Transcript Highlights:

• As we wrap up the purpose and work of this special legislative study committee, we're going to take care
• And although this is not a direct... these aren't direct recommendations, I feel like they're an important
• I want us to take care of some housekeeping while we have our quorum here.
• Either we suggest we move in one direction or we make this suggestion.
• We don’t even care about the sports part now. He just needs to be in school.”

Summary: The special legislative study committee met with seven members present, adopted minutes from prior meetings, and then heard public testimony from Terrell Butler and his father about a transfer-eligibility dispute involving Leesville High School and Anacoco High School. They described a family decision to move schools for broader educational and personal reasons, but said the student was ruled ineligible for varsity athletics despite strong grades and a desire to play basketball. Several members responded that the rule seemed to punish students for adult decisions and for transfers within the same parish, and they urged the family to keep working hard while the committee considered broader policy changes. The committee then reviewed a draft report containing factual findings about LHSAA and discussed recommendations. Members expressed concern about inconsistent enforcement, lack of transparency, limited accountability, and LHSAA’s repeated absence from committee meetings. The committee adopted findings for the report and approved three recommendations: creating a structured student-transfer eligibility process allowing one transfer through junior year; making the House and Senate representatives on the LHSAA executive committee voting members; and adding a governor-appointed voting member to the executive committee. Speaker Pro Tem Johnson then outlined broader options for legislative action. One proposal, adopted as the committee’s recommendation, would create a cooperative endeavor agreement framework between the Department of Education/BESE and a nonprofit to administer high school athletics, with public-records coverage subject to existing privacy exceptions and an option for nonpublic schools to participate. A second, more expansive proposal would create a state Office of Sanctioned Athletics within the Department of Education; the committee agreed to include that concept in the report for future discussion but not as a recommendation. The committee also authorized staff to finalize the report, incorporate the adopted findings and recommendations, make technical edits, and send the report to the House and Senate education committees and LHSAA. The meeting ended with closing remarks thanking staff and members, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• from primary care.
• says that a health plan has to spend at least 85% of the premium dollar on direct medical care.
• through Care Court.
• mental health care.
• She did not fail Care Court. Care Court failed to recognize her needs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for a child or care for a parent.
• Take care.
• Take care.
• Are you a child care center?
• Health care policy paper entitled Addressing Health Care Insurance Portability for Small Business.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• But essentially, we saw $8.8 billion in direct visitor spending.
• And it's not because I said so; nobody cares what I think.
• Thank you for the groups that's working on the child care. So we're trying to do that.
• Thank you for the groups that's working on the child care.
• If not, we’ll try to get direct questions and burn through them.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature directed JLARC to consider developers' performance on three metrics.
• And then the other one is health care and social assistance.
• And health care and social assistance is growing over 3% a year.
• So the U.S. is also seeing growth mostly concentrated in health care.
• I would say, you know, a sector like health care is highly variable.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You have helped create the for you Health Innovation District, which allows us to provide health care
• It includes health care delivery. This isn't my distance.
• My working the site has been a direct bridge between these questions in real AI systems.
• We have taken 2 different directions. Wani. Sorry.
• I know that that it is say complex is so that might be more cared ups.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let the decisions we make and the work we do reflect our love for our neighbor, our care for the vulnerable
• reflect our love for for our<00:08:59.760><c> neighbor</c><00:09:00.680><c> our</c><00:09:00.920><c> care
• 00:09:01.160><c> for</c><00:09:01.360><c> the</c><00:09:01.519><c> vulnerable</c> our neighbor our care
• for the vulnerable our neighbor our care for the vulnerable and<00:09:02.200><c> our</c><00:09:02.440
• </c> Arisen with our trust code after careful Arisen with our trust code after careful study<00:17:58.280

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually have about 50% of our workforce is what we call direct care, and that is providing either
• care in the community.
• long-term care.
• long-term care.
• We also call for an effort to grow our direct care workforce that provides long-term services and supports

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here today not only because I care deeply about this relationship, but because I have a direct responsibility
• So it's something that we really care about, and we would like to help that industry or that economic
• So it's something that we really care about, and we would like to help that industry or that economic
• Once again, very quickly, members, on the issue of oversight and having input in providing direction
• to the Commerce Authority, this gives us an opportunity to have a seat at the table and give direction

Bills: HB2746, HB2751, HB2752, HB2753

Keywords: trade offices, committee, Arizona commerce authority, stakeholder input, efficiency, Arizona competes fund, economic development, fund repeal, state finances, state appropriations, Arizona Commerce Authority, job creation, business incentives, commerce authority, public-private partnership, business regulation, Arizona governance, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• invited witnesses who are here for agencies because we've seen a lot of people not following this directive
• include $1.6 million for eight additional FTEs to support the program with. and a new rider that directs
• We've cut down some of the backlog on the... ...cases we've had because we've had direct interaction.
• In order to do that, we've got to have the IT bandwidth to take care of that.
• While fantastic for access to care in Texas...

