Transcript Highlights:

• That money goes to the individuals, and the idea is to allow them to reduce premiums.
• The premiums went up. Okay.
• The<00:37:36.240> premiums<00:37:36.640> went<00:37:36.800> up.
• The premiums went up. Okay. The premiums went up. Okay.
• We are the largest payer of the premium tax in the state of Alabama.

Bills: HB55, SB15, SB247

Keywords: fishing, licensing, jubilee, Marine life, Alabama, regulations, sex offenders, employment restrictions, first responders, public safety, juvenile offenders, local laws, registration requirements, picketing, protesting, residential protest, noise amplification, amplified sound, residential picketing, harassment

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, today I spoke with the actuary for OSI and asked about premiums.
• The question has come up a few times. will premiums drop?
• It's driven up insurance premiums, and insurers are pulling back on coverage.
• They don't reduce premiums.
• I have would cause Premiums to drop between 6 and 16. 6 and 16.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past we their insurance premium.
• where the premium becomes that small. where the premium becomes that small.
• > collecting<01:53:19.520> while premiums that HHRF's collecting while premiums that HHRF's
• You know, you have a building with $50,000 of premium.
• Well, that's the $50,000 of premium.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees held an informational briefing on efforts to expand insurance capacity in Hawaii’s property market, especially for condominium and homeowners coverage. The Insurance Commissioner reviewed the background: a legislative task force, the governor’s emergency proclamation in August 2024, and Senate Bill 1044 in May 2025 led to new condo insurance products. He said the work over the past two and a half years was producing positive results and introduced representatives from HPIA and HHRF/HHR to provide updates. HPIA’s board chair and its administrator described the organization’s history, structure, and current products. HPIA said it was created in 1991 as a residual market for homeowners insurance, now writing four residential products: HO2 homeowners, renters, HO6 condo unit owners, and dwelling fire. They reported policy counts have grown again as admitted-market carriers tightened underwriting, and they discussed financial pressure from reinsurance costs, though those costs had declined in 2025 after different purchasing decisions. They also said the market has become more favorable overall, with some capacity returning and deductibles beginning to ease. Members focused much of their questioning on HPIA’s proposed higher dwelling limits. HPIA explained that the current $450,000 limit for homeowners and dwelling fire was set in 2023, but agents are now asking for a higher limit in the $650,000 to $750,000 range because construction costs have risen and many policies are not being submitted when the limit is too low. HPIA said it has the authority to raise the limit through a filing with the Insurance Division and expects more submissions if the cap increases. They also discussed the shift in the book of business from roughly 70% lava-zone coverage to closer to a 50/50 split between lava and non-lava risks. HPIA outlined strategic initiatives: a new policy administration system that went live October 1 and now allows online payments, online claims reporting, and electronic notices; a filed request to raise the homeowners and dwelling fire limit to $650,000 effective March 1 for new business and April 1 for renewals; an increase in the HO6 condo unit owners limit from $5,000 to $100,000; and a planned commercial property all-other-perils-excluding-hurricane condo product targeted for filing by January 31. No votes were taken, and the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:33.040> for one district doesn't spike premiums for one district doesn't spike premiums
• deductible while paying monthly premiums deductible while paying monthly premiums of<00:35:46.200
• in monthly health care premiums. in monthly health care premiums.
• So, 85% contribution of premiums for families, 95% for single premiums.
• to pay for their employees' premium to pay for their employees' premium plans.<01:21:56.920>

