Transcript Highlights:

• in 2014 as two separate filings, was later consolidated also later in 2014.
• The Martinez plaintiffs filed on February 19th, and the Yazi plaintiffs filed on February 23rd, arguing
• filed a joint motion, meaning both the Martinez and Yazi plaintiffs filed this together for further
• Who were the People who filed the lawsuit. Thank you, Martina Senozzi.
• Chair, what is our current vacancy rate? the current vacancy rate for teachers? Thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• To another insurer, often in pursuit of a better rate of return.
• And so, uh, SB 916 as filed includes the following provisions.
• Respectfully, we are, um, against the bill as filed.
• There are some companies that don't even file forms that are not required to file it.
• into a rate discussion with you unless you want to.

Transcript Highlights:

• File item 5. I vote. Excellent. Madam Secretary, would you please call the roll? File item 5.
• File item 6, SB 998.
• We will now move on to file Senator Perez. We will now move on to file item two.
• File item 6, SB 998. File item 6, SB 998.
• File item 6, SB 998.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you look at the standard rate, or not standard rate, but if we used a 2% rate for North Dakota
• We'd lay our new rate structure against that.
• We'd lay our new rate structure against that.
• We'd lay our new rate structure against that.
• the IT rates are done, how the structure is.

Summary: The Government Finance Committee met with new leadership, approved the December 11 minutes, and received a series of informational updates on the state’s finances and related policy issues. The Office of Management and Budget reported the general fund is tracking very close to forecast, with revenues about $2 million above forecast and an estimated ending balance of about $397 million, higher than previously expected. OMB also reviewed balances in major funds, including the budget stabilization fund, legacy fund, foundation aid stabilization fund, social services fund, and strategic investment and improvements fund, and answered questions about oil tax revenues and fund management. The Tax Department provided updates on taxable sales and purchases by county and industry, noting Cass County as the largest county by taxable sales and that retail trade remains the largest industry sector. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus also discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its estimated effects on North Dakota income tax collections, explaining that the projected revenue impacts are measured against a 2025 baseline and that some provisions are temporary while others are permanent. He also reported that primary residence tax credit applications were running ahead of last year, with more than 154,000 received so far and an expectation of roughly 160,000-plus applications. The committee also heard fee-study presentations from the Department of Transportation and the Information Technology Department. DOT explained that driver’s license fees cover only about half of program costs and that the shortfall is subsidized by the highway fund, while also noting recent changes such as the blackout plate and motor vehicle excise tax distribution changes. NDIT described its internal service fund model, current billing structure, and possible future changes to simplify invoices and billing frequency. Legislative staff also updated the committee on office space needs in Bismarck-Mandan and on legislative branch space planning, and subcommittees reported progress on fixed-route transit funding and regional jail capacity, including a visit to the Burleigh-Morton detention facility and discussion of future prison bed needs. No formal votes or legislative actions beyond approving the minutes were taken, and the committee adjourned with its next meeting set for June 25.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:11:11.679> The lower rates for the members. The lower rates for the members.
• The companies propose their rates.
• is going and that rates are adequate. is going and that rates are adequate.
• Happy to do that. requirement for filing tax returns. Tax requirement for filing tax returns.
• We've done annual filings. for 40 years. We've done annual filings.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee took up the pooled risk management program bill and reviewed a new amendment drafted with input from the Insurance Department and Legislative Services. Department witnesses explained that the proposal would move oversight of pooled risk management programs from the Secretary of State’s office to the Insurance Department, add a licensure requirement, preserve the programs’ non-insurer status, and exempt them from third-party administrator licensure. They also described a series of solvency tools in the draft, including financial reporting, risk-based capital standards, minimum capitalization, investment limits, commissioner examination and enforcement authority, rulemaking authority, merger and affiliate-transaction review, confidentiality protections, and a separability clause. A major theme of the discussion was that pooled risk management programs differ from commercial insurers because the risk remains with the member local governments rather than being backed by a state guarantee fund. Witnesses said the bill is designed to emphasize solvency over return of premium and to give the Insurance Department a regulatory “toolbox” to prevent insolvency, including a proposed $5 million excess or stop-loss coverage benchmark, optional accessible policies, and a requirement that boards vote on dividends or premium returns when capital exceeds 600% of risk-based capital. Members questioned how this approach differed from the original Secretary of State bill and whether assessments on towns would still be possible; the department responded that the new framework would allow more flexible oversight and alternatives to immediate court action. The committee also discussed why the statute should continue to say the programs are not insurers, with the department explaining that this preserves their autonomy and avoids applying unrelated insurance laws and premium taxes. Members asked about the department’s workload and were told the department believed it could absorb the new duties without additional funding. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 2434.
• The rate exception process for the disability waiver rate system was one of those pieces.
• it comes to getting the rates increased. it comes to getting the rates increased.
• But then when it comes to<00:59:58.079> the<00:59:58.319> rate to the rate to the rate
• :42.080> House<01:49:42.400> File<01:49:43.320> 2434 support of file uh House File

