Transcript Highlights:

• It provides $246 million for nursing home rate increases.
• It provides It provides $246 million for nursing home rate increases.
• Representative Campbell, any rate increases? Representative Andrade. Thank you very much, Mr.
• that have increased to address in-home care other than nursing home payment reimbursement rates.
• that have increased to address in-home care other than nursing home payment reimbursement rates.

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:

• Potential risks: one of the potential risks is high inflation, which has forced the Fed to increase rates
• Potential risks: one of the potential risks is high inflation, which has forced the Fed to increase rates
• <00:12:56.560> rates um has forced the Fed to increase rates um has forced the Fed to increase
• So we're talking about an increase in the unemployment rate of 30, 40 basis points. Not much.
• the unemployment rate of of increase in the unemployment rate of of 30<01:34:53.280> 40<01:34

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for everyone, lowering the tax rate for everyone, lowering the combined<00:04:43.360> rate<00
• combined rate down from 6.875 to 6.75. combined rate down from 6.875 to 6.75.
• , what are we taxing or what is the rate, what are we taxing or what is the rate, right?
• Um, lowering rates.
• Um, lowering rates.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, just a rate that was close to 4%.
• rate is at 9%. rate is at 9%.
• <00:04:28.240> under If we do not get our error rate under If we do not get our error rate
• <00:08:35.919> this we can bring that air rate down. this we can bring that air rate down.
• Um a 40% increase. And so several years. Um a 40% increase.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Nolan West and Representative Pam Oldenorf introduced and defended a bill aimed at tightening Minnesota SNAP eligibility rules. They said the measure would move the net income test to the front of the application process, add asset testing similar to other state programs, and exclude vehicles over $100,000. They argued these changes would reduce overpayments, improve “good governance,” and help the state avoid future financial penalties tied to SNAP error rates. Oldenorf said Minnesota’s SNAP error rate has risen from about 4% in 2013 to about 9% now, and warned that if it stays above 6% the state could owe about $86 million in 2027. She cited a GAO report saying broad-based categorical eligibility is a major driver of payment errors, and pointed to examples she described as fraud or improper enrollment, including a millionaire receiving benefits and a recent Minneapolis SNAP fraud conviction. West and Oldenorf said the bill would not significantly increase county workloads, because counties already do similar eligibility and asset checks in other programs. In response to questions, the sponsors said they had not yet formally consulted many stakeholders because the bill had just been drafted, but they expected bipartisan support and said they had reached out to counties for input. They also said counties would retain some administrative costs, but the bill should not add major new burdens. The discussion then shifted to a separate topic when West raised concerns about access to Hennepin County voter rolls and alleged irregularities in voter data; he said he had obtained some county records and believed the Secretary of State was improperly limiting access, though no bill action or vote was taken on that issue in this transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a $4 million one-year increase in the There's a $4 million one-year increase in the renter credit
• It also restricts increases in the tuition rates charged by receiving schools, both public and private
• That increase this year was 3.8% from the previous year.
• Increased liability on property taxpayers in doing that.
• A 3% increase on the 25,000 is a lot more than a 3% education spending increase on the smaller 12% at

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of that add-on, if they operate an OBGYN clinic, they get a small rate increase associated with
• That is separate and apart from the rate increase that you get associated with the OBGYN add-on.
• That is separate and apart from the rate increase that you get associated with the OBGYN add-on.
• Because of the rate increase that they get. Okay, thank you.
• We're at a time when technology is just increasing at such a great rate, and that's great because it's

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Does that factor into future credit ratings as far as solving budgets through more tax increases or cutting
• Does that factor into future credit ratings as far as solving budgets through more tax increases or cutting
• Does that factor into future credit ratings as far as solving budgets through more tax increases or cutting
• Does that factor into future credit ratings as far as solving budgets through more tax increases or cutting
• Does that factor into future credit ratings as far as solving budgets through more tax increases or cutting

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But what we are proposing for you today is a 9.8% increase in the rate, and thus it goes down to a 9.8%
• Additionally, when you're looking at the public school, we will see a 4.9% increase in their rate and
• thus a 4.9% increase in their contribution per employee.
• increase year over year.
• 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:

