Video & Transcript Research : 'enrollment changes'
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FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-05-29 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Why are we making that change and requiring them to put it on the ballot?
- The biggest part of this budget is the FEFP, and it actually changed very little.
- Also, we changed the stabilization fund for our schools.
- We are to the plus side next year, $3 billion, a net $5 billion change.
- the language as it existed before the changes made by the bill.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 27, 2025 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- We applaud the transparency measures, particularly around the enrollment numbers.
- It says it's voluntary, but is that going to change at some point?
- Because these changes that we're making, while change isn't bad and change could be good, are monumental
- We're changing those.
- We're changing those.
Summary:
The Budget Committee took up six bills. HB 313 passed unanimously and was reported favorably; it exempts vehicles or motorcycles displaying the Purple Heart specialty license plate from paying tolls on Florida facilities. HB 749 also passed and was reported favorably; it extends benefits to firefighters injured during training exercises. CS/HB 1103 passed and was reported favorably; it addresses APD’s developmental disability waitlist by increasing transparency, creating statewide family care councils, expanding the existing pilot program statewide on a phased timeline, and improving coordination for young adults transitioning out of foster care. Testimony on HB 1103 focused on the long waitlist, the need for more provider capacity and support coordinators, and concerns from Disability Rights Florida about moving too quickly without enough data, while supporters argued the current system is not working and families need access to services now.
HB 1097 passed after a unanimous amendment removing an appropriation; it creates a premier academic insurance research center at Florida State University to conduct applied insurance and catastrophic risk research, with members discussing the transition from FIU and noting continued collaboration. HB 1309 passed and was reported favorably; it requires evidence-based reading interventions for K-2 students with reading deficiencies and creates a reading coaches program for grades 4-12. Supporters from education and business groups appeared in favor.
CS/HB 433 also passed and was reported favorably, though it drew the most debate. The bill requires agencies to review existing rules and guidance documents for consistency with legislative intent, repromulgate rules over time, and report licensing metrics. Members raised concerns about possible duplication of work, staffing needs, and cost, while the sponsor and supporters argued agencies should already be doing this and that the bill would reduce unnecessary regulation and improve accountability. The committee then adjourned after completing its agenda.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Criminal Justice Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- AND THIRD IS CHANGING UP THEIR PEER GROUP.
- WHEN YOU LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS WHO UNDERSTAND THE GOALS YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH CHANGING PERCEPTIONS AND
- KIDS TAKING DUAL ENROLLMENT NOW IN WAYS THAT THEY HAD NOT BEFORE.
- IN AN ASSOCIATES PROGRAM ONLINE TAKING COLLEGE COURSES BUT ALSO ENROLLING IN TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
- THESE THINGS ARE STARTING TO CHANGE. HAVE WE ARRIVED AT PROFESSION?
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Apr 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The power of meaningful change lies within this room collectively.
- AB 551 changes that.
- However, at this moment, there's only one actively enrolling nurse midwifery program in the state.
- And also another amendment changed the part about syringe distribution.
- These changes are essential.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee met on April 8 and heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 54 on medication abortion access. The author and supporters, including the Attorney General’s office and reproductive justice advocates, said the bill would protect California’s medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and manufacturers from civil, criminal, and professional liability. Opponents from the California Family Council argued the bill removes safeguards and increases risks. The bill was moved forward on a committee motion.
The committee then heard several reproductive and public health measures, including AB 551 to create a pilot program supporting emergency departments in providing reproductive health services, AB 260 to protect medication abortion access and telehealth, AB 309 to remove sunset dates on laws allowing pharmacy syringe sales and lawful possession of sterile syringes, AB 536 to preserve colorectal cancer screening coverage if federal guidelines are challenged, AB 804 to make housing support services a Medi-Cal benefit, AB 594 to address student health insurance billing and transparency, AB 836 to study and expand the midwifery workforce, AB 1418 to collect data on health coverage for eligible employees, and AB 1500 to maintain and expand the abortion.ca.gov information site. Supporters emphasized access, preventive care, workforce shortages, and public health benefits, while opponents raised concerns about abortion, syringe distribution, and the focus of state resources. Most measures were advanced by committee vote, with roll calls showing broad support and a few no votes from members on some bills.
The final bill discussed in the transcript was AB 1037, which would update substance use disorder laws to reflect evidence-based, harm-reduction approaches and remove barriers to treatment. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate response to overdose and treatment access problems, while law enforcement opposition argued it would encourage drug use and endanger communities. The transcript cuts off during testimony on AB 1037, so no final committee action on that bill is shown in the provided text.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Jul 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- likely enrollment in behavioral health treatment.
