Transcript Highlights:

• in an unlicensed setting.
• in an unlicensed setting.
• Chair, to whoever is in charge of this assessment and rate setting and all that, it seems like it's at
• Chair, to whoever is in charge of this assessment and rate setting and all that, it seems like it's at
• Chair, to whoever is in charge of this assessment and rate setting and all that, it seems like it's at

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rates for medical providers.
• and would be part of... the certification process and the normal rate setting that we would do for 2026
• Most of the provider rate increases have been supplemental, fixed dollar amounts above the base rate
• with Medicare rates and median Medicaid rates, and approximately 80 to 90% of commercial rates.
• Of the amount of the rate? Yeah, I don't have the rate amount.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't have a set rate that they offer. ...per se.
• If title insurance rates, which are set by the Texas Department of Insurance, are only updated every
• Part of that rate-setting standard is to get current data, to base that rate on current data, the most
• And so they're asking for it now because they didn't ask for it previously when they set this rate.
• TDI, in setting this rate reduction, didn't consider 2023 and didn't consider 2024 in that rate reduction

Bills: HB345, HB721, HB2580, SB815, HB3057, HB4603, HB3233, SB495, HB3863, HB3914, HB4570, HB5099, HB5173, SB458

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• that were set by the towns and cities, because when the towns and cities set their rates, they do it
• And cities set their rates in a public venue. They are set by ordinance.
• to do commercial rate setting.
• to do commercial rate setting.
• setting that rate is uh first of all 325 setting that rate is a<03:17:20.359> floor<03:17:20.720

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not asking the committee to set rates or impose in any way, shape, or form on FERC jurisdiction
• <01:13:35.440> rates<01:13:35.920> or asking the committee to set rates or asking the
• committee to set rates or impose<01:13:36.960> in<01:13:37.120> any<01:13:37.360> way
• I expect the PUC in this summer, when it sets the new default energy service rates that will be effective
• to set a rate,<04:05:10.399> promise<04:05:11.040> consumers<04:05:11.520> a<04:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When it comes to recurring rates, most jurisdictions adopt a rate formula to set a cap.
• They don't set a rate because the cost of poll ownership, as alluded to, can vary greatly from owners
• Why since 1938 have the board been competent enough to set these rates and now all of a sudden we're
• They hired staff, good staff to come in and set rates and operate the business in a manner they were
• We certainly wouldn't want to cap the current rate at rates that were set too low too, a long time ago

Transcript Highlights:

• MCOs set their own rates, they set their own provider networks, they set their own prior authorization
• the rates, set the prior authorization requirements, set the network.
• So, again, setting the network, setting the rates, setting the prior authorization requirements, setting
• Again, currently rates are set based on hours entered into that rate framework, but there's no system
• 44.200> set<00:43:44.560> based<00:43:44.880> on Again, currently rates are set

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh that rate is set uh by the public utilities commission through a fully adjudicated rate case process
• <01:41:50.400> by<01:41:50.639> the<01:41:50.800> public that rate is set uh
• You get rates set, you go several years, you make a filing.
• You get rates set, you go several years, you make a filing.
• distribution is the last time we set our distribution is the last time we set our distribution rates

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It improves transparency for customers and policymakers and streamlines aspects of the rate-setting process
• For customers and policymakers and streamlines aspects of the rate-setting process.
• those costs from ratepayers, which is what sets rates in the future.
• And that's why we have set the cap at a rate that is already well above what they historically spent
• It inserted. utility rates, this legislation goes well beyond rate transparency.

Bills: SB287

Keywords: solid waste, recycling, universal recycling, single-stream recycling, multifamily housing, apartment recycling, commercial recycling, waste diversion, recycling grants, low-interest loans, Delaware Recycling Fund, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DNREC, waste hauler, curbside recycling, yard waste, source-separated recycling, pay-as-you-throw, extended producer responsibility, waste bans

Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• error rate level.
• In 2019, we had a 3% error rate.
• set by the Feds.
• To mitigate their error rates.
• rate is not the same as a fraud rate; it is benefits being awarded in an incorrect amount.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Bray asked how those rates are set.
• The witness said the rates were set long ago, and that the department tries to do raises when the budget
• Rates are set by category and type of job, and they are reviewed annually.
• set by allows they set they're set by categories<00:06:36.400> and<00:06:36.639> type<
• entities okay and nothing like that set entities okay and nothing like that set up<00:14:50.440>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, and Judiciary heard an update from the Department of Corrections on Kentucky Correctional Industries (KCI), sentence-credit payments for program completion, and the expansion of the Little Sandy Correctional Complex. Department officials said KCI, the department’s long-running re-entry program, operates 15 industries in 11 institutions, employs more than 400 inmates and 37 staff, and had $5.8 million in expenditures against $6.8 million in revenues through January 31. Members asked about inmate pay, the role of the Prison Industries Enhancement Certification (PIE) program, and whether KCI generates profit; the department said it aims to break even while supporting state government, with PIE participants earning prevailing wages and some programs offering certificates tied to post-release employment opportunities. The subcommittee also reviewed the budget-authorized sentence-credit program for county jails. Officials reported 37,300 program completions in fiscal year 2024 and, through January, $6.128 million paid for 90-day sentence credits and $1.6548 million for 60-day credits, with total county jail expenditures of $8.1 million and 67 jails participating. They said additional participation would require more funding and that they do not expect many more jails to join, though attendance and population levels can affect costs. Members asked how jails opt in, whether there are added costs, how inmate earnings are handled, and whether deductions are made for child support or victim compensation; the department said jails apply through an approved program matrix, inmate earnings are tracked in individual accounts, and required deductions are made when ordered. Questions from members focused on re-entry outcomes and program structure. Officials said evidence-based programming and employment opportunities are major contributors to lowering recidivism, and they cited a recent recidivism rate of 30.8 percent, down about 1 percentage point, while noting they would provide additional trend and savings data later. The department also clarified that adult education and GED programming are separate from KCI and are handled by a different education division. For the Little Sandy expansion, officials said the project remains on schedule for completion on June 25, 2025, with inmate transfers expected to begin at about 50 per week and roughly 200 additional staff eventually needed; they said hiring is being phased in as inmate population increases. The committee asked for the total construction cost of the expansion, which the witnesses said they did not have at the meeting and would report back. The meeting adjourned with the next meeting set for February 18.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I will just say that our, we don't want to be in the position of setting rates, but our actuaries
• Claims experience to set our premiums. We do rate by region in active care.
• This group would have this amount that they would be, you know, to set their rates versus this group
• If not, you do age rating.
• The rate of drug price increases consistently exceeds the rate of inflation.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:34.000> payment<00:04:34.320> rates then trying to set payment rates then trying
• These are historic rates, so these were rates that were set by the legislature at a point in time.
• . market-based rate setting methodology so market-based rate setting methodology so we<00:11:51.360><
• <00:34:49.000> their<00:34:49.200> rates way that they're setting their rates way that
• <01:09:25.440> rates part of the committee that sets rates part of the committee that sets

Bills: HF1005

Keywords: health insurance, medical assistance, behavioral health, reimbursement rates, primary care services, physician fee schedule, managed care, residential services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• side set to 7.25% per year.
• So it relates to the premium rate. The initial premium rate in statute is 0.58% of wages.
• The premium rate shall be set by the Pension Funding Council at a rate greater than 0.58%.
• In addition, the Pension Funding Council must set the premium rate at the lowest amount necessary to
• To facilitate the premium rate setting, the Office of the State Actuary must perform a biennial actuarial

Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on October 8 with introductions from council members and staff, then received a detailed presentation from the Office of the State Actuary on long-term economic assumptions and the state pension systems’ financial condition. OSA reported that the combined pension systems are currently 100% funded on a smoothed basis, with open plans above 95% funded, and that legacy Plan 1 systems remain on a path toward full funding under current policy. The actuaries recommended updating assumptions to 3% inflation, 3.5% general salary growth, and a 7.25% investment return, while keeping Plan 1 membership growth at 1%. They also explained asset smoothing, the role of recent strong investment returns, and the expected budget impacts of the recommended changes. Representatives from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council and the State Investment Board offered supporting perspectives, generally describing the assumptions as reasonable and consistent with their own outlooks. The council also heard an overview of the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (WACares) from DSHS and OSA. Program staff described the program’s social insurance structure, premium collection, benefit eligibility, and upcoming implementation milestones. OSA reported that the program’s first actuarial valuation showed a positive actuarial balance under the base scenario and recommended no change to the current 0.58% premium rate during the program’s early learning phase, noting that future changes would depend on experience and the program’s risk-management framework. OSA also said the recommendation would remain the same regardless of the outcome of the pending ballot measure affecting investment options. During public comment, a representative of the Washington State School Retirees Association urged continued work on Plan 1 funding and related legislation, while the Association of Washington Cities cautioned against increasing pension assumptions in a way that could raise future employer costs and reduce flexibility for current local government services. In action, the council adopted a motion to maintain the current long-term economic assumptions by a 4-2 vote, adopted the recommendation to keep the WACares premium rate at 0.58% by a 6-0 vote, and then elected Katie Chapman as council chair by unanimous vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate.
• rate.
• The intended rate increase be listed as a number as opposed to setting a percentage.
• The intended rate increase be listed as a number as opposed to setting a percentage.
• The intended rate increase be listed as a number as opposed to setting a percentage.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• STW say that there are 11 states that have some sort of rate-setting system.
• STW say that there are 11 states that have some sort of rate-setting system.
• that's what they set the rate at that's that's what they set the rate at that's the<05:31:34.798
• Sorry, you were not saying that my selectmen will set the rate?
• <05:33:07.280> those<05:33:07.480> rates localities set those rates localities set

