Video & Transcript : 'open primary' :

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • We will now move to any primary witnesses in opposition.
  • The primary barrier is awareness.
  • We will now hear from any primary witnesses in opposition.
  • We will now hear from any primary witnesses in opposition.
  • We'll move now to any primary witnesses in opposition.
Keywords: 988, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Transcript Highlights:
  • And one more question for me, and then I'll open it to the committee.
  • If I can get introduced by my primary care provider, if Dr.
  • If I can get introduced by my primary care provider, if Dr.
  • That these are primary care codes, and that removes a lot of the barriers.
  • integrated behavioral health in primary care is part of that conversation.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery held a public hearing on 14 bills focused on insurance, parity, opioids, behavioral health access, and mental health system reform. Chair Mindy Domb and Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would accept written testimony. The hearing featured testimony from legislators, providers, advocates, and behavioral health organizations, with most speakers urging favorable reports on the bills they addressed. A major topic was psychiatric collaborative care, including H. 222/S. 1390, which would raise reimbursement for collaborative care codes to at least Medicare levels and allow billing outside the MassHealth primary care subcapitation model. Supporters said the model improves access, outcomes, and cost savings by embedding behavioral health in primary care, and several witnesses described successful implementation in practices and schools. Committee members asked questions about how the model works, what specialties use it, barriers to adoption, and whether copays, deductibles, and subcapitation rules should be changed. Witnesses also supported related innovation legislation, including H. 2224, which would create a mental health innovation fund and support nontraditional trauma-healing approaches. Other bills discussed included H. 2212, which would require prescribers to discuss opioid and pain-medication risks, alternatives, and addiction/overdose concerns with patients or guardians; H. 2232 and H. 2233, which would address equitable payment and equitable access for behavioral health providers serving MassHealth patients; and S. 1406, which would add opioid maintenance treatment information to MassPAT and allow patient-authorized access to that information. Witnesses also strongly backed S. 1399, which would set targets to increase behavioral health spending within the overall health care cost benchmark, arguing that Massachusetts underinvests in behavioral health and that greater investment could reduce emergency, hospitalization, homelessness, and criminal justice costs. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Jul 1st, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition to this bill?
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition to this bill?
  • We are also in open and ongoing discussions... ...GMP protocols.
  • We have two primary concerns with the bill as drafted.
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition to this bill?
Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills, with extensive testimony on maternal health, prenatal safety, privacy, valley fever, Medi-Cal contracting, anti-discrimination protections, and health data sharing. SB 32 would require time-and-distance standards for labor and delivery units in health plan networks; the author and supporters said it would address maternity care deserts and improve access, while health plans opposed. SB 646 would require testing and public disclosure for toxic elements in prenatal vitamins; supporters emphasized fetal and maternal safety and transparency, while industry opponents warned it could confuse consumers or lead to reduced nutrient content. Both bills drew broad support from medical and public health groups, and both were advanced on party-line or near-unanimous votes after committee discussion. The committee also approved SB 313, which moves a parent’s birthplace on birth certificates into the confidential section to protect privacy, and SB 297, which directs CDPH to identify high-incidence valley fever regions and publish them for screening and awareness; valley fever experts and supporters stressed rising cases and the need for earlier diagnosis, while local health jurisdictions raised concerns about mandates. SB 324, dealing with Medi-Cal enhanced care management and community supports, would prioritize local community-based organizations and clarify contracting and data practices; it received strong support from nonprofits and community health advocates, with children’s hospitals and health plans seeking amendments, and it was sent forward after amendments were discussed. The committee then considered SB 418, which would codify ACA nondiscrimination protections in state law and allow up to a 12-month prescription supply for hormone therapy when medically necessary. Supporters framed it as protecting continuity of care for transgender patients and others using hormone therapy, including IVF and menopause patients, while opponents argued it would conflict with federal policy and promote harmful treatments. The bill passed to the next committee. Finally, SB 660 would strengthen the California Health and Human Services data exchange framework by creating governance and accountability for data sharing across health and social service entities; supporters said it would reduce duplication and improve care coordination, while some providers and hospital groups raised concerns. It was approved and sent to the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. The consent calendar and the other measures were also voted out, with the committee recording the required roll-call votes and sending the bills onward.
