Transcript Highlights:

• We are allowed to fully explore these rate cases.
• them whole without having to wait until a new rate case.
• We made it a singular issue in the Tico rate case.
• However, customer growth is not at all keeping pace with utility growth and what we call rate base or
• base can even use these facilities.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight met with a quorum present and heard an update from Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler on the work of the Office of Public Counsel. Trierweiler described the office’s role in representing Florida utility customers in rate cases and related proceedings, including investor-owned electric, water, and wastewater matters. He emphasized the office’s use of depositions, expert witnesses, customer correspondence, and service hearings to challenge unsupported utility costs while seeking outcomes that are “fair, just, reasonable, and affordable.” A major focus of the presentation was the office’s work on large utility dockets, especially the Florida Power & Light rate case, as well as other recent cases involving Duke, TECO, Sunshine, and St. Joe. Trierweiler said the office had settled some cases but not others, had two appeals pending, and had filed motions for reconsideration where required. He also discussed storm cost recovery, affordability concerns, and the new challenge of data center tariffs and related energy and water demands. He said the office brought in new experts on affordability and data centers and was trying to get ahead of those issues through workshops and settlement efforts. Members asked questions about how customer input is gathered, how the office evaluates a fair profit for utilities, the role of settlements and counterproposals, and the impact of data centers on energy and water use. Trierweiler said customer voices come in through hearings and correspondence, that utilities are entitled to a fair return but not imprudent costs, and that the office is concerned about data center growth and its resource demands. No votes were taken, and the committee concluded its agenda and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is based on a state's payment error rate.
• , a 70% completion rate, and it also has to have, based on a certain metric, a value-added earnings to
• has a 70% completion rate, and it also has to<00:20:21.520> have<00:20:22.000> based<00
• an error rate over 6%. an error rate over 6%.
• . completion rates are graduation rates. completion rates are more<00:46:22.480> apppropo<00:46

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes: 0:01:45 Federal Education Updates 0:02:12 Dual Credit Updates: 0:43:38 Kentucky State University's Doctoral Program Request: 01:27:08 Postsecondary Accreditation: 1:49:05 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations: 2:14:48 Adjournment 2:16:31, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Austin Reid of the National Conference of State Legislatures on education-related provisions in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). Reid said the law is projected to increase the federal deficit over 10 years, with major savings coming from Medicaid, student loan changes, and SNAP. He focused on how those changes could affect schools, including possible effects on free and reduced-price meal certification, state funding formulas that use SNAP as a proxy for low-income status, and Medicaid-funded school services for students with disabilities. Reid also outlined the new federal scholarship tax credit, which gives a dollar-for-dollar credit for donations to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. He said families up to 300% of area median income may benefit, the program begins in 2027, and states must opt in and designate eligible organizations. He noted unresolved questions about whether states can add their own criteria and said Treasury regulations will be important. He also described the expansion of 529 plans to cover more K-12 and postsecondary expenses. On higher education, Reid explained a new workforce Pell grant option for short-term programs, with states and governors playing a role in determining eligible programs. He said the programs must meet placement, completion, and earnings measures and that implementation is expected to be tight before the July 1, 2026 effective date. He also reviewed student loan changes, including lower institutional loan limits, prorated borrowing for part-time enrollment, new caps on graduate and Parent PLUS loans, and a new earnings-based accountability standard that could make some programs ineligible for student loans if graduates earn too little. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• agencies and how they rate us.
• The rating agencies use a wide range of factors.
• But we don't, it's fair to say we don't work for the credit rating agencies, right?
• Lowering, yeah, I made a few lower rates.
• Of 10% is invested in cash and 90% is invested based on a prudent investment strategy, and based on our

Bills: SJR4, SJR 4

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of it's to do with the free and reduced rates.
• Uh, the gap is based on what is the total number of expenditures. is based on what is the total number
• E-rate allocates $201.57 per student over 5 years.
• The school nutrition program, the CEP, affects eligibility or reimbursement rate for E-rate. >> Correct
• The one thing I would argue is I don't know that the custodian rate is the right rate for our food workers

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Director Rivera, so earlier you mentioned the tight turnover rate.
• be required to pay the highest match rate of 15%.
• So, as a result, reducing the department's payment... ...the highest match rate of 15%.
• Our sunset review... the highest match rate of 15%.
• in the per-member rate, but the actual per-member rate AHCCCS set for fiscal year 2025 increased by

