Transcript Highlights:

• It requires insurers to report how often these substitutes actually reduce ...patients' out-of-pocket
• John Winger, on behalf of America's Health Insurance Plans.
• Good morning, John Sherekin with the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies in
• So if I pay out of my pocket for now because I need the medication, then after the insurance company
• Obviously, from the insurance companies’ point of view, they are trying to save the cost of the drug.

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard SB 1094 by Senator Weber Pearson, which would expand pharmacist and health plan authority to substitute biosimilars for reference biologic drugs in order to lower prescription drug costs. The author and supporters, including Blue Shield of California, Sharp HealthCare, and several business and health groups, argued that biologics are a major driver of rising health care spending and that biosimilars can provide substantial savings while maintaining safety and efficacy. The bill also included transparency provisions and committee amendments, including notice requirements and clarifications around substitution and exceptions. Opposition came from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the California Rheumatology Alliance, and Biocom, who said the bill was not scientifically justified, could undermine FDA standards, and might lead to unwanted switching, side effects, or delays in care for patients with chronic conditions. They emphasized that pharmacists can already substitute interchangeable biosimilars and that non-interchangeable products can be changed with prescriber contact. Committee discussion focused on patient safety, the meaning of “do not substitute,” the 30-day notice provisions, and the distinction between biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars. After debate, the committee adopted a due pass as amended motion to the Senate Health Committee. The bill passed the committee on a 10-0 roll call vote and was sent onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very important to us at the Department of Education. I'm Stephen Proffler.
• I'm the director... ...of the Early Education Division at the California Department of Education, and
• Beyond planning, there's data reporting that they do to the Department of Education.
• Department of Finance traditionally scores that as savings, and it does not go back into the early care
• The Department of Finance traditionally scores that as savings, and it does not go back into the early

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its third hearing, focused on how transitional kindergarten (TK) fits into California’s mixed-delivery early learning system, with an emphasis on the Central Valley. Opening remarks stressed that TK and child care should complement each other, not compete, and that families need both part-day school-based options and full-day, year-round care. Committee members outlined hearing goals around aligning TK with existing programs, understanding family needs, and examining the economic impact of early learning on workforce participation and local economies. Panelists from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Every Child California, Early Edge, Children Now, and others described TK’s rapid expansion to all four-year-olds, the growth in enrollment, and related changes to state preschool and after-school programs. Witnesses generally supported TK but warned that its expansion has shifted enrollment away from community-based providers, especially centers and family child care homes, creating financial strain, vacant classrooms, and staffing challenges. They urged stronger partnerships between school districts and community providers, more flexible licensing and facilities support, higher and more uniform reimbursement rates, permanent authority for state preschool to serve two-year-olds, and better compensation and training for educators across settings. Parents and providers testified about the importance of trusted, culturally and linguistically responsive care, the need for infant-toddler and home-based options, and the difficulty of affording child care when TK is not full-day or does not fit family schedules. Several speakers emphasized that many families still face long waits for subsidies and that reimbursement and payment delays threaten provider stability. Public comment echoed these concerns, with providers calling for true cost-of-care rates, more vouchers, support for transportation and nontraditional hours, and protection from insurance and facility costs that can force programs to close. State education officials said California’s UPK system works best when TK, state preschool, Head Start, and community-based providers are treated as a shared system, and noted that planning and implementation grants and local coordination efforts have helped build mixed-delivery partnerships. The hearing ended without formal votes or actions, but committee members indicated they would continue gathering input to inform future policy and budget decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their visibility and contributions helped change the diversity of the Houston Police Department itself
• Protective Investigation Advisory Committee in the Department of Family and Protective Services referred
• certain information sharing analysis organization by the Department of Information Resources refer to
• HB 956 by Garcia Hernandez relating to the reporting of certain orders and convictions of the Department
• the Department of Family and Protective Services refer to the Community and Human Services HB 967 by

Transcript Highlights:

• But for those of us who are of faith, and for those of us who are seeking faith, I ask you to employ
• The next order of business is recognition of guests and introduction of guests.
• They learned about the functions of each department in a senator's office.
• treatment providers licensed by Pennsylvania's Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to obtain a two-year
• providers licensed by Pennsylvania's Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to obtain a two-year license

