Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we're going to start with some pending legislation.
• This legislation creates a shared savings program, which is a financial incentive program run by health
• The legislation is meant to incentivize individuals to shop for their health care.
• The goal of this legislation is for the insurer to share the savings with a patient who chooses to shop
• In the last legislative session, House Bill 2002 opened the door for patients who shop and find lower

Bills: HB345 , HB721 , HB2580 , SB815 , HB3057 , HB4603 , HB3233 , SB495 , HB3863 , HB3914 , HB4570 , HB5099 , HB5173 , SB458

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Miley, an Austin lawyer, and a volunteer and board member for the Texas Humane Legislation
• We based our legislation on the bill passed by the legislature in 1989 that formed the Upper...
• It is a legislative council draft, if anybody heard that. All right, I do have...
• Marta Fee, separate legislation, separate law.
• If the legislation is dropped, that means 10% would be one customer.

Bills: SB1169 , SB1285 , SB1583 , SB1611 , SB1898 , SB1976 , SB2160 , SB2161 , SB2658 , SB2661 , SB2662 , SB2692 , SB1055 , SB1359 , SB2660

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very glad that you are participating in the legislative process and I actually expect for you to
• And I want to give a shout out to all the legislative interns who are currently, formerly, from Rice
• I appreciate that, but it is also the case that we pass legislation all the time and this body and we
• This legislation ensures that Army Specialist Joey Lenz's name and sacrifice are forever remembered in
• And I ask that you support this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. I move passage.

Bills: HJR5 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB1330 , HB2110 , HB2143 , HCR64 , HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

Transcript Highlights:

• This body is actually put forth legislation just recently that attempts to do just that.
• That is where this legislation comes into play.
• It also reflects a long collaborative process that began during the 88th legislative session between
• And so, members, not a word of the legislation has changed since we saw it last session.
• It is the intent of this legislation to allow younger adult individuals to participate professionally

Bills: SB 438 , SB 512 , SB 647 , SB 648 , SB 1495 , SB 2121 , SB 2145 , SB 2154 , SB 2167 , SB 2184 , SB 2211 , SB 2268 , SB 2349 , SB 2443 , SB 2629 , SB 2702 , SB 2902

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: SB 438, Texas, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative law judge, ALJ, public information act, open records, confidentiality, privacy, home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, social security number, family members, Government Code 552.117, Government Code 552.1175, Tax Code 25.025, public records, government transparency

Summary: The meeting of the committee commenced with the establishment of a quorum, where members discussed and voted on five significant bills related to energy efficiency, insurance regulation, and public utility governance. Notably, Senate Bill 2717 was presented, incorporating feedback to foster collaboration among various state agencies for improved energy efficiency performance. This was followed by a detailed discussion on Senate Bill 1642, which proposed changes to the Texas Department of Insurance's executive structure to optimize management and consumer focus. Each bill saw active participation from senators who moved to adopt committee substitutes for clarity and responsiveness to stakeholder concerns, indicating a proactive approach to legislative issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• make it clear that the language in the A2 amendment matches what's already in statute. with the legislative
• I know courts will do what courts are going to do, but I just wanted to make sure that that legislative
• The DOC is requesting $9.1 million from the state's general fund, as well as legislative approval to
• What we've done with this legislation that was passed last Is we have provided a right and privilege
• We need to acknowledge that through our legislation, and it's important for them to stay connected to

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and Committee members, Frankie Menes with the Legislative Analyst Office.
• The bill advanced through the legislative process, but the governor vetoed it, saying, "Hey, you need
• I'm Sonia Piddick with the Legislative Analyst's Office. Good morning, Mr. Rogers.
• I'm Sonia Peddick again from the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Sonya Pettigrew with the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but is there anything on your wish list that you wish it would include in this great piece of legislation
• fundamentally doing, members, is we are buying time to get better data to make a decision next legislative
• Is there a timeline within your legislation of when we're going to get that scientific data, and do we
• So, I mean, this is the most rock-hard, immovable object and problem I've had as a legislator right now
• The expectation is that this air permit would be granted before the next legislative session.