Bills: HF3119

Keywords: teacher compensation, educational staff, unlicensed staff, minimum wage, inflation adjustment, education finance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The enhanced premium tax credits.
• previously with the subsidies, premium payments doubling and tripling.
• with the subsidies; premium payments are doubling and tripling.
• would have If the state had not stepped in, their premiums would have more than doubled.
• And with the action that the state took, that premium will be $206 a month.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the November 2025 minutes. Commissioner Charlie Carr then introduced Leslie Darcy, chief of LTSS at MassHealth, who provided an update on the PCA working group and on federal and state budget pressures affecting MassHealth and long-term services and supports. Darcy said the PCA working group had completed its work and submitted recommendations, including reinstating the 66-hour overtime cap, strengthening program integrity, and ending paid paperwork time for EVV users; she said those changes were implemented on 11/26 and were expected to save $7.4 million. She also described additional consensus recommendations to lower the overtime cap from 66 to 60 hours, create a seven-hour weekly meal-prep support limit, and continue exploring benchmarks, though the group could not reach consensus on a benchmark standard. Darcy warned that a federal bill enacted about six months earlier would significantly affect MassHealth, with an estimated $3.5 billion loss to the Commonwealth by 2028. She outlined upcoming changes including revised immigrant eligibility rules in October 2026, work requirements for certain non-disabled adults beginning in January 2027, six-month redeterminations for some adults, and shorter retroactive coverage periods. In response to questions, she said people with disabilities and Medicare beneficiaries would be exempt from the work and six-month redetermination requirements. She also explained that reduced federal ACA subsidies were being offset in Massachusetts by state spending, including $250 million in additional state support to keep premiums lower for middle-income families. Members raised concerns about community hospitals, the health safety net, and the impact of federal funding changes on provider rates and uncompensated care. Darcy said restrictions on provider taxes would limit MassHealth’s ability to use those revenues to support rates, and she noted a current $300 million shortfall in the health safety net. She said FY27 would likely include a rate freeze, targeted reductions, one-time budget measures, and further work groups to examine programs such as adult foster care, which she said had grown 40% in two years. Carr emphasized that the situation was serious but potentially fluid, and the meeting ended with no further business; the subcommittee agreed to adjourn before the next meeting and noted an upcoming February presentation from the Department of Public Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• decision to not collect um the premiums decision to not collect um the premiums there<01:29:53.280
• show that exception on the premium show that exception on the premium language<02:47:14.000>
• no co- payment or or no of Premium no co- payment or or no premium<02:47:34.560> co-payment<02
• children that we can't charge premiums children that we can't charge premiums for<02:52:14.640><
• <02:52:53.120> and premiums and premiums and co-pays<02:52:55.560> representative<02:52

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division 3 work session continued its review of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid budget and related policy issues, with CFO Nathan White and Medicaid Director Henry Litman presenting updated materials. The discussion focused on a crosswalk between the adjusted FY 2025 Medicaid budget and the governor’s FY 2026 recommendation, plus handouts showing service additions, eligibility changes, dental rates, and other Medicaid changes since 2019. The department also said it would provide a clearer breakdown of the pharmacy cost-sharing item by general, federal, and other funds. Members asked detailed questions about the Medicaid enhancement tax, the 80% plan, and how funds are allocated between hospital payments, directed payments, and DSH uncompensated care. The department explained that the MET is being used more toward rates and directed payments to better align with federal matching rules, while DSH remains important for uncompensated care. They also noted that a pending Senate Bill 249 would keep the 80% structure and move to Senate Finance. On the trigger law, the department identified the governing provision as Chapter 342:12, Laws of 2018, and explained that if the federal match for Medicaid expansion falls below 90%, the state must notify legislative leaders and participants and the program would sunset after 180 days unless the legislature acts. The committee also reviewed current Medicaid expansion enrollment and program trends. Officials said enrollment was just under 59,000 as of March 3, with about 87,000 people enrolled over the past year and more than a quarter-million residents having used the program over its lifetime. They said enrollment has fallen from a post-pandemic high of nearly 97,000 and may eventually settle in the low 50,000s. Finally, the department discussed federal DSH funding risk, saying New Hampshire could face a significant reduction if Congress does not extend current protections, which is part of why the state has shifted more funding toward payment rates and directed payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think we know that Congress is looking at not premiums but cost sharing.
• And so the department has said people would not be subject to both premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
• But I think we know that Congress is looking at not premiums but cost sharing.
• But I appreciate your work. $1,000 in premium. And it $1,000 in premium.
• That the premium shall only apply to Medicaid and shall not apply to waiver services.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are upwards of 90 to 100%, a doubling in premiums.
• And we thought doubling in premiums.
• change that we would suggested premium change that we would have<00:07:56.000> a<00:07:56.240
• and make some decisions about premiums and make some decisions about how<00:08:11.039> to<00:
• are going to were telling us premiums are going to increase<00:14:15.600> 70<00:14:15.920>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to have an increase in premiums.
• , and also what the state pays for family and spouses. which is half the premium.
• But that other half of the premium that the employee pays will also go up 8%.
• The legislature did not want us to raise premiums on retirees for that program.
• cost. terms of premium increases.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the form of lower premiums and cost-sharing, rather than simply being retained by payers.
• billion in premium support for Covered California enrollees.
• If the enhanced premium tax credit is not extended by Congress, federal premium subsidy levels will drop
• will lose federal premium support entirely.
• Prior to these federal subsidies, California ran its own premium subsidy program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to cover any ACA premiums. to cover any ACA premiums.
• the expiration of the enhanced premium the expiration of the enhanced premium tax<01:32:55.600><
• monthly, you know, their the premiums monthly, you know, their the premiums that<01:37:26.800>
• a year would see a 76% you know, premium a year would see a 76% you know, premium increase.<01:38
• <02:12:15.119> tax disenrolled by by the ACA premium tax disenrolled by by the ACA premium

