Transcript Highlights:

• They have never told us to burden their clients with excessive fees they often cannot pay.
• some gang members or paying these individuals to be able to use these phones?
• And as it stands with the phones, it may not be that they're paying to use the phone; it may be that
• When we say this is falling on the backs of taxpayers, they pay taxes.
• It's going to cost a whole heck of a lot more than paying for these phone calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT'S NO CARE FOR THOSE PATIENTS PAY THE REASON IS THAT PHYSICIANS CAN'T AFFORD THE PREMIUMS AND IN
• THE UNDENIABLE TRUTH IS THAT WHEN HOSPITALS ARE FORCED TO PAY MONEY THEY PAY ATTENTION AND THEY MAKE
• THIS LEADS TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR NEGLIGENT CARE CAUSES DEATH.
• WE PAY DOUBLE MALPRACTICE THAT THEY PAY HANNAH PARTS IN TEXAS.
• WHERE DID THEY FIND THE EXTRA $4 MILLION TO PAY THE FIRST DOLLARS?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> or early wage access or buy now pay or early wage access or buy now pay later<00:04:40.240><c> products
• more Minnesotans are driving electric vehicles, we must ensure that consumers are getting what they pay
• value by inspecting gas stations and many other things to ensure consumers are getting the gas they pay
• for they would now uh the gas they pay for they would now test<00:06:50.639><c> and</c><00:06:50.840
• for so same concept just they're paying for so same concept just applied<00:06:57.400><c> to</c><00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the school district is not paying for them and the parents aren't paying for them, who's paying
• I think it's really important, but I just want to know who is responsible for paying for the cost of
• There will be a lot of poor kids that are playing sports that can’t have these screenings and can’t pay
• So I’m so glad that this very nice gentleman can... ...can’t pay for these screenings.
• I just did not want to be the person that was paying for it.

Summary: The Pre-K-12 Education Committee took up a series of education, school safety, health, and student access bills. SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funds was amended to clarify the theory of knowledge course and then reported favorably. SB 370 would allow routine non-invasive school health screenings, such as vision, hearing, and dental checks, to proceed with written notice and an opt-out process rather than active parental consent; supporters said it would improve participation and access, while opponents argued it was too broad and weakened parental rights. After debate over scope, funding, and consent, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced SB 1070, which would require ECG screenings for student athletes under a phased rollout beginning in 2026, with religious and medical opt-outs. The bill was renamed the Second Chance Act in honor of Chance Gainer. Supporters described it as a life-saving measure to detect hidden cardiac conditions, while some members raised cost and implementation concerns. SB 508, the Family Empowerment Scholarship bill, would require private schools to disclose in writing what accommodations and services they will provide to students with IEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans before enrollment; it was supported by parents, advocacy groups, and some school representatives and was reported favorably. School safety measures were also considered. SB 1470 would refine campus locking and supervision rules, create clearer exceptions, expand training and security options for school safety personnel, and allow district-employed law enforcement officers to use canines for threat detection. Witnesses from school safety and Parkland-related advocacy groups supported the bill but urged caution on exemptions and implementation details. SB 1472 would extend a public records exemption to certified school security guards, matching the protection already given to school guardians, and it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 248 would expand participation in FHSAA sports for private school and home education students at public schools when their own schools do not offer the sport, and SB 1618 made broad changes to VPK through grade 12 policy, including reading instruction, financial literacy, school funds restrictions, teacher certification, and advisory council rules; both bills were reported favorably. Several members later recorded votes in support of specific tabs before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and um, is a lot more fair, particularly for our members who make, uh, you know, less than $2,000 per pay
• This 60 days depends on when the final audit kicks in, so it may not be right away after the pay period
• So you're adding one just one more tier. ...so it may not be right away after the pay period.
• They were given a $2,000 loan, but then they were required the next month to pay it back even though
• it back even though they hadn't to pay it back even though they hadn't been<00:13:05.959><c> paid</c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor-related measures. SB 183 would allow arbitration to resolve disputes over state and county contributions to the EUTF benefits trust fund; labor groups supported it, and the committee advanced it with amendments. SB 185, concerning indebtedness to the state, drew support from unions and discussion with DAGS about tiered repayment options for lower-paid employees; DAGS said the system could be programmed to accommodate the bill, and the measure was also advanced with amendments. SB 458 would expand the definition of employer for wage-payment laws to include the state and counties when no comparable public-employee provision exists; HSTA testified in support, citing repeated delayed pay for teachers, while DAGS and county representatives raised operational concerns. The committee deferred SB 458 for further administrative work. SB 425, on qualified community rehabilitation programs and the aggregate contract cap, was advanced with technical amendments after UPW said employers were splitting contracts to exceed the statutory threshold. The committee also considered SB 1287, which would apply unfair and deceptive practices law to tipped food and beverage establishments and require tip-pool signage with wage-division contact information. The Attorney General’s office recommended a savings clause to avoid retroactive application issues, and the committee passed the bill with amendments. SB 1660 would require hospitality employers to adopt anti-harassment measures, training, panic buttons, and anti-retaliation protections; the Commission on the Status of Women and worker advocates supported it, while DLIR noted existing complaint systems and the need for rulemaking. The committee adopted amendments incorporating sexual assault hotline information, panic-button guidance, and employer flexibility on translation languages, then passed the bill with amendments. SB 631, relating to the Department of Human Resources Development, was deferred, with the chair noting a prior law already allows departments to screen and select applicants from initial pools.

