Transcript Highlights:

• private air carriers funds to subsidize private air carriers that<00:46:15.160> the<00:46:15.280
• :47:27.240> by<00:47:27.359> adding<00:47:27.559> a<00:47:27.640> new subsid
• program by adding a new subsid program by adding a new subsection<00:47:28.280> to<00:47:28.440
• <00:47:44.000> is<00:47:44.160> contributed<00:47:44.640> to whether the subsid
• is contributed to whether the subsid is contributed to improving<00:47:45.079> Air<00:47:45.280

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on March 18, 2025, to hear several measures and later take up amendments and votes. Early items included a budget measure to increase the mass transit special fund expenditure ceiling, a bill extending lapse dates for drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory funds, and a measure creating buffer zones for parking near crosswalks and intersections. Testimony on the crosswalk-parking bill was broadly supportive from transportation, law enforcement, planning, bicycling, public health, and advocacy groups, with the Department of Health emphasizing visibility and roadway safety. The committee also heard a bill establishing the Mokai air carrier subsidy program for Molokaʻi, which drew support from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and comments from the Department of Transportation. The committee then heard SB 106 on pedestrian rules, which generated mixed testimony: the Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Workers Center, and the Department of Health supported it, while the Honolulu Police Department and Kīpuka Injury Prevention Coalition opposed it. Supporters argued the bill would reduce inequitable jaywalking enforcement and reflect a broader safety culture; opponents warned it could create confusion and risk. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect other traffic-code provisions and asked about crash data in other jurisdictions; the Department of Health said crashes had not increased in other places and cited California data showing decreased crashes and fatalities. In decision-making, the committee voted to pass SB 934 SD2 with amendments, with Representative Miyake reserving and Representative Cochran excused. It then passed SB 1526 SD2 with amendments. SB 1195 SD1 was also passed with amendments after the chair proposed adding language tying fines for illegal parking near crosswalks and intersections to the Safe Routes to School special fund and establishing a fine range of $100 to $500 per violation, with collected fines dedicated to pedestrian safety improvements. Members voiced support for the dedicated revenue source and community safety rationale. The committee next passed SB 1638 SD2 with amendments to strengthen the constitutional/public-purpose findings for subsidizing air carriers serving Molokaʻi and to add annual audit requirements and penalties for misuse of funds. The amended findings emphasized that affordable air service is essential for health care, employment, education, and overall well-being in remote island communities, and that the subsidy program is intended to improve access and competition while lowering costs for residents. The chair then recessed the meeting after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s a system where sick individuals are subsidizing the healthy, and that’s not how insurance is meant
• That’s a system where sick individuals are subsidizing the healthy, and that’s not how insurance is meant
• That’s a system where sick individuals are subsidizing the healthy, and that’s not how insurance is meant
• That’s a system where sick individuals are subsidizing the healthy, and that’s not how insurance is meant
• That’s a system where sick individuals are subsidizing the healthy, and that’s not how insurance is meant

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:10 SB145 Discussion: 02:23 SB145 Vote: 05:13 SB183 Discussion: 06:13 SB183 Vote: 11:37 HB413 Discussion Only: 16:15, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 145, sponsored by Sen. David Givens. The bill would update retail installment contract statutes for automobile sales, allowing retailers with installment contracts shorter than 28 days to begin collections after three days instead of waiting for multiple missed payments, and it also harmonizes a related dollar amount in statute from $10 to $15. The committee asked no questions, and the bill received a favorable expression on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 183 from Sen. Matt Nunn, with testimony from Chris Nolan of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. The bill would require proxy advisers acting for the State Retirement System to act solely in the financial interest of current and future retirees and to avoid political or social considerations in shareholder voting recommendations. Supporters argued it would keep politics out of public pensions and align proxy advice with fiduciary duties; members praised the bill and noted Kentucky could be among the first states to adopt such a model. The committee approved the bill with favorable expression after a roll-call vote. The committee also reviewed administrative regulation 808 KAR 9:10 from the Department of Financial Institutions, with no vote required. It then took up House Bill 413, a PBM rebate pass-through bill, with testimony from Sarah Wood of the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. She said the bill would require 85% of negotiated drug rebates to be passed through to patients at the point of sale, lowering out-of-pocket costs, especially for high-rebate drugs such as insulin, while still allowing 15% to remain with plans. She cited examples from other states and argued the bill would benefit about 650,000 Kentuckians. Hope McClaflin of Anthem opposed the bill, saying it would reduce employers’ ability to use rebates to lower premiums, could disproportionately favor high-cost brand-name drug users, and could create significant costs for state and fully insured plans. Members asked questions about other states’ pass-through rates and the effect on premiums, but no final action on House Bill 413 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:10:45.520> existing consumers to subsidize existing consumers to subsidize existing resources
• subsidize $50 million a year to them. subsidize $50 million a year to them. and<01:16:53.040>
• non-subsidized non-subsidized plant<01:33:07.040> is<01:33:07.440> addressing<01:33:08.000
• add<02:03:11.040> further should subsidize or add further should subsidize or add further
• <02:03:18.239> or net zero whether they get subsidized or net zero whether they get subsidized

