Transcript Highlights:

• and instead move toward value-based payments, population-based payments, and episodes of care.
• Value-based payments, population-based payments, and episodes of care are designed to incentivize quality
• They only want to do value-based payment.
• But there are other cases. for payment is too low. They just can't do it.
• get a bonus payment.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One consisting of a payment of $8,32 on One consisting of a payment of $8,32 on July 1, 2027, and two
• of 2,00 $17 on July 1, 2027, and two payments of $17 on July 1, 2027, and two payments of $1,800 on
• And what I see in here, the percentage of income tax payments, is that this falls after Tax payments,
• They'll work out a payment plan to keep them with their lights on.
• Again, the trust gives you a lump-sum payment upfront.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the total estimated payment to $668.3 million for 2026-27.
• Some annual payments can be up to $20 million, so payment via check can be cumbersome for the employer
• Of those victims, only 24% receive any payment at all.
• Do you have any data on the payment breakdowns?
• Do you have any data on the payment breakdowns?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee held a May Revision budget hearing on state administration and related issues, hearing presentations from multiple departments and agencies. Early items included the Public Employment Relations Board on funding for implementation of AB 1 and a reduced request tied to AB 288, the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement on a technical College Corps adjustment, and the Secretary of State on building security upgrades, election security grant matching funds, and payroll system readiness costs. The Department of Consumer Affairs presented a Board of Pharmacy modernization request and a General Fund backfill for the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education; the LAO raised no concerns on the pharmacy item but recommended rejecting the private postsecondary backfill and questioned interest-free loan language. The Employment Development Department outlined several large workload and benefit adjustments, including EDD Next document management funding, UI loan interest, DI/PFL benefit increases, WIOA adjustments, school employee benefits, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical reversion correction; the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL increase and the expansion of the document management scope, while members asked about program impacts and timelines. The California Workforce Development Board presented an April adjustment to reimbursement authority for an interagency agreement with Caltrans, which the LAO said raised no concerns. Public comment on that item and others included support for workforce and apprenticeship initiatives, including the Jails to Jobs proposal and renewal of the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, though those were not part of the May Revision package. The Department of Industrial Relations then presented several proposals: reclassifying legal positions, continuing modernization of the workers’ compensation EAMS system, Cal/OSHA data modernization, creating a Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, reappropriating funds for the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship program, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the statutory treatment of the workers’ compensation administrative director’s salary. The LAO generally found the IT and salary proposals reasonable but urged close monitoring of the new emerging technologies unit. Committee members, especially Assemblymember Ortega, pressed DIR on long vacancy rates, wage theft claim delays, low collection rates for Cal/OSHA fines, and whether new resources would improve outcomes; DIR said it was pursuing recruitment, classification reviews, and process modernization, while the LAO noted that staffing alone may not explain the delays. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board also sought to make permanent a 2024 change to the 60-day reconsideration clock, saying it had reduced backlog and interim orders; the LAO had no concerns. Finally, the Department of Human Resources presented a statewide Employee Assistance Program contract consolidation that would lower costs compared with renewing separate contracts and requested one program manager position to oversee the contract and first responder services; the hearing continued with Finance’s response after the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• the total estimated payment to $668.3 million for 2026-27.
• Some annual payments can be up to $20 million, so payment via check can be cumbersome for the employer
• Of those victims, only 24% receive any payment at all. Only 24% receive any payment at all.
• Do you have any data on the payment breakdowns?
• The first one is modernizing payments for routine software licenses.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or a payment of some kind?
• We want people to be able to make payments when they want to make payments, even if it's in the middle
• payments when they want to make payments payments when they want to make payments even<03:30:54.120
• payment of ordered payment<05:46:25.080> of<05:46:25.320> cash<05:46:25.600> benefits
• <05:46:26.040> to<05:46:26.200> Injured payment of cash benefits to Injured payment