Transcript Highlights:

• The competitive nature of the pay is another factor.
• But pay is always something that's going to help with recruitment and retention. Thank you.
• If you're paying attention to the website, I see a large number of arrests.
• Paying costs of supervision, not changing residence, is directed to the probation office, paying costs
• officers like you pay other law enforcement officers.

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard an informational presentation from the Florida Department of Corrections on how the prison and community supervision systems operate after sentencing. Assistant Deputy Secretary Hope Gartman described the reception process for new inmates, including intake, medical and mental health screening, classification, custody and housing levels, gain time, and the department’s academic, vocational, substance abuse, chaplaincy, visitation, and communication programs. She emphasized that reentry begins on day one and that program placement is driven by risk and needs assessments, with facilities matched to inmates’ medical, mental health, and security requirements. Members also asked about family contact, visitor applications, inmate welfare trust funds, tablet access, private prison placement, staffing shortages, overtime, contraband interdiction, and waiting lists for programs; several follow-up materials were requested for distribution to all members. Mr. Winkler then outlined community corrections, explaining the different supervision types under Florida law, including probation, drug offender probation, community control, sex offender supervision, conditional release, and addiction recovery supervision. He described the department’s monitoring tools, such as office and field visits, warrantless searches, alternative sanctioning for technical violations, telephone reporting for low-risk offenders, employment assistance, and mobile probation and reentry units. He said the department’s supervision success rate is about 62%, with more than 91% of successful completers not returning to custody within three years. Members questioned officer workloads, the use of radios and GPS check-ins, the rollout of uniforms and firearms, how violations are handled, and whether all circuits participate in alternative sanctioning; Winkler said the program is statewide and that the department is seeking funding for radios. During public comment, Florida Cares Charity urged the committee to consider evidence on deterrence, parole, and recidivism, arguing that community supervision is less costly than incarceration and can be effective. James Beardy of the Florida PBA emphasized the dangers faced by correctional and probation officers, including long shifts, field searches, and working alone, and argued for higher pay and better support comparable to other law enforcement. The meeting concluded with the chair thanking the presenters and public speakers, and the subcommittee adjourned without taking any legislative votes or formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Renewable energy companies already pay gross receipts tax, corporate income tax, personal income tax,
• Because we see industries like the oil and gas industry, they pay all those bills...
• They pay property taxes. They pay payroll taxes. They pay GRT. Everybody does. Every small...
• Somewhere, that is something that we as a body need to pay attention to.
• Now, if they're paying 15 or 20% of a federal rate, then perhaps it wouldn't make some sense.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we pay them start being for serving for on the board.
• And so typically we pay our health plans, a monthly premium comic application payment.
• Those costs are not included in rate development, so we're not paying for them twice.
• Do you have a separate drg that you pay?
• Hospitals are your plans are required to pay hospitals versus prenatal.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, we're paying much lower than that.
• So this is a good solution that we have to do by bumping this pay up just a little bit.
• Right now Blaine County is paying $126.
• Property taxpayers should not be paying state's expenses. This is a debt of the state.
• So we're not doing our job paying these bills, and we need to get on it right now.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that had a lot to do with payouts from our insurance providers and not paying an equal rate on the
• So who pays that difference? I'm getting back to the point... ...who pays that difference?
• And while you're answering that too, tell me: did you all pay for people being out of network during
• But my question is: are not our constituents truly paying, and taxpayers paying, that difference between
• They pay you what they pay you.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 1714, adopting an amendment that clarified the bill would not apply to hunting dogs or animals not under direct control of the hunter and would not affect a specified section of law. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee Substitute and voted the substitute do pass, with the roll call showing passage. The committee then heard House Bill 317, which would authorize MU Health Care to collaborate with hospitals and providers in a 25-county area and seek state-action antitrust immunity for those transactions. The sponsor and MU Health Care testified that the bill is intended to help preserve rural hospitals and keep care local, citing multiple hospital closures in Missouri and examples from Alabama and other states. Supporters from MU Health Care, rural hospitals, and local business and health leaders described the bill as a way to stabilize struggling facilities, maintain emergency access, and protect rural economies. Opponents, including the Missouri Insurance Coalition and the Missouri Health Plan Association, warned that the bill could codify monopoly power, raise prices, and reduce competition, and argued that the language was too broad and not limited to distressed hospitals. Some committee members also raised concerns about antitrust immunity, facility fees, market share, and whether the bill should be tightened to ensure voluntary participation and clearer limits. No vote was taken on House Bill 317 before the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's in their contract, and we're required to pay it as part of those federal requirements.
• And when we do, we will not be paying out any funds until our vendors, our contractors, reach specific
• They tell us what to pay our federally qualified health centers, and so we have to adjust to that in
• And we had talked, I know she was looking into a potential co-pay for pharmacy.
• I believe we are allowed to charge up to $8 per prescription as a co-pay in Medicaid.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The definition retains its inclusion of insurance brokers who pay premium taxes on behalf of insurance
• Scott, H-3503.1, makes changes to the intent section and requires that high-volume mortgage lenders pay
• It defines high-volume mortgage lenders as a person that pays the B&O surcharge and that has an annual
• Whenever you exempt somebody from paying property tax, it doesn't take the actual tax off of being paid
• Taxpayers are going to pay the same regardless if this bill passes, but where they haven't Berg, Berg

