Transcript Highlights:

• This bill addresses the lack of pediatric readiness in our hospital emergency departments.
• Current Florida law has no specific standards of care for treating children in hospital emergency departments
• HB 1119 addresses this lack of pediatric readiness in our emergency department by doing five things.
• So this bill is just to create a minimum floor of standards so that hospital emergency departments will
• Project. floor of standards so that hospital emergency departments will have policies relating to pediatric

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard a lengthy agenda of health care and public health bills. The first major item was HB 649, which would remove the paper supervision protocol for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and allow autonomous practice. The sponsor and supporters argued it would improve access, especially in rural areas, address workforce shortages, and reduce costs, while opponents from the medical community raised patient safety concerns and argued it would weaken physician oversight. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported the bill favorably by a vote of 18-7. The committee then unanimously advanced several other measures. HB 259, creating a special observance for fentanyl awareness and education, passed 23-0. HB 791, which codifies infant safety devices as an option for surrendering newborns and amends safe-haven law, passed as amended 25-0. HB 355, allowing schools to use FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonists rather than only naloxone, passed 26-0. HB 1119, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric readiness policies, training, coordination, and assessment requirements, also passed 26-0 after two amendments. HB 431, changing the date for level-two background screening of athletic coaches to July 1, 2026, passed 26-0. Later, the committee approved CS for HB 907, the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases or “Sunshine Genetics Act,” which would establish an opt-in newborn genome sequencing program at FSU and a statewide consortium for rare disease research; supporters emphasized earlier diagnosis and cost savings, and the bill passed 25-0. CS for HB 519, aligning state law with federal law on controlled substances for paramedics, passed 25-0. Finally, CS for HB 723, requiring the Department of Health to provide early-detection materials for type 1 diabetes to families of young schoolchildren, passed as amended 26-0. The meeting adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> who</c> manager of the town of Newington who manager of the town of Newington who tells<00:05:57.160
• point—but we could say the insurance company, uh, the builder must provide proof of insurance, yeah,
• some sort of commitment from an insurance company to insure the product when it's finished.
• point—but we could say the insurance company, uh, the builder must provide proof of insurance, yeah,
• some sort of commitment from an insurance company to insure the product when it's finished.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and really work, and then the Department of Health is supposed to tell us all how to implement all of
• As I've been talking to the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, the counties that I
• , regardless of insurance or not.
• Also clarifying the definition of affecting of a corporate executive officer for insurance purposes,
• So finally, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Criminal

Transcript Highlights:

• Today's hearing is related to insurance.
• We are hearing testimony in the order of sign-ups and may take an elected official out of turn due to
• providing non-Medicare health insurance coverage to retirees over the age of 65 and older who are not
• 1816, of the same title.
• The purpose for this bill is back in 1983, Chapter 661 of the Acts of 1983, which established a PRIT

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hybrid hearing focused on insurance and retirement-related bills. Representative Hendricks testified in support of H.2874, which would create a Medicare buy-in program for certain state retirees age 65 and older who are not currently Medicare eligible, with the Commonwealth paying Part A premiums and late penalties. He argued the bill would reduce retiree health costs for the state and municipalities while improving benefits for retirees. Don Buckley also testified in support of H.2874, describing his own situation as a long-serving state retiree without Medicare coverage and urging passage of the bill. Paul Jakes of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Michael Riley of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems testified in support of H.2999/S.1862, which would provide fair worker representation on joint purchasing group committees. Riley also supported H.2933/S.1816, which would add a seat on the PRIM Board for non-state teacher retirement systems, and H.2954/H.1813, which would change the criteria and duration for systems considered underperforming in the public employee retirement system funding rules. He said the changes would better reflect current conditions and limit forced participation in PRIT to five years rather than in perpetuity. Committee members asked no questions during the hearing. After testimony concluded and no additional witnesses came forward, the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• keep the cost of their insurance down and providing good options for them.
• With that, our good esteemed director of the Department of Insurance took action, issued a bulletin,
• This memorial is to show our support to the Department of Insurance and the director and to ask CMS to
• I'm the director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, and I'm grateful to be with you.
• You have to take care of the agent.

