Transcript Highlights:

• That act required DFA to provide a method for reporting and claiming this credit, and we simply took
• our existing beer excise tax reporting form and allowed you to deduct and claim it right on the form.
• "...claim the tax credit, how do we then verify that they're actually using Arkansas rice?
• So they will claim the credit on their report. They will provide a copy of the grain bill.
• And so I just..." "...of the grain bill and sourcing the claims.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a series of agency rules and related requests. The Department of Corrections and Post-Prison Transfer Board reported quarterly updates and had no questions, so both were filed. The Department of Commerce sought repeal of rules tied to the minority and women-owned business enterprise programs and the Consolidated Incentives Act, explaining the rules were repealed by implication or duplicative of statute; all were reviewed and approved. The Insurance Department presented a new rule implementing Act 426 of 2025 for online marketplace guarantee providers, using Airbnb-style host damage protection as an example, and it was approved. The Department of Education updated the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program rule to reflect statutory payment amounts for milestones and diplomas, and it was approved. DFA presented a rule creating a reporting method for the Arkansas rice beer and sake excise tax credit; members asked about verification of Arkansas rice use, and the rule was approved. DHS presented a SNAP rule implementing federal changes to work requirements and energy assistance counting, including raising the able-bodied adult without dependents age limit to 64 and removing some exemptions; it was approved after questions about terminology and waiver-related issues. The committee also approved DHS Medicaid rules allowing rehab hospitals to bill for psychiatric units and exempting Arkansas from the federal recovery audit contractor requirement, citing other program integrity measures already in place. The State Board of Public Accountancy, under Labor and Licensing, presented rules implementing Act 428 of 2025, including a new CPA licensure pathway with a bachelor’s degree plus two years’ experience, substantial equivalency for out-of-state CPAs, and removal of the government not-for-profit accounting requirement; despite some negative comments, both rules were approved. The committee then granted the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from certain reporting requirements, and approved its request to retain all 18 Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation rules under Act 781 review. Remaining outstanding 2023-session rulemaking and monthly updates were noted in packets with no questions, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last question. unbelievable different claims. And um unbelievable different claims.
• </c> still be brought a claim against them. still be brought a claim against them.
• Because I think that the claim, the defective claim, that would product liability claims that would be
• I think you can still bring that claim, okay? Yeah, they... that claim, yes.
• </c><01:29:15.760><c> yes</c><01:29:16.800><c> it's</c> claim okay yeah they that claim yes it's claim

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So care over claims is what you're saying.
• So care over claims is what you're saying.
• So care over claims is what you're saying.
• So care over claims is what you're saying.
• So care over claims is what you're saying.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The segment focused first on Senator John Marty’s bill, SF 3612, which would remove private insurers and HMOs from Minnesota’s state health care programs and replace them with a statewide administrative services model. Marty argued that managed care has created churn, coverage disruptions, and administrative waste in Medicaid and MinnesotaCare, and said the state should instead pay providers directly while investing more in care coordination, case management, and wraparound services through primary care clinics and county-based purchasers. He said the goal is better care, not just savings, though he also cited potential taxpayer savings and pointed to Connecticut as a model. He acknowledged the bill is not expected to become law this year and said a fiscal note and more details are still pending. Marty said the proposal has support from the governor and groups such as the American Cancer Society, but that his current co-authors are all DFL members. He expressed hope for bipartisan support and said the simpler system would also improve fraud detection and transparency. He addressed concerns about insurance-industry jobs by saying workers should be treated fairly and that retraining and dislocated-worker assistance would be part of the transition. He also said the broader goal is universal coverage for all medical needs, including mental health and dental care, without co-pays or deductibles. The second half highlighted Senator Jeff Howe and Minnesota’s Hometown Heroes Assistance Program for firefighters. Howe described the program as a statewide effort for roughly 20,000 career, paid-on-call, and volunteer firefighters that provides up to $20,000 in assistance for occupational illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, along with training, counseling, and family support. He said the program helps firefighters process trauma and has been recognized as the nation’s most comprehensive firefighter well-being initiative. Howe said the most recent version of the bill received unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers, and he suggested future expansions could include retired firefighters and possibly peace officers. The segment also noted a separate therapy approach using retired racehorses to help first responders work through trauma, with participants saying it has helped them stay on the job and manage anxiety and PTSD.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some claim to be forensically informed, yet when you...
• People that claim it's their job to fix families.
• understanding why the claim was denied and withdraw the appeal.
• the claims cases.
• and get it paid or have an understanding why the claim was denied and withdraw the appeal.

