Transcript Highlights:

• cap on what the rate payer has to pay. cap on what the rate payer has to pay.
• I don't know how that's relevant to this bill in any way whatsoever. >> Payers, taxpayers, we're all
• I don't know how that's relevant to this bill in any way whatsoever. >> Payers, taxpayers, we're all
• >> Payers,<00:24:32.480> taxpayers,<00:24:33.440> we're<00:24:33.679> all<
• ;> Payers, taxpayers, we're all paying a lot. lot. lot.

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 130 members present, approved the previous day’s journal, and read several groups of introductory House bills and a bond initiative, referring them to the appropriate committees. Senate bills were also introduced in the House and assigned to committees. The chamber then took up House Bill 1, concerning limits on cost recovery for investor-owned electric and gas utilities, with debate focused on whether the bill would reduce ratepayer costs or interfere with utility compensation and grid reliability. Two amendments to HB 1 were debated and both failed by roll call after floor leaders argued they would undermine the bill’s purpose of protecting ratepayers. One amendment would have allowed utilities to seek approval from the Public Service Commission to exceed pay or bonus limits for vital workers; supporters said it would preserve flexibility to retain critical employees and maintain reliability, while opponents said any extra compensation should come from shareholders, not ratepayers. A second amendment sought to exempt frontline workers involved in system reliability, emergency response, and storm restoration; supporters said it would protect the grid and allow quick response in emergencies, while opponents again said it would shift costs back onto ratepayers. The House also heard extended questioning about utility rates, PSC approval, and broader energy costs, including references to Empower charges and infrastructure expenses. After the amendment debate, the House voted to special order HB 1 for a later time, allowing additional amendment opportunities, and the bill was set aside. The session then moved to committee announcements, including briefings and bill hearings for Appropriations, Economic Matters, Environment and Transportation, Government, Labor, and Elections, Health, Judiciary, and Ways and Means, along with several subcommittee meetings later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• credit rating what the impact<00:19:11.280> of<00:19:11.440> rate<00:19:11.640> payers
• would be there and also taking payers would be there and also taking into<00:19:22.520> account
• is better or worse one way rate payers is better or worse one way or<00:19:52.799> the<00:19:
• it should rate payers be other rate<01:29:39.960> payers<01:29:40.239> who<01:29:40.360
• in rate payers who can't participate in those<01:29:41.199> benefits<01:29:41.600> get

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard testimony on Senate Bill 897, which would create a Wildlife Liability Trust Fund within DCCA for administrative purposes. The chair opened by noting the hearing had to end by noon because of floor session, and that written testimony would be considered if not all witnesses could speak. Testimony included support from DCCA, the Attorney General’s office, the Public Utilities Commission, Charter Communications, Ulupono Initiative, AES Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Clearway Energy Group, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Hawaiian Telcom, and IBW Local 1260, with opposition or concerns from the Hawaii Association for Justice and some others. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill and asked for amendments, saying the fund would help address wildfire liability, protect customers and the economy, and support restoration of investment-grade credit; it also proposed a larger shareholder contribution and said the bill was part of a broader effort to raise settlement funds and improve grid safety and resiliency. Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would actually lower costs for ratepayers and improve credit ratings. DCCA said there was a nexus between limiting liability, creating a sufficiently large wildfire fund, and transparent mitigation requirements, but acknowledged there was no guarantee of a credit-rating improvement or precise estimate of rate impacts. Members questioned Hawaiian Electric about the assumptions in its cost comparisons, the 30-year securitization structure, and whether funding could be shifted later to shareholders after credit was restored. Hawaiian Electric responded that the bill assumes the fund is paid through securitization, that removing that presumption could undermine the credit-rating benefit, and that its models suggest credit-spread savings could offset the customer charge over time; it also said it would follow up with additional analysis. The company and Ulupono both described the measure as a difficult but potentially necessary way to socialize wildfire risk and avoid a larger crisis later. The Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the bill’s liability caps and raised concerns about consumer rights, oversight discretion, statute-of-limitations changes, and evidence rules. Hawaiian Telcom suggested amendments to clarify compliance with FCC pole-attachment agreements. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided, and members indicated they wanted more analysis before being comfortable with the bill’s long-term ratepayer impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many are going bankrupt, cutting teachers, payers, and programs this year, and it will be worse next
• Many going bankrupt, cutting teachers,<00:05:00.000> payers,<00:05:00.400> and<00:05:00.560
• > programs<00:05:00.960> this teachers, payers, and programs this teachers, payers, and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The project has two primary design purposes.
• This directly impacts the primary source of income for many of...
• This directly impacts the primary source of income for many of These multigenerational family farms.
• license to the council to, I guess, if you're if you can see the recipient, you could also see the payer

