Video & Transcript Research : 'pay'
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FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 4, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a $5,000 forfeiture of pay for your first offense.
- I'm assuming the children who attend the school pay that through FTE.
- How would a private school student pay their percentage of that? Uh, Mr. Slatton.
- I'm assuming the children who attend the school pay that through FTE.
- ...having to pay to make it fair for students who are in the school and paying full tuition.
Summary:
The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to discuss Florida’s current “sports choice” rules and high school NIL policy, then heard and passed HB 151. FHSAA officials and Sarasota County Schools staff explained eligibility rules for student-athletes, including GPA, age, semester limits, physicals, insurance, and the different participation options for traditional public, charter, home education, Florida Virtual, and private school students. Members focused on how controlled open enrollment works, whether private school students can play at public schools and vice versa, transfer timing and capacity limits, recruiting restrictions, and the role of local district policies. Sarasota officials said about 400 students in their county participate through non-traditional athletic arrangements, and FHSAA said statewide there are 5,460 non-traditional student-athlete forms on file out of roughly 280,000 student-athletes.
The committee then reviewed Florida’s high school NIL framework. FHSAA said students in grades 9-12 may enter NIL deals, with no income cap, but they are barred from agreements involving adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco/vaping, cannabis, controlled substances, gambling, weapons, political or social activism, and NIL collectives. Students must have a written contract and cannot use school logos or uniforms without permission. FHSAA said about 25 students statewide had NIL deals so far, and Sarasota was first to file. Members raised concerns about recruiting, taxes, financial literacy, mental health, and whether students should be treated as employees, while district staff said they provide education and financial literacy resources but do not review contracts.
After the discussion, the committee took up HB 151 by Rep. Abbott. The bill allows students at FHSAA-member private schools to participate in sports at another member school when their own school does not offer that sport, and it removes the current 200-student enrollment limit. An amendment clarifying the private-school language was adopted without objection. A public witness from a small private school supported the bill, saying it would let the school join FHSAA without losing local athletic access for its students. Despite some members raising fairness and funding concerns, the bill passed on a 15-0 vote and was reported favorably.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services May 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- it, DDS is now going to have to pay it, and the state is still paying for it?
- And it could be a whole month of no pay. Right. Or three months of no pay.
- pay comes in?
- are paying, working for free?
- But I also need to pay the bills.
Summary:
The subcommittee heard an overview of the governor’s IHSS budget proposals and then took public testimony from the administration, LAO, county representatives, labor, consumer advocates, and an aging/disability advocacy group. The administration described IHSS as a large Medi-Cal long-term services program serving more than 900,000 recipients and proposed three changes: shifting some growth costs tied to authorized hours per case to counties, eliminating the statewide backup provider system, and aligning IHSS terminations with Medi-Cal terminations. The administration also discussed the earlier CFCO reassessment penalty change for counties and said overdue reassessments had dropped significantly.
LAO said the governor’s overall IHSS cost estimates appeared reasonable, but raised concerns about the hours-per-case cost shift, including unclear root causes for growth, limited county control over statewide averages, and uncertainty about the eventual savings. County Welfare Directors Association, SEIU, and consumer/advocacy witnesses opposed the hours cost shift, arguing counties use state tools, the proposal would pressure counties to cut services, and it could harm older adults and people with disabilities by increasing institutionalization and shifting costs elsewhere. The chair and members repeatedly questioned the rationale for the proposal, the lack of a defined baseline, and whether the current assessment tools or MOE structure should instead be revisited.