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I will welcome Representative Agbaje to the committee, and I move that House File 1010 be referred to
• So today I'm presenting House File 1010, which is the Minnesota Certified Midwife Act.
• , and they have higher breastfeeding rates and higher birth weights.
• Please support House File 1010 to license certified midwives. Thank you.
• Please support House File 1010 to license certified midwives. Thank you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate 50, filed with Representative Cruz and Senator Payano.
• to be adjusted in line with the actual inflation rate.
• In support of H. 678, filed by Representative Ramos, S. 388 filed by Senator Kennedy, thank you.
• H. 678, filed by Representative Ramos; S. 388, filed by Senator Kennedy; and S. 400, filed by Chair Lewis
• rate was closer to 8% a few years ago.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education opened a hybrid public hearing on a large slate of bills related to school buildings, school finance, technology, data privacy, safety, and related education issues. Chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlined procedures for the hearing, including two-minute testimony limits and the plan to group similar bills together. Several bills drew no testimony and were closed without further discussion, while others drew extensive testimony from legislators, school officials, parents, advocates, and educators. A major theme was school safety and student well-being. Lori Al-Hadeth testified in support of bills on alert systems in public schools, describing the loss of her daughter in the Parkland shooting and urging adoption of Alyssa’s Law-style panic alert technology. Representative Gallagher and disability advocates also supported a bill authorizing, but not requiring, airway clearance devices in schools, arguing they could save lives in choking emergencies and provide an option for people who cannot use the Heimlich maneuver. Another bill on reducing cafeteria waste drew support from a legislator and a Lexington sustainability official, who said installing dishwashers during construction would reduce waste and long-term costs. Much of the hearing focused on Chapter 70 school funding and the inflation cap. Senator Pavel Payano, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Senna, and multiple local officials and school committee members from Bridgewater, Chelsea, Groton-Dunstable, and other districts argued that the 4.5% cap on inflation adjustments has left schools underfunded during years of high inflation, forcing layoffs, larger class sizes, and cuts to programs and student supports. They urged bills to eliminate the cap, restore lost funding, increase the Commonwealth’s share of the foundation budget, or create commissions to study reforms. Testimony also highlighted the impact on special education, English learners, and low-income students, with Chelsea witnesses saying the cap has cost their district about $7 million annually. School construction and MSBA reform were the other major topic. AIA Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools, Lynn officials, and AFT Massachusetts described aging facilities, overcrowding, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of financing new schools under current reimbursement rules. Boston officials said the district has many pre-World War II buildings and has only built a handful of new schools in decades, while Lynn leaders said reimbursement rates have fallen well below the statutory 80% because of caps and ineligible costs. Witnesses urged modernization of the MSBA program, higher reimbursement rates, and more resources for school construction. The committee also heard support for a bill to study the adequacy and equity of the school building program, and chairs indicated some bills would be closed after no one signed up to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's a rate between 0% and 8.9%. That's a rate between 0% and 8.9%.
• the experience rating.
• the experience rating.
• The seasonally adjusted rate flattens the rate significantly.
• rate flattens the rate significantly. rate flattens the rate significantly.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• would be like a first claim filing.
• rate.
• Will this modernization help get them that file?
• the file, and vice versa.
• It assumes CalHR's projected utilization rate of 15%.

