Transcript Highlights:

• We have inpatient and outpatient claims, which account for $688 million.
• Just one thing when I was looking over the per diem claims and fees, Exhibit B1 that you provided, that
• Yes, sir, and that will only be applicable to inpatient and outpatient claims. Right. Yes, sir.
• I just wanted to be clear because the cost settlements and the UPL are not tied to an individual claim
• And so we do have a mechanism that if a claim is, every week.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, when you claim that deduction, you do have to separately report it.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, and some of these manager. If you guys want to just...
• During the laws that were passed that year, it was presented to us to manage.
• , we also manage 49 client funds for 24 different clients.
• On page 19, We have our total assets under management.

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Some claim to be forensically informed, yet when you...
• People that claim it's their job to fix families.
• Have you managed a budget of that size ever before? For the last couple of years, I have.
• understanding why the claim was denied and withdraw the appeal.
• the claims cases.

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:

• with the Office of Management and Budget.
• These are resources that the state manages on behalf of others.
• You can also see their views for management regarding that.
• It's fixed asset management. How are we doing the inventory?
• It's the federal allocation that ultimately they're managing.

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• be within the physician's lawful scope of practice related to orthopedics, wound care, or pain management
• Consumers can compare premiums and deductibles, but they cannot compare how often plans deny claims,
• I want to address the claims that there are certain segments and certain groups that are covered.
• SB 1629 requires Access-managed care organizations to demonstrate that they will still meet existing
• Access is responsible for regulating and overseeing the managed care plans to ensure our members have

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then took up a large agenda of health-related bills. SB 1214, the Arizona Stem Cell Therapy Act, drew extensive testimony from supporters who said it would create guardrails for regenerative medicine, protect patients, and encourage biotech investment, while opponents argued it was tied to abortion politics and imposed harsh penalties. The bill passed on a 4-3 vote. SB 1194, which would prohibit health professionals and institutions from denying care based on vaccination status, also passed 4-3 after testimony from supporters framing it as an access-to-care and religious-freedom measure and opponents warning it would interfere with private practice policies and parental choice. SB 1814, creating a study committee on substance use disorder treatment standards and oversight, passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1602, increasing stipends for kinship foster parents, passed as amended 7-0, and SB 1603, expanding child-only cash assistance eligibility, also passed as amended 7-0. The committee then considered several bills focused on gender-related care and public funding. SB 1177, which bars public monies from funding gender transition procedures and makes intentional violations a felony, passed 4-3 amid testimony that it protects taxpayers and counterarguments that it is discriminatory and unsupported by evidence. SB 1014, requiring insurance coverage for detransition procedures when transition care is covered and directing data reporting on transition and detransition, passed 4-3 after supporters said it would help detransitioners and collect needed data, while opponents argued it would chill providers and target transgender patients. SB 1094, creating civil liability for physicians who perform irreversible gender reassignment surgery on minors, was heard with testimony from supporters citing malpractice concerns and detransitioner harms and from opponents saying it would create a hostile environment for providers and treat trans patients differently; the transcript cuts off before the vote is shown. SB 1752, which classifies commercial harvesting or sale of mescaline as a felony while preserving bona fide religious use defenses, passed unanimously 7-0. Later, SB 1628, requiring insurers to report claims-denial and prior-authorization data and DIFI to publish standardized reports, passed unanimously 7-0 after supporters emphasized transparency and opponents called it redundant to federal reporting. SB 1629, requiring AHCCCS managed care organizations to give advance notice and network-adequacy documentation before terminating high-volume providers without cause, also passed 7-0; supporters said it would prevent patients from losing access to behavioral health care, while health plans and Access said existing oversight already covers much of this and warned the bill could slow necessary network changes. Throughout the meeting, the committee repeatedly adopted motions for due-pass recommendations and, where applicable, amendments, with several bills passing on party-line or near-party-line votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We looked at it for forest management when the fires were. So it's been talked about.
• There are claims on surface water throughout the state, including by many There are claims on surface
• Nearly all those claims are still pending adjudication and have been for the past 50 or so years.
• They asked us to bring them complete, prime-time-ready packages with engineers, construction managers
• “Manager, what kind of areas get six acre-feet? Is it Graham and Greenlee?

Bills: HB2024 , HB2053 , HB2097 , HB2116 , HB2117

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: water infrastructure finance authority, WIFA, water supply development, snowpack augmentation, cloud seeding, water augmentation, water financing, water infrastructure, Arizona water law, water conservation, groundwater recharge, stormwater recharge, reclamation and reuse, water rights, water supply projects, public-private partnership, long-term water augmentation fund, water provider, desalination, drought mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• database and looking at those claims payments for all the state.
• Now again, it's how it's funded and it's how it's managed.
• Well, you know, we're looking at a claims database, not a clinical database.
• I believe we get claims on ambulance services, yes. I think so. Yeah. Thank you.
• We manage your parents' chronic diseases.

