Transcript Highlights:

• I have to think a little bit about this, but I believe it's December to get the January payment.
• So, it's always through either reimbursement from expenditures or school submits an invoice because the
• So, it's always through either either<00:17:47.280><c> reimbursement</c><00:17:48.200><c> from</c><00
• :17:48.440><c> expenditures</c> either reimbursement from expenditures either reimbursement from expenditures
• </c> except for the case of of reimbursement. except for the case of of reimbursement.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee received an update from the LBA on three audits related to education programs. Christine Young reported that the special education audit is in report-writing, with 44 of 81 observations completed, and that a draft is expected early in the third quarter with a final report later in the summer. She also said the doorway program audit has a draft report with 12 observations, auditee responses were received May 14, an exit conference was held May 18, and the report is now expected to be presented at the June fiscal committee meeting. The bulk of the discussion focused on the education freedom accounts audit and a proposed expansion of scope. Beulah Skids explained that the original audit, required by the 2022 law creating the EFA program, would be expanded to examine whether students were New Hampshire residents at enrollment and throughout participation, and whether records of educational attainment satisfied program requirements. She described the current work, the draft cooperation agreement being developed with the Department of Education and the Children’s Scholarship Fund, and the department’s concerns about the audit period and the term "educational progress," which the LBA said it would revise. The committee discussed that the expanded work would depend on a written agreement giving the LBA access to needed records, policies, and staff, with the Department of Education potentially serving as an intermediary for data access. Members raised concerns about the scope period and data access. Senator Lang asked that the residency review be limited to the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, rather than the broader 2022-25 period, because those years captured the major program expansions; the committee appeared to agree, with clarification that the reference was to school years, not fiscal years. Members also discussed reconciliation of EFA funds, noting that the department has agreed to reopen rulemaking to make reconciliation more frequent so unused funds can be returned to the state sooner. Several members expressed frustration that access to data had been delayed, while LBA staff said the cooperation agreement is intended to prevent further roadblocks and that the AG’s office could review it if needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• **Brent Webster**: The payment of this case has been delayed.
• **Brent Webster**: ...The payment of this case has been delayed.
• **Senator West**: So it's just the payment of it?
• If it's not associated with a border crime, we can't make a payment.
• **Senator Colquhoun**: For funerals and for other reimbursements.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, Attorney General, budget recommendations, funding swaps, salary increases, Landowner's Compensation Program, public testimony, law enforcement

Summary: The meeting focused on the budget recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), where key issues included the proposed decrease of $163.9 million for the 2024-25 biennium and various methodology swaps for funding. Attorney General Paxton discussed ongoing litigation expenditures and emphasized the need for continued investments in agency staffing to address rising demands within law enforcement. Notably, he requested a 6% salary increase for 2026 and 2027 to retain talented personnel amidst competitive job markets. Public testimony highlighted community awareness challenges regarding the Landowner's Compensation Program, indicating a need for enhanced outreach efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:00:06.319><c> they</c> outside of um uh the payments they outside of um uh the payments they
• Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburses about 16% of our gross charges, with Medicare reimbursing 22%.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburses about 16% of our gross charges, with Medicare reimbursing 22%.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburses about 16% of our gross charges, with Medicare reimbursing 22%.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield reimburses about 16% of our gross charges, with Medicare reimbursing 22%.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 297 with a non-germane amendment proposed by the Insurance Department to create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Commissioner DJ Beton explained that the program is intended to help homeowners reduce rising insurance premiums and avoid surplus lines coverage by funding proactive home and property improvements such as roof fortification, exterior and foundation work, flood protection, and tree removal. He said the proposal was developed after leadership asked for more statutory detail and for the idea to be vetted through policy committees rather than handled only in the budget process. Beton said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. He described the program as modeled on similar efforts in other states, with means testing tied to the Department of Energy’s weatherization/home heating assistance criteria. He also said the department would administer the program using one existing staff position, with coordination through Treasury, and that unspent funds would roll over for several years before reverting to the general fund. Members asked about the unusual use of a non-germane amendment and how the bill would be handled procedurally, since the underlying bill and the new insurance proposal were unrelated. The chair explained that the amendment was being used as a vehicle to move the department’s proposal through the committee process and that the committee could later accept one part, both parts, or neither. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting shown; the discussion ended with questions about administration, staffing, and the relationship between the underlying bill and the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then over a period of time, reimbursed.
• 19.199><c> from</c><00:17:19.760><c> the</c> that reimbursement comes from the that reimbursement comes
• </c><00:22:22.720><c> of</c> that actually provide the payment of that actually provide the payment of
• ><c> on</c><00:22:26.000><c> the</c> provide those reimbursements on the provide those reimbursements
• And that's a form that's used relative to making the reimbursement, or I call it the payment, to the

