Transcript Highlights:

• As a result of the settlement, money was appropriated to cover claims made by other Minnesotans who,
• It was sent directly to the court administrator, which was appointed to administer the claims.
• So the accounting system shows claims.
• claims on behalf<00:10:38.320><c> of</c><00:10:38.480><c> the</c><00:10:38.640><c> state.
• And if those claims come in over the residual claims, come in over 40 million, where does that additional

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in the disability waiver adjustments in the disability waiver rate<00:20:46.159><c> system</c><00:20
• </c> time that means we're paying more claims time that means we're paying more claims we're<00:24:37.240
• All right, next one: reducing growth through capping inflationary adjustments.
• </c><00:47:31.760><c> we</c> mountains of medical Medicaid claims we mountains of medical Medicaid claims
• </c><00:52:42.960><c> the</c> shortages by adjusting the shortages by adjusting the qualifications<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• claim we pay<01:39:49.880><c> half</c><01:39:50.119><c> the</c><01:39:50.639><c> claim</c><01:39:51.639
• :35.840><c> one</c> typically we do two rate adjustments one typically we do two rate adjustments one
• You're comparing the adjusted authorized amount, not necessarily the budget amount.
• </c> 2025 adjusted 2025 adjusted authorized<03:20:04.960><c> then</c><03:20:05.160><c> go</c><03:20:05.439
• </c><03:21:50.640><c> authorize</c> because I don't think adjusted authorize because I don't think adjusted

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division Three work session on February 21, 2025 focused on the Division of Medicaid Services budget. The chair opened with procedural guidance, noting the division’s role is to make recommendations to the full Finance Committee, that the budget must be balanced, and that members should track possible amendments ahead of a March 26 target for House Bills 1 and 2. Members also discussed the importance of using official budget documents and online resources, and the chair said no motions would be taken at this session. A major early topic was concern over a five-point Medicaid policy document and the timing of House Bill 2. Representative Tarki objected that the document appeared to be an unofficial draft and argued that significant Medicaid policy changes should have been transmitted by February 15 under state law. He said the lack of an official, posted document raised transparency concerns because the changes could affect tens of thousands of residents. Committee leadership responded that the five-point document was a working document, that it would be posted online within minutes, and that House Bill 2 is often delayed while the Office of Legislative Services finalizes and formats the governor’s proposed trailer bill. DHHS Chief Financial Officer Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman then began the budget presentation. White said the committee would use the PowerPoint as the document of record, starting with the governor’s operating budget pages 885-893, and noted that Medicaid is the largest accounting area in the state budget. He said the governor’s budget reflects about $60 million in reductions within the Medicaid area, with Granite Advantage handled off-budget and another $10 million in reductions there, for roughly a $70 million difference overall. Members asked whether the comparison was being made against an efficiency budget or a prioritized-needs budget, and White said the department could look at it different ways. The presentation then outlined Medicaid’s role in New Hampshire: it provides health coverage, serves as the state’s direct interface with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and helps finance related services such as long-term supports, school-based services, adult dental coverage, and re-entry programs for people leaving correctional settings. White also reviewed enrollment and program context, saying New Hampshire has about one in seven residents enrolled in Medicaid, making it the fourth smallest Medicaid program in the country by enrollment, and described recent efforts such as youth re-entry and the Medicaid unwind after the end of the federal continuous coverage period. He said the state had to process more than 238,000 redeterminations after the public health emergency and that the department tried to avoid unnecessary coverage loss during that transition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who is not a claim shark?
• Who is not a claim shark? VA of doctors. Who is not a claim shark?
• </c> benefits claims to be accredited. benefits claims to be accredited.
• c> we can expedite claims. we got a claim we can expedite claims. we got a claim back<00:38:42.000><c
• </c><00:41:30.880><c> when</c> claim shark is involved in a claim. when claim shark is involved in a

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> change item for an operating adjustment change item for an operating adjustment of of of 599,000
• <00:19:49.679><c> factor</c><00:19:50.000><c> to</c> adjustments are an essential factor to adjustments
• Um, I agreement on the Claim Shark bill.
• </c><00:46:10.319><c> It</c> resolution on the claim shark bill.
• It resolution on the claim shark bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, many survivors see their insurance claims...
• AB 1795 creates consistent claims handling.
• It does not mandate testing for every claim.
• Smoke claims are a complicated issue.
• According to the LAO, about 70% of claims are...

