Transcript Highlights:

• I think that, um, the evidence that I see that the, that the rates are, the rate increases are consistent
• It doesn't say you can't increase rates. It just says, hey, you.
• The market usually dictates what the rates are.
• As he stated, carriers already provide their rate filings well in advance.
• regulation system in Texas does not allow for excessive rates.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• , through their Fed funds rate.
• That's the Fed funds rate.
• mortgage rates.
• have, and we saw that 30-year rate going up and up, even though they keep on lowering rates.
• If you think about the CAGR, or the compound annual growth rate, of rates, of electricity rates, over

Summary: The committee was convened to review Idaho’s economic outlook and general fund revenue projections, with members instructed to complete and submit individual “homework” revenue projections for fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028 by noon the next day. Chairmen explained the binder materials, the committee’s constitutional charge, and the plan to compile member projections into an average and median for deliberation and a recommendation to JFAC. They also noted the meeting was being broadcast publicly and thanked staff and presenters. Keith Bybee of Legislative Services Office outlined the state’s general fund budget picture, emphasizing structural imbalance between revenues and expenditures, the impact of statutory spending growth, and the need to decide whether to address the gap through spending cuts, cash balances, or other policy changes. He highlighted major budget drivers such as Medicaid expansion, public defender costs, IT consolidation, public school funding changes, and water resources spending, and discussed available cash reserves, including the budget stabilization fund. Committee members asked about Medicaid’s net cost, the treatment of the $330 million school funding adjustment, the Millennium Fund, and whether rainy-day funds or interest earnings were being used in the governor’s budget. Aaron Phipps of the Division of Financial Management presented the executive revenue forecast and explained changes in reporting for sales tax and the tax relief fund, including how certain transfers would now be treated as accrued general fund revenue. She described a sharp but likely temporary drop in corporate income tax collections tied to federal tax changes and taxpayer behavior, especially the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the SALT workaround, and said the overall income tax forecast remained relatively steady. Robert Spindlove of Zions Bank described national conditions, including lower Fed rates, a re-steepening yield curve, higher tariffs, mixed inflation signals, slowing but not contracting labor markets, and continued consumer spending, and said 2026 looked like a rebuilding year. Sam Wilkenhauer of the Idaho Department of Labor reported that Idaho’s labor market remained strong, with low unemployment, steady job growth, balanced industry expansion, and wage growth moderating from the overheated post-pandemic period; he forecast continued but more sustainable growth over the next two years.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are individual district rate maximums and aggregate rate maximums to keep the total tax rate for
• The tax rates are as follows... The tax rates are as follows.
• The rate is calculated by multiplying the applicable local renewable energy tax rate by the excess levy
• by the applicable excess levy rate.
• We'd like to see higher per-megawatt rates and an annual growth rate.

Summary: House Finance met on Friday, January 23rd, and heard three bills. On House Bill 2194, staff explained that the bill would allow a county and a city within that county to both impose the cultural access sales and use tax at the same time, with the county providing a credit for the city tax. Representative Parsley said the change would let more jurisdictions support cultural, arts, science, and school-related programs. Olympia and Thurston County officials testified in support, describing grant funding for cultural organizations, free programming, and school access benefits; a committee member raised a question about how the change could affect county bond obligations. The committee then heard House Bill 2089, which would narrow a B&O tax preference for first mortgage interest by removing the requirement that a financial institution be located in 10 or more states, and direct the resulting revenue to the wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account. Staff said the bill would raise significant revenue and have implementation costs for the Department of Revenue. Representative Scott said the bill was intended to restore wildfire funding and limit the preference to community banks, while opponents from the Washington Bankers Association and Community Bankers of Washington warned the bill could harm community banks and mortgage lending if not drafted carefully. The Department of Natural Resources and a public employee representative supported restoring wildfire preparedness funding. Finally, the committee heard a proposed third substitute for House Bill 1960, which would replace property taxation for new or repowered large renewable energy facilities and battery storage systems with a state and local excise tax structure, while also creating a local investment distribution account and a tribal capacity grant program. Staff and the sponsor described the bill as a way to reduce property tax shifts onto nearby taxpayers and provide more stable, predictable revenue for local governments and tribes. County officials, assessors, treasurers, and some clean energy and conservation groups supported the concept but asked for clearer definitions, payment timing, and rate adjustments; utilities and renewable developers said they supported the goal but opposed the bill as drafted because of concerns about the rates and the treatment of centrally assessed utilities. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after closing the hearings on all three bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> increases on those rates. increases on those rates.
• ,</c><00:31:34.880><c> their</c> scheme of Xcel Energy's rates, their scheme of Xcel Energy's rates,
• It's the rate payers in Colorado.
• </c> bill, and Xcel Energy also rates bill, and Xcel Energy also rates operates<00:34:06.280><c> in</
• </c><00:35:00.120><c> So,</c> we would be saving rate payers. So, we would be saving rate payers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Rate. And so it's a little unclear how states are going to use that Medicaid equivalent rate.
• Recommendation number two, increase Kentucky Medicaid behavioral health rates to 100% of Medicare rates
• Recommendation number two, increase Kentucky Medicaid behavioral health rates to 100% of Medicare rates
• </c> health rates to 100% of Medicare rates health rates to 100% of Medicare rates so<01:31:32.320><c
• </c> rate is only $7867 rate is only $7867 an<01:32:42.480><c> hour.