Keywords: The first few minutes of this meeting was missed on the live stream. This upload restores those few minutes, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with Secretary Jeff Null and General Counsel Matt Wing of the Cabinet for Economic Development for an overview of the cabinet’s main economic development tools, strategy, and compliance practices. Null said the cabinet uses a data-driven approach focused on competitiveness, site readiness, wages, workforce training, and long-term assets such as roads, rail spurs, water, and sewer improvements. He emphasized that the cabinet tries to balance attracting new employers with supporting existing businesses, and said compliance is a core value of the agency. Null walked members through several programs, including the closing fund, Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI), Bluegrass State Skills Corporation training support, and the KIA sales-tax refund tool for construction materials and equipment. He said the closing fund has received $80 million over two years for projects generally involving at least $10 million in investment, though some flexibility exists. He also explained that Bluegrass State Skills funding is typically about $2,000 to $3,000 per job and can be used flexibly for training, including sending Kentucky workers to be trained elsewhere or paying trainers to come to Kentucky. He described KBI as a pay-as-you-go, incremental tax credit tied to actual jobs and investment, and said the legislature’s tiered refundable credit structure allows more targeted use of incentives in heritage and non-heritage counties. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on compliance and monitoring. Null said incentive agreements are written with commercial terms and spell out jobs, investment, wages, and training commitments. The cabinet requires regular reporting, invoices, and sampling, and can use clawbacks or suspend benefits if companies fail to meet obligations or lose required environmental permits. He said the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority reviews incentive applications in public meetings and often requires company representatives to answer questions before preliminary approval is granted. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does is propose to bring the Medicaid payment up to the same as the Medicare payment.
• </c> Medicaid with Medicaid reimbursement Medicaid with Medicaid reimbursement being<00:42:55.839><c>
• </c> Medicaid payment Medicaid payment up<00:43:07.440><c> to</c><00:43:07.760><c> the</c><00:43:08.079
• </c> up to the same as the Medicare payment. up to the same as the Medicare payment.
• ><c> probably</c> Now, the Medicare payment probably Now, the Medicare payment probably doesn't<00:43

Bills: HB0111 , HB0112 , HB0122

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: capital construction, state funding, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, task force, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, healthcare, rural health, transformation program, funding, incentives, training, access, perpetuity fund, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And while state programs such as Medi-Cal and Family PACT reimbursed for clinical care provided by some
• The Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program provided incentive payments to managed care plans to
• And what so when you said earlier that there's no barriers for schools to apply for reimbursement, is
• for will be able to submit those claims in time to receive that reimbursement?
• And so we, through Medi-Cal, want to lift up a payment model that will support high-fidelity delivery