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not initially present, then later established a quorum and heard several bills. The main special-order item was AB 1795 (Gibson), which would create statewide standards for testing, inspection, and remediation of wildfire smoke damage in homes, with CalEPA and public health agencies developing science-based standards and insurers required to follow new claims-handling timelines. Supporters, including Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and wildfire survivors, said the bill would bring consistency and safety; insurers and consumer groups generally supported the concept but sought further amendments on scope, standards, and claim handling. The committee voted do pass as amended and refer AB 1795 to Appropriations, with the roll held open for later additions. The committee also considered AB 1576 (Ortega) on the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund, which would make changes intended to reduce litigation and employer assessments while preserving the program’s purpose of encouraging hiring of workers with prior disabilities. Labor-side witnesses supported the bill as a reform step, while business, public entity, and insurance groups opposed it, arguing it did not address the core structural problems and that a trailer bill was a better vehicle for broader reform. AB 1576 was voted do pass to Appropriations, with the roll held open. AB 1931 (Papan) would create an optional limited-lines license for utilities to offer home protection products for repairs to appliances and utility service lines. Support came from HomeServe, utilities, and industry groups, who said the bill would clarify current law and add consumer protections such as training, disclosures, and a free-look period; there was no opposition in the room. The committee passed AB 1931 to Appropriations. AB 2361 (Pacheco) would limit vicarious liability for peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing platforms like Turo while preserving insurance coverage requirements; supporters said it would align California with other states, while consumer attorneys opposed it as reducing accountability and consumer recovery. The committee passed AB 2361 as amended to Appropriations. AB 2098 (Kalra), heard later, would require employers to allow leave for workers to attend treatment for occupational injuries during work hours, subject to notice and business-necessity limits; labor groups supported it and business and insurance groups sought narrower standards. It was also voted do pass to Appropriations. The committee then completed roll-call add-ons and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• WHAT CHANGES TO THE CLAIMS PROCESS DO YOU FORESEE COMING WITH THESE CHANGES TO THE DRUG PRICES.
• I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, WHAT CHANGES TO THE CLAIM PROCESS?
• THE CLAIM PATTERN.
• MOSTLY HOW TO FILE CLAIMS, WOULD THERE BE ANY CHANGES TO THAT CLAIM PATTERN IF THE DRUG PRICING RESULTS
• DRUG PRICES ARE COMING DOWN, CLAIMS ARE JUST DIFFERENT PRICES.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:42:37.119><c> For</c> adjustment and a fee increase. For adjustment and a fee increase.
• Um, in the board of medical adjustment.
• ><c> for</c><00:44:59.359><c> line</c> operating adjustment similar for line operating adjustment similar
• </c><01:00:05.920><c> ensure</c><01:00:06.400><c> that</c> adjustment for DHS to ensure that adjustment
• </c><01:39:07.119><c> that</c> MA prescription medications claims that MA prescription medications claims

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we send a a claim via the computer, we pay for the claim via the computer, we pay for the claim
• Started out transmission of the claim. Started out transmission of the claim.
• And I've seen numerous uh claims of And I've seen numerous uh claims of And I've seen numerous uh claims
• to that. time uh for for them to adjust to that. time uh for for them to adjust to that.
• We change things adjust to the change. We change things adjust to the change.