Bills: SB5877 , SB5967

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: anesthesiology, medical personnel, surcharges, licensing, healthcare regulations, preventive services, state authority, healthcare access, insurance coverage, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1551, budget stabilization fund transportation fund; SB 1554, unfair claims; SB 1552, ad revisions
• ; SB 1554, unfair claim settlement practices, chiropractic; SB 1555, property tax increment affordable
• medical interventions; SB 1558, mobile pump parks utilities remedies; SB 1559, rural groundwater management
• ; SB 1580, appropriation fire incident management; SB 1581, appropriations public safety equipment.
• aging; SB 1606, plug-in solar energy requirements; SB 1607, consumer assistance health insurance claims

Transcript Highlights:

• manage.
• If you're a good manager, you can manage Walmart, you can manage Apple, you can manage any industry if
• Then we're going to allow you to manage.
• manage.
• If you're a good manager, you can manage Walmart, you can manage Apple, you can manage any industry if

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on February 18, 2025, and first took up Senate Bill 22 by Senator Reginald Thomas, which was presented as a cleanup measure following prior cosmetology reforms and a Legislative Oversight and Investigations report. The bill would allow cosmetologists to retake exams multiple times with a one-month wait, authorize the Board of Cosmetology to immediately close facilities that intentionally use unlicensed workers while preserving due process, give the board flexibility to hire an executive director based on qualifications rather than licensure, and recognize certain out-of-state or territorial cosmetology licenses. Board officials said the changes were intended to improve fairness, equality, and administrative due process. Senators asked about retesting fees and whether partial retests could dilute standards; Thomas clarified that the exam is cumulative and must be retaken in full. The committee approved SB 22 with all favorable votes, and Senator Meredith explained his support as a workforce and fairness issue. The committee then heard Senate Bill 100 by Senator Jimmy Higdon, as substituted, concerning tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product retail licensing and enforcement. Youth advocates from the University of Kentucky testified in support, describing youth nicotine use as a public health crisis and urging stronger enforcement, annual compliance checks, retailer licensing, and tougher penalties for illegal sales to minors. Higdon said the bill would create a Division of Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vapor Products Licensing within ABC, require licenses for retailers, authorize inspections and confiscation of contraband, impose escalating criminal and civil penalties for unlicensed sales and sales to minors, publish a list of licensed retailers, and dedicate fine revenue to enforcement and youth education. He said the measure targeted bad actors rather than responsible retailers. A retailer witness also supported licensing but raised concerns about contradictory product definitions that could sweep in hemp and medical marijuana vapor products, and asked that the bill be delayed until after an expected Supreme Court decision affecting federal vapor-product rules. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 100, before any committee vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also oversee prescribed and agricultural burning to manage and reduce smoke impacts that come from
• They claim that forests must be logged and thinned for wildfire safety, yet the most effective way to
• management... ...management, or ESVM, to mean vegetation management that reduces catastrophic wildfire
• This definition does not change how vegetation management for wildfire mitigation is conducted.
• And so this is something where we need to get as much vegetation management done as possible.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The Assembly Natural Resources Committee met with an initial quorum delay, then approved a consent calendar including SB 234, SB 484, and SB 839. The committee then heard SB 88, which would direct state agencies to support biomass utilization and biochar/low-carbon energy strategies; supporters argued it would reduce wildfire and agricultural burning emissions and create rural economic opportunities, while opponents said woody biomass energy is dirty, costly, and harmful to forests and public health. The bill was amended and passed to Appropriations on a due-pass vote. The committee next considered SB 653, defining “environmentally sensitive vegetation management” to support wildfire fuel reduction projects that also protect biodiversity. Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District and the California Invasive Plant Council supported the measure as a voluntary framework with no new mandates, and a committee member requested to be added as a coauthor. The bill passed to the floor. SCR 50, urging the state to define maladaptation and better evaluate climate resilience policies and investments, was also adopted with no opposition. Later, the committee heard SB 567, a pilot program to convert idle oil and gas wells into gravity-based energy storage wells. Supporters said it could help meet energy storage needs and accelerate well plugging, while the Water Replenishment District opposed unless amended, seeking protections for groundwater basins and stronger leak-notification requirements. Despite those concerns, the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 831 clarified the Geological Survey’s role in mapping geologic hazards, including those tied to climate change such as post-fire debris flows, subsidence, and coastal erosion; it received support from CalCIMA and passed to Appropriations. The committee concluded by recording votes on absent members and closing the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• State-only claiming adjustments: We've made additional adjustments related to our state-only claiming
• And then some changes in our managed care.
• Managed care base rate growth increases both in enrollment and just the rate increases—just base managed
• Just base managed care rates, $2.7 billion General Fund.
• We have to oversee Medi-Cal managed care plan compliance with the new aspects of this, so revising managed

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> data practices act they're um claiming data practices act they're um claiming for<01:24:36.800><
• We hire them; we call them managed care organizations.
• They don't really manage care so much as they manage money.
• They them managed care organizations.
• care so much as they don't really manage care so much as they manage<01:40:31.920><c> money.