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer by Senator Anthony H. Williams and the Pledge of Allegiance, then received gubernatorial communications and a long list of newly referred Senate and House bills and resolutions. The chamber approved the April 22, 2026 journal by a 49-0 vote. Senators also introduced guests, including a high school senior advisory council visiting with Senator Malone and a young guest welcomed by Senator Costa. On the floor, several bills were taken up and either set aside or advanced. Senate Bill 1377 and Senate Bill 482 were re-referred to Appropriations, Senate Bill 906 was re-referred to Rules and Executive Nominations, and Senate Bills 1133, 1334, and 1368 were also sent to Appropriations. Senator Dush requested a conflict-of-interest ruling on an amendment to Senate Bill 469; the chair ruled no conflict existed and required him to vote, and the amendment was adopted. The Senate also took Senate Bill 127 from the table and placed it on the calendar. The Senate then considered Supplemental Calendar Number One. Senate Bill 362 received a technical amendment and was advanced; Senate Bill 1183 passed 50-0; Senate Bill 1352, which would allow qualifying substance use disorder treatment providers to receive two-year licenses, passed 45-5 after supportive remarks from Senators Brooks, Tartaglione, and Street; and House Bill 1877, codifying the Pennsylvania seal of biliteracy, passed 50-0 after Senator Lindsey Williams described its student-led origins. The session ended with committee announcements for the next day and Senator Tartaglione’s petition urging a floor vote on the House-passed minimum wage bill, House Bill 2189.

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game.
• To the Department of Fish and Game.
• the appropriation to the Department of Corrections.
• under the jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Correction.
• of Health and Welfare, appropriating additional money to the Department of Health and Welfare, Division

Summary: The Senate convened with 31 members present, approved the March 31 journal, and moved through committee reports, gubernatorial messages, and House messages before taking up several bills on final reading. Among the measures considered were House Bill 930 on campaign finance, House Bill 949 on consolidating the STEM Action Center with the Workforce Development Council, House Bill 950 providing a one-time appropriation for a consultant to support Medicaid review work, House Bill 952 revising the Secretary of State’s budget, Senate Bill 1444 for public school support, House Bill 940 revising Idaho Digital Learning Academy policy, Senate Bill 1438 funding the IDLA budget, House Bill 516 on parental rights and education, and House Bill 897 on the Idaho information technology equipment sales tax exemption. The chamber also received and referred additional bills, including House Bill 968 and several appropriations and committee reports. House Bill 930 passed after debate centered on campaign finance transparency, separate campaign accounts, limits on investments, and requiring self-loans over $1,000 to be deposited into campaign accounts. Supporters said it would improve accountability; opponents questioned enforcement and warned against weaponizing campaign reporting. House Bill 949 passed with discussion of consolidating STEM and workforce functions, shifting funds and staff, and reducing administrative costs. House Bill 950 passed as a one-time $200,000 appropriation for a consultant to assist the legislature’s Medicaid review panel. House Bill 952 passed with a small reduction to the Secretary of State’s ongoing general fund budget. Senate Bill 1444 passed despite objections that the school budget underfunds district health insurance and shifts costs to local districts; supporters emphasized federal fund authority and other budget adjustments. House Bill 940 passed after extensive debate on narrowing IDLA’s mission, ending state support for certain uses, limiting elementary and online participation, and reducing enrollments and costs. Senate Bill 1438, the companion IDLA appropriation bill, also passed after debate over the size of the cut, the use of the Public Education Stabilization Fund, and whether the budget should include a cap on enrollments; supporters said it matched the policy changes in House Bill 940, while opponents argued it was too restrictive and could harm students’ access to courses. House Bill 516, dealing with parental rights and education and teacher-union-related payroll and activity restrictions, passed after a lengthy and sharply divided debate over whether it protected taxpayer dollars or unfairly targeted educators and unions. House Bill 897, as amended, was then taken up for final consideration on the Idaho information technology equipment sales tax exemption, with the sponsor explaining that the bill narrows the exemption to internal server equipment and limits it to 20 years in response to changing data-center trends and water-use concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> State of Colorado, Department of State.
• , Department of State.
• , Department of State.
• State of Colorado, Department of State.
• ><c> of</c><00:31:46.399><c> Colorado,</c> department or state of Colorado, department or state of Colorado

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Insurance</c> Mississippi Department of Insurance Mississippi Department of Insurance assistance<02:
• ><c> of</c><02:56:16.600><c> Public</c> it allows the Department of Public it allows the Department of
• award program created by Department of Insurance.
• </c> created by Department of Insurance. created by Department of Insurance.
• </c><03:51:25.760><c> up</c><03:51:25.920><c> with</c> Department of Insurance to come up with Department