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from Charlotte Harding of the Conservation Land Stewardship Program, who explained that the office protects the state’s interests in conservation lands by monitoring conservation easements and related stewardship obligations. She described the program’s funding sources: a land conservation endowment held at the State Treasury and administered by the Council on Resources and Development, plus transfers from Fish and Game for easements not covered by the endowment. Members discussed how the endowment is funded when new easements are created, the program’s staffing, the loss of a state vehicle, and the need to increase in-state travel so staff can use personal vehicles for field monitoring. Harding said the office has two full-time positions and a seasonal employee, that the work is mostly monitoring rather than hands-on land management, and that enforcement issues are referred to the grantee agencies or, if needed, to the Council on Resources and Development. She also noted that the office works directly with landowners to resolve smaller issues and that stewardship has become a greater focus in the conservation community because ongoing oversight requires funding. Members asked about examples of properties under the program, including LCIP lands such as Musquash Headwaters, Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp, and Nash Stream, and the committee did not take a motion before moving on. The committee then heard from Paul Breen and Susie Anzelone of the Pease Development Authority regarding the Division of Ports and Harbors operating budget. They explained that the authority provides finance, legal, environmental, and engineering support to the division, which operates New Hampshire’s only deep-water berth at Market Street, as well as facilities in Hampton, Rye, the Portsmouth Fish Pier, and navigational waters in the Piscataqua and Great Bay. They described the authority’s history after the closure of Pease Air Force Base, the transfer of roughly 2,400 acres, and the creation of a self-sustaining enterprise fund tied to airport and port operations. They emphasized that the division does not draw on the general fund because revenues from wharfage, dockage, parking, registration, and mooring fees cover operating costs, with any surplus retained for capital improvements and replacement. Members questioned several budget lines, including a sharp increase in overtime and workers’ compensation. Breen said overtime is driven largely by security needs at the deep-water port and fluctuates with vessel traffic, such as salt shipments, while workers’ comp is a DAS-set cost and not something the division controls. He said the budget is conservative and that if revenues fall short, capital projects would be the first items scaled back. The discussion also covered fee-setting, with Breen saying rates are reviewed against the local market and infrastructure constraints, and that some smaller facility fees had recently been increased after being stagnant for years.

Transcript Highlights:

• And also, we do know that mortgage inflation has increased as well as mortgage payments.
• . make additional payments toward the make additional payments toward the mortgage<00:05:22.000> principal
• <00:05:29.039> and<00:05:29.280> potentially their mortgage payment and potentially
• their mortgage payment and potentially saving<00:05:30.639> on<00:05:30.880> interest<
• Well, I guess everybody wants more house with lower payments? That's pretty simple. All right.

Bills: HB55, HB104, HB55, HB104

Keywords: mortgage, payments, financial institutions, borrowers, principal, escrow, homeownership, abandoned property, digital assets, state treasurer, unclaimed property, liquidation, finders, contracts, electronic reporting, fishing, licensing, jubilee, Marine life, Alabama

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your what the payment is.
• Each employee shall be given payment.
• are due where the mechanism of payment are due where the mechanism of payment is<00:46:12.160>
• That's payment method to get rid of me?
• But if the manner of payment is.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you use that for down payment assistance, you may get about a $120, $130 reduction in your payment
• You may get about a $120, $130 reduction in your payment.
• But I think on the down payment assistance...
• The certificate of occupancy doesn't trigger the tax payment.
• And if your mortgage payment is, say— ...is double the rate and then at 3%.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• payment was made originally. originally. originally.
• to explain what originally thinking was in paying the payment.
• to explain what originally thinking was in paying the payment.
• Some were clawbacks from payments back as far as 2021.
• recoupment payments sometimes as much as recoupment payments sometimes as much as four<00:18:15.160><