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing by the Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection committees focused on projected impacts to Hawaii consumers from federal changes affecting Med-QUEST and the ACA marketplace, including the loss of ACA premium tax credits, OBVA/HR1-related Medicaid changes, immigrant eligibility restrictions, and new Medicaid work/community engagement requirements. Committee members noted the meeting was being streamed live and emphasized the need to explain potential coverage losses affecting a significant share of the state population. Med-QUEST administrators reported current enrollment at 390,766, about 27% of Hawaii’s population, and broke that down into major groups including roughly 128,000 ACA expansion adults and about 52,000 parent/caretaker relatives. They said the expansion adult population would be most affected by the new federal requirements, which will shorten renewal periods from 12 months to 6 months and impose community engagement rules beginning in late 2026 and 2027. They described the work requirement as 80 hours per month of work, community service, work program participation, or half-time education, with an income-based pathway tied to $580 per month at the federal minimum wage; they also noted a long list of exemptions, but said many details are still awaiting federal guidance and rulemaking. The administrators said federal changes to immigrant eligibility would eliminate Medicaid coverage for certain noncitizen categories, with an estimated 1,200 to 2,400 people affected, though about 200 may remain covered through a state-funded program for otherwise eligible individuals. They also said marketplace subsidies would no longer be available for some immigrants under 100% of the federal poverty level starting January 1, 2026, with further restrictions expected in 2027. For Hawaii overall, they estimated the new Medicaid work and renewal rules could push an additional 19,000 to 38,000 people into uninsured status, with another estimated 6,000 at risk from the six-month renewal process alone. Members asked about how exemptions would be determined, especially for medically frail and seriously mentally ill individuals, and administrators said they were still awaiting detailed federal rules and were working on data-matching and verification processes to reduce coverage losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• underwriting policy servicing premium underwriting policy servicing premium billing<00:10:58.720
• Direct written premium is the amount of premium that HPIA collects for the policies written.
• and terms hopefully a favorable premium and terms hopefully a favorable premium but<00:43:31.760
• is incurred there's a minimum premium is incurred there's a minimum premium that<00:57:55.880>
• high-rise and single family the premiums high-rise and single family the premiums went<00:58:48.440

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and these classifications are required federally.
• And the final federal classification is additional targeted support and improvement, known as ATSI.
• classifications and these classifications<00:25:16.000> are<00:25:16.320> required<00:
• 25:16.960> federally classifications are required federally classifications are required federally
• And the final federal um classification And the final federal um classification is<00:26:32.640>

