Transcript Highlights:

• So this eliminates the home office premium tax credit.
• the... ...recommendation from the Incentive Evaluation Commission and lowers the tax on insurance premiums
• I don't discount the efforts that have been put in by the Incentive Evaluation Commission as well as

Bills: SB1302 , SB1389 , SB1401 , SB1776 , SB1809 , SB1858 , SB1985 , SB2053 , SB2148

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The Revenue and Taxation Committee met and considered several bills. Senate Bill 1776, by Senator Pugh, would create a $10,000 refundable tax credit for teachers with seven consecutive years of service, as part of a teacher retention strategy; after questions about the seven-year threshold, it passed 8-3. Senate Bill 1858, by Senator Frix, would create a new TIF district financing option allowing developers, rather than cities or counties, to borrow against projected TIF revenues; the committee adopted an amendment changing a filing provision from “may” to “shall,” and the bill passed 7-4. Senate Bill 1985, by Senator Guthrie, would let state retirement systems consider limited investments in regulated digital assets, capped at 5% and narrowed to large-market-cap assets; the committee added an amendment inserting “in” to clarify the language, and the bill passed 9-2. The committee then rejected Senate Bill 1302, by Senator Kirt, which would repeal the “path to zero” trigger tied to future income tax cuts; it failed 2-9 after debate over fiscal stability and tax relief. Senate Bill 1809, by Senator Hamilton, would raise the homestead exemption from $1,000 to $5,000; members debated its impact on local governments and school funding, but it passed 9-2. Senate Bill 1401, by Senator Rader, was amended to adjust the insurance premium tax rate from 1.96% to 2.16% and eliminate the home office premium tax credit; the bill was laid over after concerns about its fiscal impact. Finally, Senate Bill 2053, also by Senator Rader, would allow cities and counties to impose up to a 10% excise tax on medical marijuana dispensaries by local vote, with OTC handling collections and enforcement; supporters framed it as local control and a way to offset public safety costs, while opponents argued it unfairly targeted dispensaries and consumers. The bill passed 7-3. The committee then adjourned and announced it would meet again the following Monday after floor activity.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a rate that fluctuates based off of a 300 point discount off that rate and it roughly reflects the
• The amendment provides that the proposed trust fund be funded by 20% of the collected insurance premium
• That insurance premium tax collected next year is expected to exceed 1 billion dollars with over 6, 6

Transcript Highlights:

• medical charges that subsequently lead to inflated verdicts that we are all paying for in insurance premiums
• . ...we are all paying for in insurance premiums and enhanced and elevated amounts of actual tort litigation
• And so that affects all Texans in their insurance premiums, and such that there needs to be a rebalancing
• rate with someone that comes in and is private pay, and that's based off of your bill charges and a discount

Bills: SB1540 , SB2225 , SB2284 , SB2382 , SB2487 , SB2514 , SB2595 , SB2876 , SB2877 , SB3031 , SB2753 , HB45

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard Senate Bill 3031, which would expand aggravated assault to cover certain road-rage shootings involving a person in or traveling to or from a motor vehicle, when a firearm is discharged and causes injury, property damage, or fear of serious bodily injury. Senator Schwertner laid out the bill for the author, described it as closing a gap in the law, and there was no public testimony; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2514, a measure by Chairman Hughes aimed at creating a DPS unit to identify, investigate, and monitor hostile foreign influence operations and to require ethics training for state employees. Supportive invited testimony from Dr. Jacqueline Deal, Ambassador Kelly Curry, and Michael Lucci emphasized threats from the Chinese Communist Party, transnational repression, cyber intrusion, and state-level influence efforts, and argued Texas should take a leading role. Public testimony included opposition from speakers who raised concerns about free speech, privacy, and potential overbreadth. The bill was left pending after testimony closed. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 30 as pending business and discussed a committee substitute. Senator Schwertner explained that the substitute would limit admissible medical expense evidence to amounts paid or up to 300% of Medicare, clarify treatment of provider testimony and attorney-referred providers, remove a requirement that plaintiffs use available health insurance to mitigate damages, strike a unanimous-verdict requirement for non-economic damages, and delete a remittitur provision. Senators questioned the impact on sexual assault and child abuse survivors, the use of Medicare as a benchmark, and whether the bill would still allow fair compensation. After discussion, SB 30 was left pending and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• $50,000, we would need to set aside around $17,500 for the retirement contributions, health insurance premiums
• $50,000, we would need to set aside around $17,500 for the retirement contributions, health insurance premiums
• And as you all know, state law. health insurance premiums, FICA, et cetera.
• There's no tuition discounting applied, so cash is flowing into the institution.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to examine how Florida’s state universities are funded and to begin discussing a possible university funding model. The panel included the State University System chancellor and CFOs from FSU, UF, FAMU, FAU, UNF, and UCF. Members first reviewed major cost drivers, which the universities said are broadly similar across institutions: wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, financial aid, professional services, utilities, IT, and maintenance. Several institutions noted unique pressures from geography, growth, research intensity, and mission, such as UCF’s size and engineering focus, UF’s land-grant and research enterprise, FAMU’s need to recruit top talent while serving a high-Pell student population, and FSU’s large facilities and research obligations. The chancellor also summarized systemwide cost growth since 2012-13, including higher health insurance, retirement, and salary costs, while noting tuition had been held flat. The committee then discussed other revenue sources, including auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. University leaders explained that many of these funds are restricted to specific purposes, and some, like UF Health, account for a large share of operating expenses. Members also discussed the current performance-based funding process. University representatives generally praised it for transparency, accountability, and its focus on student success, but said the heavy use of one-time funds, nonrecurring appropriations, and unfunded mandates makes long-term planning difficult. FSU and others argued that rising employee costs, waivers, and facilities expenses are not fully covered, while FAMU said performance funding has improved outcomes but can disadvantage institutions serving more low-income students. In response to questions about improvements, the universities suggested more recurring and predictable funding, better coverage of mandated costs, more flexibility in fees, and continued investment in research and strategic priorities. The chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a version 3.0 of performance funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications. The committee also explored whether universities should have more flexibility to set out-of-state tuition and professional school tuition. Most university leaders favored giving boards of trustees more authority, while the chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or tuition too much could affect legislative support. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking the panel and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• That total premium rate covers both family leave and medical leave.
• Premiums are shared between employers and employees.
• Again, the first premiums are due April 30, 2026.
• What kind of discount would I expect?
• What kind of discount would I expect? Thank you, Chair and Senator Draheim.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We won't settle for increased premiums. We want the pie to be divided up differently, more fair.
• So would you agree that I don't want to discount what's already been done and that we are moving in the

