Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:10.800> uh steady even in a high interest rate uh steady even in a high interest rate
• It's a 0.16% loan loss rate, so extremely low.
• The current interest rate on that program is set at 5%, and we adjust that every time we do a bond sale
• The current interest rate on that program is set at 5%, and we adjust that every time we do a bond sale
• <00:14:20.880> of continuously funded at the rate of continuously funded at the rate of 750,000

Bills: HF770, HF857, HF38, HF1500, HF43

Keywords: HF770, Rural Finance Authority, RFA, capital investment, state bonds, general obligation bonds, bonding bill, agricultural loans, farm loans, beginning farmer, new farmer, seller-sponsored loans, loan restructuring, agricultural improvement loans, livestock expansion, modernization loans, rural development, Minnesota agriculture, farm credit, chapter 41B

Transcript Highlights:

• It is set in statute.
• It is set in statute.
• It is set in statute.
• The bill continues to set the regulatory rate wagering assessment at 0.5% for fiscal year 2027 and continues
• What was the inflation rate? What was the inflation rate? Mr.

Bills: HB4154, HB4155, HB4156, HB4157, HB4158, HB4159, HB4160, HB4161, HB4162, HB4163, HB4164, HB4165, HB4166, HB4167, HB4168, HB4169, SB1847, SB1848, SB1849, SB1850, SB1851, SB1852, SB1853, SB1854, SB1855, SB1856, SB1857, SB1858, SB1859, SB1860, SB1861, SB1862

Keywords: general appropriations act, budget, biennial budget, state spending, fiscal year 2026-2027, appropriations, state agencies, public funding, education funding, health and human services, public safety, transportation, government operations, budget bill, fiscal policy, state finance, spending plan, legislative budget, capital appropriations, operating budget

Transcript Highlights:

• rate impact.
• are set.
• Many of our taxpayers are not as well versed in the understanding of how the assessor sets the rates
• The Department of Revenue, as you all know, sets the tax rate.
• You all know, the Department of Revenue sets the tax rate.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE LOOKED AT THE RESEARCH QUESTION IS THERE A DIFFERENT IN THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND PASS RATES.
• HERE THIS SLIDE IS SHOWING YOU OUR NCLEX PN PASS RATES.
• HOW MANY PASS ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT AND DO OUR RATES RISE BECAUSE IT IS LIKE A SITUATION ETC.?
• NUMBER 1 YOU HAD TO BE ON PROBATION AND YOU HAVE TO FINISH WITH A 30% PASSAGE RATE OR LOWER.
• EDUCATING ME AS WELL IN THIS SETTING. MEMBERS, SOME OF YOU KNOW THIS AND SOME OF YOU DON'T.

Transcript Highlights:

• space, the requirements, the congestion, et cetera, to actually set a separate rate now for these vehicles
• that you... to actually set a separate rate now for these vehicles that you are so clearly identifying
• The initial daily rate was set for any vehicle. Correct. And it varies.
• The daily rate was set for any vehicle, and it varies from community to community.
• Do you know, this is my question, what variables went into the initial day rate that are set?

