Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the reasons why the general child care alternative payment agencies may relinquish...
• And then the next one is the alternative payment admin rate.
• And then the next one is the alternative payment admin rate.
• Supported payments to administer outside of the contract structure.
• The next one is the Alternative Payment Program Administration.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, with no votes taken. The first major topic was child care and early education, where the Department of Social Services and Department of Finance outlined proposed changes to absorb federal Child Care and Development Fund and Proposition 64 revenue reductions, shift some funding between child care programs, end funding for prospective pay implementation now that the federal requirement has been rescinded, adjust the alternative payment administration structure, and fund child care infrastructure grants and a Low-Income Investment Fund contract closeout. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the budget makes progress on the structural deficit but recommended maintaining the administration’s solution level, making reserve deposits, and avoiding new ongoing commitments; it also raised concerns about shifting reductions to the California Alternative Payment Program and about the proposed administrative-rate change. Committee members strongly criticized the proposed loss of child care slots and said they would oppose eliminating those slots, while also expressing support for child care as essential infrastructure. The committee then reviewed California State Preschool Program proposals. Finance and CDE described reductions to the preschool COLA from 2.41% to 2.01%, removal of prospective pay funding, and increases for the QRIS block grant, audit support, and rate reform implementation. Trailer bill language would codify age-based rate categories, inclusion-rate documentation, family fee collection rules, portability, and excused absences. CDE supported the QRIS increase and some attendance and family-fee changes, but warned that aligning three- and four-year-old rates could reduce support for three-year-olds and that the budget does not fully cover enrollment growth. Members also questioned whether the preschool and child care slot reductions should be reallocated rather than terminated, and the administration said the reductions were intended to reflect current utilization and avoid harm to currently enrolled families. The hearing then moved to CalFresh and nutrition programs. CDSS said the May Revision includes a one-time CalFood augmentation, funding to cover federal SNAP administrative cost-share pressures, and additional staffing and technical assistance to implement HR 1 changes, including the able-bodied adults without dependents time limit and new non-citizen eligibility rules. The department estimated HR 1 could cut CalFresh funding by $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion annually and affect about 500,000 people, with roughly 806,000 adults potentially subject to the time limit and about 34,000 non-citizens expected to lose eligibility once fully implemented. Members pressed for stronger harm mitigation, including a $98 million backfill to protect families from losing food benefits, and raised concerns about county workload and the “chilling effect” on immigrant participation. The final portion of the transcript began the IHSS presentation, noting a revised budget of $33.7 billion total funds and $12.8 billion General Fund, with proposed reductions tied to Medi-Cal asset-limit changes and other federal conformity items.

Transcript Highlights:

• first one is a transition direct payment first one is a transition direct payment of<00:09:36.000
• proposal directs payments for tribal allocation<00:09:50.760> payment<00:09:51.120> changes
• provider who is subject to a payment provider who is subject to a payment withhold<00:35:49.400>
• payment withholds. payment withholds.
• <00:36:20.520> withhold payment withhold payment withhold under<00:36:22.480> federally

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and Senator Padilla, the, uh, the down payment assistance that we currently have is, uh,
• So they would get 4% of that is $12,000 and down payment.
• assistance has helped many folks get into homes with regard to keeping up with their payments.
• versus a rent payment, and that could be $3000 to $400 a month.
• We are doing a 0% down payment, um, program, and we think that this is also very necessary.

Transcript Highlights:

• social security payments. social security payments.
• <01:18:36.560> of for evicting them for non-payment of for evicting them for non-payment of
• security payments were were interrupted. security payments were were interrupted.
• an eviction for non-payment of rent? an eviction for non-payment of rent?
• ,<01:57:38.960> and costs, miss child care payments, and costs, miss child care payments,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes breakdowns on reinsurance payments by health plan and product.
• This includes breakdowns on reinsurance payments by health plan and product.
• This includes breakdowns on reinsurance payments by health plan and product.
• This includes breakdowns on reinsurance payments by health plan and product.
• Provider, even though that payment is retrospective.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , but we also have a kick payment, a maternity kick payment, which is issued to the health plans.
• Okay, can you explain what kick payments are?
• What is a kick payment? I've never heard of it before. A kick payment.
• We call them a capitation payment, but it's your monthly health insurance payment.
• And then the kick payment, we issue a kick payment, which is a separate payment outside of the capitation

