Transcript Highlights:

• Nothing changes in coverage.
• individuals who could not afford coverage on the marketplace or through employment... ...coverage on
• the marketplace or through employer-sponsored coverage with premiums.
• The wildlife coverage...
• we have on coverage right now, who are those folks?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard AB 109, the Budget Act of 2026, and related discussion of the legislative budget agreement. Committee staff and the Department of Finance described a two-year balanced plan with about $253 billion in General Fund spending, roughly $5.5 billion in higher assumed revenues than the May Revision, and about $36.5 billion in combined reserves. They said the package preserves or expands funding for schools and community colleges, child care, IHSS, Medi-Cal-related county administration, housing and homelessness programs, public hospitals, courthouse construction, and some criminal justice and prison-closure savings, while delaying or modifying several prior health care reductions and some Medi-Cal changes. Much of the member discussion focused on Medi-Cal, H.R. 1, and the impact on low-income and immigrant Californians. Several Democrats argued the budget protects vulnerable residents by delaying some cuts, funding county eligibility work, indigent care, public hospitals, and food banks, and rejecting the Governor’s IHSS cuts and asset-limit proposal. Republicans criticized the budget for assuming future revenues, relying on new taxes, and not doing enough to address the structural deficit or improve accountability. Members also raised concerns and support around homelessness funding, Prop. 36, judgeships and courthouse funding, transit and GGRF allocations, local journalism, Caltrans fleet spending, and a proposed “fair share” revenue measure that was not yet before the committee. Public testimony was largely supportive of the budget’s health and human services provisions, especially the rejection of IHSS cuts and the asset-limit proposal, and the inclusion of funding for child care, sickle cell centers, domestic violence services, trauma recovery centers, distressed hospitals, county eligibility work, and transit programs. Some witnesses representing hospitals and health plans cautioned about the effects of moving certain Medi-Cal populations to fee-for-service and about proposed tax changes affecting health care providers. The chair said revenue trailer bills were still being finalized and would likely come back later in the week; the committee then moved to public comment, with the chair limiting speakers to about one minute each.

Transcript Highlights:

• The HHRF would provide coverage above any sublimit hurricane coverage limit and would extend up to $350
• designing the hhf hurricane coverage designing the hhf hurricane coverage looking<00:13:55.079><
• above any sublimit hurricane coverage above any sublimit hurricane coverage<00:14:32.519> limit
• viable and not subsidizing the coverage viable and not subsidizing the coverage to<00:27:27.720>
• The supplemental coverage provided by the HHF to achieve full hurricane limit coverage would satisfy

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health, and overall societal benefits health, and overall societal benefits such<00:16:28.399>
• The investment benefits significant.
• <00:42:48.720> coverage.
• <00:42:51.119> enables entrepreneurs get coverage that enables entrepreneurs get coverage
• and they won't benefit from the program. and they won't benefit from the program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The insurance code requires the following insurance coverages.
• coverage.
• Benefit review conferences by videoconferencing.
• That created a great benefit in a number of areas.
• It is property coverage, loss of use, and premises liabilities coverage.