Bills: SB2037 , SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1759 , HB29

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• Rachel Ehlers with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• , but it is not the legislation that I would say is driving the expenditure costs.
• Frank Jimenez with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Helen Kirstein with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Helen Kirstein with the legislative analyst office.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on transportation agency budget proposals and did not take any votes. The first major discussion focused on the Motor Vehicle Account shortfall and a proposed one-time $166 million transfer from the Air Pollution Control Fund and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to offset California Air Resources Board mobile source costs. Department of Finance and the LAO described the account’s long-running structural deficit, driven largely by employee compensation growth and REAL ID-related workload, while members criticized the use of Proposition 4, GGRF, and other one-time or redirected funds as backfills and urged a longer-term solution that addresses both revenues and expenditures. The committee then heard Caltrans’ request for $25 million in General Fund support to create a Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Program. Caltrans said the program would build on the prior Clean California effort by funding local litter and graffiti cleanup, community engagement, and workforce pathways for vulnerable populations. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that local litter abatement is not a core state responsibility and that one-time funding is unlikely to solve persistent local cleanup needs. Several members echoed those concerns, while public commenters split between support for the cleanup/employment model and calls to instead restore funding to the Active Transportation Program and transit operations. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requested that California administratively recognize Tahoe’s federally designated population figure for state formula-based transportation funding, which would raise the population count used in formulas from 40,000 to 145,000. The agency said the change would not request new money but would better align state formulas with federal law and support a shared regional funding framework; members appeared generally supportive, though they noted the need to phase in the change to reduce impacts on other regions. The final presentation was on High-Speed Rail. The LAO reviewed the authority’s project update report, noting that it did not fully meet statutory requirements and that key details are still pending in a supplemental report expected later in the summer. The LAO said the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment still shows an estimated roughly $7 billion funding gap, with no specific plan to close it, and highlighted risks from federal review, inflation, and uncertain GGRF revenues. High-Speed Rail Authority staff said they are conducting a bottom-up review of scope, schedule, ridership, and costs, expect to provide updated information by late summer, and are exploring public-private partnerships and other financing strategies. Members stressed that no further funding commitments should be made until the updated analysis is available.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, this legislation makes clarifying changes to Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation...
• This legislation seeks to deter hit-and-runs by increasing the accountability of motor vehicle repair
• I believe there's five states now that are working on legislation, one of which has passed.
• I believe there's five states now that are working on legislation, one of which has passed.
• I'm here to offer my support for this legislation.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Summary: The committee considered and reported favorably several bills, most of them sponsored by Senator Rodriguez. CS/SB 164 on vessel accountability was presented as a measure to help law enforcement identify vessel owners, create a free long-term anchoring permit program, increase penalties for derelict vessel violations, and authorize grants for local governments in FWC’s prevention program; it passed without amendment. SB 388, dealing with FWC trust funds, was also reported favorably after Senator Berman asked whether non-game wildlife funds would support immigration enforcement; Senator Rodriguez said they would not. CS/SB 1320 was amended to recreate the Resilient Florida Trust Fund and then passed favorably. CS/CS/SB 344 modernizing the Telecommunications Access System was amended to define new terms and reduce the maximum surcharge from 25 cents to 15 cents, then reported favorably. CS/SB 86 on peer support for first responders expanded eligibility to support personnel and passed with broad support from law enforcement and related groups. The committee also took up CS/CS/SB 92, a hit-and-run accountability bill by Senator Gruters. The adopted amendment added a front license plate requirement, lowered the damage threshold from $5,000 to $2,500, and retained reporting requirements for repair shops. NFIB testified in opposition to parts of the bill, citing concerns about the lower threshold, short reporting deadlines, and potential license revocation, while supporters argued the bill would improve accountability and help solve hit-and-run cases. The bill was reported favorably after debate. The final and most contentious measure was CS/SB 56 by Senator Garcia, which would prohibit geoengineering and weather modification activities in Florida, repeal older weather-modification statutes, create a public reporting system at DEP, and impose penalties for violations. Supporters, including individuals identifying with weather-watch and anti-geoengineering concerns, argued that the bill would address public fears and environmental risks. A cloud-seeding company representative testified that cloud seeding is distinct from solar radiation management and said permitting should exist for responsible weather modification, while warning the bill could hinder beneficial precipitation enhancement. Despite skepticism from some members about the bill’s premise and scope, the committee reported it favorably. The meeting then concluded after members recorded missed votes and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anne Hollingshead from the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Legislative, executive, and judicial is $2.5 billion.
• Finance continues to monitor policy and legislative developments at the federal level.
• That would be within your power as a legislative body to do.
• Carolyn Chu, Legislative Analyst's Office.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that if one thing doesn't work, they can speedily fix it rather than having to wait for the whole legislative
• anyway, I think I prefer to let them handle it in rules and see where it goes than to try to pass legislation
• that if one thing doesn't work, they can speedily fix it rather than having to wait for the whole legislative
• anyway, I think I prefer to let them handle it in rules and see where it goes than to try to pass legislation
• I I think two legisl I I think two we<00:03:00.760><c> have</c><00:03:00.879><c> to</c><00:03:01.040