On the backup provider system, the administration said the program is underused and costly to administer relative to service spending, while LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether administrative costs could be reduced instead of eliminating it. County, labor, and consumer witnesses opposed the cut, saying the system is a critical emergency safety net even if utilization is low, especially for rural areas and people with complex needs. Members also asked about data quality, county backup systems, and whether consumers know the program exists. On the Medi-Cal/IHSS alignment proposal, the administration said automation would stop General Fund-only spending when recipients lose Medi-Cal and restore IHSS automatically when Medi-Cal is regained; LAO and others noted the proposal had been rejected before and urged better notices and safeguards. Witnesses warned that automatic termination could create gaps in care and unpaid work for providers, while the department said counties already manually terminate in some cases and that automation is ready if approved. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair indicated the committee would continue with public comment and later items before a hard adjournment time.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- From the staff time required to paying From the staff time required to paying for<00:42:31.040><
- <00:50:11.880>
attention that we do need to be paying attention that we do need to be paying - <00:53:02.640>
for you know, paying for you know, paying for uh,<00:53:03.640>what - know, in in in a lot of instances pay know, in in in a lot of instances pay for for for you<00:53
- future legislature decides not to pay future legislature decides not to pay those<01:44:41.160><
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And the never mind paying overtime.
- seen. differential pay, rest we've ever seen. differential pay, rest breaks,<00:26:09.120>
kinds< - facilities on tribal land, private pay facilities on tribal land, private pay only<01:17:00.800>
- clarify that veterans homes, private pay clarify that veterans homes, private pay only<01:18:08.239
- For example, when we got our first holiday pay on President's Day, our employer failed to pay us time
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- And the reason I say this is a negative is we took turns paying for breakfast. I'd pay.
- Or we could use it to pay off debt, and then we don't pay interest on that debt.
- We pay your taxes, and every year I hear tribes don't pay taxes.
- I live, I stay down here during the session, I pay taxes, so don't tell me I don't pay taxes.
- I pay taxes, like a lot of us. I don't love paying taxes, but there's a trade-off.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, you're going to pay more.
- the property tax owner no longer pays the property tax owner no longer pays taxes<00:45:32.640><
- government pays us pays back to use it. government pays us pays back to use it.
- >
property properties, they're paying property properties, they're paying property taxes.<00:47 - that you don't pay property tax. that you don't pay property tax.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- they will pay $348 million on April 15th.
- they will pay $348 million on April 15th.
- <00:38:36.119>
their be because they're going to pay their be because they're going to pay - Hospital Vermont Medicaid will will pay Hospital Vermont Medicaid will will pay Mary<00:47:06.440
- <01:16:18.320>
12 <01:16:18.760>to pay 12 to pay 12 to 18%<01:16:20.719>so <01:16
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Employee Benefits Programs Committee May 7th, 2026
Employee Benefits Programs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Exercise medicine is a program that's a 12-week course that you can pay a $99 fee.
- , the single or family starting to pay for part of their medical plan.
- The top concern was more competitive pay.
- The majority of those job openings pay between $20 and $24.99 per hour.
- To pay for the increase, the member would pay an increased contribution amount.
Summary:
The Employee Benefits Committee met to hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave policies, labor market conditions, and prevailing wage issues, then later took up committee rules and bill-draft jurisdiction. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the state has paid the full family premium since 1979, described cost-control and benefit-enhancement changes over time, and explained current plan options, wellness incentives, employer wellness discounts, and the upcoming bid process for the 2027-29 contract. HRMS then presented compensation comparisons showing state classified pay generally trails private and regional markets, with larger gaps at higher-level jobs, and reviewed benefits and leave policies, including the new enhanced annual leave and new-hire leave, the state’s unpaid family leave structure, and varying tuition reimbursement practices. Job Service reported on labor force trends, low unemployment, high labor force participation, job openings, and wage growth, and OMB said there are no state prevailing-wage requirements beyond federal Davis-Bacon rules for federally funded projects.
The committee then considered a proposed amendment to Joint Rule 211 to better align the health insurance mandate review process with recent statutory changes. Members discussed how the rule should reference both the committee’s required actuarial reports and the Legislative Council cost-benefit analysis, and the amendment was adopted on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed how its jurisdiction decisions affect whether a bill draft receives actuarial analysis, with staff explaining that a decision not to take jurisdiction means the bill is not treated as impacting the relevant retirement or health plans for purposes of that analysis.