• The base student allocation increased by $85, and the funds per student increased by $150.31, bringing
• salary increase allocations.
• increases, the district can use the funds to provide salary increases to other instructional personnel
• It provides $173.5 million for Medicaid nursing home rate increases tied to the Quality Incentive Program
• It provides $22.8 million for a 1% rate increase to all I-Budget waiver providers.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Don Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber announced it would take up 11 budget conference committee reports, with no third-reading bills or special-order calendar items. Members were reminded that conference reports were subject to debate but not amendment, and that the required review periods had been satisfied. The first major action was on HB 7031E, the tax package. Representative Duggan explained that the conference report included a mix of retained, modified, and new tax provisions, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related changes, reductions in certain gaming and carbon-related taxes, changes to child care and documentary stamp tax credits, a new refund process for public works construction tax paid by universities and colleges, and other tax administration changes. Debate focused on the bill’s consumer impact, the reduction of the child tax credit from three years to one, the inclusion of firearm accessories in a sales tax holiday, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the homestead exemption provision for certain deployed diplomatic and foreign service personnel. Critics argued the package favored niche or corporate interests over broad affordability relief, while supporters said it provided targeted tax relief and reflected conference negotiations. The House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began presenting the conference report for HB 501E, the state budget, which totaled $114.5 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 and was described as below the prior year’s spending level while maintaining reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major budget areas: pre-K-12 funding included an increase in FEFP, salary increases for veteran teachers, stabilization funding, and support for declining enrollment; higher education included full Bright Futures funding, workforce programs, college operating support, university initiatives, and school guardian expansion; IT funding focused on Palm, ACCESS, APD’s I-Connect replacement, corrections systems, emergency management systems, and cybersecurity grants; health care funding covered Medicaid, nursing home rates, waiver provider increases, ADAP funding and restructuring, child welfare, and behavioral health; transportation and economic development included housing, cultural grants, jobs and rural infrastructure, Visit Florida, Space Florida, highway patrol equipment, and local transportation projects; justice funding included correctional construction, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement grants, and clerk and due process reimbursements; state administration included fire stations, constrained counties, building maintenance, and Safe Florida Home; and agriculture/natural resources funding emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, land acquisition, Florida Forever, state parks, and citrus research. Members then began questioning the budget details, including school voucher accountability, school funding formulas, public defender parity, prison technology, wastewater monitoring in prisons, ADAP policy, SNAP fraud controls and AI-assisted verification, Florida Forever funding, school lunch funding, and coral reef restoration. No final vote on HB 501E appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Corporate income tax is a 5.5% rate. Doc stamps is 70 cents for a $100 of value.
• Corporate income tax is a 5.5% rate.
• So as state collections have increased, balances have also increased, So as state collections have increased
• Now, you know, the Treasury return rate has increased in the last couple of years; the rates were high
• They'll be much lower as the interest rates come down and as balances come down as well.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also maintains the FY 26 Chapter 257 provisions, including some rate increases, and ensures that the
• Yes, at the rate...
• There will be a 2.9% increase to support our foster parents, a 3% rate increase for 766 residential schools
• year increases in collective bargaining payroll increases, and Chapter 257 provides provider rate growth
• By the end of FY25, the rate of Black children placed in kin has increased from 19% to 30%, and for Hispanic

