Transcript Highlights:

• . with delinquency rates student loans. with delinquency rates now<00:10:49.200><c> reaching</c><00:10
• to the national rate.
• In December, Minnesota's unemployment rate was 4.1%, up 1.1 percentage points from a rate of 3.0% one
• Although the unemployment rate has risen, Minnesota's rate remains below the national rate, and the state's
• Um, we have the AAA bond rating.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if it's clear, let's say that the commercial rate has been hitting the ceiling and a local taxing
• You're already paying a different rate because we appraise and then we assess at different rates, right
• You're not moving the levies at different rates in different zones.
• I think what we're talking about is a process problem that is leading to higher tax rates in certain
• the rates that we should be charging to individuals.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, you have districts in the state that have zero INS tax rates.
• So as values go up, tax rates go down.
• increasing spending at a lower rate, so it's, but yes.
• But the new rating system doesn't seem to align because we've had a burst.
• I don't have it all in front of me, they're gonna lower ratings.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondly, with regard to sports betting, and that was your question, there is a wide variety of rates
• , and there are some who have very high rates.
• , and there are some who have very high rates.
• And there are some who have very high rates. we are in the ball There are some who have very high rates
• We are in the ballpark of others who have the rate that we have. Mr. Chair, if I could.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Budget Committee

Summary: The Joint Legislative Budget Committee approved the minutes from its March 5, 2026 meeting and then entered executive session, where it approved a recommended settlement. After returning to open session, the committee took up the Attorney General’s opioid settlement expenditure plan. Staff explained that Arizona will receive opioid settlement funds over many years and that the FY 2026 budget appropriated $10 million for distribution to five counties. The plan would allocate $2 million each to Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, and Yavapai counties. Members expressed support, noting the funds would continue programs they viewed as effective, and the committee gave the plan a favorable review. The committee also considered an Arizona Department of Administration request to transfer $7 million within the risk management revolving fund. Of that amount, $5 million would go to workers’ compensation losses and premiums to cover higher program costs, and $2 million would go to administrative expenses for higher-than-budgeted Attorney General contracted legal costs. Members described the transfer as a routine budget adjustment, and the committee approved it. Before adjournment, members asked staff about recent revenue trends, including April numbers and sports betting revenue. Staff said April data were still being analyzed and no definitive figures were available yet. On sports betting, staff said Arizona’s tax rate is in the range of other states but tends to be on the lower end. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• To amend the individual income tax brackets and rates to a top tax rate of 3.7% effective January 1,
• 2000. ...and rates to a top tax rate of 3.7% effective January 1, 2006, and following tax years.
• To amend the income tax brackets and rates for domestic and foreign corporations to a top tax rate of
• Senate Bill 1 by Senator Dismang, to reduce the income tax rates for individuals, trusts, estates, and

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My rate might be 120, so that's the rate.
• That's actual rate.
• So we could just change cost rate... actual rate of available and accessible hotels and motels.
• </c> laws that you cannot change rate laws that you cannot change rate depending<00:28:48.200><c> on<
• </c><00:28:55.760><c> of</c> change cost rate we could actual rate of change cost rate we could actual

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unemployment rate must be above 10%. I mean, what's that fact come from? Yes, please.
• The option that remains is an unemployment rate above 10%, and the threshold for that is defined by the
• The table on page four shows what the impacts to California could be depending on our error rate.
• Our most recent error rate was for the 2023-24 federal fiscal year, and it stood at nearly 11%, which
• At that rate, we would be liable for approximately $2 billion in annual ongoing CalFresh benefit costs

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal F&A rate, also known as indirect cost recovery on federal grants.
• that it's a fine rate to add them on the margin.
• So I think that rate we're talking about is deemed the best rate we have going for us right now.
• The best rate we have going for us right now.
• Transfer students are admitted at UC at extremely high rates.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><04:09:15.560><c> was</c> contact rate was contact rate was minuscule<04:09:17.640><c> which</c><
• The national refusal rate is 24%.
• The national refusal rate is 24%.
• The national refusal rate is 24%.
• </c> madam um our uniquely High refusal rate madam um our uniquely High refusal rate is<04:15:41.399>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Defrail costs from our premium rates.
• </c><00:12:01.200><c> setting</c> um when it comes to the rate setting um when it comes to the rate setting
• 00:13:16.320><c> is</c><00:13:16.560><c> set</c> whole rate setting process is set whole rate setting
• </c> their rates and lower premiums. their rates and lower premiums.
• </c> rate would have been much higher. rate would have been much higher.

