Video & Transcript Research : 'consumer payments'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Fraud Committee Meeting - 2025-04-28

Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • enrolling with Medicaid or continuing to receive payments.
  • for consumers of Comcast for fraudulent and deceptive overbilling.
  • The contempt judgment had nothing to do with their decision to stop payments.
  • They stopped payment on people. And in his case, it didn't restart in the summer.
  • MDE knows there's concern, and they start trying to cut off payment.
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 087 Apr 11th, 2026

Colorado House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • payments.
  • payments.
  • payments.
  • Officer Payments. Officer Payments.
  • Equivalent payments, 10,94,22. Payments to OIT.
Keywords: 981, all
Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior journal, and heard several brief recognitions before moving to business. Members welcomed foster care advocates for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Girl Scouts visiting the Capitol, and participants in Black Maternal Health Week, with remarks emphasizing foster youth voice, leadership development, and the need for culturally competent maternal health care and doula/midwife support. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1026, honoring former Governor Roy Romer and designating a portion of I-25 as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway. Supporters highlighted Romer’s long public service, his work on education and infrastructure, and his role in major state projects. A proposed amendment to strike the word “memorial” was withdrawn, the House suspended the rules to allow Romer to speak from the well, and Romer offered remarks about legislative collegiality and the importance of democracy and listening to opposing views. House Joint Resolution 1026 was adopted on a 60-0 vote, with four excused and one absent. After a brief recess, the House returned to special orders and resumed reading House Bill 1410 at length, continuing through extensive appropriations language for the Department of Human Services, including child welfare, youth services, Medicaid-related transfers, SNAP and benefits administration, and other funding line items. No final action on House Bill 1410 was taken in the portion provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 4/28/25

Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Our consumer action student loan scams.
  • last six years by helping consumers last six years by helping consumers informally<00:30:20.320>
  • uh who was essentially pulling payments uh who was essentially pulling payments uh<01:24:04.239>
  • :24:05.920> they uh not pulling payments because they uh not pulling payments because they thought
  • They start trying to cut off payments.
Keywords: 1183, house
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 5, 2026 - 04:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • THE CURRENT METHOD FOR RESOLVING PAYMENT DISPUTES BETWEEN INSURERS AND OUT-OF-NETWORK PROVIDERS IS AN
  • PAYMENT DISPUTES BETWEEN INSURERS AND OUT-OF-NETWORK PROVIDERS IS AN EFFECTIVE.
  • THIS BILL CREATES AN EFFICIENT STATEWIDE MECHANISM TO RESOLVE PAYMENT DISPUTES BY ALLOWING EITHER PARTY
  • WE ARE SEEING FEDERAL ARBITERS ISSUE PAYMENT THAT READS MULTIPLE TIMES HIGHER THAN MARKET CONTRACTED
  • I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS AND KEEP IN MIND, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PAYMENT DISPUTE OCCURRING
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • and set that aside for the first payment and set that aside for the first payment we're<00:42:43.319
  • additional payments additional payments um<00:42:58.800> and<00:42:58.920> then<00
  • <01:00:04.640> $2 already asked investors to consume $2 already asked investors to consume
  • on sp135 SC2 relating to Consumer on sp135 SC2 relating to Consumer Protection<01:24:19.000>
  • <01:25:43.040> has by a hotel after the consumer has by a hotel after the consumer has already
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

November 2025 State Budget and Economic Forecast Presentation - 12/04/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • also referred to as real consumer also referred to as real consumer spending, spending, spending
  • From 26 through 29, real consumer From 26 through 29, real consumer spending<00:09:15.440> is
  • The low consumer forecast period.
  • :25:56.240> referred state provides monthly payments referred state provides monthly payments
  • They will get stopped on payment until we... >> Will get stopped on payment until we verify that.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/05/25