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the chair and members about recent federal cuts to public health, mental health, family planning, and Title X funding, with strong concern about the impact on California programs and providers. The committee then turned to the Department of State Hospitals, which presented its 2025-26 budget proposal of $3.4 billion, including new positions, capital improvements, and funding tied to increased patient costs and incompetent-to-stand-trial services. DSH reported major progress in reducing the IST waitlist and wait times, said it had met the court’s 28-day treatment benchmark for those without extenuating circumstances, and described workforce recruitment and retention efforts such as residency programs, fellowships, outreach, and hiring streamlining. Members asked about future IST referral trends, SB 1323’s effect on diversion and community treatment, and workforce lessons in high-cost regions; public comment urged reconsideration of county IST growth cap methodology in light of new criminal justice initiatives. The committee next received an informational overview of Proposition 1 and its changes to behavioral health funding and governance. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that Prop. 1 restructured county MHSA funding buckets, expanded the Commission for Behavioral Health, shifted prevention and early intervention responsibilities, and authorized a $6.4 billion bond, including $4.4 billion for behavioral health facilities through BHCIP. DHCS said it had released guidance for county integrated plans and was receiving extensive public comment. Members focused on BHCIP application requirements, especially letters of support and tribal projects, and raised concerns about whether DHCS’s implementation matched statutory intent. DHCS said it had authority to set application requirements and that tribal entities were treated differently because of sovereignty and funding structure. DHCS then updated the committee on BHCIP, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, and related bond implementation. The department said BHCIP had awarded about $1.7 billion across five rounds, with more than 130 projects and 223 distinct facilities funded, and that it was preparing to award the new bond funds after receiving nearly $8 billion in applications. The LAO’s assessment found that more than half of awards served at least 80% Medi-Cal enrollees, but also raised concerns that the regional allocation model could reinforce inequities, that the program had not sufficiently addressed the highest-need regions such as the southern San Joaquin Valley, and that smaller counties and less launch-ready applicants faced barriers. For bridge housing, DHCS said more than $1.1 billion had been awarded, serving over 5,000 people and supporting more than 2,000 operational beds, but the Governor’s budget proposes to eliminate Round 4 funding as the administration weighs other statewide investments and Proposition 1 implementation workload. Public commenters and members urged more accountability, better regional equity, stronger labor and community involvement, and caution about funding for for-profit psychiatric facilities. Finally, the committee heard on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. CalHHS and DHCS described CYBHI as a broad prevention- and equity-focused effort with more than 1,300 organizations funded, over $2.1 billion awarded, and multiple work streams spanning schools, community programs, workforce, and digital supports. DHCS highlighted school-based services, the fee schedule rollout, and digital platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna, which it said are reaching users statewide and providing low-barrier access to coaching and support. Members and public commenters raised concerns about delays in school fee schedule implementation, the large share of funding going to digital tools, the need for more in-person services, and whether the initiative is sufficiently tracking outcomes and equity impacts. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> accuracy</c><00:03:09.360><c> and</c> Uh increase SNAP payment accuracy and Uh increase SNAP payment
• </c> payment error rates. payment error rates.
• </c> establish a comprehensive post-payment establish a comprehensive post-payment review<01:07:40.000
• </c> statewide hospital directed payment statewide hospital directed payment program<01:17:18.240><c>
• </c> payment program. payment program.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> payment left DHS a few days after. payment left DHS a few days after.
• . the final payment.
• </c> reviewed before payments are issued. reviewed before payments are issued.
• </c> before we disburse payments. before we disburse payments.
• And why was the uh payment."