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, part of it is a lack of subsidization.
• Reinsurance is wildly expensive and it's subsidizing a failing market.
• because there isn't that subsidization. because there isn't that subsidization.
• <00:46:18.440> Um, actually subsidize that market. Um, actually subsidize that market.
• Like, when subsidizing a failing market.

Bills: HF3766, HF3972, HF3437, HF4118

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Transcript Highlights:

• In our situation, the federal government is heavily subsidizing wind and solar farms.
• Our county government is subsidizing it, until recently even school districts.
• Here again, they're being heavily subsidized by the state government.
• And as we look at energy mixes and we look at subsidized so...
• And as we look at energy mixes and we look at subsidized so.

Bills: HB43, HB519, HB 1275, HB1592, HB2842, HB3088, HB3479, HB4163, SB823, HB609

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, bovine producers, dairy farms, permits, bovine tuberculosis, public health, wildlife management, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, white-tailed deer, public safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with only four members initially present, so quorum was not established until later in the hearing. The committee heard several agriculture-, wildlife-, and food-labeling-related bills, including HB 3479 on expanding the Rio Grande vegetative management program beyond carrizo cane to other noxious vegetation, SB 823 on shrimp origin labeling and restrictions on misrepresenting imported shrimp as Texas or Gulf shrimp, HB 3088 on giving Texas Parks and Wildlife more flexibility to procure resale goods for park gift shops, HB 1275 on permits for non-bovine dairy farms in certain TB-affected areas, HB 519 on honey production and packaging rules, HB 609 on cleaning oyster cages in-bay with bay water only, HB 1592 on a voluntary AgriLife pest and disease alert system, HB 2842 on targeted urban deer depredation permits, and HB 4163 on limiting city requirements that agricultural operators maintain roadside rights-of-way. Testimony generally came from industry groups, agency resource witnesses, and affected producers, with most witnesses supporting the bills and several bills drawing questions about enforcement, labeling responsibility, and the scope of local authority. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 823, where Vice Chair Hancock and others questioned why wholesalers would be covered if they cannot relabel products. The bill author and restaurant association witness said the measure was intended to improve transparency and allow enforcement against intentional mislabeling, while preserving a good-faith defense and clarifying that the bill does not create a private cause of action. HB 519 also drew supportive testimony from beekeepers and a family farm, who argued that current rules treat honey extraction and bottling too much like food manufacturing and burden small operations. HB 609 was presented as a way to save time and resources for cultivated oyster mariculture by allowing cage cleaning in the bay without soaps or chemicals, and HB 1592 was described as a voluntary opt-in alert system for pests and diseases coordinated through AgriLife and other state agencies. HB 43 generated the most detailed policy debate. The bill would restructure and expand the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, update grant and loan programs, and create a pest and disease control depredation program. The committee substitute reduced some funding caps, changed references from predators to depredating animals, and made the financial provisions contingent on appropriations. Supporters from Texas Farm Bureau, cotton growers, grain and feed interests, and young farmers described severe drought, inflation, land loss, rising input costs, and shrinking infrastructure as major threats to agriculture, while one witness urged preserving priority for young farmers. After testimony, the committee adopted the committee substitute and reported HB 43 favorably. The committee also voted HB 519, HB 609, HB 1275, HB 1592, HB 3088, HB 3479, HB 2842, and HB 4163 favorably, with several recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 823 was reported from committee on a 6-2 vote after adoption of the committee substitute. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would tentatively reconvene Friday morning and then recessed subject to the chair's call.