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills, with several focused on water safety, utilities, and local government transparency. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was explained as clarifying water quality credits and water quality enhancement areas, and it was reported favorably after one support appearance. SB 28, a claim bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland arising from injuries caused by a police shooting, was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 658 on water safety requirements for rental properties drew extensive testimony in support from child advocacy and drowning prevention advocates, who cited Florida’s high child drowning rates and the disproportionate impact on children with autism; the bill was amended to require front-end certification and remove local add-on authority, then passed favorably. CS/SB 18, a claim bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, was reported favorably after questions about the verdict, settlement posture, and who would receive the funds. SB 934 on areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a provision viewed as conflicting with the Live Local Act and then passed favorably. SB 1622, which creates a one-time waiver for certain late-filed financial disclosure fines, also passed favorably with support from an appearance form. SB 1264 on private schools and zoning was reported favorably after members noted ongoing concerns and planned further discussion. CS/CS/SB 260 on electric vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to narrow the bill to storage issues and cap the fee period until inspection; it drew both support and opposition from insurers, fire officials, and vehicle industry representatives, and was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1014, dealing with municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, was amended to limit it to residential development and clarify capacity standards, then passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 expanded the local infrastructure surtax to include body camera programs and was reported favorably after an amendment requiring voter approval. Finally, CS/SB 1724 and SB 1566, both on local government utility and budget transparency, were amended and reported favorably despite concerns from cities and counties about implementation costs and burdens.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the best way to set default service rates? Should they try to be competitive?
• When the standard offer rate is set using speculative forecasts and reconciled after the fact, it can
• <01:30:43.880> is<01:30:44.000> set<01:30:44.280> at is the price that the rate
• is set at is the price that the rate is set at understanding<01:30:45.720> that,<01:30:46.000
• And that rate effectively reflects what the market rate is in terms of how that is set by the Public

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Implementation is set to begin January 1, 2027.
• Prior to H.R. 1, these state-directed payments may be set up to the average commercial rate.
• Prior to HR1, these state-directed payments may be set up to the average commercial rate.
• per diem rates and used general fund to pay rate increases for hospitals.
• And four, move to a new alternative methodology to set rates that actually reflect the true cost of ECE

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s Medi-Cal program and on community health effects from recent immigration enforcement actions. Committee leaders said H.R. 1 would sharply reduce federal funding, increase administrative burdens, and worsen access to care, especially for Medi-Cal enrollees, immigrant families, rural communities, and reproductive health patients. The second half of the hearing examined how ICE raids and related federal actions are creating fear, reducing clinic and emergency department use, and disrupting children’s access to schools and early childhood education. Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Bass outlined the main H.R. 1 provisions affecting Medi-Cal: work requirements, semiannual eligibility redeterminations, shorter retroactive coverage, new cost-sharing, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, reduced federal support for emergency and lawful immigrant coverage, and a one-year ban on Medicaid funding for prohibited abortion providers. She estimated millions could lose coverage, with tens of billions of dollars in federal funding at risk. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California warned the defunding provision could force clinic closures, service reductions, and loss of access to family planning, STI testing, and cancer screenings. The California Hospital Association said the financing changes could cut hospital revenue by tens of billions over 10 years and threaten access, especially for rural and safety-net hospitals. The Western Center on Law and Poverty argued the law would increase churn, paperwork, and uninsured rates, disproportionately harming working adults and people experiencing homelessness. Committee members asked about implementation timelines, notification systems, administrative costs, the effect on immigrant eligibility, and whether California could delay or mitigate some provisions. Bass said the state was still assessing federal guidance, planning county and provider outreach, and exploring a possible delay for work requirements and a transition period for provider-tax changes. Members also discussed how state budget actions may need to be revisited in light of H.R. 1, and how California might preserve access through state-only funding or other policy changes. In the second panel, CHIRLA, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, and the Children’s Partnership described the health consequences of immigration enforcement. Speakers said raids and data-sharing fears are causing anxiety, trauma, and avoidance of care, with Los Angeles County reporting declines in emergency, urgent care, and clinic visits after enforcement actions. The Children’s Partnership said school and early childhood absences are rising in some communities and that enforcement is undermining children’s emotional well-being and access to education. Members asked for more data and discussed possible state protections, telehealth, mobile care, and legal and policy responses to reduce fear and preserve access to health and education services.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the demand rate. 35,000% increase from the normal rate to the demand rates.
• And time-of-use rates are different than the optional dynamic pricing rates that are addressed in AB
• And time of use rates are different than the optional dynamic pricing rates that are addressed in AB1117
• Dynamic pricing rates will Oh, okay, dynamic pricing rates will provide a needed price signal to inform
• So we have to offer rates that are competitive, and dynamic rate is part of those options.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard several bills focused on grid reliability, affordability, clean energy infrastructure, and industrial decarbonization. AB 222, by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, would require more data reporting on data centers and aim to prevent ratepayers from bearing related grid costs; supporters said better information is needed to plan for rapidly growing electricity demand from AI and data centers, while opponents warned about privacy, security, trade-secret, and cost-shifting concerns. The bill passed the committee on a 13-4 vote, with the roll left open for absent members. AB 941, by Assemblymember Bonta, would impose a 270-day timeline for CPUC review of priority transmission projects to speed clean-energy infrastructure buildout. Supporters argued that transmission delays are slowing California’s climate goals and raising costs, while opponents raised concerns about CEQA process, staffing, and prioritization. The bill passed 15-0. AB 1191, by Assemblymember Tangipa, would make existing large hydroelectric facilities eligible for the Renewable Portfolio Standard; supporters framed it as a way to lower rates and ease affordability pressures, while opponents said it would undermine the purpose of the RPS by substituting existing resources for new renewable development. That bill failed on a 4-11 vote. AB 1280, by Assemblymember Garcia, would expand state grant programs to support thermal energy storage projects for industrial decarbonization. Supporters said it would help modernize manufacturing, cut pollution in disadvantaged communities, and preserve jobs, with broad support from environmental and clean manufacturing groups and no opposition testimony. The bill passed 17-0. AB 1117, by Assemblymember Schultz, would require the CPUC to offer optional dynamic electricity rate tariffs for customers to shift usage away from peak periods; supporters said it could lower bills and improve grid efficiency, while utilities said they were not opposed to the concept but wanted more flexibility and time in the regulatory process. That bill passed 14-0. The committee also approved its consent calendar and other noncontroversial items, with several measures moving forward unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• those rates had been set was in 2019.
• those rates had been set was in 2019.
• those rates had been set was in 2019.
• those rates had been set was in 2019.
• distribution rates transmission rates are<02:54:26.319> set<02:54:26.560> by<02:54:26.800