Bills: SCR 13, SCR 24, SB 1, SB 12, SB 15, SB 17, SB 24, SB 57, SB 65, SB 213, SB 371, SB 372, SB 378, SB 379, SB 388, SB 400, SB 402, SB 427, SB 495, SB 499, SB 502, SB 509, SB 535, SB 583, SB 610, SB 621, SB 650, SB 706, SB 740, SB 840, SB 854, SB 856, SB 875, SB 893, SB 918, SB 925, SB 974, SB 995, SB 1006, SB 1018, SB 1025, SB 1061, SB 1073, SB 1106, SB 1121, SB 1194, SB 1252, SB 1253, SB 1268, SB 1300, SB 1343, SB 1362, SB 1447, SJR 36, SJR 12, SJR 57, SCR 25, SCR 22, SCR 12, SCR 24, SCR 8, SB 565, SB 372, SB 765, SB 62, SB 666, SB 707, SB 888, SB 687, SB 847, SB 1248, SB 740, SB 14, SB 1006, SB 504, SB 925, SB 1121, SB 995, SB 857, SB 305, SB 296, SB 284, SB 815, SB 1379, SB 1300, SB 1497, SB 1499, SB 1498, SB 1061, SB 65, SB 241, SB 304, SB 402, SB 499, SB 621, SB 974, SB 1023, SB 1024, SB 1025, SB 1106, SB 686, SB 112, SB 371, SB 204, SB 400, SB 609, SB 1447, SB 670, SB 502, SB 427, SB 850, SB 854, SB 413, SB 1555, SB 1362, SB 1346, SB 1033, SB 1220, SB 1073, SB 810, SB 987, SB 1539, SB 893, SB 447, SB 875, SB 406, SB 509, SB 985, SB 965, SB 1119, SB 1505, SB 24, SB 57, SB 1194, SB 1253, SB 1215, SB 1532, SB 1268, SB 1302, SB 856, SB 650, SB 583, SB 673, SB 840, SB 213, SB 681, SB 1172, SB 1252, SB 378, SB 610, SB 918, SB 1343, SB 608, SB 487, SB 955, SB 957, SB 988, SB 990, SB 1019, SB 1021, SB 1120, SB 251, SB 958, SB 535, SB 761, SB 1, SB 541, SB 315, SB 379, SB 1018, SB 1737, SB 266, SB 1415, SB 57, SB 499, SB 974, SB 1025, SB 1061, SB 1268, SR 302, SR 303, SR 304, SR 305, SB 30, SB 1333, SB 1666, SB 30, SB 1333, SB 1666

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas, Israel, trade, investment, partnership, economic ties, technological innovation, bilateral relations, appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Our program reimburses 80% of claims that are between $50,000 and $250,000.
• All reinsurance funds are being used to pay for medical claims for chronic conditions.
• All reinsurance funds are being used to pay for medical claims for chronic conditions.
• All reinsurance funds are being used to pay for medical claims for chronic conditions.
• </c><00:31:18.399><c> spend</c> plan type exchange status claim spend plan type exchange status claim

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So they claim the standard deduction as well as a dependent exemption for each of their two children.
• gross income of children, an adjusted gross income of $60,000,<00:06:58.120><c> and</c><00:06:58.280
• </c><00:07:02.080><c> deduction</c><00:07:03.080><c> as</c> So they claim the standard deduction as So
• they claim the standard deduction as well<00:07:03.440><c> as</c><00:07:03.560><c> a</c><00:07:03.600
• And as I stated before, by adjusting the tax brackets, we could target the lowest individuals here.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So they stop paying the claims except for the pharmacy claims.
• 01:12:01.520><c> for</c><01:12:01.679><c> the</c> paying the claims except for the paying the claims
• </c> claims and we're in breach right there. claims and we're in breach right there.
• But the and and pay their claims.
• They paid every claim. successfully. They paid every claim.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as numbers go down, we will adjust our program.
• These amounts will be adjusted through a cost adjustment based off the be already doing markup for the
• That brings it into us to claim.
• So it'll adjust to... Essentially, yes.
• And where it gets complicated is there are continuing claims, someone who has filed a claim and then

