Transcript Highlights:

• That's based on actuarial analysis, and it's established and discussed at the SSCC, the Social Services
• That's, you know, based on actuarial analysis.
• It also, the language also requires that the department do a study and make a report of what prisons
• Why did the House reject the Senate offer to require a study of return on investment of privatization
• study of the modifications made on the FRS in this bill.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Don Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber announced it would take up 11 budget conference committee reports, with no third-reading bills or special-order calendar items. Members were reminded that conference reports were subject to debate but not amendment, and that the required review periods had been satisfied. The first major action was on HB 7031E, the tax package. Representative Duggan explained that the conference report included a mix of retained, modified, and new tax provisions, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related changes, reductions in certain gaming and carbon-related taxes, changes to child care and documentary stamp tax credits, a new refund process for public works construction tax paid by universities and colleges, and other tax administration changes. Debate focused on the bill’s consumer impact, the reduction of the child tax credit from three years to one, the inclusion of firearm accessories in a sales tax holiday, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the homestead exemption provision for certain deployed diplomatic and foreign service personnel. Critics argued the package favored niche or corporate interests over broad affordability relief, while supporters said it provided targeted tax relief and reflected conference negotiations. The House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began presenting the conference report for HB 501E, the state budget, which totaled $114.5 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 and was described as below the prior year’s spending level while maintaining reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major budget areas: pre-K-12 funding included an increase in FEFP, salary increases for veteran teachers, stabilization funding, and support for declining enrollment; higher education included full Bright Futures funding, workforce programs, college operating support, university initiatives, and school guardian expansion; IT funding focused on Palm, ACCESS, APD’s I-Connect replacement, corrections systems, emergency management systems, and cybersecurity grants; health care funding covered Medicaid, nursing home rates, waiver provider increases, ADAP funding and restructuring, child welfare, and behavioral health; transportation and economic development included housing, cultural grants, jobs and rural infrastructure, Visit Florida, Space Florida, highway patrol equipment, and local transportation projects; justice funding included correctional construction, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement grants, and clerk and due process reimbursements; state administration included fire stations, constrained counties, building maintenance, and Safe Florida Home; and agriculture/natural resources funding emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, land acquisition, Florida Forever, state parks, and citrus research. Members then began questioning the budget details, including school voucher accountability, school funding formulas, public defender parity, prison technology, wastewater monitoring in prisons, ADAP policy, SNAP fraud controls and AI-assisted verification, Florida Forever funding, school lunch funding, and coral reef restoration. No final vote on HB 501E appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• scope of work required to lead and direct a randomized control quasi-experimental design efficacy study
• I tried, but Kathleen is the only one that can direct a randomized controlled quasi-experimental study
• . ...a randomized controlled quasi-experimental design efficacy study.
• if they apply for the grant and receive it, we contract with them for the funding, and we get this study
• Yes, sir, we... ...and we get this study back.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our actuaries conducted a rigorous review to ensure the rates are actuarially sound, not unfairly discriminatory
• We would have to wait for the superintendent and our chief actuary. Okay.
• The superintendent is joining via Zoom, and our chief actuary will be here in person.
• Until we get the actuary in here, and then we'll get the superintendent.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's depending on the results of the study; we may consider a $10 million appropriation next year.
• So, after the study is reported back from the University of Kentucky, we will consider funding.
• So, we've taken out the appropriation of the $250,000 to run the study.
• And it may be that we consider other things beyond just the specific study of Owensboro.
• And it may be that we consider other things beyond just the specific study of Owensboro.