Keywords: 00:00:22 - Call to Order and Roll Call 00:03:00 – Approval of June 25, 2025 Minutes 00:03:22 - Update on Federal Changes to the Medicaid Program 01:03:44 - State Directed Payments, Provider Taxes, and the Rural Health Transformation Fund: How Medicaid Changes Could Impact Kentucky Hospitals 01:29:42 – Public Comments 01:45:25 – Announcements 01:46:19 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on July 30, 2025, approved the June 25 minutes, and received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1. The presentation outlined more than 20 Medicaid-related provisions, emphasizing that the largest federal savings come from work/community engagement requirements, changes to provider taxes, limits on state-directed payments, more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion populations, and related eligibility/enrollment changes. She said the fiscal effects are backloaded, with most reductions occurring in the later years of the 10-year window, and noted potential significant impacts on hospital payments and state financing. She also described new funding opportunities, including a $50 billion rural health transformation fund and a new home and community-based services waiver with associated grants. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on Kentucky’s pending community engagement 1115 waiver and how it would interact with the new federal requirements. Board members asked whether the waiver had been approved, what the cabinet’s contingency plan would be if CMS does not approve it, and what the timeline is for compliance. Cabinet representatives said the waiver has not yet been approved by CMS, remains under public comment, and that the state will wait for CMS guidance before moving forward; if needed, the state would amend the waiver or submit a new one. They said the work requirement must be in place by January 1, 2027, with a possible extension to 2028. Castanza also explained that expansion adults with incomes between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty level would face new cost-sharing requirements beginning October 1, 2028, and that eligibility redeterminations would move from annual to every six months starting January 1, 2027. She then walked through provider tax changes, including a moratorium on new provider taxes beginning October 1, 2026, and a phased reduction in the hold-harmless threshold for existing taxes beginning January 1, 2028, with exemptions for nursing facilities and ICF/IID providers. Board members questioned the timing and likely impact on Kentucky, and Castanza responded that the effect would depend on each tax’s current rate and would phase in over time.

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you to move more rapidly to bring down interest rates, beginning with a meaningful rate cut next
• related to the Fed's rate.
• If we lower rates and kind of rates return to a lower level, mortgage rates will come down.
• So a lot of things go into long rates, and one of them is the expected future short rate of Fed policy
• rates.

Bills: SB257

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: supply chain resilience, critical supply chains, critical goods, manufacturing, domestic manufacturing, reshoring, nearshoring, supply chain security, supply chain shock, supply chain disruption, critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, semiconductors, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, advanced manufacturing, blockchain, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• Changes to capitation rates.
• We don't actually set their rates. The feds do. And they set an updated rate every year.
• error rate.
• We, as highlighted... ...error rate, eligibility error rate.
• Again, very similar to Medicaid and error rates, we could face penalties if that error rate goes over