Transcript Highlights:

• not yet entered the eviction process, and to separately provide it to those without barriers and subsidized
• not yet entered the eviction process and to separately provide it to those without barriers and subsidized
• traumatic for the tenants themselves to remain in place while waiting for openings in long-term subsidized
• Many rely on long-term subsidized housing programs such as state-funded public housing, the Massachusetts
• MRVP helps over 10,500 low-income households afford stable housing by subsidizing rent in the private

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on a broad slate of housing and homelessness bills. Chairs Rich Haggerty and Julian Cyr opened by noting the committee’s focus on EOHLC programs such as RAFT, MRVP, and HomeBASE, and several members and advocates emphasized the urgency of the state’s homelessness crisis, including rising family homelessness and the need for earlier intervention, more stable subsidies, and stronger long-term housing tools. A major theme was homelessness prevention and rehousing. Multiple witnesses supported bills to codify and strengthen RAFT and HomeBASE, arguing that assistance should be available earlier in a crisis rather than only after a notice to quit or imminent loss of housing. Testimony from legal services, homelessness coalitions, social workers, municipal housing staff, and tenant advocates said the programs help families avoid eviction and shelter, but need more flexibility, higher benefit caps, and permanent statutory protection. Several speakers also urged support for codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), describing it as a critical long-term subsidy for low-income households and older adults, and warning that codification would protect the program from future budget or policy changes. The committee also heard testimony on housing stability for older adults, affordable homes for people with disabilities, supportive housing, housing cooperatives, home sharing, local preference, and reentry housing for returning citizens. Advocates for older adults described a Somerville bridge subsidy pilot that helped stabilize seniors while they waited for permanent housing, and urged statewide expansion. Supporters of supportive housing called for an interagency board to streamline funding and development, while cooperative housing proponents backed creation of a Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives and a dedicated funding reserve. A bill to secure housing for returning citizens drew support from reentry providers and Senator Adam Gomez, who said stable housing is essential to successful reintegration. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses generally asked the committee to report the bills favorably, and some members asked follow-up questions on data and program details.

Transcript Highlights:

• In particular, the subsidized benefits, which are even smaller reduction, those start at 30 years of
• And both plans provide access to subsidized early retirement, And both plans provide access to subsidized
• Early retirement is available starting at age 55 for members with 20 years of service, and subsidized
• And subsidized eligibility for subsidized early retirement...
• Under those rules, subsidized eligibility for subsidized early retirement is age 55 and 30 years of service

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there's a gold or a platinum level plan, we subsidize it at a 15% discount.
• Platinum level plan, we subsidize it at a 15% discount. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• This has not been an easy task for us in New Mexico to really have to subsidize what our federal government
• Chair, I guess my question would be: the general fund is going to subsidize the insurance, as well as
• And if somebody that has a million-dollar house, you’re subsidizing that million-dollar house.