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:

• Do you have a sense of how this UI bill would affect the rates of the experience rating and the rates
• <00:31:16.960> and the rates of the experience rating and the rates of the experience rating
• Next up, we have House File 2390. House File 2390. Representative Ston, if you'd come forward.
• up, members, we have House File 2468. up, members, we have House File 2468.
• Uh, House File 2468.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they don't have that complete file, it's probably because someone on the end looking for the file
• CPS filed a case against her in Rusk County.
• As mentioned before, the rates of breastfeeding...
• that is no lower than 95% of the state-determined rate.
• Generally, we are always opposed. for service rates.

Bills: HB136, HB451, SB425, SB466, SB905, SB1986, SB2311, SB2450, SB2805, SB2826, SB2919, SB3001

Keywords: Medicaid, lactation, healthcare, consultation, reimbursement, maternal health, infant care, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and announced it would vote on pending bills at 10:30, with public testimony limited to two minutes. It first took up Senate Bill 905, a TDLR cleanup bill on licensing regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Senator Zafferini said the committee substitute would streamline advisory board consultation, remove obsolete provisional licenses, and allow any licensed physician to authorize hearing instruments for minors; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 451, which would require universal screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk for children in DFPS conservatorship and youth under TJJD jurisdiction. The author and witnesses from Children at Risk, the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective, and Texas CASA supported the bill as a prevention tool with existing infrastructure and training; the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee next considered Senate Bill 466, which would clarify that families may request a fetal death certificate at any gestational age, while keeping existing filing requirements for physicians. A constituent father testified about losing his 11-week-old daughter and being told he could not obtain a certificate, which he said prevented funeral arrangements; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. Senate Bill 2311 followed, requiring residential treatment centers to have a written agreement with the school that will educate resident children before becoming operational. The author cited a local dispute where an RTC and school district lacked communication, and witnesses from Texas CASA and Disability Rights Texas supported clearer educational planning while suggesting the Education Code may need conforming changes; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2826, known as Alyssa’s Law, which would create a statewide education program on medical child abuse for medical students, health care professionals, and CPS caseworkers. The author and Sheriff Bill Weyburn described Alyssa’s case as involving repeated unnecessary surgeries and argued the bill would improve awareness and early identification, while several witnesses and members raised concerns about false accusations, impacts on medically fragile children, and the need for scientific, peer-reviewed training and safeguards. After extensive discussion, the chair left the bill pending. The committee also heard House Bill 136, which would add certified lactation consultants as Medicaid providers to expand breastfeeding support; witnesses from lactation and nutrition fields said the bill would improve access, maternal and infant health, and long-term savings, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2805, a surprise-billing/arbitration measure that would clarify provider identifiers and shift arbitration costs to the losing party. The author said the substitute was a legislative counsel draft with no substantive difference, and witnesses from the Texas Medical Association, Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, and U.S. Anesthesia Partners supported the bill as a modest improvement that would reduce administrative confusion and make arbitration fairer without weakening patient protections. Members discussed how arbitration costs affect settlement behavior and how to define the “winner” in close cases. The bill was heard but not voted out during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• House file.
• uh for House File 234 for Hutchinson. uh for House File 234 for Hutchinson.
• House File 874. thoughts on that bill? House File 874.
• we're going to go to House File 1155. we're going to go to House File 1155.
• Um, House File 2344. time. Um, House File 2344.