Bills: SB1285 , SB1289 , SB1326 , SB1328 , SB1329 , SB1330 , SB1392 , SB1402 , SB1425 , SCR1013 , SCR1014

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: sentencing, correctional facilities, multiple sentences, death penalty, aggravating circumstances, juvenile offenses, class 2 felony, foreign donations, election administration, certification, Arizona Revised Statutes, transparency, public disclosure, victims' rights, attorney fees, government accountability, right to counsel, legal representation, parents' rights, family law

Transcript Highlights:

• RS 33720 addresses private insurance claims on state property.
• back a couple of years, there were some issues around the ITD building and the way that the insurance claim
• This clarifies the process for any claims on state property where damages exceed $100,000.
• It provides for a public process to ensure that the claim is reviewed both by the Department of Administration
• Any claims on state property where damages exceed $100,000.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met to consider three RS introductions. Representative Britt Raybould presented RS 33720, which would clarify the process for private insurance claims on state property when damages exceed $100,000, including public review by the Department of Administration and the affected agency, and public process if the claim leads to operational changes such as selling property or moving agency operations. The committee moved to introduce the RS and approved it by voice vote. Raybould also presented RS 33717 as a replacement bill for House Bill 821, noting a change on page 2, line 37 that adds the year 2027 to establish the official start date and time. The committee voted to introduce the RS by voice vote. During the discussion, members joked about “attacking” Representative Manwaring, but the motion still carried. Representative Jason Monks presented RS 33727, which concerns solid waste disposal and would prohibit boards or county commissioners from using flow control to limit private-sector competition in waste management. He said the measure was intended to help facilitate negotiations among parties. The committee voted to introduce the RS by voice vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> again we're responsible for L claim again we're responsible for L claim property<00:25:24.399><c
• <00:40:27.119><c> or</c> claimed or claimed or I<00:40:28.000><c> would</c><00:40:28.240><c> guess</c
• </c> and then the town I guess would claim and then the town I guess would claim those<00:40:39.839><
• And they range from $45 to $225, depending on landlord-tenant claims, small claims, family civil, and
• </c> that company to be able to pay claims that company to be able to pay claims and<03:08:26.720><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting featured presentations from the Department of Administrative Services and the Treasury Department on state revenue reporting and unclaimed property. State Comptroller Dana Call explained DAS’s role in compiling statewide revenue reports, including the annual revenue plan set through the budget process and the monthly revenue focus reports that track cash receipts. She noted that unrestricted general fund revenue is about $2 billion annually, while miscellaneous other revenue is a much smaller and less predictable category, averaging roughly $30 million to $32 million a year. She also described two more material internal revenue lines: statewide indirect cost recoveries and post-retirement benefit recoveries, which are billed to agencies and often tied to federal reimbursement rules. Members asked about the interest line in the revenue charts and about how the figures were presented, and Call clarified that the totals were in millions and that the interest item would be explained by the Treasurer. She also explained that the indirect cost and post-retirement recoveries are internal cost allocations that flow back into the unrestricted revenue pool and are reflected in agency budgets as interagency costs. Treasurer Monica Meissner then outlined Treasury Department functions, including bank deposits, statewide disbursements, banking relationships, investments, debt management, compliance, the FONA College Savings Program, the ABLE Plan, scholarship programs, and the abandoned property program. In discussing unclaimed property, she said holders report property after a five-year dormancy period, the state uses automated systems and outreach to locate owners, and claim activity has increased. In fiscal year 2024, the state returned about $12.2 million to citizens through roughly 12,000 claims; over the last 10 years, about $72.6 million has been returned. She also said the state escheated $19.9 million to the general fund and $1.8 million to counties last year, and explained that securities-related proceeds are harder to estimate because they depend on market conditions. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:21.040><c> the</c> Minnesota and have since claimed the Minnesota and have since claimed the
• kind of a number of claims juxtapose the kind of a number of claims with<01:13:00.560><c> what</c><01
• </c> in initial in initial pandemic claims. in initial in initial pandemic claims.
• </c> initial unemployment insurance claim. initial unemployment insurance claim.
• </c><01:40:34.159><c> It's</c> um and and adjudicating claims. It's um and and adjudicating claims.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:28.120><c> in</c> awfully hard for them to pay claims in awfully hard for them to pay claims
• </c> um is the benefit of fewer claims um is the benefit of fewer claims strictly<00:50:13.839><c> to
• They were adjudicating claims.
• claims.
• c> our</c><01:27:04.960><c> staff</c> claim their continued claims our staff claim their continued claims