Bills: SB141, SB124, SB56, SJR116, SB94, SB37, SB127, SB197, SB66, SB70, SB133, SB160, SB214, SB312, SB52, SJR62, SJR75

Keywords: legal advertisements, tax rates, public hearings, transparency, local government, sick leave, education, teacher retirement, benefits, employee compensation, Medicaid, nonopioid analgesics, pain management, health care regulation, utilization controls, physician shortage, health care access, medically underserved areas, medical education, workforce development

Bills: SB141, SB124, SB56, SJR116, SB94, SB37, SB127, SB197, SB66, SB70, SB133, SB160, SB214, SB312, SB52, SJR62, SJR75

Keywords: legal advertisements, tax rates, public hearings, transparency, local government, sick leave, education, teacher retirement, benefits, employee compensation, Medicaid, nonopioid analgesics, pain management, health care regulation, utilization controls, physician shortage, health care access, medically underserved areas, medical education, workforce development

Bills: SB141, SB124, SB56, SJR116, SB94, SB37, SB127, SB197, SB66, SB70, SB133, SB160, SB214, SB312, SB52, SJR62, SJR75

Keywords: legal advertisements, tax rates, public hearings, transparency, local government, sick leave, education, teacher retirement, benefits, employee compensation, Medicaid, nonopioid analgesics, pain management, health care regulation, utilization controls, physician shortage, health care access, medically underserved areas, medical education, workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just going to keep Laco's actuarially sound, right? Yes. Yes. Yes.
• To your question, it would keep Lagos actuarially sound. Yeah, wonderful.
• And item five is $127,000 in general revenue to contracts to do a feasibility study. to assess how the

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have some actuarial data on this that shows it still is going to have a bit of a hit to the fund
• Actuarials, as we did on the last one, because those actuarials were unacceptable to the standard of
• We need to make sure we're looking at what those actuarials state.

Bills: SB1415, SB1714, SB1962, SB26, SB172

Keywords: nondisclosure agreements, state employment, employee rights, transparency, government accountability, employee suggestions, cost savings, state agencies, incentives, performance awards, efficiency, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, state procurement, state purchasing, State Purchasing Director, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, OMES, exempt entities, purchasing exemptions, state contracts

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the last remaining statewide pension system program that is not actuarially sound.
• will change that in that it would provide a statutory framework for the. the state to provide an actuarially
• Similar to the IRS pension reform in 2021, it would require the state to pay a layered, actuarially determined
• It would also require the unfunded actuarial accrued liability to be depreciated.

Bills: SB868, SB1337, SB1371, SB1377, SB1426, SB1620, SB2064, SB2065, SJR4, SJR 4

Keywords: SB 868, rural volunteer fire department assistance program, volunteer fire department assistance fund, Texas Government Code, wildfire, wildland fire, high-risk wildfire area, fire suppression, rural fire departments, volunteer firefighters, emergency response, public safety, grant allocation, appropriations, disaster preparedness, tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process

Transcript Highlights:

