Transcript Highlights:

• services at those facilities, but you don't get the 100% match, so it would be at whatever standard match rate
• are non-Native, and they have, as Native American recovery centers, the 21 of them have the highest rate
• This matters because providers cannot legally compare or discuss their individual reimbursement rates
• It does not set rates. It does not change contracts. The solution. It does not set rates.
• Aside from low reimbursement rates, the issue providers raise, I mean, Aside from low reimbursement rates

Bills: HB2555 , HB2658 , HB2683 , HB2685 , HB2168 , HB2196 , HB2545

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, mental health, insurance coverage, transparency, consumer protection, efficiency, health carriers, providers relations, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights, overdose prevention, data sharing, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• And just so you're clear what a disability rating is, the VA disability rating is a workers' comp rating
• And just so you're clear what a disability rating is, the VA disability rating is a workers' comp rating
• And these state academic proficiency rates are well below the statewide...
• We want you to raise the rate of attendance.
• We want you to raise the graduation rate. We want you to raise the rate of attendance.

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2076, which would create a program and fund within ADE, in consultation with AZPOST, to reimburse eligible schools and employees for approved training, certification, and school safety equipment, and would allow schools to adopt policies permitting certain employees to carry concealed firearms on campus if they meet training, notification, and confidentiality requirements. The sponsor, Rep. Bliss, framed the bill as an optional, fiscally responsible medical-response measure focused on bleeding control and emergency preparedness, not a mandate to arm schools. Supporters said the bill adds guardrails, expands access to training, and could help staff respond in emergencies. Opponents, including Giffords, Arizona for Gun Safety, and the Arizona Education Association, argued it would normalize firearms in classrooms, create confidentiality and law-enforcement concerns, expose students and staff to new risks, and divert attention from prevention, mental health, and other school safety investments. After debate, the committee voted 6-5-1 to give HB 2076 a do-pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 2830, which directs the State Board of Education to adopt science standards requiring instruction on fetal and prenatal development and specifies that the content is not sex education. Supporters, including the sponsor, a school board president, and a biology teacher, said the bill is about age-appropriate, medically accurate science, parental rights, and clear statewide guidance. Opponents, including the AEA and Reproductive Freedom for All, said it fragments science instruction, politicizes the curriculum, and omits the broader reproductive and public health context students need. Members debated whether fetal development can be taught without discussing reproduction, and whether the bill is an education measure or an anti-abortion effort. The committee approved HB 2830 on an 8-4 vote. The transcript also included discussion of House Bill 2093, which would repeal required mental health instruction and social-emotional learning in schools; supporters argued it restores parental control and refocuses schools on academics, while opponents said school-based mental health education saves lives and helps students who may not have support at home.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is the cremation rate in Oklahoma.
• But that cremation rate is going to continue to rise.
• Turnover rate is essentially zero from year to year.
• rate.
• We're down to about 10% on our turnover rate.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• basically protects you from catastrophic costs if you were to utilize health care services at a high rate
• pools, so they are necessarily going to increase their rates.
• So there is, and different carriers, there are three ways of rating the policies.
• This is what most of the policies in New Mexico are rated as.
• There is community-based rating, which would essentially have the same premium no matter the age, and

Bills: SB21 , SB42 , SB81 , SB101 , SB139

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation, senior health coverage, elderly, retiree, Medicare beneficiaries, preexisting conditions, underwriting restrictions, premium discrimination, New Mexico insurance law, superintendent of insurance, health care coverage, policy portability, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• In the severance tax permanent fund, it is invested in below market rate investments.
• Its amortization rate period was 52 years.
• two different rates, we're starting to get up to a pretty significant amount of salary.
• For Pera we're looking at about um between the employer and employee rate over 30%.
• Um, you all did something similar with PA a couple of years ago to pro-rate colas for state retirees

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• At any rate, this bill is a little less. a little less involved, and some things that have been done
• So, Texas utilities already implement anti-solar rates and fees in the absence of regulation.
• And then a sound methodology should underpin these rates.
• We have to continue to account for all rate payers in the region and that's what this does. does.
• News and World Report, both the violent crime rate and property crime rate in Austin were higher than

