Transcript Highlights:

• primarily in the personnel area, as well as some operating services increases, primarily driven by inflation
• That's due to routine inflation in property maintenance and basic services.
• So to tell you the impact from a teacher's retirement system perspective, we were 55% funded in 2010,
• employer perspective, and ours is primarily, you know, K-12 education as well as higher ed, which impacts

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received an unchanged fiscal status statement and five-year baseline projection from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members approved the fiscal status statement, and the baseline budget was noted as unchanged from the prior month. The committee also approved Facility Planning and Control’s request to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the Act 751 eligible list, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes. The committee then approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget. Lottery officials reported $610 million in projected gross revenue, emphasized 29 consecutive years without legislative auditor findings or management comments, and noted the corporation’s long-running transfers to the MFP and State General Fund. Members also approved the 2026-2027 operating budgets for LASERS, TRSL, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System en bloc. The retirement systems described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and continued progress in reducing unfunded liabilities; members discussed COLA prospects, UAL paydown, and the impact of surplus dollars on retirement debt reduction. The committee approved prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures of $20,262.32 and then approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including items for Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish. It also approved the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for an additional $2.8 million for four ongoing water and sewer projects. Several contract items were reviewed without action, including DEQ’s extension with RTI International, Tourism’s marketing contract amendments, and the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration amendment. The meeting concluded with adjournment after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• primarily in the personnel area, as well as some operating services increases, primarily driven by inflation
• That's due to routine inflation in property maintenance and basic services.
• So to tell you the impact from a teacher's retirement system perspective, we were 55% funded in 2010,
• employer perspective, and ours is primarily, you know, K-12 education as well as higher ed, which impacts

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received unchanged fiscal status and five-year baseline budget reports from the Office of Planning and Budget; the fiscal status statement was approved without objection, and the baseline budget required no action. The committee then approved a request from Facility Planning and Control to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the eligible list under Act 751, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes only. Members approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget after testimony highlighted projected gross revenue of $610 million, 29 years without legislative auditor findings, and continued support for the MFP. The committee also approved, en bloc, the operating budgets for LASERS, the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Retirement officials described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and ongoing efforts to reduce unfunded liabilities; members discussed the impact of surplus payments toward UAL debt and the possibility of future COLAs, including a 2% COLA if the legislature reaches the required two-thirds vote. The committee approved payment of $20,262.32 in prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures from the current-year budget. It also approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including changes involving Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish School System-related funding. In addition, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for $2.8 million in additional funding for four ongoing water and sewer projects was approved. The remaining items were reviewed without action: an RTI International contract extension for DEQ air-quality filter weighing, amendments to four Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism marketing contracts to extend and supplement funding, and the fifth-year amendment to the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration contract, valued at $21.1 million. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it made a big impact for me.
• </c><00:28:13.360><c> As</c><00:28:13.600><c> a</c> Uh, made a big impact for me.
• As a Uh, made a big impact for me.
• Medicare gives us an ambulance inflation factor every year, just an increase with that.
• Coal impacted communities economic and workforce development grant programs established.

Bills: HB185 , HB378 , SB28 , HB400 , SB155 , HB312 , HB185 , HB378 , SB28 , HB400 , SB155 , HB312

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, judicial system, funding, state budget, Pickens County, local act, vehicle tag fee, registration fee, issuance fee, motor vehicle registration, license plate, replacement tag, transfer tag, renewal fee, county revenue, earmarked funds, ambulance service, emergency medical services, EMS

Transcript Highlights:

• And I was reading the fiscal impact report, and just can you give me a little synopsis of how—I mean,
• This will ensure that special niche or specialized trades are not going to be impacted by this bill.
• Every single one of those projects is going to be impacted.
• Every single one of those projects is going to be impacted.
• Every single one of those projects is going to be impacted.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund. The sponsor offered and the committee adopted an amendment striking the section that would have imposed a 1% gross receipts tax on electricity sales. After a recap of the bill’s remaining provisions, including a $400 million seed amount and future transfers from motor vehicle excise tax revenue, the committee heard brief support from Associated Contractors of New Mexico and the Asphalt Pavement Association and no opposition. The amended bill then passed on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard HB 270, a public works/apprenticeship bill that would require contributions to approved apprenticeship and training programs or to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund for public works construction projects, while eliminating an exemption for certain road, highway, utility, and maintenance work. Supporters, including union carpenters, electrical workers, the building trades council, and apprenticeship advocates, argued the bill would expand training, help address labor shortages, and provide a return on public investment. Opponents from utility contractors, highway contractors, and Associated Contractors of New Mexico said they already operate federally approved in-house training programs, warned the bill would raise project costs, and argued some trades have no accessible approved programs. Members questioned how the bill would interact with existing in-house programs, whether rural contractors and nonunion firms would be affected, and whether the state-approved fund and federal highway training requirements could conflict. A proposed amendment to exempt projects of $50 million or less was introduced but tabled. After extensive debate, the committee voted 6-5 to pass HB 270. The meeting also included discussion of a prior procedural error in which HB 270 had been heard before being properly assigned, which the chair said rendered that earlier action void. At the end of the meeting, the committee received a brief New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 presentation on district projects, budget, and construction status.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator is right, that means that you have to have an annual
• The two that we've given on this impact sheet here, what we did is we took our 2022 numbers.
• It is an index to inflation, which I think is a really good choice.
• is a it is um a index to inflation which<00:08:00.479><c> uh</c><00:08:00.599><c> I</c><00:08:00.680
• </c><00:09:59.800><c> on</c> without making as big of an impact on without making as big of an impact