- They haven't changed their clothes in over a year. They require prompting to eat.
- Thirteen years, no change. So we need this. It’ll save lives. We need this on there.
- And, you know, for us it can be a really miserable night and completely change plans.
- And so we are going to hear a vote change on SB 68. Vote change: Sanchez not voting to aye. To aye.
Summary:
The committee heard several health-related measures. SB 27 by Senator Umberg would revise and expand California’s CARE Court by limiting the expansion to people with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, clarifying the definition of “clinically stabilized,” and narrowing the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Supporters, including behavioral health officials and family members, said the bill would reduce dismissals and better serve people with severe illness; opponents warned the expansion would strain county staffing and housing resources and could undermine voluntary engagement. The bill passed on a do pass motion to the Committee on Public Safety.
SB 503 by Senator Weber Pierson would require AI tools used in health care facilities to be identified, monitored, and mitigated for bias when used in clinical decision-making or resource allocation. The author and supporters from Kaiser Permanente and the California Medical Association said the bill would help prevent discriminatory outcomes and improve trust and safety. The committee discussed the need to clarify developer and deployer responsibilities, and the bill passed as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection.
SB 68 by Senator Menjivar would require restaurants to provide written allergen information for the top nine food allergens, with tiered flexibility for smaller establishments. The bill was supported by patients, families, nurses, and allergy organizations, who described severe reactions and the difficulty of relying on verbal disclosures alone. The California Restaurant Association opposed unless amended, seeking broader use of the national model food code and additional liability language. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 403 by Senator Blakespear, which would remove the sunset from the End of Life Option Act; supporters described the law as a compassionate, well-functioning option for terminally ill patients, while faith-based groups opposed it. The bill passed to Judiciary. Later, SB 41 by Senator Wiener was introduced to rein in pharmacy benefit manager practices that steer patients to mail-order pharmacies and reimburse community pharmacies below cost; community pharmacists and several health organizations testified in support, describing pharmacy closures and patient access problems.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Declining enrollment has... Can consider two regional agreement options.
- I know we can't change the law, but can we have some special legislation that will take care of this
- At that time, the district was facing declining enrollments.
- It has now declined 50% in its overall enrollment.
- That go along with declining enrollment.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused mainly on Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 5294. The committee heard from legislators and local officials about S. 3026, which would give equal voting access in a six-town regional school district process. Testifiers from the Sixth Town Regional Planning Board and local select boards said the current voting setup is unfair because one town can vote during normal polling hours while others have a narrower voting window, and they argued the bill would ensure equal voter opportunity for a major regional school decision amid declining enrollment and financial pressure on the districts.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year solar moratorium. Worthington officials, residents, and advocates said the town is facing multiple large-scale solar and battery storage proposals and lacks the staff, legal resources, emergency response capacity, and technical expertise to evaluate them. Witnesses raised concerns about fire risk, groundwater and drinking water impacts, forest and wildlife impacts, decommissioning, and the effect on rural character and farmland, while emphasizing that the moratorium was framed as a planning tool rather than opposition to clean energy.
Several speakers said the state’s solar siting and approval process is too complex and top-down for small rural towns, and that volunteer boards are being asked to manage industrial-scale projects without adequate support. One witness from a statewide group said Worthington’s situation reflects broader problems across western Massachusetts and urged the committee to address solar siting more broadly in a future session. The hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions, with no votes or final actions taken during the meeting.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Oct 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Then on slide 19, you can see how The roles for these programs change and can change pretty dramatically
- I mean, elections change a lot of things. If they don't get changed, we should plan for that.
- We will do open enrollment as we head into the new year.
- This was an absolute game-changing moment for New Mexico.
- Well, change it to market rate.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Jan 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- And the third is if you change their peer group.
- And the third is if you change their peer group.
- We have kids that are dual enrolled. We have kids that are taking college courses.
- now offer dual enrollment to our kids through this model.
- We have kids that are enrolled in welding, we have kids that are enrolled in electrical.
Summary:
The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs.
Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing.
The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted.
Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So those changes were made. The effective date is going to change to January 1st of next year.
- So those were the main changes.
- And they accept the changes that are in the committee.
- But I don't think there would be dramatic changes.
- Today's workplace is changing at an accelerating pace.