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 31 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The side that may fit their criteria but truly may not need to be in the custody of the Department of
• Bell, with the Department of Health Waving in support. Thank you.
• Therefore, we're 10 days from notice of terminations of people's insurance policies for the month of
• some understanding of health insurance.
• I do have some understanding of health insurance, how it works.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It directs the Department of Health and Senior Services to send a list of deceased voters to the Secretary
• That would give the Secretary of State's Office, once they receive their list from the Department of
• I think that the Department of Health and the Secretary of State and the election authorities do share
• Speaker, I added a portion to this bill that was recommended from the Department of Commerce and Insurance
• The addition of the API from the department was something that they really felt like—the department really

Summary: The House first established a quorum after several member introductions and announcements, including recognition of guests from foster care, a Bayless High School Scholar Bowl team, public utility representatives, and family members. The chamber then moved into House Bills for Perfection, beginning with HB 1812, a voter-roll maintenance measure that requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to send deceased-voter lists to the Secretary of State every 30 days for distribution to election authorities. An amendment added a 10-day processing deadline, and the bill was supported as an election-integrity measure before being ordered perfected and printed. Members also advanced HCS for HB 3308, a sales-tax exemption for materials used to construct facilities or improvements for public use that will be deeded to a political subdivision, such as parks. Supporters said it would help public-good projects while limiting the exemption to public-use construction; questions focused on fiscal impact and ensuring there is a formal agreement to transfer the property. The substitute was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The House then took up HCS for HB 3010, a prior-authorization reform bill for health care providers. Supporters said it would reduce administrative burden, add an API-based tracking component, and create a gold-carding process for providers with high approval rates; members from both parties emphasized the strain prior authorization places on physicians and patients. The committee substitute and bill were adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The chamber next considered HCS for HB 2872, a major literacy bill centered on the science of reading. The bill requires phonics-based instruction, early screening in grades 1-3, teacher training, and retention for students who are not reading on grade level by the end of third grade, subject to exemptions for students with disabilities, English learners, IEPs, 504 plans, prior retention, and other good-cause cases. Amendments clarified that three-cueing cannot be the primary instructional strategy and added parent involvement and earlier intervention language; the most contentious debate focused on retention and parental rights, but the amendment passed 103-27-1 and the bill was then adopted and ordered perfected and printed. Finally, the House advanced HCS for HB 1826 and related bills to expand authorized epinephrine products beyond EpiPens to include nasal spray and other approved forms for use in schools, child care centers, nursing homes, and by first responders; supporters cited allergy emergencies and needle fear, and the substitute was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The chamber also began debate on HCS for HB 2069/2208, a bill to authorize autonomous vehicles in Missouri, with the sponsor describing safety and economic benefits and the first amendment adding liability, jurisdiction, and U.S.-based operator requirements; a second amendment removed commercial vehicles and made technical changes. Debate on the underlying autonomous-vehicle bill continued, with supporters emphasizing modernization and opponents raising concerns about local control, surveillance, and the lack of independent safety data.

Transcript Highlights:

• All boards to maintain a cash balance of 30 to 150% of the board's five-year rolling average of expenditures
• of Insurance, now I've got to deal with DOPL because I've got different requirements in different sections
• And I've got concerns that you're putting some in DOPL and some over in the Department of Insurance.
• Lower rates often result in lower insurance premiums since there is lower risk of property loss from
• a part of that.

Committee: House Business

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• information of victims of certain offenses referred to the.
• Insurance.
• of risk pool contracts of public educational entities.
• to an external audit by investigations conducted by the Department of Family and Protective Services
• The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation referred to the Committee on Licensing and Administrative

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:47:48.640><c> of</c> is department of is department of corrections.<00:47:50.640><c> So,</c><
• So, department of corrections.
• </c><02:06:34.719><c> of</c> fully funding at the Department of fully funding at the Department of Justice
• is that insurance carriers are able to ask for two hearings at the Department of Labor.
• I have the pleasure of serving as the commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the other part is after the Department of Labor or its successors.
• And the other part is after the Department of Labor or its successors.
• of...
• Those types of claims, this doesn't touch any of those types of claims.
• Hampton Williams with the Missouri Insurance Coalition, testifying in support of the bill.