After that, the committee began reviewing bill drafts for jurisdiction. The first draft, bill draft 33, would automatically renew pre-tax elections for dental and vision coverage during open enrollment instead of requiring annual re-election. Members debated whether it had any actuarial impact, noting the state does not pay those premiums directly, and the discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Apr 30th, 2025
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- And so in the loser-pay, I'm just curious about your definition of loser pay.
- A health plan does pay for that claim, but they pay it off of a usual and customary amount.
- We pay more because the patient was paying more before. Now we pay more.
- So that is us paying that $2,342, but it is nowhere near that $18,577.
- But loser pay does that.
Bills:
HB136, HB451, SB425, SB466, SB905, SB1986, SB2311, SB2450, SB2805, SB2826, SB2919, SB3001, HB136
Keywords:
Medicaid, lactation, healthcare, consultation, reimbursement, maternal health, infant care, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Transportation (02/04/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- require Insurance in the state to pay require Insurance in the state to pay for<03:08:29.399>
- I've explained why the bill is the way it is. paying private Towing fees of exorbitant paying private
- <03:17:53.040>
your leans on houses if you don't pay your leans on houses if you don't pay - Suspending their license for not paying a fine that they may be struggling to pay makes it harder for
- Suspending their license for not paying a fine that they may be struggling to pay makes it harder for
Summary:
The Transportation Committee opened with an announcement correcting the public hearing list: House Bill 209 was mistakenly listed as a continued hearing, but the chair said that hearing had already been closed and would not be reopened. The committee then moved to House Bill 305, which would allow municipalities to install and use speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement. The prime sponsor, Rep. Jones, said the bill was intended as a tool to address police staffing shortages and erratic driving, and emphasized that municipalities would pay the costs, work with DOT and the Department of Safety, and retain full control without using third-party vendors. He said the bill was meant to target speeding, red-light violations, and similar conduct, with enforcement handled locally and subject to state and federal law.
Committee members raised questions about how citations would work, who would be held responsible in multi-driver or rental-car situations, whether due process would be affected, and whether cameras could identify the driver rather than just the vehicle. The sponsor and supporting witness Edward H. of Keene said municipalities would determine procedures, that an officer would still have to review and issue any summons, and that the bill was meant to be a limited enforcement tool rather than a catch-all. Edward H. also described the bill as adding guardrails such as a needs analysis, coordination with DOT, annual reporting, and public records of detections and fines. The Department of Transportation testified neutrally, saying it had no position on the bill and noting that current state systems include speed feedback signs, bridge security cameras, toll cameras that capture plates only, and traffic-signal detection cameras that do not record video. No vote was taken.
The committee then held a brief hearing on House Bill 368, which would prohibit smoking tobacco products or e-cigarettes in a motor vehicle when a child under 16 is present and impose a $100 secondary fine. Rep. Miller introduced the bill in the sponsor’s absence, and there was no public testimony for or against it. The chair closed the hearing. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 390, which would add retired fire apparatus to the antique vehicle exemption so old fire trucks can be registered and used in parades without being stripped of their equipment. Rep. Parson explained that a strict reading of current law had led DMV to reject some antique fire engine registrations, and said the bill would fix that while preserving the ban on commercial use and on impersonating emergency vehicles. Members asked about the relationship to existing laws on emergency-vehicle impersonation, and the sponsor said the bill would not affect those laws. The hearing remained open as the transcript ended.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It doesn't pay well.
- Significantly, the Army would then pay for my JD degree and my LLM.
- The problem is I can't pay them, okay? Midland County pays first-year law students $30 an hour.
- They pay second-year law students $40 an hour.
- It's just what the market's willing to pay for it. I understand that.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Senate Floor Session Jan 23rd, 2026 at 08:30 am
North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The state's got to pay.
- Well, then they pay for the school. Or if they go up town, then they pay for... ...school today?
- Well, then they pay for the school. Or if they go up town, then they pay for that.
- You're paying for it or not. Well, if it goes in the Constitution, we have to pay for it.
- You're paying for it or not. Well, if it goes in the Constitution, we have to pay for it.
