Transcript Highlights:

• Those providers may, in fact, be cash pay providers inside the network who are willing to take cash.
• So when you put cash on the table...
• It's essentially the more health care you get, the more cash you can get.
• It could be a down payment on a car kind of level. for a test.
• Surgical centers, you know, we've heard a lot of different ways, cash prices, things like this.

Bills: SB437 , SB528 , SB626 , SB636 , SB884 , SB968 , SB1044 , SB1608 , SB2336

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Cash is still king.
• We still see cash flow out of financial institutions specifically related to scams.
• When the cash is withdrawn, it can go to a number of places.
• With automated electronic transactions peer-to-peer, that's Zelle, Venmo, Cash App.
• That's Zelle, Venmo, Cash App.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by Susanna Pratt. JLARC found that Washington produced roughly two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that incomplete, unreliable traceability data limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate, verify taxes, and track diversion. The presentation also reviewed canopy estimates, market conditions since legalization, and the social equity program. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 implementation timeline was more realistic. JLARC also recommended the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity beyond new producer licenses, noting that 10 new producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on overall production capacity. Members asked about social equity licensing delays and about whether Washington could look to other states’ traceability systems, including Biotrack and Metric, for model practices. The committee then heard a series of presentations on financial fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scams, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, social media companies, and regulators. He noted that Australia’s whole-of-government anti-scam model has reduced losses and said Washington could look to other states for model legislation, including crypto ATM restrictions and telecom accountability measures. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the emotional and financial harm to victims, emphasizing the need for education, information sharing, law enforcement partnerships, and stronger protections around scam-related transfers. She also highlighted the role of high school financial education and the challenges posed by authorized peer-to-peer transfers and crypto ATMs. Kyle Innes of SIFMA focused on investor scams, especially “pig butchering” and other crypto-related relationship scams, and said Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law for vulnerable adults helped shape similar laws in most other states. He stressed that fraud has become more professionalized and international, and that better coordination among adult protective services, law enforcement, and financial firms is needed. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs of the Department of Financial Institutions then described pig-butchering scams in more detail, including fake profiles, fake trading platforms, and escalating demands for more money, and said recovery is difficult because funds move quickly through crypto channels. They pointed to DFI’s investment tracker and other consumer education efforts as tools to warn the public and disrupt scams.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm just trying to think of any avenues that might be available to generate cash. cash um outside
• </c><01:00:06.319><c> they</c> outside of um uh the payments they outside of um uh the payments they
• </c> to prevent a lot of property tax payment to prevent a lot of property tax payment increases<01:25
• </c><01:52:49.199><c> a</c><01:52:49.360><c> payment</c> we got a second Bill a payment a payment we
• got a second Bill a payment a payment a<01:52:49.840><c> second</c><01:52:50.159><c> payment</c><01:52

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a non-germane amendment to HB 297 that would create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Insurance Commissioner DJ Beton, joined by department staff, explained that the proposal is intended to help homeowners afford insurance by funding proactive home improvements that reduce risk and improve insurability. He said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 available on a first-come, first-served basis. Beton described the problem as rising homeowners insurance premiums, hard-market underwriting, nonrenewals, and the resulting shift to more expensive surplus lines coverage. He said eligible projects could include roof fortification, exterior improvements, flood-related foundation work, and removal of hazardous trees or limbs. He cited similar programs in other states, especially Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina, as evidence the model can work and noted that industry representatives were present in support. He also said the program would use means testing aligned with the Department of Energy’s weatherization program to target lower-income applicants. Members asked about the non-germane process, who would administer the program, and how the bill would prevent misuse of grant funds. The commissioner said the department would administer the program using one repurposed existing position, with Treasury handling fund flow through an MOU. Staff explained that applicants would have to show completed work through a signed contract, itemized work, and a sworn contractor affidavit, with some upfront payment allowed for materials and the remainder paid after completion. The chair and members discussed that the amendment is being attached to a different bill only to move the proposal through committee and on to House Finance for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• can do to collect the money that's owed to all of your other owners who are delinquent in their payments
• </c><00:19:25.120><c> The</c> for automatic HOA dues payments. The for automatic HOA dues payments.
• be applied to assessments payments be applied to assessments first.<00:20:00.799><c> Another</c><00:
• In total, this bill will increase monthly assessments, reduce financial flexibility, impair cash flow
• </c><00:24:46.000><c> flow,</c> flexibility, impair cla cash flow, flexibility, impair cla cash flow,