• qualifying conditions are more robust, based on the discrepancies between fiscal calculations and actuarial
• analysis of the structure of Actuarial analysis of the structure of the<00:08:21.680> program
• Hunter said, what do the studies say? She said there are no studies.
• Hunter said, what do the studies say? She said there are no studies.
• Economic studies show that access to paid leave increases the likelihood that workers will return to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to think more deeply about and and study to think more deeply about and and study in<00:33:55.080
• Uh, and studies suggest that, you know, we may see a small bump.”
• c> that Uh, and studies suggest that Uh, and studies suggest that you<03:11:53.360> know,<
• <03:52:26.400> Eyes storm water infrastructure study.
• Eyes storm water infrastructure study. Eyes 31. 31. 31. Message<03:52:28.720> 163.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that the DROP program created by this legislation must be cost-neutral, completely transparent, actuarially
• This bill had an actuarial analysis in the Assembly before it was introduced.
• Every five years it has to be actuarially sound.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• task force so that we could study task force so that we could study and<00:03:59.760> perhaps
• <01:09:05.720> is interesting case study recently is interesting case study recently is looking
• there's a term called actuarial there's a term called actuarial actuarial<01:45:22.520> value
• And MIT randomized control study on hot spotting also had similar results in 2020.
• 80% actuarial value, you can see the deductible and the max out-of-pocket is a lot lower.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are talking with the state actuaries, including the actuaries in the insurance department, about what
• with<00:57:07.280> uh<00:57:07.599> the<00:57:07.839> state<00:57:08.240> actuaries
• <00:57:08.960> including with uh the state actuaries including with uh the state actuaries
• including the<00:57:09.760> actuaries<00:57:10.880> in<00:57:11.119> the<00:57:
• 11.359> insurance the actuaries in the insurance the actuaries in the insurance department<00:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• executive summary of the larger study executive summary of the larger study that<00:27:24.880>
• And um, we can provide the study.
• And um, we can provide the study. I think you guys at Elbow may already have the full study.
• And um, we can provide the study. I think you guys at Elbow may already have the full study.
• And um, we can provide the study. I think you guys at Elbow may already have the full study.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 22 January, 2026: 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the insurance commissioner’s office. The commissioner said most of the request was for personnel costs, including an increase above LBO and two additional IT positions tied to a possible conversion to a state-based system and cybersecurity needs. The office also discussed travel costs, contractual expenses, vehicle replacement, and hurricane mitigation funds, noting that some funds are in trust accounts and require legislative authority to spend. The commissioner also briefed members on possible policy changes affecting the ACA exchange and a proposed low-cost plan for the high-risk pool, warning that if coverage options are not developed, more people could shift into uncompensated care. Members asked about the budget request, the IT positions, and a constituent question about propane meter regulation, which the commissioner said falls under the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, though his office sometimes checks related issues informally. The committee then moved to the State Fire Academy hearing. The academy director described a workforce stabilization proposal focused on retaining and recruiting fire instructors, citing competition from local fire departments that pay more, a shrinking applicant pool, and a growing number of retirement-eligible staff. He said the academy’s instructors are being recruited away by municipalities, that recent applicant pools have produced very few qualified candidates, and that the academy may soon have to cut advanced courses if staffing does not improve. He referenced a State Personnel Board review that supported the need for compensation changes and said the academy is trying to remain competitive while continuing to train firefighters, hazmat responders, EMS personnel, and fire officers statewide. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken in the portion provided. Members mainly asked questions, requested written follow-up on some budget items, and indicated they would work with the agencies later in the session if pending bills or funding needs changed.

Transcript Highlights:

• we meet with Milamman who is our actuary we meet with Milamman who is our actuary and<00:15:48.639
• mention there was a Kaiser Foundation report that came out back in this past fall, and they did a study
• In that study, it showed a 9% increase across Medicaid across the nation.
• of Medicaid across the they did a study of Medicaid across the nation.<00:38:50.320> um<00:38
• it showed a nine or eight a 9% study it showed a nine or eight a 9% increase<00:38:56.640> across

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:36 Department for Medicaid Services 00:01:44, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met for an overview of the Department for Medicaid Services budget. Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beal described Kentucky Medicaid enrollment at about 1.4 million members, including more than 600,000 children, and said the agency’s 2025 total budget was $20.6 billion. They reviewed enrollment trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, noting that redeterminations begun in 2023 reduced enrollment from its peak but that total membership remains above pre-COVID levels. They also explained the difference between the fee-for-service population, which includes long-term care and waiver members, and managed care members, and gave examples of the kinds of services and diagnoses seen in each group. A major focus was the governor’s recommended Medicaid budget and the department’s forecast process. Lee said the budget is split into benefits and administration, with benefits covering fee-for-service services, managed care capitation, transportation, and Medicare premiums, while administration covers contracts, personnel, operating costs, and IT-related advanced planning documents. She said the department uses a consensus forecasting group and actuary input, and that its forecasts have been within 1% of actual spending in recent years. The department also said the governor’s budget includes new waiver slots to address waiting lists, a 2% staff COLA, and a 10% phase-down on state-directed payments beginning in January 2028. Much of the discussion centered on House Resolution 1 and the funding needed to implement its Medicaid-related provisions, including community engagement requirements, six-month redeterminations, and future cost sharing. Lee said the department requested about $35 million in total funds for fiscal 2027, including about $8.2 million in general funds for system changes to the integrated eligibility system, claims processing, notices, and monitoring; and about $11 million in fiscal 2028 for ongoing maintenance, with about $1.6 million in general funds. She said the department expects to seek federal APD matching funds for the IT work. In response to questions, she explained that community engagement would apply to Medicaid expansion members, with qualifying activities including work, school, volunteering, or equivalent income, and that certain groups such as pregnant women, children, caretaker relatives, and some people with chronic disease or substance use disorder would be excluded. She said the department identified roughly 70,000 expansion members who could be subject to the requirement. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Bills: SB161, SB195, SB216, SB245, SB246, SB257, SB258, SB260, SB278, SB281, SB283, SB93, SB98, SB99, SB306, SB314, SB315

