Transcript Highlights:

• buffered from further rate increases. buffered from further rate increases.
• costs, but it is no longer calculated on health insurance claims data and factored into the annual rate-setting
• <01:03:52.000> It<01:03:52.240> is<01:03:52.400> instead rate setting process
• It is instead rate setting process.
• Uh I rates by the same amount.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For us, we don’t want to go in and set a price cap or look at those things.
• , but it'll be recovered through rates just like everything else.
• So there's no increase to the rates just because of this loan.
• We have $100 million in the set aside right now that's not been touched.
• , solid rate, whatever.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, and then worked through a series of appropriation and transfer requests. In Section B, it approved a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing. In Section C, it approved two Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support Arkansas BEAD broadband grants, including an extra help position. Members questioned the broadband awards, provider amendments, buildout timelines, accountability, and the status of unawarded locations; the broadband director said no provider had requested speed changes, awards would be monitored with milestone-based payments, and remaining locations would be addressed later as federal guidance is received. The committee also approved transfers in Section D, including $458,000 for the Department of Correction, $25 million for Department of Education programs such as declining enrollment and teacher incentive funding, and $229,000 for Shared Administrative Services project management support. In Section E, the committee considered a $4.7 million budget stabilization trust fund loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization, cybersecurity, and governance tools. Members pressed agency officials on repayment, cost savings, and whether the loan would simply roll over existing costs; officials said repayment would come through agency rates over a five-year period and that the new payment would be lower than the current loan being retired. The committee voted to give favorable advice to the Governor on the loan request. In Section F, the committee reviewed cash fund requests for wage and hour claims, unclaimed property, and a heritage grant; in Section G, it reviewed a $1.1 million federal grant to expand college and career coaching in rural districts; in Section H, it reviewed pay plan and performance fund requests totaling millions across multiple agencies; and in Section I, it reviewed budget manual formatting changes. The latter part of the meeting focused on reports, especially the Medicaid trust fund. DHS and DFA officials reported the fund balance had declined from prior years and was down to about $394 million after seven months, with further decline expected by year-end. Senators and representatives asked about the appropriate reserve level, the impact of pending Medicaid rules and legislation, FMAP changes, and whether additional funding would be needed in the upcoming budget. Officials said projections are updated regularly, more than 10 rule packages remain pending with CMS, and the governor and legislative leaders will discuss additional capital needs during budget development. Members also discussed the importance of balancing Medicaid spending with new federal funding and maintaining flexibility for critical areas such as labor and delivery. The committee then adjourned without further action on the reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's reflected in the clearance rates.
• rate after the enactment of this law.
• rates that they were showing ahead of time.
• And so that was some of the set with some of the time stamps.
• Therefore, this proposal would strike that statutory limitation, allowing the chief judge to set rates

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a question about rates, specifically the current rates and how that has changed over the years.
• On creating rate structures that are based on those cost reports.
• We were talking about rates earlier in funding.
• negotiate rates for kids.
• Down the road a little bit with the new T3C rates, the T3C rates are doing a much more refined job at

Bills: SB596, SB961, SB1398, SB1183, SB1952

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill sets a floor of 25 basis points and a ceiling of 150 basis points based on the Wall Street Journal
• rate.
• Do you have enough money to pay claims based on the way these rates are set up?
• of the policy to a point where, based on the loss activity over time, the proper rate is set for that
• They told me that I'd call a third party and had to set up an agreement with them.

Bills: S0158, S0314, S0618, S0684, S0838, S0990, S1000, S1082, S1452, S1494, S1500, S1568, S1706

Keywords: pet insurance, consumer protection, insurance regulation, policy disclosure, agent training, payment stablecoin, financial regulation, anti-money laundering, state oversight, digital currency, financial services, workers compensation, Florida statute, commercial insurance, insurance board, electronic signatures, vehicle titles, insurance regulations, auditing, total loss vehicles