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • much of the primary residence credit program.
  • The primary residence credit.
  • And that is, really, it's that property is now qualified as a primary residence household, primary residence
  • And it's my primary residence.
  • This is under primary production, under that primary depletion mechanism.
Summary: The Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee met with a quorum, approved the March 17, 2026 minutes, and heard a lengthy update from Tax Commissioner Brian Croshys on property tax relief programs. He reviewed the Homestead Property Tax Credit, Disabled Veteran Credit, and Primary Residence Credit, noting increased relief after House Bill 1158 and House Bill 1176, but also discussing how some households “income adjust out” of eligibility over time. Members asked about indexing income thresholds, expanding eligibility by age alone, simplifying administration, county-level notices, and whether the county and state systems could be streamlined. Croshys said the programs are heavily used, largely administered at the county level, and that the department is still refining compliance and reporting; he also said there were no material findings or overarching concerns in the latest review. The committee agreed more detailed PRC information would likely come back in a September meeting, and the chair announced an afternoon recess for lunch before later reconvening. Shelly Myers then presented the statewide property tax increase report, the zero-growth report, and a statistical report on property values and tax levies by class. She explained how county auditors report levy and valuation data, how increases and decreases are counted, and identified counties and cities with the largest percentage changes in growth or decline. She also summarized recent trends: agricultural values remain relatively flat, while residential, commercial, and centrally assessed values have risen over the last five years; in 2025, residential property accounted for the largest share of statewide property tax levies, followed by commercial, agriculture, and centrally assessed property. Committee members asked about unusual zero-growth figures, the effect of annexation and land-use changes, and whether the 3% levy cap was forcing political subdivisions to use reserves or defer spending. Myers said many counties complied by using reserves, delaying capital projects, or limiting increases, and that some counties had not used their full cap. The committee then moved to the stripper oil extraction tax exemption. Commissioner Croshys reviewed the state’s oil tax structure and estimated the revenue impact of keeping stripper wells exempt from extraction tax while still paying production tax. He said the exemption saves operators hundreds of millions of dollars over a biennium, while the state still collects production tax on those wells. He also discussed projected impacts if the exemption were changed for future wells and noted that future outcomes depend on oil prices, production declines, and technology such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Nathan Anderson of the Department of Mineral Resources briefly explained the historical difference between the 35-barrel and 30-barrel thresholds for certain wells, citing differences in completion costs and lateral lengths. The committee then heard from EERC CEO Charles Gorecki, who presented an analysis of oil well life cycles and said most oil is produced before wells reach stripper status, but that refracturing or other reinvestment can significantly extend production and keep wells above the threshold for years.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/25

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Seeing none, members, I will open it up to questions and discussion.
  • </c><00:21:25.559><c> Clinic</c> and I can tell you every Primary Clinic and I can tell you every Primary
  • It helps a primary care clinic stay solvent, and it helps the primary care doc be much less isolated,
  • </c> routine screening if you have a primary routine screening if you have a primary care<00:26:38.000
  • </c><00:27:05.840><c> care</c> be brought back to the primary care be brought back to the primary care
Keywords: 1183, house
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 32 Feb 12th, 2026

Idaho House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Code to revise provisions regarding changing party affiliation for primary elections.
  • Amending section 34-601 Idaho Code to provide a presidential primary date.
  • In chapter 7, 34 731, Idaho Code, to establish provisions regarding presidential primaries.
  • In chapter 7, title of a new section 34-7-335 Idaho Code provide for presidential primary results.
  • We gave open opportunity over the summer, and they came out of committee unanimously.
Keywords: 989, all
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session - 2026-03-24 - 9:30AM

Vermont Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh really the options are open.
  • </c><01:19:23.480><c> Clinicians</c> primary care providers. Clinicians primary care providers.
  • care, Blueprint primary care, clinically affiliated primary care.
  • </c> our primary care providers. our primary care providers.
  • </c> [clears throat] support primary care. [clears throat] support primary care.
Keywords: 927, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We will take up to two primary witnesses in support and up to two primary witnesses in opposition for
  • Is there a primary opposition to this measure?
  • Any primary opposition to this bill? Seeing no opposition.