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and took up House Bill 3443, relating to court costs. Members adopted House Committee Amendment 1, which changed a January reference to July, updated language regarding the Department of Labor or its successors, and removed round-up numbers. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee substitute and voted the substitute do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. House Bill 3304, concerning the offense of keeping a dangerous dog, was then amended to restore prior-bite language and narrow the injury definition to serious physical injury; the committee adopted the amendment, adopted a substitute, and voted the bill do pass 11-1. House Bill 2865, dealing with attorney’s fees and expenses in civil actions and agency proceedings, was approved do pass 12-0. House Bill 2255 was announced as not being taken up that day. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2777, the Public Nuisance Reform Act, was presented as a measure to narrow public nuisance claims, limit suits involving lawful products and regulated activities, strengthen causation requirements, and restrict who may sue and what damages may be recovered. Supporters from consumer reform, insurance, and civil justice groups said it would curb abusive litigation while preserving traditional nuisance claims; no opposition testimony was offered. House Bill 2667, the Eliminate Criminal Profiteering Act, would bar negligence claims arising from a person’s own wrongful conduct, limit negligent security liability, require apportionment of fault in some cases, and restrict certain recoveries by unauthorized aliens in auto cases. The sponsor and supporters said it would prevent criminals from profiting from their wrongdoing and protect businesses, while committee members raised questions about scope, premises liability, and sovereign immunity. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2666, an anti-SLAPP bill intended to provide a faster dismissal process for lawsuits that are meant to chill speech or petitioning activity. The sponsor and supporters said it would protect free expression and align Missouri with other states, while still preserving claims for genuinely harmed parties. No opposition testimony was presented on either House Bill 2667 or House Bill 2666, and the hearing concluded without any votes on the public hearing bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here in support of Fashville 3933, which relates to MSIC, the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance
• We're one of two companies in Massachusetts... ...share insurance corporations.
• We're one of two companies in Massachusetts that's about 100 years old and provides full deposit insurance
• Because of the increase of all the costs—labor, rent, insurance, medical care—restaurants are now struggling
• In 2022 and '23, the Department of Revenue required businesses to itemize cash and credit transactions