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard and advanced a wide range of insurance, financial services, and probate bills. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program for emergency out-of-network claims. After extensive discussion about the relationship between the state and federal No Surprises Act processes, an amendment was withdrawn due to concerns about clarity and scope, but the bill itself was supported by providers and insurers and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels, CS/SB 158 on pet insurance consumer disclosures and agent education, SB 1494 expanding breast cancer screening coverage, CS/SB 314 on digital assets and stablecoin issuers, and CS/SB 1500 on uncontested probate procedures and small-estate administration. SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance was amended to raise the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ compensation policies from 10% to 20% and then reported favorably, with supporters saying it would help keep higher-risk employers in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 creating a Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for a Florida coin and limit the program to existing stablecoins, then passed. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 838 on electronic payment convenience fees for retail installment contracts, with the sponsor emphasizing that a fee-free payment option must still be offered. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it covered My Safe Florida Home administration, insurance and licensing changes, unclaimed property updates, and other DFS-related provisions. The committee also passed SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting owner-occupied condominiums at or below 80% of area median income, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which supporters said would modernize Florida’s captive insurance laws and encourage more competition. The meeting ended with all listed bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's largely because we have higher interest rates if they do have a variable rate mortgage.
• really high burn rate.
• If that rate goes really high burn rate.
• middle incomes and want market rate middle incomes and want market rate rental<00:19:59.280>
• The fire death rate in available.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:15 Roll Call 00:00:45 Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:33 Adjournment 01:17:15, 958, all

Summary: The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year. KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years. The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so our effective tax rate is 1.75%, right?
• It’s a higher prevalence rate in military and veterans.
• And so as you see the prevalence rate of gambling disorder go up, so will the rate of suicide along those
• The prevalence rate is double in sports betting.
• Charles County overdose death rate reflects that.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Which essentially we're setting rates in April or May of odd years for the upcoming biennium.
• But the blended rate helps.
• The blended rate helps you as the legislative assembly set budgets, so you don't have to worry about
• Historically, we have had one of the highest rates in the nation. This rate has had...
• Some contracts list hourly rates for different services, but these rates are paid to contractors.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, just because their tuition rates at those private institutions are so much higher, it sets their
• For instance, there is a rate increase for the dual credit rate, and it's set at 50% of the KCTCS in-state
• The scholarship statute has that rate set at one-third of that KCTCS rate.
• However, this the rate<00:42:11.119> the<00:42:11.440> discounted<00:42:12.000> rate
• rate goes for all rate the discounted rate goes for all the<00:42:13.119> dual<00:42:13.440>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met and approved the July 15, 2025 minutes before hearing a presentation from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA/KIA) on student financial aid ahead of the January biennial budget session. KHEAA outlined its role administering 17 state-funded grant and scholarship programs, 529 plans, and outreach services, and emphasized that net lottery proceeds after a $3 million literacy appropriation are statutorily dedicated to student aid. The agency focused on the major need-based programs—College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG), and KEES—along with dual credit, Work Ready Kentucky, teacher scholarship, and National Guard tuition assistance. Officials said the new federal FAFSA methodology created a major increase in eligible students, especially for CAP, and thanked lawmakers for adding substantial funding this biennium to meet the higher demand. Staff explained that CAP is for Pell-eligible, low-income students, while KTG is a need-based grant for students at private Kentucky colleges; both use FAFSA data, but schools verify final eligibility. They said CAP awards are first-come, first-served and that the higher funding level allowed the program to last the full 21-month application cycle in FY 2024-2025, compared with much shorter periods in earlier years. KHEAA reported about $232 million spent on CAP for roughly 72,000 students last year, with current applications running about 10% ahead of the prior year. Members asked about the difference between applicants and recipients, the effect of lower lottery revenues, and whether recent federal legislation would affect state aid; KHEAA said it does not expect major impacts on grants and scholarships, though student loan changes could affect graduate students. The committee also discussed KEES and dual credit. KHEAA said KEES has been fully funded since its creation and that its forecast was within $76,000 of actual need last year. For dual credit, staff said a recent bill consolidated work-ready dual credit and career/technical education under one scholarship program, and KHEAA will seek growth funding because participation and costs continue to rise. The agency said FY 2025 dual credit spending reached $26.4 million across dual credit and work-ready funding, requiring transfers from Work Ready Kentucky to keep dual credit fully funded. Members asked about transferability of dual credit hours and whether the program reduces later college costs; KHEAA said it does not have hard data on every credit transfer, but it does see higher bachelor’s completion rates and lower student debt, suggesting positive effects. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• as well as some thoughts on general rate-setting practice and considerations.
• So I want to just give a quick overview on rate-setting practice and philosophy there.
• At a minimum for prudent rate-setting practices, the total of that should at least be equal to the annual
• Collectively, what we refer to as capital-related revenue requirements, at a minimum for prudent rate-setting
• And really, if we talk about fair rate setting, this actually has to happen.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All set. All set. Thank you. All right. So, next up will be 1444.
• >> We're<01:51:38.320> all<01:51:38.480> set. >> We're all set.
• >> We're all set.
• <05:25:55.440> So There's also rate letters. So There's also rate letters.
• rates go up and down, when the tax rates rates go up and down, when the tax rates go<05:42:26.878