Bills: HF3388 , HF400

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance, health insurance, group health carriers, MCHA, MNsure, individual market, premium stabilization, carrier assessment, health insurance assessment, premium security plan account, state innovation waiver, high-risk pool, reinsurance payments, healthcare premiums, insurance carriers, deferral of assessment, financially impaired condition, HF400

Transcript Highlights:

• Native Americans face significantly higher rates of homelessness and housing insecurity in California
• We know the success rate is very low.
• And then the last point I'll make is that as we move again through implementation of the tiered rate
• So I will say that our all-county letter did make it clear that the rate had to be sustained.
• So I will say that our all-county letter did make it clear that the rate had to be sustained.

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For measles, you need a 95% vaccination rate to maintain herd immunity.
• For measles, you need a 95% vaccination rate to maintain herd immunity.
• by passing an act relative to rate equity for community health centers.
• by passing an act relative to rate equity for community health centers.
• And the rates of children with peanut or tree nut allergies have tripled.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held an introductory informational hearing for the new session, with Chairs Marjorie Decker and Senator Michael Driscoll outlining the committee’s scope and emphasizing the impact of the federal landscape on Massachusetts public health. They noted the hearing would focus on testimony from agencies and advocates, with short testimony limits due to the hybrid format. No votes were taken; the meeting was for briefing and discussion of priorities. Commissioner Robbie Goldstein of the Department of Public Health described the department’s budget and federal funding, warning that recent CDC grant terminations could cut nearly $100 million and affect lab testing, surveillance, vaccines, and community engagement. He highlighted DPH priorities including racial equity, maternal health, substance use and child welfare coordination, emergency preparedness, data transparency, and public hospital quality. MassHealth Assistant Secretary Michael Levine discussed MassHealth’s role covering about 2 million residents and its priorities in health equity, behavioral health, primary care, member independence, and customer service, while noting the agency relies heavily on federal Medicaid dollars and would face major strain from federal cuts. Several advocacy and provider groups focused on reproductive health and maternal health. Planned Parenthood warned of threats to Title X, 340B savings, and other federal funding, and supported a bill to eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass for abortion care for young people. Reproductive Equity Now urged stronger shield-law protections and changes to Massachusetts’ later-abortion framework. Dr. Indyamaka Anugaka called for full implementation of the maternal health law, better reimbursement for doulas and midwives, stronger data collection, and support for full-spectrum pregnancy care coverage. The Health Policy Commission said new maternal health and primary care task forces would begin work soon. Mental health and health system access were also major themes. The Mass Medical Society urged action on vaccine hesitancy, removal of non-medical school vaccine exemptions, and primary care reform. The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health and the Children’s Mental Health Campaign opposed proposed cuts to DMH and substance use services, called for more school-based supports, and raised concerns about inpatient capacity, including a unit serving LGBTQ youth. The Massachusetts Nurses Association and 1199 SEIU warned that staffing shortages, low wages, workplace violence, hospital closures, and possible Medicaid cuts threaten patient care and the health care workforce. The Betsy Lehman Center also urged investment in automated patient-safety monitoring to reduce harm and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utility rates are going up.
• Garbage rates, electricity rates are going up, insurance rates are going up, and now we're giving the
• The maximum millage rate determines what millage rate can be levied by a government with a majority vote
• This bill aligns the maximum millage rate with the rollback rate.
• The rollback rate is the millage rate that would provide a taxing authority with the same tax revenue