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Directing Floridians. This one is very unique.
• So we have an IV&V vendor who provides oversight and direction to the project.
• But the goal is, how do we keep everyone moving in the same direction?
• It's kind of important—we care of people, right? So there were various things like that.
• Even though we work with the vendor, we also have that direct relationship with the direct technology

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several major technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Department of Financial Services’ Florida PALM project, which is replacing the state’s decades-old FLAIR accounting system. DFS described PALM as a statewide effort affecting all three branches of government, with cash management already live and the remaining financial management, payroll, and data warehouse components still in development. Officials said the project began in 2014, was restructured after a 2022 legislative pause, and is now being recommended for a go-live delay from January 2026 to July 2026. Members asked about governance, staffing, contract structure, cost growth, and maintenance costs; DFS said the contract is deliverable-based, the current amendment would add a net $2.2 million, and post-go-live maintenance is expected to be about $13 million annually under the current contract through July 2027. The Agency for Health Care Administration then updated the committee on the FX Medicaid enterprise modernization program. AHCA explained that federal CMS directed states to move from monolithic Medicaid systems to a modular approach, leading Florida to procure separate vendors for integration services, data warehouse, unified operations, provider services, and claims processing, with pharmacy benefits still to be procured. Officials said the project has spent about $334 million to date, with most costs federally matched, and requested $189.95 million for the upcoming year. They also highlighted a 2024 special assessment that produced 81 recommendations, most tied to staffing shortages, and said the Legislature added 47 FTEs, with 17 currently filled or being filled. Members asked about governance changes, production status, data access, and future technology maintenance; AHCA said some components are operational, the data warehouse is nearing certification, and the agency is working to keep the system adaptable and nonproprietary. The Department of Children and Families presented its Access modernization project, which is replacing a mainframe-based eligibility system used for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid assistance, and related programs. DCF said the six-year, $205 million project is in its third year and has already delivered a new customer portal with mobile access, multi-factor authentication, and fraud protections, while also building a worker portal, document management, community partner tools, and workload management functions. The agency said it is requesting $36.625 million for the next fiscal year, the same as last year, and emphasized that the project has remained on schedule and on budget by breaking work into smaller modules and using strong vendor and staff support. Members praised the project’s progress and asked about cybersecurity testing and the long delay before modernization began; DCF said security requirements were built in from the outset and that the remaining work will focus on moving staff off the legacy mainframe and modernizing notices and back-end processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is more of a comment, and this isn't necessarily directed at you, sir.
• They don't care about the website accessibility.
• Again, this is a direct re-application of what the state of Kansas did.
• One client has closed their business as a direct result.
• One client has closed their business as a direct result.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:29:34.799><c> we</c> aboard in March and at her direction, we aboard in March and at her direction
• </c> medicaid managed care partners. medicaid managed care partners.
• </c><00:51:53.119><c> 11,</c> that if I had not contacted Care 11, that if I had not contacted Care 11
• ><c> protocols</c> Establishes continuity of care protocols Establishes continuity of care protocols
• </c> on the staff of a personal care on the staff of a personal care assistance<01:43:06.159><c> agencies

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicare Advantage is network-area specific managed care.
• Network-area specific managed care.
• </c><02:26:19.680><c> or</c> have any influence or any direct or have any influence or any direct or
• </c><02:28:52.600><c> any</c> decision or have any or direct any decision or have any or direct any decisions
• </c><02:50:54.600><c> about</c> might care about might care about it<02:50:56.479><c> that's</c><02:50

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first reviewed its schedule, noting that 13 bills were being executed the next day and that additional subcommittee work would be scheduled around Town Meeting Day and the following session days. The chair explained that the committee would not meet on Town Meeting Day, would handle the remaining bills on the next available subcommittee day, and would continue any unfinished items later in the month. The committee then took up House Bill 774, which concerned Medicare-related coverage issues. Members discussed the bill’s purpose and the differences between Medicare standard and Medicare Advantage, with one member saying the proposal was informative but did not offer a workable solution. The committee also moved to inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 185, and the motion passed on a 6-0 vote. House Bill 241, relating to alternatives to opioids, was retained for further work. Members said the bill raised concerns about insurers effectively practicing medicine and about the lack of evidence on the efficacy of some alternative treatments, while also noting that chiropractic coverage mandates already exist in statute. The committee voted to retain the bill, with the motion passing 6-0. The most extended discussion was on House Bill 648, which would expand insurance coverage for glucose monitoring. Testimony and committee comments focused on whether coverage should be tied to insulin use or instead to a physician’s medical judgment, the role of continuous glucose monitoring for people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin, and the potential cost impact. An insurance department fiscal analyst said the original $22-per-member estimate was based on the unamended bill and that the amended version would require updated analysis; members agreed to retain the bill to narrow the eligible population and revisit the language later.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's maybe should be directed to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, but how they handle
• </c><00:09:12.079><c> to</c> think that's maybe should be directed to think that's maybe should be directed
• </c> to probably Hawaiian homes to take care to probably Hawaiian homes to take care of<00:25:50.480>
• 152 Angela Melody young War cares um in 152 Angela Melody young War cares um in strong<00:40:50.680><
• </c> measure um our comments um are directed measure um our comments um are directed towards<01:03:55.400

