Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:03.800><c> of</c> budget but there's the Department of budget but there's the Department of
• Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship.
• Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship.
• of Revenue deed amongst uh Department of Revenue deed Department<01:21:46.960><c> of</c><01:21:47.040
• of Labor and Industry and the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department<01:21:48.560><c> of

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4514 by Gin relating to the use of the Department of Public Safety image verification system.
• instructions by the Texas Department of.
• AG 47. 4714 by HOPA ruling the testing of evidence of Controlled Substances by the Department of Public
• by the Department of Information Resources or for the Committee of Delivery of Government Efficiency.
• of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the Committee on Corrections.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tammy Felon on behalf of the Department of Labor and Industries.
• Tammy Felon, on behalf of the Department of Labor and Industries.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the committee, Tammy Felon, on behalf of the Department of Labor and
• insurer or the employer so there is continuity of that insurance policy.
• there is a continuity of that insurance policy.

Summary: The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee heard public testimony on several bills. HB 2151 would update factory-built housing and commercial structure rules by directing L&I to consider newer national standards and allowing inspections by qualified third-party agencies without requiring a contract; the sponsor and L&I said it would save time and money and help lower costs for manufactured housing. HB 2372 would change workers’ compensation time-loss calculations so injured workers receive 100% of the employer’s monthly health care contribution unless the employer keeps paying it; supporters said this would better protect injured workers and their families, while a small-business representative opposed the bill and suggested direct payment to insurers instead, and L&I noted implementation costs and timing concerns. HB 2355, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, would create standalone protections for domestic workers covering wages, written agreements, notice before termination or severance, anti-harassment and anti-retaliation rules, and discrimination protections, while also extending minimum wage/overtime/sick leave coverage to some domestic workers; testimony from workers, advocates, Seattle officials, and the sponsor emphasized wage theft, insecurity, and the need for statewide standards, while L&I said technical clarifications and funding would be needed. HB 2409 would establish a collective bargaining framework for agricultural workers under PERC, with procedures for representation elections, mediation, and interest arbitration; supporters framed it as a long-overdue extension of bargaining rights and dignity to farmworkers, while growers and farm bureau representatives warned it could disrupt harvests, harm farms, and affect the food supply. HB 2472 would strengthen enforcement of fire sprinkler licensing and certification by allowing local fire code officials to request proof of credentials and issue stop-work orders; labor, fire marshals, and industry groups supported it as a public safety measure, while the building industry raised a drafting concern about the term “residential sprinkler.” No votes or final committee actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> departments of of human services, departments of of human services, education<00:00:52.879><c>
• Um the this bill of the new department.
• </c><00:02:16.480><c> of</c><00:02:16.800><c> human</c> within the departments of human within the departments
• </c><00:16:40.480><c> of</c> process requires the Department of process requires the Department of Commerce
• until the end of the contract insurers until the end of the contract year,<00:43:17.440><c> insurers<

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, we have mostly Department of Health Care Services.
• All right, we have mostly Department of Health Care Services.
• Michelle Boss, Director of the Department of Health Care Services.
• Natalie Griswold, Department of Finance.
• Injo, Lonson, Department of Finance.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2437 relates to the Department of Health's opioid treatment program accrediting activities
• Since 2018, the Department of Health has been an approved accrediting body for this purpose.
• Department of Health. ...and I'm the Director for the Office of Community Health at the Washington State
• Department of Health.
• The Department of Health and Human Services only audited 200 of the 60,000-plus covered entities.

Bills: HB2145 , HB1828 , HB2155 , HB2437

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the fiscal note for Senate File 3407 was completed by the departments of labor and industry, commerce
• ,</c> departments of labor and industry, departments of labor and industry, commerce,<00:02:19.040><c
• > have</c><00:03:29.360><c> a</c><00:03:29.599><c> net</c> work of the department or have a net work
• of the department or have a net fiscal<00:03:30.159><c> impact.
• Sarah Gillespie, senior associate counsel at the Department of Commerce.