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The payment error rate is not a measure of fraud.
• So we do now know that our 2025 payment error rate is. today, that rate has been final.
• So what accounts for this wide variability in the error rate when you're looking at monthly error rate
• That can lead to spikes in the payment error rate.
• And so when we look at the error rate, a lot of people perceive error rate as fraud and whatnot.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, the roll was taken, and the March 18 minutes were approved. Members then received several project and program updates, beginning with CHI St. Alexius’s behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks. St. Alexius reported that the Bismarck project remains on track for June 2027 completion, with demolition underway and final design work nearing completion. Williston reported construction is progressing, staffing recruitment is underway for psychiatrists and other staff, and an air handler replacement is creating a roughly $750,000 unbudgeted barrier that will slightly delay the timeline. Grand Forks reported its expansion is about 30% complete, with no major barriers beyond weather, and leaders said the project should be substantially complete in the first quarter of 2027. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented a series of budget and program updates. Donna Ockland explained several recent line-item transfers as technical corrections that net to zero and do not require new spending, then reviewed salaries, wages, and FTE counts, noting the department remains within its authorized staffing levels. Pat Rainer followed with an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying 12 opportunities have been posted, 422 applications received, and $8.4 million obligated so far, with a goal of obligating the full $199 million by September. He described grants for workforce retention, rural rotations and housing, community gardens, school wellness, behavioral health promotion, safety net services, equipment, technology, EMS, and other initiatives, emphasizing that the program is intended to be transformational and tied to metrics. Members asked extensive questions about how rural eligibility is defined, how grants will support both rural facilities and hub hospitals, and how future years of funding will build on current awards. The committee also heard an update on certified community behavioral health clinics from Elena Zeller, who said North Dakota has been accepted as a demonstration state, implementation is underway in Williston, North Central/Minot, Fargo, and Dickinson, and care coordination and service counts are increasing. Rebecca Askins then reviewed SNAP payment error rates, saying the 2025 rate was finalized at 9.89%, with the state aiming to get below 6% through policy updates, training, data tools, and a quality assurance team. Members pressed her on the causes of the error rate, the role of the SPACES software system, and the need for accountability and improvements. Finally, Dirk Wilkie reported the state laboratory project reached substantial completion on June 12 and is on budget at about $69.95 million, though a service elevator had to be redesigned because it was too small for equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Beyond the rate comparison, and maybe I will stop one more time at the rate comparison, when you click
• on that exploring the rate comparison link, there are some of our rates in here where it talks to comparisons
• So I am going to come off of the rate piece.
• So we do that by setting our own goals, aligning those back to the business, setting a target maturity
• We've certainly seen those participation rates drop.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• That resulted in a 3.6% growth rate in the current year, the same rate in '27, and somewhat higher in
• And you see the growth rates there on the right-hand side. The growth rates are...
• That number will actually be dependent on what our error rate is, the lowest error rate in either '25
• if our error rate is below 6%.
• has the lowest rate.

Bills: SB1024, SB1032, SB1059, SB1062, SB1064, SB1097, SCM1001, SCR1004

Keywords: roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, transportation funding, authorization, road improvements, intersection safety, transportation

