergency rule from the Department of Human Services on hospital-based residential treatment for adolescents with substance use disorder. Paula Stone explained that the rule would allow Medicaid reimbursement for services in a general hospital unit for ages 12 and up, with Unity Hospital in CERC expected to open the first such unit. Members asked about length of stay, cost, and capacity; Stone said stays would be determined by ASAM criteria with no fixed cap, the proposed Medicaid rate is $850 per day pending CMS approval, and the unit would have 24 beds split between boys and girls with on-site schooling. The committee then considered a rule on electronic visit verification for in-home personal care, attendant care, respite care, and home health services. Elizabeth Pittman said the update is intended to keep the state compliant with federal EVV requirements under the 21st Century Cures Act, improve auditing and corrective action plans for providers with too many manual claims, and remove the W-9 submission requirement in favor of IRS verification. Members confirmed that federal law requires an EVV system, and Pittman noted Arkansas uses an open system that allows providers to use the state option or their own vendor. No objections were raised to the EVV rule, which was reported as reviewed. The meeting then concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Claims Review Litigation Reports Oversight Subcommittee met on Tuesday, April 14th.
• The Claims Review Litigation Reports Oversight Subcommittee met on Tuesday, April 14th, reviewed two
• litigation settlements from the Department of Corrections, and affirmed the ruling of the Claims Commission
• as to one denied and dismissed claim, as noted in the report, and I move adoption of the report.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill by Representative Boyer, payment of certain claims; certain injury claims; limitations, 118
• House Bill by Representative Boyer, payment of certain claims; certain injury claims; limitations, 118
• House Bill by Representative Shinaver, workers' compensation, claim for benefits, petition for a claim
• , contents of a petition, disputed claims, 456.
• House Bill 526 by Representative Dickerson, payment of certain claims; damage caps. Civil Law.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received and accepted multiple resignation notices from members representing Districts 37, 39, 60, 69, 97, and 100, and then recognized the election and qualification of the members-elect who filled those vacancies: Doyle Boudreau, Reese Broussard, Chasity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray. Each member-elect was sworn in, and the House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session. The chamber then handled a large number of procedural actions related to prefiled legislation. By motion and without objection, the House suspended rules to refer prefile bills to committee and introduced a broad slate of House bills and resolutions. Topics included the state budget and appropriations, retirement system changes, carbon capture and sequestration, criminal justice and bail, public safety, education, health care, local government matters, transportation, and several memorial or commemorative resolutions. Several resolutions and bills were noted as lying over, and some prefiled bills were withdrawn from the files. The House also received a Senate message that SCR 1 had been adopted, and the resolution was taken up without objection. The chamber then recessed for a joint session with the Senate to hear the governor’s address and a presentation honoring Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister with the Distinguished Flying Cross. In his remarks, Governor Jeff Landry highlighted his administration’s priorities, including education, tax reform, workforce development, health and nutrition, insurance reform, transportation infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and criminal justice reform, while urging support for his agenda and several related bills and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• accept a taxpayer's electronic response to a notice of proposed property tax correction or notice of claim
• Currently, assessors are required to send notices related to claim disputes, appeals, and other official
• Because of this lack of a definition, a claim submitted by the town and one of our firefighters was denied
• So some corporate money has been claimed, right? There has been additional money claimed.
• So some corporate money has been claimed, right? There has been additional money claimed.

Bills: HB2089, HB2090, HB2092, HB2120, HB2138, HB2173, HB2273, HB2693, HB2786

Keywords: retirement benefits, health insurance, premium payment, Arizona State Retirement System, contingent annuitant, long-term disability, benefits limitations, disability compensation, social security, retirement system, elected officials, ASRS, eligibility waiver, age 65, property tax exemption, disability, veterans, widows, income limits, Arizona Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm super curious to see how he came to that conclusion for a person who seems, you know, claims to
• So I'm super curious to see how he came to that conclusion for a person who seems, you know, claims to
• I saw Dhingra and Peterson dropped a bill to create basically a civil claims process for the bills.
• And some of these claims go back many years or even decades.
• Why you would raise that and make that even more regressive at a time... ...you're claiming to want to