Bills: HF3874 , HF3875 , HF3378

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:18.960><c> cost</c> um start with uh claim cost um start with uh claim cost uh<00:37:20.880
• :37:22.720><c> the</c> uh claim cost calculation for the uh claim cost calculation for the impact.<00
• </c> several different tables here for claim several different tables here for claim costs<00:41:32.079
• I see. claim cost impact uh both on a PMP and claim cost impact uh both on a PMP and percentage<00:43
• </c> manager and a consulting psychiatrist. manager and a consulting psychiatrist.

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance met for its first interim meeting, established a quorum, approved routine opening items, and welcomed a new committee assistant and a legislative intern. The committee first heard a Kentucky Bankers Association presentation from Tim Shank and John Cooper focused on the state’s housing shortage, which they described as affecting all 120 counties and especially low- and moderate-income and workforce housing. They urged support for a proposed $20 million banker-backed revolving fund, paired with tax credits, to finance new housing construction; they said the program would be flexible, could support alternatives such as manufactured housing, and would use below-market loans with tax credits vesting over five years only after units are completed. They also asked for extension of the historical tax credit carryforward from five to seven years and for continued support of new market tax credits, arguing that supply-chain delays make the longer period necessary for historic rehabilitation projects. The bankers also raised concerns about credit unions, arguing that because credit unions do not pay the same taxes as banks, they should not be allowed to acquire healthy state-chartered banks or hold state and local deposits. They cited the recent purchase of First State Bank of Middlesborough as an example, saying the transaction would reduce state, county, and city tax revenue and weaken local tax bases. In response to committee questions, the presenters said local regulations, zoning, parking, sidewalk, and utility easement issues can significantly delay housing projects, and they emphasized that state policy and infrastructure support are needed to help address affordability and development barriers. The committee then shifted to a Department of Insurance presentation by Commissioner Sharon Clark on how to read KRS 6.948 health mandate and federal cost defrayal impact statements. Clark explained that the mandate statements were created in 1998 so legislators would have actuarial estimates of how proposed health insurance mandates would affect administrative costs, premiums, and total costs, and she noted that later legislation added federal cost-defrayal analysis. She also reviewed the background of the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits framework and said the department’s statements are intended to help lawmakers make informed decisions on proposed health coverage mandates. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Claim Consulting.
• </c><01:27:30.440><c> at</c> today because he is taking a claim at today because he is taking a claim
• </c> and they want to help you file a claim and they want to help you file a claim and<01:28:50.800><
• </c> trauma claim with the VA and a PTS claim trauma claim with the VA and a PTS claim with<01:39:53.880
• claim is paid uh claim years after the claim is paid uh we<01:48:38.880><c> get</c><01:48:39.119><c>

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides for facility construction and operations managed by the respective agencies.
• which is the most numerous; claims of discrimination in public accommodations; and claims of discrimination
• Claims of discrimination of adjudicate.
• /c><00:31:55.200><c> claims</c><00:31:55.519><c> of</c> accommodations, and claims of accommodations,
• and claims of discrimination<00:31:56.240><c> in</c><00:31:56.480><c> housing.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• of this I submitted a claim to L&I, and I assure you that a rigorous evaluation of this claim was performed
• The claims are already being approved, but the journey is not the same.
• The claims are already being approved, but the journey is not the same.
• Yeah, we heard testimony that when these claims are on appeal, they're allowed.
• And that's generally true on all of the presumed occupational disease types of claims.