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 729, an omnibus policy bill, and walked through a series of amendments before moving the bill forward. Early amendments addressed adult maltreatment accountability, senior nutrition flexibility, MA provider enrollment and fraud prevention, Direct Care and Treatment data and staffing provisions, disability and aging policy changes, technical corrections from DHS, behavioral health language, and MDH policy updates. Most amendments were adopted without public opposition, and several members and testifiers described them as clarifications or technical fixes to existing policy. Testimony focused on the practical effects of the bill’s provisions. Direct Care and Treatment representatives said the changes would help with data sharing, governance, staffing, patient care, and longer return stays for certain patients. Several witnesses from the substance use disorder and health care provider community supported changes to discharge summary deadlines and claims recoupment rules, arguing that business-day timelines and limits on late clawbacks would reduce administrative burden and financial uncertainty. A disability advocate also urged passage of the bill, saying services for people with disabilities were at risk if it did not advance. After public testimony and member discussion, the committee adopted the DE2 amendment as amended and then approved the bill as amended. Chair Noor renewed the motion to re-refer House File 729 to the Committee on Ways and Means, and that motion passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• fund in order for us to pay the benefit payment.
• And then we have an order for payment in terms of who will get paid in what order.
• Next on page 130 is the Employment and Training Payments core.
• Next on page 130 is the Employment and Training Payments Corps.
• We've seen this in years past with unemployment insurance and unemployment payments.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , starting effective July 1, 2025, that the payments paid to the attorneys will match the same payment
• , starting effective July 1, 2025, that the payments paid to the attorneys will match the same payment
• , starting effective July 1, 2025, that the payments paid to the attorneys will match the same payment
• , starting effective July 1, 2025, that the payments paid to the attorneys will match the same payment
• , starting effective July 1, 2025, that the payments paid to the attorneys will match the same payment

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 484 reflects $1.84 add-on to the directed pharmacy dispensing payment.
• Line 506 reflects directed payments for hospitals, House File 2057.
• This is linked to the directed dispensing payment for pharmacies in that the directed payment is intended
• It establishes a rural EMS uncompensated care pool payment program at the Office of EMS.
• The directed payment program that I've worked on is in this bill.

Bills: HF2435

Keywords: healthcare, dementia services, public health funding, opioid prevention, women's health, community health boards, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• Those payments were on time for more than a decade until my stepfather fell ill and died in 2003.
• But at some point, they said a payment was late and they said the deal was off.
• It's almost as if they said, oh, okay, we're not getting payments, you know.
• ...getting payments, you know. How about these late fees?
• Here's a payment plan you can afford, $50 a month. Guess what that does? Nothing.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on consumer debt, mortgage regulation, credit unions, and foreclosure prevention. The Attorney General’s Office strongly supported the Debt Collection Fairness Act (S. 735/H. 1275), saying it would curb abusive debt collection, prevent stale claims, limit civil arrest warrants, modernize wage garnishment rules, and reduce judgment interest rates. Senator Eldridge and legal aid advocates echoed that support, while the Massachusetts Bankers Association and the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association supported bills on credit union mission/competition, consumer privacy in mortgage applications, subprime loan definitions, UCC updates, and protections for vulnerable adults, but opposed foreclosure mediation proposals and several credit union expansion measures, arguing they would distort competition and add unnecessary burdens. A large portion of the hearing focused on foreclosure prevention bills (S. 765/H. 1090), with testimony from homeowners, housing organizers, and legal advocates describing predatory lending, confusing servicing practices, health harms, and displacement caused by foreclosure. Supporters said a statewide pre-foreclosure mediation program would give borrowers and lenders a chance to reach alternatives such as loan modifications or repayment plans, and cited local experience in Lynn where mediation reportedly produced high rates of foreclosure alternatives. Opponents from the banking industry argued Massachusetts already has strong foreclosure protections and that a new mandatory process could delay resolution without added benefit, though they also noted a 2024 pilot should be evaluated first. The committee also heard strong support for H. 1282/S. 684, which would update the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code. State Street and a bankruptcy attorney said the changes are needed to keep commercial law current with electronic transactions, tokenized assets, and blockchain technology, and to maintain competitiveness with other states. The hearing concluded after public testimony, with no bill votes taken during the session; the chair thanked speakers and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the OIG has 28 active payment and the OIG has 28 active payment withholds<00:04:10.760> in
• <00:15:54.320> related payment suspensions on EIDBI related payment suspensions on EIDBI related
• hold fraudulent payments stopped and hold fraudulent payments stopped and hold accountable<01:26
• reduce or suspend payments. reduce or suspend payments.
• provider, we suspend payments. provider, we suspend payments.