Bills: HB111

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• coverage.
• ensure these plans can fill coverage ensure these plans can fill coverage gaps<01:30:14.880>
• bill without any type of coverage. bill without any type of coverage.
• c> Comprehensive coverage remains available Comprehensive coverage remains available to<01:31:06.800>
• <01:36:55.199> And to cover statemandated benefits. And to cover statemandated benefits.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also eliminating excess coverage, and that's also a requirement currently.
• But the flip side of that issue is what do we do if we can't find the coverage?
• It's currently in code that we have to find $5 million of excess coverage.
• An insurer providing coverage would not be allowed to deny coverage, impose medical underwriting, or
• Erie will offer that, but the coverage is through BRIM.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee. Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• When these fraudulent employers skip workers' compensation coverage, the...
• They are carved out from these vital benefits.
• I spent three years working with the union's Finance and Benefits Committee to administer benefits for
• I spent three years working with the union's Finance and Benefits Committee to administer benefits for
• be able to benefit as well.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing with about 43 witnesses and a 1:00 p.m. hard stop, and the chair repeatedly asked speakers to keep testimony to three minutes. Much of the hearing focused on S. 747/H. 1336, which would extend paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers. Supporters included legislators, union leaders, graduate workers from MIT, Harvard, BU, WPI, UMass Lowell, and others, and legal advocates. They argued graduate workers perform full-time teaching and research work, pay taxes, and should not be excluded from basic safety-net benefits; several witnesses described personal hardships involving childbirth, serious illness, mental health crises, funding cuts, or fear of losing income. Testifiers also said the change would be revenue-neutral or revenue-generating and would not create major administrative burdens for universities, which already provide similar benefits to other employees. The committee also heard testimony on insurance-related bills. Christopher Stock of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported H. 1113 on public adjusters and H. 1345/S. 753 on flood-zone notifications for homebuyers, but opposed H. 4112, which would add a $2 surcharge on home insurance policies to fund fire cistern programs. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council strongly supported H. 1345, saying flood disclosure is needed because Massachusetts lacks statewide flood-notification requirements and flooding risks are increasing. Karen Alvarado supported H. 4352 on travel insurance, and John Fielding supported H. 1186 on pet insurance; both said the bills would create uniform regulatory frameworks and consumer protections. Rep. LeBoeuf testified for H. 4061 on workers’ compensation premium fraud, describing the bill as a transparency measure to combat fraud in construction by creating a public certificate-of-insurance database and QR-code verification system. Joe Bright of the carpenters’ union also supported H. 4061, citing fraud, misclassification, and the harm to injured workers. The hearing also included testimony on H. 4112, a bill to create a statewide fire suppression water resource fund and cistern program. Rep. Hogan and a Stowe fire chief described drought, brush fires, and the need for dedicated cisterns in communities without municipal water systems, saying the tanks provide reliable water for firefighting and are relatively low-tech once installed. Committee members asked questions about tank capacity, siting, maintenance, and funding. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So those two, the new pharmacy benefits will launch, and new health benefits will launch in July.
• As of October, we have 55,676 New Mexicans receiving benefits through our State Employee Health Benefit
• health benefits program.
• Rolling out the various coverage programs that you point to here, we just had a coverage effort that
• Those benefits are delayed.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide a public benefit.
• California expanded coverage.
• There's no benefit to patients.
• There's no benefit to patients.
• So whether they see the benefit, the vulnerable populations sees and knows that they have the benefit

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This plan finds coverage for those employers who are required to have workers' compensation coverage
• but cannot find that coverage on their own or through an agent.
• The plan guarantees that these employers will have coverage.
• CMS will not allow us to raise a benefit limit or give a benefit based on a diagnosis.
• CMS will not allow us to raise a benefit limit or give a benefit based on a diagnosis.

Summary: The Arkansas Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a large slate of agency rules and related reports. The chair announced that several items were stricken from the agenda and that the maternal health providers and remote monitoring rules were pulled by the agency. The committee filed reports on emergency rules, ALC subcommittee rule reviews, and administrative directives, then moved through agency rules from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce/Insurance, Department of Corrections, and multiple divisions of the Department of Human Services. Most rules were explained as technical updates or implementations of 2025 legislation and were approved without objection. Examples included repeal of obsolete equine ID-chip rules, updates to agriculture financing and pesticide rules, removal of duplicative workers’ compensation plan language, a unified visitation rule for correctional facilities, DHS marketing rules for PASS programs, a comprehensive DCFS policy manual revision, Medicaid-related changes for fictive kin, ABLE accounts, presumptive eligibility for pregnant women, SNAP work requirements and alien eligibility, coverage for certain incarcerated youth, nurse aide training updates, and permanent rules for state employee insurance and procurement. The committee also approved requests to exclude the Insurance Department from rulemaking requirements for Act 772 on forced organ harvesting and for restorative reproductive medicine, with the department saying it would issue rules later when more guidance is available. The most extended discussion concerned DHS’s dental Medicaid rate rule under Act 1025. Members and witnesses debated whether the statute’s language covered only oral surgeons or also general dentists performing oral surgery procedures, and whether the rate increase should apply more broadly to the services rather than the provider title. DHS said it was following the black-letter language of the law and could not confirm a broader interpretation without further approvals and funding, while legislators and a Dental Association representative said the intent was to increase payment for the services, especially in rural areas. Members also discussed the possibility of fixing the language in a future session or through a new rule if approvals and CMS review allow. Despite the concerns, the committee approved the rule. The meeting ended with approval of rule review reports and monthly updates, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:03.400> they insurance and was declined coverage they insurance and was declined coverage
• to be to be able to provide the coverage to be to be able to provide the coverage for<00:52:07.280
• <00:56:34.079> are of the program is that its benefits are of the program is that its benefits
• <01:10:14.199> and National Association of benefit and National Association of benefit and
• provide care and that there is a benefit provide care and that there is a benefit on<01:35:06.639

Bills: HF837, HF1903, HF499, HF794

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, newborn safety, anonymity, healthcare provider, safe place, child welfare, HF499, nursing, nurse licensure, temporary permit, temporary nursing permit, Board of Nursing, endorsement licensure, reregistration, refresher course, health occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• Contract transparency by requiring adjusters to clearly state the claims and coverages they're handling
• We are committed to continuing these discussions to ensure consumers are able to benefit from public
• We are committed to continuing these discussions to ensure consumers are able to benefit from public
• But this is why we engaged ag industry because the farmers were losing their coverage.
• Because the farmers were losing their coverage.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Compensation benefit, yes. Because teachers are professionals.
• coverage, correct?
• Right because it happens to be real coverage because this is a real bill.
• What will be the coverage amounts?
• Past that, we're not exactly sure on the liability coverage.