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Payments to providers would be paid directly.
  • Payments to providers would be paid directly.
  • Payments to providers would be paid directly.
  • How much was in the direct payment portion? Oh, that's only from the direct payment portion.
  • from the direct payment portion only from the direct payment portion well<00:36:28.880> the<00
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • This has been used more and more for low-dollar consumer debt.
  • I've been a consumer attorney and a consumer bankruptcy attorney for over 20 years.
  • All right, how is the consumer harmed by this change?
  • And like I indicated, historically, this wasn't used for consumer debts.
  • So it's not just the paycheck for a consumer.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Aug 19th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • But addressing my second point of issues that end up being time-consuming are the frequently changing
  • Just the time it took... it was very time-consuming.
  • , whereas the other 20% consume less alcohol. eighty percent of the alcohol.
  • So we're going to recoup that payment.
  • . payment they believe was made inaccurately.
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-05-26 - 4:20PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:07:03.640> data S. 71, an act relating to consumer data S. 71, an act relating to consumer
  • personal data related to the consumer. personal data related to the consumer.
  • Also, the consumer will have the right to use an authorized agent to allow the consumer to authorize
  • :26.760> to Controllers must allow consumers to Controllers must allow consumers to revoke<00:
  • heightened risk of harm to consumers. heightened risk of harm to consumers.
Keywords: 926, house, all
Summary: The House first took up House Bill 955, relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system. The chamber suspended rules to consider the Senate proposal of amendment immediately, and the House Education Committee reported that while it appreciated the Senate’s work, differences remained on issues including the timing of class size minimums, possible tuition or fees under the foundation formula, school construction details, and merger committee groupings. The committee voted 11-0-0 to refuse concurrence and request a committee of conference. After a brief correction on the committee straw poll, the House voted to refuse concurrence in the Senate amendment and appointed Representatives Conlin, Kornheiser, and Quimby as the House conferees. The House then suspended rules to message its action to the Senate forthwith. The House next took up Senate Bill 71, the consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee recommended amendment, and the floor report described the bill as creating a comprehensive Vermont data privacy law effective January 1, 2028. The report outlined consumer rights to know, access, correct, delete, and port personal data, and to opt out of targeted advertising and sale of data; duties for controllers and processors; limits on sensitive data use; special protections for minors and health-related geofencing; Attorney General enforcement; and an 18-month cure period. The committee heard extensive testimony from a broad range of advocates, industry representatives, privacy experts, and other stakeholders, and it reported the bill out favorably with amendment on a vote of 11-0-0 before the House recessed for dinner.
MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session, 4/2/2026 #1