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 5, 2026 minutes and then heard a lengthy budget presentation from Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon and Medicaid Director Sasha O’Connell. The department outlined numerous supplemental and line-item requests across Medicaid, child and family services, welfare/self-reliance, and support functions, including funding for state hospital billing authority, Medicaid caseload and cost growth, rural health transformation staffing and program funds, child care capacity and program integrity work, kinship navigation, home visiting, and IT and procurement modernization. The committee also discussed the department’s reorganization and the need for additional procurement support for large Medicaid contracts. Much of the discussion focused on Medicaid spending growth, especially in disability services and behavioral health. Sharon said higher utilization and more intensive services, including residential habilitation, youth residential treatment, and substance use services, were driving costs. Members asked about safeguards against provider overuse or steerage; the director said the department uses annual assessments, internal reviews, data mining, and referrals to program integrity, and that some provider behavior had already prompted a proposed rate reduction for residential habilitation. She also explained that the department is seeking to maintain contractor support for disability assessments rather than absorb the work in-house. The committee also reviewed the department’s response to budget reductions and federal changes. Sharon explained the 4% provider rate reduction, the resulting savings, and the need for an additional $22 million in general funds to balance Medicaid, with options for further cuts still before the legislature. Other topics included the state’s Medicaid estate recovery and program integrity contractors, the impact of new SNAP administrative cost-sharing rules, Medicaid work requirements and more frequent eligibility reviews under state and federal law, and a request for three dedicated procurement staff in the Department of Administration to speed Medicaid contracting. No further votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes, and the committee adjourned to attend the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Error rate, we are all in on our FY26 error rate.
• rating.
• And so I think by and large, the before we do anything on rates We probably need a new rate study because
• And so the DHS subsidy rate may not be all of the rate that a childcare center is being paid.
• So, one clarifying question: you mentioned that the subsidy reimbursement rate is well below market rate

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Corporate income tax is a 5.5% rate. Doc stamps is 70 cents for a $100 of value.
• Corporate income tax is a 5.5% rate.
• Now, you know, the Treasury return rate has increased in the last couple of years; the rates were high
• They'll be much lower as the interest rates come down and as balances come down as well.
• They'll be much lower as the interest rates come down and as balances come down as well.

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• base and recover those costs along with an authorized rate... ...project interconnection costs in rate
• , the retail rate, the retail rate, The wholesale rate, the retail rate of the power, nothing higher,
• rise at an alarming rate.
• Those also go into rates.
• best rate of return.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Here we show the federal funds rate and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate.
• The federal funds rate and other interest rates like the 30-year fixed mortgage rate are closely but
• </c> mortgage rates and other long-term rates mortgage rates and other long-term rates also<00:13:58.199
• or delayed lowering of rates.
• to their target rate of 2%.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rates for all students are higher in the most recent year than the average rate of the previous three
• “Is graduation rates.
• That's a very low graduation rate, or could be.
• That's a very low graduation rate, or could be.
• And UNM had a graduation rate of 52.5%.

Summary: The committee first announced that House Bill 180 would be rolled because of administration concerns, with plans to meet with stakeholders and sponsors later in the week. The committee then took up House Bill 8, which would create and transfer $300 million to a Major Capital Projects Fund for higher education, with stated priorities of $150 million for the UNM School of Medicine, $50 million for a multipurpose building at NMSU, and $100 million for student life and housing projects statewide. The sponsor and staff explained eligibility rules, match requirements, waiver procedures, and how institutions would apply through the Higher Education Department, with the legislature retaining final appropriation authority. Public testimony was strongly supportive. Representatives from the New Mexico Council of University Presidents, NMSU, and the independent community colleges said the bill would address major capital and housing needs, especially for student housing and facilities that are not well served by current funding streams. Committee members asked detailed questions about match waivers, who would set waiver standards, whether housing and family housing projects would qualify, and how the fund would interact with the budget and the State Investment Council. Staff clarified that the fund is a transfer from the general fund rather than an endowment, and that the $150 million for the UNM School of Medicine in the budget depends on passage of HB 8. Members also discussed the bill’s graduation-rate standards for athletics projects, noting current rates at UNM and NMSU are below the 65% threshold and would need to improve over time. After questions concluded, the committee adopted an amendment that removed the general-fund transfer language and struck a section on page 5, then voted “do pass” on House Bill 8 as amended. Representative Pettigrew was noted in opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 2013, the surcharge for the assigned risk rate was at 60% of the voluntary rate.
• You mentioned your rating bureau. So are you rating— is that a performance-based rating?
• Are you rating employers? Are you rating insurance providers? Tell me a little bit about that. Mr.
• So our rating bureau is developing rates and loss costs for individual states.
• So those recommendations as far as rates, premium rates, is that industry-wide? Is it per carrier?

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've run into a little bit of a snafu with setting the tax rate for this year.
• Well, in this previous year's rate.
• And this bill is just rates are set.
• </c> fixing that problem for when tax rates fixing that problem for when tax rates can<00:05:43.520><
• </c><00:06:52.639><c> on</c> district and equalize that tax rate on district and equalize that tax rate

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that top rate.
• But again, and the idea of setting rates, is it the network sets rates, which the dentist voluntarily
• a statutory arbitrary rate, and ties it to market rates.
• Do I see it exceeding the prime rate at which it is now? Yes, because that rate can fluctuate.
• Thank you. ...rate which it is now? Yes, because that rate can fluctuate.