Bills: SB26, SB28, SJR36, SB26, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• programs and different tiers of coverage programs and different tiers of coverage based<00:50:26.480
• <04:41:19.798> uh about 18,000 people lost coverage uh about 18,000 people lost coverage uh
• pursuing coverage pursuing coverage altogether<04:44:26.878> uh<04:44:27.200> now<
• safeguards intended to protect coverage safeguards intended to protect coverage they<04:44:46.240
• barriers to people retaining coverage barriers to people retaining coverage and<04:44:59.200>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will authorize full coverage of hearing aids up to $2,500 per year for children.
• coverage of hearing aids. coverage of hearing aids.
• hearing aid, increases the coverage hearing aid, increases the coverage amount<00:09:06.600>
• <00:09:40.520> of it will authorize full coverage of it will authorize full coverage of hearing
• We need to make sure benefit on paper.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:12 Discussion HB 527 00:47 Vote HB 527 02:26 Discussion HB 265 04:46 Vote HB 265 06:49 Discussion HB 164 08:19 Vote HB 164 10:25, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We understand that this rollover in benefits is already... ...rollover in benefits is already occurring
• Corporation, and Southland Benefit Solutions—we employ over 50 Alabamians who provide dental coverage
• It's important to understand that the majority of dental coverage is offered as an employee benefit plan
• We provide health insurance benefits, including dental benefits, for about 350,000 members in Alabama
• , about 180,000 of whom have our dental benefits.

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People need Medicaid coverage. People need SNAP benefits.
• People need Medicaid coverage. People need SNAP benefits.
• People need Medicaid coverage. People need SNAP benefits.
• People need Medicaid coverage. People need SNAP benefits.
• People need Medicaid coverage. People need SNAP benefits.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So HR1 required um retroactive coverage.
• <00:20:38.080> back law allows uh retroactive coverage back law allows uh retroactive coverage
• postpartum coverage. postpartum coverage.
• However, I would note that the benefit set is different.
• c><01:21:17.280> eligible to maintain coverage for eligible to maintain coverage for eligible

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another example this committee may be familiar with is CHIA's work reviewing mandated benefit bills on
• We can help explain the nuances survivors face when seeking coverage.
• and then using that health insurance coverage as well.
• All NAIFA bills are to benefit consumers, your constituents, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• The bills are to benefit consumers, your constituents, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational opening hearing for the Financial Services Committee, with Chair Murphy and Senator Feeney introducing new and returning members and explaining that no bills were being heard that day beyond brief introductory testimony. Commissioner of Banks Mary Gallagher thanked the committee for last session’s money transmission modernization law, and several members echoed appreciation for her office’s work. The hearing then featured a long series of stakeholder introductions and overviews of their priorities for the session. Testimony covered a wide range of financial, insurance, housing, health care, and consumer issues. Banking and mortgage groups discussed housing affordability, foreclosure delinquencies, flood insurance, regulatory changes, and the impact of federal policy shifts. Insurance representatives raised concerns about auto and homeowners market pressures, labor rates, tariffs, rebates, e-titling, third-party litigation funding, and public adjuster restrictions. Consumer and advocacy groups highlighted debt collection reform, earned wage access, retirement savings access, public banking, and consumer protections in financial services. Several speakers also emphasized the need for committee expertise and offered themselves as resources for future bills. Health-related organizations focused on insurance mandates, prior authorization, behavioral health access, pharmacy benefit manager reform, community health center funding, maternal health and midwifery reimbursement, and anesthesia reimbursement parity. Other groups, including credit unions, retailers, auto dealers, dental and medical associations, and behavioral health providers, described their roles in the Commonwealth and previewed legislation or policy areas they expect to follow this session. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended after testimony from the sign-up list and a few late additions.

Transcript Highlights:

• actually receive these benefits.
• In most cases, the child's custody benefits are paid for by the department.
• receive those benefits.
• House Bill 527 addresses insurance coverage for medical cannabis costs.
• So, how do you expect to provide, like, really coverage? Like, do you?