Bills: HB 13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145 , HB366 , HB470 , HB805 , HB912 , HB13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• The attachment rate for storage systems is about 1%.
• They put downward pressure on electricity rates.
• So what does this do to insurance rates?
• their effective rate will actually go down, right?
• Won't that force normal electrical rates up and hurt? the average New Mexican.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> those rates. Um, this is one-time money. those rates. Um, this is one-time money.
• rates. New Hampshire being the oldest rates.
• </c> think it's uh the idea of reducing rates think it's uh the idea of reducing rates as<00:22:47.600
• Than reducing a rate.
• So, they can lower the New Hampshire rate and raise the out-of-state rate.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted amendment 2026-2021S to correct a drafting issue in the budget language so that the $2.5 million appropriation for Medicaid per diem rate stabilization at county nursing homes can be spent during the biennium rather than lapsing at the end of the fiscal year. Senator Lang explained that the funds are matched with federal dollars for a total of $5 million and are intended to prevent rate reductions that could shift costs to county property taxpayers. The amendment was adopted unanimously by both chambers, and the committee proceeded on the bill as amended by the Senate. The main discussion then focused on HB 155 and a proposed amendment to the business enterprise tax. The House proposal would lower the BET rate in stages when combined business tax revenues exceed certain thresholds, while the Senate opposed an immediate rate reduction and argued that tax changes should be handled in a budget year. Senators emphasized that raising the filing threshold to $375,000 had already removed about 3,500 small businesses from filing requirements, and they preferred further relief through threshold changes rather than rate cuts. House members argued that the trigger-based reduction was a reasonable, tested mechanism and would provide future tax relief without taking effect unless revenues rose enough. Members debated whether the trigger could be distorted by one-time revenue spikes, such as the recent tax amnesty receipts and prior federal repatriation-related revenue, and Representative Sweeney said he was willing to adjust the effective date or carve out amnesty revenue. The committee did not reach agreement on the BET reduction, and the chair called a break and then continued the meeting later with a new proposal to delay the trigger’s effective date to January 1, 2028. Senator Lang rejected that version but offered a counterproposal to raise the filing threshold to $400,000, and the parties ultimately agreed to continue discussions and reconvene later. The meeting also took up HB 1102, concerning the research and development tax credit and state park fees. The House position was to support the R&D tax credit but remove the park-fee provisions, citing testimony from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that it did not need the increase and concerns about discouraging tourism, especially at border parks. Supporters of the park-fee language argued that the department had not raised rates in years, could set its own rates, and should be able to charge nonresidents more while keeping New Hampshire residents’ fees lower. The discussion remained unresolved, with members debating the likely effect on tourism and fairness to residents versus the need for additional revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate based on the state's current cost of borrowing, not the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's rate
• fund to punishingly high rates.
• Why it is prudent to make a bad rates.
• </c><01:57:34.639><c> has</c> depends on how the interest rate has depends on how the interest rate has
• . rate. rate.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The maternal mortality rate increases. The newborn mortality rate increases.
• The maternal mortality rate increases. The newborn mortality rate increases.
• The maternal mortality rate increases. The newborn mortality rate increases.
• The maternal mortality rate increases. The newborn mortality rate increases.
• The maternal mortality rate increases. The newborn mortality rate increases.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fee, and they can set that flat rate fee up any way they want.
• That's why we did it a flat rate.
• fee, and they can set that flat rate fee up any way they won't.
• That's why we did it a flat rate.
• But it puts every drug that customer is on at the same reimbursement rate.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 1 with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 938 by Rep. Turner, which would overhaul pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulation by setting a flat administration fee, requiring dispensing fees and NADAC-based reimbursement, mandating rebate pass-through, giving the Department of Insurance access to PBM data, and creating a reverse-auction process for PBM procurement. Turner said the bill is intended to level the playing field for independent pharmacies, improve transparency, and reduce hidden PBM practices. The committee adopted amendment set 1444 without objection, and Turner said additional conceptual amendments were still being worked on. Supporters included independent pharmacies and the PBM Accountability Project; opponents included union plan representatives, benefits consultants, and PBM/insurance industry witnesses who warned of higher costs, ERISA preemption problems, and likely litigation. After extended questioning on cost, preemption, and vertical integration, the committee reported HB 938 with amendments. The committee then considered House Bill 870, also by Rep. Turner, dealing with formulary placement and cost-sharing for generic drugs and biosimilars and limiting certain utilization management practices. Amendment set 1540 was adopted, revising and tightening technical definitions. Turner and a representative of the Association for Accessible Medicines argued the bill would help lower-cost generics and biosimilars gain market share and reduce patient costs, citing examples such as insulin and Humira biosimilars. Opponents from Louisiana Blue said the bill would force coverage based on wholesale acquisition cost rather than net cost, would raise premiums for fully insured members, and would mandate coverage of drugs that are not always the lowest net-cost option. Rep. Jordan again raised ERISA and preemption concerns, and committee members discussed whether the bill would interfere with tiering and plan design. After closing comments and a motion by Rep. Glorioso, HB 870 was reported with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, when you talk about the state's obesity rate, you make it seem as if the poor people are the only
• Well, when you talk about the obesity rate and you talk about this is going to help to fix the obesity
• rate because we're going to stop these people from being able to have sodas and candy and stuff like
• ,</c> about the state's obesity rate, about the state's obesity rate, you<00:14:59.440><c> make</c><00
• and you talk talk about the obesity rate and you talk about<00:15:09.680><c> this</c><00:15:09.920><