Keywords:
SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up second reading and final passage of several House bills related to the Rural Health Transformation Program and other matters. House Bill 1621, requiring the presidential fitness test in school physical education with exceptions and a delayed effective date, passed 43-3. House Bill 1623, appropriating federal rural health transformation grant funds and creating a related loan program and reporting structure, passed 46-0 after extensive debate about using the federal money for community health, infrastructure, and sustainability. House Bill 1622, joining the physician assistant licensure compact, also passed unanimously 46-0. House Bill 1625, authorizing the Ray Richards Golf Course land sale to support a Grand Forks transportation project and golf course improvements, passed 46-0. House Bill 1626, clarifying that the primary residence credit is applied after the early payment discount so taxpayers receive the full $1,600 benefit, passed 40-6.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues Jun 18th, 2025
Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues
Transcript Highlights:
- However, private-pay residents faced with eviction must pay for their own legal costs.
- You know, increasing pay is Where we see problems. Again, invest in the workforce.
- You know, increasing pay is probably one of the most important things we can do.
- Increasing pay for many comes through Medicaid rates.
- So, you know, when folks don't have enough money to pay market-based, Subsidies.
Summary:
The committee met for what was described as its final meeting, with members and staff reflecting on the work of the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care and noting that future work would likely shift to standing health and wellness committees. The meeting began with introductions and then moved into updates on major initiatives that originated from the committee, including Washington Cares, the Dementia Action Collaborative, and Medicaid long-term care programs. Presenters emphasized that these efforts were developed through long-term legislative-executive collaboration and were intended to help Washington prepare for the state’s aging population.
On Washington Cares, DSHS described the program’s development from a 2014 research effort to its 2019 enactment, premium collection beginning in 2023, portability improvements in 2024, and 2025 changes including a grandfathered opt-out fix and a framework for supplemental private long-term care insurance. The agency said benefits are expected to go fully live next summer, with a pilot of up to 400 applicants planned for next January. On dementia policy, the Dementia Action Collaborative reported on the state dementia plan, Project ECHO training for providers, and pilot dementia-capable community programs at area agencies on aging, citing preliminary results that about 85% of family caregivers said services helped people remain at home. DSHS also reviewed Medicaid Transformation Project initiatives, including Medicaid Alternative Care, Tailored Supports for Older Adults, presumptive eligibility, and health-related social needs benefits such as rental assistance, nutrition support, and home modifications.
The committee then heard an emerging issues panel from ombuds and disability advocates. Patricia Hunter of the long-term care ombuds program raised concerns about staffing shortages, resident rights, surveillance technology, private equity ownership of facilities, and illegal discharges or evictions. Betty Sweeterman of the Developmental Disabilities Ombuds discussed people stuck in hospitals without medical need, gaps in behavioral health services for people with developmental disabilities, and the need for better workforce training. Todd Carlyle of Disability Rights Washington urged expansion and bundling of community supports such as PACT, GOSH, and peer bridgers to reduce repeated institutionalization and support discharge from inpatient psychiatric settings. Provider and labor panels followed, with nursing home, assisted living, supported living, and union representatives all emphasizing workforce shortages, low wages, Medicaid rate inadequacy, case management bottlenecks, behavioral health complexity, and the need for more flexible care models and stronger accountability for rate increases. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with public comment on manufactured housing and closing remarks thanking staff and participants for the committee’s work.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Unfortunately, counties aren't exempt from paying into this fund, so many counties pay more into the
- Average pay is $123,000 a year. Steel and semiconductors. Average pay is $123,000 a year.
- They're not paying that sales tax, is my point.
- They're not paying that sales tax, is my point.
- The state pays $409 million for the past backlog.
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard several tax and economic development bills. SB 935 would exempt counties from the motor fuels tax on fuel used exclusively in county vehicles; Sen. Hall and Cass County Judge Travis Ransom argued it would save counties money without changing fund allocations, and the bill was left pending while the committee waited for the House version. SB 2206 would extend and revise Texas’s research and development incentives by tying the franchise tax credit more closely to federal law and changing the program’s effective date; supporters from business, manufacturing, and tax policy groups said it would protect innovation jobs and help startups, while the Comptroller’s office explained the fiscal note and said the committee substitute was no longer needed. The committee later withdrew the substitute and left the bill pending before ultimately voting it out favorably.