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a FY27 budget session on Health and Human Services held in Mattapan, hosted by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Opening remarks from Senator Lydia Edwards, Representative Brandy Fluker-Reed, Representative Russell Holmes, and Boston Public Library President David Leonard emphasized the significance of holding the first Ways and Means hearing in Mattapan, the importance of community access, and the role of libraries as human services institutions. Committee members and attendees introduced themselves before agency testimony began. MassAbility testified first, describing its mission to support people with disabilities through employment, independent living, and disability determination services. The agency highlighted federal funding uncertainty, a modest FY27 budget reduction, and a proposed reworking of its home care program, which it said is outdated and should better target those most in need. Members questioned the home care cut, staffing reductions, and federal coordination. MassAbility also shared a participant story about recovery and community support to illustrate the impact of its services. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing then presented its FY27 request, focusing on interpreter and captioning access, workforce development, emergency communication, aging-related hearing loss, and transition services for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth. Members asked about interpreter shortages, after-hours emergency coverage, ASL education, and community training; the commission said it is expanding mentorship and referral systems but still faces staffing and vendor challenges. The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind followed with a $30.8 million request, describing services for nearly 9,000 consumers, peer support groups, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 services, while noting federal funding uncertainty and a 7% budget cut. Members raised concerns about maintaining services with fewer resources, and the commissioner said the agency had trimmed overhead and could manage the proposal. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants closed the segment, outlining expanded legal, housing, workforce, citizenship, and financial literacy supports for immigrants and refugees, including Know Your Rights trainings, legal defense initiatives, and the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative. Members discussed the effects of federal policy changes, the loss of refugee resettlement funding, and the need for state support to fill gaps. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the hearing consisted of agency presentations and committee questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of this amount, $1.8 million supports base rate increases governed by the Department of Health Care Services
• , which include the IMD rate and the quality assurance fee rate.
• The rate increases by 3.5% annually and covers basic expenses to operate in IMD and has not been updated
• In addition to these base rate increases, $300,000 will be used to support essential psychiatry services
• “Increase in the out years.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we saw, in that instance, rates go up.
• That will be rate cases, rate setting, earnings review for electric and gas.
• That will be rate cases, rate setting, earnings review for electric and gas and wastewater utilities.
• The big increase in cases primarily.
• Our vacancy rate is not a significant one, I can tell you that.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• care coverage because of the increased care coverage because of the increased costs<00:08:37.320
• The SNAP rates, too: in Minnesota, in terms of a SNAP error rate, we are kind of right in the middle
• The SNAP rates too, we have in we can.
• , Minnesota in terms of a SNAP error rate, Minnesota in terms of a SNAP error rate, we<00:13:00.960
• So we're going rates, they get a pass.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senate DFL senators discussed the Health and Human Services supplemental budget on the floor, framing it as a response to federal HR 1 and related Trump administration policies that they said shift costs to states, counties, hospitals, and families. Senators Liz Bolden, Lindsey Port, Erin Murphy, Alice Mann, and Rob Kupec argued the bill is needed to backfill cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, stabilize hospitals, and prevent property tax increases and service disruptions. They said the package totals about $700 million, with more than $250 million aimed at hospital support and roughly $300 million to help counties absorb food-support cost shifts. Members described the federal changes as adding red tape and work-reporting requirements that would cause eligible people to lose coverage, with estimates cited of more than 150,000 Minnesotans losing Medicaid and about 62,000 losing individual-market coverage due to higher premiums. They also said counties would face new administrative burdens and hiring needs, and that rural hospitals, safety-net providers, and EMS systems would see more uncompensated care. One senator noted Dakota County could face an additional $11 million next year and property tax increases, while another said Minnesota hospitals could see charity care rise by more than $269 million next year. The discussion also covered specific funding in the bill, including $300 million for hospital stabilization, with $150 million for HCMC, nearly $115 million for other hospital stabilization grants, almost $18 million for community safety-net providers, and $15 million for rural EMS uncompensated care. Senators said these funds are short-term measures, not long-term fixes, and that if the state did nothing, the health care system and SNAP administration could collapse. They said they do not expect Republican support in the Senate and suggested longer-term options could include federal changes after the next election or state-level tax changes on the ultra-wealthy. No vote outcome was stated in the excerpt, but the senators indicated the bill would move forward with DFL support.

Transcript Highlights:

• increase for several years.
• This would allow that fee increase. In need of a fee increase for several years.
• Increases in both years are being driven by increases in weeks compensated, claims duration, and the
• Increases in both years are primarily being driven by increases in the average weekly benefit amount.
• So I guess the major factor that we're seeing driving that benefit increase is that overall increase

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increase.
• Income has increased by 22 percent since 2018 to 2023, and home sales prices have increased by 72%.
• That has increased mortgage delinquency rates.
• rate increases and fund expansion within the workforce technology program.
• some increase for additional rates, while the LFC recommendation assumes that some of those rates can

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One, both of them have to do with medical assistance rates and increasing medical assistance rates.
• One, both of them have to do with medical assistance rates and increasing medical assistance rates.
• One, both of them have to do with medical assistance rates and increasing medical assistance rates.
• One, both of them have to do with medical assistance rates and increasing medical assistance rates.
• <02:03:11.760> rate uh to accommodate those rate rate uh to accommodate those rate rate increases

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If passed, the bill would drastically reduce interest rates on IOTA, substantially increasing the fund
• to the rate.
• the appropriate rate.
• the federal funding rate, which is a universally used benchmark for safety rates.
• Part of the increase we have seen over the past year has been due to the increase of the rate by the

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 1 the rate is being increased from 1% to 1 the rate is being increased from 1% to 1 and<00:04
• c> change<00:04:47.440> would<00:04:48.080> increase and this rate change would increase
• and this rate change would increase revenue<00:04:49.320> by<00:04:50.600> 144.5<00:04
• increase revenue by 92.6 increase revenue by 92.6 million.<00:10:59.040> Um<00:10:59.360>
• This would increase the exclusion amount for those with a disability rating of 70% or more and those

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This reflects an increase of 818.
• to increase customer service capability. for our Taxpayer Services Division and increase our ability
• rating agencies.
• The last few bullets there show the different rates of return, the investment rates of return if you
• That means from a maximum one-third contribution rate to use an actually determined contribution rate

Keywords: 1184, house, all