Video & Transcript : 'payment suspension' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jul 13th, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Now the question comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12.
- The question comes now on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
- Now the question comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12. The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended.
- Now the question comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
Summary:
The Senate took up several matters, beginning with House amendments to Senate No. 2903, an act honoring Blue Star Families. After suspending the rules, the Senate adopted a further amendment and concurred in the House amendment as amended. The bill later received final passage and was enacted. The Senate also enacted two local bills: S-2628, regulating alcohol license issuance in Bolton, and S-2895, further regulating amendment of a conservation restriction in Hanson.
The chamber adopted multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines. The Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure was granted until July 20, 2026, to report on Senate Doc. 3090 concerning consumer connected devices, and the Committee on Revenue received the same extension for Senate Docs. 1947 and 1971 on revenue matters. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 in several petition matters, allowing them to proceed in committee.
Several bills were advanced on the calendar and passed to be engrossed, including Senate No. 116 updating the Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board, Senate No. 564 designating the Honorable Harold P. Norton Jr. Promenade in Clinton, Senate No. 2570 changing the membership of the Ware River Watershed Advisory Committee, and House No. 2250 dissolving the Watley Water District. The Senate also ordered Senate No. 3137, relating to Mystic River public access and climate resiliency, to a third reading. The session included recognition of visiting high school interns and guests, and it adjourned in memory of David Joseph Gilmartin after adopting a motion to do so.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The question now comes on the suspension of Joint Rule 12. The rule is suspended.
- The question now comes on the suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
- Dorazio, an associate professor of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, comes from the House under suspension
- The question now comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring Anna Karaz on her 100th birthday. It then took up and passed several local bills, including a measure authorizing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for the town of Randolph. The sponsor spoke in support, describing the bill as a home rule petition intended to improve access, civic participation, and voter turnout for Randolph’s growing Haitian Creole-speaking population. The bill was read a third time and passed to be engrossed.
The Senate also passed a bill authorizing the Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor. It received a Ways and Means report on House No. 4683, relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, recommending amendment by substitution of the text in Senate document No. 2924; the chamber suspended the rules to consider the order forthwith and adopted it. The Senate further suspended rules to process several Senate petitions and local matters, and then enacted bills amending the Provincetown charter, establishing the appointed town clerk position in Avon, and authorizing Westwood to reissue and grant certain alcohol licenses.
Later, the Senate referred a House petition concerning retirement benefits for Valeria Dorazio to the Committee on Public Service after suspending Joint Rule 12. It then adopted an amendment substituting a new draft for a Plymouth bill, changing it to validate and confirm certain acts and proceedings of Plymouth officials, and passed the bill to be engrossed. The session also included remarks congratulating Sweet Paws Rescue on its 15th anniversary and upcoming facility move, followed by a motion to adjourn in memory of Gerard W. Moynihan, which was adopted after a moment of silence. The Senate adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- and agents thereof, to provide with respect to educational agencies due process, to provide for suspension
- of payments, to provide for provisions to be included in contracts, to provide for the Attorney General
- Provide with respect to educational agencies due process, to provide for suspension of payments, to provide
Committee:
Senate Education
Summary:
The Senate Education Committee met to hear several education-related measures. It reported favorably, without objection, on House Bill 1215, which would transfer certain removed historical statues and monuments to the Office of State Parks, prohibit re-erection in the parish where they were removed, and require interpretive signage. The committee also advanced House Bill 682, which creates a school guardian program for honorably discharged veterans employed or contracted by local school systems or charter schools; testimony emphasized that guardians would be unarmed, trained, and used for mentoring and school safety. House Bill 1079, giving enrollment preferences in charter schools to children in early childhood programs, military families, foster children, and children in custody disputes, was also reported favorably, as was House Concurrent Resolution 81, directing the Department of Education to study options for districts facing declining enrollment.