Summary: The committee began by removing Senate Bill 1374 from the agenda at the chair’s request, citing the need for more time to meet with stakeholders and clarify the bill. The committee then took up House Joint Memorial 16, introduced by Representative Ben Furman, which expresses support for the Idaho Department of Insurance and asks the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to clarify rules affecting Medicare Advantage marketing and commissions. Representative Furman and Insurance Director Dean Cameron described problems in the Medicare Advantage market, including carriers withdrawing plans, limiting access to applications, and later refusing to pay commissions after enrollment periods. They said these practices have reduced consumer choice, especially in rural counties, and have made it harder for seniors to enroll through local agents. Cameron said the department issued a bulletin and cease-and-desist orders, some carriers sued, and the issue is now in federal court; he also noted that CMS and about 26 other states recognize the problem and are working on possible rule changes. Senator Wintrow thanked Director Cameron for his work on behalf of seniors. Representative Furman closed by asking for support for the memorial, and the committee moved House Joint Memorial 16 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The motion passed without opposition, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Only $2,000 of that went towards our deductible and out of pocket, and then the insurance didn't pay
• </c><00:10:25.680><c> the</c><00:10:26.519><c> um</c><00:10:26.839><c> insurance</c> managers a lot of
• the um insurance managers a lot of the um insurance companies<00:10:28.839><c> are</c><00:10:29.440>
• Currently, per DMS and Department of Medicaid Services, to be respectful to Senator Douglas, who doesn't
• And I go back to that: the DMS, Department of Medicaid Services, Senator Douglas, but this is regulatory

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 27, as amended by committee substitute, which would create a Kentucky Parkinson’s disease research registry. The sponsor said the substitute was developed with UK, U of L, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and Parkinson’s in Motion to better define a movement disorder center, add Parkinson’s experts from both universities to the advisory committee, require automated reporting, and delay implementation until 2027. Testimony emphasized the need to track diagnoses and testing while protecting confidentiality and allowing people to opt out. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted unanimously to pass SB 27 with a favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 93, dealing with hearing aid coverage for children. A parent described the high cost of hearing aids for her son and the financial burden created by insurance limits, while a pediatric audiologist explained that early identification and treatment improve language outcomes and that families can spend about $30,000 on hearing aids from birth to age 18. The committee substitute removed adults from the bill and added an in-network requirement for pediatric audiologists, along with a replacement interval consistent with Medicaid guidelines and repair/loss coverage provisions. After questions about costs, replacement timing, and insurer practices, the committee voted unanimously to pass SB 93 with a favorable expression. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 153, a transparency and due-process bill concerning Medicaid prepayment review. The sponsor and witnesses from Addiction Recovery Care and Frontier Behavioral Health said prepayment reviews can be imposed with little notice or explanation, disrupt cash flow, and burden rural and smaller providers; they argued the bill would require clearer notice, reasons, and timelines without stopping legitimate reviews. Members asked about managed care organizations, contract issues, and whether the bill would conflict with existing agreements, and the sponsor said it would not. After discussion and an explanation of vote from Senator Douglas, the committee voted to pass SB 153 with a favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:04:41.199><c> human</c> with the department of human with the department of human services.<00
• > Human</c> structure of the Department of Human structure of the Department of Human Services<00:10:
• </c> the department of human services. the department of human services.
• </c><00:37:45.920><c> of</c> that has costs at the Department of that has costs at the Department of
• the Department of Children, Youth and Families to the Department of Education.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are six education regions in the state that are established by the Department of Education.
• directs the Department of Education to assume that 6% of elementary school students and 5.5% of secondary
• So this $119,000—some of it is allocated to specific purposes, such as the health insurance portion of
• what used to all be discretionary, but now it's health insurance. ...health insurance portion of what
• Department of Education.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and former Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Rusty Arraes.
• The Department of Real Estate reports that 99% of all new housing construction creates an HOA to offset
• The Department of Real Estate reports that 99% of all new housing construction creates an HOA to offset
• The sheriff simply runs a department, and the coroner is one part of that department.
• The sheriff simply is the, runs a department, and the coroner is one part of that department.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill that we are focused on as the tax department is generally in the finance section of OPA, which
• These numbers are preliminary, and they're the work of the department economists.
• of the amount of money that we are sending to the hospitals.
• I know there's still a lot of talk, and I've seen a lot of interim agendas of the legislature, too, about
• I'm Chief Legal Counsel and Director of the New Mexico Revenue Department.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Even if she lives in an X-zone, she has to maintain flood insurance, okay, which is partly required of
• because we don't have the luxury of a big finance department.
• So this is something that the Department of Transportation is very much in support of.
• Jeannie Donovan, Director of Public Health and Policy at the New Orleans Department of Health and Human
• And our department does include the health department as well as the Office of Homeless Services.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered HB 431, which would require annual training for municipal mayors. After adopting a technical amendment adding municipal retirement systems to the training categories, members heard testimony from the bill author and Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) officials that the measure would require 16 hours of annual training, count existing ethics/harassment/cybersecurity requirements toward that total, allow online and in-person options, and impose no penalty other than public audit disclosure of compliance. The bill was favorably reported. Members then heard HB 150, authorizing Cameron Parish to create a local insurance program to help residents recover and repopulate after hurricanes without state funding. Testimony emphasized that the program would be locally funded and likely function as a subsidy or premium offset rather than a standalone insurer. The bill was favorably reported. HB 822, dealing with nonprofit entities appointing members to certain economic development district boards, was also favorably reported after discussion of an amendment to set a two-year forfeiture period for noncompliant nonprofits. The committee then took up HB 204, which would require monthly financial reports from certain East Baton Rouge Parish agencies to the Legislative Auditor. After an amendment removing the Council on Aging, testimony from CATS, BREC, and the auditor focused on whether the information was already public, the burden of monthly bank-statement reporting, and whether bank statements would expose sensitive information. Members ultimately agreed to voluntarily defer the bill for further work. The committee also favorably reported HB 136 on Harahan classified police hiring, HB 376 extending provisional appointment timeframes in civil service, HB 377 changing pay-range rules for the State Examiner and Deputy Examiner, HB 450 clarifying veterans’ points in fire and police civil service exams, HB 273 repealing a duplicate local tax statute, HB 1068 on garbage collection contract terms, and HB 864 allowing New Orleans to establish fire limits in certain state-right-of-way areas to address bridge fires. The transcript ends as HB 444 on adding commissioners to the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission was being introduced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the executive order directed the Department of Social Services and the Department of Health and
• It is now in the hands of the Department of Social Services.
• Do you mind if we asked a few questions of the department?
• Department of Social Services.
• Do you mind if we asked a few questions of the department?