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives. Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• enrolling with Medicaid or continuing to receive payments.
• . payments. payments.
• based on what decide to suspend payments based on what we're<01:01:26.520> doing.
• And we don't ask them to suspend payments at any point.
• ,<01:33:39.440> that is false or ineligible for payment, that is false or ineligible for payment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we withhold payment?
• Do we withhold payment?
• Do we withhold payment?
• Do we withhold payment?
• Do we withhold payment?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard a presentation from Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tiki Brown on the department’s 2025 budget and transition plans. Brown said the governor’s budget pairs targeted reductions with modest investments, resulting in net general fund savings, while preserving core safety-net programs. Major proposals included funding for program integrity, modernization of the child welfare SSIS system, compliance changes for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), operating adjustments, and a transition account reallocation as the new department continues moving programs from other agencies through July 1, 2025. A large portion of the discussion focused on CCAP fraud prevention and oversight. Brown and Assistant Commissioner Diane Hy explained that the proposed statewide electronic attendance recordkeeping system would replace retroactive paper-based attendance reporting with more timely data, making it harder to falsify attendance and claim payments improperly. Brown also said the department is working with the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General and other partners on compliance and fraud controls. Senators pressed for more detail on current enforcement, whether payments can be withheld for violations, and whether recent media reports showed gaps in oversight; Brown said payments can be stopped for false attendance records, suspended or revoked licenses, or fraud allegations, but not for health and safety violations alone. The committee also reviewed other budget-neutral policy changes, including expanding permanency support services for relative foster care and tribal equivalents, strengthening tribal child welfare grants, updating TEACH scholarship rules for early childhood educators, and adjusting the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program to create a special revenue fund and extend a 10% payment increase to tribally licensed programs and programs on tribal reservation land. Brown also described a $1.5 million annual reduction to restorative practices grants, leaving a smaller ongoing base. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pay a capitated payment every month. Each member gets a payment.
• So that's where the risk corridor payments will come in.
• You asked a lot of really good questions about the SNAP payment error rate...
• So it doesn't really have to do with the payment error rate issue.
• We feel like we've addressed the payment structures.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She just wanted the payment she was owed.
• SHE JUST WANTED THE PAYMENT SHE WAS OWED.
• H.R. 1152, the Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act...
• I rise in support of H.R. 1152, Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act.
• I rise in strong support of my bill, the Electronic Filing and Payment Fairness Act.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 31, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those staff currently operate the oversight of payment approval.
• So these payments, these payments, do we have payments also to Movers for each of the quarterly updates
• section where we actually make the payments out of.
• So we are forcing those payments, us to make higher payments and continue to make payments instead of
• This is where we make payments for workers' compensation claims.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• beginning, and I am carrying House File 2370, which is a bipartisan bill which is also the program payment
• and expanded authority to stop payments and expanded authority to stop payments and<00:04:04.959
• <00:04:08.319> from agencies to withhold payments from agencies to withhold payments from
• This gives us an earlier intervention that we can use before payment. Withholds challenge it.
• This gives us an earlier intervention that we can use before payment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• or a City of Boston tax payment. ...a fee at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, or a state tax payment,
• or a City of Boston tax payment.
• I'm currently working with the Electronic Payment Coalition.
• , efficient card payment systems that we have today.
• And that's one of the things as we move to biometric payments and other forms of payments: security is