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:50 Robotics Education – 0:04:18 Canopy KY – 0:14:15 Comprehensive Support and Improvement – 0:23:20 Postsecondary Credit Alignment – 0:53:15 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in K-12 Settings – 1:21:25 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 2:05:15 Adjournment 2:05:41, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with a roll call, confirmed a quorum, approved the minutes by voice vote, and recognized a guest of Senator Hickden, retired judge Dan Kelly. The chair then moved through a tight agenda and limited public presentations and questions. The first presentation was on robotics education in Kentucky, led by Representative Chris Lewis, Kentucky FIRST Robotics executive director Kelly Gowen, and students from Whitfield Academy. They argued that robotics should be expanded in high schools as a workforce pipeline for engineering, manufacturing, and advanced technology jobs. The presentation emphasized hands-on learning, industry certifications, teacher development, and a proposed framework to fund robotics education programs statewide. Committee members were not allowed to ask questions because of time constraints. The second presentation was from Canopy Kentucky, led by Adam Watson and founder Scott Collins. They described Canopy’s business and entrepreneurship education programs for fifth graders and high school students, including the NextGen Good Biz initiative and an eight-classroom high school unit. Canopy requested a one-time $750,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026, matched by private funds, to expand into more schools and rural areas, train educators, and report outcomes. Members asked a brief question about how the programs fit into school schedules and the difference between the elementary and high school offerings. The final presentation, from KDE’s Kelly Foster and Todd Allen, reviewed the state’s school improvement classifications. Foster explained CSI, TSI, and ATSI status, the federal and state legal framework, and how House Bill 298 returned CSI identification to an annual cycle. She reported that Kentucky identified 50 CSI schools on the most recent release, with 53 CSI schools statewide, along with 39 TSI schools and 102 ATSI schools. She also outlined KDE’s support process, including education recovery staff, diagnostic reviews, turnaround plans, and required professional learning for CSI schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see we are taking the phase-in of the new PDPM classification system, but not the rest of the
• system but not the uh classification system but not the rest<00:05:58.080> of<00:05:58.320>
• It provides for the transition from the RUG case-mix classification system to the new PDPM case-mix classification
• system to the new mix classification system to the new PDPM<00:20:02.720> case<00:20:03.120><
• case mix classification system for PDPM case mix classification system for nursing nursing nursing facilities

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• regulation; HB 4018, sheriff exclusive authority auxiliary; HB 4109, safety school procedures criminal classification
• regulation HB 4018 sheriff exclusive authority auxiliary HB 4109 safety school procedures criminal classification

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, recorded attendance, and recognized several guests and proclamations, including Arizona Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness, the Doctor of the Day, educators visiting the Capitol, and student guests. The chamber also announced temporary committee replacements and received House messages and bill referrals before moving to floor action. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1014 on health insurance, SB 1016 on employment practices, SB 1050 on state parks board/veterans park access, SB 1054 on referendum power and emergency measures, SB 1177 on public monies and gender-affirming care, SB 1194 on health care services and vaccination-related treatment issues, SB 1398 on AHCCCS, SB 1751 on capital punishment, and SCR 1049, a constitutional amendment proposal related to capital punishment. Several members explained votes, with supporters emphasizing veterans’ benefits, limits on emergency measure abuse, health care access, and policy changes on capital punishment, while opponents raised concerns about worker protections, local government authority, discrimination against transgender people, and the death penalty. Each measure passed by recorded vote and was transmitted to the House. The Senate also noted upcoming committee meetings, including Health and Human Services the next day, and then adjourned until Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• their plan to provide lump sum bonus awards up to five thousand dollars for employees in the classifications
• their plan to provide lump sum bonus awards up to five thousand dollars for employees in the classifications

