Transcript Highlights:

• So, if you don't mind, I'd like to switch the agenda around just a little bit. >> present.
• /c><00:01:53.040><c> to</c> So, if you don't mind, I'd like to So, if you don't mind, I'd like to switch

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting began with a roll call and approval of the October 7 meeting minutes. The chair then reordered the agenda to hear the item on Medicaid reimbursement rates and network adequacy first because of scheduling issues. Dr. Steve Robertson of the Kentucky Dental Association was sworn in and testified at length about Kentucky’s dental Medicaid program, arguing that reimbursement rates are unsustainably low, have been largely flat for decades, and are often below the cost of providing care. He said Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in oral health, dental Medicaid rates are often 60% or less of commercial rates, and the program’s share of the Medicaid budget has effectively remained around 2% despite growth in enrollment and services. Dr. Robertson said the low rates are contributing to provider losses, rural access gaps, longer wait times, dental deserts, and greater use of emergency rooms for preventable dental problems. He cited examples of office costs exceeding reimbursement for basic procedures, noted that many dentists are small private businesses, and said the state is struggling to recruit and retain dentists because of low payment levels and high student debt. He also pointed to disparities with neighboring states and said recent increases in some oral surgery and cleaning codes were not enough to address the broader problem. His recommendations included completing the rebasing study, increasing dental reimbursement in the upcoming budget, tying future reviews to inflation and cost data, aligning benchmarks, and prioritizing preventive and restorative care to improve workforce stability and access. Board members asked about the size of the needed increase, the effect of private insurance on dental practice finances, and what a new dentist might expect to earn. Dr. Robertson said the association is working on an appropriations request and that private insurance pressures are part of the problem as well, since many plans are HMOs or PPOs with limited provider control over rates. He also said the association can no longer conduct reimbursement surveys because of FTC restrictions, but would try to obtain current ADA data. In response to questions about the future of the program, he warned that without significant changes it could become unsustainable and cited Ohio and Missouri as examples where higher reimbursement improved provider participation and access. The board then heard from Mr. Bowman of Baldwin Consulting, who discussed outpatient behavioral health providers, including ABA therapy and mental health/substance use disorder services. He said these providers face similar issues of rising costs, flat reimbursement, and access problems. He reviewed Kentucky’s network adequacy standards, including travel-time standards, 30-day appointment limits, and newer federal requirements that will require services within 10 business days by 2029. He said wait times for outpatient behavioral health, especially children’s services and ABA, have grown substantially, sometimes to more than a year, and emphasized that the Medicaid department must enforce these standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to ask you and Gay to switch seats.
• I'm going to ask you and<01:20:55.600><c> Gay</c><01:20:55.840><c> to</c><01:20:56.080><c> switch</c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts held an informational briefing on May 22 with the Hawaii Arts Alliance, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission. Chair Capella said the purpose was to better understand the organizations’ work and strengthen relationships ahead of the interim and next session. The Hawaii Arts Alliance, led by Executive Director Gay Humphrey, described its mission to enrich Hawaii’s cultural fabric through arts education, advocacy, and community engagement, and highlighted its history tied to Alfred Price, including the creation of Hawaii’s 1% for art law and the alliance’s 45 years of service. The alliance outlined its current work, including administering SFCA-funded statewide programs such as Artist in the Schools and the new folk and traditional arts program, with 34 teaching partners serving more than 100 public and charter schools and Kumu Hawaii as the single grantee for traditional weaving instruction. It also discussed Arts First Partners, the incubation of Arts at Mark’s Garage, expanded advocacy efforts supported by Creative West grants, and new multi-year philanthropic support from the Hawaii Community Foundation and Atherton Family Foundation. The alliance said it is launching statewide listening sessions and an arts advocacy training program, and noted that most SFCA funds pass through the alliance to program partners, with the organization retaining 10 to 14 percent for administration. SFCA Executive Director Karen Ewald then described the agency’s role as the state arts agency, its strategic planning process, and its main programs, including Art in Public Places, the Capital Modern museum, Artist in the Schools, apprentice mentoring grants, community arts grants, the Hawaii State Poet Laureate program, a statewide cultural extension program, and the Hawaii Open Arts Program. She said SFCA has 21 staff with one vacancy, is awaiting a federal NEA partnership agreement, and is considering new revenue streams such as a cultural trust. She also noted that the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission was recently attached to SFCA, which has improved coordination and allows SFCA to provide funding for conservation and upkeep of the King Kamehameha statues statewide. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, with questions deferred until after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm switching places with Mr. Billings. All right.
• Real quick, Madam Chair, I believe Joe Billings and Shannon Peterson were also trying to switch places

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Kentucky switched to a transparent model with a single PBM.
• Kentucky switched to a transparent model with a single PBM.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Caesar, if you want to switch out with the next folks who are coming down, but I assume you're staying
• Today I would like to speak to you personally about my opinion on switching from MCAS to an ACT.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> burkel</c> Vice chair burkel Vice chair burkel we<00:37:58.640><c> will</c><00:37:58.920><c> switch
• </c> Vice Chair Burkel, we will switch spots.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If it wasn't, I would switch.
• If it wasn't, I would switch.