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and reviewed a broad agenda including credit card fees, event ticketing, music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, CPA pathways, school mental health licensure, and a bill regulating alternative healing therapies. The chairs explained hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and submission of written testimony, and noted that more than 70 people had signed up to testify. Legislators and advocates were heard out of order throughout the day. A major portion of the hearing focused on credit card surcharge and interchange legislation. Restaurant owners, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, NFIB, and other small-business witnesses supported bills allowing merchants to add convenience fees and, in one proposal, preventing card companies from charging fees on tax and tip portions of transactions. They argued that swipe fees are a major and growing cost, especially for restaurants, and that Massachusetts is one of only two states that bars surcharges. Opponents from the Cooperative Credit Union Association, the Electronic Payment Coalition, and the Electronic Transactions Association warned that the proposals would create compliance burdens, fragment the payment system, raise legal preemption issues, and disrupt a system they described as efficient and secure. The committee also heard competing testimony on ticket transferability and ticket resale. Supporters, including the National Consumers League and Sports Fans Coalition, said bills on ticket transferability would protect consumers who cannot attend events and would increase competition and savings in the secondary market. Opponents, including United Musicians and Allied Workers and theater owners, argued that mandatory transferability would weaken artists’ and venues’ ability to prevent scalping and predatory resale, and that some ticket sellers should be exempt from the broader ticketing regulations. Separate testimony supported music therapy licensure, senior psychologist licensure, and new CPA education pathways, with witnesses saying these measures would expand access to care and strengthen the workforce while maintaining professional standards. The hearing also drew extensive opposition to S.261 on alternative healing therapies, with practitioners and clients arguing it would overregulate spiritual and holistic practices and was not an effective response to human trafficking concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, they risk destabilizing a payment ecosystem. ...benefit consumers.
• The risk of non-payment, a consumer defaulting on their credit card payment, transfers from the merchant
• Based on, and you can't just look at payment processing.
• I worked on payments policy for about 18 years in Washington for U.S.
• I worked on payments policy for about 18 years in Washington for U.S.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on financial security, banking regulation, and payment-card fees. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg supported the Massachusetts baby bonds proposal (H. 48) and also endorsed bills on matched savings (H. 1158/S. 737) and retirement planning/Secure Choice (H. 1143/S. 722), arguing these measures would help address wealth inequality, build assets, and improve retirement readiness. Supporters of baby bonds included policy experts and health advocates from Children’s Health Watch and Boston Medical Center, who said early-life asset building could improve long-term economic and health outcomes for children in low-income families. AARP also urged passage of the retirement planning bill, citing the large share of private-sector workers without access to an employer retirement plan. Representative Donato testified for H. 1143, describing it as a voluntary retirement-savings opportunity for workers at small employers. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3933, concerning the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, from former Bank Commissioner Mike Hanson, who defended the state’s full deposit insurance system for credit unions and savings institutions as a longstanding consumer-protection model. The Massachusetts Bankers Association raised concerns about the bill’s technical provisions and broader credit union/bank competitive issues, while the Cooperative Credit Union Association supported related legislation allowing modest compensation for credit union directors (S. 821/H. 1338) and flexibility for state financial institutions to grow through partnerships (S. 723). Bankers opposed those credit union bills, arguing they would upset a level playing field and blur long-standing distinctions between banks and credit unions. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1259/S. 688, which would prohibit card interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of restaurant transactions. Restaurant owners and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association testified in favor, saying the fees are a significant and growing expense, especially as most customers now pay by card; they argued the bills would save restaurants money without affecting state revenue. Credit union, banking, and payments-industry representatives opposed the bills, saying interchange helps fund fraud protection and payment infrastructure, that the proposal would create compliance burdens and likely litigation, and that it would mainly affect Massachusetts-chartered institutions while national banks could be preempted. Committee members noted that a commission on payment-card fees is being established and said the issue would be studied further. The hearing also included support for a separate bill on virtual credit cards for dental providers, with dentists saying automatic virtual-card payments impose hidden processing fees and fraud risks.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:18.480> And<00:20:18.720> for<00:20:19.039> payment obtain payment.
• And for payment obtain payment.
• <00:20:36.960> and an agency withholding payments and an agency withholding payments and allows
• <00:20:39.280> to allows agencies to withhold payment to allows agencies to withhold payment