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, moving on to subsidence. I took... Okay, moving on to subsidence.
• And the Department of Water Resources is really closely monitoring subsidence to avoid that.
• So the subsidence is permanent, basically. Yeah. Is permanent, basically.
• But we can stop further subsidence.
• We can stop further subsidence through the SGMA policies and programs.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the May Revision from the Department of Finance and comments from the Legislative Analyst’s Office on the state’s overall budget condition and natural resources proposals. Finance said the May Revision keeps the budget balanced in 2026-27 and 2027-28, reduces the structural deficit, and includes major natural resources items such as Proposition 4 climate bond spending, including up to $125 million for the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, $23.2 million for wildlife refuge and wetland projects, $25 million for Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, $25 million for Bay-Delta environmental flows, $1 million for coexisting-with-wildlife work, and $2.5 million for cancer-risk research. The LAO said revenues remain strong but argued the budget still relies too heavily on reserves, recommended more savings and fewer new discretionary expenditures, and urged the Legislature to prioritize only urgent health and safety needs while planning for uncertainty in greenhouse gas reduction fund revenues. Members focused heavily on the Golden Gate Fields purchase, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, the wildlife coexistence initiative, and cap-and-invest funding for transit. On Golden Gate Fields, agency officials said the property is a time-limited, once-in-a-generation opportunity, that the state’s contribution would help secure the acquisition, and that the land would ultimately transfer to East Bay Regional Park District, which would assume operations and maintenance. Officials said the site would be remediated by the current owner, the state would use deed restrictions to prevent commercial development, and the remaining purchase price would be covered by nonstate partners. On Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, Finance and the Natural Resources Agency said the $25 million would support scientific monitoring and early implementation of the Bay-Delta plan update, while the LAO questioned the timing and said the request was premature until the Water Board formally adopts the plan. The committee also discussed the coexisting-with-wildlife proposal and wolf-livestock conflict. Finance said the May Revision’s $1 million proposal would backfill existing funds to support limited-term staffing, deterrence tools, and conflict response, while members and the California Cattlemen’s Association said the need is larger and includes direct loss compensation, indirect loss compensation, and nonlethal deterrence. The Cattlemen’s Association said private insurance is limited and often inadequate for these losses. Members also raised concerns about the greenhouse gas reduction fund and transit, warning that lower auction revenues and possible CARB rule changes could leave major transit and other tier-three priorities underfunded. The LAO recommended planning for multiple revenue scenarios and reconsidering the current cap-and-invest spending framework. No votes or formal actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• customers in California, 2 million have rooftop solar, 8 million do not. 80% of your constituents subsidize
• Caloza said about how many non-solar folks are subsidizing those with non-solar.
• I feel that my district, which is the fifth poorest district in the state, is subsidized. subsidizing
• The reality is 10 million non-solar customers are subsidizing 2 million solar customers.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are either job-seeking or they have jobs that pay taxes; their parents pay taxes that subsidize
• We continue to subsidize. We continue to have projects that take care of universities.
• They also pay full tuition, which directly subsidizes our in-state students.
• They also pay full tuition, which directly subsidizes our in-state students.
• So this provision cuts both talent, ...subsidizes our in-state students.

Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1503, which would require general education courses that use technology to provide students opportunities to build digital literacy, including instruction on applications of artificial intelligence and related topics such as software engineering, computer networks, database systems, and cybersecurity as applicable to the course. It would also require high school computer science courses offered by school districts to include instruction on AI. There was no public testimony or debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous roll call vote. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1279, an education bill that the sponsor said was intended to improve consistency, oversight, and transparency while putting Florida students first. The bill drew extensive questioning and opposition over provisions affecting university admissions and funding, including a 95% Florida-resident first-time-in-college enrollment target tied to preeminent funding, a cap on nonresident students from any one country, standardized GPA weighting, limits on institution-wide graduation requirements, and changes related to accreditation references and other education programs. The sponsor argued these changes would open more seats for Florida students, preserve academic rigor, and align statutes with existing regulations and court action, while opponents said the bill would harm university competitiveness, research, revenue, faculty recruitment, and access for international and nontraditional students. Public testimony on HB 1279 was largely opposed. Speakers included a student advocate, a dental hygiene representative concerned about dual regulation of expanded-function dental programs, and faculty representatives from FSU and FAMU who warned the bill would politicize admissions and curriculum, reduce competitiveness, and create negative fiscal impacts. During debate, supporters emphasized taxpayer investment in Florida students and the need to prioritize in-state applicants, while opponents argued the bill would weaken the state university system and undermine its national standing. The committee reported PCS for HB 1279 favorably by a 12-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing for working New Mexicans who earn too much to qualify for subsidized programs, but not enough
• Housing for working New Mexicans who earn too much to qualify for subsidized programs, but not enough
• are your skilled workers, your teachers, your nurses, your EMTs, who do make too much money for subsidized
• Over-subsidize in less expensive markets. Okay, well, thank you.
• Santa Fe more than you're subsidizing Redoso.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and we've spent probably a trillion dollars or something like that subsidizing the cost of care while
• Um, and we've spent probably a trillion dollars or something like that subsidizing the cost of care while
• Um, and we've spent probably a trillion dollars or something like that subsidizing the cost of care while
• Um, and we've spent probably a trillion dollars or something like that subsidizing the cost of care while
• Um, and we've spent probably a trillion dollars or something like that subsidizing the cost of care while

