Transcript Highlights:

• To me, it makes it fair for the personal property tax because of the fact that if the reverse of that
• So we're talking about extending the payment plan as well on this is what really is being done here.
• gross leases, meaning that the landlord, when they set those lease rates, is responsible for the payment
• county level, and we could sit and talk with them, and we usually negotiated a pretty reasonable settlement
• dramatic increase and limit that particular increase. ...you know, let it be, you know, the friendly payment

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• to fiscal sensibility, the Finance Committee's instruction in this budget unlocks our ability to reverse
• But when reporters named people gaining illegal access to the Treasurer's payment system, that's a crime
• account for population growth and inflation, use today's Social Security, Medicare, and interest payments
• Farmers are missing payments; they're owed by the government.
• I'm glad that we're acting fast to reverse the bad policies of the last administration.

Committee: Senate Senate Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not change what the policy covers, but it does set forth ground rules when settlement demands
• The legislation doesn't— No, I think it would apply to any settlement demand that's made.
• the prior settlement demand must have been open for at least 90 days from the date the settlement demand
• In fact, Safe Auto offered its insurance policy limits in settlement of the claim. No...
• That, in essence, you’re replacing the term time-limited with the term settlement demand.”

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee met in executive session and voted do pass on House Bill 2717 by a 7-0 vote. It then adopted a House Committee substitute for House Bill 2465, described as changing a number from two to one, and passed the substitute bill 8-0. The committee also adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute for House Bill 1791, which adds an emergency permit provision allowing a 30-day extension to obtain a full permit, and passed that substitute 8-0. Representative Manser raised a question about whether the bill would align with federal disaster recovery grant requirements, and the chair said he would look into it further. The committee then heard House Bill 2927, which would revise Missouri’s bad faith/time-limited settlement demand statute. Sponsor Representative Parker said the bill is intended to clarify that settlement demands used to support extra-contractual or bad faith claims must be in writing, remain open for at least 90 days, and reference the statute. Supporters, including representatives of the Missouri Insurance Coalition, Shelter Insurance, and health care and business groups, said the bill closes a loophole created when plaintiffs avoid the current “time-limited demand” language and instead use untimed or vaguely timed demands, which they argued increases litigation and insurance costs. Opponents, including attorney Blake Marcus, argued the bill would make it harder for injured people and policyholders to hold insurers accountable, would encourage delay, and would increase the need to hire lawyers earlier. No vote was taken on HB 2927 in the transcript. The committee also heard House Bill 2057, a technical fix for an entertainment district in Osage Beach. Representative Vernetti said the bill corrects language from last year’s legislation after the Senate used the wrong population figure, and supporters said it would allow patrons to move between venues within the district under controlled alcohol rules similar to other Missouri entertainment zones. The committee then heard House Bill 1707, which would exempt credit card surcharge amounts from sales tax. Sponsor Representative Coleman and supporters from the business community said the Department of Revenue has been taxing these surcharges in audits, creating a burden for small businesses, and that the bill would clarify that fees tied to the extension of credit are not taxable. The committee adjourned after the hearings, and no further votes were taken on those bills in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 238 is a conference report relating to labor, employment, payment of wages, minimum wage and
• House Bill 238 is a conference report relating to labor, employment, payment of wages, minimum wage and
• talk about covered providers, expenditures, trying to collect data on claims out there, lawsuits, settlements
• , verdicts. ...to collect data on claims out there, lawsuits, settlements, verdicts.
• This legislation relates to labor and employment, payment of wages, minimum wage and overtime wages,

Transcript Highlights:

• Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?
• Is reverse racism still racism? Thank you for the question, Senator.
• I don't even use the term reverse racism. It's just racism to discriminate on the basis of race.
• 1940s or early 1950s that essentially incorporated the doctrine of equal... protection, people say reverse-incorporated
• The doctrine of reverse incorporation is different than that.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: Department of Justice, nominations, Assistant Attorney General, civil rights, enforcement, committee discussion

Summary: The meeting covered important discussions surrounding key nominations in the Department of Justice, specifically for the roles of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and the Office of Legal Policy. Various committee members took turns to express their views on the nominees, emphasizing the implications of their potential confirmation on civil rights enforcement in the country. Alongside the committee discussion, the nominees provided insights into their professional backgrounds and how their experiences align with the responsibilities of the positions for which they have been nominated.