Keywords:
living expenses, higher education, student support, homeless students, financial aid, grant program, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, workforce development, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, competency-based education, baccalaureate degree, cost of attendance, dual credit, computer science, course credit, foreign language requirement, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (05/06/2025)
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Things change, time changes, and we've got a point now where another industry has developed, this carbon
- They changed the ownership up there.
- ,<01:38:10.320>
it governs this particular enrollment, it governs this particular enrollment - :54.880>
these <01:39:55.199>carbon are not enrollment in these carbon are not enrollment - So if you were going to change it for carbon offset credit sales, you'd need to change it for timber
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/26
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- No substantive changes.
- No substantive changes.
- No substantive changes. executive board. No substantive changes.
- that changed the uh there was a change that changed the bachelor's<01:25:34.639>
degree <01:25 - So with that, changes are needed.
Keywords:
assisted living, healthcare, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations & Revenue. (6-3-26)
Appropriations & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- stands today and the two the few changes stands today and the two the few changes that<00:03:11.880
- <00:14:01.120>
The students enrolled for this fall. The students enrolled for this fall. - uh, when all, you know, fully enrolled. uh, when all, you know, fully enrolled.
- So changes um to the program's funding.
- first, a technical administrative change first, a technical administrative change to<00:20:51.280
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- You constantly have new people coming in, so anytime you have a new person coming into a role, that changes
- So enrollment would be... ...a little further about this. It doesn't just stop at enrollment.
- So enrollment would be the part of the process where they ask you in those lovely web forms, can you
- And if, you know, different... ...making account changes, transferring funds, and if different processes
- I just say that the reality is that the landscape has changed dramatically in the last few years.
Summary:
The House Science and Technology Committee met and heard two informational presentations, with no bills considered and no votes taken. Deloitte Infrastructure Insights presented a transportation AI tool, Infrastructure Insights Pro, focused on vulnerable road user safety and pedestrian crash analysis. The presenter described how the platform ingests agency data such as crash records, GIS layers, and project management systems to generate map-based insights, trust scores for data reliability, and draft concept reports. Members asked about how long similar reports took before AI, whether the tool had been used in other states, and whether it reduced cost or effort; the presenter said a report that once took six to eight months could now be drafted in hours, that the safety use case had been implemented at Caltrans, and that the main savings were in staff effort.
The committee then heard from OCTA and Socure on digital identity, fraud prevention, and resident access to government services. The presenters argued that state and local governments should move toward a single, privacy-preserving digital identity experience that reduces multiple logins, improves security, and helps stop fraud by using contextual signals such as device, location, and document validation. They said Arizona already uses OCTA for more than 40,000 employees and some citizen services, and that Socure supports identity verification for public programs, including Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account. A lengthy discussion followed about Real ID, state digital IDs, privacy, Fourth Amendment concerns, federal funding, and whether identity systems could become a national ID or surveillance tool. The presenters responded that states should retain control, that verifiable digital credentials can limit what information is shared, and that Arizona could centralize resident identity with privacy guardrails while preserving choice. The committee adjourned without further business.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Jan 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And whereas a young person who is mentored is twice as likely to enroll in post-secondary education,
- Addison is enrolled in the Hickory Apache tribe and is from Dulce. Welcome to the House.
- Arcadia is enrolled in the Laguna Pueblo and is from Farmington. Apache tribe from Dulce.
- Arcadia is enrolled in the Laguna Pueblo and is from Farmington.
- She is enrolled in the He Laila tribe and is from Farmington.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (04/09/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- change in the permitting timelines. change in the permitting timelines.
- and enrollment unit, which enrolls and enrollment unit, which enrolls and screens<01:16:20.960>
- So, there's no benefit changes, no anything changes, just changing hourly to salary.
- changes, no anything changes,<01:56:01.920>
just <01:56:02.080>changing <01:56:02.480><- changes, just changing hourly to salary. changes, just changing hourly to salary.
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 74, which would require state agencies, especially the Department of Environmental Services and other permitting agencies, to report more detailed data on permit applications, approvals, denials, pending applications, and permits taking longer than 90 days. The sponsor’s representative and a lawyer who helped draft the bill argued that the legislature needs comprehensive permitting data to evaluate whether current timelines are reasonable and whether regulatory delays are burdening property owners and economic activity. They said the information should already be tracked within existing budgets, despite a fiscal note claiming additional staff would be needed. A Business and Industry Association representative supported the bill, saying better data is needed to understand actual permitting timelines and to help streamline the process, especially in light of housing and development concerns.