Bills: SF1832

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So sort of what we asked the department to do was to determine that on our behalf and give us some of
• We have some contracts at the department that are costing hundreds of millions of dollars that we have
• We have some contracts at the department that are costing hundreds of millions of dollars that we have
• And the only way we find that out is to take some of our employees that are within the department and
• Somebody brought up the cost of state insurance for employees.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and then introduced RS 33180, the Prior Authorization Reform Act, sponsored by Representative Wheeler. Wheeler said the bill would set enforceable standards for insurer prior authorization, including public disclosure of criteria, electronic processes, decision timelines, specialty-appropriate reviews, and protections against retroactive denials. Members raised questions about whether the bill’s physician language could exclude advanced practice providers, and Wheeler said that language may need to be revisited before a full hearing. The bulk of the meeting was a wide-ranging budget discussion ahead of Health and Welfare’s budget presentation. Members debated possible Medicaid and department savings, including trimming optional services, reducing provider reimbursement cuts, using reserves, delaying or renegotiating contracts, expanding audits, and improving department efficiency. Several members argued against cutting disability, home- and community-based, and other vulnerable-population services, while others supported looking at Medicaid expansion, ResHab, and administrative overhead as places to find savings. There was also discussion of hospital rate reductions, work requirements, improper payments, and the use of Millennium Fund dollars. Representative Kaler presented specific ideas for the youth safety and permanency budget, including repealing the extended foster care expansion if participation remains low, reducing FTEs, and moderating benefit increases. Other members emphasized the need for evidence-based budgeting and stronger oversight of contracts and program integrity. No budget votes were taken; the committee mainly gathered ideas and directed members to provide more detailed numbers before the Health and Welfare budget hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:27:12.799><c> of</c> change provided by the department of change provided by the department of
• of Human Services, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, and the Department of Health — it
• April, the Department of But as of late April, the Department of Human<00:58:07.280><c> Services</c><
• because of the help of MURE, the help of MMB, and the help of the Commerce Department.
• /c> department of commerce and the department of commerce and the department<02:11:54.560><c> of</c><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was just a recommendation from the Department of Commerce, and he said he will continue to work on
• It was a recommendation from the<00:13:52.240><c> department</c><00:13:52.480><c> of</c><00:13:52.639
• of commerce when we were the department of commerce when we were working<00:13:53.680><c> with</c><00
• Just a recommendation from the Department<00:14:33.440><c> of</c><00:14:33.600><c> Commerce.
• So, uh, I'll Department of Commerce.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of her retirement from the Department of Human Services.
• me at the Department of Human Services.
• One, reviewed and approved emergency rules for the Department of Human Services and the Department of
• One, reviewed and approved emergency rules for the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education
• This, as many of you may know, is part of a larger realignment of the department and involves the shared

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to go over it real quick, the Department of Financial Services regulates insurance agents.
• The Department of Financial Services regulates insurance agents and agencies, insurance consumer services
• The Office of Insurance Regulation, however, handles certificates of authority.
• conditions of insurers.
• era of Florida's property insurance market.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Summary: The Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance convened with a quorum present, and Commissioner Michael Yaworsky of the Office of Insurance Regulation delivered a broad update on Florida’s property insurance market. He outlined the division of responsibilities between OIR and the Department of Financial Services, then reported market indicators including 7.61 million residential policies in force, an average premium of $2,755, 1.5 million Citizens takeout approvals, and recent negative trends in homeowners rate requests. He credited recent legislative reforms, especially tort reform and the Insurer Accountability Act, with improving market stability, increasing competition, and allowing the office to conduct more examinations and investigations, recover consumer restitution, and fine insurers for misconduct tied to recent hurricanes. Yaworsky emphasized that Citizens Property Insurance has been rapidly depopulating from its 2022 peak and may fall below 300,000 policies, while cautioning that over-depopulation could create residual-market risks and assessments if a major storm hits. He also discussed the distinction between admitted and surplus lines markets, the role of reinsurance in Florida pricing, and the effect of inflation on total insured values and premiums. He said Florida has seen comparatively modest property rate increases relative to other states and noted that recent hurricanes did not produce the kind of rate spikes seen in prior years, which he attributed to a more stable market and reduced fraud and litigation pressure. In response to a question from Senator Martin, Yaworsky explained that California’s wildfire crisis and regulatory structure are not a direct one-to-one comparison for Florida, but that California’s market problems can affect global reinsurance capacity and serve as a cautionary example of regulatory missteps. He also highlighted a recent Progressive auto insurance excess-profits refund of about $1 billion to policyholders, discussed possible federal changes to the National Flood Insurance Program, and urged greater home resiliency and code-plus adoption. The commissioner closed by calling for clearer consumer disclosures and responsible oversight of AI use in insurance filings. No bills were considered and no votes were taken; Senator Hooper moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Finance. So, Hamans, we're the Department of Finance.
• attorneys, the California Alliance, and the Department of Insurance to address the long-term insurance
• attorneys, the California Alliance, and the Department of Insurance to address the long-term insurance
• and Department of Finance.
• When will we, first of all, great that you're doing a working group with the Department of Insurance,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• safety or the measurability of outcomes from an insurance risk reduction or insurable loss reduction
• The nonprofit Department of Angels has surveyed LA fire survivors and found that 70% of insured LA fire
• Two out of three LA fire survivors are still displaced, according to the Department of Angels.
• filed with the CDI, California Department of Insurance, still are unresolved.
• And our regular insurance, which is 99.9% of what we need for insurance, Our regular insurance, which