Bills: HF604, HF1972, HF578, HF1951, HF629, HF864, HF874, HF1155, HF884, HF2365, HF643, HF234, HF2655, HF2637, HF2535, HF2530, HF2344, HF584, HF524

Keywords: airport funding, bonds, transportation, capital investment, Karlstad, community center, Breckenridge, state bonds, economic development, HF578, Faribault, River Bend Nature Center, bonding bill, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR grant, nature center, visitor center, environmental education, multicultural center

Transcript Highlights:

• File item number 5, AB 1693.
• File item number 3, AB 1578.
• File item number 9. 4-1. It was on call. 4-1. File item number 9, AB 1997.
• File item number 2, AB 1786. The motion is due... File item number 2, AB 1786.
• File item number 9, AB 1997. The motion is due pass. File item number 9, AB 1997.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• urban rate.
• touched these rates in a very long time. touched these rates in a very long time.
• There have been rate cuts since then, iterative rate cuts.
• <00:18:31.840> Uh there has been no rate increases. Uh there has been no rate increases.
• public comment on Senate File Six. public comment on Senate File Six.

Bills: HB0004

Keywords: medical assistance, birthing centers, healthcare, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate file<00:02:47.840> number The first bill on the calendar for today is House File 2442.
• House File 2442. Number one on the calendar for the day.
• <00:10:20.399> um for House File um for House File um 2442<00:10:23.040> um<00:10:23.200
• House File 2442. Third reading. Discussion to the bill.
• In fact, it's a rate of 0.00109 cents per kilowatt hour.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, previously that was a forecasted rate that was calculated annually.
• Uh, previously that was a forecasted rate that was calculated annually.
• Uh, previously that was a forecasted rate that was calculated annually.
• > was<00:15:55.199> calculated forecasted rate that was calculated forecasted rate that
• The first is a rate increase from 10% to 15%.

Bills: HF9

Keywords: energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:27.880> the to have a rate sheet on file with the to have a rate sheet on file with
• have to post your rates and you can't charge above what your posted rate is, exactly?
• have to post your rates and you can't charge above what your posted rate is, exactly?
• have to post your rates and you can't charge above what your posted rate is, exactly?
• have to post your rates and you can't charge above what your posted rate is, exactly?

