Transcript Highlights:

• And since then, as the report said, to look at rate increases after that, those rate increases we've
• And then we did receive a larger rate increase in 2022, and you saw numbers go back up.
• And then we did receive a larger rate increase in 2022, and you saw numbers go back up.
• our error rate as a state.
• our error rate as a state.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on the effects of H.R. 1 on Washington’s Medicaid, developmental disability, long-term care, and food assistance systems, followed by a separate discussion of juvenile rehabilitation caseloads and placement capacity. DSHS officials said HR1 could affect home equity rules, immigration-related eligibility, work requirements for some expansion-population enrollees, and provider taxes, while also creating a future opportunity for a new 1915(c) waiver. Advocates and providers warned that any state response that cuts home and community-based services would worsen already thin provider networks, increase waiting lists, push more people into hospitals or out-of-state placements, and strain families and workers. A pediatric behavioral health expert and a supported living provider said Medicaid reimbursement is already too low and further reductions would threaten outpatient, residential, and inpatient services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and severe behavioral needs. The committee then turned to SNAP and the state food assistance program. DSHS said HR1 would tighten work requirements and exemptions, end some immigrant eligibility for the federal program, eliminate the SNAP education program, raise state administrative costs, and eventually require Washington to share in benefit costs based on its error rate. Officials estimated large numbers of residents could lose or see reduced benefits, with significant added state costs. Anti-hunger advocates, a food bank director, and a SNAP recipient described the program as essential for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities, and said the changes would increase paperwork, reduce benefits, and worsen food insecurity while also harming local food economies. Testimony emphasized that food banks cannot replace SNAP and that work requirements may be difficult to meet for caregivers, people with disabilities, and those facing child care or transportation barriers. In the juvenile justice portion, the Caseload Forecast Council presented the JR forecast, which is currently mostly flat through the end of the biennium but expected to grow modestly over the longer term. Members discussed how policy choices, including the 2019 JR-25 law, have increased lengths of stay for adult-sentenced youth in JR, while diversion and other reforms have affected regular JR trends. A court researcher explained the data available to help forecast admissions and noted ongoing efforts to improve data sharing with JR, AOC, and county systems, though staffing and system-lag issues limit how quickly data can be produced. Juvenile court administrators and DCYF officials described the community-based juvenile justice continuum, rising complexity in the JR population, overcrowding at Green Hill and placement constraints at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, and the need for more flexible community transition and mental health capacity. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Significant money, which also adds to the rate expenses and increases the rate.
• Significant money, which also adds to the rate expenses and increases the rate.
• years,<00:37:05.240> we a rate increase every 3 years, we a rate increase every 3 years,
• So that's why we as increases the rate.
• force a rate increase.

Bills: HB475

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the daily rate.
• . rates. rates.
• via market rates.
• methodologies and recommend new rate methods for market-based rates.
• methodologies and recommend new rate methods for market-based rates.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They get 55 percent of the tax rate in, quote, unquote, the small business tax rate.
• Increasing the corporate tax rate from 21 to 28 percent would ensure corporations pay their fair share
• Employees, whether it's increased benefits or increased wages, because we've got X amount of money to
• Again, I don't want you to increase our taxes.
• I certainly don't want tax increases.

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's approximately a 38% % increase that's approximately a 38% % increase from<00:09:00.320>
• That amounts to a $116 million increase in the current biennium and a $369 million increase in fiscal
• we've also had um more ongoing rate we've also had um more ongoing rate increases<00:29:19.559><
• you all increase the Care is because you all increase the rates<00:29:28.080> for<00:29:28.200
• > for those rates hadn't been increased for those rates hadn't been increased for for<00:29:35.519