The committee also heard SB 2020, which would repeal the “rehab tax” on nonresidential remodeling. Sen. Campbell said a large fiscal note led him to delay a full presentation, but builders, architects, and contractors testified that the tax raises remodeling costs, complicates audits, and discourages reuse and reinvestment in existing buildings. The bill was left pending. SB 2018 would create a two-year “strong families” tax credit for businesses donating to nonprofits that provide family support services; supporters from Family First, Buckner International, and Texas Baptist said it would strengthen families, father engagement, and upstream prevention, while the author said the Comptroller and HHSC were still working on administration details. That bill was also left pending.
After a quorum was established, the committee heard and later reported several bills favorably. SB 1030 would exempt certain aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul parts from sales tax for general aviation; industry, airport, and local economic development witnesses said it would keep high-wage aviation work in Texas and improve competitiveness with neighboring states, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 214 would create a temporary sales tax holiday for qualifying residential HVAC systems; it was laid out and left pending. SB 1901 would make administrative and ethics changes to the Opioid Abatement Fund Council, including staggered terms, conflict rules, and fund reallocation procedures; it was reported favorably. SB 266 would repeal the Texas Research Incentive Program and use the appropriation to address the existing backlog of unmatched donations; the chair and Sen. Paxton said the state should honor past commitments, and the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You pay a resort fee to stay at a resort in Texas, and you are going to pay state and local hotel occupancy
- Current practice is not that our book pay for the use of the platform; it's what you pay for us to run
- And it would be because some people would have to pay a fee to stay at that hotel property without paying
- All right, so who pays the service fee if they're booking at a Hilton?
- So who pays the service fee is going to be the...
Keywords:
SB 529, Texas Tax Code, municipality, hotel and convention center, hotel convention center project, tourism development, economic development, tax revenue pledge, revenue commitment, qualified project, municipal finance, local government, special district, hotel occupancy tax, nearby establishments, convention center financing, city population 130000, Section 351.155, Section 351.157, child care
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- First, insurers are paying more in claims cost because of inflation.
- But that's kind of the whole gist of that, is do you pay your bills on time?
- It has to do with do you pay your bills on time. credit score agnostic.
- Prevents us from building up reserves to pay claim payments. All right, who is TWIA?
- As a result, we're spending a considerable amount to pay for re-insurance.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/16/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- commercial insurers not paying. Right? commercial insurers not paying. Right?
- that they need or paying their bills. that they need or paying their bills.
- Families are already paying premiums, and they deserve to get the care that they pay for.
- care that they they pay for. care that they they pay for.
- is yes, and she has to pay them. is yes, and she has to pay them.
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 562, which would create a home damage mitigation and resilience grant program aimed at helping homeowners make property improvements that could reduce insurance costs and non-renewals. Commissioner DJ Bettencourt of the New Hampshire Insurance Department explained that the program is modeled in part on Alabama’s safer homes program, but tailored for New Hampshire hazards such as floods, microbursts, heavy snow, ice, and falling trees. He said the grants would be limited to primary residences, subject to a means test, capped at $10,000, and intended to help homeowners make targeted improvements such as roof fortification or tree removal that could improve underwriting outcomes and lead to premium discounts.
Bettencourt said the program would not use state taxpayer funds and would instead rely on philanthropic donations, possible federal or regional housing-bank funding, and other outside sources. He said the department would not need new staff, and that a current position could be reconfigured to help administer the program part-time. Committee members asked about the funding language, the meaning of “loans” in the bill, whether there were any other states using a similar no-state-funds model, and how many homeowners could be helped. Bettencourt said Rhode Island and Connecticut were moving forward in a similar way, and that the number of beneficiaries would depend on how much money is raised.