Bills: HB589 , HB591 , HB609 , HB614 , SB57 , SB280 , SB332 , HB589 , HB591 , HB609 , HB614 , SB57 , SB280 , SB332 , HB627

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: Jefferson County, building regulations, zoning, public health, building commissioner, permits, construction, land use, county tax, lodging tax, Henry County, transient accommodations, hospitality industry, local act, sheriff, sheriff's office, task force, abandoned property, stolen property, unclaimed property

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:12.200><c> of</c> to cap property taxes at the rate of to cap property taxes at the rate of
• They increased the base tax and slowed down the rate of depreciation.
• So, now a down the rate of depreciation.
• </c><00:15:30.520><c> They</c><00:15:30.640><c> can</c> the rate of inflation plus 50%.
• They can the rate of inflation plus 50%.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota Senate Republicans held a press conference unveiling a package of affordability and tax-relief bills aimed at property taxes, taxes on tips and overtime, and vehicle registration costs. Leader Mark Johnson said the proposals were meant to counter rising costs for wages, homeownership, and driving, and argued that Democrats’ policies had made life more expensive. Several senators echoed that theme, saying Minnesotans need immediate relief and that the state has room to act because of a reported surplus. Senator Michael Kunesh described a property-tax cap bill that would limit increases for cities and counties to inflation plus 50% of population growth, with higher increases requiring voter approval. He said constituents, including seniors, a disabled veteran, and young people, are seeing unsustainable property-tax hikes, and he argued that state and federal mandates have driven local costs. In response to a question about added county workload from federal SNAP and Medicaid changes, he said the solution is both to pause new mandates and to cap property-tax growth. Senator Karin Housley outlined a proposal to end state taxes on tips and overtime, with deductions up to $25,000 for tips and $12,500 for overtime, phased out at $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for families. She said the measure would help workers keep more of what they earn and would not cost small businesses directly. Senator John Jasinski proposed rolling back vehicle registration tab fees to pre-2023 levels, saying Minnesota’s fees are far higher than neighboring states and that the change would save drivers money over time. Senator Julia Coleman also supported the package, saying the bills would provide practical relief for families facing high housing, driving, and work-related costs. No votes were taken; the event ended with questions from reporters about fiscal impacts, offsets, and whether the proposals would worsen the state’s structural budget imbalance.

Transcript Highlights:

• similar to the rates that urban customers pay.
• And that's why you've seen us move up to a 90% access rate.
• They were looking for 2.5 million for rate increases. Mr.
• Not the—I need to look on the reimbursement rate itself. Mr.
• If we had not passed a bill last year to increase rates, royalty rates on the greatest, on the best land

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• prepared teachers, those in dark green, have higher retention rates than non-traditionally prepared
• The three-year retention rate and the five-year retention rate of traditionally prepared teachers can
• We lose those at the highest rates.
• Attendance rates and fewer out-of-school suspensions compared to schools that are led by a principal
• rate for non-MTDS teachers.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and actual COLAs, including the thirteenth checks through 2025 and thereafter based on an inflation rate
• to reduce, and in fact, the bond rating is scheduled to go up.
• But I just think the COLA should be set at ERB's rate, and then it just eliminates the problem.
• That rate has been averaging over the last 10 years anywhere between 6 to 8 percent per year.
• The 6.8 percent is the true inflation rate.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, that is not the parole rate; I'm not focused on the parole not focused on the parole rate.
• higher parole rate because those people were never coming up for parole.
• That's called the conformance rate.
• Conforming to the guidelines, not the parole rate, but conforming to the guidelines.
• You pointed it out with the conformance rate. It's broken. It's not working.