The committee then took up House Bill 1084, which would allow public postsecondary institutions to raise tuition and mandatory fees by up to 15 percent annually, with higher increases requiring Board of Supervisors approval. The bill drew extended debate over affordability, TOPS, student retention, and whether universities should have more autonomy to set prices. Members raised concerns about fee burdens on families and whether the state should first study the issue; supporters argued the bill would increase transparency and let institutions respond to funding needs and market conditions. Senator Mazzell offered an amendment lowering the cap from 15 percent to 10 percent, and the committee adopted the amendment before reporting the bill favorably as amended.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 342, which would shift the burden of proof in special education due process hearings from parents to local education agencies. The author and parents testified that the current system places an unfair burden on families of children with disabilities, who often lack access to records and legal resources, and that schools already control the documentation and should have to show compliance with IEP obligations. Jefferson Parish school officials opposed the bill, arguing it would increase legal costs, require more staff and attorney time, and potentially lead to more hearings; they also questioned the fiscal note. The Legislative Fiscal Office said the fiscal impact was indeterminable, and the committee continued hearing testimony from parents and school representatives as the transcript ended.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (03/07/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><02:21:48.640><c> which</c> year um under the uh suspension which year um under the uh suspension
- </c><02:37:27.800><c> for</c><02:37:28.000><c> this</c> process credit card payments for this process
- credit card payments for this decal<02:37:29.040><c> where</c><02:37:29.240><c> now</c><02:37:29.439
- but we think the amount that would be needed, as the language in the bill provides for providing payments
- but we think the amount that would be needed, as the language in the bill provides for providing payments
Summary:
The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place.
Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation.
The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Consumer Protection & Business
Transcript Highlights:
- requirement for any business entity registered in Washington that executes an agreement to finance the payment
- So it's like starting all over again with the 30-year mortgage at the maximum payment.
- generally have the full suite of enforcement authority available to us, ranging from revocation, suspension
- The speed of transactions and the difficulty of reversing them make crypto ATMs an attractive payment
- So while these payments are going and becoming more mainstream, there's a long way to go before they
Committee:
House Consumer Protection & Business
Keywords:
SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Feb 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- requirement for any business entity registered in Washington that executes an agreement to finance the payment
- So it's like starting all over again with the 30-year mortgage at the maximum payment.
- The speed of transactions and the difficulty of reversing them make crypto ATMs an attractive payment
- And while there are new federal laws that will regulate these payment systems in the works, the gap remains
- So while these payments are going and becoming more mainstream, there's a long way to go before they
Summary:
The committee heard public testimony on several insurance and consumer protection bills. On engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5928, staff and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner described wildfire risk score and model disclosure requirements for homeowners, including notices when policies are nonrenewed, canceled, or premiums are adversely affected, plus insurer website disclosures about mitigation discounts and rate filing transparency. Supporters, including the OIC, AARP, the mayor of Medical Lake, and a fire chief, said the bill would improve transparency, help homeowners understand and reduce wildfire risk, and protect consumers facing cancellations and rising premiums. Industry witnesses said they supported the goal but warned the bill could add regulatory cost and complexity, and some urged narrower, simpler disclosure language and a delayed implementation date.
On engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6031, which would expand the insurance fraud program and create a standalone Class B felony for insurance fraud, the OIC and AARP supported the bill as a tool against organized fraud and restitution for victims. A criminal defense representative raised concerns that the new felony language overlaps with existing misdemeanor insurance fraud law and could create conflicting statutes and harsher penalties for the same conduct. The committee also heard testimony that the bill had already incorporated amendments limiting criminal investigators’ role in regulatory investigations and focusing them on complex schemes.
The committee then heard substitute Senate Bill 6248 on travel insurance, described as largely mirroring a House bill already passed by the committee. Testimony from the travel insurance industry said agreed-upon amendments had been incorporated, including changes addressing conflict-of-interest concerns, and urged the bill’s advancement. Finally, the committee heard substitute Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes grant program to fund wildfire home-hardening and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk as a disqualifying factor for homes meeting IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. The OIC, fire commissioners, AARP, and the prime sponsor supported the bill as a way to reduce nonrenewals and improve insurability, while insurers opposed Section 7, arguing it could interfere with underwriting and should be removed if the bill is to remain a grant program. The committee also began hearing engrossed Senate Bill 5280 on virtual currency kiosks, with staff and the Department of Financial Institutions describing daily transaction caps, fee limits, disclosures, and receipts to curb fraud; consumer protection and law enforcement witnesses supported the bill, while industry witnesses raised concerns about burdens on compliant businesses and passive retail hosts.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We did not contemplate the hospital payments that we'd be receiving from the federal government, which
- So nine billion dollars now has been infused into hospital payment plans that have been considered as
- So it would cover payments for past...
- Parents are struggling to make co-payments towards their subsidized child care.
- Parents have been making co-payments between $100 and $400 or more every month to cover the difference
Committee:
House Budget
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Human Resources Division Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The payment error rate is not a measure of fraud.
- We did receive our final payment error rate for this year.
- So we do now know that our 2025 payment error rate is... ...closed.
- So we do now know that our 2025 payment error rate is 9.89. Okay.
- So how are they involved in the payment error rate discussions?
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation.
The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums.
The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- I guess my question really is: do you agree with me that suspension is not always the best case, even
- And the first defense as you can see is a three-day in-school suspension.