Summary: House Finance held a bill briefing and executive session on a large set of tax and revenue measures, with staff outlining proposed substitutes and amendments for bills affecting grocery store incentives, insurance premium/B&O tax treatment, tobacco taxes, financial institutions, lodging taxes, fire district levy rules, local tax increment financing, limited equity cooperatives, tourism assessments, and sustainable aviation fuel credits. Members also heard brief summaries of bills on nonprofit assembly hall property tax exemptions and a city levy adjustment related to fire protection districts. Two bills scheduled for public hearing were not reached and may be rescheduled after House of Origin cutoff. In executive session, the committee adopted or rejected several amendments before voting bills out. HB 2297 on grocery stores in underserved communities advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove the property tax exemption; the bill was reported out 9-5-1. HB 2487 on insurance tax treatment advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove retroactivity and clarify annuity treatment; it was reported out 8-6-1. HB 2382, which raises cigarette and other tobacco taxes and changes tobacco tax structures, adopted amendments redirecting some revenue to health accounts, excluding nicotine-free vapor products, and restoring current-law treatment for modified-risk tobacco products before passing 8-6-1. HB 2451 on tax increment financing, HB 2590 on limited equity cooperatives, HB 2325 on a tourism self-supported assessment program with a tribal opt-in amendment, HB 2278 extending a lodging tax charge, HB 2224 adjusting levy rules for fire protection districts, and HB 2322 on sustainable aviation fuel tax credits all advanced, with some by voice vote. During debate, supporters generally framed the bills as targeted incentives or clarifications to support food access, wildfire mitigation, tourism promotion, housing affordability, or clean fuel investment, while opponents raised concerns about tax shifts, affordability, retroactivity, and whether dedicated revenues should instead come from the general fund. Several members noted that some measures still needed further work before floor action, especially HB 2487 and HB 2382. The committee adjourned after reporting the listed bills out with due pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• paying taxes, but that's going to your insurance bill.
• for teachers because the state only pays for 70-some percent of your budget?
• I had to pay somebody to do it. I also did not really know what to do with my W-2.
• You know, like how to pay taxes. I mean, I think that's a very important thing to know.
• I don't know how to pay taxes. I don't know how to safely and properly invest.