Bills: SF1750 , HF704 , HF3479

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: common interest community, CIC, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, planned community, cooperative, unit owner, association board, declarant, declarant control, special declarant rights, assessment lien, foreclosure, late fees, fines, attorney fees, resale disclosure, annual report, maintenance plan

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving into cash balances, last year, House Bill 152 was passed, which requires all boards to maintain
• a cash balance of 30 to 150% of the board's five-year average rolling expenditures.
• we have other boards that are below their 30%, and in some cases we have boards that have negative cash
• We have worked with JFAC to come up with a plan to correct these cash balances by increasing and decreasing
• Additionally, for some Additionally, for some boards that have too high of a cash balance, House Bill

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• We support Senate Bill 27 because it puts motor vehicle tax payments where they belong, back into our
• We are cash.
• Use actual cash. We've got it. We don't burden future generations. We say, let's use it today.
• What I'm proposing with this bill is to Cash app deal, to use cash to build highways.
• I think the other issue is you mentioned all this cash on hand, but we don't have the capacity to get

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• or even monthly tax payments based on last year’s driving.
• The average net cash income for a farmer in Massachusetts is $13,511.
• Now, net cash income just doesn't mean cash—no depreciation, no accrual, all of the accounting tricks
• The average net cash income for a farmer in Massachusetts is $13,511.
• Now net cash income just doesn't mean cash, no depreciation, no accrual, all of the accounting tricks

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it used to be people would post, you know, a $500 or $5,000 cash surety bond, and they'd have to go
• Judges would hold people using money—cash bail, $50,000 cash only.
• Over the four years, they have to serve one year; they get a payment towards their tuition.
• The payment goes. Well said, it's paid directly to their lending agency.
• If this cap is way off the necessary deal, then we can buy insurance for the cash.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• If we didn't have enough cumulative cash to cover obligations after hurricane.
• What that amount is made up is made up of the cash on hand we currently have.
• If that projection for losses, 60's are cash on hand.
• That's the cash we have on hand. But we are providing box. That's the cash we have on hand.
• The rap cash build up, announced the cash Bill of factor after it was initially put in place after the

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially, a cash handout from the state, right? It's cost savings for them.
• But, you know, I guess, you know, cash.
• Um, this face is the down payment.
• </c><01:09:45.440><c> Um,</c> save up to make that down payment.
• Um, save up to make that down payment.

Summary: The committees heard testimony on five housing-related measures. SB 2232 would create a three-year tiny home grant pilot program within HHFDC, with annual reporting to HHFDC and the Legislature; testimony was mixed, and the bill was later recommended for passage with amendments, including a full-time housing development specialist, a residential-use-only restriction for the tiny homes, and a blanked appropriation. SB 2192 would bar county down-zoning that reduces housing capacity unless equivalent capacity is added elsewhere in the county; it drew support from housing advocates and comments from planning officials, and was also recommended for passage with amendments. SB 2378 would clarify insurance requirements for single- and multifamily projects seeking expedited county permitting; engineers and housing groups supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and it was recommended for passage with a technical amendment. SB 2524 would appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu for housing-related departments to comply with prior acts; the Honolulu department supported it, and members asked about prior spending and funding sources. SB 2398 would require residential housing utility availability maps; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed the bill as written, citing infrastructure security, accuracy, liability, and administrative burden concerns, while supporters said it would improve transparency for developers. The chair proposed amendments to make the maps broad and geographic rather than parcel-specific, remove contested-case and reliance provisions, allow disclaimer language, and change the date; the bill was then recommended for passage with amendments, with one member noting reservations. All five measures were ultimately passed out of committee with amendments, with votes recorded and some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> disbursement or first payment is due. disbursement or first payment is due.
• And then the lead service line replacement grant program notices general fund cash.
• or signing of authorize um payments or signing of contracts. contracts. contracts.
• budget through general obligation bonds and cash.
• . cash. cash.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• So this really doesn't represent a change in cash flows or anything that...
• So this really doesn't represent a change in cash flows or anything that...
• So this really doesn't represent a change in cash flows or anything that's in the capital plan.
• And then I will also note with the Municipal Payment Program, which is included in this bill, it does
• I was referring to the municipal payment program, where municipalities collectively are responsible for