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Commerce Committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 310, sponsored by Representative Keith Ammon, which would create a study commission to develop a legal framework for stable tokens and tokenized real-world assets. Ammon described stable tokens as blockchain-based digital tokens backed by U.S. dollars or treasuries, and tokenized real-world assets as representations of ownership in items such as gold, real estate, or artwork. He said the bill is intended to help New Hampshire get ahead of emerging financial markets while waiting to see how federal legislation develops. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, the difference between this proposal and Bitcoin, whether state regulation could be preempted by federal law, and whether the commission could be balanced and avoid becoming a vehicle for fraud or money laundering. Ammon said the proposal is blockchain-agnostic, could apply to multiple networks, and is meant to regulate asset-backed tokens rather than create a state-issued coin. He emphasized that the state would not be guaranteeing the underlying assets, but would set rules requiring audits, proof of reserves, and honest representation of backing, with the Secretary of State’s securities office involved in oversight. Several members raised concerns about the risks of stablecoins, including money laundering, tax evasion, and possible harm to the dollar or confusion about whether the state was endorsing a new currency. Ammon responded that the bill would not undermine the dollar and argued that tokenization could actually expand demand for U.S. currency by making it easier to use globally. He also said the state would not be in the business of weighing assets or directly valuing them, only ensuring a valid audit trail and one-to-one backing. The discussion ended with general agreement that the subject is complex and that a commission could help develop future legislation, but no vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• toll rates.
• just going to kick this off for the technical part of it, but just to talk about the toll policy and rate-setting
• The toll rates... The toll rates used for analysis were correct.
• I don't know that we've actually calculated the cost to collect yet, as we have not set toll rates yet
• And the toll rates are set to pay back all the commitments that Brent went through.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Interstate 5 Bridge met remotely with Washington legislative members to receive updates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, including environmental review, cost and funding, tolling, and procurement for construction. Program staff said the final supplemental environmental impact statement was published in April 2026, with a federal record of decision expected in early summer. They described the recommended design as a single-level fixed-span bridge, centered I-5 alignment, C Street ramps, one auxiliary lane in each direction, and dispersed park-and-ride parking. Members raised concerns about transparency, the closed chat function, and the decision not to include two auxiliary lanes; staff said the one-lane option was recommended through consultation with partner agencies and analysis, but the final decision would come with the record of decision. Staff also said the diversion analysis projected less than 3% traffic diversion to I-205 in 2045, though members from Oregon and Washington expressed concern about impacts to their communities and asked for more detail on mitigation and decision-making. The committee also reviewed a major cost update. Staff said the full five-mile program is now estimated at $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with a likely cost of $14.4 billion, up from a 2022 estimate of $5 billion to $7.5 billion, citing inflation, schedule delays, scope changes, and more detailed risk modeling. They said the first funded phase has been reduced to a $5.68 billion package focused on the Columbia River bridge replacement, connections to I-5, Hayden Island and SR-14, bridge demolition, tolling infrastructure, and advancing light rail design. Funding for that phase was described as $5.69 billion, including $2.1 billion federal funds, $1 billion from each state, and $1.5 billion in projected toll revenue. Members asked what would happen if costs rise further; staff said the estimate includes substantial contingency, the project will use progressive design-build to manage risk, and the team will continue updating the finance plan annually. A separate tolling and traffic-revenue presentation explained that four toll scenarios were analyzed using regional travel demand modeling, a toll diversion model, and a post-processing review. All scenarios assume pre-completion tolling beginning July 1, 2028, a 50% low-income discount for eligible users, and exemptions for tribal preemptions, emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and organized militia. Staff said the low-income discount would affect about 4% to 6% of annual transactions and reduce annual revenues by roughly 2% to 3%. They said Scenario 2 was used for the financial analysis and is sufficient to support the $1.5 billion toll contribution in the funded phase. Members asked about toll collection costs, revenue impacts of the discount, and how the scenarios differed; staff said collection costs are expected to be in line with other WSDOT toll facilities, but exact costs are not yet set because toll rates are not final. Finally, WSDOT staff outlined procurement and delivery steps for construction. They said WSDOT will be the lead contracting agency, using progressive design-build, with a request for qualifications targeted for early July 2026, a request for proposals in October, contractor selection in April 2027, construction starting in 2028, and tolling beginning in 2028. Staff said the approach is intended to consolidate scope, reduce interface risk, and allow transparent negotiation with an independent cost estimator, while preserving an off-ramp if a fair price cannot be reached. Members asked for more detail on timing, cost allocation, and the share of the first phase funded by tolls; staff estimated tolls account for about 26% of the first phase cost.