Committee: House Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is specifically written for, and if anybody needs to come to get a permit, this legislation
• This legislation is specifically written for, and if anybody needs to come to get a permit, this legislation
• </c><00:17:49.000><c> is</c><00:17:49.200><c> specifically</c> that this legislation is specifically
• that this legislation is specifically written<00:17:50.320><c> for</c><00:17:51.600><c> and</c><00:17
• </c> to uh get a permit this legislation to uh get a permit this legislation works<00:17:59.159><c> for

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the people she represents, and she works tirelessly to translate those concerns into meaningful legislative
• </c> concerns into meaningful legislative concerns into meaningful legislative action<00:04:18.320><c
• at the Rostrum speaker legislation at the Rostrum speaker Hortman<00:08:14.720><c> has</c><00:08:14.919
• </c><00:10:45.800><c> and</c><00:10:45.920><c> a</c><00:10:46.040><c> better</c> better legislator and
• a better better legislator and a better leader<00:10:48.440><c> being</c><00:10:48.680><c> a</c><00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• this legislation.
• Would they still be able to see that with this legislation, Madam Chair, Representative?
• Thanks for your consideration of this legislation.
• So I don't want to be reactive in legislation.
• It was supported unanimously by the City Council, and it was directed to legislators.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's essentially what the legislation does.
• Doing by passing this legislation. Thank you, Chair and Majority Leader.
• Madam Chair, today I have a member of the legislative finance staff.
• Okay, is there anybody in this room opposed to this legislation? Seeing none.
• I'll direct you to our county manager, who's here, or any of the other legislators.