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no set rate, and therefore there will be no exceptions to rates that have been set.
• There is no set rate and no board.
• There is no set rate and therefore<00:24:15.360> there<00:24:15.520> will<00:24:15.600>
• It is not rent rates that have been set.
• While the rate annual rate increases.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If that's the lowest rate.
• Right now, you calculate through the rate certification.
• Well, there's, you know, whatever that rate is calculated, they have what's called a tax rate ceiling
• Done, it was set at a third value.
• , a portion of the rate to offset that amount.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It freezes the motor fuels tax rate at current levels for FY 27 and it reduces the motor fuels tax rate
• and it reduces the motor fuels tax rate and it reduces the motor fuels tax rate 10<00:07:37.199>
• If the the reduction in the rate.
• receptive of submitting the rate sheets. receptive of submitting the rate sheets.
• rates? rates?

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• what the error rate means? what the error rate means?
• an error rate over 6%. an error rate over 6%.
• . completion rates are graduation rates. completion rates are more<00:46:22.480> apppropo<00:46
• , and, you know, we set Our attainment rate, and, you know, we set that attainment rate at 60% of all
• or a persistence rate.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes: 0:01:45 Federal Education Updates 0:02:12 Dual Credit Updates: 0:43:38 Kentucky State University's Doctoral Program Request: 01:27:08 Postsecondary Accreditation: 1:49:05 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations: 2:14:48 Adjournment 2:16:31, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Austin Reid of the National Conference of State Legislatures on education-related provisions in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). Reid said the law is projected to increase the federal deficit over 10 years, with major savings coming from Medicaid, student loan changes, and SNAP. He focused on how those changes could affect schools, including possible effects on free and reduced-price meal certification, state funding formulas that use SNAP as a proxy for low-income status, and Medicaid-funded school services for students with disabilities. Reid also outlined the new federal scholarship tax credit, which gives a dollar-for-dollar credit for donations to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. He said families up to 300% of area median income may benefit, the program begins in 2027, and states must opt in and designate eligible organizations. He noted unresolved questions about whether states can add their own criteria and said Treasury regulations will be important. He also described the expansion of 529 plans to cover more K-12 and postsecondary expenses. On higher education, Reid explained a new workforce Pell grant option for short-term programs, with states and governors playing a role in determining eligible programs. He said the programs must meet placement, completion, and earnings measures and that implementation is expected to be tight before the July 1, 2026 effective date. He also reviewed student loan changes, including lower institutional loan limits, prorated borrowing for part-time enrollment, new caps on graduate and Parent PLUS loans, and a new earnings-based accountability standard that could make some programs ineligible for student loans if graduates earn too little. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Slide Six is, um, our staffing and vacancy rate, so you can see we're pretty proud of our vacancy rate
• increases or rate prioritizing rate increases or rate adjustments<01:24:45.320> to<01:24:45.480
• to do a rate study.
• increase, the guardianship rate increase, the BDS service rate increase.
• service rate incre the rate increased service rate incre the rate increased the<01:53:51.679>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division of Long-Term Supports and Services presented its budget and program overview as part of the Department of Health and Human Services operating budget review. Leadership described the division’s three bureaus—Aging and Adult Services, Developmental Services, and Family-Centered Services—and explained that the division provides guidance, technical assistance, quality monitoring, and contracted provider oversight across the lifespan. Members also discussed staffing, with reported vacancy rates of 4% in Aging and Adult Services, 15% in Developmental Services, and 6% in Family-Centered Services; the division said the higher BDS vacancy rate is partly due to the small number of authorized positions. The governor’s budget had left eight positions unfunded in the division, including three in Aging and Adult Services and five in BDS. A major topic was the division’s roadmap initiatives, especially building a system of care for healthy aging and strengthening developmental disabilities systems through a new reimbursement rate structure. The division said it contracted with an actuary to study DD service costs and found rates had not been reviewed since 2017 and were significantly below actual costs and other states’ rates, contributing to provider shortages even when services are authorized. Members asked about the impact on service delivery and whether rates would need to rise overall; the division said its strategy is to focus on lower-cost services that help people remain in the community. The division also reported waiver enrollment figures, including about 4,161 people on the Choices for Independence waiver, 3,688 average nursing facility residents, 5,061 people on the DD waiver, 228 on the acquired brain disorder waiver, and 488 children on the in-home support waiver, while noting there is no funding waitlist but provider availability remains a constraint. The division highlighted IT modernization as a major accomplishment, especially moving Adult Protective Services and Developmental Services into the New Heights system. Officials said these changes improve case-note access, data retrieval, service authorization tracking, and transparency for providers, and they asked for future oversight discussion focused on IT leverage. Members noted that New Heights maintenance is budgeted in the Office of the Commissioner under class 27 and suggested better transparency on system costs and benefits. The division also reported that it closed out a long-running CMS corrective action plan for BDS on July 1, 2023, and said it is now focused on strengthening the system rather than compliance alone. Other discussion covered the Aging and Adult Services bureau’s name change from Elderly and Adult Services to Adult and Aging Services, intended to avoid negative connotations and better reflect preventative services. The bureau described Adult Protective Services trends involving scams, financial exploitation, self-neglect, and isolation, and explained that it administers the CFI waiver, determines medical eligibility for nursing facility level of care, and braids funding from Medicaid, state funds, Older Americans Act money, Social Service Block Grants, and other grants. Members asked about waiver growth targets and federal consequences if enrollment remains below projections; the division said it would explain the shortfall in a future waiver amendment and did not anticipate a federal penalty. The meeting ended without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• the GSA rate, they're actually lower than the GSA rate.
• They set their own rules. The judiciary has a... You feel they set their own rules.
• They simply have set this rule every year.
• They follow the same GSA rate. You want them to stick with these rates here? Yes, sir.
• So it's just a set amount.