Summary: The joint Senate hearing focused on California wildfire resilience funding, the SB 254 report on natural catastrophe resilience, and how the state should better prioritize community hardening, recovery, and financing. Senators emphasized that catastrophic wildfires have driven major property losses, insurance cancellations, and affordability problems, and several members argued that prevention and home/community hardening should receive far more attention than they have to date. Members also raised concerns about CEQA and other permitting delays, the need for ongoing rather than one-time funding, and whether the state should rely more on the General Fund, utilities, or other sources such as polluter-pays approaches. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the state has appropriated about $4.7 billion for wildfire resilience since 2018-19, with most funding going to forest health, fuels reduction, and related landscape work, while only about $65 million has been specifically targeted to community hardening. LAO also noted that future one-time funding is likely to decline, that GGRF revenues may be limited under the new cap-and-invest structure, and that maintenance costs for treated areas could be substantial over time. Senators pressed LAO on why wildfire resilience is not more often funded through the General Fund and on whether current spending matches the scale of the risk. Cal Fire’s State Fire Marshal described the state’s community wildfire preparedness strategy, centered on home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, and said the SB 254 report aligns with Cal Fire’s direction. He said California has roughly 4 million homes in the wildland-urban interface, most built before modern wildfire-resistant standards, and highlighted recent streamlining that approved 383 fuels-reduction projects in under 30 days during an emergency proclamation. Cal OES described the AB 38 pilot and FEMA hazard mitigation work, saying federal approval delays have been a major barrier and that the state has hardened 155 properties so far through the pilot, with many more in process. The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force said the state has coordinated more than $6 billion in state and federal investments, treated over 700,000 acres annually, and is shifting toward more regional, data-driven planning and block grants. Task force staff and Cal Fire both said they are moving beyond simple acreage metrics toward models that estimate avoided loss and community risk reduction, but acknowledged major data gaps on parcel-level home hardening and defensible space. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members discussing possible future legislation and budget changes, including home inspection reforms and continued CEQA streamlining.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd also like to thank the management of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Department of
• Previously, reporting of claims was voluntary by insurers.
• But it is the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, or OIC, that oversees Washington State's insurance
• And what type of insurance claims are we talking about?
• the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: At the June 4, 2025 JLARC I-900 Subcommittee hearing, the State Auditor’s Office presented a performance audit on Washington’s child support insurance intercept law. The audit reviewed the mandatory reporting system for insurance claims tied to past-due child support, noting that collections increased after the law took effect in 2022, but that some eligible claims still are not being reported. Auditors said DCS learns about roughly 1 in 10 claims through other channels, and that insurers may miss reporting because they are unaware of the law, make administrative errors, or misunderstand the $500 threshold and timing requirements. The audit recommended that the Office of the Insurance Commissioner help educate insurers by adding information to its website and sharing insurer contact contacts with DCS, and also recommended that the Legislature amend the law to create monitoring and enforcement authority. The auditor said neither DCS nor OIC currently has authority to monitor compliance or take action against noncompliant insurers, though other states use insurance regulators or market conduct exams for this purpose. Committee members asked about possible coordinated enforcement between DSHS and OIC, which the auditor said was beyond the scope of the audit but could be considered by the Legislature. An OIC representative said the commissioner is willing to help educate insurers, post information on the OIC website, and share contact information with DSHS, and that the agency is open to further discussion. No public testimony was offered, and no votes or formal committee actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Steven Benson with the Department of Finance.
• A lot of work and partnership has gone in with the Department of Insurance and with the insurers and
• of Fish and Wildlife: 190 positions cut - Department of Water Resources: 129 positions cut - Department
• of Finance; **Tess Shirkenbach**, Department of Finance.
• Risk and Insurance Management, otherwise known as ORIM, within the Department of General Services, obtains

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for working so diligently with us to address
• The Oklahoma Department of Transportation worked with us to address the situation immediately.
• This bill allows the DMV not to police your insurance or decide whether it's a valid piece of insurance
• I have just one question: once you take that piece of insurance card or that verification into the DMV
• And then if they ask for the copy of the insurance, they can choose if it's valid or not.