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As of January 2025, we have added four departments in Randall County.
• Our performance measure is a minimum of two departments every three years. Thank you.
• funding to the Department of State Health Services for the cancer registry.
• of Defense for military service members who plan to received from the Department of Defense for military
• I retired from the Texas Department of Insurance in 1999 after 35 years of state service with the same

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to summarize the two department totals on line 26, Department of Human Services, all of the general
• c> Department of Commerce and um Department of Commerce and um it's<00:17:36.240><c> unclear</c><00:17
• </c><00:17:50.280><c> of</c> would then flow to the Department of would then flow to the Department of
• </c> Department of Health. Department of Health.
• > Department of Children, Youth, and Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Bills: HF4401 , HF4466

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF4401, Minnesota Medical Assistance, dental reimbursement, dental rates, critical access dental providers, Medicaid dental, MinnesotaCare, managed care plans, county-based purchasing plans, fee-for-service, oral health access, safety-net clinics, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, Indian health services, state-operated dental clinics, low-income patients, children's dental care, provider reimbursement, dental access

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1388, by the Finance Committee, regarding appropriations for the Department of Correction
• , but with the process that was pursued by the Department of Administration on the private insurance
• The Department of Administration must pursue an appraisal that provides not only for the costs of restoring
• Now, the agency and the Department of Administration have to be in agreement on that claim.
• department and the Association of Coroners.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Transportation.
• Department of Transportation.
• </c><00:44:12.680><c> of</c> which happened with Department of which happened with Department of Transportation
• </c> the department um sorry the division of the department um sorry the division of Public<00:44:50.319
• </c><02:14:37.400><c> of</c> presentation from the Department of presentation from the Department of