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 834, which would change restrictions on transfers of real property under chapter 201H, HRS, and was discussed in the context of Hawaiian homelands and HHFDC-funded projects. Supporters, including HHFDC, DHHL, and individual testifiers, said the bill would clarify that Hawaiian homelands should not be subject to the 201H buyback and appreciation restrictions, while preserving affordability requirements tied to federal mortgage and tax credit programs. HHFDC explained that the main concern was the buyback/share-appreciation provisions, especially for DHHL projects using LIHTC or similar financing, and said aligning the statute with DHHL’s program goals would not be a problem. Members questioned whether removing the restrictions could weaken affordability protections, and whether the state could still prioritize beneficiaries and workforce housing, but no vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 759, which would add the DHHL chairperson or designee to the HHFDC board of directors and adjust quorum requirements. DHHL and several supporters argued the measure would give Hawaiian Homes a seat at the table, improve access to HHFDC funding sources such as tax credits, private activity bonds, and revolving funds, and help leverage limited resources to reduce the Hawaiian Homes waitlist. One testifier supported the bill but urged safeguards to prevent favoritism or abuse of power, and another raised concerns about whether a DHHL representative would need to recuse from voting on projects involving DHHL. HHFDC testified that DHHL projects still must compete under the same criteria and set-asides as other applicants, and that the board already includes multiple public and executive representatives. Members pressed on whether DHHL could achieve the same informational goals without a voting seat, and whether the added board role would create leverage or conflicts. The DHHL witness said a nonvoting role could provide information, but a voting seat would be more useful for decision-making and advocacy. The discussion also covered DHHL’s use of LIHTC, rent-to-own models, transitional housing, and other layered financing, as well as the broader need to coordinate state housing resources. The transcript ends during continued questioning, with no final committee action or vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We already do it; it's duplication of services—but should we really care?
• I think they've been careful.
• I think they've been careful.
• These are those direct completion dollars based on the rates I talked about.
• What, just the completion, the direct completion.

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> plan, which seems to be the direction plan, which seems to be the direction that<01:08:25.440><c
• </c> care and recreational standards. care and recreational standards.
• providing health care, offering health care<03:16:11.600><c> or</c><03:16:12.160><c> supporting</c><
• We talk a lot about health care and wanting to get to a place where health care is not so costly.
• This bill moves Colorado in a direction that should worry anyone who cares about a healthy job market

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> your pathway is and we have a direct your pathway is and we have a direct admit<00:28:24.399><c>
• I would also be interested in a direct versus indirect split whenever... spending in direct research
• direct spending in direct research direct research<00:34:14.399><c> spend</c><00:34:15.119><c> I</c><
• </c> I would also be interested in a direct I would also be interested in a direct versus<00:34:29.200
• </c> request for U the 188 millions in direct request for U the 188 millions in direct research<00:52

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• She cares a lot about the people coming into her court.
• She cares a lot about the people coming into her court.
• safe environment in reproductive health care.
• I really care about what they do.
• These companies deny valid health care claims for necessary care like prescription drugs or emergency

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions and recognitions, including Doctor of the Day Dr. Eric Osowski, State Farm visitors, Donate Life Day participants, and representatives from Ganado and Chinle Unified School Districts. The chamber also read proclamations honoring Ganado Unified for the ASBA Golden Bell Promise Program Award and Chinle Unified for multiple academic and cultural achievements, including national recognition for Chinle Elementary School and district leadership. The body then moved through committee and floor business, including consent for the Senate to adjourn, first and second readings of several bills, and a motion to reconsider HB 2429. In Committee of the Whole, HB 2093 was amended to restore mental health instruction while removing social emotional learning, HB 2229 advanced after debate over reproductive health and abortion-related provisions, HB 2429 and HB 2950 were amended and recommended do pass, and HB 4136 also advanced as amended. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and referred the measures to engrossing. The chamber then considered HB 4001, a bill regulating alternative nicotine products, with amendments and debate focused on licensing, enforcement, youth access, and whether to add a tax or education provisions; the bill was recommended do pass as amended. It also debated HB 4030 and the related HCR 2052, both aimed at limiting municipal tax and fee increases and allowing increases tied to inflation or new water-source costs. Amendments offered by Democrats to redirect the measures toward affordability, housing, and health insurance claims were ruled out of order or defeated on roll-call votes, while the Olson substitute amendments prevailed. The House ultimately adopted the Committee of the Whole report, sending HB 4001, HB 4030, and HCR 2052 forward as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to direct you to Tab I in your binder.
• And so finally, I would like to point to the final five appropriations, which focus on the Health Care
• They would love to see us move in that direction... if there's a way to do it.
• What could we do to move towards that direction, if you know? So... Madam Chair, Mr.
• of care.