Maryland Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • several consumer transparency several consumer transparency requirements<00:21:12.200> for<00:
  • establishes a consumer-friendly It establishes a consumer-friendly framework<00:25:19.160> for
  • Originally, the alternative compliance payment was called the clean energy fund payment back I think
  • Originally, the alternative compliance payment was called the clean energy fund payment back I think
  • Originally, the alternative compliance payment was called the clean energy fund payment back I think
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation by Reverend J.C. Austin of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, and journalized the prayer. Members also introduced several guests and interns, including a shadow from the 45th District, a Legislative Black Caucus fellow, a ninth-grade author from Annapolis High School, a World Autism Acceptance Day group in the gallery, and a student shadowing the Senator from District 30. The chamber then moved to House bills on second reading and Senate bills on third reading. The Senate adopted favorable committee reports and passed several House bills without objection, including measures extending the Maryland Horse Industry Board sunset, requiring housing counseling information for certain first-time homebuyers, expanding the educator expense tax subtraction to full-time pre-K teachers, increasing funding for the State Library Resource Center, extending agricultural use assessment eligibility for community solar projects, allowing the Seat Pleasant Police Department to join the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System, authorizing changes to a tax sale legacy protection program, and granting special taxing authority for the Village of Drummond. The chamber also adopted seven amendments to Senate Bill 1007 on state debt authorizations and ordered it printed for third reading. On final passage, Senate Bill 956 on Maryland Transportation Authority video toll collections passed with 44 affirmative votes. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 841, a major energy affordability and utility reform bill, with two committee amendments adopted. The bill was described as providing short-, medium-, and long-term rate relief, including changes to EmPOWER Maryland, utility cost recovery, data center tariffs, net metering, solar policy, transmission planning, battery storage, nuclear incentives, and low-income assistance. Debate began on the amended report, and a motion to lay the bill over was withdrawn while members discussed waiting on additional amendments.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Health Care Committee Feb 12th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Transcript Highlights:
  • Consumer direct-to-consumer modalities for health care is growing.
  • Medication, consumer direct-to-consumer modalities for health care is growing.
  • So that's Medicare, Medicaid shortfalls in payments.
  • Now we will transition to dental utilization and payment.
  • Now we will transition to dental utilization and payment.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The committee met to review the history and current treatment of North Dakota health insurance mandates, with presentations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the Insurance Department. The discussion focused on how mandates apply differently to fully insured, self-funded, ACA, Medicaid, and PERS plans; how the state’s benchmark plan and federal essential health benefits affect coverage; and how the existing process requires cost-benefit analysis and, for certain measures, a PERS pilot period before broader application. Presenters also reviewed the long list of existing state mandates, including provider, beneficiary, and coverage requirements, and noted that many were enacted decades ago and have not been revisited despite changes in medical evidence and treatment options. Witnesses from the carriers argued that mandates should be reviewed periodically because some are outdated, can create unintended costs, and may not align with current medical guidance. Examples cited included PSA screening, off-label drug coverage, prior authorization rules, step therapy, and cost-sharing provisions for mental health and substance use treatment. They emphasized that carriers often cover services without a mandate when supported by clinical evidence, and that mandates can shift costs to employers and employees, especially in the fully insured small-group market. They also suggested possible policy improvements such as clearer mandate definitions, better transparency around cost-benefit analyses, a regular 10-year review of mandates, and more timely submission of proposals through the interim process. PERS and the Insurance Department highlighted a recurring tension over what counts as a mandate and when a measure triggers the state’s defrayal obligation under federal law. PERS described its interim committee process, the April 1 deadline for fiscal-impact proposals, and the limited pilot program used for certain measures, noting that only a few bills have gone through the full pilot process. The Insurance Department explained that it views new benefit mandates through the lens of the ACA benchmark plan and essential health benefits, distinguishing true new benefits, such as infertility coverage, from changes to existing benefits, such as telehealth or insulin cost-sharing caps. No votes were taken on policy changes; the meeting was informational, with members asking questions about costs, applicability, transparency, and whether a periodic mandate review should be established.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Health Insurance Affordability Task Force, June 18, 2026

Health Insurance Affordability Task Force

Transcript Highlights:
  • That payment often just goes uncompensated.
  • Disproportionate share hospital payments are payments that hospitals receive for uncompensated care,
  • Red, um, DSH payments, disproportionate share, so that's a payment that only a handful of our hospitals
  • And bundling payments is a great way to do... Bundling payments is a great way to do that.
  • Um, and I am speaking... ...payment agreement.
Keywords: 916, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Ways & Means Mar 17th, 2025