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• The New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group Legislative Dinner is at the Bull Ring at 6:30 p.m.
• President, and I carry information or carry legislation that I know absolutely nothing about.
• We go without our business introduction of legislation.
• Hearing no objection, we are in that order of business: Introduction of legislation.
• We'd like to thank our reader for all those introductions of legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, the legislative proviso language authorized In 2023, the legislative proviso language authorizing
• In 2023, the legislative proviso language authorized In 2023, the legislative proviso language authorizing
• I'm Joanne Hart, the Chief Legislative Officer for the Florida Dental Association.
• There are legislators who are very interested in this program. Thank you.
• There are, there are legislators who are very interested in this program. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard a base budget overview for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which was presented as a $46.8 billion starting point for the silo. Staff explained that HHS accounts for about half of the state base budget and roughly 36% of general revenue, with AHCA and Medicaid making up the largest share. The committee then reviewed the PACE program for the elderly, including its eligibility, service model, growth in applications, slot funding and reversions, and the agency’s plan to move from the federal three-way agreement to a more detailed two-party contract to improve accountability, transparency, and reporting. Members raised concerns about unfilled slots, reversions, rural access, and the need for clearer return-on-investment data; the agency said it would follow up on some of those questions. The committee also heard from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities on its statewide dental program. APD described its history of appropriations, the failed January 2024 solicitation, and a new up-to-$11.5 million solicitation focused on preventive care, community partnerships, teledentistry, and coordination with other services. Members questioned overlap with Medicaid dental coverage, the effect of Medicaid unwinding on APD clients, and whether state dollars were duplicating federally supported services; APD said it tries to act as payer of last resort and that services would continue during procurement. Public testimony from an APD stakeholder and the Florida Dental Association emphasized Medicaid eligibility problems for waiver recipients, low reimbursement rates, limited access to anesthesia and hospital-based dental care, and concerns that proposed Medicaid changes could reduce access for special-needs patients. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs then presented on state veterans service officers and benefits assistance. FDVA highlighted its role in helping veterans access federal benefits, reporting about $27.9 billion in federal dollars flowing into Florida and a high return on state investment. The department said it has increased outreach, claims processing, and services, and has trained staff to identify mental health concerns through its Overwatch program. In response to questions, FDVA discussed plans to expand adult day health care at a new veterans nursing home and possibly at existing locations with additional state funding. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed its presentations and adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal is for legislators to understand the rate-setting process, the CCO financial...
• implementation of the recent legislation, House Bill 4039, that directs changes to a rate process.
• If I'd have to legislate it, maybe?
• And so like this has been part of the ACA for the entire time that I've been a legislator.
• We're not going to give you the legislative directive.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing focused first on Oregon Medicaid coordinated care organization (CCO) finances and rate setting. Oregon Health Authority staff explained how 2025 CCO financial results will inform 2027 capitation rates, including reserve requirements, subcapitation arrangements, and major cost drivers such as behavioral health, pharmacy, rural hospital costs, and dental directed payments. They said the Legislature’s added 2025 funding materially improved CCO margins and that, without it, the program would have been negative overall. Members asked about retained earnings, subcapitation, behavioral health utilization, ABA therapy, and whether outcomes are being evaluated; OHA said rate setting is actuarial and that CCOs, OHA, and other partners all play roles in monitoring efficacy and access. OHA also reviewed House Bill 4039 changes intended to increase transparency and give CCOs earlier access to rate information and reconciliation exhibits. CCO representatives then testified that the system is under significant financial pressure and that behavioral health state-directed payments, benefit changes, and federal uncertainty from H.R. 1 are reducing flexibility. CareOregon said it has lost more than $500 million over the last couple of years and is now making provider terminations and other network changes to align spending with available funding, while emphasizing that CCOs must make hard decisions about which services and providers can be sustained. Eastern Oregon CCO said rural and frontier factors, cost-based hospitals, air ambulance needs, and statewide efficiency adjustments are not fully reflected in rates, and that dental funding is especially strained. Trillium similarly warned that state-directed payments and benefit expansion pressures are constraining the global budget model and that H.R. 1 could worsen acuity and volatility. Members pressed the witnesses on who is responsible for evaluating treatment effectiveness, especially for ABA and psychotherapy, and on how utilization limits and reimbursement changes are being used to control costs. The committee then shifted to an overview of the Affordable Care Act and Oregon’s commercial insurance market. Department of Consumer and Business Services staff explained actuarial value, metal tiers, premium tax credits, medical loss ratio rules, and the main drivers of premium rates: cost trend, utilization trend, and administrative costs. They said mandates have likely added only a limited amount to premiums over the past decade, though the exact effect is difficult to isolate, and they gave examples of how high-cost, low-volume services versus broad, high-utilization services can affect rates differently. Staff also noted that Providence Health Plan and PacificSource Health Plans are withdrawing from the individual market, though consumers should still have at least three insurer options in every county and may have four in many counties. The division said it is in the middle of reviewing proposed 2027 rates and will continue its public rate review process, including hearings and written comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we could immediately start as soon as this legislation has passed, presuming, you know, you would
• We've had some questions earlier today on a separate piece of legislation.
• And that resulted in these two pieces of legislation to try to resolve that issue in Louisiana.
• That resulted in these two pieces of legislation to try to resolve that issue in Louisiana. Okay.
• So I don't want us to bleed over into other pieces of legislation that are out there.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1157, which would create a Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank to provide another funding mechanism for transportation-related projects, including roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports, and other surface transportation needs. Chairman Borek and DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD said the goal is to leverage state, federal, local, and private dollars, using models from Florida and other states. Members asked about board makeup, staffing, project selection, administrative costs, and how the bank would differ from capital outlay and existing transportation programs. Testimony in support came from business and economic development representatives, including Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans, Inc., who said infrastructure is critical to major economic projects and that the bank could attract outside capital. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up several local and procurement-related bills. House Bill 860, allowing fillable electronic public bid forms, was reported favorably. House Bill 972, naming a portion of Highway 93 in Lafayette Parish the Desert Shield Desert Storm Memorial Highway, and House Bill 965, naming a portion of Highway 163 the Sergeant William Billy Earl Collins Jr. Memorial Highway, were both reported favorably after brief testimony honoring veterans and law enforcement. House Bill 692, authorizing local governments to enter group purchasing agreements, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 685, allowing use of FAST Act cooperative procurement for public motor vehicles and rolling stock, drew support from transit officials and was reported favorably after a roll call vote, with one member voting no. The committee also advanced House Bill 982, which designates portions of highways in Morehouse Parish in memory of local residents killed in a crash after attending an LSU game; it was reported with amendments. House Bill 506, creating special prestige license plates for local high schools as a fundraiser, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 839, lowering the contract limit for hospital service districts to use construction management at risk from $2 million to $1 million, was reported by substitute after testimony from hospital leadership and industry representatives. House Bill 1072, revising powers and emergency procurement authority for the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, was amended and reported favorably after discussion about its relationship to DOTD and emergency repairs. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 887, which revises construction management at risk procedures, including committee makeup, scoring, and financial qualification requirements; it was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 647, creating timelines and an annual application process for waterway projects under a waterway assistance program and fund, was reported by substitute. The last major item discussed was House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology and training for law enforcement through a $2 fee on driver’s licenses. The bill was presented alongside emotional testimony from the widow and daughter of Sergeant Grant Candies and from a St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s captain, all urging safer equipment and better training for officers. Members expressed strong support, and the discussion continued into funding and grant administration details.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please note that in order to facilitate the goal of conducting a legislative hearing, and as we proceed
• Proponents of this legislation highlight the waste of resources caused by swatting or false 911 calls
• And I think that is what we're really trying to do with this legislation.
• Jim Lindberg, Friends Committee on Legislation of California, opposed.
• Jim Lindbergh, on behalf of the Friends Committee on Legislation of California, in support.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all