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee conducted sunset reviews for the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Nursing, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, and the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. The Auditor General’s reports praised each board for timely licensing in some areas but identified recurring problems with complaint investigations, public safety oversight, fee analysis, records/documentation, and internal controls. For Pharmacy, the main concerns were weak enforcement of controlled substances prescription monitoring program (CSPMP) requirements and slow complaint resolution; the board said it had implemented some recommendations, was pursuing a new database vendor, and supported legislation to strengthen CSPMP enforcement. For Nursing, the audit found a large and growing backlog of complaints and repeated delays in resolving cases; the executive director said the board was under-resourced and requested 28 additional investigative positions, while nursing stakeholders supported process reforms and cited a bill to improve timelines and fairness. For Occupational Therapy, the audit focused on missing or poorly documented fingerprint clearance card checks, delayed action on a serious criminal-charge disclosure, and other compliance issues; the board said it had accepted and was implementing all recommendations, including new procedures and rulemaking. For Physician Assistants, the audit found weak oversight by the executive director, extensive delays in complaint handling, and an incentive-pay system that did not align with key performance goals; the board said it had already made structural changes, was improving tracking and IT systems, and planned to continue implementing recommendations. After discussion and testimony from board officials, public members, and nursing stakeholders, the committee voted to continue the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy for six years until July 1, 2032, the State Board of Nursing for four years until July 1, 2031, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners for four years until July 1, 2030, and the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants for a continued term with statutory changes (the transcript includes the board review and related discussion, but the final motion text for the physician assistants board is not fully captured in the excerpt). The votes on the first three continuations were approved by roll call, with members generally supporting continuation while expressing concern about complaint backlogs and the need for reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we know what our debt service template rate will be yet?
• Do we know what our debt service template rate will be yet?
• So that's what the agencies base their requests on.
• So that's what the agencies base their requests on.
• <00:09:09.519> on the data and make decisions based on the data and make decisions based on

Keywords: 00:02 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:55 FB 2026-2028 Executive Branch Budget 15:17 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on budget instructions for the 2026-2028 state budget, as required by KRS Chapter 48. Staff from the Office of State Budget Director outlined three recommended changes: restructuring Form B4 for additional budget requests to emphasize the problem, solution, and quantitative data; adding page numbers to the Record P report so agencies’ additional budget requests can be located more easily; and updating the budget calendar to reflect the December 20 presentation of the consensus forecast to LRC under changes made by House Bill 360. Members asked follow-up questions about contribution rates, debt service template rates, and employee health rates. Staff said the fiscal 2026 KS non-hazardous contribution rate is 42.76%, but fiscal 2027 and 2028 rates have not yet been set; debt service rates would be posted later; and employee health rate assumptions are still being discussed with the Personnel Cabinet. Members also asked how program reductions or terminations would be handled, and staff explained that agencies base requests on statutory and federal requirements, while budget reductions are handled through the appropriations act. The committee discussed whether Form B4 should ask agencies to describe alternative options considered and how they were evaluated. Staff said the current instructions do not specifically require that, though some implications may appear in narrative responses, and members agreed to continue working on the instructions. The committee then adopted a motion directing the co-chairs to work with LRC staff to finalize the 2026-2028 budget instructions and present them for adoption, with the motion approved by roll call. Members also noted that federal budget developments, including possible SNAP cost shifts to states, are being monitored but are too early to incorporate into the instructions at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we revised those mortality rates.
• That model is the variable-based COLA.
• Contribution rates. Those contribution rates, I know municipal...
• We look at our Medicare Advantage star ratings.
• It is income-based.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:16.720> base past few years we've done uh rate base past few years we've done uh rate
• base rate<00:23:17.240> reductions.
• So, in rate uh base rate reduction.
• <00:24:11.080> So, base rate. So, base rate.
• <00:29:03.520> rate allows us to do those larger base rate allows us to do those larger base

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, as mentioned, you know, the policies are not based on words. So they're based on an index.
• But, ...changes in rates across three different age groups.
• I appreciate very much that the declines in conviction rates dropped across racial categories.
• I appreciate very much that the declines in conviction rates dropped across racial categories.
• So the disproportionality still exists, but the absolute rates are so low.