Bills: HB1411 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3901 , HCR1019 , HB3981 , HB4248 , HB3194 , HB3849 , HB4095 , HB4302 , HB3342 , HB3344 , HB3287 , HB3645 , HB3647 , HB3930 , HB3931 , HB1818 , HB4454 , HB4336

Keywords: True Grit Trail, Oklahoma, tourism, signage, Department of Transportation, state parks, historical sites, economic development, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department

Transcript Highlights:

• Used in the actuarial process to set rates.
• Fair and equitable rates for these consumers. I'll be glad to address any questions.
• And the insurance provider was going to adjust rates because of that?
• If a wife passes, the widowed husband's insurance rates typically do not change.
• It's one of those rating factors.

Bills: HB712 , HB722 , HB946 , HB1687 , HB1809 , HB1899 , HB2528 , HB2583 , HB2741 , HB2750 , HB3021 , HB3150 , HB3265 , HB3658 , HB3812 , HB3960 , HB4392 , HB4432

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• rate with a 10% floor.
• It also changed the homestead-specific interest rate to the greater of 5% or 2% plus the prime rate.
• Non-homestead property CJ rates remained at the prime rate with a 10% floor.
• rate with a 10% rate which was the prime rate with a 10% floor<00:32:34.799><c> in</c><00:32:34.960>
• 03.840><c> coj</c><00:33:04.399><c> rates</c> rate non Homestead Property coj rates rate non Homestead

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> rates for graduate and online tuition. rates for graduate and online tuition.
• . rates. rates.
• . rates. rates.
• </c> mandatory fee rates? mandatory fee rates?
• </c> And they have approved those rates. And they have approved those rates.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met for its first summer interim meeting, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and took roll. The first presentation came from Jerry Gels, principal of Ignite Institute in Erlanger, who focused on the rising cost of dual credit. He said dual credit tuition has increased from about $150 to $290 for a three-credit course over roughly five years, which he argued is discouraging participation, especially for working-class and low-income students. He cited Ignite data and broader college outcomes to argue dual credit improves college persistence, shortens time to degree, and reduces student debt, noting that many of his students enter college with substantial credit and that low-income students at Ignite have increasingly participated after targeted efforts and scholarship use. He also said the instructional labor is largely paid by county school systems, so he questioned the size of the tuition increase and said the committee should examine how the costs are being set and whether college tuition should be stabilizing as more students arrive with credits already earned. Members asked about who pays for dual credit, the role of state scholarship support, and whether tuition varies by institution. Gels said students in his district generally pay the dual credit cost themselves, though some districts may cover it, and he noted the dual credit scholarship now covers fewer classes than before. He said the price appears to be set centrally rather than varying by university, and he emphasized that the higher cost is creating barriers even though the courses are taught largely by local teachers on school payrolls. He also described Ignite’s efforts to expand access for free- and reduced-lunch students, saying participation among that group rose from 27% with no dual credit to about 90-92% taking at least one dual credit class. The committee then heard from the Goldwater Institute, represented by Michael Frazier and Dr. Tim Minella by Zoom. They argued Kentucky’s public universities should face stronger accountability and transparency, citing declining public confidence in higher education, rising costs, and what they described as administrative growth and research spending that does not clearly benefit students or the Commonwealth. They proposed requiring a 10-year accounting of staffing growth by category, comparing it to enrollment and low-income Kentucky enrollment, and limiting non-STEM faculty teaching releases for research unless approved under a baseline consent process. They also criticized certain university-funded research projects as examples of misdirected spending and said public reporting should distinguish Kentucky residents from non-residents more clearly, pointing to a reported decline in low-income in-state undergraduate enrollment. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, in this case, theoretically, the tax-exempt rate would be 80% of the taxable rate.
• are 60 to 80% of a locable exempt rates are 60 to 80% of a locable taxable<00:56:20.920><c> rates</c
• On a taxable basis, it was a... the tax exempt rate should be the tax exempt rate should be 4%<00:58:
• the credit rating, the lower the interest rate that you're going to be charged.
• is 5% for a AAA-rated general obligation issuance, the tax-exempt rate theoretically should be 4%.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of rate reform implementation, a new job development service and corresponding rate has been
• and update rate models, and we already know that there are a number of issues with rate model...
• for the rate.
• Back in 2008, when we had rate cuts and rate freezes, it took us 17 years, to January 1 of this year,
• before we got back to a point where rates are meant to be sustainable and paid at a sustainable rate

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.