Members asked whether the bill was simply collecting data without a clear next step, and the response was that the data would allow lawmakers to judge whether existing deadlines, extensions, and exemptions are justified and whether changes to permit timelines are needed. Several members agreed the information would be useful and that agencies should already be tracking it. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 74 on a roll call, with the motion approved and the bill placed on consent for further consideration, with a note that it would go to finance for review of the fiscal note.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 196, which would raise the threshold for certain in-house construction projects handled by the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services and two other departments from $500,000 to $1 million, described as an inflationary update. The sponsor said the department’s existing staff can handle these smaller renovation-type projects and that the bill should not require new positions; the deputy adjutant general later confirmed the department does not need additional staff and said the projects are typically roof, boiler, and similar repairs. Members asked about a fiscal note suggesting new positions and about revenue/expenditure impacts, and the sponsor explained that the fiscal note language appeared to reflect an earlier draft and that the budget effect is largely a shift in where the work is performed. The committee recessed briefly for the deputy adjutant general’s arrival, then continued discussion of the bill.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Do you know what might cause the change?
- There are changing business models as to how fees are collected.
- Do you know what might cause the change?
- Do you know what might cause the change?
- Do you know what might cause the change?
Keywords:
SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction
Summary:
The committee first took up several pending bills and reported them favorably: SB 968, SB 636 as substituted, SB 1137, and SB 1138 as substituted. Each was advanced by roll call vote, and the committee also recommended the approved bills for the local and uncontested calendar. The chair then moved to the posted agenda and heard SB 719, a mental health bed-capacity study bill by Senator Eckhart, with a committee substitute that refined the data collection to distinguish state and non-state beds, child and adult beds, include two point-in-time counts, and capture jail diversion data.
Testimony on SB 719 was largely supportive from Integral Care, NAMI Texas, and the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas, all of whom said Texas needs better data on inpatient psychiatric capacity, workforce needs, and future demand. Several witnesses described long waits for beds, especially for forensic restoration, and argued the study would help target future investments. Senator Perry and others noted the state has already made major investments in new beds and urged the bill to account for beds already coming online; the committee ultimately withdrew the substitute and left SB 719 pending after public testimony closed.
The committee then heard SB 1864, which would allow small egg producers to sell ungraded eggs more broadly, including to restaurants and retailers, with the substitute increasing the weekly sales threshold and addressing sanitation and labeling. Supporters said grading is about size, not safety, and that the bill would help small farms reach new markets; opponents from the Texas Poultry Federation argued grading and candling help identify cracks and defects that can affect safety and quality. The committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. It also heard SB 1467, requiring DSHS to share death record information with hospitals for record accuracy and quality review, and SB 912, which would modernize continuing education tracking for health licensing agencies; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2023, which would create an HHSC grant program to help counties pay for indigent burial costs, with county representatives testifying in support.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Again, these were changes requested by the agency. Thank you, Senator Zafarini.
- this bill relates to requiring independent school districts, home rule school districts, and open-enrollment
- and recognizes Senator Creighton, thank you, Vice Chair Campbell, and I believe those substitute changes
- For our ISD open enrollment provisions, we require school districts to annually report on their facility's
- So with that, um, that is all of the changes.
Summary:
The Senate Education K-16 Committee considered and advanced several education-related measures. SB 57, on emergency safety accommodations for students with disabilities during drills or emergencies, was amended by a committee substitute requested by TEA to require accommodations be explicitly included in IEPs or Section 504 plans, documented and communicated to administrators, and to allow TEA rules on preparedness guidelines; it was reported favorably. The committee also reported SB 24, on adding study of communist regimes and ideologies to social studies standards, and SB 112, on parental rights and public education, both favorably. SB 204, requiring a parental rights handbook and trustee training, and SB 371, on parental approval for human sexuality instruction, were also advanced. SB 400, requiring parental consent for psychological or psychiatric examination, testing, or treatment by school employees, was reported favorably as substituted.
Members discussed SB 609, which would require school districts and charter schools to comply with legally required policies, with questions about whether districts must still comply absent additional state resources; it was reported favorably with two members voting present-not-voting. SB 686, on student transfers between public schools, and SB 1447, on TEA standards for school use of electronic devices and software, were both reported favorably, with SB 686 noted as having a fiscal note. SCR 5, directing the Texas School for the Deaf to name a gymnasium after a former alumnus, was also advanced.