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Item two, for mixed beverage tax reimbursements to cities and counties.
• assistance payments program and explain a little bit more about why.
• So when we reimburse counties for their payments on the the forgivable property taxes, is that an application
• regularly and actually paying some additional payments.
• They're looking for a broader supplemental payment.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They cited legal restrictions on the use of those reimbursements.
• They cited legal restrictions on the use of those reimbursements.
• The last payment is $32 million to the vendor. So I just wanted to clarify.
• So the state's not going to get the PTE payment.
• So the state's not going to get the PETP payment.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several budget proposals from CDTFA, the Board of Equalization, and the Franchise Tax Board. The first panel focused on cannabis, hemp, flavored tobacco, and related enforcement. CDTFA requested ongoing funding to implement cannabis tax changes, enforce the new intoxicating hemp restrictions and flavored tobacco seizure authority, and continue compliance work. The department said it is targeting illicit product, protecting licensed businesses, and using referrals from the public and lawmakers to focus inspections. The LAO supported some of the proposals but urged the Legislature to treat them as part of a longer-term enforcement strategy and raised concerns about the use of General Fund support for cannabis enforcement. Public testimony on the cannabis item largely supported stronger enforcement and funding for the legal market. The committee also heard CDTFA’s request to reappropriate funds for an upgrade to the CROS tax collection system, which would improve taxpayer services, security, and software maintenance without adding new money. A separate CDTFA proposal would make all delivery network companies, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, marketplace facilitators for sales tax purposes. CDTFA said the change would reduce confusion for restaurants and improve compliance, while the LAO questioned whether the proposal functioned more like a tax increase because it would also capture service fees. Members raised affordability concerns, but the proposal was framed by the administration as a parity and compliance measure. The subcommittee then considered a governor’s proposal for a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit. Finance argued the credit would help decarbonize aviation and support in-state production, while the LAO recommended rejection, citing cost, uncertainty about environmental benefits, possible diversion of diesel excise tax revenues from transportation programs, and concerns about consistency with voter-approved transportation funding rules. Testimony from airlines, labor unions, airports, and refinery workers strongly supported the credit, emphasizing union jobs, refinery conversions, and emissions reductions, while fuel retailers and some others warned about fiscal risk and higher fuel prices. The chair and some members expressed support for the proposal despite the funding concerns. Finally, the BOE presented an IT modernization project for state-assessed property administration, saying the current system is outdated and manual and that a new system is needed to improve accuracy, cybersecurity, and workflow efficiency, especially with a likely increase in workload from new VoIP assessments. The LAO asked for more justification for the timing, but BOE said the urgency stems from aging systems and growing workload. BOE also requested modest funding to implement SB 293 changes to intergenerational property transfers and wildfire relief guidance, which the LAO did not oppose. The Franchise Tax Board began its presentation on the final phase of its Enterprise Data to Revenue modernization effort, describing the project’s rollout across audit, collections, legal, and filing enforcement workloads and noting it is now in a warranty period.

Transcript Highlights:

• Social Security is just an auto payment.
• Almost 3% of our GDP is just paying off previous debt payments.
• And so the overall net payments will start to get clipped in 2028. Thank you.
• It's hit for $600 million, and we don't know when we're going to get that reimbursed.
• The hospital payment issue is a big one.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for 24-25 deferral payments, so 24-25, so 24-25. 2024-25 deferral payments, so 2024-25 deferrals being
• I want to get clarity on the payment.
• So training hours have not been reimbursed.
• The payments or the decisions that we have to make?
• It usually comes in on a reimbursement basis. It usually comes in on a reimbursement basis.

Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are paid at a higher reimbursement rate to make sure that we maintain access in the rural health
• for providers serving high-need children, without changing payment rates or covered services.
• for providers serving high-need children, without changing payment rates or covered services.
• This bill does not set reimbursement, does not create new costs, and it does not add regulation.
• This bill does not set reimbursement, does not create new costs, and it does not add regulation.