Bills: H5279

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: municipal roads, bridges, transportation bond bill, infrastructure financing, capital spending, bond authorization, general obligation bonds, special obligation bonds, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act, road resurfacing, road repair, bridge repair, pavement, culverts, stormwater management, climate resilience, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian infrastructure, transit modernization, commuter rail

Transcript Highlights:

• revenue stream is the rent revenue from the building we purchased in 2020 and the interest earned on our cash
• Your Health Idaho carries no debt and maintains cash reserves equal to six to nine months of our operating
• In business, cash is king, followed quickly by key performance metrics, efficiency gains, and results
• year, as Idahoans find they are unable to afford premiums and carriers terminate coverage for non-payment
• uniform order of benefit determination to reduce duplication of benefits and ensure timely claims payment

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'm looking at our cash balances, and I'm showing that the Secretary of State has a lot of cash balances
• There are two critical specials that will remedy that exact cash overflow.
• We manage cash flow and ensure state obligations are met.
• Having said that, now I have a state cash manager who just retired.
• They manage everything in the state cash management division.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Cash management for y'all's funds.
• You receive payments from taxpayer-funded schools, and then you receive funds through by-board for the
• , cash and cash equivalents, um, from what our taxpayer-funded portions, which are coming.
• And, and, uh, The impetus for the payment is our billing to them.
• And then I wait probably six weeks before that check is cashed.

Bills: HB10 , HB 12 , HB675 , HB10 , HB12

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been making monthly payments. ...payments for over 10 years, and we expect to pay for decades
• me answers like Apple Pay, Venmo, and Cash App.
• I also encourage my parents to take their students to the bank and give them cash to deposit because
• there's a difference in how we grew up. and giving cash.
• These kids are only using digital payments; they only have plastic.

Bills: SB205 , SB582 , SB625 , SB1884 , SB1903 , SB2600 , SB2617 , SB2751 , SB111 , SB3061 , SB1908

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:12:23.000><c> in</c> that wanted to make extra payments in that wanted to make extra payments
• Leasing allows you to negotiate early payments.
• When we have a budget, we have the capital side and we have a cash side.
• Small items like this, we would put a cash reserve on it and pay it off.
• </c><02:28:55.080><c> flow</c> paper if I can show you the cash flow paper if I can show you the cash

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:25.760><c> to</c> certain they're not making payments to certain they're not making payments
• Uh so payments to people and entities.
• </c> organization. the capitation payments organization. the capitation payments will<00:15:13.040><c
• Cash and services, but what about the IT infrastructure?
• , but what about the IT cash and services, but what about the IT infrastructure?