• <00:21:06.080> when agencies to also withhold payment when agencies to also withhold payment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first received a House message reappointing a conference committee on Senate File 2077, the environment and natural resources appropriations bill, and took no further action on that message. The chamber then moved through motions and resolutions, including a failed attempt to suspend the rules to make House File 4102 a special order for immediate consideration. Senator Howe argued the bill was urgent because it would extend a study on state law enforcement pay and help address State Patrol recruitment and retention, while Senator Friends opposed suspending the rules; the motion failed on a roll call vote, 35 ayes to 32 nays. The Senate then took House File 3629 from the table, made it a special order, and adopted the A5 amendment. The bill, relating to grants management and the Department of Administration, was described as refining agency authority over exemptions, adding reporting requirements, expanding whistleblower protections, and broadening fraud-prevention tools. The A5 amendment added stronger payment-withholding authority for agencies based on credible allegations of fraud, removed the 60-day withholding limit, allowed cross-agency withholding in some cases, replaced court appeal with agency reconsideration, made the authority permanent, and added a reporting requirement for DHS and DCYF inspector general activity. Supporters said it would improve transparency and protect taxpayers; the bill then passed final roll call 67-0. Finally, the Senate took up House File 4492, which was amended with the A4 delete-everything amendment. The new version combined three articles: READ Act provisions, a veterans diploma provision, and early literacy field-experience changes. Senators described the veterans section as requiring school districts to award diplomas to veterans who left high school to serve in the Korean or Vietnam Wars, and the READ Act and literacy provisions as aligning teacher preparation and early literacy instruction with state standards. Members also discussed school discipline and classroom safety issues in the course of debate. The bill was then read for final passage, with senators speaking in support of the combined package and its education and veterans provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is the tax payment extensions in Los Angeles County.
• We think that the reserve deposit is the most compelling option that would avoid the payment delay.
• That's the most compelling option that would avoid the payment delay.
• There aren't any increases or payment deferrals proposed under the Governor's budget. budget.
• their payment on time.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on line 876 is the governor's recommended recommendation for the Great Start Compensation Support Payment
• At the top of page 4, there is a no-cost item that deals with Relative Foster Care Payments.
• Relative Foster Care Payments, again, it's a no-cost item that puts kinship care into part of the program
• Section 2 is actually a new provision that prohibits the Great Start compensation payments from being
• Program provides payments to thousands of child care providers across the state.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• 30.279> the years so the typical payment on the years so the typical payment on the median<00:
• <00:31:44.240> monthly uh 900 a month in extra payment monthly uh 900 a month in extra payment
• is an all-in all-included pii payment is an all-in all-included pii payment principal<00:32:02.279
• That’s only part of the payment, the other payment part, or the second TNI that you referenced.
• But more supply can help bring down the P&I part of the payment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We increased permanently payment in lieu of taxes.
• That is a couple months of car payments on a car.
• That is a couple months of car payments on a car.
• That is a couple months of car payments on a car.
• That is a couple months of car payments on a car.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the previous day’s journal. The chamber received Senate messages announcing a joint convention for the governor’s message and transmitting Senate Files 1251, 3769, and 3868. The House also introduced House Files 4868 through 4933 and adopted committee reports and comparison report motions without objection. The Rules Committee placed several bills on the calendar and required pre-filing of amendments for specified measures. On the calendar, the House passed Senate File 3602, which enacts the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act and expands electronic signing to estate planning documents beyond wills. Supporters said it would help people who are homebound, hospitalized, or in rural areas and reduce uncertainty for banks and hospitals about electronically signed powers of attorney and health care directives. The bill passed 134-0. The House also passed House File 3516, a Board of Dentistry policy bill that updates licensure language, allows retired dentists to serve low-income uninsured patients, and increases the number of dental hygienists a dentist may collaborate with from four to eight; it passed 134-0. The House then passed House File 3528, a technical barbering bill that reduces training and retesting burdens, gives the board more testing flexibility, repeals duplicative rules, clarifies that waxing is not barbering, and makes other fee and registration changes; it passed 134-0. House File 3718, updating veterinary medicine and veterinary technology statutes, was amended to restore board seal language and then passed 134-0 as amended. Supporters said it modernizes definitions and standards, recognizes licensed veterinary technicians, and may help address veterinary shortages, especially in greater Minnesota. Finally, the House passed Senate File 3402, which broadens who may serve as a medical consultant for Community Health Boards to include additional licensed professionals such as DOs, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses; it passed 134-0. The chamber also considered several motions to move bills between committees, including referrals involving veterans, education, health, and psilocybin-related legislation. A motion to suspend the rules for House File 4487 was presented, and the bill was described as providing a one-time $1 billion property tax rebate or credit, but the transcript cuts off during extended debate on that motion before any final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are provisions in this to make those payments out of the general fund.
• Minnesota incentive payments as well as Minnesota incentive payments as well as the<00:14:02.199>
• <00:15:36.319> to 2023 there was the the big payment to 2023 there was the the big payment
• We need to make sure that those payments continue.
• Those payments need to continue.

Keywords: 1183, house