Bills: HB4336 , HB1818 , HB3194 , HB3538 , HB3682 , HB3762 , HB3793 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB4124 , HB4200 , HB4410 , HB4457 , HB4473 , HB3884 , HB1912

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: interventional pain management, pain management clinic, chronic pain, acute pain, spinal injections, epidural steroid injection, peripheral nerve block, nerve ablation, spinal cord stimulator, intrathecal infusion pump, endoscopic diskectomy, fluoroscopy, physician supervision, allopathic physician, osteopathic physician, CRNA, certified registered nurse anesthetist, nurse anesthetist, freestanding pain management facility, medical licensure

Transcript Highlights:

• No more premiums paid. million dollars. No more premiums paid.
• </c> insurance premium tax revenues. insurance premium tax revenues.
• </c> life company doesn't write any premium life company doesn't write any premium in<01:03:54.640><c
• Uh they only paid a $200 premium taxed.
• insurance premium taxes. >> That's how far it would carry out, right?

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• But health insurance premiums are indeed rising. Why is that?
• In 2026, KFF reported that for 2026, premiums and out-of-pocket costs could be much higher than the rate
• It's about $1,350 for a month's supply, though discounts may be available. But they're expensive.
• Cost-sharing—this refers to laws that require pharmaceutical rebates from the manufacturers and dis- discounts

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Freddie Keaton asked whether, if a cheaper product from Brazil is being sold, it is discounted to the
• from Brazil that they're think that if they're buying a cheaper product from Brazil, that they're discounting
• There's a product here labeled made in Argentina for a discounted price because other people support
• And that's aside from the point of where maybe I don't always have the extra money to pay for that premium

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on Senate Bill 890. Members explained that the House committee substitute combined provisions from related bills, changed the title to accommodate an amendment, and restored language that had been unintentionally repealed in section 217.550. The amendment was adopted, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for SB 890 was voted do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard Senate Bill 945 from Senator Carla May, which would raise the civil filing surcharge in the city of St. Louis from $15 to up to $20 to support the law library and related court services. Senator May and a representative of the Law Library Association of St. Louis testified that the surcharge had not been raised since 1996, that costs had increased, and that the increase would help maintain legal research resources and public access. Questions focused on whether the amount was sufficient and what other funding sources existed; there was no opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. The sponsor and supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that independent cattle producers are harmed by consolidation in the packing industry, and that voluntary labeling is inadequate. Opponents from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Missouri Pork Association argued that mandatory labeling adds regulatory burden, is not supported by consumer purchasing data, and should remain voluntary. The hearing included extensive testimony from cattle producers and consumers, but no vote on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• He argued that the outcomes are clear: more affordable and predictable malpractice insurance premiums
• The premiums might be. So on and so forth.
• And he pointed out that his premiums had gone up by something like $200,000 a month.
• Our malpractice insurance premiums will continue to go up, and fewer insurers will offer policies.
• Our malpractice insurance premiums will continue to go up, and fewer insurers will offer policies.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• for discounted purchasing as currently<01:56:39.000><c> occurs</c><01:56:39.400><c> in</c><01:56:39.560
• This will lead to increased cost for Hawaii families through higher insurance premiums.
• This will lead to increased cost for Hawaii families through higher insurance premiums.
• This will lead to increased cost for Hawaii families through higher insurance premiums.
• </c> the private Market where premium the private Market where premium increases<03:54:12.080><c> may