Keywords: vehicle safety, crash test, crashworthiness, NHTSA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, New Car Assessment Program, NCAP, motor vehicle safety standards, 49 CFR parts 571 and 572, THOR dummy, THOR-50M, THOR-05F, WorldSID, female crash test dummy, male crash test dummy, occupant protection, frontal impact, side impact, vehicle ratings, automotive safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Senator, I will need to check with our actuary, and I can get that back and share the response
• This was confirmed by our actuary.
• And based on our actuarial analysis, premiums will not rise more than 10 percent.
• And the confidence, your confidence level in those actuarial estimates, I would presume, is very high
• Madam Chair, Senator, they really trust our actuary. Thank you, Madam. That's all right.

Bills: SB21, SB42, SB81, SB101, SB139

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:

• OSI yesterday and the actuary.
• I don't really want us to get into what Representative Anaya talked about regarding what the OSI actuary
• Recent studies from other states suggest it can be difficult to maintain quality and to ensure. that
• Chafin, and LFC staff have done to study the implementation of the Healthy Universal School Meals Act
• I'm just curious if we could have a study done someday to look at those children who were already in

Transcript Highlights:

• We are hiring, and my department has already contracted with several firms to provide actuarial and rate
• The other key component of this whole thing, we haven't talked about today, but if you look at any study
• And every academic, every consultant study will tell you the same thing.
• And every academic, every consultant study will tell you the same thing.
• And every academic, every consultant study will tell you the same thing.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 597, a bill to strengthen consumer protections for disaster survivors who use public adjusters. The author and the Department of Insurance said the measure would cap public adjuster fees at 15% for claims tied to declared disasters, require clearer contracts, prohibit solicitation during emergency conditions, and allow consumers to rescind contracts that were solicited during prohibited periods. Insurance industry groups supported the bill, while public adjuster representatives opposed it as written but said they were willing to work on revisions. The committee approved the bill and re-referred it to Appropriations; the roll call was ultimately recorded as 16-0. The committee then held its fourth oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy, with Commissioner Ricardo Lara giving an extensive update on wildfire-related market reforms and consumer protections. He said the recent Southern California wildfires had not derailed the strategy and described actions including advance claim payments, a one-year moratorium on residential non-renewals in affected areas, a new fraud strike team, smoke-damage claim guidance, additional living expense protections, and a consumer claims tracker. He reported more than $12.1 billion in claims paid, over 37,000 claims filed, and more than 7,000 survivors assisted directly. He also discussed related bills and reforms, including AB 597, SB 495, SB 547, SB 429, SB 616, AB 888, and AB 2026. Members questioned the commissioner about the Fair Plan’s growing exposure, the $1 billion assessment, rate increases, non-renewals, underinsurance, and whether the reforms would actually stabilize the market. Lara said the assessment was already approved, that policyholders would not be hit with one large bill because insurers have two years to recover costs, and that the department was pushing insurers to use catastrophe modeling and reinsurance tools in exchange for commitments to write more policies in wildfire-distressed areas. He said the department expects to see market stabilization by 2026, though he emphasized the timeline depends on insurer participation, implementation of the new regulations, and future disaster activity. Members generally expressed support for the goals of the strategy while pressing for clearer expectations for consumers and faster action on mitigation and market reform.