- administration sees fit, the counselors have a little bit of one-on-one time with the child while they're in suspension
- That was kind of the whole point of doing the three-day in-school suspension instead of a complete blanket
Committee:
House Common Education
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jan 22nd, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The question now comes on the suspension of Joint Rule 12. The rule is suspended.
- The question now comes on the suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
- Dorazio, an associate professor of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, comes from the House under suspension
- The question now comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution congratulating Anna Karaz on her 100th birthday. It then took up and passed to be engrossed a home rule bill authorizing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for the Town of Randolph. The sponsoring senator spoke in support, saying the measure would improve access, inclusivity, and voter participation for Randolph’s growing Haitian Creole-speaking population, and noted the town’s low recent turnout and the importance of not waiting for a federal language-access review.
The Senate also passed to be engrossed a bill authorizing the Town of Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor. It later adopted a Ways and Means order advancing a House bill on teacher preparation and student literacy with a new draft, and suspended rules to refer several Senate petitions. Additional local bills were enacted, including measures concerning Provincetown’s charter, the appointed town clerk in Avon, and Westwood liquor license authority. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer a House petition on retirement benefits for a Massachusetts Maritime Academy associate professor.
Later, the Senate amended and passed a bill validating and confirming certain acts and proceedings of elected and appointed officials in the Town of Plymouth. A senator also offered remarks congratulating Sweet Paws Rescue on its 15th anniversary and new facility, which were ordered printed in the Journal. The chamber then adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Gerard W. Moynihan of North Reading, followed by a moment of silence, and adjourned until the following Monday at 11 a.m.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jan 22nd, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The question now comes on the suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in... The rule is suspended.
- The question now comes on the suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
- Dorazio, an associate professor of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, comes from the House under suspension
- The question now comes on suspension of Joint Rule 12. All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And delinquency date for a payment of an ad valerum tax is imposed by a taxing unit if the office of
- federal electronic verification of employment authorization. or a verified program of the authorizing suspension
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, chair and retest suspension periods.
- </c> and now they're under a suspension. and now they're under a suspension.
- </c> calendarbased suspension period. calendarbased suspension period.
- 55.040><c> the</c><04:21:55.199><c> driving</c> suspension would go on the driving suspension would go
- </c><04:26:47.040><c> after</c> refers to on line 22, suspension after refers to on line 22, suspension
Committee:
House Transportation
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee Apr 29th, 2026
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- We will accept public comment on any bill placed on the suspense file by the committee today and for
- Now I would like to dispense with the suspense calendar.
- Madam Secretary, would you please read the suspense calendar?
- The suspense calendar list continues. 1939, 1949, 1558, 161, 1995, 1996, 2020, 2048, 2040, 2048, 251,
- The suspense calendar is deemed approved. I'd like to move on to public comment now.
Committee:
House Appropriations
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Human Resources Division Jun 24th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- The payment error rate is not a measure of fraud.
- We did receive our final payment error rate for this year.
- So we do now know that our 2025 payment error rate is 9.89. Okay.
- That can lead to spikes in the payment error rate.
- So how are they involved in the payment error rate discussions?
Summary:
The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027.
The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics.
Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Transportation Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- replacing DMV enforcement mechanism with the use of vehicle immobilization or booting for the non-payment
- I will be accepting the committee amendments that add a 10-year watch-out period to the license suspension
- when a reckless driving collision results in a fatality, there should be immediate and mandatory suspension
- of the driver's license. ...and mandatory suspension of the driver's license.
Committee:
House Transportation
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Sep 10th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, this rule suspension is not debatable. It takes 41 votes. Clerk will open the roll.
- Members, this rule suspension is not debatable. It takes 41 votes. Clerk will open the roll.
- AB 1423 accelerates the date for the CEC to develop regulations on payment methods for EV chargers from
- Members, this rule suspension is not debatable. It takes 54 votes. The clerk will open the roll.
Summary:
The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and began with prayer and a moment of silence in response to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, with members and the presiding officer condemning political violence and urging decorum. The body then recessed briefly for caucuses and later resumed floor business, including a series of procedural motions to move bills to the inactive file, suspend rules, and allow committees to meet on specified measures. No substantive committee votes were taken in the opening portion beyond those procedural suspensions and referrals.