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt on the New Hampshire Insurance Department budget. He said the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers based on New Hampshire premium volume, with about $8 billion in premiums written in the state and a department budget of roughly $15.5 million. He explained that the department has 88 authorized positions, eight vacancies, and that three full-time positions were unfunded after the governor’s requested 4% reduction exercise. He also said the department is trying to balance staffing needs with not overburdening carriers during a hard insurance market. A major topic was the department’s $2.6 million rebate to industry from the prior fiscal year, which Bettencourt described as a credit against the next assessment rather than a direct cash payment. Members questioned why that credit was not reflected as a reduction in the upcoming budget, and Bettencourt and staff explained that the budget assumes full staffing and full spending, with any year-end surplus returned to insurers. The commissioner said the department had added staff in recent years for succession planning and to preserve institutional expertise, and that the rebate reflects careful budgeting rather than excess spending. Members also asked about staffing changes by division, including positions unfunded in fraud, property and casualty examinations, life and health examinations, and tax. Bettencourt said fraud investigations remain strong and that the department can use outside contractors for examinations, with those costs billed to the company being examined. He also described the department’s examination process, including periodic financial exams and targeted market conduct reviews triggered by consumer complaints or trends. Additional questions covered OIT transfers, the department’s oversight of fully insured health coverage, the insurance premium tax and fines going to the general fund, and the department’s limited role in auto repair reimbursement disputes, where he said complaints have recently declined.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not create new workers' comp claims.
• and the amount of claims.
• 141 claims per claims manager.
• them to submit the claim, have the claim reviewed, investigated, negotiated, and potentially settled
• before a claim goes to trial.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• carrier where we can spread the risk, that minimizes the instances where we have two or three large claims
• Pocatello, we're finding that on occasion we'll have years where we have just two or three large claims
• It's that they, in a year where they have one or two large claims, it has a huge impact on their plan
• Whereas when you're in a large plan like the state, we have a few large claims.
• We haven't had anyone with serious high-claims experience, so we haven't had to do that to date.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in doing so will provide the creator or disseminator of that content protection in the courts from claims
• And then the way a publisher, a business, or anybody can avoid that claim of damages is by having a mark
• I guess my question that I'm trying to figure out is who's filing the claim?
• , but I just want to make sure that when a judge looks at a plaintiff, they can go, okay, you're claiming
• That would be a fair claim for damages, I would think. I would, I would hope so. Thank you.

Committee: House Emerging Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody comes forward who wants to make a claim.
• Crime victims' compensation fines and fees cover the first $50,000 of claims.
• Claims are processed. It's just taken a while for many of them. They're not keeping up.
• So, you know, think about citizens trying to get services and I can't get the claim filled out.
• So, you know, think about citizens trying to get services and I can't get the claim filled out.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard Senate Bill 1292, which would codify foster parent training requirements in statute and set a total of 10 hours of training, with flexibility for the department to structure the coursework. Senator Shippey said the bill is intended to make foster parents better prepared for trauma, safety, and court-system expectations while allowing online completion and exemptions for some family placements or out-of-state applicants. Deputy Director Monty Pro said the department already offers a range of training and that the measure would support foster parent retention and child safety; Senator Wintrow voiced support. The committee then voted to send SB 1292 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1293, a one-sentence fix to clarify that crime victims’ compensation is not subject to the interpretation of a prior public-benefits law. Senator Wintrow explained that confusion after House Bill 135 had slowed claims processing and created concern about added barriers for victims, especially in sensitive cases such as sexual assault and child abuse. She said the bill would restore the program to its prior practice, which is based on crime-victim eligibility criteria rather than public-assistance rules, and noted that no claims had been denied but processing had been delayed. After questions from senators about the effect of the earlier law and the backlog, the committee voted to send SB 1293 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• $50,000 and $250,000; all claims above or below this threshold are paid entirely by the health plan.
• </c> only subsidizes 80% of enroling claims only subsidizes 80% of enroling claims between<00:56:49.359
• </c><00:57:49.200><c> for</c> being used to pay medical claims for being used to pay medical claims for
• With that, the committee has adjourned. it's this is high claims reimbursement it's this is high claims
• </c> has negotiated in claims has negotiated in claims payment<01:41:25.000><c> and</c><01:41:25.199>

Bills: HF837 , HF1903 , HF499 , HF794

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, newborn safety, anonymity, healthcare provider, safe place, child welfare, HF499, nursing, nurse licensure, temporary permit, temporary nursing permit, Board of Nursing, endorsement licensure, reregistration, refresher course, health occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• No, our claims have increased year over year. There has been an increase in claims.
• Our claims have increased year over year. There has been an increase in claims.
• , several claims for a certain area or facility.
• Again, when BCG did do their work in this area, we had them review and analyze claims across all claim
• Again, when VCG did do their work in this area, we had them review and analyze claims across all claim

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When someone makes an insurance claim, we have anonymized data to know how many claims are being made
• In this case, you're assigning a valuable claim. You have valued this claim. at least $100,000.
• you just give away the whole claim.
• In this bill, the whole claim goes to the private party.
• They are not poisonous, as this committee claims them to be.