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment on property tax reform. The measure would increase the homestead exemption in stages, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses such as public safety, education, infrastructure, natural resources, debt service, employee benefits, and certain administrative costs. Supporters, led by Senator Avila, argued the proposal would provide meaningful property tax relief and push local governments to rein in spending, while opponents warned it would shift costs to fees, reduce local flexibility, and threaten funding for core services. Several amendments were offered and rejected. Senator Sharief proposed an income-based circuit breaker for property tax relief; Senator Smith offered a sunset clause; and Senator Berman proposed revising the ballot statement to better match the amended proposal and remove outdated references. Each amendment failed on recorded votes. During questioning and debate, senators pressed Avila on the ballot language, the effect on local services, whether the legislature could later restrict local spending by statute, and whether renters would benefit. Avila said the ballot language was not his and repeatedly stated he was presenting the governor’s proposal, while also saying local governments would need to prioritize budgets and that future legislatures could address implementation details. After the amendment votes, the joint resolution was read a third time and moved into final debate. Supporters said the proposal would give homeowners relief and force fiscal discipline at the local level. Opponents, including Senators Nathan, Bracey Davis, Smith, Polsky, and Errington, argued the measure was rushed, lacked a completed fiscal analysis or replacement revenue, and could harm police, fire, libraries, parks, housing, and other local services. They also criticized the ballot summary as misleading, especially regarding the staged homestead exemption increase. The transcript ends during debate, before any final vote on the joint resolution itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• My own January PSC average kilowatt rate was up about 35% year on year.
• Providers cannot sustain frozen rates while wages and operating costs continue to rise.
• We ask that you reinvest those savings into a rate increase.
• Thank you so much for the scheduled update to skilled nursing rates.
• Competing for workers at that rate is impossible.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on proposed substitute House Bill 2289, the House operating budget. Budget staff Mary Monroe gave a detailed overview of the proposal’s near general fund outlook, reserve levels, major revenue assumptions, and major spending and savings items. She highlighted assumed revenue from capital gains and a proposed “millionaires tax,” a transfer from the budget stabilization account, administrative reductions across agencies, and several major policy shifts, including changes affecting Working Connections Child Care, K-12 education, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, wildfire response, and state employee compensation. Members then asked questions, including about the higher education building account/operating fee swap and its interaction with the capital budget and Climate Commitment Act funds. The committee also announced amendment deadlines for the budget process. The bulk of the meeting was public testimony, with many speakers generally supporting or opposing specific parts of the budget. Supportive testimony praised funding for wildfire prevention, public health, reproductive health, civil legal aid, the Poison Center, some higher education institutions, and certain disability and child welfare services. Many speakers urged restoration or protection of funding for K-12 education, especially transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, bus depreciation, and Running Start; others opposed cuts to child care, early learning, public defense, long-term care, adult day and home care services, occupational/physical/speech therapy for Medicaid patients, and community and technical colleges. Several local government, health, and nonprofit representatives also asked the committee to preserve public works, homelessness, energy assistance, environmental justice, and recovery/diversion programs, while some business and public safety groups sought continued funding for organized retail crime prevention and related initiatives. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee recessed briefly and later resumed with virtual testimony, where additional witnesses repeated concerns about education cuts, long-term care, health care access, disability services, dispute resolution, early childhood programs, and the need for ongoing or increased funding in those areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• increasing to the 85th percentile of market rates in 2027, as was expected.
• There's a proposal to delay rebases for the assisted living facilities and nursing home rates.
• This holds that increase flat at the 2026 rate.
• The next is a preferential B&O rate.
• Please reject this proposal and restore the funding allocated for rate-based raises last year.

Summary: The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard an overview from OFM Director Katie Chapman See on Governor Ferguson’s 2026 supplemental budget proposal. She said the budget was built in response to higher caseloads and inflation, a roughly $390 million revenue forecast drop, new federal costs tied to H.R. 1, and a relatively small ending fund balance. The proposal would increase near general fund spending by about $1.1 billion and solve an estimated $2.3 billion two-year gap through about $800 million in reductions, revenue shifts and tax preference changes, use of other funds, and about $1 billion from the budget stabilization account. She also noted the budget is balanced over two years but not fully over four years under the state’s outlook rules. Chapman See highlighted reductions in Working Connections Child Care, including a soft cap on enrollment and holding subsidy rates at the 75th percentile, delays to long-term care and developmental disability-related changes, and across-the-board reductions to higher education and administrative spending. She also described investments in wildfire suppression and preparedness, affordability programs like utility rebates and home energy assistance, housing-related planning and permitting support, One Washington IT replacement, behavioral health workforce programs, and continued support for some K-12 initiatives such as ninth grade success and homeless student stability. In response to questions, she said some proposed cuts were based on the governor’s subjective judgment about what was critically necessary, that current child care enrollees would not be cut off immediately, and that the budget would maintain services for about 500 highest-acuity Medicaid clients who lost eligibility under federal changes. Public testimony was largely critical of the proposed cuts in K-12, early learning, and higher education. School officials, educators, nurses, and advocacy groups opposed reductions to Transition to Kindergarten, Local Effort Assistance, Running Start, MSOC, school leadership and support grants, and higher education funding, arguing the cuts would worsen existing funding gaps and harm student outcomes. Several witnesses supported restoring or maintaining funding for ninth grade success, Treehouse’s foster youth graduation program, homeless student stability, and Science on Wheels. In early learning, child care providers and advocates opposed the Working Connections cap and subsidy-rate reduction, warning it would reduce access and destabilize providers. In higher education, campus leaders and labor representatives opposed across-the-board cuts and fund shifts, while some institutions and advocates supported targeted investments such as behavioral health workforce programs and DigiPen aid restoration. In human services, Planned Parenthood advocates praised restored abortion access funding and Medicaid reimbursements. The committee took no votes or final action in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This rule was put in place in case of fires at a time before fire suppression was created, or fire-rated
• Existing building codes and other rules around fire rating of interior and exterior walls, as well as
• Pew examined fire deaths in these cities, and we found overall that fire death rates in single-stair
• For example, in the Netherlands, where single-stairway construction is common, the fire death rate in
• single-stair buildings is also on par with rates of other types of residential buildings.