The main floor action was on Senate third-reading bills and later concurrence items. Members approved a wide range of measures covering consumer protection and privacy (SB 709 on self-storage contracts, SB 683 on unauthorized use of name/image/likeness, SB 361 on data brokers), family and health issues (SB 450 on adoptions, SB 418 on health care coverage and hormone therapy, SB 313 on birth certificate confidentiality), public safety and government operations (SB 47 on the State Bar exam audit, SB 509 on transnational repression, AB 1370 on legislative NDAs), energy and environment (SB 630 on state parks acquisitions, SB 500 on Energy Star alternatives, AB 527 on geothermal projects), labor and education (SB 578 on the Workplace Outreach Program, AB 563 on child care planning, SB 472 on Holocaust and genocide education), and transportation, taxation, and elections-related bills. Several measures were passed unanimously or with broad bipartisan support, while others drew some opposition, including SB 630, SB 825, SB 418, and SB 578.
The Assembly also took up multiple concurrence items from the Senate, including AB 64 on diacritical marks in vital records, AB 260 on reproductive health care, AB 288 on collective bargaining rights, AB 515 on civil procedure, AB 524 on agricultural land, AB 543 on Medi-Cal and field medicine, and AB 1370 on transparency and NDAs. Most of these were concurred in by comfortable margins. The chamber also adopted several rule waivers and committee meeting notices, and moved some items to the inactive file at the request of authors.
Toward the end of the session, the Assembly paused for adjournment-in-memory tributes honoring Ermilo Don Rodas, John Burton, Nina Chomsky, and Barbara “Bobby” Samperey, with members highlighting their public service, community advocacy, and lasting impact. After the memorials, the House recessed and later returned to continue concurrence votes on additional bills, including SB 472, SB 820, SB 243, and a series of Assembly bills, with recorded roll-call votes generally showing passage and concurrence in Senate amendments.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Feb 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- That action may include suspension from office, but has it a local fish last to adopt or put into effect
- Misfeasance are any of those other parameters which could warrant a suspension and removal of an assistant
- That's a save litigation cost protracted litigation, the potential of suspension of our local officials
- And the Special Session SB 6 P Senator Ingoglia filed approving all prior payments and contracts but
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- We project with the passage of this bill that the portion of the fare that will be dedicated to payment
- Doctors are just looking for a fair payment in a reasonable amount of time.
- They can't look at government payment rates.
- They can't look at government payment rates.
- It focuses strictly on reimbursement and payment terms, where states have clear authority.
Committee:
House Insurance
Summary:
The committee first took up HB 774, which would extend required hearing-aid coverage for certain individuals up to age 26. Representative Boyer said the bill helps young adults maintain access to hearing aids during school and early work years. The Louisiana Academy of Audiology supported the measure, and the committee adopted technical amendments and reported the bill favorably as amended.
The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 702, which would require transportation network companies to provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Representative Landry and supporters argued that current law and court rulings have left injured drivers and passengers without meaningful coverage in some cases, especially for riders who do not own cars and therefore lack personal UM coverage. Insurance agents and legal witnesses said they cannot currently find a product to cover the driver in certain ride-share phases, while Uber representatives opposed the bill, warning it would raise fares and noting that drivers already have optional occupational accident coverage and that passengers’ own UM coverage would generally apply. After debate over costs, coverage gaps, and whether the issue should instead be studied further, the committee voted to voluntarily defer the bill.
The committee next considered HB 477, as substituted, which would require coverage for prosthetic and custom orthotic devices and associated services. Representative Ebert and witnesses described the bill as a modernization of existing coverage rules so people with limb loss can obtain more than one medically necessary device, including activity-specific prosthetics. Testimony from amputees and a physical therapist emphasized the impact on mobility, work, sports, and quality of life. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably by substitute.
The committee also reported HB 76, which updates oral anti-cancer medication parity rules, by adopting amendments that clarify applicability and exempt certain limited-benefit and ERISA self-funded plans. HB 903, which increases the commissioner of insurance’s fine authority, was amended to set higher aggregate caps and then reported favorably. Finally, HB 291, which would prohibit health plans from penalizing hospitals when a member of the care team is out of network, drew support from the sponsor and the Louisiana Hospital Association as a preventative measure against insurer pressure tactics; Louisiana Blue opposed it, citing cost concerns and questioning the need for the bill. The transcript ends during that bill’s hearing, before final action is shown.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You just can't deny them simply because part of their payment is coming from that voucher.
- That agreement also includes an agreement with the housing authority for payment.
- It's a very reliable payment.
- Discretion can cease making payments if something doesn't go correctly.
- The time I'm praying for moving in a tenant and receiving full payment in the first month's rent may
Bills:
HB164 , HB164 , HB411 , HB627 , HB 1226 , HB1677 , HB1865 , HB1997 , HB2985 , HB3462 , HB4188 , HB4685 , HB4840 , HB5370 , HB5424 , HB5466 , HB5509 , HB5660 , HB5673
Committee:
House Intergovernmental Affairs