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, many survivors have seen their insurance claims delayed, reduced, or denied altogether.
• The task force identified significant gaps in science, testing protocols, and claims practices.
• This ensures that survivors have real science-based standards governing their claims.
• a certain threshold that now has to be met to be able to file claims for smoke damage?
• These claims are exaggerated.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Claims volume is expected to grow quickly. Currently, 10 LEAs are able to submit claims.
• They shared at that webinar that seven LEAs have filed claims, 18 claims, two of those claims came from
• And really, that's a matter of the providers submitting 837P claims and EDI claims.
• Health care coverage and claim reimbursement require health plans to reimburse claims no later than 30
• calendar days after receipt of a claim.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why we filed the bill, because this $15,000 cap is not fluid and it doesn't get adjusted over
• You know, it's not fluid and it doesn't get adjusted over time.
• It was created by statute, and it was not put in place to be adjusted every year.
• False or overblown claims are disruptive and can be treated as such.
• False or overblown claims are disruptive and can be treated as such.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a lengthy hearing on June 18 focused on workers’ compensation, independent contractor and classification issues, workplace safety, warehouse worker protections, extreme temperature protections, retaliation against injured workers, and workplace bullying. Committee chairs outlined procedures for the hybrid hearing and noted that members would be leaving intermittently for floor votes. Testimony also touched on a bill to expand workers’ compensation disfigurement benefits by removing the current $15,000 cap and extending coverage beyond scars on the hands, neck, and face. A major theme was workplace safety in warehouses and in extreme heat or cold. Teamsters, warehouse workers, and labor advocates described high injury rates, strict quotas, lack of water, inadequate ventilation, frozen or missing safety equipment, and pressure to work through heat waves and snowstorms. Supporters urged favorable reports on bills protecting warehouse workers and requiring employers to adopt heat- and cold-safety plans, while the NFIB opposed the temperature bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome for small businesses. Sen. Edwards, Sen. Roche, Rep. O’Day, and others argued that the measures are needed to prevent heat illness, provide shade, water, rest breaks, training, and emergency plans, and to cover all workers regardless of immigration status. Another major subject was the “Act to Protect Injured Workers,” backed by labor groups, immigrant worker centers, legal services organizations, and individual workers. Witnesses said employers often retaliate after injuries by threatening deportation, lying about how injuries occurred, delaying care, or firing workers, and they supported stronger anti-retaliation enforcement, multilingual notices, and a rebuttable presumption of retaliation within 90 days of protected activity. The Mass AFL-CIO and immigrant advocacy groups supported the bill and opposed measures they said would weaken employee classification standards. Testimony also supported a funeral-benefits bill to raise workers’ compensation death-benefit reimbursement for burial and funeral costs, based on a family’s experience after a workplace fatality. The committee heard additional testimony on workplace bullying bills, with some witnesses urging a new legal duty for employers to prevent and respond to bullying, while others described the harms of toxic workplaces and the lack of effective remedies.

Transcript Highlights:

• adjusting entries.
• And then no audit adjustments were identified during the audit.
• So some of the adjustments that we made at the time that we were looking at Some of the adjustments that
• But we did adjust the part-time care to 50% of full-time care.
• And we did adjust the percentage of those payments to...

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> adjustments that may be necessary. adjustments that may be necessary.
• </c> are paying for claims dollar for dollar. are paying for claims dollar for dollar.
• </c><04:43:47.280><c> than</c> claims other years claims greater than claims other years claims greater
• Pharmacy claims are essentially paid immediately; pharmacy claims are paid within a week.
• No claims reserves working as expected. No claims were<05:21:04.638><c> unpaid.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator Regina Birdsell at the request of the Insurance Department. The bill would clarify that a birth mother’s health insurance is the primary policy for a newborn’s care unless the mother has no coverage or no employer-sponsored coverage. Birdsell and Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the measure simply codifies the department’s long-standing interpretation of existing law. Representative Miles asked whether the coverage would extend to a grandchild if a young woman on her parents’ plan had a baby, and Birdsell said it would. The hearing on SB 47 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 121, introduced by Grant Bosi for Senator Kevin Avard. The bill requires insurers to notify the Insurance Department when they stop writing an entire line of business or, in some cases, when they change Medicare Advantage offerings. Benton Court said the bill was prompted by disruption in the Medicare Advantage market, where consumers and the department were confused by carriers exiting, changing plans, or narrowing offerings. He said the department does not regulate Medicare Advantage itself, but does license the carriers, and the notice requirement would help the department advise consumers; he also said noncompliance could affect a carrier’s license and could lead to fines. Members discussed the notice period, and the department and AHIP indicated support for changing it from 120 days to 90 days to align with federal timing. The hearing was closed with plans to work on an amendment in subcommittee. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 247, introduced by Representative Brian Cole, which would prohibit network exclusion for pharmacies that refuse to dispense prescriptions when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost. Cole said the bill is meant to stop pharmacies from being forced to sell at a loss. Members questioned whether pharmacies voluntarily enter PBM contracts, whether the bill would raise consumer prices, and whether it would mainly affect independent pharmacies. Cole and others said the issue has changed over time because PBMs now control a much larger share of the market, and that the bill would let pharmacies refuse loss-making fills and direct patients to mail order instead. The discussion also noted that the bill excludes Medicare and Medicaid and that the current proposal does not create a middle-ground option for patients to pay a premium at the counter.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nonprofit developers claimed an average of 93 new exemptions each year.
• But those types of projects are available or can claim the exemption. Okay, thank you.
• tax exemption prior to claiming this one.
• Since that time, fewer than three beneficiaries have claimed the preference.
• No business has claimed the preference. In Tennessee.