The committee approved SJR 12, proposing a constitutional amendment affirming a parent’s right to direct a child’s education, on a 9-1 vote. It then considered SB 12, a broad bill on parental rights, public education, and restrictions on DEI-related duties and funding consequences for noncompliance. The committee substitute expanded the DEI definition, limited discipline to intentional or knowing violations, required notice to employees, restricted student clubs focused solely on sexual orientation or gender identity, clarified limits on DEI duties, required annual capacity reporting for transfer requests, refined grievance procedures, shortened the grievance filing window to six weeks, and added parent-notice provisions regarding special education, bilingual education, and uncertified teachers. After discussion on the grievance timeline and terminology in the DEI provisions, the substitute was adopted and SB 12 was reported favorably on an 8-2 vote. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/12/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So any has not changed over time.
- :18.320>
insurance <00:21:19.360>uh changes in unemployment uh insurance uh changes in - Over the higher education enrollment.
- And that's without changing tax gain.
- >
education jobs change faster than education jobs change faster than education pathways<01:30
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 18th, 2026
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- And the enrollment was just over 50% to start.
- But as Kirsten said, the IRA really made some significant changes and there's an opportunity now. change
- The IRA changed that.
- So when they change the benefit design in the Inflation Reduction Act, they just change the percent that's
- And in 2019, they actually changed that 50% to 70%.
Summary:
The committee received an update from Grant Wallace on the state employee Medicare Advantage group plan and the ongoing rebid with UnitedHealthcare. Wallace said the agency is exploring “decoupling” the medical and pharmacy portions of the plan, and that preliminary estimates suggested potential savings of about $100 to $200 per participant per month. He said the final CMS rate-setting process would conclude in April, with a revised contract amendment likely to come before the committee in May or June after review by the EBD Advisory Commission and State Board of Finance. He also clarified that the plan covers post-65 teacher and state employee retirees, including retirees from state agencies and K-12 public schools.
Representatives from Segal Consulting then gave a broader presentation on Medicare Advantage and Part D market trends, reviewing Arkansas’s prior decision to adopt a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan and the savings generated since the 2023 RFP. They explained that the Inflation Reduction Act significantly changed Part D financing by shifting more federal support into a direct subsidy tied to risk scores, which makes accurate risk adjustment more important and creates a larger difference between Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans and standalone Part D plans. They said this has led to a growing divergence in funding, especially for standalone Part D, and is the main reason decoupling medical and pharmacy coverage is being considered.
Committee members asked about how the risk-score changes affect costs and members. Segal said the new structure has reduced member out-of-pocket costs, with the annual cap now at $2,000 and many members reaching it after roughly $600 to $800 in spending, but that the plan absorbs more of the cost. They also said the market appears to be adjusting through annual bids, and that a decoupled structure could allow the state to capture more favorable funding on the Part D side. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after being told to expect further information once the April rate notice and renewal proposal are available.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Special Education Funding Committee May 6th, 2026
Special Education Funding Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- That's our total enrollment, 7,700.
- It was going to be changing the threshold, changing the weighting factor, or reimbursement for actual
- So there's a big, on the Medicaid side, we changed, well, not we, they, somewhere, changed the billing
- Somewhere changed the billing.
- And so if you change the factor, then that changes the factor not just of state dollars that go on there
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 4, 2026 minutes, and received a lengthy Department of Public Instruction presentation from Stanley Schauer Jr. on North Dakota student performance data in math and ELA, with comparisons between students with disabilities and students without disabilities. Schauer explained the assessment systems used, the 1% alternate assessment cap for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, the absence of 2019-20 data due to the pandemic, and how state standards are set by North Dakota educators. Members asked about cohort trends, the role of alternate assessments, grade-level patterns, and whether the state should focus more on reducing the novice category than on moving students from approaching to proficient. Schauer also discussed the new NDA Plus assessment, the state’s planned growth model, and the possibility of future breakdowns by disability category or by schools using science-of-math approaches. Special education educators testified that students with disabilities continued to receive services during COVID because of FAPE obligations, which likely helped limit learning loss, and emphasized that IEP teams focus on individual growth rather than only proficiency buckets.
Committee members then shifted to special education funding and possible funding models. Brandon Bombach of Grand Forks Public Schools presented on the state aid formula, focusing on the special education weighting factor and arguing that the current formula does not adequately respond to growing student needs because it counts enrollment but does not adjust when the number of students with IEPs rises. He used examples to show that a district can have the same enrollment and receive the same weighting even if the number of students needing services increases. Members discussed whether the formula should be tied more closely to actual need and accountability, and the chair indicated that the committee would continue gathering data and ideas for a later meeting.