Bills: HF3542

Keywords: data privacy, investigative data, welfare system, public funds, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , them to do and stop payment, them to do and stop payment, would<00:06:56.680> could<00:06
• When you used that example, and you talked about payments were cut, and then payments were reinstated
• were cut, and then talked about payments were cut, and then payments<00:18:47.280> were<00:18
• Um I payments were then reinstated.
• <00:20:30.360> were the reason why the payments were the reason why the payments were restored

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• do is it has the state funding payments do is it has the state funding payments oh<00:29:04.760>
• homeschooling that you receive a payment homeschooling that you receive a payment for<00:33:15.519
• income taxation as a scholarship payment income taxation as a scholarship payment um<00:33:21.399
• questions about whether those payments questions about whether those payments would<00:34:46.119
• receives the benefit of the EFA payment receives the benefit of the EFA payment can<00:42:53.559

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 402, a bill to repeal a provision in RSA 194-F:2 stating that Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds “shall not constitute taxable income” to the parent or student. The bill sponsor argued the current language is misleading because the state cannot determine federal tax liability, and said the bill would simply remove inaccurate tax advice from state law. He cited IRS guidance and prior federal legislation, including a Ted Cruz proposal, to suggest some EFA uses may be taxable under federal law, while others may not, and said the bill could be amended if needed to avoid confusion. Testimony was sharply divided. Py Campbell opposed the bill, arguing it would unfairly single out EFA students and could amount to a tax on education funds, including for self-employed families, and recommended it be voted inexpedient to legislate. Stephen Matthew French, a tax preparer, also opposed the bill, saying IRS Publication 970 already makes clear that scholarship-type payments used for tuition and related expenses are not taxable, and that the bill addresses a problem that does not exist. He warned that adding tax reporting requirements could create administrative costs for families and the program administrator. Bill Ardinger, a tax attorney, supported the repeal of the statutory language, saying the state should not place potentially incorrect tax advice into law. He explained that under federal tax law, only certain scholarship-like uses are exempt, while many EFA-eligible expenses may not be, especially for families using the program for homeschooling or other nontraditional expenses. He said the current statute could mislead families into thinking all EFA payments are tax-free and could expose the state to future legal problems. The hearing ended after questions from committee members; no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And also, share with me about this advanced payment tool that you would use.
• normally give schools and colleges 12 payments at the end of each month.
• , so 13 payments in 2026-27.
• When we need savings, you only give districts 11 payments to get the savings.
• We give them 13 payments.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard the Governor’s May Revision proposals for TK-12 education, beginning with a Proposition 98 overview from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Finance said the May Revision increases the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee by about $6.4 billion relative to the Governor’s January budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, continued full payment of the outstanding settle-up obligation in 2024-25, and a reduced $3.9 billion settle-up amount in 2025-26. Finance also described larger mandatory and discretionary deposits into the Proposition 98 reserve, ending with an estimated $10.3 billion reserve balance. The LAO said the overall estimates were reasonable, but urged the state to fully fund the guarantee and use other budget tools, including reserves, to manage volatility rather than delay settle-up payments. Members questioned the remaining settle-up amount, the risk of revenue volatility, and possible alternatives such as advance payments or other reserve strategies. The second panel covered Department of Education proposals and trailer bill language. Finance outlined additional state operations funding and positions for CDE, along with trailer bill changes affecting community schools, preschool, literacy, special education, charter accountability, teacher-related programs, and other technical cleanups. The LAO supported the overall structure of the package but recommended changes to several items, including rejecting some additional one-time community schools, literacy, math, multilingual screener, and inclusive college proposals, while supporting the ongoing LCFF and special education increases and raising concerns about the paid pregnancy disability leave proposal’s cost and implementation complexity. CDE supported the special education increase, community schools, literacy and math investments, homelessness funding, and the paid pregnancy leave proposal, while asking for more funding for county office support, clearer homelessness definitions, and continued preschool parity. Members also asked about immigrant student supports, community schools reporting, and the rationale and cost estimate for the paid pregnancy leave proposal, which Finance estimated at $218 million annually. The final panel addressed the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Finance proposed additional legal staffing for SB 848 implementation and educator misconduct caseloads, a fee increase for clear credential renewals from $100 to $125, a $5 million one-time Proposition 98 investment to build a transcript review platform, $2 million ongoing for transcript review staffing, and $30 million one-time for the statewide residency technical assistance center. The LAO had no concerns about the legal staffing, supported the transcript review platform if the fee increase and ongoing staffing were adopted, and recommended rejecting the residency technical assistance center expansion because existing funding runs through 2029. The Commission explained that the misconduct workload has grown over several years, that AI would assist but not replace human review in transcript matching, and that the residency technical assistance center helps recruit and retain teachers and support rural districts. Public commenters largely supported special education, discretionary block grants, community schools, literacy investments, homelessness funding, and teacher credentialing alternatives, while some urged rejection of the settle-up proposal and preschool COLA reduction.