Transcript Highlights:

• They get to set a tier one tax rate and a tier two tax rate. taxpayers don't see the difference on their
• And they will say, and it's directly a quote, the state of Texas sets our M&O rate.
• and that the state of Texas, or probably more appropriately, you sir, set that rate.
• We set the maximum rate for tier one and the max and the maximum rate for tier two is set in law that's
• Harrison asked me about school boards have control over setting tax rates.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• services to reenact the framework rates. services to reenact the framework rates.
• state and in my district how the rate state and in my district how the rate changes<00:21:46.000
• statute to the flat tiered rates statute to the flat tiered rates for<00:24:09.320> 2026<
• There's a human cost for the flat rates. There's a human cost for the flat rates.
• for this care setting." for this care setting." Representative<01:02:14.000> Murphy.

Bills: HF4491, HF4338, HF4288, HF4566

Keywords: Medical Assistance, Medicaid, prepayment review, claims review, fee-for-service, provider integrity, high-risk provider, high-risk service, fraud prevention, program integrity, Department of Human Services, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care billing, medical claims, provider enrollment, Indian Health Service, Minnesota Statutes chapter 256B, human services, medical assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• There's this rate negotiation that goes on, and final rates are usually set sometime in April.
• So we're nearing the end of when those final rates are going to be set up.
• And we are now just awaiting the final responses through the final rate-setting exercise that UnitedHealth
• The rates we got back in the RFP, if we're just looking at ASC, for example, The Medicare Advantage rate
• It's actually set up to work on a... revenue. It's actually set up to work on a private market.

Summary: The committee received an update from Grant Wallace on the rebid and possible decoupling of the state’s Medicare Advantage retiree coverage. He said the state is exploring splitting medical and pharmacy benefits for post-65 retirees, with UnitedHealthcare as the incumbent vendor, and that preliminary estimates suggested savings of about $100 to $200 per participant per month. He outlined the expected timeline for final CMS rate announcements in April 2026, with contract amendments likely to come before the committee in May or June after review by the EBD Advisory Commission and State Board of Finance. Representatives from Segal Consulting then reviewed the history and current structure of the Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan, explaining that the plan was adopted after a 2021 recommendation and launched in 2023 alongside the existing Med-Sup option. They said the Medicare Advantage option has produced substantial savings, including a lower monthly rate than the Med-Sup plan and about $40 million in savings from initial enrollment, while also restoring pharmacy benefits for some retirees. The presenters then explained recent federal changes under the Inflation Reduction Act, including major changes to Part D funding, the direct subsidy, and risk-score methodology, which they said have made risk adjustment much more important and are driving interest in separating medical and pharmacy contracts. In response to questions from senators, the presenters said the Medicare Advantage plan covers post-65 teacher and state employee retirees, including retirees from state agencies and K-12 public schools. They also explained that the new Part D structure has reduced out-of-pocket costs for members, with a $2,000 annual cap and lower average member spending to reach it, while shifting more cost to the plan. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported; the committee simply received the update and was told to expect further information after the April rate notice. The meeting adjourned with the committee scheduled to return on May 13.