Summary: The committee began with a JLBC presentation comparing the baseline budget to the governor’s proposal. JLBC said the baseline shows a positive cash balance in each year, with about $577–$578 million available above statutory formulas, but that major items such as tax conformity, state employee health subsidies, school repairs, SNAP administrative changes, and possible SNAP error-rate costs are not fully funded. JLBC also reviewed executive revenue and spending proposals, including border-security funding, sports betting tax changes, data-center tax changes, short-term rental and water surcharges, and several one-time items that JLBC said appear to be ongoing in practice. Members questioned SNAP error rates, Medicaid/Access enrollment and costs, possible fraud involving Access-to-Marketplace shifting, prison receivership risk, and the need for more oversight of waste and fraud. The committee then heard and passed SB 1032, which appropriates $1.5 million to fund the Independent Correctional Oversight Office created last year. The sponsor and several advocates said the office is needed to provide independent oversight, improve transparency, help whistleblowers, and reduce the risk of federal receivership over the prison system. Testimony from advocacy groups and former incarcerated individuals strongly supported the bill, and the committee approved it 10-0. Next, the committee considered several transportation appropriations. SB 1064 would provide $3 million to Flagstaff for improvements along U.S. Route 66; the mayor and local planning officials described safety problems, congestion, and housing growth along the corridor, while some members objected to using general fund dollars for roads instead of HURF and to bypassing the normal transportation board process. The bill passed 7-3. SB 1059 would appropriate $9.2 million for a right-turn lane at SR 87 and SR 260 in Payson, and SB 1062 would appropriate $1 million for a left-turn lane at US 60 and Superstition Mountain Drive in Gold Canyon; both were supported by local witnesses citing congestion and safety concerns and both received do-pass recommendations, 7-3 and 6-4 respectively. The committee also began hearing SCR 1004, a voter-referral measure to prohibit photo enforcement systems, with the sponsor and public commenters arguing that photo radar is unconstitutional, abusive, and tied to ticket revenue, but the transcript cuts off before any committee action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• A bill to be entitled an act relating to sales tax rate reductions.
• It provides $246 million for nursing home rate increases.
• in-home setting care are not increased.
• Can you give me an idea of what super low rates means?
• Record-setting.

Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• NHIT failed due to poor governance and inadequate rate setting.
• We heard that they weren't using an actuary to set their rates.
• governance and inadequate rate setting. governance and inadequate rate setting.
• <00:30:36.640> their actuary to set their actuary to set their rates.<00:30:38.480> Health
• <00:30:47.120> rates<00:30:47.440> and relates to setting rates and relates to setting

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 297 and a new amendment, 2462, which combined the original Senate bill with the Carson amendment and added a proposed alternative regulatory system, RSA 420R. The chair and members discussed that the amendment was intended to give the Senate what it had asked for while also creating a dual system for public entity risk pools. Members asked whether the new structure would affect ownership or governance of health trusts, and the chair explained that 420R would be a separate regulatory statute while existing 420J-style arrangements could remain in place. The committee also noted that a paragraph had been accidentally deleted from the amendment and that another amendment would be prepared to correct it, with the subcommittee recessed while that was done. Public testimony focused on School Care, represented by Executive Director Lisa Ducette, who opposed the shift to Department of Insurance oversight under 420R. She argued that public entity risk pools are not insurance companies, that they are accountable to member entities and taxpayers, and that the proposed dual regulation would add unnecessary costs through examinations, higher reserves, and additional accounting requirements. She said the change could threaten tax-exempt status and create an uneven playing field, and she urged the committee to support SB 297 with the Carson amendment instead of moving to 420R. Committee members questioned whether the amendment would actually affect pools that stayed under the Secretary of State model, and one member cited support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association for the dual system. The discussion then shifted to amendment 245 on ambulance reimbursement and contracting timelines. Members reviewed a provision giving insurers 45 days and ambulance providers 60 days in the contracting process, and one member suggested making both periods 60 days. The chair and others said the current language was intentional and part of a broader compromise aimed at ending balance billing and forcing insurers to establish reimbursement rates. Members noted that the measure was unusual and that its effects would be reviewed over the next two years, with one member saying the bill would likely be difficult to roll back later. No final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• take us to get this set up?
• We have to use a statewide unemployment rate.
• Months, the average statewide unemployment rate would be used to calculate that.
• And so a statewide unemployment rate is used.
• For example, in terms of unemployment rates, our state's regions vary greatly.