  • Primary opposition? Good afternoon, Chair and members.
  • Any primary opposition? I see no opposition.
Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of local government, housing, transportation, and public safety bills. Early items included SB 762, which would give certain local governments a voter-approved path to seek additional local sales tax authority to address fiscal pressures; SB 1400, which would modernize Alameda Health System governance and give Alameda County more flexibility and oversight; and SB 1408, which would authorize Contra Costa County to place a renewal of its transportation sales tax on the ballot. Supporters for those bills included local officials, county representatives, labor groups, fire and police organizations, and transit advocates, while no organized opposition was presented on those measures in committee. The committee also heard SB 1272, which would give homeowners more time to correct certain inherited code violations and allow an affidavit process for buyers who did not know about the violation at purchase. The bill drew support from the California Apartment Association and opposition from code enforcement and county groups, who argued it would reduce local enforcement discretion and create health and safety risks. After questions about disclosure and enforcement, the committee approved SB 1272 as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations. SB 1055, dealing with procurement flexibility for Pajaro flood control and levee repairs, also passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. Later, the committee approved SB 1379, which would separate the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner and create an independent medical examiner system. The author and supporters argued the change was needed for transparency and independence in in-custody death investigations, while opponents raised labor, cost, and governance concerns; some opposition was softened after the author agreed to employee-protection amendments. The committee also passed SB 1172, limiting consultant compensation and adding transparency rules for local tax-sharing agreements, and several housing bills from Senator Grayson: SB 1003 on pro-housing infrastructure financing districts, SB 1014 on early disclosure of infrastructure requirements for housing projects, and SB 1169 on extending tentative vesting map validity. The committee took votes on consent items and later add-ons, with most measures passing on bipartisan or unanimous votes and several being re-referred to Appropriations or Housing and Community Development as appropriate.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Aug 20th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Considering the transportation and how we can help these people is our primary concern, so we're open
  • Those primary care providers supplied primary care to about 8,000 people in the Gallup community.
  • They are the primary.
  • Back to primary care and primary care cuts: studies show that if you add ten primary care physicians
  • has an identified primary care physician.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee Jun 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am

Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • much of the primary residence credit program.
  • But that... ...same sense as, for example, the primary residence credit.
  • And that is, really, it's that property is now qualified as a primary residence household, primary residence
  • And it's my primary residence.
  • This is under primary production, under that primary depletion mechanism.
Keywords: 908, all
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • And that is really, it's that property is now qualified as a primary residence household, primary residence
  • And that is, really, it's that property is now qualified as a primary residence household, primary residence
  • And it's my primary residence.
  • This is under primary production, under that primary depletion mechanism.
  • residence tax credit and applying that... ...to our primary residence tax credit and applying that primary
Summary: The committee met to receive updates from the Tax Commissioner’s office on property tax relief programs and related compliance work. Commissioner Brian Croshys reviewed the Homestead Property Tax Credit, Disabled Veteran Credit, and Primary Residence Credit, noting that the Homestead program expanded significantly after HB 1158, that some households are “adjusting out” of eligibility as incomes rise, and that the committee may want to consider indexing income thresholds. Members asked for additional data on bracket breakdowns, possible costs of eliminating income limits for seniors, and how many households are zeroed out by the combined programs. Croshys also discussed the simpler administration of the disabled veteran credit, the growth in participation, and the heavy workload and auditing safeguards built into the new primary residence credit system. He said the department found no material compliance findings and that the program is designed to be digital-first, with county auditors and the Tax Commissioner’s office both involved in review and notification. The committee recessed for lunch and later reconvened, with the chair noting that more detailed PRC information would likely be available at a September meeting. Shelly Myers then presented the statewide property tax increase, or “zero growth,” report and the 2025 statistical report. She explained how county auditors report levy and valuation data, how increases and decreases are counted, and which jurisdictions showed the largest percentage changes in countywide, citywide, school district, and park district levies. In the statistical report, she summarized recent trends