Transcript Highlights:

• The last settlement sheet I just looked at, I still have it up on my computer, was the settlement for
• The last settlement sheet I just looked at, I still have it up on my computer, was the settlement for
• The last settlement sheet I just looked at, I still have it up on my computer, was the settlement for
• </c> tends to play out and those settlements tends to play out and those settlements can<01:03:10.240
• in the last few months, but we will be seeing some settlements.

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• needed to finance a victim's compensation fund, like debt obligations to fund a jury award or a settlement
• We must reverse historical marginalization and assure that we foster an inclusive environment, meaning
• We must reverse historical marginalization and assure that we foster an inclusive environment, meaning
• We must reverse historical marginalization and assure that we foster an inclusive environment, meaning
• We must reverse historical marginalization and assure that we foster an inclusive environment, meaning

Summary: The committee heard several immigration-, health-, food access-, and tribal-rights-related bills. AB 1725 would require disclosure of oil wells near homes and sensitive sites and stronger methane monitoring; supporters described health and safety harms in communities near wells, while apartment, realtor, building, and chamber representatives opposed or sought amendments, arguing the bill should better target the responsible industry and fit existing disclosure processes. AB 1650 would require privately rented or leased vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly identifiable and equipped with safety lighting; supporters, including immigrant-rights advocates and local officials, said unmarked vehicles create fear and confusion during ICE operations, while the chamber sought clarification and noted exemptions for ordinary undercover law enforcement. AB 1857 would prohibit grocery restrictive covenants that keep new supermarkets from opening after a store closes, with supporters framing it as a food-access and anti-hunger measure; grocers and retailers raised concerns but said amendments addressed many issues, and the committee moved the bill forward as amended to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with all members present voting aye except one absent member and the bill placed on call. The committee also heard AB 1876, which would codify federal health-care nondiscrimination protections in state law. Supporters from Equality California, Disability Rights California, Planned Parenthood, and other health groups said it would preserve coverage protections for LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and other protected classes amid federal rollbacks; opponents argued it would entrench gender-affirming-care standards and criticized the underlying medical framework. The bill passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with most members voting aye and one no vote, and was placed on call. AB 1908 would allow public entities to use judgment obligation bonds to finance self-funded victim compensation funds; Los Angeles County said the bill would fill a financing gap for faster compensation, and the committee advanced it on a recorded vote and placed it on call. AB 1881, the California Indian Freedom Act of 2026, would protect California tribes’ access to sacred sites and traditional practices on state public lands and require meaningful consultation; it drew extensive support from tribal leaders and Native organizations, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and business groups were opposed unless amended, largely seeking clarification and narrowing. The bill was amended to focus on state public lands and passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, then placed on call. Later, AB 2465 would bar businesses that profit from private detention facilities or contract with immigration-enforcement agencies from receiving state grants, loans, or tax credits and create an immigrant resilience fund. Supporters said the state should not subsidize businesses tied to immigration raids and detention; opponents, including the chamber, bankers, and contractors, raised vagueness and scope concerns, especially over what contracts would be covered. Members said they supported the concept but wanted the bill tightened, and it passed to Revenue and Taxation on a recorded vote with one no vote and was placed on call. The committee then heard AB 2662, which would create a formal state process to monitor and report on federal immigration enforcement actions and their impacts; supporters from legal aid and health centers said raids have chilled access to work, schools, clinics, and naturalization, and the bill was presented as a modest accountability measure. The transcript cuts off before any vote on AB 2662. The committee also approved a consent calendar of several bills and resolutions, sending some to Appropriations and others to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Care reimbursed at a slightly higher rate or have an additional payment that would go along with it.
• So I thought it was really interesting that you want to be in the PCF because of this settlement.
• You're calling it the settlement mechanism.
• That fund is then calculated for $60,000. 50% by volume per capita, you know, capitated payments, and
• So on page 14, H.R. 1 CAHPS Medicaid Directed Payment. H.R. 1 CAHPS Medicaid Directed Payment.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• , and final payment was not received until October 2025.
• AB 2553, as amended, seeks to reverse this progress and is premature.
• AB 2553, as amended, seeks to reverse this progress and is premature.
• AB2553, as amended, seeks to reverse this progress and is premature.
• And if that gives more time to complete the restitution payments, so be it.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are new restrictions on state-directed payments for hospitals, nursing facilities, and academic
• It is technically not a pass-through payment, but it very much functions like that.
• There are some provisions that allow us to grandfather in current payments.
• Turning to reversions, reversions are general fund state amounts that are left unspent by state agencies
• And the actual reversions came in very close to that at $346 million.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused first on juvenile rehabilitation system capacity. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth, and has longer lengths of stay, especially for “post-25” youth who must remain in secure facilities and cannot go to community beds. They described overcrowding at Green Hill School, placement limits at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for more medium-security and specialized mental health beds. DCYF said it is pursuing a Parkland facility proposal, a staffing model decision package, and a broader feasibility study and master plan update. No votes were taken; members were asked to follow up with questions later. The committee then heard on behavioral health system capacity from the Behavioral Health Administration and the Health Care Authority. DSHS described growth in forensic and civil bed need, expansion at Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, and Brockman, and construction of a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State expected to open in 2028. HCA reported progress on long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams, saying the community-based system is being expanded to support step-down care and reduce hospital reliance. Members asked about whether capacity is right-sized, the difference between facility types, and federal match eligibility for services. A federal funding update followed, covering the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371 on SNAP, Medicaid, marketplace coverage, long-term services and supports, K-12, higher education, and hemp regulation. OFM and agency staff said H.R. 1 adds work requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, increases state administrative and benefit costs, reduces Medicaid and marketplace subsidies for some groups, tightens redeterminations, and may significantly affect provider payments and state-directed payments. H.R. 5371 extended federal funding through January 30, 2026 and included some agency appropriations and other provisions, including changes affecting hemp producers. Members asked about SNAP error rates and special enrollment periods. Finally, budget coordinator Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview. She reviewed the state’s near general fund outlook, noting revenue declines since the enacted budget, the effect of reversions, and a preliminary maintenance-level outlook showing a projected increase in NGFO spending over the four-year period. She said the supplemental will reflect updated caseload and cost forecasts and mandatory impacts from H.R. 1, but not policy proposals. No actions or votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• a few years the Volkswagen settlement a few years ago<00:34:14.960><c> is</c><00:34:15.119><c> run</
• Hag, I was just curious about when did the Volkswagen settlement agreement, 47 million comes into the
• It was through a federal settlement with Volkswagen related to emissions.
• Hager, I was just curious about when the Volkswagen settlement agreement, $47 million, comes into the
• It was through a federal settlement with Volkswagen related to emissions.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> respect to the application of payments respect to the application of payments that<01:01:56.720>
• </c><01:22:52.800><c> but</c> of those cases are in settlement but of those cases are in settlement but
• </c> involved with if there is a settlement involved with if there is a settlement um<01:22:59.040><c
• </c> doesn't necessarily lead to a settlement doesn't necessarily lead to a settlement at<01:26:46.320
• </c> about the um the offer of settlement about the um the offer of settlement section.<01:27:31.120>