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a huge impact.
• The first one is that It impacts telehealth.
• The rate of growth adjusted by inflation...
• Inflation growth...
• an FY30 budget impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's going to impact their property rights and, you know, the property that they own.
• You know, I'm just trying to figure out how this actually impacts from our estimation.
• You know, I'm just trying to figure out how this actually impacts from our estimation.
• So I would read that it would impact a local authority to create, yeah.
• So I would read that it would impact a local authority to create, yeah.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• In summary, bills with the revenue impact of In summary, bills with a revenue impact of more than $150,000
• This support is essential to protecting sea otters on California coasts from the impacts that deal with
• This is largely driven by the recent passage of HR 1, which has resulted in significant impacts to counties
• Cruz is the safety net for those communities that are traditionally the most disproportionately impacted
• maintenance for infrastructure, the need to fund public safety services, police and fire, and the impact

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• In our police, firefighter, and state patrol realms, they were getting 1% when inflation was 8, 9, 10%
• And this is going to have some drastic impacts, good impacts.
• A little tweak here and there can have a big impact down the road, and we do have to have that longitudinal
• But there's also a fiscal impact that will help support our schools as well because they're often the
• And I look forward to working on this issue in the future and making choices that positively impact not

Transcript Highlights:

• But the impact of misclassification fraud is not just on workers.
• </c><00:53:09.480><c> reduction</c><00:53:10.119><c> act</c> iig uh inflation reduction act iig uh inflation
• </c><00:57:08.880><c> programs</c> that these are high impact programs that these are high impact programs
• </c><01:00:06.720><c> recognizing</c> efficiently grow our impact recognizing efficiently grow our impact
• </c><01:08:02.960><c> our</c> ultimately could impact our ultimately could impact our people<01:08:04.880

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• cost-and-market impact review.
• And it's important to be impacting every part of the market.
• And it's important to be impacting every part of the market.
• And so we absolutely want to impact premiums over time.
• , including impact to the vendor landscape as a result of those pilots.

Transcript Highlights:

• cost-and-market impact review.
• We can do a deeper cost-and-market impact review.
• And it's important to be impacting every part of the market.
• And so we absolutely want to impact premiums over time.
• And so just updating it for inflation would increase...

Summary: The hearing began with a stakeholder presentation from Let California Kids Hear urging coverage of pediatric hearing aids for children in the large group market. Advocates described the issue as a long-running developmental emergency, argued that existing state efforts have been inefficient, and said the new proposal would cover about 70% to 80% of affected children without new spending by redirecting existing dollars. Public commenters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s advocates, strongly supported the proposal and emphasized the need for timely access to sound. The chair thanked the group and noted hope for a future fix, including continued work on the exchange market. The Department of Finance then gave a broad budget warning about the state’s more than $20 billion structural deficit and said new investments must be weighed against out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with an overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, seismic hospital compliance, workforce programs, and the Data Exchange Framework. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, behavioral health pipeline programs, the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, and future CalRx products such as EpiPens and GLP-1s. HCAI also described its enforcement approach for health care spending targets, saying the board would not change the targets in response to H.R. 1, and outlined the diaper access initiative, which will distribute diapers through hospitals in higher-need areas. Several HCAI budget items were discussed and held open, including additional expenditure authority, the transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate, long-term care payment transparency staffing, and reporting on health care worker waiting periods. The department also presented its Behavioral Health Services Act workforce initiative and a proposed $100 million General Fund offset, which both the LAO and the chair questioned as unclear and potentially one-time in nature. HCAI said the final workforce plan would be adjusted after stakeholder consultation if the offset proceeds. The department also described the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying California received $233.6 million in federal funds, had to revise its proposal to satisfy CMS, and must obligate the money by October 30; the program will fund rural care models, workforce development, and technology, with grants rolled out on a phased basis. The Department of Managed Health Care then presented its budget and three legislative implementation requests: SB 41 on PBM reform, SB 306 on prior authorization transparency, and AB 1041 on provider credentialing timelines. Finally, the administration outlined a menopause care proposal requiring coverage and education for menopause-related services, provider training, and an outreach campaign, with DMHC requesting staffing and funding to implement and enforce the new requirements. Throughout the hearing, most items were held open for later action, and no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The impact is immeasurable.
• They promised to reduce inflation.
• </c> They promised to reduce inflation. They promised to reduce inflation.
• </c> increase in inflation since January. increase in inflation since January.
• </c> pay pay closer attention to the impact pay pay closer attention to the impact that<09:29:56.720>