Bills: HF25 , HF1 , HF428

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices

Transcript Highlights:

• The second I switched over to taking care of people's beloved family members, as Trish mentioned, they
• Okay, thank you for your test... ...the second I switched over to taking care of people's beloved family

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• doing it so that they can, uh, sell the state, for example, electrical grids that have built-in kill switches
• doing it so that they can, uh, sell the state, for example, electrical grids that have built-in kill switches

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jackie Yonis, on behalf of the California Fuels Convenience Alliance and DirecTV, in support.
• California's existing weights and measures framework was originally designed for traditional fuel dispensing

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jackie Hans, with the California Fuels & Convenience Alliance, opposed.
• On the following point, we must be clear: intense cost pressures will fuel a dangerous, unregulated,

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of this is the fuel standards using lighter materials.
• Maybe in an oil state like Texas, you're not as concerned about the fuel efficiency, but maybe you are

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• consequence of increasing the costs of basic goods for Californians, be it the price of water, housing, fuel
• consequences, not only for our constituents, but also the people that are doing business in California that fuel

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on public safety, consumer protection, and youth harms. AB 1557 by Assemblymember Papin would clarify e-bike motor power limits and set lower speed-related standards for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes. Supporters, including the California Police Chiefs Association, cities, the California Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, argued the bill would reduce severe injuries and deaths among young riders. Opponents from People for Bikes warned it could conflict with federal law, create legal uncertainty, and disrupt the bicycle market. The author and committee members acknowledged industry concerns and urged continued work on the bill. AB 1770 by Assemblymember Garcia would place large health care service plan arbitration under California Department of Justice oversight and require compliance with the California Arbitration Act. Supporters described cases where patients were forced into private arbitration with little transparency or accountability, arguing the bill would make the process fairer and more neutral. Kaiser Permanente and the Civil Justice Association of California said they were still reviewing amendments and had not settled on a final position. Committee members expressed sympathy for the personal stories shared and encouraged continued negotiations. The committee also heard AB 2075, which would require fire suppression equipment to be kept closer at hand during brush work, and AB 1864, which would require screening of gene synthesis orders to prevent misuse for bioterrorism. AB 2075 was presented as a response to a Ventura County wildfire, with support from the Ventura County District Attorney’s office and no opposition heard. AB 1864 was backed by the author, Stanford biosecurity expert Dr. Milana Trout, and Encode AI, while Biocom opposed unless amended and California Life Sciences remained neutral. Members discussed implementation details and the role of the Department of Public Health. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts on platforms with harmful features and create an e-safety advisory commission. Supporters, including youth advocates, parents, medical groups, and Common Sense Media, said addictive design features are harming children’s mental health and safety. Opponents, including EFF, the ACLU, TechNet, and other civil liberties and industry groups, argued the bill is overbroad, raises First Amendment and privacy concerns, and could limit access to important online communities. Despite those objections, the bill was moved forward after committee discussion, with members emphasizing the need to protect children while continuing to work on carveouts and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• consequence of increasing the costs of basic goods for Californians, be it the price of water, housing, fuel
• consequences, not only for our constituents, but also the people that are doing business in California that fuel

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These fees fuel PEG stations, which provide unique programming that viewers cannot get anywhere else.
• These fees fuel PEG stations, which provide unique programming that viewers cannot get anywhere else.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's latest February report, new Americans continue to fuel
• According to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's latest February report, new Americans continue to fuel

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in a letter that we've also submitted to the committee a few comments on the sustainable aviation fuel
• Expansion to the sustainable aviation fuel, which in the first few years is about $5 million a year.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 54:19.400><c> held</c> 40s was a single held tank 100 feet over an aquifer, very different with jet fuel
• So just to give you a perspective, we have toxic fuels all over the island, over the aquifer.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• effect on us as taxpayers in general, so I'll try and just say quickly: for generators as taxpayers, switching
• effect on us as taxpayers in general, so I'll try and just say quickly: for generators as taxpayers, switching
• Um, I do have concerns about this technology competing with existing non-fossil fuel alternatives.
• that we're seeing a number of power plants that we rely on during peak hours, ones that have stored fuel

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all