Bills: HB1991 , HB1776 , HB1897 , HB1900

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1991, which would change Hawaii’s liquor excise tax structure to an ABV-based system. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii took no position and stood on written comments. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and an individual testifier who described surviving a drunk-driving crash, argued that higher alcohol taxes reduce alcohol-related harms, save lives, and generate additional state revenue. The public health witness cited alcohol-related harms as a major preventable cause of death and said the tax increase would have only a small annual cost for most consumers. Most industry testimony was in opposition. Representatives of Lanikai Brewing Company, Maui Brewing Company, the Wine Institute, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association said the bill would sharply raise taxes on beer and wine, squeeze already thin margins, and threaten local jobs and businesses. They argued Hawaii producers already face high costs for labor, energy, shipping, and compliance, and said an ABV-based tax would be difficult to administer, would require additional testing and labeling work, and could reduce consumer choice. Several industry witnesses urged lawmakers to instead adopt a small-producer or class 18 carveout, with one suggesting a cap tied to 60,000 barrels. Committee members questioned the brewers about alcohol content testing, labeling, and whether smaller producers already measure ABV. Witnesses said many local producers do not certify ABV for in-state sales, that yeast and fermentation can vary by batch, and that an ABV-based system could require more testing than current practice. No vote or final action on the bill was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• False guarantees, misleading settlements, and undisclosed conflicts of interest erode public trust in
• concurrence and will provide immediate tax relief to California's struggling cannabis industry by reversing
• It provides flexibility and resources to the state to reduce our payment error rate and helps to preserve
• This is a technical cleanup to the SB 132 Wildfire Settlement exclusion.
• This is a technical cleanup to the SB 132 Wildfire Settlement exclusion that was enacted as part of the