Transcript Highlights:

• and Tax Policy Committee, this interim the committee proposes to receive an overview of the state's primary
• The committee proposes to receive an overview of the state's primary taxes and state property tax structure
• Payer funds.
• As a primary matter, a legislative employee cannot pursue private interests on duty, including campaigning

Transcript Highlights:

• liability is another component of this capital project, and that is for ensuring that Medicaid is the last payer
• liability is another component of this capital project, and that is for ensuring that Medicaid is the last payer
• Medicaid<00:13:07.440> is<00:13:07.680> the<00:13:07.920> last<00:13:08.240> payer
• <00:13:09.120> So<00:13:09.519> we Medicaid is the last payer.
• So we Medicaid is the last payer.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its June 30 meeting and then considered Capital Project 2515, a request from the Pease Development Authority Division of Ports and Harbors to spend up to $125,000 from the Harbor Dredging and Pier Maintenance Fund to replace a deteriorated 99-foot floating dock at Rye Harbor. Acting Director Richard Hartley said the dock is used for passenger loading and unloading for charters and whale-watching tours and is in poor condition. Representative Edgar moved approval, Representative Wiler seconded, and the motion carried. The committee then received several informational items, including quarterly and maintenance reports from the Department of Administrative Services, the Community College System of New Hampshire, and the Pease Development Authority. It also heard a presentation from the Department of Health and Human Services on Capital Project 2516, the Beneficiary Service Improvement project supporting closed-loop referrals and related systems. DHHS described the project as a mix of Medicaid enterprise functions and New Hampshire Care Connections tools, including provider modules, third-party liability, event notifications, and closed-loop referrals to connect health and human service providers. Officials said the project is largely federally funded, with capital funds representing only part of the overall effort. Members asked about the accounting breakdown, prior committee review, provider participation, patient experience, and public response. Representative Burr questioned whether the project had been fully presented previously and raised concerns about the scope and necessity of the $8 million effort; DHHS responded that earlier work was discussed in other committees and that the current presentation covered only capital funds. Senator Waters asked about user response and patient experience, and DHHS said feedback has been generally positive but the system is still in design and implementation. In response to questions about participation, DHHS said 84 providers are currently on the network and clarified that a “provider” generally means an individual organization or health system, not each individual clinician. The committee also set its next meeting for December 9 at 9:00 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our hospitals and clinics provide both primary and specialized care to a population that in many cases
• Our hospitals and clinics provide both primary and specialized care to a population that in many cases
• Our hospitals and clinics provide both primary and specialized care to a population that in many cases
• It does not help patients lower their out-of-pocket cost and makes it more difficult for state payers
• It does not help patients lower their out-of-pocket cost and makes it more difficult for state payers