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rates do not increase the the provider's rates do not increase in<00:10:30.320> a<00:10:30.480
• to justify in my mind the the rates to justify in my mind the the rates increasing<00:10:46.480>
• And the rate does increase or go down >> And the rate does increase or go down depending<00:19:
• So, I'd like to know about comparing those two rates along with the increase in population rate. >> Senator
• the increase in population rate. the increase in population rate.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• there's going to be a need to increase there's going to be a need to increase that<00:04:15.680>
• depends on what that frictional rate is. depends on what that frictional rate is.
• significant increase in our funding. significant increase in our funding.
• from what's in these salary increases. from what's in these salary increases.
• they think will help our error rate. they think will help our error rate.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 28 January, 2026; 8:15 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), including its consolidated tourism and agency request. MDA said it has had strong recent results, citing about $65 billion in capital investment since 2020, roughly 25,000 jobs, record tourism, clean audits, and oversubscribed incentive programs. For FY27, the agency requested $26.4 million in general funds, level special-fund operating support, restoration of eight pins reduced in the LBR process, and several general-fund increases for a career ladder, a new HR system, training, and operating costs. MDA also discussed a $1.25 million request for America 250 activities, including a Mississippi event and participation in the National Mall “Great America State Fair,” plus an energy accelerator program tied to the governor’s energy initiative and a broader three-tier energy preparedness strategy. MDA also explained its incentive refill requests, saying it was not seeking additional funding for the ACE grant program this year and had shifted that support toward the governor’s port/rail/road investment fund and energy-ready sites. The agency highlighted a renewed request to restart funding for the small municipal and limited population counties grant program, which it said had previously helped smaller communities with water, sewer, downtown, and other projects. On tourism, MDA presented a breakout showing what the budget would look like if tourism were separated into its own department; officials said the current tourism budget within MDA is about $5.7 million in general funds and $7.9 million total, and estimated about $1.3 million in additional cost would be needed to stand up a separate tourism agency. A significant portion of the discussion focused on criticism from Senator Wiggins that MDA has not delivered enough economic development for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He argued that constituents believe MDA does little for the coast and objected to the agency’s role in the GCRF and coastal projects, saying the coast has not seen meaningful results in years. MDA officials responded that complaints about uneven distribution are common across the state, that MDA works with local economic development partners rather than dictating project locations, and that it has helped support major coastal projects such as Relativity Space, Lockheed Martin expansions, PCC Gulf Chem, BWC Terminals, and AWS. The exchange also touched on the Port of Pascagoula and local leadership disputes, with both sides disagreeing over whether the port and the coast have been adequately supported. No votes or formal actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is for me to pay a company to hire lawyers to fight for a higher rate increase that I would have
• Um, so it is for me to pay a company to hire lawyers to fight for a higher rate increase that I would
• <00:12:20.639> increase<00:12:21.120> that to fight for a higher rate increase that
• to fight for a higher rate increase that I<00:12:21.600> would<00:12:21.760> have<00:12
• <01:41:13.920> rates<01:41:14.320> for one you're going to increase rates for one you're

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...population continue to increase, congestion on I-205 bridges anticipated to increase, which may
• Increase since the 2022 estimate.
• All four scenarios do assume that toll rates will increase over time with an average escalation rate.
• Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 assume the toll rates will increase at 2.15% annually from the 2026 base dollars
• truck toll rates.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:44.000> in spend on inflationary increases in spend on inflationary increases in programs
• <00:05:09.320> they're governor noted um at the rate they're governor noted um at the rate
• So certainly we have to look at government programs where the rate of growth is higher than the rate
• <00:09:37.880> of government programs where the rate of government programs where the rate
• funding for K12 education will increase funding for K12 education will increase automatically<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, growth in math achievement and student pass rates in math courses increasing are going to
• , chronic absenteeism rates, and our college remediation rates.
• Rates in literacy have really increased year over year, with the largest increases really happening
• Percent increase plus a 50 percent increase is a 200 percent increase.
• So I just want to say that we have seen improvement in graduation rates and attendance rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to see premium increases. Our draft premium increases are pretty high right now.
• So we're going to see premium increases. Our draft premium increases are pretty high right now.
• I think that you're premium increases. Our draft premium increases are pretty high right now.
• And just to make a point, the nationwide error rate was 3.31%. The nationwide error rate was 3.31%.
• And in our state, we didn't just increase rates, but we also built infrastructure with the launch of