Summary: Senate Republican leaders held a press event to roll out a package of anti-fraud proposals focused on state welfare and human services programs. Mark Johnson opened by citing recent fraud scandals, including a shuttered housing program and reports of vulnerable adults being left without care while providers billed for full services, and said Republicans want top-down reform, stronger accountability, new technology, and tighter oversight of taxpayer dollars. Michael Kreun said Republicans support an independent Office of Inspector General and argued the Senate-passed bill should not be weakened in the House; he also said the Senate should restore its role in confirming agency commissioners, especially at DHS, which he described as central to the fraud problem. Jordan Rasmusson outlined a plan to stop “blank checks” for DHS and DCYF services by requiring legislative audit review when a program exceeds budget by 5 percent and legislative approval for additional spending at 10 percent over budget. He also said DHS should adopt basic integrity tools such as electronic visit verification and client sign-off. Steve Drazkowski described two bills: a statewide “do-not-pay” list to block payments to ineligible people or entities, and an “I’m Not a Robot” proposal for Medicaid managed care that would require enrollee verification forms, with a 2 percent payment withhold used to encourage compliance and potentially fund county system upgrades. Mark Krueger said the state should improve technology and data use for eligibility determinations, citing other states’ rapid fraud-fighting systems, and proposed penalties for false reporting to the Legislative Auditor after a DHS audit found falsified site-visit records. Steve Gruenhagen said his bill would require DHS and DCYF to resume annual fraud-prevention and oversight reports to the legislature, which he said had stopped after 2017 despite rising fraud cases. Michael Holmstrom proposed unannounced site visits for all DHS and DCYF providers before enrollment, reenrollment, and revalidation, funded through provider service fees, and cited a recent case involving a woman with autism who was billed for far more care than she received. In the Q&A, Kreun said House Democrats’ delete-everything amendment to the inspector general bill removed the law enforcement division and stripped the bill of its “teeth,” and he suggested the governor’s office may have been involved in efforts to replace the bill with a weaker coordination council model. No votes were taken in the press conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• buyers at the time or organizations that had a ton of cash on hand to do it.
• </c> that had a ton of cash on hand to do it. that had a ton of cash on hand to do it.
• a cash flow ROI.
• They lose that home to an investment company that offers cash, can close in a matter of weeks.
• They lose that home to an investment company that offers cash, can close in a matter of weeks.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• Determining the availability of connecting transfers, ease of payment, whether or not there might be
• Accounts receivable can be in a district reserve, but they're not real cash; they're money owed to a
• CDCR oversees payments for individuals who are incarcerated, but the collection for people who are on
• California lacks a standardized system for tracking payments.
• This leads me to believe that my payments are consumed by interest or administrative fees.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The committee began with a status report from the State Auditor on staffing and audit capacity, noting 14 audit supervisors, 14 audits in progress, several audits scheduled for release, and a planned high-risk review of state financial reporting. The committee then approved a consent calendar covering six audit requests, including topics such as kindergarten oral health assessments, prison infrastructure management, Los Angeles fires prevention and response, community college financial aid and enrollment, wildfire management at Chino Hills State Park, and the Chiquita Canyon landfill. The first major item was Assembly Member Gonzalez’s request for an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. Supporters described long-running fiscal mismanagement, a projected $60 million deficit, layoffs, concerns about contracting practices, foundation donations, and weak governance. District representatives said they were already working with Riverside County Office of Education and FICMAT, had adopted a fiscal stabilization plan, and were making cuts to restore solvency. The State Auditor said the proposed audit would examine the district’s financial condition over 10 years, ELOP spending, partnership agreements, foundation funds, and contracting practices. After extensive discussion and public comment, the motion to approve the audit failed because it did not receive the required votes. The committee next approved Senator Wahab’s request for an audit of East Bay transit agency administrative oversight. The senator argued that the Bay Area’s fragmented transit system creates duplication and wastes resources, while agency representatives and transit advocates said the agencies already face extensive oversight and are actively coordinating through existing regional efforts. The State Auditor outlined objectives focused on agency autonomy, coordination, ridership, finances, and the potential effects of consolidation. After debate and public comment, the audit was approved. Finally, Senator Archuleta introduced a request to audit excessive unrestricted reserves at selected California Community College districts and Calbright College, arguing that reserve balances have grown substantially and may be diverting funds from student services and instruction. He said the audit would examine why districts are holding large reserves and whether those funds are being used effectively for students.