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• that allows employers to reimburse employees on a pre-tax basis for individual health insurance premiums
• With annual premiums that can increase and are difficult to predict, as many of you know who operate
• </c> for individual health insurance premiums for individual health insurance premiums and<00:43:06.560
• When with annual premiums that volatile.
• When with annual premiums that can<00:43:57.760><c> increase</c><00:43:58.079><c> and</c><00:43:58.319

Transcript Highlights:

• an average of a 97% increase in monthly health care insurance premiums.
• Health insurance premiums are way too high for several different reasons.
• Okay, so won't lower premiums, um... ...development of the rates. Okay, so it won't lower premiums.
• Well, I wouldn't necessarily say it won't lower premiums.
• , which is built into the premiums that the employers and the employees pay.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 331 by Sen. Menjivar, which would require large-group health plans to cover hearing aids for children. The author and supporters described the bill as a long-running effort to address a developmental emergency and reduce out-of-pocket costs for families, while opponents were absent. Testimony from parents, advocates, medical experts, and organizations emphasized the importance of early access to hearing aids; committee members voiced strong support, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The committee then heard SB 608, also by Sen. Menjivar, to expand access to condoms in school-based health centers and related settings and to prevent barriers such as ID checks. Supporters, including students and school health advocates, argued the bill would improve sexual health and reduce stigma, while opponents from family and faith groups argued it would undermine parental authority and normalize early sexual activity. The bill was supported by committee members and moved forward on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Next, SB 971 by Sen. Choi proposed community-based healthy aging partnerships for older adults, with testimony from the California Senior Legislature and supporters from aging and dementia organizations. The measure was described as voluntary and focused on connection, independence, and local collaboration; there was no opposition, and the committee moved it on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 869 by Sen. Weber Pierson, which would require warning icons and statements on chain restaurant menus for beverages with very high added sugar content. Supporters framed it as a transparency and public health measure, while restaurant and beverage industry representatives opposed it unless amended, citing cost and menu-space concerns; the bill was nevertheless moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations after a roll call vote, with some members voting no and the measure placed on call. The committee also considered SB 950 by Sen. Weber Pierson, aimed at ensuring timely coverage of FDA-approved, medically necessary treatments for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on commercial plans. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association and a patient advocate, said the bill would reduce delays and barriers to care, while health plan representatives opposed it over step therapy and utilization-management concerns. Members discussed the limited treatment window and the need for early access, and the bill was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. In addition, SB 490 by Sen. Umberg would set timelines for DHCS investigations of unlicensed sober living homes and allow counties to assist if the department cannot act in time; supporters from Anaheim and a patient-brokering survivor described serious abuse and oversight gaps, while county behavioral health representatives opposed the county role as an unfunded and potentially liability-creating burden. After discussion, the bill was also moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1037 by Sen. Weber Pierson on health insurance affordability and rate review, with supporters arguing it would tie premium increases more closely to affordability targets and public reporting; the transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• A constituent who<02:32:16.880><c> saw</c><02:32:17.200><c> his</c><02:32:17.439><c> premiums</c><02:
• 32:17.920><c> go</c><02:32:18.160><c> up</c><02:32:19.040><c> exponentially</c> who saw his premiums
• go up exponentially who saw his premiums go up exponentially to<02:32:20.000><c> the</c><02:32:20.240
• that would allow to pay for that premium that would allow him<02:32:24.960><c> to</c><02:32:25.120><
• He came to our premiums paid and we did.

Bills: HB5587

Keywords: geothermal, environmental policy, federal drilling permit, energy production, state regulations, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• an average 97% increase in monthly health insurance premiums.
• The reality is that premiums are not set arbitrarily.
• “Okay, so it won't lower premiums.” “Well, I wouldn't necessarily say it won't lower premiums.
• is built into the premiums that the employers and the employees pay.
• Independent agents and brokers do not set premiums.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> apply to finding ways to reduce premiums apply to finding ways to reduce premiums for<00:36:13.160
• </c> including workers compensation premium including workers compensation premium rates<00:43:17.319
• </c> get the best premiums get the best premiums possible<00:46:13.200><c> an</c><00:46:13.359><c> independent
• </c><00:47:48.040><c> taxes</c> we do a collection of Premium taxes we do a collection of Premium taxes
• </c><01:12:50.840><c> increases</c> see very significant premium increases see very significant premium