Summary: The committee first received an update on the effects of HR1 and related federal Medicaid and marketplace changes from Governor’s Office and Health Care Authority staff. Presenters said the most immediate coverage losses are expected in the individual market beginning in January, with premium increases and an estimated 80,000 people potentially unable to afford coverage. They warned that larger Medicaid impacts will follow over the next year and beyond, including tighter eligibility checks, work requirements, reduced retroactive coverage, limits on state-directed payments and provider taxes, new cost-sharing, and changes affecting certain non-citizen adults. They also said the state plans to seek a waiver or extension for work requirements and will continue to analyze impacts, including on rural providers and Planned Parenthood-related services. Members asked about the effect on nursing homes, rural hospitals, and how the state can help providers and enrollees navigate the new requirements; staff said timelines and a state-specific implementation chart are being developed. The committee then heard a report on the International Medical Graduate Work Group and Washington’s efforts to create pathways for internationally trained physicians. Testimony described the clinical experience license, the clinical evaluation assessment tool, grant funding for IMG support organizations, and a new hardship waiver process enacted this year. National presenters said many states have adopted similar pathways because of physician shortages, but Washington and Tennessee are among the few states that have actually issued licenses so far. They recommended clear guardrails, an employment offer before application, ECFMG certification, supervised practice, and data collection to avoid exploitation and protect patients. Members asked about state-to-state variation, retention of IMGs, and whether Washington should pursue dedicated residency or preceptorship options; presenters said the key next step is moving successful participants from supervised experience to a durable long-term license. The final topic was implementation of Washington’s Apple Health doula benefit and the statewide doula hub and referral system. Senator T’wina Nobles highlighted the state’s $3,500 per-birth Medicaid reimbursement rate for doulas and the importance of the hub for referrals, training, and billing. Health Care Authority staff said the benefit launched January 1, 2025, and covers prenatal intake, labor and delivery, postpartum visits, and telehealth-supported services. They reported 336 state-certified doulas, 134 enrolled in Apple Health, 287 unique clients served, and 641 claims paid so far. Testimony emphasized doulas’ role in improving birth outcomes, reducing unnecessary interventions, and addressing racial disparities in maternal health, while noting that implementation is still early and ongoing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next one is the DOI GSD rates and things like facility leases, food service contracts, medical increases
• The rest of that is either rate increases or it's recurring spend that has not been funded into the next
• Chair, Senator Woods, it's in health insurance GSD rates and in rate increases in GSD.
• And similarly, recidivism So I noticed that the recidivism rate increased, you know, 0.8.
• They indicate that our crime rate is increasing substantially.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tax rates: every tax also has a rate.
• A tax provision could raise revenue by broadening the base, increasing the rate, limiting deductions
• percentage<00:08:34.000> of rate um the rate is the percentage of rate um the rate is
• <00:09:35.600> the<00:09:35.760> rate broadening the base increasing the rate broadening
• the base increasing the rate limiting<00:09:37.120> deductions<00:09:37.760> or<00:09:

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met for an organizational and orientation session. Members and staff introduced themselves, with several lawmakers noting their districts, business backgrounds, and interest in tax policy. Chair Greg Davids then opened the committee’s first substantive item: a presentation from House Research and House Fiscal staff on how the committee works and on basic tax concepts. House Research staff Sean Williams and Chris Clayman explained their roles in drafting bills and amendments, writing bill summaries, answering legal and policy questions, and modeling tax proposals. They also described the committee’s key documents, including partisan and nonpartisan bill summaries, revenue estimates, fiscal notes, and supporting materials. Their presentation covered core tax concepts such as tax bases, rates, deductions, exemptions, credits, tax revenues, and tax expenditures, emphasizing that tax expenditures function like spending through the tax code and are reviewed by a legislative commission. The staff then reviewed Minnesota’s major taxes, focusing on the individual income tax and business taxation. They explained that Minnesota’s individual income tax starts with federal adjusted gross income, then applies state additions, deductions, subtractions, and credits, and that the state’s income tax brackets and rates are set separately from federal law. They also outlined the difference between corporate franchise taxes for C corporations and individual income tax treatment for pass-through entities, and discussed how the federal SALT cap led Minnesota and other states to adopt pass-through entity taxes so businesses could preserve federal deductibility of state taxes. Members asked questions about a duplicate “marriage penalty” entry on a slide, the purpose of Minnesota’s marriage penalty credit, comparisons with other states, and the timing and effect of the pass-through entity tax; staff answered that the duplicate was a mistake, the credit offsets bracket-related marriage penalties, and the pass-through entity tax was adopted in response to the federal SALT cap.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate of 5 percent.
• rate that changes every month.
• rate the committee decides.
• Problems with the variable rate.
• This program of cutting the interest rate increased the ability to get current.