Bills: HB112, HB199, HCR9

Keywords: school district, bond issuance, election dates, voter approval, Texas Education Code, HCR 9, Texas State Cemetery, Hill Country flood, July 4 2025 flood, Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic, memorial, monument, concurrent resolution, disaster remembrance, natural disaster, flood victims, survivors, State Preservation Board, Texas secretary of state

Summary: The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development met with a quorum and moved quickly through a long agenda, hearing testimony and taking recorded votes on several bills. Early in the meeting, HB 2214 was laid out to exempt certain short-term residential leases and leaseback arrangements from flood-disclosure requirements; Texas Realtors supported the change, and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out a series of pending measures, including HB 46, HB 186 (with a committee substitute), HB 431, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2468, HB 2488, HB 2788 (with a substitute), HB 2791 (with a substitute), HB 3260, and HCR 90, all reported favorably to the full House, with HB 1147 receiving two nays and the others passing unanimously or nearly so. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 112, which would create a Texas Science Park district and commission to support advanced manufacturing and innovation sites. The bill’s author and supporters, including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the Texas Association of Business, and the Governor’s economic development office, argued it would strengthen supply chains, attract investment, and support national security and workforce development. Testimony described interest from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies and referenced the model of foreign science parks such as Sinshu in Taiwan. HB 112 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 3698 and HB 3699, both related to unemployment insurance administration. HB 3698 would expand eligibility for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program using federal funds, while HB 3699 would tighten the definition of “last work” to help the Texas Workforce Commission investigate UI fraud. Both bills were discussed with TWC resource witnesses and left pending after the committee withdrew the substitutes. HB 1349, which would extend HOA transparency and property-rights provisions to condominiums and refine HOA rules, and HB 621, which would require HOA meeting spaces to be available for residents to reserve for qualified political candidates or elected officials, were also heard and left pending. Finally, the committee heard HCR 9 to designate the first Saturday of each month as Small Business Saturday, HB 199 to index unemployment benefit duration to the state unemployment rate, and HB 3466 to exempt certain cancelable service contracts from Texas’s in-home sales cooling-off law; each drew supportive and opposing testimony and was left pending before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up is the approval of the proposed Arkansas state employees and public employees 2027 rates.
• Next up is the approval of the proposed Arkansas state employees and public employees 2027 rates.
• Additionally, when you're looking at the public school, we will see a 4.9% increase in their rate and
• So do we have an expectation set?
• There are flood issues that you have to rate for and factor in.

Summary: The State Insurance Programs Oversight Subcommittee met on June 17 and reviewed a series of Employee Benefits Division and Office of Property Risk items. The committee approved formulary changes for March and April that favored lower-cost generics, removed some new-to-market drugs from coverage pending more evidence, and made maintenance changes to migraine and diabetes medications. Members also approved a cell and gene therapy policy that would route those therapies through prior authorization rather than automatic coverage; officials said the process should not delay urgent cases and that no current members would be affected. The committee then reviewed a UAMS pharmacy benefit consultant contract amendment, but after extended discussion about the written scope and dollar amounts, the motion was approved with the understanding that any use of optional services would return to the committee for further review. The committee also reviewed the U.S. Able Mutual/Blue Advantage third-party administration contract and the CompSack employee assistance program contract, which officials said would reduce per-member costs and add services. The subcommittee approved proposed 2027 rates for state employees and public employees, with a 9.8% increase for state employees and a 4.9% increase for public school employees. Officials also reported that the UnitedHealthcare rebid was in its final negotiation stage and would return in August, with medical and pharmacy coverage split as previously recommended. In response to questions, the director said the division was considering broader preventive-care offerings, including weight-loss drug coverage, but would proceed cautiously and with strong utilization controls and holistic support if such a program were adopted. On the property risk side, the committee reviewed permanent rules making prior temporary rules permanent, a contingency-fee subrogation contract, and renewals for claims management, actuarial services, and investment management. Members raised concerns about Sedgwick’s claim-adjustment timeliness and communication with school districts after severe weather events; officials said performance guarantees and communication expectations had been strengthened, but the renewal was kept at three years for continuity. Finally, the committee approved 2026-27 captive insurance program rates, which included no change to minimum deductibles, a 10% overall rate reduction, and bucketed rate changes by entity type. Officials said the captive program was working as intended, with improved actuarial support and claims experience, and the meeting adjourned after the approvals.