in assessed values: agricultural values remained relatively flat, while residential, commercial, and centrally assessed property values increased over the past five years. She also reviewed statewide tax levies by property class and clarified that centrally assessed growth figures were annual averages. Members discussed how shifts in land use and annexation can make it appear that tax burdens are moving from ag to residential/commercial property. Myers then summarized the interim study on the 3% levy limitation under HB 1176, saying most counties complied without budget changes, while some used hiring freezes, deferred purchases, or reserve funds; 23% of counties had to reduce levies, and the affected funds were mainly general, road and bridge, and weed control. She said 12 counties reported zero new growth in the data and that 35 counties reported not using all of their cap. The committee also received an oil tax presentation from Croshys on the stripper well extraction tax exemption. He outlined the number of active stripper wells, the production and revenue implications of the exemption, and projections for future biennia under different tax scenarios. He said the exemption represents substantial savings to operators but also corresponds to production tax revenue that would otherwise be collected, and he emphasized that future outcomes depend on oil prices, well counts, and technology such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Nathan Anderson of the Department of Mineral Resources briefly answered a question about why Red River wells have a different production threshold than Bakken wells, explaining it was tied to completion costs and lateral length. The committee then heard from Charlie Gorecki of the EERC, who presented an analysis of typical Bakken well decline curves and argued that most oil is produced before a well reaches stripper status, but that keeping wells open and investing in refracturing or other interventions can recover additional production. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; the main actions were receiving reports, asking for follow-up data, and scheduling further discussion for a later meeting.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Election Laws

Transcript Highlights:
  • Virginia Republican parties had success using it in primaries.
  • Okay, can I pull open that?
  • Can I pull open that?
  • Concord is a good location in which to develop hybrid open town meeting.
  • overflow with the primary meeting room, but as a regular practice.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a public hearing focused primarily on ranked choice voting (RCV) legislation and several local home rule petitions, along with one petition to authorize remote participation in Concord town meetings. Chairs Keenan and Hunt outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would hear both in-person and virtual testimony. The committee also took testimony on Concord’s request for remote participation in open and special town meetings, with supporters arguing it would make town meeting more accessible to residents with childcare, mobility, work, or disability barriers while preserving direct democracy. A large portion of the hearing centered on RCV local-option bills and municipal petitions from communities including Concord, East Hampton, Salem, Chelsea, Arlington, Revere, Amherst, and others. Supporters—among them local officials, legislators, election advocates, educators, veterans, and nonprofit leaders—said RCV would reduce vote-splitting, encourage more candidates, promote more positive campaigning, improve representation, and increase turnout. East Hampton officials described their existing use of RCV, saying it produced record turnout, was easy for voters to understand with education, and could be expanded to multi-winner races without major added cost. Concord and Amherst witnesses said their voters had already approved local steps toward RCV and urged the committee to let municipalities implement the system without further delay. Testimony in favor of the local-option RCV bill emphasized home rule and local control, with several witnesses arguing the state should not block communities that have already voted to adopt RCV. Speakers from MassVOTE, the AFT Massachusetts, Voter Choice Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and Veterans for All Voters said the reform would strengthen democracy, broaden participation, and save money by avoiding low-turnout preliminary elections. Some witnesses also referenced examples from Cambridge, Maine, and Utah to argue that RCV is workable, nonpartisan, and familiar to voters. The hearing ended with no votes or final committee action taken in the transcript provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Mar 24th, 2026

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • registered a support position with the committee, and the primary witnesses in opposition must have
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition? Are there any who would like to testify?
  • This afternoon, primary witnesses in support.
  • This afternoon, primary witnesses and support.
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition?
Keywords: 988, house, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House and Governmental Affairs Mar 31st, 2026

House and Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • poll books, processing provisional ballots in federal elections, administering closed party primary
  • What we're doing is opening up more information to be made public by the clerk.
  • We're opening more information up to the public view, not less.
  • And I think the point you try to make is we would like to open it even further.
  • We're opening up to electronic. That's all it does.