Summary: The committee heard a work session on earthquake insurance, beginning with background from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. OIC staff explained that earthquake and earth movement are generally excluded from standard property policies, that earthquake coverage is usually purchased through endorsements or standalone policies with high deductibles and relatively high premiums, and that surplus lines are a limited backstop market not covered by the state guarantee fund. They also described parametric insurance and captive insurance as more specialized products generally suited to commercial or governmental buyers rather than ordinary consumers. A second panel of insurance and banking experts focused on commercial earthquake exposure, especially for older buildings, collateralized loans, and potential knock-on effects to banks and consumers if a major quake caused widespread damage. Members asked about consumer impacts, mitigation incentives, inventories of vulnerable buildings, and whether legislation such as prior work on unreinforced masonry could help reduce risk. The Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is expensive and that affordability is a major concern, while also noting banks participate in disaster-recovery planning and would be affected by major regional losses. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy on its cannabis and Initiative 502 research. WSIPP staff described the agency as a nonpartisan research institute that conducts legislative-directed studies and explained that its long-term I-502 assignment includes periodic reports leading to a final benefit-cost evaluation in 2032. Staff summarized findings from a 2023 report showing that cannabis possession convictions fell sharply after legalization, though some racial disproportionalities persisted, and that closer retail access was associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving drivers from nearby areas, and higher rates of cannabis use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. A 2023 youth-focused report found that students attending schools near retailers were more likely to report cannabis use, had more unexcused absences, and were less likely to graduate on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, staff said retail access was associated with higher probabilities of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, related hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, with event-study analysis suggesting the increases appeared after retailers opened rather than before. Members asked about racial disproportionality, the meaning of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, THC and impairment, whether the findings reflected medical versus recreational use, and how the results should be interpreted in light of broader trends and data limitations. No formal committee action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• rate based on their assignment of the rate based on their tariff<01:12:43.639> and<01:12:43.800
• rate for different rates Commission sets rate for different rates for<01:14:41.880> different
• commercial rate versus uh versus rates commercial rate versus uh versus residential<01:24:57.119>
• that<01:30:45.040> would rates versus commercial rates that would rates versus commercial
• on rate payers um I I I think that based on rate payers um I I I think that based on<04:24:56.279

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That limits flexibility in adjusting benefits based on economic conditions.
• Fixed limits Adjusting benefits based on economic conditions.
• We have to use a statewide unemployment rate.
• 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:

• Your follow-up is that you don't know what the rate is until then?
• It's local to Oklahoma as to a rate that we want to establish.
• Can you explain the attendees of school-based life skills?
• Number two is the school for the Blind graduation rate, and 3 is the school for the deaf graduation rate
• We're hoping to continue that rate moving into 27.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They object if we want to introduce Medicaid rates. They object if we want to introduce comp rates.
• , workers' comp rates.
• Which will necessarily lower A cash pay rate might be 100,000. The Medicare rate might be 900.
• What, what rate medical rates are you comparing it to?
• OK, I'm, I'm saying that you came to the conclusion that it's fraud based on a comparison of the rates

Transcript Highlights:

• Four times greater than the rate of inflation, because our constituents are paying bills based on what
• And yet, utility companies are paying rates based on a process that was set 40 years ago and has not
• operate, and the rate payers first, and shareholders second.
• You want to say, another rate increase?
• YOU WANT TO SAY, ANOTHER RATE INCREASE?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, received messages and substitutions from the Assembly, and welcomed two new members, Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Zellner. The chamber then adopted the resolution calendar and took up a privileged resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in New York. Senators Bailey, Baskin, Sanders, Scarcella-Spanton, Brisport, Parker, Cleare, Comrie, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Black history as American history, the importance of education and remembrance, and the contributions of Black New Yorkers and historical figures. The resolution was adopted, and the leader opened it for co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved to the bill calendar and passed several measures, including bills on civil procedure, urban development, labor, and public service law. One labor bill was substituted from the Assembly and passed. Several energy and utility-related bills drew debate, with supporters arguing they would improve affordability, utility rate-setting, and consumer protections, while opponents said they would not meaningfully lower costs and instead reflected broader policy choices. Senator Walczyk voted no on one utility bill, and Senators Tedisco and others criticized the package; Senators Mayer and Harckham defended the measures as needed reforms to utility regulation and return-on-equity standards. Most bills were approved by wide margins, including one public service bill that passed 53-9 and another that passed 61-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• versus a higher rate?
• for the 30% rate to is important for the 30% rate to incentivize<00:14:41.880> the<00:14:42.079
• was 45% rate whatever the other rate was 45% rate what<00:16:25.800> would<00:16:26.199> the
• And, based on that promise, based on that expectation, Kino passed.
• And, based on that promise, based on that expectation, Kino passed.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Representative Sweeney present and defend the budget amendment legalizing video lottery terminals (VLTs) and setting a 30% tax rate, with 65% of the tax going to the state and 35% to charities. He argued the lower rate was needed to encourage operators of historic horse racing (HHR) machines to convert to VLTs, saying the higher 45% rate would discourage adoption. He walked through revenue projections for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, estimating significant increases in state and charity revenue as machines transition over time, and said the amendment was designed to expand charitable gaming revenue overall. Several members questioned the assumptions behind his projections and the basis for his analysis, including why his independent research differed from the governor’s and Lottery Commission’s estimates. Sweeney said his figures were based on research into other states and conversations over many years, and he maintained that a 45% tax would likely result in no VLT adoption. Members also debated whether the transition costs for operators would be quickly recouped and whether the state’s share should be larger. One member emphasized that the committee was effectively choosing between a lower operator share and a higher state share, while Sweeney argued the 30% structure would produce revenue for everyone. The committee then moved to other revenue items on the tracking sheet. It voted 7-0 to accept the Lottery Commission’s revised base revenue estimates. Members also discussed an amendment to repeal the local option requirement for Kino games, which would expand Kino availability and was estimated to generate additional lottery profit in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. That amendment drew opposition from members who said local control was an important part of the original Kino policy and that removing it would override municipal decisions. The committee also noted that the VLT/HHR revenue item had already been adopted and was being revisited only to confirm the associated revenue estimates.

Transcript Highlights:

• rates begin to get compressed.
• Some states have been increasing spending at a lower rate.
• Basically, birth rates have, have been coming down.
• our school finance system is attendance-based.
• There's components that are attendance-based, but all the attendance-based money shows up, uh, as soon

Transcript Highlights:

• CERIO PROVIDED TO ME EARLIER LAST YEAR OF WITH A LITIGATION RATE WAS.
• THE RATES IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT CASE AS WE ALL KNOW CITIZEN RATES ARE ACTUARIALLY
• THE COMPANY THAT THEY ARE BEING MOVED TO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE RATES BECAUSE YOUR RATES
• >> THEY ARE NOT MY RATES THEY ARE CITIZENS RATES. CITIZENS ARE ACTUARIALLY SUPPRESSED.
• >> ABSOLUTELY IF THEY MOVED TO A PLACE WHERE THE RATES WHERE IT'S 20 PERCENT IF THE CITIZENS RATE WAS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rate has gone from 10% to 30%.
• It's a payment error rate.
• It's a payment error rate, not a case error rate. All right. Thank you. Thank you.
• It's a payment error rate.
• It's a payment error rate, not case error rate. All right. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's based here in Texas, and we have 400,000 members.
• Based on credit card interchange.
• Then the entire market's going to be expecting to follow those rates.
• Tax rates depending on the municipality.
• So the whole system is designed to accommodate the rate program.

Bills: HB245, HB245, HB700, HB2783, HB3526, HB3900, HB4061, HB4124, HB4166, HB4395, HB4534, HB4609, HB4641, HB4736, HB4738, HB4739, HB4945, HB5015, HJR175

Keywords: property tax, delinquent taxes, ad valorem, penalties, interest cap, military service, retirement, law enforcement, custodial officer, Employees Retirement System, commercial financing, brokers, registration, disclosures, finance, consumer protection, fees, deferred compensation, automatic participation, county employees

Transcript Highlights:

• and growth rate.
• District has qualified for a local match waiver because of our tax rate and growth rate.
• It's not adequate based on programming, based on Ed Spec, which communicates adequacy.
• Typically, those are utilization rates we see at the elementary school levels because utilization rates
• You get a high utilization rate.