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: Senate and House Republican leaders held a joint media availability focused on affordability, budget concerns, and opposition to several Democratic tax proposals. John Braun and Drew Stokesbary said Washingtonians are still struggling with the cost of food, gas, housing, child care, and health care, and argued Democrats are not advancing bills that would ease those pressures. They criticized a draft income tax proposal they said would function as a small business tax, especially because it would disallow loss carryforwards and could discourage investment in housing and other capital-intensive sectors. They also objected to a proposed tire fee and a bill they said would prevent tire sellers from telling customers about the tax. The Republicans said they planned to raise budget and tax concerns in an upcoming meeting with Governor Ferguson, and Stokesbary said he had introduced a budget-savings bill to consolidate University of Washington investment management with the State Investment Board. They also discussed a bill to make it harder to qualify citizen initiatives, calling it anti-democratic, and said they want stronger oversight and legal reforms related to DCYF and state liability in child welfare cases. Braun and Stokesbary said they were open to discussing tort reform and a civil claims process, but emphasized the underlying problem is state failure in protecting children. On health care, they said they were still reviewing a bill to eliminate interest on medical debt and a separate 340B drug-pricing proposal, warning both could have unintended effects on hospitals, patients, and drug innovation. They also said they support the idea of protecting children online and in schools, but want any social media, AI chatbot, or cell phone-related bills written carefully to avoid First Amendment problems and unintended consequences. On public safety, they expressed concern about a bill restricting police retention of automatic license plate reader data, arguing law enforcement needs such tools to solve crimes. No votes were taken, and the event ended with the Republicans reiterating their opposition to tax increases and their focus on affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm super curious to see how he came to that conclusion for a person who seems, you know, claims to
• So I'm super curious to see how he came to that conclusion for a person who seems, you know, claims to
• I saw Dhingra and Peterson dropped a bill to create basically a civil claims process for the bills.
• And some of these claims go back many years or even decades.
• Why you would raise that and make that even more regressive at a time... ...you're claiming to want to

Summary: Republican legislative leaders used the availability to focus on affordability, budget pressures, and opposition to several Democratic tax proposals. They criticized a circulating draft income tax proposal as a de facto small-business tax, arguing it would hurt LLCs, S corporations, housing investment, and the broader economy. They also attacked a proposed tire fee, a possible cigarette tax increase, and other tax ideas as regressive or hidden from consumers, while saying Republicans would not support any tax increases and urging budget cuts and spending restraint instead. The leaders said they planned to raise these concerns in an upcoming meeting with Governor Ferguson, along with questions about his budget and how he reconciles prior opposition to a wealth tax with support for an income tax. They also discussed a bill to make it harder to qualify initiatives for the legislature, calling it anti-democratic, and said the majority was ignoring or undermining voter-driven policy efforts. On child welfare, they criticized DCYF oversight and supported stronger accountability, including a bill to fix the state’s “imminent harm” standard and another proposal to stop the state from collecting certain federal disability and survivor benefits from foster youth. Other topics included tort liability reform, where Republicans said the state’s repeated failures in child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation are the underlying problem, not just the cost of claims, though they were open to limited reforms such as disclosure of litigation financing. They also discussed the 340B drug pricing program, saying it is complicated and could affect hospitals, FQHCs, patients, and pharmaceutical innovation. On public safety and technology, they expressed cautious support for bills regulating kids’ social media and AI use, but stressed First Amendment concerns and the need to avoid private rights of action; they were more skeptical of a bill limiting police retention of automatic license plate reader data, saying law enforcement needs effective tools to solve crimes. No votes were taken, and the event ended with Republicans reiterating that affordability was their top priority.

Transcript Highlights:

• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• We all want clean air, we all want clean water, we all want clean land, and this bill does not do anything
• </c><00:46:55.839><c> land</c> want clean water we all want clean land want clean water we all want clean

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Claims to this fund have increased in recent years.
• claim of $16,000 that was delayed into fiscal year 2026 due to a lack of appropriation.
• The trend of an increasing number of claims is expected to continue as program awareness continues to
• Handling of a claim.
• And so it was initially geared toward insurance professionals, those who are actually handling the claim