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented an overview of its budget and operations, emphasizing that it is the lowest-spending agency in state government and that its general fund allocation has declined since 2019. Commissioner Arling House explained that DAS also handles back-office functions for several administratively attached boards, which has affected staffing and spending comparisons. He said the department’s current general fund spending is roughly split between retiree health and other operations, and that the presentation was based on adjusted authorized spending rather than the original budget figures. A major portion of the meeting focused on retiree health benefits and the long-term effort to control costs. Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane described how the state moved from a projected deficit in retiree health to savings through a series of changes, including higher premium contributions, co-pay adjustments, and shifting Medicare retirees into Medicare Advantage arrangements to capture federal reimbursement. She said the state has about 12,500 retirees and spouses on the plan, with roughly 10,906 Medicare retirees and 1,580 non-Medicare retirees, and that the savings have depended heavily on federal funding and procurement decisions. She also noted that Medicare retirees pay Part B premiums and that the state has grandfathered older retirees from some premium contributions. Members asked about what the expenditures cover, why the state offers retiree health instead of simply giving retirees a payment to buy coverage themselves, and whether out-of-pocket costs changed under Medicare Advantage. Keane said the plan covers actual health claims or insurance premiums, that co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket limits remain in place, and that the state has no authority to change benefit details without legislative action. She explained that retiree health is a long-standing employee benefit that wraps around Medicare and is not collectively bargained in the usual sense, though its eligibility rules and cost-sharing have been tightened over time to better target the benefit to long-term state service. The discussion also covered vendor performance problems. Keane said Anthem recently won the contract back from Aetna, but its pharmacy subsidiary, Caroline, caused serious service disruptions. DAS responded by withholding payments, assessing more than $2 million in performance guarantees, and hiring a third-party auditor to review the pharmacy processes. The current contract runs through the end of calendar year 2026, and officials said they are watching federal Medicare Advantage reimbursement changes closely because future savings are uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Arizona Highway Patrol was instituted as a branch of the Arizona Highway Department.
• It moves the responsibility of the Arizona Geological Survey from the State Lands Department over to
• Another area where it was not requested, and it kind of leaves the department in limbo.
• having the, honestly, we have great health insurance, instead of having the good health insurance plan
• House Bill 2985, an act providing for the allocation of water from the State Land Department, is now

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and approval of the prior journal. Members then introduced guests, including Dr. Stephen Brown as doctor of the day, Arizona State Troopers Day participants, the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the Arizona delegation of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The Senate also adopted a proclamation recognizing the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association for its work serving people with communication disorders. The Committee of the Whole considered several House bills. HB 2133, dealing with sexual material and synthetic depictions, was amended on the floor and advanced despite objections that it was overbroad and raised First Amendment concerns. HB 2167, relating to the Attorney General, HB 2600, relating to public school clubs and parental consent, and HB 2811, relating to obstruction of public administration, were also advanced. In a second Committee of the Whole, HB 255 on brackish groundwater recovery, HB 2787 on limiting local cooperation with Mexican wolf reintroduction, HB 2795 on county zoning for small modular reactors, and HB 2985 on state land water allocations were considered; HB 2787, HB 2795, and HB 2985 advanced, while HB 2795 later failed on third reading. HB 2003, concerning driver licenses and instruction permits, was also amended to add a delayed effective date and advanced. On third reading, the Senate passed HB 2013, HB 2031, HB 2102, HB 2103, HB 2117, HB 2226, HB 2262, HB 2278, HB 2378, HB 2584, HB 2693, HB 2270, HB 2370, HB 2665, HB 2666, HB 2876, HB 487, HB 2003, HB 255, HB 2133, HB 2167, HB 2600, HB 2787, HB 2811, and HB 2985, with several members explaining no votes over water policy, local control, public safety, and free speech concerns. HB 2795 failed by a 15-13 vote. The Senate also agreed to a free conference committee on HB 2874 and appointed Senators Finchem, Bolick, and Ortiz to it. Bills passed in open session were ordered transmitted to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• Look at the state, the Department of Education. You've had some... ...of the other fiascos.
• Look at the State Department of Education.
• You've had some of, like, 53 programs offered by the State Department of Education.
• For one thing, I've done quite a bit of research into Arizona Department of Corrections, and what we
• the department to submit a report on the program that includes the number of in-state and out-of-state

Bills: HB2051 , HB2114 , HB2127 , HB2134 , HB2207 , HB2574 , HB2700 , HB2800 , HB2916

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, motorcycle registration, safety fund, education, awareness programs, low-income scholarships, motorcycle training, special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications

Transcript Highlights:

• and military installations to connect with the department and the governor's office in the event of
• Look at the state Department of Education.
• You've had some of like 53 programs offered by the state Department of Education.
• For one thing, I’ve done quite a bit of research into Arizona Department of Corrections, and what we
• The Foundation for Blind Children originally partnered with the Department of Corrections in 2021 to