Bills: HB202 , HB42 , HB146 , HB492 , HB285 , HB7 , HB454 , HB42 , HB7

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: law enforcement, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, bail reform, cash deposit, judicial discretion, criminal justice, Alabama law, youthful offender, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, juvenile offenders, delinquent acts, juvenile court, nonfelony offenses, water safety offenses, illegal immigration

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've kind of stayed with that rate since 2017.
• There really hasn't been a whole lot of changes to that rate.
• So it's paid at the same rate compared to a bus mile in this funding formula. Yeah.
• They're still going to get funded by the rates. The miles will still be excluded.
• The work that's being done on that, what the House did is that they raised the rate to 225%.

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to hear and discuss three education bills and related budget items. House Bill 1214 would revise K-12 transportation funding by replacing the current rider-based formula with a new formula tied more closely to district size, square mileage, building counts, and the weighted student payment. Sponsors and DPI said the change would better reflect actual transportation costs, hold districts harmless overall, and likely increase funding by about $4 million beyond current spending; they also said parent-provided transportation and open-enrollment mileage rules would remain largely unchanged. No opposition was heard, and the committee closed discussion without taking final action in the transcript. The committee then reviewed House Bill 1013, the education appropriations bill, and walked through proposed adjustments to program and pass-through grants. The chair proposed keeping or reducing some items, eliminating others, and moving one-time items to the stabilization fund; examples included leaving free meals at $4.5 million for now, keeping the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, reducing some grant lines, and removing several new or one-time grants. DPI also explained that the student information system would remain a flow-through grant for this biennium but would move in-house after July 1, 2026. The committee also discussed adding an FTE for the School for the Blind and making a small equipment swap at the Center for Distance Education. House Bill 1369 was discussed as the main school aid bill, including a proposed 2 percent and 2 percent per-pupil payment increase, higher construction bidding thresholds, elimination of the 12 percent cap, and a transfer of $75 million from Foundation Aid to the School Construction Revolving Loan Fund, with the chair suggesting $100 million instead. DPI explained that the bill also included a policy change returning placement decisions for students with disabilities in congregate care to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with support from the governor’s office. The committee heard testimony from school officials seeking gap funding for Title I losses caused by a switch from free-and-reduced-lunch to census-based allocations, saying districts with many open-enrolled students could lose substantial funding and staff positions. Later, the governor’s office presented a proposed $1.5 million one-time appropriation to help schools buy secure storage for student cell phones if a statewide device policy is adopted; members raised concerns about cost, local control, and whether the money would be enough. The committee also heard student testimony and then recessed without voting on the amendment in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• more rooms to our hotels, but they're at a lower rate, and we have to drop the rate, so we've lost a
• Tuition rates.
• However, out-of-state tuition rates in Texas are three times higher than in-state rates, on average.
• We calculate that average and then set that as kind of the base rate.
• tuition rate varies.

Bills: SB1798 , SB1835 , SB1319 , SB2942 , SB2928 , SB784 , SB1049

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: higher education, tuition rates, financial support, immigration status, Texas law, SB 1835, resident tuition, nonresident students, scholarship students, public higher education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Education Code Section 54.213, tuition waiver, in-state tuition, out-of-state students, higher education finance, enrollment cap, capacity limit, workforce development area, nonimmigrant visa

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> lower assessment rate. lower assessment rate.
• </c><00:21:11.360><c> for</c> 35 states charge different rates for 35 states charge different rates for
• </c><00:34:07.440><c> on</c> around us actually raises the rate on around us actually raises the rate
• the super lowering the rate benefits the super rich. rich. rich.
• That's just off your assessment rate when that we all got, right?

Keywords: 916, all