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • This benefits the consumers in the form of reduced cost for associated products. and the farmers in the
  • Right now, the payment deadline can only be extended for weekends.
  • The consumers are still paying the sales tax and wherever they live, right?
  • I think that's a win for the consumer. Thank you for explaining that.
  • And they stopped making payments.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Banking and Insurance Mar 25th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • For instance, filing requirements, transparency for consumers.
  • Consumer services contact information rate changes and ensured value.
  • This is really meant to educate and provide sort of a resource to consumers before.
  • But just from a consumer adoption standpoint, we found that the consumer would like to have the gold
  • are that you would use there to protect consumers.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • And as a consumer involved in the use of Massachusetts wages, banks, or if a consumer agreement was breached
  • S-1041, An Act Relative to Consumer Protection and Civil Rights.
  • To make these payments, I had to cut down on my expenses, including food.
  • These are the limits of consumer protection remedies.
  • I'm a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center in Boston.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil actions, labor, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Chair Lydia Edwards and Representative Michael Day opened with strict testimony rules and time limits, then heard from legislators and advocates on measures including animal-abuser pet ownership bans (S. 1207/H. 1914), a name-change privacy bill (S. 1045/H. 1973), tort claims reform (H. 1724), law enforcement council coverage under the Tort Claims Act (S. 1199), civil rights and qualified immunity-related proposals (H. 1641), employee free speech/captive audience restrictions (S. 1078/H. 1653), consumer protection and civil rights jurisdiction expansion (S. 1041), private right of action for wage theft (H. 1916), gun-owner liability insurance (H. 1836), pseudoephedrine sales tracking (S. 1243/H. 1581), prepaid legal services plans (H. 1612), structured settlement protections (H. 1863), third-party litigation financing disclosure (H. 1861), antitrust reform for small businesses and workers (S. 1038/H. 1982), legal notices in online-only newspapers (S. 1279/H. 1632), and several animal cruelty and protection bills including H. 1938, H. 1949, S. 1277/H. 1934, and H. 1764. Testimony was largely supportive from bill sponsors and advocacy groups, with repeated themes of protecting vulnerable people and animals, improving access to justice, and updating outdated laws. Supporters of the animal bills argued for stronger possession bans, broader cruelty citations, and civil removal tools to prevent repeat abuse; opponents or conditional supporters raised due process and enforcement concerns, especially around warrantless seizures and requiring retail or shelter staff to check registries. On the labor and consumer side, supporters said the antitrust bill would curb monopoly power and help small businesses and workers, while opponents warned it could destabilize competition and burden successful firms. The employee free speech bill was backed as a response to captive audience meetings, and the wage-theft bill was presented as a way to let workers or organizations pursue claims when individual employees are afraid to come forward. Several public officials and association representatives testified on the law enforcement and civil rights bills. Chiefs of police supported adding law enforcement councils to the Tort Claims Act, saying it would close a liability gap for regional mutual-aid collaborations. But police representatives opposed changes to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act and qualified immunity-related provisions, arguing the federal system already provides a workable forum and that expanding liability could increase costs, reduce morale, and worsen recruitment and retention. On the consumer/civil rights bill, Senator Collins and a veteran described an out-of-state assault case that they said showed the need for Massachusetts to let residents seek redress at home when rights are violated elsewhere. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself; the committee mainly received testimony and questions. Several witnesses indicated they had submitted written testimony or proposed amendments, and some bills drew requests for favorable reports while others were explicitly opposed unless amended.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee May 13th, 2026

Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • About 55% of the payments, as you can... ...a large sum of money.
  • The orange area are payments to insurers.
  • of their claim payments, and we'll come back to that later.
  • for the utility payments between shareholders and rate payers so mr.
  • Able to accelerate payments.
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and possible reforms to California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the high and growing wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh tradeoffs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The chair emphasized that the SB 254 report is an inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations, and that the Legislature’s role is to evaluate the options publicly. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described severe ongoing displacement, housing insecurity, delayed compensation, and frustration with what they characterized as opaque and unfair compensation structures. They argued for greater transparency, clearer accountability for utilities, stronger oversight of wildfire mitigation spending, and incentives tied to safety performance. They also urged faster survivor payments, but only if they are full, fair, and not financed by shifting more costs to taxpayers or ratepayers. Committee members asked about gaps in the SB 254 report, the meaning of “full” compensation, and how a fast-pay facility might work. The second panel included the California Earthquake Authority, RAND, PG&E, LADWP, Consumer Attorneys of California, and the Public Advocates Office. Tom Welsh of CEA explained the report’s process and the current wildfire fund structure, including that utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims, and prudency reviews can require reimbursement to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon outlined how roughly $38 billion has been paid to survivors, insurers, and public entities since 2017, and noted substantial litigation costs and cost-shifting among stakeholders. Utility representatives supported reforms that preserve financial stability and reduce risk, while consumer and public-interest advocates opposed shifting more costs to ratepayers and stressed accountability, audits, and safety-linked recovery. No votes or formal actions were taken in the hearing.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • It requires ACA to develop a user-friendly consumer satisfaction survey to capture resident and family
  • It requires ACA to develop a user-friendly consumer satisfaction survey to capture resident and family
  • The bill already reinstates the requirement, as I said, that nursing homes conduct consumer satisfaction
  • The bill already reinstates the requirement, as I said, that nursing homes conduct consumer satisfaction
  • Lastly, the amendment directs ACA to engage a contractor to study nursing home quality incentive payment
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services first heard and adopted the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the committee, which was presented as a $1.8 billion increase over the current base budget. The budget emphasized Medicaid and KidCare funding, IT modernization, workforce reductions tied to unfilled or augmented positions, provider rate increases, mental health and substance use funding, opioid treatment, elder care, veterans’ services, cancer research, and school nurse staffing. The committee approved technical adjustments and then adopted the budget proposal for submission to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered several bills, most of which were reported favorably. SB 152 on surgical smoke required hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt smoke evacuation policies; it drew strong support from nurses and other health care workers describing workplace and patient safety risks. CS/SB 958 on early detection of type 1 diabetes required the Department of Health to develop informational materials for schools and, by amendment, early learning coalitions. CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing homes required consumer satisfaction surveys, patient safety culture surveys, reporting to the health information exchange, financial reporting penalties, and Medicaid quality incentive reporting; an amendment exempted state-operated homes, including veterans’ facilities, and directed a study of quality incentive systems. CS/SB 738 updated and streamlined child care regulation, and CS/SB 1356 created the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at Florida State University and a related pediatric rare disease screening pilot. The committee also passed SB 1370, which reorganized ambulatory surgical centers into their own statutory framework, with testimony emphasizing their lower costs compared with hospitals. Finally, the committee considered CS/CS/SB 1626 on child welfare and related issues. After adopting multiple amendments that removed references to unaccompanied alien children and special immigrant visas, changed language on child abuse definitions, and required DCF to set room-and-board rates by methodology rather than fee schedule, the bill was explained as strengthening child welfare protections, codifying military-family coordination, improving domestic violence shelter certification, adjusting children’s services council appointments, clarifying missing-child procedures, and updating licensing and compliance provisions. The bill drew both support and opposition, particularly over missing-child jurisdiction and immigration-related concerns, and was ultimately reported favorably. A final motion to record a vote on SB 958 was also adopted.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary May 7th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • They provide for rules to be adopted for reimbursements, allowances, payment of expenses concerning mileage
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate and House bills, mostly dealing with courts, veterans, public safety, and licensing. Early actions included favorable reports on SB 317, which adds the House and Senate Military and Veterans Affairs committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, and SB 357, which updates court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, cleans up outdated language, and revises reimbursement and security rules. SB 232, funding the judges’ supplemental compensation fund, was amended and reported favorably, and SB 421, modernizing electronic records terminology and safeguards, was also reported favorably. Several House bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and later HB 374-1. The committee then took up SB 208 on veterans’ services, which was presented as a response to the earlier court ruling striking down Act 479. The bill seeks to regulate unaccredited “claim shark” businesses that charge veterans for disability-claim assistance, while exempting federally regulated accredited agents. Testimony from the Department of Veterans Affairs supported the bill as a way to protect veterans from predatory practices, while an opposing witness argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress or the pending Fifth Circuit appeal. Despite the objection, the bill was reported favorably. Members also advanced SB 510, which would restrict access to certain licensed establishments that sell hemp-based intoxicating products, especially bar-like venues where minors can currently enter; Alcohol and Tobacco Control explained the bill’s purpose and scope. HB 302, by Representative Chasson, was discussed as a measure to prohibit vape sales near schools, with testimony from public health and ATC witnesses noting the need to align the bill with existing licensing and local-ordinance authority; the committee moved it favorably after discussion. Finally, SB 34, creating “Brian’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with developmental disabilities, drew extensive emotional testimony from families and disability advocates and was reported favorably, as was SB 164, which adds public works employees to the definition of first responders. The committee adjourned after reporting HB 597, which restructures judicial compensation rules and eliminates the commission after a delayed effective date, and after deferring HB 374-1.