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, completed the roll call, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through a long daily file and concurrence calendar, with many items passed without debate and several bills taken up for final votes. The chamber also handled procedural motions, including re-referring AB 1152 to the Public Safety Committee, suspending rules for guest introductions, and later a roll-call vote on a motion to print a journal letter, which passed 41-16. Among the major Senate bills considered on third reading, SB 385, SB 753, SB 838, SB 643, SB 645, SB 761, SB 774, SB 400, SB 24, SB 37, SB 258, SB 364, SB 403, SB 770, and SB 22 all passed, with debate focused on topics such as shopping cart recovery, housing and land use, carbon removal grants, jury selection rules in civil cases, student CalFresh access, real estate licensing sunsets, renewable energy tax incentives, utility spending transparency, attorney advertising ethics, spousal rape protections for disabled spouses, freeway advertising placement, medical aid in dying, EV charging access in HOAs, and gift certificate redemption values. SB 596 on hospital nurse staffing drew the most extended debate, with supporters arguing it enforces existing law and protects patient safety, while opponents warned it could worsen rural hospital closures; the bill ultimately passed 59-0. The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments to Assembly bills, including measures on service of process, firearms, workers’ compensation, family leave for crime survivors, solid waste, water reporting for data centers, student information privacy, Diwali recognition, wildfire workforce recovery, educational equity, civic education, office-to-housing conversions, cannabis tax relief, browser privacy, housing element transparency, landlord-tenant appliances, code enforcement, homelessness, DEIA in state government, inmate firefighter wages, children’s health, real estate, rehiring protections for laid-off hospitality workers, hazardous materials, housing covenants, aging, care facilities, species protection, CalWORKs modernization, cannabis access for seriously ill patients, foreign labor contractors, and downtown revitalization financing. Most of these concurred with broad bipartisan margins; AB 247 on inmate firefighter wages drew especially extensive bipartisan support and passed 74-0, while AB 93 on data center water reporting and AB 766 on state DEIA planning drew some opposition but still passed concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, in 1998, during the tough-on-crime era, the court reversed course in People v.
• A settlement agreement was reached in 2024, and now the Legislature is stepping into override portions
• The settlement agreement that had been mentioned by my colleague was reached in 2024, which required
• The settlement agreement that had been mentioned by my colleague was reached in 2024, which required
• I'm proud to present today SB 1366, the Prompt Payment and Procurement Accountability Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• After Shy's death, my family was awarded a $2 million wrongful death settlement, the largest at the time
• </c> working group on a master settlement working group on a master settlement that<03:57:27.080><c>
• and still has proposed language that uses the term settlement, our primary requested amendment is to
• that term with “annual payment,” so it’s limited to the original scope of the working group.
• and not an undefined settlement.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• While forbearance provides immediate relief, the deferred payments and interest are not forgiven and
• Prolonged forbearance can also create liquidity pressure, as they may be required to advance payments
• to investors without corresponding borrower payments for extended periods.
• the three statutory criteria for judicial approval and will file objections to settlements.
• Those three criteria are: one, the warning required by the settlement complies with Prop 65; two, the