Bills: SB10 , SB16 , SB6 , SB 6 , SB 10 , SB 16

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, victims, criminal justice reform, victim rights, criminal justice, judicial reform, court procedures, mental health services, criminal penalties, court security, SB 6, Woman and Child Protection Act, abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• WOULD NOT GO TO MANDATORY ARBITRATION THEN THEY PROCEED TO LITIGATION IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A CLAIM
• MY QUESTION IS, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO GO BACK NOW AND RECLAIM A REASSESSMENT OF THEIR CLAIM?
• OR BE ABLE TO LITIGATE THEIR CLAIM BECAUSE IT WAS MANDATED? >> Rep.
• WE HAVE CITIZENS PROBABLY IN THE HUNDREDS THAT HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY THAT HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY SETTLED, CLAIM
• GOVERNOR THOSE REDUCTIONS OF RATES ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY ARE A LEGAL SAVING NOT NECESSARILY A CLAIM

Transcript Highlights:

• The MCOs currently are 98.6% of payment of Claims that are clean claims from the providers are paid within
• In the pharmacy side, they are 99.7% of all claims paid within 14 days.
• claim means that the provider put together the information correctly as it should have been, and as
• it was stated, for the claim to be processed.
• But if the provider does the work upfront and submits a clean claim They're operating at a 98 or 99%

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is adopted. industry is built to deny claims. That industry is built to deny claims.
• Many claims end up being approved.
• Many claims end up being approved.
• Many claims end up being approved.
• Many claims end up being approved.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal then, as it is now, was to protect our veterans from what are known as claim sharks.
• So what that means is this: we have a veteran who goes in to file his claim or her claim.
• Federal law is very clear: you cannot make money off of an initial claim.
• It allowed those claim sharks to make a lot of money.
• What is happening with these claim sharks is against federal law.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of bills, mostly from the Senate, covering military affairs, courts, veterans’ services, tobacco/vape regulation, and emergency alerts for missing persons with disabilities. Several measures were described as cleanup or modernization bills, including SB 317 adding the House and Senate military committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, SB 357 updating court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, SB 421 modernizing electronic records language, and SB 232 and HB 597 addressing judicial compensation and related funding/commission issues. The committee also heard SB 164, which would add public works employees to the definition of first responders, and SB 510, which would regulate certain licensed establishments that allow on-premises consumption of hemp/THC products and related age restrictions. These bills were generally presented as technical updates or alignment with existing practices, and the committee reported them favorably after brief questions and, in some cases, amendments. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 208, which revises Louisiana’s law on services provided to veterans after a prior version was struck down. Senator Kathy and LDVA representatives said the bill is intended to protect veterans from unaccredited “claim sharks” by limiting fees and creating state-level safeguards, while an opponent argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress and the pending appeal. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 34, which would create “Bryan’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities, including wireless alerts and responder training. Family members and disability advocates described fatal risks from elopement and drowning, and supporters said the bill would fill a gap between Amber and Silver Alerts; the committee moved the bill favorably. Another bill, HB 302, sought to restrict vape sales near schools; the sponsor and Alcohol and Tobacco Control discussed possible language changes, and public health testimony supported broader protections for youth. Several bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and HB 374-1, and the committee adjourned after reporting the remaining measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Claims Review Litigation Reports Oversight Committee met on Monday, March 16, 2026.
• One dismissed claim appealed by the claimant was referred to the Joint Budget Committee’s Claims Review
• The subcommittee affirmed the decision of the Claims Commission as to all other claims on the agenda.
• One dismissed claim appealed by the claimant. and one litigation settlement one dismissed claim appealed
• subcommittee the subcommittee affirmed the decision of the claims commission as to all other claims

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The meeting began with a prayer, approval of the prior minutes, and a February 2026 revenue report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year, and said the updated forecast showed a larger expected surplus than before. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fees, and possible effects of inflation and international conflict; Silva generally attributed the changes to timing issues, prior tax cuts, refund activity, and price fluctuations, and said he could not speculate on future impacts. The committee then heard and adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish State Police, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and APER filings. Most reports were approved without objection. One budget classification transfer for the Commissioner of State Lands was reviewed and failed. The review report also led to discussion of several contracts, including DHS staffing contracts and a Department of Education security contract, with some items held or separated for individual votes. A major portion of the meeting focused on DHS and state staffing contracts for the Human Development Centers, Arkansas State Hospital, and related facilities. DHS officials said the contracts were on track against seven-year projections, but members expressed concern about heavy reliance on contract labor, vacancy rates, and the need to move workers onto state payrolls. Officials said they were preparing a recruitment and retention plan and described staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover. Members also questioned contract projections and federal-state funding matches, and several urged faster action to reduce contract labor costs. The committee also discussed a Department of Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and Employment and Training. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the cuts were driven by funding shortfalls, over-obligation of funds, and federal issues, and that 27 positions would be permanently eliminated while furloughed employees would be recalled. Members raised concerns about service impacts, board appointments, and the division’s fiscal management. The meeting ended after the personnel report was adopted and APER was filed as reviewed, followed by adjournment.