Summary: The committee heard budget reviews for the Industrial Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Secretary of State. For the Industrial Commission, analysts and agency staff described the agency’s dedicated funds and FY27 requests, including ongoing support for the IRIS technology system, additional funding for the annual seminar and CWICS training, an increase for the Peace Officer and Detention Officer Temporary Disability Fund due to rising claims, and replacement IT hardware. Members asked about the IRIS maintenance contract, the seminar pricing and audit finding on the miscellaneous revenue fund, and the crime victims compensation program and its general fund support. Agency staff said the IRIS support is still being provided by an outside vendor because OITS is not yet able to assume the work, that seminar and training spending will increase rather than fees being reduced, and that the disability fund increase is ongoing. The committee also discussed concerns that reductions in the crime victims compensation general fund appropriation could affect services, though staff said dedicated and federal funds could help cover shortfalls if needed. The Public Utilities Commission presentation focused on its single utilities regulation program, dedicated funding sources, and FY26 and FY27 budget items. Analysts reviewed the new workload created by the wildfire standard of care law enacted in 2025, which added staff and one-time funding in FY26, and noted a FY27 request for IT hardware. Questions centered on why indirect cost recovery spending was far below the amount budgeted; the administrator said the variance was largely due to timing and the fact that rent was not paid from that fund at the time. A senator praised the commission’s work implementing the wildfire legislation. The Secretary of State budget review covered elections, business services, the Commission on Uniform State Laws, and the Idaho Code Commission. Analysts noted the office’s general fund budget, the large FY24 election system upgrade, and FY27 requests for $350,000 ongoing for a voter pamphlet and guide, a $20,000 ongoing transfer for post-election audit overtime, and replacement technology items; a reappropriation item for a double-filled business director position was later withdrawn. Secretary of State Phil McGrane said the office is handling sharply increased business filings, generating more revenue than its budget and returning excess revenue to the state, but also facing longer processing times. He defended the ongoing voter pamphlet request as tied to recurring election requirements and said the overtime request reflects election-cycle workload. He also said the office is using outside vendor support for election IT, is considering AI tools cautiously, and would not be materially affected if ballot counting methods changed, since counties handle tabulation. The committee ended with procedural remarks about upcoming budget-setting work, a FY26 rescission bill still being processed, and a reminder that alternate motions must be submitted by 5 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Orlando Health sued Liberty Health Share for unpaid claims for over a million dollars a couple years
• I don't deal with the claims every day.
• The behavior does not distinguish between catastrophic and non-catastrophic claims.
• As far as the estimate just being the work product, there's other claim journals, conversation, diary
• I myself have been a victim of an insurance claim. I've been through the process myself. I know it.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, claims per year is about $4 billion a year in claims that we pay out, yes.
• A year, the claims costs that we're covering.
• I'm just talking about claims cost is roughly $8 billion per year.
• The agency is requesting an additional nine claims benefit advisors to support VA claims submissions,
• with each of their claims benefit cases.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Across for consumers, clean drinking water, fresh water, computers, smartphones, transportation needs
• And advocate for clean water across Texas.
• And to be clear, the needs for clean water and funding, funding in Texas are immense.
• Water SRF or Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
• It's now time to prioritize a statewide clean water plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• Across for consumers, clean drinking water, fresh water, computers, smartphones. transportation needs
• The industry has already implemented treatment processes to produce what they call a clean brine.
• And Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies where I serve as executive director.
• And to be clear, the needs for clean water and funding in Texas are immense.
• Water SRF or Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee continued work on HB 553, a bipartisan bill to update the child protection act’s definitions, especially around abuse, neglect, psychological maltreatment, and serious impairment. Supporters said the current law is outdated, vague, and too limited to address modern child welfare concerns, and argued the bill is intended to create clearer standards for DCF/DCYF, courts, and parents without adding criminal penalties or expanding authority to remove children. They also noted the bill had been developed over months of bipartisan work and that similar concepts exist in other states; a committee researcher had circulated a comparison of 17 states with prenatal and substance-use-related provisions. A major focus was whether the bill should include a more explicit definition of emotional abuse. Some members argued that the bill’s current language is not specific enough and could leave parents without fair notice, while others said the bill already addresses the issue through definitions of psychological maltreatment, emotional harm, and serious impairment. Office of Child Advocate staff explained that the drafting process intentionally avoided defining every emotional-abuse term separately and instead used a pattern-based psychological maltreatment standard with examples such as threatening, demeaning, humiliating, and belittling behavior. They said those provisions were drawn from other states and were meant to fill gaps seen in cases involving severe emotional harm and injured infants. The committee also discussed trauma-informed language related to substance use disorder and pregnancy. Members said the amendment was intended to avoid discouraging pregnant people with substance use disorder from seeking medical care, while still allowing intervention when a child is substance-exposed; they noted the proposal would include an exemption when a licensed health care provider is monitoring the pregnancy. Several members emphasized that the bill is meant to protect children while also giving parents clearer notice of prohibited conduct, and one member raised concerns about how the bill could affect other legislation dealing with criminal neglect. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government will institute what they call KPIs, or minimum requirements, of claims that can
• The federal government will institute what they call KPIs, or minimum requirements, of claims that can
• that are doing manual entry, and so we're trying to increase the number of electronically submitted claims
• does allow us to do corrective action plans with those providers if they are doing too many manual claims

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and approved the minutes. It then heard an emergency rule from the Department of Human Services on hospital-based residential treatment for adolescents with substance use disorders. Paula Stone explained that the rule would allow Medicaid reimbursement for residential treatment services provided in a hospital unit for ages 12 and up, with Unity Hospital in Searcy expected to be the first provider. Members asked about licensure, length of stay, and cost; Stone said stays would be determined by ASAM criteria rather than a fixed cap, the projected rate submitted to CMS was $850 per day, and the unit would have 24 beds split between boys and girls with an on-site school. The committee next considered an electronic visit verification rule for in-home personal care, attendant care, respite care, and home health services. Elizabeth Pittman said the update was intended to keep the state compliant with federal EVV requirements, improve auditing and corrective action authority, and encourage more electronic claims submissions. She also noted the rule would remove the W-9 submission requirement for provider enrollment to allow IRS verification. Members asked whether EVV was federally required and were told Arkansas uses an open system that allows providers to use the state option or a third-party vendor. After the presentations, the committee took no further action beyond noting that the EVV rule stood reviewed. The meeting then adjourned.