Summary: The meeting began with introductory remarks for new and returning members of the House Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John Hunt. Members briefly introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and several noted the committee’s bipartisan, collegial tone. Hunt explained the committee’s structure and traditions, including the division into three subcommittees: banking and business, consumer protection, and liquor commission matters, with insurance now handled as a single area. He also reviewed basic hearing procedures, including decorum, questions for information only, and the committee’s practice of moving bills through subcommittees before full committee executive sessions. The committee then heard an overview from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, led by Commissioner DJ Bettencourt and staff. The department described its mission as promoting a safe and competitive insurance marketplace and emphasized consumer protection, market competition, and affordability. Officials outlined the department’s responsibilities, including licensing insurers, producers, adjusters, and TPAs; reviewing insurance forms; regulating companies and market conduct; overseeing financial solvency; and investigating insurance fraud. They also noted that the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers, collects premium taxes and fees for the state, and returned more than $2.7 million to companies in fiscal year 2024 due to underspending. The presentation also covered the broader regulatory framework for insurance, including the role of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in promoting uniform standards across states and territories. Officials said New Hampshire licenses about 1,200 insurance companies and roughly 245,000 producers and adjusters, and that the department’s financial examinations are part of an accreditation system used nationwide. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the session was primarily organizational and informational, with the insurance department presentation beginning the committee’s substantive work for the term.

Transcript Highlights:

• :42:02.680><c> valuation</c> restructuring to obtain valuation restructuring to obtain valuation discounts
• for minority interests in discounts for minority interests in closely<00:42:05.760><c> family-held</
• who have families, who are trying to make an extra $150 a week in order to make their insurance premiums
• I understand if your experience is separated from that, but I would ask you to think about that. premiums
• and pay their and pay their premiums and pay their and pay their food<01:11:56.120><c> bills</c><01:

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:39:23.199><c> contribution</c><01:39:23.840><c> that</c> the premium contribution that the premium
• And they raised that premium contribution from 12.5% of the premium to 17.5%, and they made several changes
• How could we have a zero zero premium.
• At that premium for medical costs only?
• </c><01:42:38.639><c> because</c> on an adjustment of the premium because on an adjustment of the premium

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal there is to help policies get placed if the insurance provider goes under or to return premium
• Our goal there is to help policies get placed if the insurance provider goes under or to return premium
• The PSC also administers programs such as Lifeline, which provides discounted telephone services to low-income
• reports from participants in the program that they're saving up to $1,000 a year on their insurance premium

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• for more than 300 new pay slots, and $27.8 million for Florida Healthy Kids, combined risk model premium
• because they have told their contracted processor not to pay premiums for the month of March.
• And failure to pay your health care premium will result in a notice of termination of your insurance
• for non-payment of premium.
• And so, you know, if the health department has told the vendor in February not to pay March's premiums

Bills: S2500 , S2502 , S2504 , S7028 , S2506 , S2508 , S2510 , S2512 , S2514 , S2516 , S2518 , S0482 , S0678 , S0984 , S1016 , S1074 , S1706 , S7030

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2026-2027 budget, SPB 2500, with chairs outlining major spending in K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Highlights included a $115 billion overall budget, pay raises for state employees and public safety workers, major K-12 funding increases and enrollment supplements, higher education workforce and nursing investments, expanded Medicaid/KidCare and behavioral health funding, corrections and law enforcement operational funding, transportation and housing investments, and significant environmental and water quality spending. Members asked about civic education funding, declining enrollment, professor retention, APD waiver waitlists, cultural grant allocations, and other line items. Public testimony also addressed HIV/AIDS drug assistance funding and prison air conditioning. SPB 2500 was adopted as a committee bill after amendment consideration and a roll call vote. The committee then took up implementing and related budget bills, including SPB 2502 (implementing the General Appropriations Act), SPB 2504 (state employee bargaining placeholder), SB 7028 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and related retirement changes), SPB 2506 (fuel tax distributions), SPB 2508 (state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge), SPB 2510 (termination of an unused court trust fund), SPB 2512 (new judgeships), SPB 2514 (K-12 conforming changes), SPB 2516 (higher education conforming changes), and SPB 2518 (health conforming changes). Most were explained as technical or conforming measures tied to the budget, and all were reported favorably as committee bills, with SB 7028 amended to direct a portion of increased contributions to disability and line-of-duty death benefits in the FRS investment plan. The committee also heard and passed several member bills, including CS for SB 1074 on rounding rules for cash transactions in a world without pennies, CS for SB 678 restoring the alcohol loss deduction framework for distributors, and SB 964 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention. SB 964 drew the most discussion, with questions about the one-year death-benefit window, the separate $25,000 cancer diagnosis payment, and whether the bill could create gaps in coverage for firefighters diagnosed or dying just outside the new time limits. Firefighter representatives testified in support, saying the bill would provide clearer protections for members and families. All of these measures were reported favorably.