Committee: Senate Housing and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services met with a quorum, adopted the June 16, 2026 minutes, and then unanimously adopted S-1 substitutes for House Bills 5570 and 5571. The chair said the committee would take testimony and likely not move to final passage that day, in order to allow more discussion and questions. The bills, as substituted, would allow local governments to permit certain multifamily buildings up to four stories to be built or converted with a single staircase, subject to conditions such as limits on units per floor, floor size, and existing fire safety requirements. A sunset provision was described as ending the statute once LARA adopts corresponding building code rules. Representatives Fairbairn and Wooden testified in support, saying the bills are intended to address Michigan’s housing shortage by making smaller infill and “missing middle” projects more feasible and less costly. They argued the current two-stair requirement drives up costs, makes land assembly harder, and limits development on narrow or irregular lots. Senators asked about stair width, emergency safety, the choice of four stories instead of six, and why the American Institute of Architects opposed the approach; the sponsors said the 48-inch stair width was intended to allow two-way movement, four stories was a compromise aligned with expected code changes, and the architects preferred rulemaking over statutory change. Supportive testimony came from Pew Charitable Trusts, which said research from New York City, Seattle, and other places found fire death rates in modern single-stair buildings to be indistinguishable from other multifamily buildings, and that modern safety features such as sprinklers, alarms, and fire-rated construction make these buildings safe. A developer from Ann Arbor and the Michigan Home Builders Association said the reform would improve floor-plan efficiency, reduce wasted circulation space, lower construction costs, and help smaller projects pencil out. Abundant Housing Michigan also supported the bills, estimating they could reduce apartment construction costs by nearly 13%. The clerk read in numerous written cards in support from business, housing, municipal, and advocacy groups, while the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union were listed as neutral. The committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the current statutory rate-setting structure, nurses can't be figured into the rate-setting structure
• 07:26.240><c> stat</c><00:07:26.560><c> current</c><00:07:26.880><c> statutory</c><00:07:27.360><c> rate
• </c><00:07:27.680><c> rate</c> current stat current statutory rate rate current stat current statutory
• rate rate setting<00:07:28.319><c> structure,</c><00:07:28.960><c> nurses</c><00:07:29.440><c> can't
• figured into the rate setting structure um<00:07:31.840><c> because</c><00:07:32.080><c> they</c><00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are all impacted by the higher interest rate.
• So all of these are, we don't have anything magical other than we do bring a tax-exempt rate when we
• Those conditions are variable, and so depending on interest rates and but, Variable.
• And so depending on interest rates.
• But term, term, and, you know, term is more important than interest rates historically. So, yeah.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held public hearings on several bills. On Substitute House Bill 2236, staff explained changes to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including allowing direct mortgage loans for multifamily housing, clarifying it is not a retail mortgage lender, extending bond counsel terms, removing a notice requirement before bond issuance, and repealing outdated statutory provisions. Representative Zahn and commission staff said the bill modernizes the agency and would help finance affordable housing without using state general funds. Testimony was generally supportive, with questions focused on higher interest rates, down payment assistance, and equity for borrowers of color; the commission said it works with banks, administers programs such as Covenant Home Ownership, and aims to support both homebuyers and developers. The chair then closed the hearing on SHB 2236. The committee next heard House Bill 2273 on reducing embodied carbon emissions in buildings and building materials. Staff described requirements for the State Building Code Council to adopt phased embodied-carbon standards for large projects, with reporting, a public database, and Commerce educational resources; the fiscal note showed operating and capital costs. Representative Duerr said the bill responds to rising energy demand and could help lower building costs while supporting innovation, including Washington wood products. Supportive testimony came from environmental justice advocates and an