Keywords: Roll Call 00:23 Roll Call Approval of Minutes 00:57 HB 664 Discussion 01:26 HB 664 Vote 08:25 HB 682 Discussion 10:46 HB 682 Vote 12:12 HB 493 Discussion 13:00 HB 493 Vote 20:20 HJR 5 Discussion 21:14 HJR 5 Vote 25:08 Kavis and Sherriff’s Inspection Discussion 27:40 Admin. Reg Consideration 35:40, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved prior meeting minutes, and then took up several transportation-related measures. House Bill 664, concerning work zone safety, was amended by the committee to clarify that a peace officer may issue a citation based on images from an automated speed enforcement device. Representative John Blanton said the bill was prompted by the 2019 death of Jared Lee Helton in a work zone and is intended to slow drivers, protect workers, and improve safety. The bill would allow automated devices to transmit speed and rear license plate images to an officer, require active worker presence and warning signage with flashing lights, keep the $500 fine, and direct fines to the work zone safety fund. After questions about whether citations would be mailed and whether a worker must be present, the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 664 favorably with expressions of opinion that it should pass. House Bill 682, sponsored by Representative Ken Upchurch, was also amended by a committee substitute and reported favorably. The bill gives cable operators and broadband providers the same reimbursement treatment as other public utilities when their facilities must be relocated for construction projects. House Bill 493, sponsored by Representative Steve Pollock, was taken up next and, after a committee substitute was adopted, was reported favorably. Pollock described the bill as a transparency measure for towing and storage, creating a certification process through the Transportation Cabinet, requiring public rate sheets, and setting rates to be reasonable and customary in Kentucky. The substitute removed an initial $1,500 cap, extended notice timing to up to five days in some cases, and clarified fees related to investigations and fatalities. Senators asked about regional differences in towing rates, and Pollock said the cabinet would consider different situations and that posted rates would govern. House Joint Resolution 5, designating honorary road and bridge names, was amended by both a committee substitute and committee amendment and then reported favorably. Representative Josh Branscum said the resolution honors various Kentuckians and is especially in memory of Russell County Deputy Joshua Fipps, who was killed in the line of duty in September 2024. The committee approved the resolution and a title amendment. Later in the meeting, Senator Armstrong asked to be recorded as voting aye on HB 664, HB 682, and HB 493. The committee also received an update from Transportation Cabinet IT Director Heather Stout on the CAVIS system, including improved performance, upcoming integration with KY ELT, centralized lien management, online boat renewals, permanent fleet plates, rolling replating changes, temporary tag printing, insurance modernization, and an electronic sheriff’s inspection system expected to reduce fraud and streamline transfers. No vote was taken on the CAVIS update, and the committee also began consideration of a referred administrative regulation on hazardous materials endorsement requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• And establishes a pre-filing requirement for amendments offered to the following bill, Senate File Number
• Ask them: would they rather have their rates go up or go down? The green energy economy...
• House File Number 2442. Third reading. Discussion on the bill.
• In fact, it's a rate of 0.00109. Cents per kilowatt hour.
• To House File Number 2434, an act relating to human services. Message signed, Thomas S.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is paying one rate in this state, and it's the rate at the location that they're at.
• Is paying one rate in this state and it's the rate at the location that they're at.
• tax rates.
• You are taxed at one rate—the rate at the location at which you received that item.
• with the FEC, and so that's just to eliminate that filing and showing up in that filing.

Bills: HB2143, HB2273, HB2290, HB2373, HB2784, HB2794, HB4037

Keywords: public safety, retirement system, investments, trust fund, board of trustees, financial report, income tax rebate, Pinal County, taxpayer eligibility, state revenue, financial assistance, transaction privilege tax, business location, tangible personal property, shared vehicle, sourcing, income tax, veterans, donations, tax refunds

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee first set aside House Bill 2794 at the sponsor’s request and then took up House Bill 2290, which would clarify Arizona transaction privilege tax sourcing rules for tangible personal property by specifying that an order is received at a seller’s business location and that server location does not control sourcing. The sponsor said the bill codifies existing, historic treatment and would provide certainty for taxpayers, while the League of Arizona Cities and Towns opposed it, arguing it would be a major departure from current practice, could shift revenue away from rural communities, and could create multiple tax rates for a single transaction. The Department of Revenue said it was neutral, acknowledged ongoing ambiguity and administrative complexity, and explained that a 2023 draft ruling had been based on a legal analysis but was never finalized. Several business and association witnesses supported the bill as necessary to prevent inconsistent audits and to preserve origin-based sourcing for in-state sellers. After extended debate, the committee passed HB 2290 on a 5-3 vote, with one member absent. The committee then heard House Bill 2373, which would add a space on the individual income tax return for taxpayers to voluntarily direct part of a refund to the Veterans Donations Fund or a veterans service organization fund. The sponsor and a representative of veterans advocacy groups described it as a simple, voluntary way to support veterans organizations and local projects. No opposition was raised, and the bill was approved unanimously by the members present, 8-0, with one absent. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 2143, a technical change to Public Safety Personnel Retirement System law that would limit the 5% ownership cap to publicly traded corporations. PSPRS representatives said the change would reduce compliance costs and avoid unnecessary workarounds while maintaining existing investment safeguards and diversification rules. Members discussed that ASRS does not have the same cap and that PSPRS already has broader limits on concentration risk. The bill was presented as an administrative cleanup measure, and discussion focused on clarifying that it would not increase investment risk.