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on financial security, banking regulation, and payment-card fees. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg supported the Massachusetts baby bonds proposal (H. 48) and also endorsed bills on matched savings (H. 1158/S. 737) and retirement planning/Secure Choice (H. 1143/S. 722), arguing these measures would help address wealth inequality, build assets, and improve retirement readiness. Supporters of baby bonds included policy experts and health advocates from Children’s Health Watch and Boston Medical Center, who said early-life asset building could improve long-term economic and health outcomes for children in low-income families. AARP also urged passage of the retirement planning bill, citing the large share of private-sector workers without access to an employer retirement plan. Representative Donato testified for H. 1143, describing it as a voluntary retirement-savings opportunity for workers at small employers. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3933, concerning the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, from former Bank Commissioner Mike Hanson, who defended the state’s full deposit insurance system for credit unions and savings institutions as a longstanding consumer-protection model. The Massachusetts Bankers Association raised concerns about the bill’s technical provisions and broader credit union/bank competitive issues, while the Cooperative Credit Union Association supported related legislation allowing modest compensation for credit union directors (S. 821/H. 1338) and flexibility for state financial institutions to grow through partnerships (S. 723). Bankers opposed those credit union bills, arguing they would upset a level playing field and blur long-standing distinctions between banks and credit unions. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1259/S. 688, which would prohibit card interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of restaurant transactions. Restaurant owners and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association testified in favor, saying the fees are a significant and growing expense, especially as most customers now pay by card; they argued the bills would save restaurants money without affecting state revenue. Credit union, banking, and payments-industry representatives opposed the bills, saying interchange helps fund fraud protection and payment infrastructure, that the proposal would create compliance burdens and likely litigation, and that it would mainly affect Massachusetts-chartered institutions while national banks could be preempted. Committee members noted that a commission on payment-card fees is being established and said the issue would be studied further. The hearing also included support for a separate bill on virtual credit cards for dental providers, with dentists saying automatic virtual-card payments impose hidden processing fees and fraud risks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Andrea Thompson, Administrator, Plant Industries Division, Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
• I'm the administrator for the Plant Industries Division at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
• Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
• For the record, Lloyd Knight, Deputy Director at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
• , we do have a number of capabilities within the department.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, in the world of insurance, which I deal in, the lack of doctors has caused a lack of consumerism
• The remainder of the findings, maybe with the exception of Department of Environmental Quality, are kind
• The remainder of the findings, maybe with the exception of Department of Environmental Quality, are kind
• On the other side of the spectrum is the Department of Self-Governing agencies.
• On the other side of the spectrum is the Department of Self-Governing agencies.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The meeting focused first on a legislative working group report created under House Bill 368 from the prior session on medical education in Idaho. The presenter described Idaho’s physician shortage, noting the state ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average. The group’s unanimous recommendations included maintaining current state-supported medical school seats, adding 10 new non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, prioritizing in-state training, and creating a dedicated health education coordination role to manage undergraduate and graduate placements, clinical sites, and data. Members discussed whether WAMI should also expand, the quality of WAMI graduates, the need for more clinical preceptors and residency sites, rural recruitment incentives, and whether the plan should include other health professions such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The presenter said the plan includes benchmarks and timelines, and estimated costs of about $350,000 for coordination, $350,000 to $485,000 for 10 new UME seats depending on placement, and $900,000 for the GME request. The committee then heard from Legislative Audit Division Manager April Renfro on the state’s 2024 single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited, 21 major federal programs across 15 agencies, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, including Medicaid findings involving delayed health and safety surveys, managed care provider eligibility and roster controls, and capitation payments tied to ineligible members; Child Care and Development Fund reporting and cost-allocation errors; and repeat issues in vocational rehabilitation and low-income home energy programs. She also noted Department of Environmental Quality problems with indirect cost proposals and a duplicate grant draw, while Transportation had no findings. Members asked about accountability for repeat findings, the role of Luma in reporting errors, fraud detection, and how to prioritize corrective action; Renfro said agencies, federal management decisions, and legislative oversight all play a role, and she planned to send a prioritized list of key findings to the co-chairs. A later presentation by budget analyst Brooke Dupree introduced front-end reports in the legislative budget book, explaining state government structure, the constitutional limit of 20 executive departments, and how the Legislature uses decision units to build appropriations. She walked through the original appropriation, reappropriations, supplemental appropriations, and how those pieces roll into the current-year total appropriation, with members asking brief questions about departmental divisions and the budget model.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires insurers to report how often these substitutes actually reduce patients' out-of-pocket costs
• John Winger, on behalf of America's Health Insurance Plans.
• Good morning, John Sherekin with the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies in
• So if I pay out of my pocket for now because I need the medication, then after the insurance company
• Obviously, from the insurance companies’ point of view, they are trying to save the cost of the drug.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• James Moore with the Department of Finance.
• Andrew March, Department of Finance.
• Colby White, Department of Finance.
• I'm Chris O'Don, the Department of Finance.
• Deputy Lee, and also to all of the members of the Department of Finance who are here.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee opened its hearing on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget with remarks emphasizing the start of a months-long process, the need for fiscal responsibility, and concerns about structural deficits, federal funding losses, housing and homelessness, and oversight. The vice chair echoed those concerns, warning against budgets built on short-term fixes and urging accountability. The Department of Finance presented a balanced budget year proposal of about $349 billion in total expenditures, including $248 billion General Fund, while acknowledging a structural imbalance in the out years and proposing a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. Finance said the budget relies on stronger-than-expected revenues, but also on constitutional obligations such as Proposition 98 and Proposition 2, and on suspending a rainy-day fund true-up deposit to cover a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit. The administration highlighted higher education funding, climate and wildfire resilience investments, a new ZEV incentive, added Health and Human Services costs tied to H.R. 1, child care funding, and three tax proposals: third-party delivery tax compliance, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. The LAO, by contrast, warned that the budget is “precariously balanced,” cited downside risk from stock market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to use reserves, avoid suspending rainy-day deposits, and begin shrinking multi-year deficits sooner rather than later. Member questions focused on wildfire mitigation and insurance, transit and GGRF funding, federal cuts affecting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, the proposed tax credits, homelessness accountability language, and education funding. Several members pressed for earlier partnership on deficit solutions and for more scrutiny of budget choices. The committee also discussed declining enrollment in K-12, community colleges, and CSU, with concerns about whether funding formulas are aligned with actual student demand. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and we're doing that by supporting the efforts of the Department of Insurance here in Idaho and then
• Thank you. ...Department of Insurance here in Idaho and then also asking action of CMS at the federal
• we're doing that by supporting the efforts of the Department of Insurance here in Idaho and then also
• Department of Insurance here in Idaho and then also asking action of the of CMS at the federal level.
• time to enroll in Medicare and the Department of Insurance here jumped right in, acted promptly.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move on then to the Department of Information Technology on page 5.
• Moving on to the Department of Public Safety, you can see a number of recommendations there.
• You'll also see a number of New Mexico State items related to the Department of Agriculture.
• The money to the Department of Environment is Is this going to be somewhere else?
• And part of how we know that is this last year our department wanted to really get a better sense of

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all