Transcript Highlights:

• down for us, bring your interest rate down to 2%, which is really, really low.
• projects with this High interest rate projects with this High interest rate environment<00:22:56.559
• <00:31:38.159> come we hope that as um interest rates come we hope that as um interest rates
• Let's set it up. The public believes it's going to work. They see it.
• That's why, in the book I wrote, I talk about setting up the trust.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a series of housing bills. HB 1432 and HB 1428 drew support from HHFDC, and HB 1428 also received testimony from Hawaiian Community Assets, which said housing counseling funding is needed to meet demand for financial education tied to affordable housing, and that such counseling can help reduce evictions, prevent foreclosure, and stabilize households. HB 833 on community land trusts received broad support from HHFDC, county housing officials, community land trust representatives, and a local developer; testimony emphasized keeping housing affordable in perpetuity, but also asked for clearer access to financing, longer repayment terms, and inclusion of additional land trusts in the bill. Peter Savio argued that community land trusts are the best way to control demand and keep housing tied to local incomes. The committee also heard HB 19 on the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, which HHFDC said should be made permanent because the pilot has been successful, with 81 units in the program and $7.4 million of the $10 million allocation already committed. HHFDC said the fund helps stalled for-sale projects by providing state equity that revolved back when homes are sold. HB 529 and HB 432 were also heard; HB 432 would create a subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund for projects above 60% AMI, and HHFDC said this would help finance housing for households at 65% and 80% AMI. The bill drew support from several housing, business, and industry groups. Several other housing measures were discussed with mixed testimony. HB 419 had HHFDC support, Limby Hawaiʻi opposition, and support from the Grassroot Institute and others; members asked about whether councils approve these projects in one or multiple readings. HB 527 and HB 416 also drew a mix of support and opposition, with questions focused on county approval timelines and whether state-financed projects would still go through normal local review. HB 417 on the rental housing revolving fund prompted questions about how it differs from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund and whether it should be more flexible for mixed rental and for-sale projects. HB 418’s proposed working group was noted as potentially unnecessary because HHFDC said a public working group was already being formed. HB 1411 on housing preference raised questions about what happens if a recipient changes jobs, and HB 374 drew an Attorney General’s Office recommendation to remove a duration requirement to avoid possible constitutional travel issues. HB 373 and HB 1492 were also heard, with strong testimony from Peter Savio in favor of a broader trust-based model for affordable housing. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a second set of ears will listen to the call the same day.
• well before any institutional setting.
• Chairman, there’s a bigger set of slides.
• Chairman, there's a bigger set of slides.
• And then for graduation rates, so on and so forth.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee met for a presentation-only hearing on the Arizona Department of Child Safety, with no bills on the agenda. Chair Blackman opened by emphasizing that the hearing was intended to be data-focused and respectful, and that personal attacks or false accusations would not be tolerated. Director Catherine Patak then presented DCS data on hotline volume, investigations, reunifications, adoptions, guardianships, foster care entries and exits, kinship placement, congregate care, missing youth, and extended foster care. She said the department investigated more than 43,000 cases in 2025, kept the out-of-home care population relatively steady, and had reunified about 3,000 children with parents, while also noting that older youth and behavioral-health-driven removals are creating a mismatch with available foster homes. She also described kinship supports, foster parent recruitment, and the impact of Family First on funding, saying DCS lost federal drawdown for congregate care while waiting on approval for prevention programs. Members questioned the director about kinship caregivers, behavioral health access, reunification services, parental rights terminations, notice and documentation practices, and the effect of increased reimbursement rates. Patak said unlicensed kin can receive support through the kinship supports contract, that behavioral health assessments are done quickly at the welcome center or within 24 hours for kin placements, and that provider capacity remains a major constraint outside DCS control. She explained reunification conditions and services, said the department is working on documentation and notice issues flagged by the Auditor General, and noted that kinship reimbursement increases have helped some families step forward. She also said DCS procurement for group homes is handled internally through an RFP process and that about 10% of kinship caregivers become licensed. Representative Gillette then delivered a lengthy presentation arguing that the child welfare, Medicaid, and disability systems are structurally intertwined and that procurement and funding rules create incentives for volume and congregate care use. He criticized DCS, DES, and AHCCCS/Access oversight structures, argued that the system diffuses accountability, and said the committee’s work and related materials would be referred to special counsel. He also raised concerns about documentation, placement decisions, and the cost of congregate care, while asserting that the system over-relies on large providers and that reforms should focus on structural and financial incentives. Vice Chair Fink followed with a brief slide noting that congregate care costs far more per child than foster or kinship care, reinforcing the committee’s concern about placement costs and the need to shift children toward family-based care when possible.