Bills: SB5849, SB6278, SB6130, SB6222, SB6206, SB6260, SB5346, SB6263, SB6268, SB6247

Keywords: financial education, graduation requirement, student curriculum, financial literacy, education reform, teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12

Transcript Highlights:

• The state really doesn't have a very easy way to pay down those loans.
• Another thing is, as was brought up earlier, the original Proposition 2 was designed to pay down what
• Sisney, around paying down the federal debt for the UI Fund.
• Sysney around paying down the federal debt for the UI Fund.
• Our system also is a pay-as-you-go rather than a forward-funding model, which Assemblymember Valencia

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on proposals to reform California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or rainy day fund, ahead of the May Revision. Members and witnesses reviewed how Proposition 2 (2014) changed reserve rules, including mandatory deposits, a 10% cap on the fund, and limits tied to the Governor’s declaration of a budget emergency. LAO staff explained that California’s revenues are highly volatile, that current reserve rules are complicated by interactions with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit, and that under current law reserves would cover only about one-third of funding shortfalls in a benchmark scenario over 50 years. The LAO presented its report recommending a larger reserve target, including raising the cap to 50% by 2055 and pairing that with either broader, more flexible deposit rules or a simpler approach that deposits all excess capital gains. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exempt BSA deposits from the state appropriations limit, while Assembly Member Valencia presented ACA 1, which would make similar changes and was described as an evolving proposal. Testimony generally supported saving more during boom years, but differed on how much to hardwire into the Constitution versus leave flexible, and on whether to broaden the deposit formulas beyond capital gains. Public witnesses and committee members raised additional issues, including whether reserve reforms should also address debt repayment, the treatment of unemployment insurance fund debt, and whether the Gann limit should be adjusted to better allow reserve growth. Supporters argued that stronger reserves would protect Californians from cuts during downturns and help the state weather volatility and federal funding threats. Some advocates warned that reforms should not come at the expense of current public needs, while taxpayer representatives cautioned against turning the BSA into a pass-through account that weakens constitutional spending limits. The hearing ended without a vote, with the committee chair noting the complexity of the issue and adjourning after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. income for state tax purposes, retirement pay received by a taxpayer from the federal government
• Defense-sponsored program that provides $55,000 per year. percent of a service member's retirement pay
• Currently there are 29 states that fully exempt military retirement pay and survivor benefits, while
• As a result of the change, some taxpayers will pay more in state taxes. taxes while others will pay less
• And if they happen to default, then it will pay them back. A proportion of the loan loss.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:24.240><c> for</c> that um we're only going to pay for that um we're only going to pay for
• </c><01:28:17.120><c> them</c> death penalty or not, and we pay them death penalty or not, and we pay
• :33:00.800><c> above</c> are we paying superintendent above are we paying superintendent above judges
• </c> pay on those 48 positions. pay on those 48 positions.
• </c> fee that they're they're willing to pay. fee that they're they're willing to pay.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a co-pay of $100.
• a co-pay of $100.
• a co-pay of $100.
• a co-pay of $100.
• Go to the ER because they might have to pay a co-pay of $100.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1494 on hearing aids. Testimony was generally supportive of expanding hearing-aid coverage, with the Insurance Division raising concern about possible federal defrayment issues, SHPDA supporting the goal of hearing augmentation, DCAB strongly supporting the bill as an important access issue, and health plans and insurers asking for amendments. Kaiser Permanente and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans requested changes to add a medical-necessity standard and clarify annual notice language, while HMSA suggested the proposal should be studied by the auditor. The chair noted concerns about federal preemption and the lack of an audit, and deferred the bill in favor of a related resolution calling for a study. The committee then heard SB 1448, an emergency appropriation for the Hawaii State Hospital. DAGS and the Department of Health supported the measure, with the hospital administrator saying the funding would improve the environment of care, support cleaning, and allow a third-party review of the building. Committee members questioned the size of the request and the status of litigation against the design-builder. Administration witnesses said they were pursuing a comprehensive study involving destructive testing, had made a demand on the design-builder to fund the study, and were using different processes than before. They also said the roof work would be handled through a separate CIP request. No final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 1432, relating to the future responsibilities of the Department of Health and land issues at Kalaupapa after the last patient dies. DOH supported the bill in part but said its long-term role would be limited mainly to environmental cleanup, with operations expected to continue under the National Park Service and land-use decisions left to DHHL and beneficiary consultation. DHHL asked that the measure reflect that any land-use or zoning changes on homeland lands require commission approval and beneficiary consultation. Testifiers from Kalaupapa and Maui County, including Degra Vanderbilt-Papa and Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, supported deferring the bill, saying there had been no meaningful community discussion about provisions affecting Kalaupapa’s future management and possible transfer of responsibilities to Maui County. The committee also read into the record written testimony from Gloria Marks emphasizing that Kalaupapa stakeholders must be included in future discussions. Finally, the committee heard SB 955 on fitness-to-proceed examinations. The Judiciary and the Public Defender’s Office both supported raising pay and standardizing expectations for private examiners, but opposed reducing felony fitness evaluations from three examiners to one and opposed expanding use of expedited reports. They argued that a single examiner would reduce reliability, create a more adversarial process, and likely increase costs and contested hearings, while expedited reports do not contain enough information for a proper fitness determination. The Department of Health also supported the bill’s intent but asked to preserve a three-examiner framework and said the goal was to reduce the number of people sent to the State Hospital, where admissions have reportedly risen about 20% year over year since Act 26. The bill remained under discussion in the excerpt, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• attention the news cycle last paying attention the news cycle last week<00:22:55.279><c> was</c><00:
• So why is it for somebody, and understand, it's somebody who can afford to pay something?
• It's somebody who can afford to pay something.
• We shouldn't expect them to be required to pay for what is otherwise their responsibility.
• </c> why does a person who can afford to pay why does a person who can afford to pay that<01:04:35.000