Bills: SB5379 , SB6106 , SB6147 , SB6180 , SB5927 , SB6287

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Transcript Highlights:

• We manage 34 miles around... The port would like to be able to use this authority.
• We are managing these lands on behalf of the state for public access and public benefit.
• Essentially similar claims have already been litigated under CEQA, and that has been cleared.
• The Board of Supervisors fiscal management reward program.
• And that's what the fiscal management reward program is. That's correct.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard a full agenda of bills covering port procurement, housing litigation, special district audits, cemetery district governance, county discretionary funding transparency, labor standards in density bonus projects, transit planning, and homeowner code enforcement. SB 983 would let the Port of San Diego use job order contracting for smaller repair and maintenance work; supporters said it would speed repairs and reduce costs, while opponents raised concerns about construction definitions and project labor agreement language. SB 1256 sought to limit repeated litigation against the Harmony Grove Village South housing project; supporters framed it as a response to duplicative lawsuits delaying housing, while opponents argued it could weaken wildfire and subdivision-map review. SB 992 would make permanent and expand a small special district audit flexibility, and SB 1115 would give Tulare County a narrower way to remove dysfunctional cemetery district trustees rather than taking over the district entirely. Both drew support from county and district representatives, with CSDA opposing SB 1115 but continuing talks on amendments. The committee also considered SB 1193, which would impose transparency and conflict-of-interest guardrails on Alameda County discretionary funding. The author and supporters said the bill responds to grand jury findings and would require clearer public reporting and board approval, while Alameda County argued it already has strong public processes and that the bill is overly restrictive. SB 1383 would clarify that density bonus projects cannot use incentives and concessions to waive locally adopted labor standards; labor groups supported it as protecting worker safety and wages, while housing interests were not present in opposition during the hearing. SB 1361 would prevent local governments from undermining planned transit projects to avoid SB 79 density requirements; LA Metro and labor supported it as protecting transit investment, and the Bay Area Council withdrew opposition. SB 1272, the CASH Act, would give homeowners more time to cure certain non-safety code violations tied to prior owners’ work, with counties and code enforcement groups opposing the introduced version but saying they were working on amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, many on amended or consent motions, with some remaining on call before later final votes were recorded. SB 983, SB 992, SB 1115, SB 1193, SB 1256, SB 1383, SB 1361, and SB 1272 all ultimately received committee approval, while the consent calendar bills SB 1187 and SB 1388 were also adopted. The chair repeatedly noted ongoing negotiations on several measures, especially SB 983, SB 1193, and SB 1272, and members emphasized wildfire safety, transparency, and labor protections as key issues during debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paragraph C points out we would not renew managed care contracts when they expire.
• </c> the whole person not just paying claims the whole person not just paying claims Joel<00:18:09.799
• </c><00:31:38.559><c> how</c> how uh you know how care is managed how how uh you know how care is managed
• Was it in the managed care portion? How much was in the direct payment portion?
• Well, the vast majority of it is in managed care. How much is the savings from that?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Emergency Management Committee will come to order. Good afternoon.
• I'm the general manager of Rowland Water District.
• And welcome to emergency management, right?
• We had a single tort claim as a result of that fire. We settled that claim for $140,000.
• And so that should conclude our emergency management meeting.

Summary: The Senate Emergency Management Committee held its first meeting and adopted committee rules for the 2025-26 session. SB 1020 was pulled from the agenda for a future hearing. The committee heard SB 1001, which would direct the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to issue standardized identification cards for essential utility workers so they can more easily access evacuation zones during emergencies. The author and supporters, including Rowland Water District and the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority, described a breakdown during the 2025 Eaton Fire when utility crews were denied access despite having credentials, causing delays in shutting off water at damaged homes. No opposition was present, and members broadly supported the bill as a practical emergency response measure. The committee voted 8-0 to pass SB 1001 to the Senate Public Safety Committee, with the measure held on call until all members voted. The committee also heard SB 1153, a wildfire preparedness bill from Senator Caballero. The bill would require urban retail water suppliers in high-risk areas to include wildfire-specific response procedures in their emergency response plans, and it includes findings clarifying that public water systems are not designed to function as wildfire suppression systems. The author accepted committee amendments clarifying that the bill does not limit liability for negligence, and witnesses from water agencies and industry groups supported the measure, citing the need for better planning and the financial strain of post-fire claims. Members discussed the balance between improving preparedness and avoiding language that could create a liability safe harbor or shift responsibility away from needed infrastructure investments. The committee voted 8-0 to pass SB 1153 as amended to the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, also held on call until all members voted. A consent item, SB 870, was also approved. After the committee reconvened and all members present voted, SB 870, SB 1001, and SB 1153 each received unanimous 8-0 votes and were reported out of committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the allpayer claims database. the allpayer claims database.
• ><02:00:37.920><c> organization's</c> preserves a managed care organization's preserves a managed care
• </c> of risk corridors to all future managed of risk corridors to all future managed care<02:00:49.679
• </c><02:03:30.639><c> care</c> currently all of those managed care currently all of those managed care
• </c> who's paying $18 billion in claims who's paying $18 billion in claims assist<02:06:41.360><c> the