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2134, which would create the Arizona Critical Infrastructure Protection Act to bar state and critical infrastructure entities from contracting with the People’s Republic of China or Chinese companies for access to Arizona critical infrastructure, and to prohibit Chinese-produced software in critical infrastructure. The sponsor and a witness from State Armor argued the bill was needed to reduce cyber and sabotage risks and to align Arizona policy with national security concerns. Some members questioned costs, overlap with federal law, and the Corporation Commission’s capacity, but the bill was approved on a 6-4 vote for a due pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 2051, which would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to federal approval, to cover breastfeeding and lactation care services and, under a proposed amendment, create a voluntary state certification for lactation care providers through the Department of Health Services. Testimony from lactation consultants, maternal health advocates, and researchers emphasized improved maternal and infant outcomes, access gaps for Medicaid families, and potential cost savings. AHCCCS and ADHS were neutral but noted implementation costs and the need for CMS approval; the committee adopted the amendment and gave the bill a 9-0 due pass recommendation. House Bill 2700 would establish a 15-member technology-first study committee focused on assistive technology for people with disabilities, with an amendment adding appointments by legislative minority leaders. Supporters said the committee would help Arizona catch up on assistive technology, improve independence, and address staffing shortages and aging-population needs. The committee discussed the amendment and then approved the bill 9-0. House Bill 2800, which would increase penalties for knowingly lending a vehicle to a person with a DUI-related driving restriction if that person later causes serious injury or death, drew extensive debate over whether the felony penalty was too broad; the sponsor and family members of a victim supported it as a targeted deterrent, while some members raised due process and knowledge concerns. It passed 9-1. House Bill 2114, which would use motorcycle safety fund money for scholarships for rural and low-income riders and require at least one registered owner to have a Class M license before a motorcycle registration is issued, received supportive testimony from the sponsor, motorcycle advocates, and safety supporters; members noted a possible wording issue with existing endorsements, but the bill passed 10-0. The committee also took up House Bill 2127, a large special-plates bill that had been expanded into an omnibus measure; after discussion of a Kavanaugh amendment removing a duplicate Grand Canyon plate and withdrawal of an Alston amendment, the committee adopted the Kavanaugh amendment and gave the bill a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:13:55.280><c> told</c> Department of Education also is told Department of Education also is told
• /c><01:15:22.560><c> services</c> department of health and human services department of health and human
• </c> through the insurance department. Yes. through the insurance department. Yes.
• /c><01:58:16.960><c> Services</c> Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human
• </c><02:12:49.440><c> I</c> Department of Labor deals with. I Department of Labor deals with.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to begin work on HB 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and more broadly to study special education aid/differentiated aid and related costing issues. The chair said the group was starting early because the issue has been debated for years without resolution, local districts are being forced to absorb prorated costs, and the committee wants to send the Department of Education and HHS Medicaid a clear request for data and recommendations before retained bills return in the fall. A committee clerk was also selected, with Representative Reverend volunteering to take notes for the meeting. Members reviewed background materials on special education enrollment, high-cost students, and possible funding formulas, including data on students in high-cost brackets and prior ideas such as category-based funding and caseload-based approaches. The chair also referenced research on other states, including Arkansas, which uses a different special education funding structure and audits IEPs. The committee emphasized that it was focused on the funding mechanics and costs, not on questioning whether services should be provided. Henry Lipman of HHS explained how Medicaid-to-schools currently works in New Hampshire. He said 172 school districts participate, but utilization dropped during the pandemic and remains below historical levels, in part because districts need the capacity to bill Medicaid. Under the current system, schools receive reimbursement based on half of the Medicaid fee schedule, with the school district effectively providing the state share. He said the federal government is requiring a shift by July 1, 2026, to a true certified public expenditure model based on actual costs, which should allow schools to recover 50% of their true costs and some administrative overhead. The department has received a roughly $2.5 million grant to hire a vendor and support districts through the transition, and an RFP and stakeholder meetings are underway. Committee members asked about how costs would be determined, whether the new system would use actual district-specific costs rather than averages, and how the department would support districts that do not currently participate. Lipman said the cost model would be based on each district’s own reasonable costs, subject to audit standards, and that the department expects to provide templates and technical assistance through the vendor because its staff is limited. He also said about one in four New Hampshire children are enrolled in Medicaid, that child enrollment has been relatively stable, and that continuous coverage rules should reduce churn. No votes or formal actions on HB 742 were taken during the meeting beyond organizing the subcommittee and beginning testimony and discussion.