Bills: HB40, HB1916, HB1973, HB2524, HB2530, HB3180, HB3421, HB3783, HB4170, HB4213, HB40

Keywords: business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process, attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, dispute resolution, child support

Transcript Highlights:

• The contract increases the enhanced rate from 75% to 125% to address the training bottleneck. $250,000
• increases the enhanced rate from increases the enhanced rate from 75%<00:04:23.440> to 75%
• <00:05:33.199> increases<00:05:33.880> necessary calculates the rate increases necessary
• calculates the rate increases necessary to<00:05:34.440> cover<00:05:34.720> the<00:05
• increase in addition to the VBR rates.

Bills: HF2367, HF2319, HF2523, HF1742, HF671, HF2331, HF2722, HF2406, HF1674

Keywords: HF2367, Community First Services and Supports, CFSS, personal care assistance, PCA, consumer-directed community supports, CDCS, home and community-based services, HCBS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, caregivers, support workers, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, collective bargaining agreement, retention stipend, health care cost stipend, training stipend, orientation program, retirement trust

Transcript Highlights:

• rate.
• up that 3% increase.
• Have been increased.
• royalty rate that happened legislatively, that's increased from 20 to 25 percent.
• The participation rate is gonna depend.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We track their four-year graduation rate as well.
• And then finally, we've seen a huge increase in our median wage. ...year graduation rate.
• Our system's four-year graduation rates exceed the six-year graduation rate of many other states as well
• That was the vision our board saw with our graduation rates and elevating our graduation rates.
• It focuses on graduation rates, retention, affordability, degree outcomes, access rate, and graduate

Summary: The committee heard a presentation on the State University System’s new strategic plan, SUS 30, from Emily Sykes and later the system’s legislative budget request from Sarah Denagie. The strategic plan centers on five priorities: One SUS collaboration, elevating student success, operational excellence, world-class talent, and innovative research and economic development. Testimony highlighted Florida’s continued status as the nation’s top higher education system, record rankings, improved four-year graduation rates, higher median graduate wages, strong licensure pass rates, and expanded focus on research commercialization and workforce alignment. Senators asked about programs of strategic emphasis, mental health and teacher workforce needs, use of the My Florida Future wage data tool, support for first-generation and Pell students, and the role of liberal arts degrees. The system said it would provide follow-up information, including the full strategic-emphasis list and a report on campus safety best practices after a recent summit following the FSU shooting. The committee also received an update on line funding for nursing and health care partnerships. Officials said the $6 million appropriation was fully subscribed through 24 proposals from all 10 nursing programs, supporting scholarships, faculty recruitment, internships, simulation, and expanded nursing capacity. They reported more than 1,900 new nursing graduates, over 200 new student slots, more than 300 scholarships, and a 92% NCLEX pass rate. Senators asked about expanding eligibility for the program, and staff indicated that would be examined this year. For the legislative budget request, the Board of Governors asked for $634.5 million total, including $295 million to maintain the institutional performance-based funding base, $400 million for the state investment portion of performance-based funding, $125 million for preeminence funding, $100 million for faculty recruitment and retention, $6.4 million for UF/IFAS extension workload, and $3.1 million for state fire marshal inspections. The chair noted that resources are limited and that difficult budget decisions will be required. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• some pretty significant increases in fiscal years 26 and 27, where it increased by almost $130 million
• <00:07:11.319> by base you can see that it increased by base you can see that it increased
• > by years 26 and 27 where it increased by years 26 and 27 where it increased by almost<00:07:
• The poverty measure that’s used essentially increases as the family size increases.
• The poverty measure that’s used essentially increases as the family size increases.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:33.200> you<00:42:33.400> have<00:42:33.839> to increases uh the rate that
• you have to increases uh the rate that you have to enact<00:42:35.200> to<00:42:35.359> get
• increase.
• increase.
• increase.

Keywords: 1183, house