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met and heard several House bills, most of them receiving due pass recommendations. Representative Banning presented HB 2979, which would allow the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to reduce speed limits on four-lane highways near school zones when the center line is within 150 yards of a school zone; it passed unanimously. He also presented HB 2980, which lets DMV staff accept a physical insurance card during a short window after coverage is purchased instead of waiting for emailed/faxed verification, while still checking the insurance database; it passed 7-0 after questions about fraud prevention and the role of DMV discretion. Representative Dempsey presented HB 3662, reducing the enforcement radius around fixed weigh stations from seven highway miles to five, arguing it would keep enforcement focused on the scales and not rural roads; it passed 5-2. Representative Ford’s HB 4105 was laid over, while HB 4107 passed unanimously and would make it a crime to hack outdoor warning sirens or their PA systems. Representative Kelly’s HB 382 passed unanimously to bar firefighters on the sex offender registry from employment, and HB 383 passed unanimously to make county burn bans easier to declare using National Weather Service red flag warnings. Representative Kerr’s HB 2997 passed to adjust fines for used motor vehicle dealers and increase FTEs in self-regulated divisions. Representative Kelly also presented HB 355, requiring CLEET directors to be CLEET-certified officers; it passed unanimously after discussion about director pay. Finally, HB 2159, a DOC request bill to add omitted prisons back into a prior transportation-related statute, also passed unanimously. The committee then adjourned after completing its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The focus of this bill, SB 1037, is affordability of state-regulated commercial health insurance.
• Matt Aiken, on behalf of the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies, in strong
• of Managed Health Care about their costs, and the Department of Managed Health Care has the ability
• With me in support is Miguel Pesedis, representing the bill's sponsor, the Department of Insurance, and
• My name is Miguel Bastides with the California Department of Insurance, here on behalf of Insurance Commissioner

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So even though I think a lot of insurance companies are kind of following it, I just wanted to make it
• So I've got a lot of ideas on what we could do to improve the process, to protect the risk of the insurance
• I've got hundreds of photos of this where the insurance industry denied the carrier.
• And as Hampton referred, the Department of Commerce and Insurance is a great partner and an advocate
• But in an essence of time, and Stephen Marion with the Department of Insurance and Commerce has been

Committee: House Insurance and Banking

Summary: The Insurance Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2250, sponsored by Rep. Jacqueline Zimmerman, which would require insurers to cover full siding replacement when storm damage affects only part of a home and matching siding is not reasonably available. Zimmerman said the bill would codify existing Missouri case law, address homeowner complaints after hailstorms, and make clear that insurers must restore a reasonably uniform appearance. Committee members generally expressed support for the goal, while also discussing possible scope changes, such as limiting coverage to street-facing elevations, and possible disclosure requirements to better explain policy coverage to consumers. The Missouri Insurance Coalition testified in opposition, saying the bill could increase premiums for all homeowners and that consumers should be able to choose more affordable policies with less coverage. Coalition witnesses said matching siding issues are often cosmetic, that carriers already offer different policy options and riders, and that requiring full wrap coverage could create upward pressure on rates. They also noted that severe weather has made these disputes more common and said the Department of Commerce and Insurance and brokers can help consumers understand their policies. Committee members debated whether partial repairs truly make homeowners whole, and several compared the issue to blending paint on cars or matching repairs after hail damage. After the HB 2250 hearing ended, the committee established a quorum and moved into executive session on House Bill 3328. The committee adopted a House committee substitute that renamed the program the Stronger Home program, removed IBHS certification in favor of a non-biased third-party testing lab, and removed an adjuster cap. The committee then voted 9-0 to report the House committee substitute for HB 3328 do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1997 by Compos relating to the issuance of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs of
• HB 2003 by Harris relating to provisions of Texas Department of Transportation of information regarding
• board of directors of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association for the Committee on Insurance.
• HB 1500 by Bell of Kaufman relates to the continuation of functions of the Department of Information
• Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in the temporary administration of the Board of the Department