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota taxpayers should not be subsidizing these massive multi-billion-dollar corporations and also
• /c><00:05:04.240> be Minnesota taxpayers should not be Minnesota taxpayers should not be subsidizing
• <00:05:05.000> these<00:05:05.280> massive<00:05:05.720> multi-billion subsidizing
• these massive multi-billion subsidizing these massive multi-billion dollar<00:05:06.600> corporations
• Minnesotans are literally sick and tired of subsidizing billion-dollar corporations.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a press-style discussion in support of House File 4343, which would end Minnesota’s sales tax exemption for digital advertising services and physical advertising space such as billboards. Supporters said the bill would raise more than $300 million in revenue and allow the state sales tax rate to be reduced, while also modernizing the tax code to reflect a digital, service-based economy. Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota argued the current sales tax base is outdated, too narrow, and unfairly shifts burden onto Minnesota businesses, workers, and property taxpayers. Representative Lislegard said the bill would help fund schools, health care, infrastructure, child care, and local government, and framed it as a response to structural budget gaps and rising property taxes. She said large corporations are not paying their fair share and that the state should cut exemptions rather than reduce public services. Several speakers from labor, education, health care, and the arts backed the proposal, including a working parent who cited high child care costs, an AFSCME representative from Hennepin County Medical Center who said the revenue is needed to support the safety-net hospital, a musician who said streaming and ad-driven platforms profit from artists’ labor, and an educator who criticized social media companies’ impact on youth. The speakers repeatedly argued that major tech and advertising companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, TikTok, and Spotify should contribute more to public services, while ordinary Minnesotans already pay too much. Representative White closed by acknowledging the bill faces a difficult path but said supporters would keep fighting for it. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the portion provided, and the event ended with one question from the audience.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could be minimizing subsidence on the Gulf Coast, for example.
• Subsidence risk is variable. across the state.
• And so the thought of further subsidence in these particular counties...
• districts, specifically the Harris-Galveston subsidence district.
• The Subsidence District defines land subsidence as... as the decrease in land surface elevation resulting

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know the Harris-Galveston subsidence districts are converting groundwater to surface water to mitigate
• for subsidence and the recovery of the water levels are showing up on this heat map.
• There is a subsidence consideration in GMA 14 that I'll get to in a second.
• Were those the subsidence districts? Yes.
• They were the subsidence districts, Washington County, Chambers... County.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You will no longer be subsidizing the Water Well Board.
• What this fiscal note doesn't do a good job of showing right now is that the state is subsidizing the
• You will no longer be subsidizing the Water Well Board.
• You will no longer be subsidizing the Water Well Board.
• subsidized program. subsidized program. >> One<00:28:09.440> more.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On AB 177, I mean, we're still subsidizing the billion-dollar corporations, and this is a good tool to
• We rely on taxpayers to subsidize their health care costs for their workforce. Thank you.
• Thank you. rely on taxpayers to subsidize their health could cost for their workforce. Thank you.
• And these corporations are getting a massive windfall from HR1 cuts, yet we're still subsidizing worker
• I think I speak for all California taxpayers when I say we are tired of subsidizing giant corporations

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• private schools on the basis that if the public schools receive more money, then we have to subsidize
• , private businesses have to be subsidized to keep up with our public schools?
• To be subsidized to keep up with our public schools.
• So my question again is: Are we subsidizing the private schools without a clear guarantee that they're
• see... ...subsidizing element.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's driven by other things, including lack of resilience and or subsidizing people to take on way too
• Through all these disaster relief things, we need to stop subsidizing people for taking risks and make
• If you're gonna have a federally subsidized program to support people living in flood zones, at least
• So we need to get the government to stop restricting good energy, stop subsidizing ineffective energy
• In a certain way, which is we should just stop subsidizing all of this stuff and let insurance prices

Keywords: homeowners insurance, natural disasters, insurance costs, climate change, disaster preparedness, federal policies, bipartisan solutions

Summary: The meeting reviewed critical issues surrounding the rising costs and accessibility of homeowners insurance across the United States, particularly in light of increasing natural disasters linked to climate change. Members engaged in extensive discussions regarding the implications for families and the economy, citing significant increases in premiums and decreasing availability of policies in high-risk areas. Supervisor Peysko highlighted the direct impact of federal policies on local communities, emphasizing the growing burden on homeowners as they face skyrocketing insurance costs amidst a backdrop of environmental challenges and regulatory constraints. The committee expressed a unified call to action for bipartisan solutions, focusing on improving building codes and enhancing disaster preparedness measures.