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not impact any other part of the bill.
• It does not impact any other part of the bill.
• It does not impact any other part of the bill.
• It does not impact any other part of the bill.
• </c> conservation and will ultimately impact conservation and will ultimately impact the<01:03:11.920

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Um so conforming to it would inflation.
• </c><00:12:08.160><c> and</c><00:12:08.399><c> it</c> it also indexes it for inflation and it it also
• And what that does, it doesn't have a revenue impact in Minnesota.
• impact to the general fund, and only to the general fund.
• </c> bianual fiscal impact to the general bianual fiscal impact to the general fund<00:46:08.400><c>

Bills: HR1 , HF387

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• At ECS, that means 162 employees would be impacted, including counselors.
• Yes, that means 162 employees would be impacted, including counselors, psychologists, social workers,
• Here to testify with me today is Hala Hajazi, CEO and founder of the Muslim Impact Council, and Ahmed
• I really appreciate those comments and really want to thank Ahmed and Hala and Muslim Impact Council,
• These tools significantly impact job duties, performance evaluations, and overall working conditions.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• All of it is impacted by tariffs. I can't imagine many components being exempt from that.
• You know, if and when they start to impact construction projects.
• Yes, certainly we'll work with the colleges to do what we can to address inflation.
• Of course, those contingencies are often impacted when change orders come through.
• We think that that's going to really have a huge impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would index the client programming and supports factor to inflation to recognize the impact the broader
• It would index the client programming and supports factor to inflation to recognize the impact the broader
• </c><00:50:30.359><c> of</c> reveals the importance and impacts of reveals the importance and impacts
• </c><01:03:39.720><c> and</c> we've got Rising costs in inflation and we've got Rising costs in inflation
• And now you get to hear the impact it does.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as options for future depopulation, this slide highlights how there are many factors that impact
• There are other factors that impact the success of depopulation.
• The department's role is to monitor the impact of the clearinghouse on the Fair Plan and the broader
• And when you see 30% inflation in costs and things like that, that's an issue.
• cost, inflation, out of control, and has really hit the construction market hard.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its first outcomes review oversight hearing on the residential fair plan clearinghouse program created by AB 3012. Chair and members focused on whether the program is actually helping depopulate the California Fair Plan and move policyholders back to the voluntary market. The Fair Plan and Department of Insurance testified that the program exists as a platform for admitted and, in some cases, non-admitted insurers to review Fair Plan policies and make offers through the broker of record, but they acknowledged limited participation and limited results. CDI said it has received no formal complaints specific to the clearinghouse, but identified obstacles including only 11 participating residential insurers, the broker-of-record requirement, compensation and appointment issues, and the lack of direct consumer contact. CDI said about 730 residential risks have moved to voluntary market coverage through the program from June 2021 through April 30, 2025, and opt-outs are under 1%. Committee members pressed witnesses on the program’s opacity, the lack of data on offers made versus policies actually moved, and whether the clearinghouse is functioning as intended. CDI and the Fair Plan said they do not have data on how many offers have been made, only on cancellations that are self-reported and marked as clearinghouse-related. Members also raised regional growth in Fair Plan enrollment, especially on the Central Coast, and concerns about underinsurance when policyholders move back to the regular market. CDI recommended more mandatory reporting, broader broker education, possible direct offers to policyholders after a period of time, and changes to commission and appointment rules to reduce barriers to insurer participation. The second panel of industry witnesses generally agreed the clearinghouse is not a stand-alone solution and said its effectiveness depends on a healthier admitted market and actuarially sound Fair Plan rates. Independent agents and brokers, admitted-market insurers, and surplus lines representatives said the current system is constrained by low rate adequacy, limited insurer appetite for high-risk properties, operational friction, and misaligned incentives. Several witnesses suggested improvements such as better data sharing, clearer depopulation procedures, stronger broker education, and more flexible appointment or compensation rules. Some supported giving the program more time under the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, while others said the Legislature should consider whether to strengthen, modify, or potentially sunset the program if it continues to produce limited results. A public witness later reported that a new carrier had recently joined the clearinghouse and was working with brokers to bring in additional capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• This slide highlights how there are many factors that impact FAIR Plan depopulation.
• There are other factors that impact the success of depopulation.
• The department's role is to monitor the impact of the clearinghouse on the FAIR Plan and the broader
• And when you see 30% inflation in costs and things like that, that's an issue.
• cost, inflation, out of control, and has really hit the construction market hard.

Committee: House Insurance