Keywords: 00:00 Introductions 02:46 Roll Call 03:35 Discussion on SB 14 46:13 Vote on SB 14 48:07 Discussion on SB 17 50:38 Vote on SB 17, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services opened with the chair welcoming several new members and outlining session rules: hearings would start and end on time, the committee would limit the number of bills heard each meeting, prioritize bills heard during the interim, and generally avoid using the consent calendar except in extreme circumstances. The committee then briefly considered administrative regulations, which were treated as approved if members had no questions. The main item was Senate Bill 14, a measure addressing the 340B drug discount program. The chair said the bill had already passed the Senate in a prior session and had been heard in interim, so he did not present it again. He described the bill as prohibiting drug manufacturers from discriminating against 340B covered entities by refusing 340B pricing when the same drug is offered at that price in the state. He also said the committee would not debate the federal 340B program itself, but would hear testimony on the bill. Hospital leaders and Kentucky Hospital Association representatives testified in support, arguing that 340B savings are essential to rural hospitals, oncology services, transportation support, chronic care, addiction recovery, and new service lines such as chemotherapy and hepatitis treatment. They said the program helps keep care close to home and that manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies have reduced access and cost hospitals millions. Opponents from BIO Kentucky and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions argued the bill would expand federal law beyond Congress’s intent, create administrative burdens, and not lower patient out-of-pocket costs. The chair repeatedly pressed opponents to address why Kentucky should be denied the same 340B pricing available in other states. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• To evaluate the current access to primary and mental health care, we examined whether regulatory and
• Members, I also want to highlight that these rural delegation agreements are limited to primary care
• A primary physician has five nurse practitioners or APRNs underneath his umbrella.
• Are we gonna have primary care physicians in the future?
• Texas Tech graduates more rural primary care and healthcare providers than anyone in this state.

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• The primary increased cost drivers include utilities, pharmaceuticals, foodstuff, and outside hospitalization
• with other prior approved investments, include short- and long-term strategies centered around two primary
• Last but not least, while DSH is not the primary decision-maker regarding collective bargaining, we do
• A primary goal of both of these programs is to eliminate traditional barriers Providers to care, such
• Source: the multi-payer fee schedule.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Association and Arizona Dental Association to establish a degree of separation between providers and payers
• Sullivan said before, what we're trying to do here is to keep the payee from owning the payer, and we've
• The primary mandate of the Board of Nursing is not simply to rubber-stamp academic degrees; its sole
• its jurisdiction over the nursing education programs the primary mandate of the board of nursing is
• However, the primary license lies with the Board of Secondary Education, and they consult with the board

Bills: HB2072, HB2251, HB2279, HB2308, HB2323, HB2342, HB2400, HB2408, HB2456, HB2660, HB2697, HB2868, HB2873, HB2877, HB2910, HB2946, HB2955, HB2991, HB4001, HB4010

Keywords: Cesar Chavez, public holiday, state law, holiday repeal, Arizona Revised Statutes, midwifery, medication administration, healthcare, patient safety, advisory committee, licensed midwives, river trips, liability, outfitter, Grand Canyon, negligence, risk management, contractual waiver, dental practice, business registration