Bills: HB9, HB177, HB181, HB202, HB225, HB398, HB459, HB540, HB906, HB1052, HB1057, HB1245

Keywords: HB 9, HB9, Act 527, Shreveport, Stuffed Shrimp Capital, state symbol, Louisiana symbols, municipal designation, honorary title, cultural designation, tourism, local pride, seafood, shrimp, stuffed shrimp, cuisine, city branding, Louisiana Revised Statutes 49:170.26, court reporter, official court reporter

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, Cal/OSHA vacancy rate is at 12 percent.
• And it sets up the framework for investigation.
• Rates in May of this year were higher than 40%.
• Nine district offices had vacancy rates higher than 50%.
• As stated, the vacancy rate is 39%.

Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• setting utility standards and rates setting utility standards and rates approving<01:16:06.600><
• the rates.
• Statute 216C.05 sets a goal to have retail electric rates for each customer class be at least 5% below
• electric rates, and that residential rates are somewhat below the national average, but commercial rates
• rates and that nationally with electric rates and that residential<01:24:58.800> rates<01:24:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If we lower rates and kind of rates return to a lower level, mortgage rates will come down.
• rates.
• Mortgage rates are really not set at the Fed; those are really keyed off of longer-run factors.
• And while I know the Fed doesn't set the mortgage rate, the same.
• Up being seen in terms of your inflation calculation that helps you set the rates.

Bills: SB257

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:

• payers not exclusively benefit Exel rate payers not exclusively benefit EXL<00:12:28.639> rate
• other um people in the state but XL rate other um people in the state but XL rate payers<00:12:33.279
• Chair and Representative Swedzinski. ratee payers today the RDA is a tax on a ratee payers today the
• He said members that Xcel rate customers are asking us to look at their rates because they cannot take
• of and returning that back to rate of and returning that back to rate payers<01:13:50.320> and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rate increase that um with this rate rate increase that they<00:31:22.000> just<00:31:22.559>
• And these rate cases are a rate case.
• rates every third year. rates every third year.
• setting forth this think is setting setting forth this unobtainable unobtainable unobtainable expectation
• >> set forth by PU. >> set forth by PU.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 2694 SD2, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to create automatic adjustment mechanisms for water carriers, including a water carrier inflationary cost index, and to waive certain requirements under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Testimony was sharply divided. The Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and several shipping, harbor, labor, and business-related supporters argued the bill would modernize regulation, reduce the need for large catch-up rate cases, and help keep rates aligned with rising costs. Young Brothers said its current rate-setting process is expensive and delayed, and that annual adjustments with guardrails such as a 5% cap and periodic full reviews would support sustainable operations and the state’s supply chain. Some supporters also said the company’s less-than-container-load service and required inter-island routes create costs that are not fully covered by current rates. Opponents, including the Consumer Advocate, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, restaurant and chamber groups, and other businesses, argued the bill would lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses and should not move forward. Several testified that shipping costs already significantly affect pricing and that automatic increases would worsen the cost of living. The Consumer Advocate said Young Brothers should focus on cost control and implementing its business plan rather than automatic rate increases. The Maui Chamber and others pointed to a recent PUC decision that imposed a two-year stay on rate increases and said the bill would undermine that protection. Some opponents urged the committee to defer to the PUC’s regulatory authority. The PUC explained that it regulates water carriers as public utilities under existing statute and said it had recently approved a temporary rate increase while imposing a two-year stayout period on further increases, with emergency relief still possible. PUC members said they were still examining whether they have authority to adopt the proposed WICI mechanism by rule and wanted legislative clarity. In response to questions, the PUC said it prefers the current two-year stayout as reflected in its order. Young Brothers also clarified that it serves less-than-container-load cargo, that some routes and services are cross-subsidized because they are not profitable, and that an independent observer is being put in place to monitor implementation of its updated business plan. The transcript ended with the committee still taking questions; no final vote or disposition on the bill was shown.