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on public safety, consumer protection, and youth harms. AB 1557 by Assemblymember Papin would clarify e-bike motor power limits and set lower speed-related standards for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes. Supporters, including the California Police Chiefs Association, cities, the California Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, argued the bill would reduce severe injuries and deaths among young riders. Opponents from People for Bikes warned it could conflict with federal law, create legal uncertainty, and disrupt the bicycle market. The author and committee members acknowledged industry concerns and urged continued work on the bill. AB 1770 by Assemblymember Garcia would place large health care service plan arbitration under California Department of Justice oversight and require compliance with the California Arbitration Act. Supporters described cases where patients were forced into private arbitration with little transparency or accountability, arguing the bill would make the process fairer and more neutral. Kaiser Permanente and the Civil Justice Association of California said they were still reviewing amendments and had not settled on a final position. Committee members expressed sympathy for the personal stories shared and encouraged continued negotiations. The committee also heard AB 2075, which would require fire suppression equipment to be kept closer at hand during brush work, and AB 1864, which would require screening of gene synthesis orders to prevent misuse for bioterrorism. AB 2075 was presented as a response to a Ventura County wildfire, with support from the Ventura County District Attorney’s office and no opposition heard. AB 1864 was backed by the author, Stanford biosecurity expert Dr. Milana Trout, and Encode AI, while Biocom opposed unless amended and California Life Sciences remained neutral. Members discussed implementation details and the role of the Department of Public Health. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts on platforms with harmful features and create an e-safety advisory commission. Supporters, including youth advocates, parents, medical groups, and Common Sense Media, said addictive design features are harming children’s mental health and safety. Opponents, including EFF, the ACLU, TechNet, and other civil liberties and industry groups, argued the bill is overbroad, raises First Amendment and privacy concerns, and could limit access to important online communities. Despite those objections, the bill was moved forward after committee discussion, with members emphasizing the need to protect children while continuing to work on carveouts and implementation details.

Transcript Highlights:

• General on January 20th, where the Attorney General reversed course and announced in a press release
• that the office has initiated an investigation regarding the $35,000 payment following an agreement
• from the attorney there was a reversal from the attorney general<01:11:45.520><c> on</c><01:11:45.760
• general reversed course and announced<01:11:49.920><c> in</c><01:11:50.080><c> a</c><01:11:50.239><c
• payment following an agreement<01:11:56.080><c> by</c><01:11:56.320><c> federal</c><01:11:56.560><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• listen, in my situation, because of statute, I've got to have someone that's missed two or three payments
• /c><00:03:55.079><c> bonly</c><00:03:55.959><c> sort</c><00:03:56.159><c> of</c><00:03:56.319><c> payment
• c><00:03:56.680><c> model</c><00:03:57.599><c> and</c><00:03:57.720><c> in</c> or a bonly sort of payment
• model and in or a bonly sort of payment model and in those<00:03:58.159><c> cases</c><00:03:58.599><
• before I can actually start the payments before I can actually start the collections<00:04:10.920><c

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:

• Did you have sort of a reverse of piercing the corporate veil where they say, well, we're not going to
• We're using them as a way to increase either settlement value or to increase the total award of a particular
• And my understanding is that this is being used in an effort to drive up settlement, because you cannot
• It encourages settlements of litigation that is likely to be higher because the punitive damages that
• could be applied in the case is frankly used as leverage to encourage settlement of compensatories,

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• They take care of a lot of things behind the scenes, as I'm sure you're aware of, around bill payments
• That is a one-time lump sum payment, started paying out in 2023.
• What is a reversion? This is when plan assets revert to the plan sponsor.
• It contains a potential reversion of assets.
• So the Senate bill does not contain the ability to do a reversion. Is that correct?

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy approved the June minutes by roll call vote, with 11 ayes and 6 excused. The chair then outlined meeting procedures and public comment rules before educational briefings began. Lisa Wan of the Office of the State Actuary gave the agency’s annual update, describing its staffing, clients, strategic plan, and performance measures. She noted the office is a small nonpartisan legislative agency that provides actuarial valuations, fiscal notes, policy analysis, and support for multiple retirement systems and boards, and said the office faces a heavy workload in 2025 because of the demographic experience study and other recurring projects. Jacob White provided the annual LEOFF 2 Board update, covering the board’s structure, plan demographics, funded status, contribution rates, and several policy topics under review. Those topics included a Seattle overtime/pension spiking review, catastrophic disability survivor benefits, retiree return-to-work employer contributions, and the change in interest credited to member accounts. He said the board would continue coordinating with DRS and report back through interim updates. Erin Gutierrez presented background for the LEOFF 1 study, explaining plan benefits, medical and death benefits, historic funding, and federal tax qualification issues. She compared Substitute House Bill 2034 and Substitute Senate Bill 5085, describing 2034 as a restatement/termination approach and 5085 as a merger into a Legacy Retirement Plan, both requiring IRS determination letters. Committee members asked questions about LEOFF 1 medical costs, funding sources, and tax implications, and public commenters urged the committee to protect tax qualification, consider a recurring COLA for PERS and TERS 1, and address pension policy concerns. The meeting ended with adjournment and notice of a 30-minute break before executive session.