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2308, which would prohibit dental insurers and their holding companies from owning dental practices or other businesses regulated by the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners. The sponsor and Arizona Dental Association argued the bill is meant to prevent vertical integration and payer control over provider care, while Delta Dental of Arizona opposed it, saying the measure would block nonprofit insurers from investing in clinics for indigent care and create regulatory burdens. After discussion about private equity ownership in dentistry and whether nonprofit insurers should be exempted, the committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2308 a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 4001, as amended, which creates a licensing and enforcement framework for alternative nicotine products beginning in 2028, restricts youth-targeted marketing, and increases penalties for selling to minors or manufacturing/distributing without a license. Supporters, including the sponsor, Border Security Alliance, and industry representatives, said the bill would improve supply-chain transparency, curb illegal products, and strengthen youth access enforcement. Opponents, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, argued the bill should instead create a full tobacco retail licensing system and include broader nicotine definitions, while also warning that enforcement resources would be insufficient. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill 6-1. House Bill 2873, as amended, was also approved unanimously. The bill allows a person or organization that files a city or town referendum petition to withdraw it before it qualifies for the ballot, with retroactive application to withdrawals filed beginning January 1, 2026. The committee then heard House Bill 2408, which revises Arizona Board of Nursing complaint procedures, confidentiality rules, investigation timelines, expungement authority, and board oversight of nursing education programs. The sponsor said the bill responds to long-standing audit findings and aims to improve fairness and timeliness, while nursing board officials opposed provisions affecting education oversight and warned about patient safety, costs, and liability. Nurses and other supporters described delayed investigations and the need for expungement relief. The committee adopted the amendment and passed HB 2408 on a 5-2 vote. Additional bills heard included House Bill 2342, which limits HOA restrictions on backyard shade structures and related installations; it passed 7-0 after supporters described a family hardship case and committee members criticized HOA overreach. House Bill 2323, which extends Arizona’s motor vehicle lemon law protections to lessees, also passed unanimously after testimony from the sponsor, attorneys, and a consumer describing repeated repair failures on a leased vehicle. The committee also began hearing House Bill 4010, which would establish a Board of Genetic Counselors under the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners and set licensure and disciplinary rules, but the transcript ends before any final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• discrimination based on your primary discrimination based on your primary care<00:36:06.800>
• And this is just primary care provider.
• reduces<00:41:17.599> emergency primary care physician reduces emergency primary care physician
• Disrupting established primary costs.
• practices, It prevents primary care practices, It prevents primary care practices, specifically

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the same way, higher premiums for companies are a primary reason why companies and employers either
• In the same way, higher premiums for companies are a primary reason why companies and employers either
• In the same way, higher premiums for companies are a primary reason why companies and employers either
• In the same way, higher premiums for companies are a primary reason why companies and employers either
• so you're telling me that of of a payer so you're telling me that that that that we<01:55:53.040>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care clinic to help them primary care clinic to help them coordinate<00:05:06.639> care<00:05
• One is we're going to pay the primary care clinics.
• One is we're going to pay<00:07:06.479> the<00:07:06.880> primary<00:07:07.280> care
• <00:07:08.000> Give<00:07:08.160> them pay the primary care clinics.
• Give them pay the primary care clinics.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The segment focused first on Senator John Marty’s bill, SF 3612, which would remove private insurers and HMOs from Minnesota’s state health care programs and replace them with a statewide administrative services model. Marty argued that managed care has created churn, coverage disruptions, and administrative waste in Medicaid and MinnesotaCare, and said the state should instead pay providers directly while investing more in care coordination, case management, and wraparound services through primary care clinics and county-based purchasers. He said the goal is better care, not just savings, though he also cited potential taxpayer savings and pointed to Connecticut as a model. He acknowledged the bill is not expected to become law this year and said a fiscal note and more details are still pending. Marty said the proposal has support from the governor and groups such as the American Cancer Society, but that his current co-authors are all DFL members. He expressed hope for bipartisan support and said the simpler system would also improve fraud detection and transparency. He addressed concerns about insurance-industry jobs by saying workers should be treated fairly and that retraining and dislocated-worker assistance would be part of the transition. He also said the broader goal is universal coverage for all medical needs, including mental health and dental care, without co-pays or deductibles. The second half highlighted Senator Jeff Howe and Minnesota’s Hometown Heroes Assistance Program for firefighters. Howe described the program as a statewide effort for roughly 20,000 career, paid-on-call, and volunteer firefighters that provides up to $20,000 in assistance for occupational illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, along with training, counseling, and family support. He said the program helps firefighters process trauma and has been recognized as the nation’s most comprehensive firefighter well-being initiative. Howe said the most recent version of the bill received unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers, and he suggested future expansions could include retired firefighters and possibly peace officers. The segment also noted a separate therapy approach using retired racehorses to help first responders work through trauma, with participants saying it has helped them stay on the job and manage anxiety and PTSD.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is a lot of local support through the rate payers and then a lot of local support from technical
• stating, and this is through their analysis, New Mexico Environment Department's analysis, that their primary
• Analysis, New Mexico Environment Department's analysis, that their primary function is infrastructure