Summary: The committee first took up several personnel and compensation requests. It approved a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism reclassification that would trade three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager. It also approved one-time bonus and recruitment plans for the Department of Commerce and Department of Veterans Affairs, including up to $5,000 bonuses tied to the unemployment insurance modernization project and $2,000 bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the state veterans homes. A Department of Health request to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board was also approved; members were told the position was already authorized and would not increase total positions. The committee then reviewed a Department of Commerce reduction in force affecting the Division of Workforce Services for the Blind and Employment and Training divisions. Secretary Hugh McDonald and Workforce Connections Director Cody Waits explained that the cuts were driven by over-obligated federal funds, a prior realignment, and what they described as long-standing fiscal mismanagement in the Division of Services for the Blind. They said 56 employees remained furloughed, five employees in a separate grant group were still working, and 17 positions were on the permanent RIF list. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the independent board, and whether the layoffs were being handled fairly, including a request for racial composition data on the workforce and the RIF group. Members also discussed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Staff explained that the reports cover average staffing levels over each quarter, and members focused on overtime spending, especially in DHS, the Department of Correction, and the Department of Transportation. OPM said overtime is being reviewed, direct care positions remain exempt from the hiring freeze, and agencies have been hiring more staff since the new pay plan took effect. The committee asked for additional reporting on overtime trends, and the meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:07.520> subsidy of them will be on the premium subsidy of them will be on the premium
• And so, the the 20% premium subsidy.
• premium. Am I right? premium. Am I right? Um,<01:00:19.359> Mr.
• If you're going to have a premium<01:55:17.199> of premium of premium of $1,000<01:55:18.880><
• <01:56:38.159> is the difference in how the premium is the difference in how the premium is

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But overall, premiums have been flat.
• , an increased premium cost because the risks exist?
• I can't tell you how it would impact the premiums...
• And when's the last time you increased premiums? Mr.
• Chair, Senator Munoz, so we are increasing premiums this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reinsurance is a proven program that stabilizes market premiums, maintains enrollment levels, and ensures
• are at a significant risk of premium increases of 25% or more.
• the premium security plan we've<00:02:48.400> discussed<00:02:48.760> in<00:02:48.879>
• <00:03:16.360> security without this action the premium security without this action the premium
• increases of 25% or more risk of Premium increases of 25% or more on<00:03:23.239> the<00:03:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The soil classifications referenced in this bill also are based on pineapple and sugar, right?
• Um the the soil classifications<01:55:29.280> referenced<01:55:29.599> in<01:55:29.679>
• this<01:55:29.840> bill classifications referenced in this bill classifications referenced
• you develop land like lands of lost when you develop land like lands of soy<01:55:38.880> classifications
• of C or D um even soy classifications of C or D um even though<01:55:41.119> they're<01:55:41.360

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard several housing-related bills and resolutions. HB 1298 HD3 would create a government employee housing revolving fund and a government employee 99-year leasehold rent-to-own program; testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC, labor groups, and the Maui Chamber, with the Tax Foundation and Budget and Finance raising concerns about the revolving fund. The committees recommended passage with non-substantive amendments for clarity and consistency, and the motion was adopted. HB 741 H2, which would exempt certain affordable housing projects financed by a certified nonprofit CDFI from prevailing wage requirements, drew support from housing advocates and opposition from several construction unions; the chairs said they were concerned about the labor objections and deferred the measure, with the labor committee agreeing to defer it as well. The housing committee then took up HB 417 HD1, which creates a housing efficiency and innovation subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund and allows HHFDC to transfer funds between the subaccount and the main fund without legislative approval. Testimony was largely supportive. The chair described a series of amendments, including changing the funding-efficiency standard, adding perpetual affordability language, allowing any land tenure type, broadening eligible financing tools, adding priority criteria for mixed-income projects and government-employee projects, and inserting blank appropriations tied to a requested $75 million per year and a $75 million subaccount appropriation for the HCDA 99-year leasehold project. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. HB 422 HD1, which would repeal school impact fees and move remaining balances to the school facilities special fund, drew broad support from housing and taxpayer groups and opposition from the Department of Education and some individuals. The School Facilities Authority and DOE argued the current system had not produced enough usable land or school sites and suggested narrowing the exemption to government housing projects’ construction costs instead of repealing the fee entirely. Members pressed DOE and SFA on how much land had actually been obtained and whether the fee had been effective; the discussion highlighted concerns about unused balances, school overcrowding, and the role of the Land Use Commission and county zoning in securing school sites. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion shown. The committee also heard STR 60/SR 45, urging HHFDC to develop a plan to meet housing demand, and STR 77/SR 60, addressing continued eligibility for housing credits for certain projects after repeal of Act 31; both sets of resolutions had HHFDC support, with DHHL supporting STR 77/SR 60 and Johnny May Perry opposing both.