Summary: The committee met on March 31 with a quorum present and heard three bills by Representative Bacala. House Bill 205 sought to increase compensation for election commissioners, with the author and several clerks of court and commissioners testifying that pay had not changed in 19 years despite greater responsibilities, longer hours, and additional training tied to election security and new voting systems. To avoid a state fiscal note, the committee adopted amendment set 2855, which removed the base pay increase and instead allowed parish governing authorities to provide a supplemental payment of up to $100 for commissioners in charge and those who complete instruction. The bill was then reported favorably. House Bill 67 addressed protected information for certain public officials and aligned the rules for clerks of court with those already applied to the Secretary of State’s office. The author described it as a technical correction to prior legislation governing what personal information may be published or removed. Stephen Procopio of PAR raised broader concerns about transparency, possible constitutional issues, and inconsistent treatment of information depending on the source, suggesting the law may need a larger review. The committee did not amend the bill and reported it favorably. House Bill 73 would allow local public bodies to vote by electronic voting machine, so long as the vote is publicly displayed, instead of being limited to voice votes. Bacala said the change was intended to clarify that electronic in-place voting is permissible and does not affect quorum, proxy voting, or remote participation. Representatives asked about whether members and the public must be able to see the vote and whether the bill changed existing procedures; the author said it did not. Support came from local government associations, and the bill was reported favorably.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, members, Dennis Cuves-Romero with the California Primary Care Association.
  • Primary opposition to this measure. Opposition to this measure?
  • What specific benefits do they receive from keeping these loopholes open?
  • We're open to other ideas as to how we can smooth over international relations.
  • Seeing no primary opposition.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills dealing with tax policy, local revenue authority, consumer protections, and incentives for development. AB 1726 would create catastrophe savings accounts for homeowners to save pre-tax dollars for disaster mitigation and recovery costs; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and the California Bankers Association, while the California Teachers Association opposed it because of the General Fund and Prop. 98 impact. The bill was referred to suspense. AB 1768 would authorize Los Angeles and Contra Costa counties to ask voters to approve local transaction and use taxes to offset projected federal funding cuts affecting health care and safety-net services; it received broad support from health providers and county representatives, opposition from one member and a resident, and passed the committee 5-2 to the Assembly Local Government Committee. The committee also considered AB 1790, which would repeal the Waters Edge corporate tax election and require worldwide combined reporting for multinational corporations. The author and supporters argued it would close a loophole, raise several billion dollars annually, and help fund schools, Medi-Cal, and other programs; opponents warned of double taxation, compliance burdens, retaliation from foreign governments, and job losses. After extensive testimony and member debate, the bill was referred to suspense. AB 2020 would provide a full property tax exemption for the primary residence of 100% disabled veterans and surviving spouses, and AB 2069 would create a targeted sales and use tax exemption to spur development projects at fairgrounds; both measures had support from sponsors and related organizations, no opposition, and were referred to suspense. Finally, AB 2705 would regulate third-party “asset finders” who help claim excess proceeds from tax sales by requiring written agreements, disclosure that claims can be filed free with the county, and a cap on fees at 10%. County officials and local government groups supported the bill as a consumer protection measure, while recovery companies and related firms opposed it, arguing the work is complex and the cap would reduce access to services. The committee moved AB 2705 to the Assembly floor on a 4-0 vote.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Elections Committee Apr 15th, 2026

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Seeing none, we'll move on to primary witnesses in opposition. Any primary witnesses in opposition?
  • Seeing none, any primary witnesses in opposition?
  • We'll keep it open for absent members.
  • We'll keep the roll open for our absent members.
  • We'll hold that roll open for our absent members.
Keywords: 988, house, all
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Day 8 (1-15-26)

Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I'm just inviting members for the Kentucky Higher Education has an open house tonight.
  • And I'm just inviting members for the Kentucky Higher Education has an open house tonight.
  • Education has an open house tonight. Doors open at 5:30 at the Frankfort Country Club.
  • </c><00:30:28.000><c> sponsor,</c> with permission of the primary sponsor, with permission of the primary
  • </c> &gt;&gt; With the permission of the primary &gt;&gt; With the permission of the primary sponsor<
Keywords: 958, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Health Committee Apr 8th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now we'll move to any primary witness.
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition?
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition? Thank you.
  • Are there any primary witnesses in opposition?
  • And when the only door left open is jail or death.
Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 8 and heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 54 on medication abortion access. The author and supporters, including the Attorney General’s office and reproductive justice advocates, said the bill would protect California’s medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and manufacturers from civil, criminal, and professional liability. Opponents from the California Family Council argued the bill removes safeguards and increases risks. The bill was moved forward on a committee motion. The committee then heard several reproductive and public health measures, including AB 551 to create a pilot program supporting emergency departments in providing reproductive health services, AB 260 to protect medication abortion access and telehealth, AB 309 to remove sunset dates on laws allowing pharmacy syringe sales and lawful possession of sterile syringes, AB 536 to preserve colorectal cancer screening coverage if federal guidelines are challenged, AB 804 to make housing support services a Medi-Cal benefit, AB 594 to address student health insurance billing and transparency, AB 836 to study and expand the midwifery workforce, AB 1418 to collect data on health coverage for eligible employees, and AB 1500 to maintain and expand the abortion.ca.gov information site. Supporters emphasized access, preventive care, workforce shortages, and public health benefits, while opponents raised concerns about abortion, syringe distribution, and the focus of state resources. Most measures were advanced by committee vote, with roll calls showing broad support and a few no votes from members on some bills. The final bill discussed in the transcript was AB 1037, which would update substance use disorder laws to reflect evidence-based, harm-reduction approaches and remove barriers to treatment. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate response to overdose and treatment access problems, while law enforcement opposition argued it would encourage drug use and endanger communities. The transcript cuts off during testimony on AB 1037, so no final committee action on that bill is shown in the provided text.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 03/23/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, I'd ask that primary jurisdiction.
  • State and Local Committee as the primary State and Local Committee as the primary committee<00:16:55.040
  • </c><00:18:46.919><c> jurisdiction</c> bill clearly has primary jurisdiction bill clearly has primary
  • </c> President, to the Committee of primary President, to the Committee of primary jurisdiction.<00:24
  • > jurisdiction</c><00:24:15.679><c> for</c> Committee of primary jurisdiction for Committee of primary
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • As well as an update on this year's open enrollment period.
  • To give just a few examples, Covered California will see its 2027 open enrollment period—our next open
  • When access to primary care becomes unstable, patient delays occur.
  • Primary care is the foundation of our health care system.
  • Dennis Quayvers Romero with the California Primary Care Association.
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 and related federal actions on Covered California, Medi-Cal, and immigrant access to care. The chair framed the discussion around three main issues: expected losses in marketplace coverage as enhanced federal premium subsidies expire, new federal work and renewal requirements that would add administrative burden to Medi-Cal, and the loss of eligibility for certain lawfully present immigrants. Covered California testified that H.R. 1 and new federal rules, combined with the end of enhanced premium tax credits, are driving higher premiums, lower new enrollment, and more cancellations, especially among middle-income, Latino, and Black enrollees. The agency said California’s $190 million state subsidy program is helping lower-income enrollees but cannot replace the lost federal assistance, and it noted that roughly 120,000 lawfully present immigrants in Covered California will lose federal tax credits in 2027. On Medi-Cal, the Department of Health Care Services said H.R. 1 will require work and community engagement verification, six-month renewals for certain adults, and other changes that the department expects will reduce enrollment substantially. DHCS estimated 233,000 members could lose coverage by June 2027 from the work requirement and 289,000 from six-month renewals, with losses rising much higher by 2028; it also said it is using automation, outreach, clinic navigators, coverage ambassadors, community health workers, and street medicine providers to reduce procedural disenrollments. The department described a two-phase outreach plan and said it is working with counties on implementation, while the Department of Finance said the Governor’s budget maintains $190 million for the state subsidy program and does not propose additional changes at this time. The LAO said its independent forecast is somewhat higher than the administration’s, estimating about 2.1 million fewer Medi-Cal enrollees by June 2028, and urged the Legislature to review county administrative workload and readiness. Public testimony and member comments focused on the human and fiscal consequences of coverage losses. A representative from the Sacramento Native American Health Center warned that reduced reimbursement and coverage losses would destabilize community health centers, increase uncompensated care, and worsen outcomes by pushing patients into emergency care. Members raised concerns about paperwork burdens, county capacity, outreach effectiveness, and whether the state should do more to preserve coverage, including possible modeling of additional H-CARF spending and support for middle-income consumers and immigrant enrollees. The hearing did not take any votes or formal actions, but it ended with public comment and continued discussion of implementation and budget options.