Committee: Senate Health & Welfare

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 971, which would equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; supporters said independent clinics are disadvantaged by a large payment disparity, and the bill was reported favorable without objection. The committee also recognized visiting Alpha Phi Alpha members and other guests during personal privilege remarks. Members then considered HB 414, which would bar hiring certain health care workers and direct support professionals with serious disqualifying convictions from other states and address background-check issues for therapeutic group homes. After adopting three amendment sets, the bill was reported as amended. HB 740, creating an independent review process for Medicaid behavioral health claim disputes in the coordinated system of care, was amended to clarify applicability and CSOC definitions and then reported as amended. HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation, drew emotional testimony from affected parents and advocates; the committee reported it favorable. The committee also advanced several more bills: HB 405, updating the name of the national acupuncture certifying body, was reported favorable; HB 786, prohibiting extrapolation in certain managed-care claims recoupments, was reported favorable; HB 1095, allowing alternative backup power sources for nursing homes, was reported favorable; HB 403, raising the cottage food gross-sales cap, was amended from $50,000 to $150,000 and then reported favorable; HB 930, modernizing cosmetic-product regulation and creating a small-producer exemption, was reported favorable; HB 557, defining long-term pharmacies for policy purposes, was reported favorable; HB 779, on expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted diseases, was reported favorable; HB 915, setting utilization-management timelines and standards, was reported favorable; HB 546, expanding criteria for peace officers to take someone into protective custody during a mental health crisis, was reported favorable; HB 796, creating a chiropractic preceptorship program, was reported favorable; and HB 933, authorizing commemorative birth certificates, was reported favorable. The final major item was HB 1041, a “no-mandate” bill barring discrimination based on medical intervention status. The sponsor and Surgeon General said it was aimed at healthy, asymptomatic individuals and not at public health quarantine powers, but Senator Boudreaux objected to exemptions for schools and hospitals and offered an amendment to restore broader coverage. That amendment failed on a roll-call vote, and the bill remained under discussion as the transcript ended, with no final committee disposition shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• They cited legal restrictions on the use of those reimbursements.
• They cited legal restrictions on the use of those reimbursements.
• The last payment is $32 million to the vendor. I just wanted to clarify.
• So the state's not going to get the PTE payment.
• So the state's not going to get the PETP payment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it maintains the current payment rates for enteral nutrition products, ensuring that medically
• First, it maintains<00:14:52.639><c> the</c><00:14:52.959><c> current</c><00:14:53.199><c> payment</c
• </c><00:15:52.519><c> methodology</c> developing a similar payment methodology developing a similar payment
• ><c> for</c><00:43:38.880><c> for</c> the reimbursement rates for for the reimbursement rates for for
• So, how would that be handled for losses due to non-payment to that agency? work?

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does is mandate equal reimbursements for anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists, and
• It seems unreasonable and unfair to regulate the payment to the anesthesiologists and the CRNAs.
• Insurance companies from slashing reimbursement in a way that targets these communities.
• It's also not about increasing reimbursement rates.
• It simply preserves equal reimbursement for the same anesthesia service.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This House Bill 364 is a National Guard hazardous duty payment bill that basically pays National Guard
• However, I will add that the federal government reimbursed us 100% during the COVID and 100% for the
• Normally, it's a 75/25 reimbursement.
• ><c> falls</c><00:10:54.760><c> through</c> reimbursement.
• So, that falls through reimbursement.

Committee: House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> just you reimburse me less. just you reimburse me less.
• </c> uh misuse, abuse, fraudulent payments uh misuse, abuse, fraudulent payments that<02:35:47.640><c
• </c> is the department stopping payments is the department stopping payments to<02:47:34.520><c> someone
• And I just heard from an ICF there was a glitch in the payments and their payments are delayed 2 weeks
• </c><03:14:33.520><c> delayed</c> payments and their payments are delayed payments and their payments

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PACE operates on a capitated payment model with programs receiving fixed monthly payments for each enrolled
• PACE operates on a capitated payment model with programs receiving fixed monthly payments for each enrolled
• We're responsible for reimbursement.
• </c> aggregate prospectively reduce payment aggregate prospectively reduce payment rates<01:34:54.960
• </c> we have to start cutting reimbursement we have to start cutting reimbursement rates<01:37:49.600

Bills: HF4421 , HF1937 , HF4675 , HF4715 , HF4684

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: county cost share, economically distressed county, human services finance, substance use disorder treatment, SUD services, civil commitment, state aid, county levy, poverty threshold, tax-exempt acreage, property tax exemption, Minnesota human services, county fiscal relief, local government finance, chemical dependency, behavioral health, PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reimbursed by Medical Assistance. reimbursed by Medical Assistance.
• </c> funded reimbursement funded reimbursement for<00:27:09.360><c> providing</c><00:27:10.000><c> high-risk
• And now we're faced with the threat that there could be a 90-day delay in payment.
• And now we're faced with the threat that there could be a 90-day delay in payment.
• And if it's tied to billing, it's going to have more reimbursement challenges.

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all