Members also questioned how the grant program would actually lower premiums, whether savings would apply only to participants or more broadly, and how the IBHS evaluation process would work. Bettencourt and department staff said the direct benefit would be to the homeowner whose property is improved, though neighbors could also benefit in some cases. They explained that IBHS is a building-safety organization that certifies contractors and inspectors and that its standards can qualify homes for insurer discounts. Questions were also raised about confidentiality provisions, first-come-first-served grant awards, rollover of unused applications, and possible tax treatment of donations. The sponsor said those details would be addressed through rulemaking or existing tax rules, and no vote was taken during the hearing.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Mar 4th, 2026
Finance and Taxation Education
Transcript Highlights:
- exception that they don't have to pay exception that they don't have to pay premium<00:12:03.040
- This is for drill pay.
- This is for drill pay.
- the home school student pays any course. the home school student pays any course.
- who they pay? who they pay?
Bills:
HB125, HB116, HB183, HB342, HB341, SB280, SB245, SB159, HB125, HB116, HB183, HB342, HB341, SB280, SB245, SB159
Keywords:
HB125, sunset law, Alabama Sunset Committee, Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, veterinary medical examiners, veterinary board, veterinary licensing, veterinary regulation, professional licensing board, state board continuation, sunset review, regulatory board, animal health, veterinarians, disciplinary authority, HB116, Alabama Sunset Law, sunset bill, Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board, bail bonding
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee May 28th, 2025
Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- We pay for the administrative costs and account for that.
- What should New Mexico pay for if something goes away?
- Time period before the feds pay us back, what is that? Could you tell me that?
- for salary, but it also pays for things like paper clips, desks, uh, computers.
- for and we don't have the federal funds to pay for it, what happens then?
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Apr 16th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
North Dakota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So when they purchase from the wholesaler, then, do they pay tax on that new product to bring it into
- House Bill 1460 is the bill on adult foster care for private-pay adults.
- That's a good plan, and that they're not paying premium dollars.
- It allows you to spend less on that premium to continue, even if we're paying it all.
- cut as you pay for increased utilization of your health care in this state.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several procedural motions, including suspending House rules for three legislative days and replacing conference committee members on Senate Bill 2282 and SCR 4007. The chamber also recognized visiting student groups from Grafton/Pleasant Valley and Shiloh School. Later, the House agreed to several conference committee reports and moved a number of measures through final passage or final disposition.
House Bill 1428, which would have created a sales tax exemption for clothing sold by thrift stores or nonprofit corporations, drew extensive debate over tax policy, revenue loss, and possible conflicts with streamlined sales tax rules. Supporters argued it would help lower-income shoppers and nonprofit thrift stores, while opponents said it created an unfair advantage and could reduce state and local revenue. The conference report was adopted, but the bill ultimately failed on final vote, 37-54. House Bill 1440, relating to cigar lounges, was amended in conference and then passed 75-17. House Bill 1460, concerning adult foster care for private-pay adults, electronic monitoring, and a legislative study, was also adopted and passed overwhelmingly, 91-1.
The House then passed Senate Bill 2224, which revises gaming commission structure and gaming stamp requirements, adds Attorney General enforcement provisions, and includes a $25,000 general fund appropriation, by a vote of 88-0. Senate Bill 2327, which expands uses of the agriculture diversification and development fund and appropriates $15 million to it, passed 74-17 after a member was excused from voting due to a personal interest. Senate Bill 2267, creating a regulatory framework for on-site wastewater treatment systems and shifting licensing authority to the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 82-10, and Senate Bill 2276, addressing joint water resource boards for cross-county projects, passed 90-1.
The most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the state employee health plan from grandfathered status to a non-grandfathered ACA-compliant plan and appropriate about $6.6 million for the transition. Supporters said it would give the PERS board more flexibility, expand preventive and other benefits, and potentially slow premium growth without charging employees premiums. Opponents warned it could raise out-of-pocket costs, add mandated benefits, and shift costs to employees, while also arguing the bill had not been adequately studied. After extended debate, the House passed SB 2160 by a vote of 55-37. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 1318, a pesticide labeling bill, and placed it on final passage, but the transcript ends before the final vote on that measure.