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 148, a bill allowing classification by biological sex in limited settings such as multiple-use bathrooms, certain sports, and involuntary commitment facilities. Supporters said it was needed to protect privacy and safety, especially for minors, and argued it was consistent with recent federal and state developments. Opponents said the bill was poorly defined, unnecessary, and could create discrimination or confusion, especially because it did not define “biological sex” in the text. The committee voted 10-8 ought to pass, and the chair said a minority report would be written. The committee then considered HB 254, a bill concerning medical aid in dying. The chair moved ought to pass and described the bill as a matter of liberty for terminally ill patients within six months of death, arguing it should not be treated as suicide. Opponents raised religious, ethical, and policy concerns, including worries about a slippery slope, misuse by vulnerable people, and the effect on death records and public health data. The committee voted 11-7 ought to pass, and the chair said a majority report would be written with a minority report by Representative Perez. Finally, the committee turned to HB 611 with Amendment 2025-0638, a replace-all amendment dealing with recoupment of costs for appointed counsel. The chair explained the amendment would restore the law to its pre-2020 form, allowing the Office of Cost Containment to seek repayment from some recipients of appointed counsel services, including those found not guilty, if they had the ability to pay. Supporters said the prior change had sharply reduced collections and that the state should not treat indigent defendants differently from people who hire private counsel. Opponents argued the policy unfairly bills innocent people and children who were entitled to counsel. The transcript cuts off during debate on the amendment, before a vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, basically, though, they do local bonding and then they pay it off with their water or their sewer
• So we look at—we think that, you know, an average household shouldn't be paying more than $100 a month
• Um, but the state, we do pay for it with cash.
• Every year we have to pay a certain amount to pay down the debt. mortgage on your house. we borrow the
• </c> generations will now take part in paying generations will now take part in paying for<00:06:50.319

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the remedy we came up with is that if the state passed it, the state should pay for it.
• the remaining balance, and they would pay interest but no penalty.
• And they would pay interest, but no penalty.
• But the other big piece of that is the state coming in and paying for the mandates that we passed in
• It's who is paying. And I think that's one of the things that we've seen over the last few years.

Keywords: 959, house, all