Summary: The Citizens Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 6, 2025, with five commissioners present and a quorum. The commission approved the May 7, 2025 meeting minutes and welcomed new commissioner Scott Edwards, who introduced himself. Staff also confirmed the September meeting date had been changed to September 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. to accommodate his schedule, and noted that testimony questions for the public hearing would be used at that meeting. JLARC staff then presented preliminary 2025 tax preference performance reviews covering nine preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but do not meet emissions-reduction goals, and recommended continuing the public utility tax and natural gas use tax exemptions while modifying reporting requirements; they also recommended continuing the marine-use LNG sales tax exemption and considering the Department of Revenue work group’s findings. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the small-beneficiary rate appears to support smaller firms, while the larger-beneficiary rate should be reviewed and both should have clearer objectives and metrics. For nonprofit low-income housing development, staff said the preference is helping produce housing but the current metric does not align well with the objective, data/reporting problems remain, and the legislature should decide whether to continue and possibly modify the exemption, including considering annual renewal. Staff also reviewed the multipurpose senior citizen centers exemption, concluding it meets its objective and recommending continuation, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For disabled veteran adapted housing, staff said the preference has very low uptake despite eligible veterans and recommended continuing it but modifying it in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve use. For trade convention attendance, staff said the preference aligns Washington with other states and recommended continuation. For agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, staff said the exemption reduces tax layering and recommended continuation, with clarification on whether it is exempt from expiration/performance-statement requirements. For agricultural crop protection products, staff said the preference met its revenue-growth metric and recommended extending it while considering better metrics or recategorizing it as tax relief. Finally, for energy sales to a silicon smelter, staff said the preferences were unused because the facility was never built and recommended allowing them to expire. The meeting ended with reminders about written testimony and the September public testimony session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last few years, consultancy exams, claims handling practices, and more.
• Number one, we license adjusters in the state of Florida.
• Number one, we license adjusters in the state of Florida.
• the claim again, resulting in two adjustments of the claim.
• the claim again, which would mean two adjustments of the claim.

Summary: The committee first heard CS/HB 1263 on insurance regulation. The sponsor said the bill would strengthen the Office of Insurance Regulation’s tools to oversee property and auto insurance markets, including market conduct and solvency exams, mitigation discounts, storage of mitigation inspection forms, and clearer oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. An amendment narrowing fingerprinting requirements was adopted, and the bill passed favorably after supportive testimony from OIR and others. Members then considered CS/HB 527, which would require a qualified human review before an insurance claim can be denied or reduced when artificial intelligence is used in the process. After an amendment removing the word “algorithm” was adopted, insurers and trade groups testified in opposition, arguing current law already covers claims handling and that the bill could create duplicative work and slow innovation. Supporters, including a consumer and labor representative, said human judgment is needed to protect claimants. The bill passed favorably. The committee also approved CS/HB 637 on farm equipment “lemon law” rights, with an amendment clarifying consumer definitions, refund rights, repair-period extensions, and a July 1, 2026 effective date. CS/HB 107 on data centers also passed after an amendment narrowing the five-mile siting restriction to data centers over 50 megawatts and adding noise-study requirements; business groups supported a framework but opposed the NDA ban and siting limits, while several members raised competitiveness and local-impact concerns. Later, the committee passed CS/HB 1291 on NICA funding and solvency, CS/HB 185 on a sales tax exemption for home-hardening products, CS/HB 425 on historic African-American cemetery preservation, CS/CS/CS/HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations, CS/CS/CS/HB 657 on community associations and HOA/condo reforms, and CS/CS/HB 1221, the DFS package. The final major item discussed was CS/HB 1001 on local government DEI restrictions, which drew extensive questioning about definitions, exceptions, cultural and religious observances, advisory councils, and contracting rules; the transcript cuts off before the bill’s final disposition.