Bills: SB22, SB310

Keywords: motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Switzinski, so we actually have quite a bit of additional capacity within our primary digesters
• pass-through dollars, how much of the dollars go directly to homeowners, and how much actually goes to rate payers
• in general, whether or not we should be expanding it into summer, where we already don't have the primary

Transcript Highlights:

• electricity is going to skyrocket in the coming years, and that the electrical grid will be one of the primary
• electricity is going to skyrocket in the coming years, and that the electrical grid will be one of the primary
• <01:04:33.839> cost<01:04:34.039> to<01:04:34.200> rate<01:04:34.440> payers
• <01:04:34.839> as the cost and the cost to rate payers as the cost and the cost to rate payers

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• going to be affected, and while, you know, when you start doing this, it just encourages... rate payers
• you know that they won't rate payers you know that they won't absorb<00:10:20.240> that<00:10
• 10:21.920> constituents<00:10:22.480> as<00:10:22.680> rate<00:10:22.920> payers
• it on to our constituents as rate payers it on to our constituents as rate payers and<00:10:23.760

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:12 Introduction of Guests 01:09 HB 88 Discussion 01:46 HB 88 Roll Call Vote 03:24 HB 346 Discussion 04:20 HB 346 Roll Call Vote 21:58 Chair Comments 24:31, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 88, which was described as a short bill to clarify procedures for Waste Management boards, including term limits, appointments, and making sure consolidated governments actively recruit community members and make openings easier to find. The sponsor said the bill was intended to resolve confusion about members staying on after terms expire. The bill received no opposition, passed the committee unanimously, and was reported favorably for the floor. The committee then took up House Bill 346, as amended by a committee substitute. The sponsor explained that the bill responds to a dispute over air emission fees, especially for emergency generators and backup generators used for worker safety and limited non-emergency testing. The bill would exempt emergency generators and backup generators operating 100 hours or less for maintenance/testing from fees, while also removing an existing 4,000-ton cap so the per-ton fee would drop for most permitted sources. Members discussed the possible impact on utilities and ratepayers, with concerns raised that costs could be passed through to consumers and affect coal-dependent areas. The sponsor and another member argued the change would generally reduce fees for most sources and incentivize emissions reductions; the cabinet was described as neutral, and the affected utilities were identified as TVA, LG&E, East Kentucky Power, and Big Rivers, with only TVA having raised comments. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed the committee with a favorable recommendation, though one member voted no and several members explained yes votes while expressing ongoing concerns about future rate impacts. At the end of the meeting, members briefly discussed broader concerns about utility surcharges and the need to monitor the effects of legislation on ratepayers, but those comments were not part of the bill under consideration. The chair noted that future meetings may include more bills and could start earlier if needed, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• By that, I mean payers. other providers? That's really the focus other providers?
• primary insurance. And so my question is primary insurance.
• Um, for primary prevention, it's tricky how you count that.
• > it's<01:22:00.640> tricky Um for primary prevention, it's tricky Um for primary prevention
• <01:23:18.240> programs >> So, our primary prevention programs >> So, our primary

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:10:14.760> our<01:10:15.199> environment taxpayers rate payers our environment
• None of the 62 data centers currently across Minnesota paid state sales tax on the essential and primary
• None of the 62 data centers currently across Minnesota paid state sales tax on the essential and primary
• None of the 62 data centers currently across Minnesota paid state sales tax on the essential and primary
• sales tax on the essential and primary sales tax on the essential and primary thing<01:12:44.239

Bills: HF1277, HF1006

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, property tax, abatement, land bank, redevelopment, political subdivision, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a federal and state payer. The states are overseeing their oversight is of the payment.
• So we have a federal and state payer. The states are overseeing their oversight of the payment.
• <01:47:32.960> and<01:47:33.199> where<01:47:33.520> private the only payer
• The states are federal and state payer.
• And that to both payers and providers.

Keywords: 1183, house