architect, who said embodied carbon reductions are already feasible and often cost-neutral. Opponents, including the Washington Aggregate and Concrete Association and Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, argued the bill could raise costs, create sourcing and delay problems, and should not exempt schools. The hearing on HB 2273 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5188, which would let the Public Works Board issue loans for broadband infrastructure repair and replacement. Staff said the bill expands the existing broadband service expansion program to cover repair and replacement of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure, with Commerce fiscal impacts noted. The Association of Washington Cities testified with concerns that the bill could signal further use of the Public Works Assistance Account, which has already seen sweeps and could affect future water, sewer, wastewater, and solid waste funding. A question from Representative Dye raised whether the program should instead be tied to the Curb Board; staff and the witness agreed to continue that discussion. The hearing was then closed. In executive session, the committee took up House Bill 2353, House Bill 2420, and House Bill 2470. HB 2353, which raises the predesign threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and indexes it to inflation, was reported out of committee 18-0 with one excused. The committee then adopted and reported out the proposed substitute for HB 2420, which increases the small works roster contract limit and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027, also by an 18-0 vote with one excused. Staff also briefed members on a proposed substitute for HB 2470 concerning school construction assistance for on-base schools, but no vote was taken in the transcript. The chair announced another hearing and executive session for Friday and asked members to submit amendments by the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• California residents face the second-highest utility rates in the nation.
• PG&E, which serves my district, received six rate changes in 2024.
• Ultimately, this is an exercise in the difference between accounting and rate making.
• But in my mind, there's two kinds of rates. There's two kinds of communication.
• I've never seen the IOUs in my time advocating for higher rates.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, then later established quorum and heard several measures. The main policy bills discussed were SB 24, which would restrict investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds for political advertising, lobbying, and efforts against municipal utilities, and SB 283, the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025, which would strengthen safety standards for battery energy storage facilities after the Moss Landing fire. The consent calendar also included SB 80, SB 491, SB 593, SB 804, and SCR 25, which were taken up without debate. SB 24 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates, who argued that ratepayer money should not be used for political or promotional activity and that current rules lack meaningful consequences. Opponents from the utilities and business community said the bill was too broad, could interfere with shareholder-funded advocacy and legal work, and might unintentionally affect public service communications and expert consulting. Several committee members shared support for the bill’s goal but raised concerns about its breadth, especially around legal fees and communications; the author said he was willing to work on amendments, including on consultant fees, and accepted committee amendments. SB 283 received broad support from firefighters, local governments, utilities, labor, and business groups. Supporters said the bill would improve fire safety, require fire authority consultation and inspections, and prevent battery storage from being sited in unsafe indoor combustible facilities. The author described the Moss Landing fire and said the bill would add standards based on NFPA guidance while preserving local governments’ ability to adopt stricter rules. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee voted SB 283 out 16-0, and SB 24 was also approved after a roll was held open and later closed, ultimately passing 11-1. The consent calendar passed 16-0, and the meeting adjourned after the final roll calls were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• WHICH IS THE SALES TAX RATE REDUCTION WE PASSED OFF THE FLOOR UNANIMOUSLY IN WEEK SIX.
• PROPERTIES ARE IN 80 TO 120 PERCENT AND THEY ARE RATE HOUSING.
• IT WILL HAVE 80 AND 120 IN MANY AREAS OF THE STATE IS MARKET RATE HOUSING.
• IN MANY INSTANCES AS MENTIONED EARLIER THIS UNITS ARE ENDING UP BEING RENTED FOR MARKET RATES BECAUSE
• EVEN THOUGH THE RENT WOULD THEN EXCEED THE PREVAILING MARKET RATE AND KEEP IN MIND THE CITY DOES NOT