Transcript Highlights:

• cost of share responsibility payments cost of share responsibility payments for<00:09:42.080>
• Can the payment be split between FY27 and FY28, or paid only in FY28?
• payments and to down to handicap child. payments and to down to handicap child.
• <00:16:00.480> and benefits uh, the personal payments and benefits uh, the personal payments
• So, it would pick up these payments just for some reason.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance heard testimony from Bo Barnes, deputy executive secretary and general counsel for the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), on the TRS budget request for the upcoming biennium and how it compares with House Bill 500 as introduced. Barnes emphasized that the bill fully funds the system’s additional funding request to pay down TRS’s legacy unfunded pension liability, which he described as critical to the system’s long-term funding plan. He also explained that the pension and health insurance requests are broken into several line items, including legacy benefit items, state shared-responsibility payments for retiree health insurance, and reconciliation items that adjust for prior over- or underpayments. Barnes said the state portion of shared responsibility for retiree health insurance was funded below the request in House Bill 500, but he described the health insurance trust as a success story under the post-2010 shared-responsibility model. He said the trust is projected to be fully funded in about two years if medical inflation and federal subsidies remain stable, and he noted that any shortfall in the current budget would be reconciled later and could reduce investment income. In response to questions, he explained that the legacy benefit items are treated as part of the total actuarially determined employer contribution and that unpaid legacy benefits would have the same impact on the retirement trust as unpaid ADC amounts. Barnes also addressed questions about whether the $47.2 million SEEK-related teacher contribution reconciliation could be split between fiscal years, saying it could be done but would reduce investment income and potentially increase future contribution needs. He said the pension fund is currently about 61% funded and that TRS has received full funding for the pension for 10 straight years, with the state having provided full additional funding and more in recent budgets. He concluded by asking the committee to consider TRS’s original budget request, warning that underfunding now would be reflected in future actuarial calculations and could cost the Commonwealth more over time.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that data shows that in 2025, that monthly payment was now up to over $2600 a month.
• <00:04:17.920> on interest, taxes and insurance payment on interest, taxes and insurance payment
• was now up to over $2600 monthly payment was now up to over $2600 a<00:04:26.960> month.
• <00:04:46.120> and Saving money for a down payment and Saving money for a down payment and
• reserves between receipt of payments. reserves between receipt of payments.

Bills: HF2715, HF2499, HF3420, HF3657, HF2303

Keywords: HF2715, homestead credit refund, property tax refund, property tax relief, homeowner tax relief, homestead credit, co-pay reduction, Minnesota property taxes, tax rebate, state refund, income thresholds, inflation adjustment, property tax circuit breaker, housing affordability, elderly homeowners, fixed income, taxation, Minnesota Statutes 290A.04, renters credit, income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's make these payments without any prepayment benefits.
• amount by February 15 of the school year and selects the lump sum payment option provided in Section
• This bill would allow school districts to make their recapture payments six months early and receive
• The concept's not new; Texas already offers businesses ...a 1.75% credit for early sales tax payments
• Under House Bill 3, school districts also received a credit for early recapture payments.

Bills: HB123, HB5606, HB549, HB2757, HB4359, HB5381, HB1939, HB123

Keywords: HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention, math intervention, teacher academy, literacy academy, mathematics academy, interventionist academy, K-3 assessments, school readiness, prekindergarten, tutoring grant, parent-directed tutoring